I haven't peeped Berzerker yet, what makes it hot?
Okay I'll try to do a straight up write up on this character.
Forward 2,1,2 is his plus on block high string, but it is vulnerable to flawless block. In this variation, Baraka's leg kebob blows up flawless block attempts AND has a crushing blow on it, strengthening the viability and threat of this string. People who know the match up will hold the plus frames rather than risk flawless blocking and eating a high damaging crushing blow that does bleed damage.
Many Baraka players and people who fight Baraka note/complain that Baraka struggles versus zoners. Baraka serker aka punchwalk has immense corner carry and unbreakable damage plus good hit advantage so you can corner carry the opponent immensely which helps offset the disadvantage of fighting certain zoners since if you can put them in the corner you can bully them with mix ups, staggers and pokes all of which are amplified in this variation.
Leg kebob is a safe on block special that is gapless off of Baraka's mid strings and can provide enough push back that throws will whiff on Baraka making it a nice alternative to forward 4,4, and due to the visual cue being different for forward 4,4 versus f4 leg kebob can bait people into pressing buttons. Back 3,1, 2 and Back 2,1 leg kebob are both safe overhead/low enders that can send the opponent closer to the corner or put the opponent back in the corner.
Blade charge people that don't play the variation or don't appreciate the move will miss out on how viable this attack is because you can end all combos into it and side switch meterless. Some characters have to come off of a bar just to be able to side switch. Let's say you catch the opponent escaping the corner with no meter, you can still still get 20% for a meterless inescapable side switch combo off 112 or 16% off of either mid.
Punchwalk/barakzerker has a built in 50/50 on whether you meter burn or don't. It's -3 on meter burn with pushback. The opponent can flawless block this option making it unsafe but if you just do the regular unsafe version flawless block loses and the opponent is punished for attempting the attack. Blocked pokes become a scenario of having to guess if Baraka is canceling into punch walk, just blocking or conditioning the opponent so you can keep harassing. Then there's ex on hit that sends the opponent closer to the corner and can side switch for 25% life. This special also does insane chip damage so if you have 4 or 5% chip Baraka touching you is the end of the like if he lands a down 3 into back 3,1 etc.
Add all this to Baraka's excellent pokes, staggers, projectile game, jump kick, anti-airs and you have a really well rounded, potent character. This variation addresses a great many of Baraka's struggles while also giving him safety and high chip.
Baraka has many uses for meter, but he doesn't feel meter reliant to do damage or keep the opponent pressed.
