I don't know about that, he can easily throw an ice ball to trade and that's basically 30% gone right there from a trade. I'd suggest dashblocking to break through the ice clone, and duck blocking while doing it, because he'll try to slide to catch you off guard.If he wants to hide behind the ice clones, let him... then throw out ridicuolous amounts of fireballs his way.
What was i thinking. Yea, ignore what I said about throwing fireballs when he's behind the ice clone.I don't know about that, he can easily throw an ice ball to trade and that's basically 30% gone right there from a trade. I'd suggest dashblocking to break through the ice clone, and duck blocking while doing it, because he'll try to slide to catch you off guard.
yup good aadvice, get a life lead, wait for him, and once you get on him, dont get off.. he can wake up slide = punish; he cant wake up ice clone if youre on top of him.In this matchup you need to lame him out. Get a life lead and make him come to you. his ice balls don't deal chip damage so he will need to go on the offensive.
Currently I'm attending CEO where I got the chance to play Tom Brady's Subzero in his warm up casuals. I lost as expected and it was 2-1 so I don't particularly feel bad. He did help out a lot when I asked him for advice. Not before telling me I shouldn't even pick Johnny Cage against Sub-zero lol.Couple of quick snippets.
1. Sub-Zero's love to Ice Clone. Punish with a low fireball.
2. You can expect them to slide after 1 or 2 low fireballs. If you see it coming, low block. Don't use an F4 because they have enough time to block it upon recovery. Do an F1 or 2 1 F2 combo and go from there.
3. Uppercuts! Impatient Sub-Zero players will attempt a jump-in to do a 2 2 freeze. Keep them off of you!
Hard as it is to believe, this is probably better played as a zoning game. Use your fireballs as much as you can and punish their slides for massive damage.
I have to disagree with you here. Cage's projectiles are just too slow on startup and recovery, to zone. Sub Zero can slide on reaction to both the normal and enhanced versions. Not to mention, you lose when he trades his freeze with your projectile.Hard as it is to believe, this is probably better played as a zoning game. Use your fireballs as much as you can and punish their slides for massive damage.
You're right. You cannot beat Sub-Zero with your fireballs. Sub wins the trade every time and gets a free combo. From a Sub-Zero point of view, I keep Johnny out with the ice clone and iceball. As Magicurtains said, you want to try and make the Sub-Zero player back himself into a corner. With Johnny's new armour, you should also have enough meter by that point to possibly get in on him. You cannot be impatient against Sub. His projectiles don't chip you out so you can be careful in your approach. It's rough but not unwinnable.I have to disagree with you here. Cage's projectiles are just too slow on startup and recovery, to zone. Sub Zero can slide on reaction to both the normal and enhanced versions. Not to mention, you lose when he trades his freeze with your projectile.
You have to dash block in, and be mindful of occassional slide. The only way you can win is by rushing him down up close.
Be cautious on his wakeup, if he likes to wake up ice clone.
This is really solid advice. In general this is the only way Johnny Cage can beat Subzero. Ive played this match a thousand times against Reo's Cage and this is always his strategy midscreen.The biggest and best advice that I have when playing against SZ is to be patient. I know this is the complete opposite of Cage's strategy, but it's what you have to do. I usually try to get my opponent to corner himself by dash blocking and crouching right after. The SZ will usually throw clones and balls at you but as long as you're paying attention, you'll be fine. Usually the SZ will panic and throw out a slide when they near the corner, but that's why you've been blocking low the whole time. If and when they slide you should be able to get an easy punish. Continue this until you get them in to the corner, then just CAGE them. Most SZ's will try to wake up slide, so be prepared for this and try to bait it out as much as you can. I try to avoid fireballs in this match up because it is way to easy for SZ to punish as he can slide on reaction. If you just remain patient and take baby steps in the match up, you can relatively easy.
Xray the clone... does his Xray count the clone as an "attack"... this is interesting. Rob your prolly the most qualified to answer... but have you ever tried to "out-offense" Cage for life lead at periodic times? I know Cage is stupid good up close but have you done it to throw REO or anyone off his game for just a brief moment?This is really solid advice. In general this is the only way Johnny Cage can beat Subzero. Ive played this match a thousand times against Reo's Cage and this is always his strategy midscreen.
A few other tricks. Midscreen stay away from the clone, but not to far away so that Sub can advance and drop another clone(thereby advancing his position and keeping him out of the corner) You want to stay out of 2,2 and F+4 range so Sub can not poke at you from behind the clone. Hang back and do TONS of nut punches to build meter. Meter is Cage's key to victory in this matchup. Once you have meter and have backed sub into the corner EX shadow kick is your way in. Sub has to clone to keep Cage out, he HAS to. Look for it and blast through it. Now your on him in the corner and digging in that ass.
Also if you build up enough meter and get xray and Sub is hanging around his clone walk right up to it and xray the clone, even if Sub is blocking hes gonna eat it. Remember meter,meter,meter.....and patience. Thats how Cage wins this.
Yes his xray counts the clone as an attack, however Sub must be near the clone for it to work. If he is to far away Cage will instead be frozen which is why I said do it when hes near the clone. To get Sub to want to be near the clone you must get near the clone. Sub feels safe behind his clone and when you are close enough to it he will want to poke at you from behind the clone. This is when you can xray the clone and get him.Xray the clone... does his Xray count the clone as an "attack"... this is interesting. Rob your prolly the most qualified to answer... but have you ever tried to "out-offense" Cage for life lead at periodic times? I know Cage is stupid good up close but have you done it to throw REO or anyone off his game for just a brief moment?
BTW, throwing fireballs is a BAD idea when he is standing behind clones, it can be punished by slide and traded with freeze. Nut punch is perfect.