The Zoning Academy (Mortal Kombat X Edition)

[SaltShaker]

Super early zoning character impressions.

1. Quan Chi (Summoner).
2. Kano (Cybernetic)
3. Liu Kang (Dragon's Fire)

I have yet to experiment with Kenshi (Balanced), Kitana (Mournful), and Jacqui (Full Auto).

The biggest disappointment so far has been Shinnok, who generally appears to be a very unsafe character.

I can pretty much agree with this in its entirety. I tried Jacqui for a few days and wasn't crazy about her zoning.

Shinnok by far is the biggest disappointment.

I have to try Mournful a little more, but seems like some potential is there.

 

[NHDR]

I've heard pros speak highly of Kitana's Royal Storm variation. Gonna give it a try.

 

[Wrath0594]

The grand finals for that EpicGL tourney last night pretty much consisted entirely of mid to full screen zoning between Reo's spec ops Cassie and Tom Brady's grandmaster sub zero. Glad that zoning seems a lot stronger in this game than I thought it would be.

 

[OG Mannimal]

The grand finals for that EpicGL tourney last night pretty much consisted entirely of mid to full screen zoning between Reo's spec ops Cassie and Tom Brady's grandmaster sub zero. Glad that zoning seems a lot stronger in this game than I thought it would be.

;ink to archive?

 

[haketh]

Cybernetic Kano wasn't nerfed, the previous data was just wrong

https://twitter.com/pakostevens/status/589501798316122112

 

[SaltShaker]

Cybernetic Kano wasn't nerfed, the previous data was just wrong

https://twitter.com/pakostevens/status/589501798316122112

Savior of the day right here man.

 

[Wrath0594]

;ink to archive?

http://www.twitch.tv/epicgl/b/651092465?t=2h22m40s

I just got the time from when he started using Cassie. He stuck with Spec Ops the whole time. Actually fights another Sub Zero/Liu kang player before finals. Just fast fwd a few minutes if you're specifically looking for the last match though.

 

[M2Dave]

I am changing my mind.

Cybernetic Kano is the best zoning character in the game.

 

[NHDR]

^ Interesting, gonna need to work on my Kano. How are you guys finding Kenshi (Balanced)?

 

[M2Dave]

^ Interesting, gonna need to work on my Kano. How are you guys finding Kenshi (Balanced)?

I have yet to experiment with Kenshi.

But Cybernetic Kano is the best. No other character is even close.

 

[OG Mannimal]

I have yet to experiment with Kenshi.

But Cybernetic Kano is the best. No other character is even close.

And shinnok the worst zoner who's designed to be a zoner

 

[Pig Of The Hut]

U will not win w Kenshi just zoning

Kenshi requires a much more complete player

 

[Pig Of The Hut]

Also Kano knives were not nerfed

The frame data was wrong

 

[Pig Of The Hut]

@General M2Dave How you loving that Scorpion Kano mu?

 

[STB Sgt Reed]

For zoning, I'm loving Full Auto Jacqui Briggs. I don't see what's wrong with it. Just gotta make a read on when they will jump and missile their ass.

 

[ShaolinGunFu]

U will not win w Kenshi just zoning

Kenshi requires a much more complete player

which variation you use? i love going vs the teleporting kenshi as raiden cause my vicinity blast hits him for swag points. I don't know why they even wanna teleport on raiden in the first place?!

 

[Pig Of The Hut]

which variation you use? i love going vs the teleporting kenshi as raiden cause my vicinity blast hits him for swag points

i use all 3

 

[BrobaChett]

I have yet to experiment with Kenshi.

But Cybernetic Kano is the best. No other character is even close.

I think your Kano zoning wise is better than your Quan. I feel like Quan is better though if you use his vortex, especially when I got up close and was doing things super punishable.

 

[M2Dave]

@General M2Dave How you loving that Scorpion Kano mu?

I have yet to fight a high level Scorpion player. Cybernetic Kano is similar to Deathstroke and Sinestro. He can control space anywhere on the screen. I am not too concerned about Scorpion. Should I be? I know that he has the fastest teleport in the game.

I think your Kano zoning wise is better than your Quan. I feel like Quan is better though if you use his vortex, especially when I got up close and was doing things super punishable.

Quan Chi has that "Zod feeling" to him. Unless you execute the zoning and the vortex perfectly, you cannot beat very good players.

Quan Chi's wake up and normal attacks are horrendous, though. I can manage the bad normal attacks, but the lack of a wake up attack is a serious issue in this game. EX teleport is too slow and has no priority whatsoever. When we fought, you slid my teleport on the way down with the slide. The teleport sucks.

 

[BrobaChett]

Quan Chi has that "Zod feeling" to him. Unless you execute the zoning and the vortex perfectly, you cannot beat very good players.

Quan Chi's wake up and normal attacks are horrendous, though. I can manage the bad normal attacks, but the lack of a wake up attack is a serious issue in this game. EX teleport is too slow and has no priority whatsoever. When we fought, you slid my teleport on the way down with the slide. The teleport sucks.

Yeah, his normals aren't that great and not having a good wake up does suck. Erron Black is so slow online when trying to properly punish with 11 or 12. People get away with so much stuff on me, it's ridiculous. The character is pretty fast with his 50/50's which makes him really strong.

I dunno, you should definitely stick with Kano. Solid zoning and he has good damage.

 

[Fractured_Shadow]

But Cybernetic Kano is the best. No other character is even close.

As a complete character or overall zoner?

Ancestral Kung Jin is a much more complete character but Kano is a better zoner. Kano's biggest issue is his lack of a safe wake up and no real way to open anyone up.

Kung Jin has zoning tools that need to be respected, as well as having a safe-ish wake up (is +3 on block but a good backdash will bait and wiff punish it), a 50/50 game, and a better damage.

Also do not count Cassy out. Her overhead missle is stupid and her regular missles control the pace of the match pretty well.

 

[M2Dave]

As a complete character or overall zoner?

Both.

Kano's knife toss controls the pace of the match against most characters. Unlike previous zoning characters like Freddy and Zod, Kano is also very good at mid range. He has Sinestro's b+1, Sub Zero's d+4, and move that can hop over low attacks when timed correctly. Every normal attack is safe on block too and provides very good hit advantage.

A safe armor move is rare in this game, so you cannot hold that against the character. Lack of a 50/50 mix up is an issue when you are down in life.

I know I promised I would behave myself in Mortal Kombat X, but if Kano gets normalized and all these 50/50 mix up characters remain the same, I am throwing a tantrum that will make the "The Great Scorpion Scare" seem like an everyday m2dave complaint.

 

[Shark Tank]

I have yet to fight a high level Scorpion player. Cybernetic Kano is similar to Deathstroke and Sinestro. He can control space anywhere on the screen. I am not too concerned about Scorpion. Should I be? I know that he has the fastest teleport in the game.



Quan Chi has that "Zod feeling" to him. Unless you execute the zoning and the vortex perfectly, you cannot beat very good players.

Quan Chi's wake up and normal attacks are horrendous, though. I can manage the bad normal attacks, but the lack of a wake up attack is a serious issue in this game. EX teleport is too slow and has no priority whatsoever. When we fought, you slid my teleport on the way down with the slide. The teleport sucks.

I agree with this Quan Chi is so free on wakeup it's horrendous, teleport is such a trash move, slow on startup/recovery. His space controlling tools aren't that great either. Skull is garbage, B2 is fucking negative on hit and full combo punishable on block. Universal pokes are bleh, only decent one is b1. Runes are good but they don't cover that much space and hit low to the ground in a jumpy/teleport game(also negative on block so run after pretty much is a free get in). No vortex no win.

And yes Cybernetic Kano..is a pretty solid/ good character.

 

[Fractured_Shadow]

Both.

Kano's knife toss controls the pace of the match against most characters. Unlike previous zoning characters like Freddy and Zod, Kano is also very good at mid range. He has Sinestro's b+1, Sub Zero's d+4, and move that can hop over low attacks when timed correctly. Every normal attack is safe on block too and provides very good hit advantage.

A safe armor move is rare in this game, so you cannot hold that against the character. Lack of a 50/50 mix up is an issue when you are down in life.

I know I promised I would behave myself in Mortal Kombat X, but if Kano gets normalized and all these 50/50 mix up characters remain the same, I am throwing a tantrum that will make the "The Great Scorpion Scare" seem like an everyday m2dave complaint.

I honestly can't see what would be normalized. He is strong but not overwhelming by any means. Then again.... the salt over zoners is real.

The only major flaw that I saw in Kano is he has a tough time with characters with good jump archs.

Take Sonya for example. She becomes a threat well outside of what would normally be considered a safe distance to zone due to her in-fucking-sane 16 active frame JIP1 and her dive kick which changes her arch and leads to a full combo. Her ability to jump also makes his B2 risky because while it does have long hurtbox it is piss over vertically and easily jumped.

Outside of that I found no major issues. His B132+4 is easily MB hit confirmable for a nice chunk of damage and he has good pokes and a great space control move with B2

 

[Pig Of The Hut]

I have yet to fight a high level Scorpion player. Cybernetic Kano is similar to Deathstroke and Sinestro. He can control space anywhere on the screen. I am not too concerned about Scorpion. Should I be? I know that he has the fastest teleport in the game.



Quan Chi has that "Zod feeling" to him. Unless you execute the zoning and the vortex perfectly, you cannot beat very good players.

Quan Chi's wake up and normal attacks are horrendous, though. I can manage the bad normal attacks, but the lack of a wake up attack is a serious issue in this game. EX teleport is too slow and has no priority whatsoever. When we fought, you slid my teleport on the way down with the slide. The teleport sucks.

Yea u should