Which Takes More Skill, Zoning or Rushdown?

[I GOT HANDS]

I hope NY Shadow keeps posting and preferably makes large threads

He can be the Ying to M2Dave's Yang


These two are like the same poster just on opposite ends of the spectrum

 

[exflyingbooty]

I hope NY Shadow keeps posting and preferably makes large threads

He can be the Ying to M2Dave's Yang


These two are like the same poster just on opposite ends of the spectrum

I want to see them get into an argument and hear the term rushdown fool being thrown everywhere

 

[sub_on_dubs]

I hope NY Shadow keeps posting and preferably makes large threads

He can be the Ying to M2Dave's Yang


These two are like the same poster just on opposite ends of the spectrum

I think @Espio could find that out. Can't u find out if someone is using multiple accounts?

 

[Deadly Torcher]

If there wasn't 50\50's coming out of this games ass, I'd say rushdown but since this game is mostly 50\50 city, I'd say zoning takes the more skill, good luck trying to zone tho.

Anyway, games a pain in the ass either way.

 

[Immortal]

Depends on character in MK X but overall i would say zoning.

Playing "balanced" Kenshi in MK X to any real success req godlike skill or as some like to call it ton of luck. Beside great spacing and zoning you also need ton of hard reads. One mistake (bad read / whiff) and you eat 30-40% combo into pressure which vs like 1/2 of the roster is almost certain death at high level.

So yeah it is what it is.

 

[M2Dave]

I want to see them get into an argument and hear the term rushdown fool being thrown everywhere

I do not argue with scrubs.

 

[I GOT HANDS]

I think @Espio could find that out. Can't u find out if someone is using multiple accounts?

Can you, @Espio?

 

[DrManhattan]

in scrub/low-level/mid-level play... zoning is easier bc people will just hold up forward.

in high level play... great players will walk you down and understand their options after blocking zoning tools. this is an extremely easy question to answer when referring to high level play... zoning is much much harder.

 

[GAV]

Rushdown takes more skill hands down. MK players in general since MK9 have become more zoners because its easier to sit back and react to a move than to know a characters moveset so well that you can variate different strings and attacks in millisecond decisions to keep the pressure on someone. Zoning only requires a player to wait, constantly block and respond with projectiles when its safe. Not much skill in that. In your face pressure is where the skill is really at, there is a rhythm to pressuring and a real in depth knowledge of your character's moveset, recovery and startup time. Most of the best players are pressure/offensive players. Even my mother can zone. So get these zoning chumps out of the conversation of trying to legitimize their hesitant-to-engage-low-skill-level-lazy mindset. Zoning is for newbies. Veterans who use zoning as their main strength and tactic are really not good players overall. Truth be told. Anything contrary is nothing more than bullshit.

I disagree. While rush-down requires more practice, implementing it into your game after practicing it is much easier. Zoning requires more reading and reacting. It takes less practice, but its harder to implement correctly. There is way more room for error in zoning.

I'm almost 100% rush-down, BTW. I just don't think either takes more skill than the other. Beyond being different mindsets from go, they're about equal in terms of level of skill it takes to be successful - albeit with different skillsets.

 

[Crusty]

Both equally require the correct amount of skill and execution, it is just as hard to keep someone in your face as well as keeping them out, it requires the right reads and patience on both ends.

A zoner can't win a matchup by throwing projectiles and a rush down player cannot win every matchup by applying pressure and staying close at all times. At times, a healthy combination of both is better. Both require predictions like a chess game.

 

[DrManhattan]

I said players who's main strength is zoning are not overall really good players. The best players can all zone, but their strength and skill lies in their rushdown ability. The better a player is at rushdown the better overall that player is, regardless if they can zone as well.

what the fuck? are you 12 or just have an agenda against zoning. "the better a player is at rushdown... the better overall that player is" this gets the dumbest post of 2015 award in my book.

this should be an example to all aspiring tournament players.... this finality and certainty will never ever all shadow to be good enough to even win a local. he thinks rush down is better bc it is all he knows how to do and probably loses to random kotal khans who throw pizzas all day.

scrubs like this have won the eternal war over zoning. people have bitched and bitched and bitched about decent zoning characters since I have been playing fighting games. bc they have to think, slow down and be smart about getting in. ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

and this is why NRS made the game so scrub friendly. to appease people like this. sad really.

all fighting games are turning into high school girl fights. stand in front of each other and smack away

 

[Crusty]

Rushdown takes more skill hands down. MK players in general since MK9 have become more zoners because its easier to sit back and react to a move than to know a characters moveset so well that you can variate different strings and attacks in millisecond decisions to keep the pressure on someone. Zoning only requires a player to wait, constantly block and respond with projectiles when its safe. Not much skill in that. In your face pressure is where the skill is really at, there is a rhythm to pressuring and a real in depth knowledge of your character's moveset, recovery and startup time. Most of the best players are pressure/offensive players. Even my mother can zone. So get these zoning chumps out of the conversation of trying to legitimize their hesitant-to-engage-low-skill-level-lazy mindset. Zoning is for newbies. Veterans who use zoning as their main strength and tactic are really not good players overall. Truth be told. Anything contrary is nothing more than bullshit.

 

[Desperdicio]

I tell you what takes skill: winning, in any fighting game, takes skill, no matter how you do it.

 

[Tony at Home]

Plot twist NY shadow is m2dave.

 

[Braindead]

I can almost taste the hatemail NY-Shadow sends after getting bodied by a zoner.

 

[SaltShaker]

What's so bad about the match up

You can't be serious man. -.-


EDIT: What the hell happened in this thread while I was gone?! Lol!

 

[SaJa]

Thing is zoning is one dimensional, once your opponent gets through your zoning you're done and out of options. On the other hand, offensive rushdown is dynamic and naturally two dimensional because if you're opponent is able to escape your rushdown you can always zone and still have the advantage of being able to rushdown at a moments notice opening. Zoners can't do that and that's what makes their strategy weak in the end. Its like a boxer versus a kickboxer one has more options that the other and a better core strength than the other that is only skilled in one venue.

You really should watch a good Sinestro player.
And it's not because you have to use projectile that you don't need skill to do combos. Sinestro has 55% combo at fullscreen that requires good execution. When your zoner have instant air, you also need good execution (Cyborg, Kabal, etc...)
And you still have option when the zoner is up close from his opponent (Sinestro has good footsy tool and resets). The zoner's options are not as good as a pure rushdown character in general, and that's why you have to make more effort to get out, as well as the rushdown player will have to do more effort to come closer to the zoner or push him in corner.

Your vision of the zoning style seems very caricatural. It really depends of the character imo. Rushdown or zoning, if you have a braindead character it won't require skill anyway.

 

[NoobHunter420]

this game is pretty fucking balanced.
Quan has god like zoning, but is free on knockdown if you can get in.
injustice mechanics made zoning easier, mkx not so much.
much respect for mkx zoners.
no respect for cassie players.

 

[Cossner]

@NY-Shadow

You talk with a lot of confidence. Why have you never shown up offline? I'd love for you to show me your deep understanding of the game in a money match. There's a regional in PA by the end of the month, and NEC is next month. I'll do a $200 dollar money match at one of those against you. Deal?

 

[youthinkyoubadyouaintbad]

Zoning takes no skill whatsoever. Pew pew pew pew...easy win baby! Brutal, brutal, brutal!!! Drop the controller, IM DONE!

 

[youthinkyoubadyouaintbad]

Thing is zoning is one dimensional, once your opponent gets through your zoning you're done and out of options. On the other hand, offensive rushdown is dynamic and naturally two dimensional because if you're opponent is able to escape your rushdown you can always zone and still have the advantage of being able to rushdown at a moments notice opening. Zoners can't do that and that's what makes their strategy weak in the end. Its like a boxer versus a kickboxer one has more options that the other and a better core strength than the other that is only skilled in one venue.

you're a great man. never forget that.

 

[Yoaks]

NY Shadow is DrunkAtTheClub.

 

[Airvidal]

Thing is zoning is one dimensional, once your opponent gets through your zoning you're done and out of options. On the other hand, offensive rushdown is dynamic and naturally two dimensional because if you're opponent is able to escape your rushdown you can always zone and still have the advantage of being able to rushdown at a moments notice opening. Zoners can't do that and that's what makes their strategy weak in the end. Its like a boxer versus a kickboxer one has more options that the other and a better core strength than the other that is only skilled in one venue.

I kinda didn't wanna reply to you cause I see everyone fighting with you and didn't wanna add to that pressure. Thing is, there is something I really wanna say.

First of all, let me tell you I'm 100% and I quote "A rush down fool". So don't think I'm just trying to pick a side here. After reading all your answers in this thread, my assumption is that you've never played an actual good player.

You're right, most zoners control the match but once you're in, they crack. I've destroyed so many punks just like that. And yeah, whenever that happens my thought is the same, they got no skill. But what happens when I meet a zoner that once I get in BUT make a mistake on my pressure he switches it on me and starts rushing me down? That's true skill. They have mastered both styles and that's how it should be.

My advice: Do what I do. If you find someone that cracks as soon as you get in("A zoning fool"), move on and look for a real challenge, don't waste your time because it is giving you bad habits and wrong ideas and it's exactly why you have been saying what you've been saying.

Play Showtime.

 

[TackyHaddock]

@NY-Shadow

You talk with a lot of confidence. Why have you never shown up offline? I'd love you to show me your deep understanding of the game in a money match. There's a regional in PA by the end of the month, and NEC is next month. I'll do a $200 dollar money match at one of those against you. Deal?

You're prolly better off asking her out to a $200 dinner. Charm is the best weapon against the stubborn ones

 

[OnlineSkunk]

It depends, you stand 0 chance against a sniper at long range when all you have is a shotgun. find a way to get in close and the sniper may have to switch to his pistol, the one with the shotgun is now at an advantage. Both takes skills though.