Dankster Morgan
It is better this way
Most people think Acidic is Alien's best variation, I'd say mostly because of what Sonic does with him. Acidic is still top 5, top tier, etc.. That's not what I'm getting at. I just think Tarkatan is better, maybe even the best.
Reasons to pick Tarkatan over Acidic:
1. Hit confirm meter spending off of 50/50s: If Acidic wants to launch for an actual combo he has to commit to EX Flip in a non hit confirmable, very unsafe 50/50. If Tarkatan wants to launch, he cancels 50/50 in to rekka, where he is only partially unsafe, and wastes no meter if he is punished, and still gets the same damage if it hits from hit confirming rekkas.
If Acidic wants to launch he is:
100% unsafe
wasted a bar of meter
If Tarkatan wants to launch he is:
50% unsafe
wasted no meter
2. 9 frame armor launcher: I don't really need to explain the benefits of a 9 frame armor launcher, but I will anyways. EX flip is around 18 frames if I recall, and can be armor broken by stuff that Tarkatan EX DB2 can't. It is easily Alien's best choice to reversal option select gaps in the opponent's offense.
3. Standing 2 and the 21/214 strings: Not only is it one of Alien's best footsie tools in this variation, but it also makes Tarkatan a better punisher that Acidic. If there is something that the 9 frame B1 won't reach to punish, Tarkatan still has access the the long range 9 frame standing 2.
4. DB1 knockdown in the corner into JB2 gives Alien pressure if the opponent doesn't have meter, or the pounce HKD is still good if you prefer it. I'd take that over a plus 1 restand.
5. And of course the rekkas: Rekkas in MKXL essentially allow the player to get away with stuff they shouldn't be able to get away with while they are negative. Yes they can be blown up by fast armor, but the majority of the armor used to reversal OS doesn't launch. Most characters have to spend a bar to get like 12% to blow up the rekka gap. Sick punish bro. Or a character with Predator tier armor, lel. Alien can be plus 3 with max delay rekkas ending in low. If he is worried about them back dashing he can stop at the second rekka. So if you don't have meter, the rekkas essentially put you in a 50/50 situation. And smart use of overhead rekka will hit. During an EX crawl combo, Alien can stop at the second hit of rekka and jail everything but a 50/50, but strings like F134 and B113 especially have 50/50s built in, plus the added bonus of being able to end strings in flip, snag, or rekka, he has enough tools to mix you in this situation. The rekkas also give Alien better footsies, being able to hit confirm full combos off of B3 and the like, and ex rekka being 15 frames and reaching half screen, and launching for a full combo if Alien has another bar.
I think all this is better than damage ticks, zoning, and a plus 1 restand. Once again, I'm not downplaying Acidic if some retard tries to twist my words against me, don't. Once again, I think Acidic is top 5.
I know @Tweedy thinks this as well, and I think more people need to be aware of this. Tarkatan Alien actually being slept on in terms of capabilities is a crime against humanity.
Reasons to pick Tarkatan over Acidic:
1. Hit confirm meter spending off of 50/50s: If Acidic wants to launch for an actual combo he has to commit to EX Flip in a non hit confirmable, very unsafe 50/50. If Tarkatan wants to launch, he cancels 50/50 in to rekka, where he is only partially unsafe, and wastes no meter if he is punished, and still gets the same damage if it hits from hit confirming rekkas.
If Acidic wants to launch he is:
100% unsafe
wasted a bar of meter
If Tarkatan wants to launch he is:
50% unsafe
wasted no meter
2. 9 frame armor launcher: I don't really need to explain the benefits of a 9 frame armor launcher, but I will anyways. EX flip is around 18 frames if I recall, and can be armor broken by stuff that Tarkatan EX DB2 can't. It is easily Alien's best choice to reversal option select gaps in the opponent's offense.
3. Standing 2 and the 21/214 strings: Not only is it one of Alien's best footsie tools in this variation, but it also makes Tarkatan a better punisher that Acidic. If there is something that the 9 frame B1 won't reach to punish, Tarkatan still has access the the long range 9 frame standing 2.
4. DB1 knockdown in the corner into JB2 gives Alien pressure if the opponent doesn't have meter, or the pounce HKD is still good if you prefer it. I'd take that over a plus 1 restand.
5. And of course the rekkas: Rekkas in MKXL essentially allow the player to get away with stuff they shouldn't be able to get away with while they are negative. Yes they can be blown up by fast armor, but the majority of the armor used to reversal OS doesn't launch. Most characters have to spend a bar to get like 12% to blow up the rekka gap. Sick punish bro. Or a character with Predator tier armor, lel. Alien can be plus 3 with max delay rekkas ending in low. If he is worried about them back dashing he can stop at the second rekka. So if you don't have meter, the rekkas essentially put you in a 50/50 situation. And smart use of overhead rekka will hit. During an EX crawl combo, Alien can stop at the second hit of rekka and jail everything but a 50/50, but strings like F134 and B113 especially have 50/50s built in, plus the added bonus of being able to end strings in flip, snag, or rekka, he has enough tools to mix you in this situation. The rekkas also give Alien better footsies, being able to hit confirm full combos off of B3 and the like, and ex rekka being 15 frames and reaching half screen, and launching for a full combo if Alien has another bar.
I think all this is better than damage ticks, zoning, and a plus 1 restand. Once again, I'm not downplaying Acidic if some retard tries to twist my words against me, don't. Once again, I think Acidic is top 5.
I know @Tweedy thinks this as well, and I think more people need to be aware of this. Tarkatan Alien actually being slept on in terms of capabilities is a crime against humanity.