It seems to be a consensus in the Calibur community that Astaroth is one of the weakest characters in the game. I can give a big list of reasons why I think this is the case, but I want to know what other Astaroth players want from a (most likely) future balance patch. Not to say that he's a horrible character, as he does have certain strengths, but he is definitely lacking compared to almost every other character in the cast.
For me, I'd like to see a few things changed/added to the big man to make him a little more viable. I don't think it would be realistic to ask for ALL of these changes, but I'd like to see at least a few of them.
- Bring back his BA string from SC2. This was his B followed by a quick horizontal high. As of now, his B only leads to other vertical attacks, and opponents can completely take away these options with a sidestep as soon as they block B. This would give him another option to prevent a one size fits all defensive option and make people think a little more while on defense in the match up. I would say I'd like it to jail, but this could lead to the same problem as before, as if they step after blocking a B they might just block the A follow up or step if anything comes out. They brought back 66A+B from SC2, why not bring back something actually useful?
- Bull Rush KD on NH. This is something I hated in SCV, and I still hate it now. Because it doesn't knock down, he loses a big tool to deter people from ducking. It is already much more linear than it has ever been, so why not buff it when it actually hits? Astaroth should be scary at the ring edge, and this sort of declaws him a bit since he's got no scary mid with his opponent's back to the wall/edge. I'd also like to see a bit more push back on block, but no change to the negative frames. I can actually take or leave this change, but I feel like it would change match ups with short range/quick characters to help him out, since he's already super slow, but in match ups where he wants to be up close (Ivy?), going for the Bull Rush might not be as worth doing a different mid if it gets blocked since you lose some ground.
- More mobile PT. Back in older iterations of Astaroth, he was able to move during the start up of the first hit, and had more mobility during the move. This was extremely strong in SC2, but I'm not really asking for a return of those properties exactly. Through each game, the move has gotten worse, becoming more negative on block and losing a lot of mobility. I'd like to see the ability to move into the foreground and background, and a little more movement forward or back to make up for how negative each hit is on block. It would probably make more sense to decrease the damage of the hit throw because the move would be more viable, and I'd be totally ok with losing damage in exchange for usability.
- Make 66B a mid at closer than tip range. His mids are already lacking, and this would help block/whiff punish moves that recover crouching from a good range. It may be redundant considering bull rush exists, but it could be a useful change.
- Do SOMETHING with Soul Charge! I don't have any specifics for this one, but I feel like the idea behind SC is to cover up weaknesses that your character has normally. Unfortunately I don't feel like Astaroth benefits in this way. From what I can tell, his strengths are just made slightly stronger, while all the holes in his game still exist. 22_88B becomes a BA, but is still as linear as ever, and armor is still relatively useless since most strings will beat it out anyway. I'd like to see them do something to his SC to make it maybe cover some holes he has in his game, even giving a speed boost to some of his moves to make them more useful in this state.
- Bring back spin stun from 44[A]. This already takes a long time to come out, so if your opponent gets hit by it they should pay the consequences! Would also be good to deter RE and GI. It hurts my soul every time I hit someone with a full charged 44A and they don't spin for a combo like they used to.
These are a few things that I thought of, I'd love to see what other Asta faithfuls have in mind as well. I realize that a lot of these changes are un-nerfing nerfs he's received over the years, and that could possibly be due to my own lack of creativity, but it's also because I want this character to resemble the character I used to love to use in the past, instead of the shell of himself that he's become in this game. I know Discord is more popular these days, but there are plenty of you on these forums and I wanna hear what you have to say!
For me, I'd like to see a few things changed/added to the big man to make him a little more viable. I don't think it would be realistic to ask for ALL of these changes, but I'd like to see at least a few of them.
- Bring back his BA string from SC2. This was his B followed by a quick horizontal high. As of now, his B only leads to other vertical attacks, and opponents can completely take away these options with a sidestep as soon as they block B. This would give him another option to prevent a one size fits all defensive option and make people think a little more while on defense in the match up. I would say I'd like it to jail, but this could lead to the same problem as before, as if they step after blocking a B they might just block the A follow up or step if anything comes out. They brought back 66A+B from SC2, why not bring back something actually useful?
- Bull Rush KD on NH. This is something I hated in SCV, and I still hate it now. Because it doesn't knock down, he loses a big tool to deter people from ducking. It is already much more linear than it has ever been, so why not buff it when it actually hits? Astaroth should be scary at the ring edge, and this sort of declaws him a bit since he's got no scary mid with his opponent's back to the wall/edge. I'd also like to see a bit more push back on block, but no change to the negative frames. I can actually take or leave this change, but I feel like it would change match ups with short range/quick characters to help him out, since he's already super slow, but in match ups where he wants to be up close (Ivy?), going for the Bull Rush might not be as worth doing a different mid if it gets blocked since you lose some ground.
- More mobile PT. Back in older iterations of Astaroth, he was able to move during the start up of the first hit, and had more mobility during the move. This was extremely strong in SC2, but I'm not really asking for a return of those properties exactly. Through each game, the move has gotten worse, becoming more negative on block and losing a lot of mobility. I'd like to see the ability to move into the foreground and background, and a little more movement forward or back to make up for how negative each hit is on block. It would probably make more sense to decrease the damage of the hit throw because the move would be more viable, and I'd be totally ok with losing damage in exchange for usability.
- Make 66B a mid at closer than tip range. His mids are already lacking, and this would help block/whiff punish moves that recover crouching from a good range. It may be redundant considering bull rush exists, but it could be a useful change.
- Do SOMETHING with Soul Charge! I don't have any specifics for this one, but I feel like the idea behind SC is to cover up weaknesses that your character has normally. Unfortunately I don't feel like Astaroth benefits in this way. From what I can tell, his strengths are just made slightly stronger, while all the holes in his game still exist. 22_88B becomes a BA, but is still as linear as ever, and armor is still relatively useless since most strings will beat it out anyway. I'd like to see them do something to his SC to make it maybe cover some holes he has in his game, even giving a speed boost to some of his moves to make them more useful in this state.
- Bring back spin stun from 44[A]. This already takes a long time to come out, so if your opponent gets hit by it they should pay the consequences! Would also be good to deter RE and GI. It hurts my soul every time I hit someone with a full charged 44A and they don't spin for a combo like they used to.
These are a few things that I thought of, I'd love to see what other Asta faithfuls have in mind as well. I realize that a lot of these changes are un-nerfing nerfs he's received over the years, and that could possibly be due to my own lack of creativity, but it's also because I want this character to resemble the character I used to love to use in the past, instead of the shell of himself that he's become in this game. I know Discord is more popular these days, but there are plenty of you on these forums and I wanna hear what you have to say!
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