Thanks for all the tips guys. I'm still with the main group I've picked since I first saw them when the leak came out (that is, Vergil, Firebrand, Strange), and trying to play another group of characters feels a bit too foreign to me and I can't really get a grip on them that well.
Basically, though, I'm just having trouble getting basic magic-series combos going after hitting the opponent. I'm not trying really fancy stuff, just really basic execution level things. For Firebrand its like L, M, H (2 hits) 236S. Half the time I do that, I end up just hitting launching the opponent instead the special Bon Voyage.
As far as assists go, I'm landing Bolts of Balthak, but I don't seem to get much out of it. More often than not, my assists are getting crunched before anything comes out. As far as getting additional hits out of a combo post OTG with Vergil, it appears that Firebrand's Hellfire is too slow and I can't get anything out of that. That's why I'm thinking of switching to the Swoop Assist or the Charge assist (not sure which to use yet).
Generally, I'm not fighting too many good players, but I am encountering lots of spammy players. Once ran into a player who used Dante and did nothing but throw out special moves canceled into other special moves - the ones we all know about. I've switched up my order from time to time and definitely feels better when I can leave Strange for last and alternate between Vergil and Firebrand as my first. I'm having a much better time working with Strange now that I'm using standing M and crouching M as my combo starters (instead of L). Still having trouble with landing 6H and post follow ups (trying to put out Graces or Eyes, not very successful).
Right now, it seems my biggest issues are lack of good assist synergy and lack of air dashes on all three of my characters. I'm also lacking solid overhead options with Strange and Vergil. I've used Judgment Cut a couple times as an assist, but haven't had much luck with it, but I want to keep trying to see if I can get anything out of it. Wish Vergil had Lunar Eclipse as an assist, though.
well for the first part, that's just practice, just keep drilling those basic combos till you can perform them fluidly. the main thing is just confidence(when playing against live people), many problems with combos is that people hesitate, they second guess their inputs and mess up on timing or inputs......
Bolts of Balthak, should be used in 2 ways(or atleast this is how i use it) first way i use it is for distance close, basically what i mean is call you assist as far back as possible, then move in so that your assist is away from the fighting and strange himself is hidden because he is off screen. second way is to use it as a lockdown assist........essentially you would call him out while your opponent is in block stun do to you attacking......
as for firebrand, im not certain iv been thinking of picking him up so i might get back to you on his assist, but from experience and what others have told me, the dive is a pretty good assist.......i still think you should keep hellfire, but use it as a lockdown, or use it to force as a way to force your opponent to jump, the assist acts like a fire carpet, any ground oppoenet if they would like to confront would have to jump over the assist, then useing virgils j.H pokes knock em out or try to catch them with 623 M/L.
with stranges 6H, he has a couple of good follow ups, first, you can perform a character switch after the 6H and combo off of any other character you feel comfotable with, another is you can perform 3 graces-the red ones. then OTG them with a flame of faltine and then mystic sword H them and launch.......and the last thing is after 6H, you can fly j.MHS, s.M,H, 6H, S....
in my opinion you firebrand and strange assist are fine, personally i think you should use virgils rapid dash assist.... thats what i use normally, they way i use the assist is while im attacking someone and they are blocking, i call virgil out and because the nature of the move it normally opens people up.........
strange actually has a great overhead if you know how to open people up, from experience after your opponent blocks a string(when i mean string i mean you finished with 6H and they blocked it) cancel his 6H with either eye of agamato or mystic sword H, (Mix them up, people tend to want to attack after 6H so mystic sword is great for those itchy fingers, while those who like to block alot like to hesitate while you perform eye of agamato) after either one perform some form of tele, they should be stunned enough that youll be safe, if they are blocking low then overhead tele, also instead of tele perform fly then press S, its pretty fast and solid overhead move.
with virgil, his H poke is a great overhead, i don't really use his S, leaves him pretty open also his helmet break is excellent, you can cancel a whiffed helmet breaker with a special move (preferably 623 L which is safe)
