Case Study: Research on the Successful Players of Our Ti
ATL_R3dd
A prodigious, experienced player from the ATL area, R3dd recently won a small online tournament hosted by a member of the GameFAQs boards. Many players speak of his prowess- he himself has visual proof of achieving perfect victories on skilled players.
How is this possible? What is it that gives him these seemingly "magical powers"?
The Unrelenting Offensive
The answer is a calculated, overbearing dance of death.
One may be lead into thinking that this is merely pure aggression; however, it is not.
Along with a constant threat of nunchaku-to-the-face, R3dd uses frame traps and carefully timed Guard Impacts to forge the appearance of a towering, unstoppable tsunami of force.
The end result- a seed of doubt planted in the opponent's mind. Faced with a seemingly unstoppable mass of attacks, it is difficult to see when to interrupt the oncoming flow, much less perform said interrupt. With the momentum sharply tilting, the opponent locks up due to the pressure, making needless mistakes and staying on the defensive.
Play-By-Play
With that being said, let us look into the details of this clash,
and analyze exactly what happened- the techniques he has used,
and the mistakes I have made.
Part 1
:47 - R3dd rolls my 33B oki attempt. I try to BT B+K him- he hits me out of it with a wrA.
This happens multiple times during the entire duration of the study.
:49 - R3dd whiffs a couple of moves.
An attempt to rush in to take the situation by force is met with a BT B+K of his own.
1:05 - Note the wrA interrupt again.
1:10 - An error in my defense causes my death, most likely because of unfamiliarity.
1:17 - R3dd smacks me with the opening move of 66A.
This happens multiple times during the entire duration of the study.
1:29 - A habit I have of B+King after performing a 66A+B is punished by a swift 6A+B.
1:47 - A blocked 1A, while not punished, ruins the momentum of the round.
I am counterhit attempting to interrupt.
1:58 - Because of my tendency to whiff punish or attack at range with a 66A+B combo, R3dd nails me with a 66B4 trap. This happens multiple times during the entire duration of the study.
2:51 - R3dd repeatedly performs a 66B4G LI B. Because of the built-in sidestep, interrupts may be dodged. My attempts to B+K aGI fail because of the slight delay. I finally manage to GI the move- however, my retaliatory throw is broken.
3:52 - I stay wary of the 66B4 trap. However, attempting to run in and strike gets shut down by a delayed LI
.
4:02 - R3dd throws out a blocked AA. However, it is yet another trap, as I eat a Wavering Dream combo.
4:10 - The constant pressure is getting to me- I counter a blocked Wavering Dream combo with A+B, but fail to perform the full follow-up. This happens multiple times during the entire duration of the study.
4:40 - Swept right out of the ring by a RC KK.
Part 2
8:16 - R3dd pulls out a little treat.
Due to the constant offensive pressure of all the matches beforehand, I am not ready for the next move;
4[A+B], which is guaranteed on block.
Notable Traits
So what can we learn from this playstyle?
Well, for close-quarters-combat, it is important to shower your blade onto your opponent when possible. Being constantly attacked can crack a player's will and leave him unable to fight back or think of a way out.
When at disadvantage, use evasive moves and guard impacting to continue the offensive. One should note that R3dd does not block much- when he does he does not block for very long. Note that what is being crafted here is an underlying message: "I will attack from disadvantage. I will interrupt everything you do until you are unsure about your ability to fight back."
Learn to use your frame advantage, and constantly tilt the momentum in your favor. Poke through the enemy's defenses, and evade his eventual counterattacks. If you have been applying pressure correctly, the retaliation strikes should be simple, your opponent befuddled with defense and easy to read.
Countering
How could we possibly mount our own offensive against this playstyle?
Learn the attack patterns. You must know when you can stop guarding and when you should start guarding. You cannot guard forever, due to the Critical Finish system; Maxi in particular cannot activate a Critical Finish in stance, but R3dd has performed Critical Finishes on players regardless, so do not think that Maxi players will not take advantage of the fact.
Learn when it is safe to interrupt, or attempt a GI. Because of the numerous frame traps and constant pressure, you will have to be patient and wait for an opening. However, this is easier said than done- while you are waiting, you may be hit by a low; while you are waiting, you may become impatient and attempt to interrupt only to receive a sharp counterhit.
Anticipate evasive maneuvers. If you have watched carefully you have probably noticed that R3dd can escape dire situations at times, and tip the scales again in his favor. As such it may not be advisable to immediately attack at certain times (lest you risk a GI); other times you may not want to make your intentions clear (lest you are stepped, or your low/throw is evaded).
Thanks to ATL_R3dd for participating in this experiment.
Until the next study... see you next time.
