WuHT
Premium Moderator
I hate fighting at the tip range of BB for the alexandras (just outside 2A range). Some of the more basic options they have against raph is for instance : alpha pat does BB into step 33B.
Its really difficult to nail them because they're outside 2A, 3A, 4K (barely gets them), AA (first A will whiff, 2nd will be TC). There really is no fast option that will cover both sides of step AND CH if they attack from disadvantage.
I'm sure most of you have thought about this, because you may habitually believe you need to rely on fast moves once your opponent closes in (i know i sure as hell do). It's counter-intuitive to throw out your fat i25+ moves up close but at a certain range your opponent is just going to spam step/launch/step/launch recklessly so you should recognize that.
You're really left with the ultra reliable 9A or 44AB to CH them out of their 2nd attack (which opponents will do automatically instead of stepping and checking, because they expect raph to whiff). Obviously this will require you to learn your opponent's attack-step patterns and which particular moves that they'll abuse with -6 to -8 frames on block (especially shit like 2K on hit) to automatically QS from.
Why I love these two slow moves is that they turn your opponent BT on hit, which limits your opponent's movement. Granted your opponent could have an awesome BT move, but you've got 6BB(BE) which should be a great trump card to make them freeze up. 44A(B) on hit means that prepBB is a must block (pretty much no BT move TCs or TS that fast) and your range means that SE options are all pretty viable because most BT moves don't have that much reach to CH you.
The only thing I like about 9A over 44A(B) is that it generally is safer on block, and if your opponent CHs you out of it you can AC away.
That entire blurb i wrote is if you want an instant answer to stop step/launch/step/launch though. If you're more analytical and patient, i've enjoyed some success with 4~G, 22_88 which is basically backdash, into quickstep and go from there to see if 22B is going to hit them.
Its really difficult to nail them because they're outside 2A, 3A, 4K (barely gets them), AA (first A will whiff, 2nd will be TC). There really is no fast option that will cover both sides of step AND CH if they attack from disadvantage.
I'm sure most of you have thought about this, because you may habitually believe you need to rely on fast moves once your opponent closes in (i know i sure as hell do). It's counter-intuitive to throw out your fat i25+ moves up close but at a certain range your opponent is just going to spam step/launch/step/launch recklessly so you should recognize that.
You're really left with the ultra reliable 9A or 44AB to CH them out of their 2nd attack (which opponents will do automatically instead of stepping and checking, because they expect raph to whiff). Obviously this will require you to learn your opponent's attack-step patterns and which particular moves that they'll abuse with -6 to -8 frames on block (especially shit like 2K on hit) to automatically QS from.
Why I love these two slow moves is that they turn your opponent BT on hit, which limits your opponent's movement. Granted your opponent could have an awesome BT move, but you've got 6BB(BE) which should be a great trump card to make them freeze up. 44A(B) on hit means that prepBB is a must block (pretty much no BT move TCs or TS that fast) and your range means that SE options are all pretty viable because most BT moves don't have that much reach to CH you.
The only thing I like about 9A over 44A(B) is that it generally is safer on block, and if your opponent CHs you out of it you can AC away.
That entire blurb i wrote is if you want an instant answer to stop step/launch/step/launch though. If you're more analytical and patient, i've enjoyed some success with 4~G, 22_88 which is basically backdash, into quickstep and go from there to see if 22B is going to hit them.
