My5tiC4L
[09] Warrior
Matchup Discussion: Leixia VS. Cervantes
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
6B BE - 6KK, GI the second hit, aGI the second hit with 4A+B, sidestep second hit in either direction to make him ring himself out at a great distance. They'd best not be using this on your guard.
22_88A BE - Sidestep the second hit in either direction, GI, or aGI with 4A+B. This works even if you're hit by the first hit, and they can't delay the yellow flash.
WR A+B BE - Sidestep last hit either direction, GI, aGI with 4A+B
...Imo an important thing to do against Cervantes is to take his tools away one by one. This means punishing 3B with AA, his mid anti-steps (like 3A+B or WR AB etc.) with 6KK, and 66A with AA if he didn't space it right.
Many of his knockdowns put you at mid-range, and a lot of Cervy players like to use 33B as oki, because it does a ton of damage if you stay down or attack, and busts your guard guage too. But it's quite an easy (relatively speaking) attack to Just Guard in this situation, so you can do that to discourage him further.
You have to be very careful about whiffing or stepping at the wrong time at any range, because he can hit you and surprise you with the gunshots (incl. CE) and 4A+B.
At close range you have to stay still. Reading 1AB once or twice and punishing severely will really help, because he'll be afraid to go for chip damage and have to stick to mids. But until he does, you don't really want to step at close range. Once he's scared to do 1AB, then you can step (mainly to beat 3B and 1BB).
After 4B BE, Leixia's 4A+B can be timed to beat a BT B+K attempt for a lot of damage. If he's scared to do BT B+K, the mixup actually isn't that great for him any more, because he's BT and can't do any other damaging moves except throws. If he delays or throws, 3B will beat the big options and only lose to weak options like basic BT attacks (2K, 2A etc.)
Without meter, his B throw is stronger, it's worth remembering. Always remember the A throw RO potential, it flings you a long way.
Big problem in this MU is aB. It's one of the best moves in the game. Leixia's kind of lucky in that she can punish it from most ranges with 3B or 6KK, but you need to play Cervantes a lot to get used to punishing it, because the blockstun is so short. Also he can punish some of your 3B with aB, which makes it more risky than against other characters (his punish does nearly the same damage as the staple 3B, 3B+K combo, so risk-reward becomes bad)...
Yep 4B BE is brainless move. It means you have to be careful of any movement, even at mid range. I said to Docvizzo once that when you play Cervantes you have to freeze - which makes sense as he has a gun. At longer range, you can step more freely and bait 66A to block punish or crouch punish. But be careful because CE will usually catch sidestep.
...
Only thing about 4B BE being 'spammable' is that it uses up his meter, so you sort of get a small victory if he doesn't get a successful mix-up after. But still an amazing move.
...
Oh one last thing, beware of his 9B+K. Quite often I get people against a wall, or edge, and spam mid and low attacks, but you can't do that against Cervantes, cos he can jump over you and get a RO or massive wall combo.
From my experience, I will almost always have a CE when I finally block this move. Because it's unseeable, you'll rarely take the risk of blocking it anyway. (Taking NH 1AB is better than NH 2A+B or 3B obviously). Without that, yeah, not much damage.Is the "severe punishment" of his 1AB, 3B 3B+K or are you talking about something else? Because I think Leixia is one of the worst characters in the game to punish moves like Cervantes' 1AB or iGDR.
Yep you're right, I guess I was just thinking generally at that point rather than specific Leixia-orientated strategy. Still don't think 1AB is that bad though. V. unsafe, chip damage. If you step then, well, the Cervy player did an anti-step, so they earned their damage. It's an excellent move, no doubt, just not ridiculous like 4B BE or aB.Is the "severe punishment" of his 1AB, 3B 3B+K or are you talking about something else? Because I think Leixia is one of the worst characters in the game to punish moves like Cervantes' 1AB or iGDR.
Lol. Guess that's a no then.
Lol. Guess that's a no then.
To be honest with you, I have just no idea.
I can count the number of occassions where I could play a Cervantes-player with one hand.
I personally think that Cervantes is part of the top 3 most difficult Leixia MUs. But I don't really have the experience to prove, explain or refute it.
From my experience what Leixia really has going for her, is that 66K will hit Ivy out of her evades. (3B/214B). Ivy does have a decent punisher in 6B8,K and a great backdash which can help her in the midrange game though. Fortunately, Ivy's frames on block aren't the greatest at that range. So Leixia can close in for mixups more often. I don't think it's quite even, but still only slightly in Ivy's favor.Pardon my offtopicness, but what about Ivy? As a Leixia scrub, I feel crushed by her.
From my experience what Leixia really has going for her, is that 66K will hit Ivy out of her evades. (3B/214B). Ivy does have a decent punisher in 6B8,K and a great backdash which can help her in the midrange game though. Fortunately, Ivy's frames on block aren't the greatest at that range. So Leixia can close in for mixups more often. I don't think it's quite even, but still only slightly in Ivy's favor.
Lol. Guess that's a no then.