just a worthwhile thread sniped off of CF.com, thought the people here would like to see it too.
'Sword stance tips? Hey guys, I've been reading these forums for a couple weeks now to improve my play. I decided to use ivy in sc4 because i've always thought she was unique. I've had a lot of success with her, but I'm having a lot of trouble learning to use her sword form. Are there any pointers or tactics that can help me improve?'
Sword stance or SW is, in my opinion, her hands down best stance. In fact, i find myself using it almost exclusively.
some great tools;
FC 3B - bread and butter of this stance. long range low that gives advantage on any hit, and is safe on block. Abuse this and make people really really want to block low. This is the glue that holds sword stance pressure together.
6 - great move, decent damage, good adv. Good to interrupt when you can, and a decent punisher, assuming youre in range.
3B - TOO good. safe, pushes out and forces crouch on block. hurts the guard meter quite a bit, advantage forever on hit and damage forever (for now) on CH. i spam this move like its my job, and really, why not.
66B - advancing high. use it carefully. you want people to block this. rapes guard.
WS B - damage forever (for now). this makes people NEVER EVER EVER want to block low versus ivy. mix it in with FC 3B and watch people simply shut down
2A- staple for people who try to interrupt or for ivy to interrupt with.
WS A - catches step, good damage, and good advantage on hit. use this to train people to not step against FC 3B/WS B mixup. again, these 3 moves can shut an entire game down.
66A- stops step, adv on hit.
she has other good stuff, but if you play it smart, using this move set can allow you to FIRMLY control the pacing of a match. there are few things in this game as high pressure as ivy crouching at point blank range, because she can KEEP giving herself advantage while the opponent has to make a choice between
-interrupt and get ticked out of it because ivy is at advantage
-step and get CH out of it by 2A or WS A, both give advantage
-block high and eat FC 3B which resets the mixup, leaving ivy at advantage
-block low and take back advantage, but the risk is eating a WS B, which no one wants to do
guess right a few times and you can watch a good players brain actually turn into powder.
there's a bit more to it than that of course, and its not a win button, but it is very strong tactic out of a very strong stance
'Sword stance tips? Hey guys, I've been reading these forums for a couple weeks now to improve my play. I decided to use ivy in sc4 because i've always thought she was unique. I've had a lot of success with her, but I'm having a lot of trouble learning to use her sword form. Are there any pointers or tactics that can help me improve?'
Sword stance or SW is, in my opinion, her hands down best stance. In fact, i find myself using it almost exclusively.
some great tools;
FC 3B - bread and butter of this stance. long range low that gives advantage on any hit, and is safe on block. Abuse this and make people really really want to block low. This is the glue that holds sword stance pressure together.
6 - great move, decent damage, good adv. Good to interrupt when you can, and a decent punisher, assuming youre in range.
3B - TOO good. safe, pushes out and forces crouch on block. hurts the guard meter quite a bit, advantage forever on hit and damage forever (for now) on CH. i spam this move like its my job, and really, why not.
66B - advancing high. use it carefully. you want people to block this. rapes guard.
WS B - damage forever (for now). this makes people NEVER EVER EVER want to block low versus ivy. mix it in with FC 3B and watch people simply shut down
2A- staple for people who try to interrupt or for ivy to interrupt with.
WS A - catches step, good damage, and good advantage on hit. use this to train people to not step against FC 3B/WS B mixup. again, these 3 moves can shut an entire game down.
66A- stops step, adv on hit.
she has other good stuff, but if you play it smart, using this move set can allow you to FIRMLY control the pacing of a match. there are few things in this game as high pressure as ivy crouching at point blank range, because she can KEEP giving herself advantage while the opponent has to make a choice between
-interrupt and get ticked out of it because ivy is at advantage
-step and get CH out of it by 2A or WS A, both give advantage
-block high and eat FC 3B which resets the mixup, leaving ivy at advantage
-block low and take back advantage, but the risk is eating a WS B, which no one wants to do
guess right a few times and you can watch a good players brain actually turn into powder.
there's a bit more to it than that of course, and its not a win button, but it is very strong tactic out of a very strong stance
- it's a special-mid, but it's quick, with decent damage and range to boot. It also seems to KD under certain conditions. Does this move have any merit outside of the situational usage of most jumping attacks?