Dealing with fast/aggressive characters?

Jyakotu

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I'm getting fed up that I can't seem to handle the faster and more aggressive fighters in the game with Eliot. All the ninjas give me problems, along with Hitomi, Jann Lee, Christie, and Rig. Any strategies with dealing with these kinds of characters?
 

David Gregg

Well-Known Member
So I guess my first question is how are you approaching these characters as of right now and which strategies are working and not working for you? Also you can't approach all 9 characters that you listed the same way they have different matchups with Eliot.
 

Jyakotu

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So I guess my first question is how are you approaching these characters as of right now and which strategies are working and not working for you? Also you can't approach all 9 characters that you listed the same way they have different matchups with Eliot.
When it comes to aggressive characters, I usually try to play more aggressively with Eliot than I normally do. Sometimes it works, sometimes, it doesn't.
 

David Gregg

Well-Known Member
I posted this a while back on the characters and playstyle forum. This isn't meant to be the "How you play Eliot" but rather what has worked best for me. It's too difficult to understand what you mean by "aggressive" as it doesn't really tell me anything. Just remember that you need a healthy balance of offense and defense with the character to do well and trying to blindly attack a character like Kasumi or Christie who are both much faster than you will lead to a quick K.O.

Eliot: Spacing, rushdown, and stun-to-launch. Against good players, I don't care what anyone says, attempting long mixup combos (including his 3KP sitdown) is fruitless so this is the strategy that has worked best for me. With the exception of his H+K and his 7P, competitively speaking, Eliot doesn't do so great against opponents who are in his face. He either needs his opponent in a stun, in the air, or there needs to be some space. Thankfully he's got some very useful (and might I add decent damaging) stuns and knockbacks at mid and long range (examples include 2H+K, 46P, 236P, 66K, 214P (added benefit of being a sabaki), special wakeup "punch" P+K, 6H+K, 236K). In addition, a properly timed cartwheel (7K) can also create some space for him with the added benefit of damage if the opponent is too close. Unfortunately, he lacks tracking and can be predictable so once you close in you need a plan in mind and more often times than not if you're not throwing (and if you are you should be using his launcher 236T to get maximal damage) or using a move to knock back the opponent, you'll want to stun and launch as quickly as possible before you're sidestepped or countered even if the damage output is less than ideal (usually on average between 60-75 on NH which varies depending on the opponent's weight). His instant 3P is vital to extend combos and launches on high counter so always keep that move in the front of your mind and "spam" it frequently.
 

Jyakotu

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Standard Donor
A very interesting read indeed. While I've read that Eliot is more defensive oriented, I play the opposite. I like to be offensive as possible and only get defensive if I'm feeling pressured.
 

David Gregg

Well-Known Member
I like to be offensive as possible and only get defensive if I'm feeling pressured.

You need to be a little more flexible in how you approach fights. If you keep trying to attack a character who is clearly faster than you, they'll play offensive as well (only they'll win since they are well..faster). Part of winning the game is understanding your opponent's strategy. If you're playing too offensively with a character who's not meant to play that way, your opponent will see what you're doing and have a field day using you as a sandbag (yes that was a super smash reference. ;)) You have to play mind games. Make your opponents start to second guess their attacks. Then you may have more luck playing offensive against characters like Christie.
 

Jyakotu

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You need to be a little more flexible in how you approach fights. If you keep trying to attack a character who is clearly faster than you, there's nothing stopping them from constantly out-attacking you. You have to play mind games. Make your opponents start to second guess their attacks. Then you may have more luck playing offensive against characters like Christie.
I try to mix up offense and defense when it comes to Eliot, because it seems like he works best at mid distance.
 

iThe Apprentice

Well-Known Member
You really have to read your opponents playstyle. You can't really just throw stuff in there. It's really all about whether or not you want to play the same way your opponent does. Also people like Vincent Rayne go into some bad habits of doing the same stuff over and over again. So you'll need to watch out for that too. Throw some parries in there for a 60% guaranteed launcher.
 
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ScattereDreams

Well-Known Member
Don't lock up... you have to use 7p is players are delaying or free canceling strings. It'll stop PP throws and especially Hitomi or Zacks mixup's up. Against Alpha, you need to know her strings to know when to counter poke ie. 6PPPKK; the first kick is a high, so high crush (2F+K). Against i9 jabs use sabaki when due (or against rig in BND stance to slow down his frame traps) and parries to slow down quick characters or at least scare. Against Christie you have to make use of 4K to stop her from SSing

Eliot vs Rig in BND stance. 7P if he's not at +2 or free cancels mid kicks. 214P if he abuses 5KK



Vs kasumi take care of her highs with sabaki as well as mid punches with parries
 
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