Free Step Dodge

Akira and Pai to me are the only exceptions of high execution but really good because the tools Akira has are really rewarding (We seen it with JC Akira and DBomb). Pai cause her stuff although complex at times can also be simple enough where you still keep the opposition guessing.

A's either are a bit more complex to a point where they can lose badly because of it (Phase 4, Ayane, Sarah, etc) or too simple and the opposition can have a chance to react (Rachel, etc). Unlike Tekken where simplicity can work wonders, DOA I don't think that would work all the way well.

I do like this list a lot more than most I've seen, Leon is a tad too low though. He has access to a low OH, a i7 forward throw near water gives him 100+ on HiC which can also be practically the highest i7 punish throw in the game on NH just by being near water. Leon is all about the environment and it's not very likely that you'll get a huge open stage a lot. I'd swap Honoka placement with Leon.

Ryu isn't superb but i'm pretty sure he's higher than average given that he has a throw for a guaranteed BT combo. A WR attack that can escape the stun game when placed in a light stun (Manny showed this) etc. Ayane might be slightly too low.

As for Pai, think people might be sleeping on that character. I'd put her right before Phase 4's location. I don't think she's that high but extremely doubtful anywhere low.

It's pretty difficult making one for this game simply because everyone has access to a hold mechanic. You can literally win matches just by holding correctly and damage increase if it lands spot on. Some holds even provide a free launch.

Valid arguments. I'ma explore Leon, Ayane, & Pai a bit more as I continue. I'ma see if I can make a valid argument for each. I felt with Leon, I feel that his mix-up is simple to a point where its reduced to 33p which that success depends on the opposition. Plus with some of his strings leaving him to charge a lot.....

I feel some players would try to interrupt that, leaving him on the defensive end. With Ayane/Ryu, both were hard as they're really good where it's possible you can put them higher. However, I feel their execution barrier hurts them more than helps them. Plus with Ryu, his neutral game's mediocre to me which hurts him. Minus doing the WR, he really isn't that scary to me up close.

this should have been a thread in the forums.

With Ryu, he's another high risk high reward character to me but this time on the counter hit risk and that either helps or hurts him.

Pai, I feel although she's a bit on the execution side, I feel her tools are very rewarding. Guarantees from throws are very helpful. And simple frame traps that can annoy players (4p for example) is another thing that's helpful to her side.

I agree @VAND1TA I should've made this a thread. But I figured since I'm going to be away from playing DOA/Tekken seriously to learn, I made it here for now. I might make a final update before I leave, as there's a couple things I looked more into. But after that....

when I get back, I'll try to update on a monthly basis, similar to Speedkicks as I study both games more.

Some thing's I think I'ma change before I leave:
1) Honoka to C
2) Helena to S
3) Leon to B (Even though I just made an argument to why I considered him C)

Here's my explanation: Looking into Honoka, I see that her execution is way too high for someone who's not very rewarding. Her guard breaks to me are bad. Especially considering one of them's -13 on guard break. Some of her transitions are throw punishable as well (3k4). Her best tools in regards to + frames include 4k2 & 214p+k I think.

I feel she lives and dies off getting counter hit and considering there are characters who do it way better and safer than Honoka, that really can suck for her. Her saving grace right now in why I placed her at B was cause of her 9f and shoulder crush.

Helena's a bit difficult for me to drop to S. However, I thought of two things: Her execution, although isn't hard af, is a bit of a challenge and she pretty react-able offline. Some of her free cancels especially with her back turn really can hurt her and plus take away her stance and it becomes a completely different game for her.

However, when she is in her stance though, it's a struggle to deal with. Plus it could be a grind to play Helena for 2-5 games compared to other characters. Lastly with Leon....

I talked with Ethan and dove into Leon and I look at some of his good guard breaks (46p, 2p+k, etc) that can help his mix-up. And also, Desert Falcon is possibly S tier in regards to throws.

However, I still think Leon in the end will rely on 33p for people to get opened up and he can get interrupted which can hurt him.

Probably depends on the person playing Leon. Ex: Every Leon player I've encountered will always resort to 6PP. This move is mediocre on block because every follow up can be thrown with except the mid punch. But why go for 6PP (i14) when you can do 3P (i13) as the startup move etc. (opinion of course) Bayman's 6PP is the better one.