Any feedback would be wonderful. I hope new Venom players find this useful.

Thanks!

I'm writing a new topic about ball sets and formations hoping to help any venom player or anyone trying venom. I post a new topic because the purpose of this one is not neccesarily practical but its theoretical with some application. The aim is finding actions after setting certain balls. Actually many players will be limited to one or two balls and get discouraged trying new variations. Here, I'll try to cover each set and subset of formations.

The main problem for the venom player after setting is taking time to decide what to do with this ball. With this library or guide I'll try to give ideas how to use each ball so you it will be easier to use and of course to have fun.

Notes:

1- The possibilites are countless, I can't cover everthing but I'll try to list some uses so you get an idea about the usage.

2- As I mentioned above, not everything is practical and actually its theoretical. The goal is to cover every possibilty whether being practical or not.

3- You will find ball locations and how to hit or manipulate them. Nothing too technical and everything is abstract as possible.

4- You can use your own ideas, there is no limit to your innovation.

5- I'll use certain symbols to describe the set of balls and you can always return to the notations.

Notation:

{X} - a full formation set of X ball
X - Only X ball generated
A:X or A,B:X - a subset of {X} including the X ball.
A/X or A,B/X or A,B,C/X - a subset of {X} excluding the X ball.

Immediate: Immediate action after set.

Delayed: Action after delay (stopping, dashing ...etc).

SA: Stinger Aim

CR: Carcass Raid

DHM: Double Head Morbid

MS: Mad struggle

See the new mechanics in action here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZaiRLlMaUI&feature=youtu.be

***Titan44 Edit: 1.03 update is out with new balance changes. Here's the list of Venom changes, as posted by SnowMonkeyFunky in the Sign thread:***

"Revelator 1.03 saw Venom getting a buttload of buffs across the board. They are as follows:

– 6P
Active Frames increased from 4F to 7F*
Added Jump Cancel
Recovery reduced by 3F*

*NOTE: The animation is overall the same number of frames. These two changes simply mean that an extra 3 of what used to be recovery frames are now active.

– 5HS
Special Cancel window increased by 3F

– j.HS
Untechable Time increased from 14F to 16F

– Ball Summon
Tension gain increased from 50 to 75

– Stinger Aim
Tension gain increased from 150 to 250

– Carcass Raid
Tension gain increased from 150 to 200

– QV
Tension gain increased from 150 to 200

– Mad Struggle
Tension gain increased from 150 to 200

– Throw
Blitz Shield bug after Throw fixed
Burst bug after Throw fixed

So the big ones imo are massive meter gain buffs, jH getting longer untech time making both airdash bnbs easier and short combos (like corner airthrow, clS[1] jc jH) knock down consistently, and of course 6P becoming SOGOODHOLYSCHNIKES. The 5H cancel window increase is a little quality of life buff that will make stuff revolving around 5H late BH xx S CR easier, but not really game changing.

6P is CH confirmable into an IAD combo, and on non CH can do something like 6P jc jS jH for a knockdown at most heights. 6P is now also a super valuable combo tool when used in conjunction with a ball hit. The way I see it being used in that context is during something like this:

corner clS[3]866 jSHD 6H xx S QV, 6P BH IAD jSHD 6H xx Set

That same combo was still possible pre patch, but substituting 6P for a microdash 5P BH. It was character specific, and even then it was remarkably inconsistent. While it may not make the extra loop universal, it should be far easier to do on most of the cast."

The complete list of changes can be found here:

http://pastebin.com/HywsGcJV

Lots of changes made to other characters' hitboxes, making them significantly easier to combo. That coupled with new combo routes using JCable 6P and nerfs to the top tiers should make Venom a lot more formidable.

You got questions, we got answers. If I see specific questions often either in here or around the internet I'll first post them. Feel free to ask anything Venom, but keep it gameplay related please!

Q: Who are the best Venom players/who should I watch videos of?
A: Fino, Isamu, and Sanma are the best and highest ranked players. HEVEN is a strong, longtime player. AO1/Reiichi and 310 are decent too.

EDIT Dai here, taking over with edits as I see.

Charge Execution

c.S(1) > S Carcass

Input as: [2] > 5S~8S

- You can buffer the next move in a string a few frames in advance, meaning that it's possible to input both c.S and Carcass basically at the same time and have them both come out. You should basically be double-tapping the S button as quickly as you can. The result is that c.S > Carcass becomes an airtight, +10 pressure reset tool that works on everyone both standing and crouching. It also combos on crouchers, so be sure to hit confirm when used from an air string.

- A simple way to practice a practical application is to set the dummy to crouch in the corner. Airdash into the corner with a simple chain (such as j.SHS) and make sure you hold 1/2/3 after airdashing. Shift to 5 and press S as you land, and immediately press 7/8/9S to finish.

- A similar trick can be used to make c.S(2) > 5H > S Carcass work.

- Also works with stuff like 2K > c.S(1) > S Carcass, but in this case you must wait to input 5S~8S until after 2K connects, or the buffer won't give you S Carcass.

Dash > S Carcass

Input as: 66[3] > 8S

- Holding 3 while dashing will allow you to charge down while continuing to dash. Not a super complicated concept.

- Generally used when running under opponents.

2P/K > c.S(2) > S Carcass

Input as: 2P/K > 5S~[2] > (c.S hits twice) > very slight delay after second hit > 8S

- Venom can cancel c.S into other moves during any of the hits, even on whiff, so long as at least one of them connects. This means it is possible to do c.S(2) > S Carcass and have it be (almost) airtight so long as you delay the Carcass just until just slightly after the second hit of c.S connects.

Stinger Aim > Carcass Ride (or vice versa)

Input as: [1]3S/H > 7S/H (or vice versa)

- Pretty self-explanatory. The game doesn't care whether you do the charger input as 6 or 3 so it is possible to charge both moves at once and input one without dropping the charge for the other.

Carcass Ride > Carcass Ride

Input as: [2] > any normal > 8S~[2] > 8S

- Basically just taking advantage of the input buffer to get extra time to charge a second Carcass while the first is animating.

- Simple to practice off of 2S, but can be used well with 2HS, c.S, and 5HS (use the first trick for the latter 2)

Combo Execution

c.S IAD j.SHD 6H

Input as either:

c.s(3) 9(delay)66 j.SHD 6H

c.S(3) 866 j.SHD 6H

c.S(3) sj.96 j.SHD 6H

- Probably the most common repeat question. Note that a straight IAD does not work on most characters except Leo, Bedman, and Potemkin. Anyone lighter than those three are too light and may drop out in various way (i.e. j.H will whiff on Sol).

- If you are having trouble linking 6H, delay the hits of j.SHD slightly so that j.D comes out closer to the ground.

- If you are landing before j.D comes out, try to either press j.SHD faster (the fastest possible chain actually requires faster inputs than it looks like it does) or time your j.S to hit sooner after the airdash.

- Thanks to c.S's long hitstop, you can input the jump anytime during the third hit's hitstop and still get the jump on the first possible frame after the hitstop ends. This gives you a lot of time to input the dash after jumping, but also means that you may have to delay the airdash more than you expect.

- Note that doing this combo with the fastest possible timing will whiff and Sol and Millia (and some situations, I think May as well?). You'll need to hit that j.S a bit later in the combo, generally airdashing just a little later.

Throw > dash 2H Carcass IAD j.SHD etc.

Input as: Throw > 66[3] (as long as possible) > 2H(2) Carcass 96 j.SHD etc.

- The trick is to dash forward and charge down as long as possible before doing 2H. This isn't that tight, the dash window after throw is actually much bigger than you need to make the combo work. Most common problem seems to be people trying to do a very quick microdash 2H when they should be doing a long dash.

- The IAD after Carcass connects is a bona fide IAD. Do it as fast as possible. Similarly, do j.SHD as fast as possible, otherwise you will land before j.D comes out.

- Possible on Potemkin and Bedman but pretty tight. Dash jump j.KSHD works as a substitute to IAD j.SHD. (see below)

- Becomes harder the closer you are to corner, and impossible when actually in corner. Do dash jump j.KSHD instead if close enough.

Dash jump j.KSHD etc.

Input as: 669 j.KSHD

- A jump out of a dash has a lower, longer arc than a regular forward jump, so doing a dash is usually meant to get that specific arc rather than just closing ground. You should basically be microdashing into a jump before you even see Venom move forward at all.

- VERY difficult to land on Ky, results may vary for other characters depending on hurtbox and corner positioning. A good general rule is to chain j.KS with a small delay and possibly the j.HSD as well.

SQV 5P IAD (ball hit) j.SHD

- You are hitting the S ball as it moves back so it hits the opponent a few frames later and extends hitstun. The 5P actually has to hit since you are jump canceling it into the IAD.

- Usually dependent on spacing and opponent hitbox. If the opponent is fat, the ball will hit very early and the IAD link becomes very tight and/or impossible. If on the other hand they are too far away and/or too skinny, the ball won't even hit in time before the opponent techs. If you're not sure whether you're doing it right, Sol has a pretty standard hitbox to practice it on.

- Some characters (i.e. Millia) require an extra delay before doing 5P. You basically want to wait as long as possible before hitting the ball in order to give it maximum travel time.

- Also applies to links like SQV 5P QV. Like above, the ball must still have some travel time before hitting, so it may drop on fatter characters.

KQV 6P (ball hit) 6H

- To be honest, I'm not sure what it is that makes this work or not. I believe the 6P has to hit before the ball does so that the ball extends the hitstun on the opponent, and not vice versa, and depending on exact positioning of the ball sometimes the ball hits first. Adding or delaying various normals (i.e. doing 5K 6P instead of just 6P, or doing delay 6P, etc.) seems to help somewhat but it remains character-specific to some extent, especially on very skinny characters like Millia.

- Part of the problem and solution is that more hits add extra gravity to the opponent. Sometimes this will aid the link, sometimes hinder it.

TK Mad Struggle

- So to be safe, the basic input is 2369S/HS. You'll be doing the S version 99.99% of the time though.

- Mad Struggle hits a total of 4 times but depending on height it can hit anywhere betwen 1-4 times or not at all. A lowest-possible TK Mad Struggle will perform the dive animation but you won't actually get any hits, so you can fake a high and go low. If you want an actual overhead, delay the Mad Struggle slightly.

- How many times Mad Struggle actually hits on the way down depends on the height you actually perform the move at. Unfortunately this affects the window for linking a followup after landing but there's no real way to guarantee a proper link other than just getting a sense of how high you are TKing the move. Mad Struggle hits a maximum of 4 times so a higher TK makes the timing more consistent, but unfortunately also makes the mixup a bit slower.

And that's all I've got thus far.

Only use this thread to discuss final confirmed changes!

https://discordapp.com/invite/010mtfwzqq54nV1Zf

Profile/Movelist:
http://ggxrd.com/character/venom/

IMPORTANT SYSTEM NOTE:
YRCs (25 meter Roman Cancel) occur on moves when you RC when an opponent is not in hit or block stun. There are some unique possibilities, we'll see how they develop, but it also shuts down some staples of Venom's game (such as 2s->HS Stinger FRC on hit).

Normals of note:
6p: Is the AC+R/#Reload Animation
c.s: Has a different animation, but same properties? Hitbox seems closer to #R version, if that's the case, the 3rd hit will miss most characters crouching.
j.d: New normal, replaces old j.d. Venom swings his cue upward, probably jumping anti-air. Also works great in combos, allowing for re-jump loops or 6hs when done close to the ground. j.d hits balls forward a bit, and off the ceiling, causing them to bounce downard.
5hs: Stagger only on counterhit.
6k: Does not exist.
6hs: Has Reload properties (knocks down, but not plummet like AC+R)
5d: A ball struck by this bounces ala AC+R Force Break Stinger? Did not bounce against opponent, maybe wall, considering j.d...
New Gatling: 6p->6hs. Combo is guaranteed on 6p air counterhit.
2d: Floats higher? Less range?

Throw:
Opponent stays in the ball a bit longer? Or maybe Venom recovers faster.

Specials of note:
Ball Summon (214 p/k/s/hs):
Formations are all new. P ball still sets in front, K ball formation is the same as Reload, except the lowest ball is now horizontally parallel with the highest ball. One formation places a ball high and behind Venom.
d button summon removed.
Can now cancel into teleport.
K ball j.K oki still works.
Balls cannot be redirected by normals once in motion. (ala #R). Other balls, Stinger, and Carcass work. Not sure about other special moves?
Balls seem to last longer in formation.

The Formations (THANK YOU DANDYJ!)
http://i.imgur.com/9qMrRLG.png
http://i.imgur.com/rNaDQYS.png
http://i.imgur.com/zibrSBi.png
http://i.imgur.com/oaqo6dm.png

Teleport (623k):
Frames are closer to Reload than AC+R (ie, faster startup, more recovery)

QV (41236 p/k/s/hs):
The replacement for Dubious Curve (RIP ;_; )
Venom summons a ball that hits the opponent before lining up in formation
Can be charged to create charged balls (ala Stinger charge) on the screen!
While charging, cancels out projectiles
c.s(3) combos into QV. Not sure about midscreen, but full combos in the corner.
Possible to QV YRC and have the ball come out. However, this probably means the attack won't hit.
QV balls last longer than summon balls (about 13 seconds compared to 9)
Counterhit wallbounces.

Stinger Aim and Carcass Raid ([4]6 S/HS and [2]8S/HS respectively)
The main change here is that shooting a ball on the screen will now send the ball used by these moves back or forward, and put it in a neutral position (ie, lined up in formation).
Stinger S moves it back. Stinger H moves it forward.
In the case of Carcass, the balls continue/reverse in the direction they were traveling.
Feints are gone
Carcass Raid can no longer be charged.
2S>H Stinger FRC now requires a RC on hit.. You can get YRC for this on block.

Double Head Morbid (623 S/HS)
At least one version knocks down. However, you don't have the time to setup a ball right afterward for oki.

Overdrives of note.
Dark Angel (2363214S):
New motion, probably to avoid overlapping an input with QV. Also has a fabulous cutscene.

Bishop Run Out (2363214hs):
New move.
Summons a special ball on the screen.
Restores to a neutral position after hit and tends to bounce and interacts with other balls a bit.
Any balls that are in formation are absorbed into Bishop Run Out upon move startup (more balls = larger/more powerful/lasts longer?)
When the special ball is black, it is not active and cannot be moved by Venom.
Venom's Teleport counts this as a ball. Because it absorbs balls into it, Venom will always teleport to it whenever it's on screen.

Dead Angle Attack:
No longer wall sticks, less knockback.

Will be updating this post as vids and info surface. Feel free to contribute/ask/discuss/speculate! And remember, settle with elegance!

Updated to Test 3
 

Venom changes:
 

Mostly the same from 2.

Ball Set (214P/K/S/HS) - By holding down a different attack button during the ball setup, you generate a corresponding ball. Replaces cancelling sets into each other.  Can now do it either way.
Ball Set (214P/K/S/HS) - the P formation's  P ball is now set slightly lower
Top spin, Back spin - when the set ball is hit with Stinger Aim or Carcass Raid, the ball's level is now increased (ie, turns black and does more hits). See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmqupvZ52KE
QV (41236P/K/S/HS) - the blow back on hit is decreased; the attack level is increased with the charge.

PQV: Hitbox is now the same as other versions.
Dark Angel (2363214S) - Deals 6 more hits (28->34)  Just does better block damage Is now back to 34 hits.
Bishop Runout (2363214HS) - now can be hit sooner; the duration is reduced. Venom can gain meter (slowly) during it. Allows for some interesting combos/loops. See: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153746613526393 for some changes.

c.S (3rd hit): Hitbox increased upwards.

 
Extra Changes noted at the test:
6P, lasts 3F->4F
6HS, changed ball’s path when hit
HS Mad Struggle, last hit dmg 15->25 
 
System Changes:
the input buffer for button presses, forward dash etc. has been increased.
Some commands for specials and supers are now easier to input.
If you Blitz Shield a projectile and the opponent is nearby, they get repelled. Now doesn't grant meter for a successful projectile Blitz.
The start-up of purple Roman Cancel is reduced.
When the opponent uses Roman Cancel during a blue Psyche Burst's start-up, a red Roman Cancel is now performed.
Changed the behavior of neutral ukemi at low altitude.
 
 
My thoughts in order:
Set: With the capability to do it either way, one can stick to their comfort zone.
P Set: This is probably to hit it with 2S. This would be pretty cool. I still hope you can hit it with 5P though.
Spin: Pretty cool. Gives you big reward for using the mechanic.
QV: Seems there may be some nice new combos as well as helping to make Venom's current combos more universal. The attack level going up on charge is very cool and may make for some cool oki situations with QV, where you could be up to +10 or more and the ball gets summoned! PQV getting the same hitbox...not sure if it could replace SQV in combos, but it makes it a better ender in some situations!
Dark Angel: Is now Dark Angel again. I missed you.
Bishop: Now that you can gain some meter, that does eliminate some of my gripes for the move. The new combos may prove worthwhile as well. But with Dark Angel buffs and YRC being YRC, Venom will have lots of strong meter options.

c.S: Mixed feelings depending how it turns out. Hopefully c.S(3) on the characters it works on crouching still works. But to get something like the AC/+R version in terms of anti-air would be great!
6P: Doesn't hurt
6HS BH: Might be ok. Never used it before really. Maybe like AC?
HS Mad Struggle: OP PLS NERF (whatever)
 
System thoughts:
Buffer: May help with execution. 
Commands: *shrug*
Blitz: Turns out it's only point blank. Outside of HS safejump oki, probably not affecting Venom too much. However, word I got from Fino is that K Ball oki can be blitz'd.
PRC: Depending on how much, might be useful I suppose all around
YRC Burst OS: Venom couldn't use it too much (only really on his crouching combos).
Ukemi: *shrug*