• Use this thread to discuss the Slayer matchup.
• This post will be updated to collect useful info over time.

Venom seems to be a very hard match up for Axl anyone who has any knowledge on this match up please feel free to share.

From the start of the match Axl doesn't have a huge amount of options,  I've mostly been backing off immediately because Sin's f.s is the same startup as axl's making starting the match with that move mostly a tossup.  Neutral jumps->j.S can also work, but gets beaten pretty hard by most of his other options. Because of this I've mostly back dashed and looked for a jump in anti-air or iad'ed backwards to start from max range.

I guess the good news is that Sin's options lower dramatically when his calorie meter gets low, so his pressure seems to slow down after a certain point.  The difficulty is that he ends most strings safely outside of axl's f.S or DP range, but close enough that we can't really zone him.  I've had some luck using rensen with no followup to punish wiffed Beak Diver and try to get in.  Beak Diver is big enough vertically that it punishes IAD's and dashing Raiei attempts pretty well.  Its -6 on block which is pretty damn safe at that range.  If Sin attempts a leap afterwards its pretty simple to anti-air, but if he follows with elk hunt, he will be able to go into a pressure string.  

The other move that is particularly scary is Bull bash (his giant overhead thing).  Its slow and can be beaten out on startup if you see it coming, but the giant hitbox can make it very hard to escape his corner pressure.  

• Use this thread to discuss the Mirror matchup.
• This post will be updated to collect useful info over time.

• Use this thread to discuss the Zato-1 matchup.
• This post will be updated to collect useful info over time.

• Use this thread to discuss the I-No matchup.
• This post will be updated to collect useful info over time.

• Use this thread to discuss the Faust matchup.
• This post will be updated to collect useful info over time.

• Use this thread to discuss the Elphelt matchup.
• This post will be updated to collect useful info over time.

• Use this thread to discuss the May matchup.
• This post will be updated to collect useful info over time.

• Use this thread to discuss the Ky Kiske matchup.
• This post will be updated to collect useful info over time.

• Use this thread to discuss the Millia matchup.

5-5 or 6-4 for sol?

In neutral, you've got to be careful. If you whiff one poke, Chipp is in. I've found Chipp has this crazy ability to just IAD j.D me in the face before

my 6k hits him. You've got to make sure your chain will hit before throwing it, it's a huge gamble pressing a button. On top of all this, he can just

teleport to you and get in for free, unless you read the teleport and punish accordingly - 2S for either of the airborne teleports, or 2HS for the grounded crossup teleport. Also, as a side note, a majority of Chipp's stuff isn't DPable.

(By that, I mean his left-right j.HS stuff with Faultless Defense.)

One thing I will say though, is that when in a pressure situation, if you see Chipp go for his command grab, it puts him in an

'airborne' state, allowing you to hit him with 2S and get a full combo (I use sjc.H, D, Axl Bomber)

Alpha Blade is a move some Chipps will use in neutral, which can hit you through Grounded pokes, depending on the situation specifically.

For Chipps who like to use this move, just use the P counter. I've also seen, in some situations, 2p clash with it and let you punish. Not something to rely on, but it's worth remembering.

j.S isn't a tool to be over-used in this matchup. If the Chipp knows the matchup, he can run up and CH 6P you for a full combo, so use it with care, alongside j.6P.

I have yet to find anything you can really do on Chipp's wakeup that's safe from his DP, although I haven't tried meaty spaced 3p yet and I'll get back to this forum when I get home and try it.

At the moment, P counter on his wakeup if you read the DP. It's obviously very risky, but it's fine to do occasionally and if it works, it'll work wonders as a mindgame. Once you've done it a few times, he'll know not to DP, which, in turn, will let you do more stuff on his wakeup without worries.

Because lots of his j.HS stuff is DP safe, and his pressure is long and hard to escape, I find it too risky to go for an Artemis (DP) and just use the P Counter when he's getting too comfortable with his pressure. If he (and if he knows how to play, he probably will) goes for a c.S, micro-run-up, c.S, you can P counter in that tight gap between the slashes. It's a bit silly that the gap between 2 of the same normal with a run in the middle is so tight, but Chipp is a pretty crazy character.

Point is, you're at a severe disadvantage. He is ridiculously mobile, and can teleport straight to you in neutral, he has a lot of un-DPable stuff, and has solid damage.

On the other hand, Axl's damage is crazy against Chipp- I hit with a Counter hit Thundering Shadow Chain (Crossup attack) and proceeded to

his standard BnB and did 55 to 60%. A few solid mixups against a Chipp and his health's gone, but getting those situations in isn't going to be a cakewalk. I'd appreciate any help on this matchup, it's very troublesome. Because he get's around Axl's neutral so easily, I prefer to go aggressive against Chipp, because any hit (if you've a RRC ready) can lead to 50% of his life. My rule for this matchup is, kill the Chipp quickly, before he kills you.

Match Up 6-4 in favor of Axl

Key's to the Match

Spacing, Spacing, Spacing

Try to stay mid range during the whole match. A good distance to stay in is just inside j.S range.

j.S and c.HS are the go to pokes in this match. The reason for this is they hit twice and break Pot's dash move.

With proper spacing you have a lot of options for c.HS (written below)

c.HS, Dust, Air Combo (corner carry)

c.HS, Sickle Flash 8, c.HS

3P frame traps can really frustrate Pot players but its risk reward.

What to do if Pot gets in.

It will be hard to keep out Pot 100% of the time. Eventually he'll get in one way or another. 

What do you do to bring it back? Here are a few options I use.

Burst, Sparrowhawk

Artemis Hunter, RC, Sparrowhawk

This match up isn't a cake walk but it's not as hard as others. Just remember to Punish every jump in, keep that spacing tight, and play the poke,counter poke game.

This is my first match up write up but I hope this helps.