Zato Megathread - new to Zato? READ THIS FIRST

[Antihero11]

My neutral section sucks so much with Zato-1. I wish some random GG player would add an "Eddie in Neutral" section to their phenomenal guide. Man it would be helpful.

[Epic]

Well since no one answered my question in the arcade stick layout thread I thought I'll ask here.

 

Is this default (rainbow) arcade cabinet layout optimal for Zato? I'm having issues with using my pinky to hold Dust when necessary and I don't really want to change the layout just for one character as I'm already using the default one for all my other chars.

 

Would appreciate some input.

[Antihero11]

I personally use the default setup for Zato. I don't find negative edging is that difficult, it just takes a while to get used to. And during most of Zato's combos/neutral game, you won't have to hold more than two buttons at a time. This can be accomplished by releasing buttons during the recovery or startup of the shadow's attacks. By doing that, you usually don't need to hold more buttons.

Also, I use my ring finger to hold dust, and my index and middle finger for the other four buttons. Ocassionally, I will use my thumb if need be. But most of the time you won't need to hold over three buttons with Zato as long as you're taking advantage of the recovery of attacks and his animations. If you have any other specific questions, quote my post or shoot me a PM.

 

[Bossguy]

I use the default console layout, which is the D button setting for arcades. Honestly, though, I don't believe that there's such thing as a "best button layout." It's really what works best for you. You just need to choose a setting and stick with it, and you'll adapt to it, no matter how unwieldy it may feel.

[Antihero11]

Everything feels unwieldly when you're first getting used to negative edging, or getting used to stick like I was. So pick one, stick with it (no pun intended) and you'll be set.

[Epic]

Thanks guys.

[Lennysaurus]

I have a question.  As Zato when I am pressuring for example Sol on wakeup.  If I have Eddie, there is never a better option than for Sol to DP?  Since DP will kill Eddie even if I block, and Zato punish with Eddie on red recharge is very negligible damage.

 

Anyone got some insight for me on this?

[Rele]

I'd say Shadow H or move him out of the way if Sol is content to DPing every single time.

[Starfire]

If you have meter, you can always punish with 2H, Amorphous. Not full combo damage, but still enough to hurt.

However, just c.S, 5H (3), 22H or even just Damned Fang does alright damage and gives plenty of time for the shadow to recharge.

If anything, DPing against a good Zato is almost guaranteed damage, because Zato can kind of option select bait it with shadow meaty + late 6P. If they block, proceed to pressure as normal, and if they DP, you will get a high CH 6P without giving them a chance to RC. You can then follow up with either sj.KHD or sj.KH Executor.

[synchronomanica]

I have a question.  As Zato when I am pressuring for example Sol on wakeup.  If I have Eddie, there is never a better option than for Sol to DP?  Since DP will kill Eddie even if I block, and Zato punish with Eddie on red recharge is very negligible damage.

 

Anyone got some insight for me on this?

https://youtu.be/7bsOvtfFtlA?t=14m43s

Ogawa does meaty saw into 6p.  Meaty saw shields him and then 6p hits Sol as he's in the air for air combo.  If sol doesn't do anything 6p can chain into 2s or 5.hs drill

[Antihero11]

You can also let them whiff, then punish with Command Throw (Damned Fang). Ogawa does it a lot, and it does solid damage while letting you recharge a decent portion of the shadow gauge.

Also, this:
http://skygrindah.blogspot.com/2015/07/guilty-gear-xrd-usability-chart.html

So much truth, but I do feel I have a decent grasp on Zato after about 6 months. But it took that long just to understand him at a decent level, far from mastery.






 

[tai6a_]

thanks really good info. cant wait to git to low level scrub level with zato-1. gona be dope playing with my hitbox. :3

[Starfire]

I don't know if this was common knowledge already, but you can link TK SG off a close drill in the corner.

This means you can use -K-, j.K, 2K, -P-, 22S, TK SG (1), -S-, SG (2) restand, 5D6 as a hit confirmable low mixup in the corner that does a bit more damage than the bnb one. The link is not that easy though, at least on normal weight chars.

On block, it setups nobiru unsummon and leaves a puddle for a blockstring resummon.

[huber]

You can beat wake up Sol DP by doing mawaru then a well timed 6P.  Volcanic Viper will hit eddie, first hit of 6P will clash, and the second hit will hit Sol and you get a combo.  I like doing this because it doesn't require any kind of hard read.  If they don't DP just carry on after the 6P on block with eddie pressure.    edit:  my bad missed the post that mentioned it already

[Starfire]

The 6P should be timed and spaced so that it doesn't clash, because Sol can cancel the clash into anything, like 5K, FD block or another VV.

[Antihero11]

The 6P should be timed and spaced so that it doesn't clash, because Sol can cancel the clash into anything, like 5K, FD block or another VV.

Do you have any advice for how I might practice this in Training Mode by myself. Using the record function makes it difficult to get Sol to input a DP at the proper time for a reversal. Maybe by using mission mode or a feature of training mode I'm unfamiliar with. I'd greatly appreciate it.

[ikebukuro83]

Do you have any advice for how I might practice this in Training Mode by myself. Using the record function makes it difficult to get Sol to input a DP at the proper time for a reversal. Maybe by using mission mode or a feature of training mode I'm unfamiliar with. I'd greatly appreciate it.

You have to play sol and record zato. Record your sequence then play it and try to dp with sol, you'll notice if your timing/spacing was correct or not.

Question guys.. How do you deal with people that jump like crazy all the time? I try to grab or anti air them but it is hard. And even when i hit them, i have trouble locking them, overall i feel i chase them all the time and i can't apply pressure.

Edited August 3, 2015 by ikebukuro83

[Antihero11]

Question guys.. How do you deal with people that jump like crazy all the time? I try to grab or anti air them but it is hard. And even when i hit them, i have trouble locking them, overall i feel i chase them all the time and i can't apply pressure.

I've improved my Zato play tremendously lately by slowing myself down and playing him more as a bait and punish character. So I just wanted to throw that out there first. Your mentality makes a big difference when playing Zato. And what works best for me is taking my time and not panicking/rushing. And waiting for good opportunities to apply pressure with mawaru/nobiru, etc.

Now to answer your question: How do you deal with people that jump like crazy? Nobiru

Seriously, it's that simple though. Nobiru combined with Zato's other AAs like 2HS and 6P control a lot of space and put pressure on an airborne opponent. What I tend to do a lot is summon shadow, use BTL, then fish for their position. Once nobiru hits, you get instant pressure if they block it, or a nice ~120 damage combo. Nobiru and break the law make Zato amazing at dodging aerials and fishing for AA hits.

[sparkanius]

I have a question.  As Zato when I am pressuring for example Sol on wakeup.  If I have Eddie, there is never a better option than for Sol to DP?  Since DP will kill Eddie even if I block, and Zato punish with Eddie on red recharge is very negligible damage.

 

Anyone got some insight for me on this?

What has been working great for me lately, after you confirm the knockdown on anyone with a DP move:

-h- summon, keep crouching forwards so Eddie is one the other side of your opponent, BTL and position yourself in a sandwich situation. As soon as the wake up happens you either -p-, release BTL, 2p 2k 2s into -k- pressure.

Method 2; same as above, but a bit more ballsy, BTL: you position yourself directly UNDER your opponent , keep Eddie close with S held in(same sandwich situation) . Then you cross your opponent from left to right making it hard which side to block or even risk DP on the wrong side, release S(nobiru) and BTL both equally, with Yfrc this is pretty save straight into 2p 2k 2s mawaru 😊

If this didn't make sense I can upload a video

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[sparkanius]

I have a question.  As Zato when I am pressuring for example Sol on wakeup.  If I have Eddie, there is never a better option than for Sol to DP?  Since DP will kill Eddie even if I block, and Zato punish with Eddie on red recharge is very negligible damage. 

Anyone got some insight for me on this?

What has been working great for me lately, after you confirm the knockdown on anyone with a DP move:

-h- summon, keep crouching forwards so Eddie is one the other side of your opponent, BTL and position yourself in a sandwich situation. As soon as the wake up happens you either -p-, release BTL, 2p 2k 2s into -k- pressure.

Method 2; same as above, but a bit more ballsy, BTL: you position yourself directly UNDER your opponent , keep Eddie close with S held in(same sandwich situation) . Then you cross your opponent from left to right making it hard which side to block or even risk DP on the wrong side, release S(nobiru) and BTL both equally, with Yfrc this is pretty save straight into 2p 2k 2s mawaru 😊

If this didn't make sense I can upload a video.

Ps: ppl tend not to DP when you can't hit anything with it 😄

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