When to use which combos

[SanguineScale]

So, recently I've been able to start nailing down certain Bnbs with Ragna, while in the matches (which blew me away at first to be honest, since I had completely sucked at replicating anything I did in challenge or training until just recently). I've got two or three under my belt, and am willing to learn many more, but a thought struck me as odd about all of this, and that is, what are the criteria for deciding what is a good or bad combo to use in certain situation? does it come down to character placements? meter remaining? Guard primers intact? Whether or not I've used my bursts? Because for some reason, deciding willy-nilly what combos to perform as I progress through the match doesn't sound at all like what I should be doing.

I know this sounds like a character-specific question, but I'd really like some general know how on this topic before I specialize on my main. Really appreciate it.

[Tong]

Since you're new at the game, at least seems, I wont go deep talking about the best starters,proration, proper finisher etc.

First thing you need to have in mind, If you want to combo of any given situation.

Do NOT learn combos by "itself"

Very common mistake by beginners.

Lets say you mastered a basic, high damage BnB in training mode. So you think, "alright, time to rock on online with this 3k+ BnB".

You're in a match and try to land it, by inputting your hardcore combo, however it doesnt connect, not because you suck but because something wasnt considered.Distance or something else.

Believe me, I see it ALOT, people trying to reproduce combos like that recorded dummy in training mode.

You need to condition yourself to hitconfirm something that is possible in a given situation.Thats only comes with time, dexterity and experience. For the time being, the best you can do for yourself to acquire that faster is to develop an arsenal of combos.

You need combos for the most common and practical(maybe non-pratical) situations, like:

Anti Air: oh, If he jumps at me I'll just 6A (HJC) j.C j.D (JC) j.C j.D 623D 236C 214D.

Corner:Ok, my 5B HIT! Hellsfang finisher isnt enough for damage though, I'll then do a Inferno Divider bouncer combo for better damage

This will avoid instances where you just ABC special whenever hits, ignoring the opponent status, like Countered, Crouching wasting a better combo possibility, and whiteouts like "oh shit Fatal! uuuuh...what now?".

Develop a combo for:

Crouching oponents, overhead, corner, anti air, that uses heat for nice damage, 5A/2A mashing confirms,throws etc

Yeah, 1 combo for each, besides the classic ABC Special combos.

When you think you're good enough, try to develop better and alternate versions of each.

Answering your question, a good combo is the one who does more damage and oki in any given situation.

Im very conservative, I like to save my heat for counter assaults and rapid cancel my reversal ID for example.

Dont be shy to spend some heat for combos though, especially when It can decide the match.

Dont forget to check the combos thread also, Ragna's is organized in said manner.

Later

Edited June 2, 2011 by Tong

[Zeromus_X]

Know what combos you can do off of every starter first of all. What you can combo after a low, overhead, throw, airthrow, anti-air, and specific counter-hits/punishes, etc. Learn what combos you can do off of "ideal" starters and ones with more proration. Edit: Ninja'd

Then after that, you may have to adjust depending on the situation. Do I want to do the best damaging combo? Or do I want to end in a knockdown? Do I want to carry them closer to the corner? Maybe knock them away and play defensively? Or use a combo that gains more meter? How much meter do I have? What about other resources (like Rachel's wind, Tsubaki's charge, etc.) that can affect the combo? Where am I on the screen? Will I be able to carry them close enough to the corner to do a more damaging variation? And so on and so forth. It really depends on the situation and your playstyle.

Once you figure these things out, and get your execution down in training mode, you'll be able to just go into the appropriate combo on the fly.

[SanguineScale]

Wow thanks a lot for all your in depth help! Really means a lot. Looks like I've got a lot of work ahead of me as well. I'll be sure to hit up those Ragna forums for the combos in question. Appreciate the assistance guys. Now I've just gotta practice....

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