[AC] May Tactical Discussion/Questions/Help

[Frank The Tank]

... and i dunno if i should be admitting this in public, but i got wrecked by a johnny. XD

I also refuse to use any wakeup that johnny cant respond with a wakeup throw.

Welcome to GG...every character is completely capable of wrecking you. Low tier or not, Johnny does beast damage if he gets the chance, and has very good pokes and AAs to keep you out with. It's in May's favor, but not by much if imo.

As far as wakeup throw goes, just about all of May's oki is throw safe anyways (j.2H, 5K, dolphin shit, etc.). Bait one wakeup throw attempt, and you'll do enough damage to make them think twice about trying it again.

[Dogysamich]

i know, it's just the learning process. this one was just painful. Very painful. XD

[Novix]

Been lurking on these forums on and off for the past 6-8 months or so, and I've finally told myself I'm going to sit down and learn May, even if it kills me. Yesterday we had a LAN party at the University I attend and we had a small GGX2: AC tourny with a small showing of mostly people I've played before(read, A LOT) but a couple that I hadn't. Long story short in one round against a guy I haven't really played before playing Slayer, my mixup was so overused by the 3rd match I could hardly get in to do any damage and I ended up losing. What kind of stuff do you guys normally do for mixup? I wanna try to get together a comprehensive list so I don't get too predictable. One other thing is I've heard the term tick throw used, I sorta know that it means tossing in a throw instead of attacking again, but how is this pulled off? I'm guessing using something like 5S, then somehow grabbing them but when I try I'm always too far away. I haven't really tried dashing in after the 5S or whatever to try to grab, but is this what needs to be done for a 'tick throw'?

[Dogysamich]

Tick throwing is a universal term (read: its in pretty much every fighting game). What is it is a throw that follows a quick, low recovery attack. The point of doing so is to force your opponent to block; by doing a low recovery attack, you scare them into continuing to block as you walk up and throw them. From what i've seen in GG, you mainly do this as a pressure option (and not so much as a wakeup option, which happens in most other games). It's not so much that you throw INSTEAD of attacking, but it's that you have your opponent to the point of where they arent going to stop blocking until you let up, and you cant hit them because their defense is too good (meaning you are predictable or just CANT do anything to get through). ___ From what i've seen, 2p and 2k work good for close range, 5k and 5s work good if you s.dolphin afterwards (to close the gap). FB dolphins also work wonders for tick throws. ___ As for mixups, i cant really talk cause im still learning myself; but you do have your dust mixup (that being you can do a high and low dust, and both startups look the same). You also have a nasty crossup with your j.2hs. ___ That's all i got, im pretty sure somebody else will be around with more.

[Hsien_Jo]

Been lurking on these forums on and off for the past 6-8 months or so, and I've finally told myself I'm going to sit down and learn May, even if it kills me. Yesterday we had a LAN party at the University I attend and we had a small GGX2: AC tourny with a small showing of mostly people I've played before(read, A LOT) but a couple that I hadn't. Long story short in one round against a guy I haven't really played before playing Slayer, my mixup was so overused by the 3rd match I could hardly get in to do any damage and I ended up losing.

What kind of stuff do you guys normally do for mixup? I wanna try to get together a comprehensive list so I don't get too predictable.

One other thing is I've heard the term tick throw used, I sorta know that it means tossing in a throw instead of attacking again, but how is this pulled off? I'm guessing using something like 5S, then somehow grabbing them but when I try I'm always too far away. I haven't really tried dashing in after the 5S or whatever to try to grab, but is this what needs to be done for a 'tick throw'?

Great stuff Doggy

First off it depends on what you have been using already. Theres countless ways to mix up a person based on the character, and May is no exception. Based on your experience, you need to sit down and think about what your opponent is most afraid of being hit by and work on a mix up from there. With manying, being hit low is the worst cause half the time it leads to a knock down which is, why I believe May's mix ups are evil.

If your simply interested in learning new mix ups think about what tools May has along with the type of mix ups you can do, including, high and low type mix ups (where you attack overhead then low, or vice versa), cross over where you quickly attack the opponent from the other side, and tick throws which ima explain in a second.

TOOLS

The tools I use for Mix ups, are May's S Vertical Dolphin, her 5D/5[D] (Holding Dust), J.623 HS RR (Restive Rolling ya know the spin move, the HS version in the air hits overhead). And for tick throws I usually use 5K, and 2K, but I need to use p sometimes too. Along with all of that I try to have a dolphin hoop out to enhance my mix ups.

MIX-UPS

With a mixup, I believe the point is to force an opponent into a situation where he/she has to block. One of the best times for a mixup, is on wake up aka when your opponent falls down and is trying to get back up. Heres some options:

>using K to start your combos on wake up, but im sure you do it already, you can't get thrown out of K, cause May's 5k has lower body invinciblity. This is a good time for a tick throw by simply doing 5k when the person gets up, then doing your command grab, after you recover from your K.

>from K, S, or any part of May's combo that has a jump cancel you can mix up a person by jump canceling into something, such as an airdash into 2HS to the other side, or an 623HS RR. When you use the RR at the right height and distance, it can cross over and hit the person on the other side, just try that out :D.

>You can go for a mix up when you lock up your opponent with J.HS, J.2HS, or 5HS, each of those locks up your opponent well. For example, one of the really simple, but lethal mixups is to jump or dash in to your opponent and do 2HS, and buffer (begin holding down), for a S Dolphin, and release it as soon as you get to the ground, if its close enough, it may even cross over the opponent. Or if your close enough when you get to the ground you could, 2k, 2D, into a combo, or forget the 2D, and just do 2K, into a S dolphin. 2k may not hit if you arent that close to the person when you use the j.2HS, or if the person uses Faultess Defense, so 2D is always an option.

>If you lock the person up with 5HS, if you time it right you can do alot of stuff afterwards. Sometimes if im close enough after a 5HS, ill immediately do 2k into a combo or mix up, or sometimes do 5k into far 5S, into instant airdash into something.

TICK-THROWS

Just like Doggi mentioned, for tick throws you have to be rather close, if your normal throw range from a person and you do 5K, 5P, 2K, or 2P you can just put in May's command throw 63214k (OHK), but if your not close enough to follow up with a tick grab, just do 663214K, this means to type forward, forward so you can get some dash momentum and do the command throw.

Any of those command grab set ups can go in with your mix ups, you just need to know when to use them, and you have to be brave enough to dash up to someone knowing if you time it wrong youll be thrown into a reversal or worse X_X :8/:

EXTRA STUFF

Another good way to set up from your command throw, is knowing the distance of your SVD, if you are far enough for it to whiff (miss) in front of your opponent you can immediately go into your OHK command grab. You usually gotta be about 2 May's :MA: or so away from your opponent when you do SDolphin you'll be in range for the command grab if you miss. To get the idea of it go to training mode, make your opponent normal guard, and do k,s,hs; or k, s, s, 2s, into either a SVD, or SHoriDolphin and you'll be in range :p.. Just remember if someone faultless defends, the range will be different.

Also using her dust is always good as long as you don't abuse it so the opponent doesn't get used to it. Just learn the distance. I thinka bout using it randomly and when I believe my opponent is being to defensive. A good way to set up for a D mix up, is to lock up the person with a hoop dolphin and either go for the normal D, or the D feint. This one is a bit tougher cause the hoop would either have to already be out, or youd have to frc and go for it.

Don't forget mix-ups aren't the only way to get dmg, if you haven't, check the first pages of this thread, cause I believe kyle listed many of the different types of play. You can get dmg by proper Hori/Verti dolphin spam, random pokes/hits especial 5HS, JHS, 2HS, and 6HS on counter, those all either stagger or make it hard or unable to recover.

I hope that helps :D, sorry if it was a bit much , but when I go on a roll I don't shut up

Just remember, one of your best weapons is your own creativity, sit down, and think about what you've seen and heard of, then try different way's to create your own mix-ups and combos, it takes more time than learning from others, but it makes this game really fun.

[Kyle]

Damn, Great replies Dogy, Jamal & Matt =)

Against Johnny specifically I got most of my Damage 2 ways.

- (Okizeme)Mix-up on his wake-up, go Overhead, Low, Throw, or Tick Throw.

-Counter poking Johnny. Johnny has great pokes and damages, BUT most of his stuff is CRUSHED by May's 6P and 2D. 3K works as well BUT there's no damage for it. If you have a follow up combo that knocks them down, than you have won, as you have successfully taken away Johnny's offense and forced him to play Your game.

Welcome to Dustloop

Novix. =)

UPDATE-

When Hsien_Joe- Said first post, he meant the 101 thread located here.

http://www.dustloop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3750

=)

[Dogysamich]

Against Johnny specifically I got most of my Damage 2 ways.

- (Okizeme)Mix-up on his wake-up, go Overhead, Low, Throw, or Tick Throw.

-Counter poking Johnny. Johnny has great pokes and damages, BUT most of his stuff is CRUSHED by May's 6P and 2D. 3K works as well BUT there's no damage for it. If you have a follow up combo that knocks them down, than you have won, as you have successfully taken away Johnny's offense and forced him to play Your game.

yeah, i found that j. 2hs was working in that it was safe, but as he started to read the crossup, i started trying to slide other stuff in.

I tried some tick throws, and they worked fine; but i've never played against anybody who actually knows what a tickthrow setup looks like and how to stop it, so i had my laughs messing with that. I'll leave that topic by saying "Last i checked, if i go to tick throw you, i shouldnt be the one getting thrown. >.>" XD

As for 6p, i have no clue when and how to use it. I think my problem is i dont trust it. I mean, May looks so carefree when she does it, so im like "why in the world would i try a half ass love tap over the good ol' anchor in the face"?

All jokes aside, i think i managed to pick all the bad times to use 6p, and was then discouraged from doing so for the rest of the time.

-stops crying-

It wasnt as bad as i'm making it out to be. I mean, it wasnt close per say, but it's not like i got mopped off the face of the earth. I got my loops in here and there, i felt so pro when i got my FRC -> IAD.

I felt like there was hope... that got sliced in half by a gimp-legged bastard who laughs at people while he throws money at them.

[Alternate275]

yeah, i found that j. 2hs was working in that it was safe, but as he started to read the crossup, i started trying to slide other stuff in.

I tried some tick throws, and they worked fine; but i've never played against anybody who actually knows what a tickthrow setup looks like and how to stop it, so i had my laughs messing with that. I'll leave that topic by saying "Last i checked, if i go to tick throw you, i shouldnt be the one getting thrown. >.>" XD

As for 6p, i have no clue when and how to use it. I think my problem is i dont trust it. I mean, May looks so carefree when she does it, so im like "why in the world would i try a half ass love tap over the good ol' anchor in the face"?

All jokes aside, i think i managed to pick all the bad times to use 6p, and was then discouraged from doing so for the rest of the time.

-stops crying-

It wasnt as bad as i'm making it out to be. I mean, it wasnt close per say, but it's not like i got mopped off the face of the earth. I got my loops in here and there, i felt so pro when i got my FRC -> IAD.

I felt like there was hope... that got sliced in half by a gimp-legged bastard who laughs at people while he throws money at them.

xDDDD

Like I said before, we'll start recording our matches the more we get to play =D

As for May v Johnny, I will have to agree. It's May favor, but IMO, not by an incredible margin. I honestly didn't know how to properly punish your May. But paying off your Dolphins to leave me alone is more than enough fun xD

EDIT: Welcome to Dustloop Novix =D

[Dogysamich]

But paying off your Dolphins to leave me alone is more than enough fun xD

I know, right?

Cheap ass dolphins.

[Hsien_Jo]

yeah, i found that j. 2hs was working in that it was safe, but as he started to read the crossup, i started trying to slide other stuff in.

I tried some tick throws, and they worked fine; but i've never played against anybody who actually knows what a tickthrow setup looks like and how to stop it, so i had my laughs messing with that. I'll leave that topic by saying "Last i checked, if i go to tick throw you, i shouldnt be the one getting thrown. >.>" XD

Thats happened to me before lol, my problem is to not run in to far :/

As for 6p, i have no clue when and how to use it. I think my problem is i dont trust it. I mean, May looks so carefree when she does it, so im like "why in the world would i try a half ass love tap over the good ol' anchor in the face"?

As great as the anchor is, which I also like using more, that love tap is leathal and one on counter hit can get the person dizzy or close to it. I believe she has upper body invincibility when her fist is out, rather than on the start up when she cocks her hand back, I had to check. It also seems best to hit the person with the tip rather than the rest of her arm cause its safer. Off of my friend AlwaysDizzy's advice, I tried to see if May's 6P could stand up against Jam's force break puff ball (236S,D) and she can if its the tip, but if she connects with the rest of her arm, its a equal trade off, both get knocked away.

It wasnt as bad as i'm making it out to be. I mean, it wasnt close per say, but it's not like i got mopped off the face of the earth. I got my loops in here and there, i felt so pro when i got my FRC -> IAD.

Great job dude, I know how you feel, just keep practicin and have faith in your self and that stuff will come out like water

[AlwaysDizzy]

How comes I never see anyone use jackhound :< LOOP THAT SHIT FOR A AWESOME FINISH!!!!

[Frank The Tank]

The short version is that it prorates heavily, making the damage you get after it not worth the initial meter you spent on it, as that's one less FB dolphin I can throw out for no reason. This could just be us May players being spoiled by the WTFDAMAGE that we usually get, but unless it'll kill or I somehow land an OHK while cornered, I never, ever do it. and btw, any finish is an awesome finish.

[AlwaysDizzy]

The short version is that it prorates heavily, making the damage you get after it not worth the initial meter you spent on it, as that's one less FB dolphin I can throw out for no reason. This could just be us May players being spoiled by the WTFDAMAGE that we usually get, but unless it'll kill or I somehow land an OHK while cornered, I never, ever do it.

and btw, any finish is an awesome finish.

Well you may be right since your a may player and at the same time Im just supporting a friend but wevers. Im just throwing the option out there since I feel like AC is the most cookie cutter guilty gear Ive ever seen lol. You guys have options use them, Im sure they're creative minds out there I wanna see some OH SNAP moments out of some of the players instead of oh I knew that was gonna happen when you can do something original and random that'll have people like AWWW SHIT SON!!! SOMEBODY RUN THAT SHIT BACK ONE MO TIME SO I CAN SEE IT AGAIN Dont let AC spoil you:eng101:

[Kyle]

Jackhound, RC, J.D is a fuzzy guard and I will use it for last few hits granted I have the tension. Every now and than I use Jackhound on opponents wake-up to punish Backdash and throw attempts.

[AlwaysDizzy]

Jackhound, RC, J.D is a fuzzy guard and I will use it for last few hits granted I have the tension.

Every now and than I use Jackhound on opponents wake-up to punish Backdash and throw attempts.

Thats what Im talking about, I heard about you from Hsien_Jo. Your one of the cool people Keep on using all of your tools, Thats how you can tell if your a real may player or not, If you know about all of your tools and use them not if you know about them and claim that they're useless just cause it doesnt cause cancer inducing damage But yeah if they had more cool people around like to play AC with then maybe just maybe I'd come back and play again.

[Hsien_Jo]

Thats what Im talking about, I heard about you from Hsien_Jo. Your one of the cool people Keep on using all of your tools, Thats how you can tell if your a real may player or not, If you know about all of your tools and use them not if you know about them and claim that they're useless just cause it doesnt cause cancer inducing damage But yeah if they had more cool people around like to play AC with then maybe just maybe I'd come back and play again.

>.>, you act like your Jesus and the second coming >,>, We are not waiting for you Lol, I had to be mean, but your posts were good food for thought, keep them coming........you'll come back to Guiltamagear ..............sooon........soooon mwaahahahaha, then it'll be just like old times O,,..,,o

But if not..........too bad :/

Theres like a million other games for us to bashheads in

[Xkun01]

Brah no he's not.

That's like saying i'll go back to playing Millia.

Not happening.:8/:

Anyway, so do ALL May players main objective in a fight revolve around some magical way into the Loop?

Or is there an alternative?

[Dogysamich]

Anyway, so do ALL May players main objective in a fight revolve around some magical way into the Loop?

that's how im starting. XD

And i think i've come up with some ways i havent seen yet, but ultimately my goal is to loop, and only to loop.

And if there is no loop, then i hoop.

And if there is no loop, and i cant hoop, well then poop.

[Hsien_Jo]

Brah no he's not.

That's like saying i'll go back to playing Millia.

Not happening.:8/:

Anyway, so do ALL May players main objective in a fight revolve around some magical way into the Loop?

Or is there an alternative?

There are other options, theres always other options, which you cats will see in a few weeks with "Pirate Queen," but its one of the most efficient ways. I believe if you having fun with the game, you shouldn't mention as much about loops or tiers, because its just something to complain about. Its best not to make something like such an issue, and play the game in the way you want. When you play Jam, you do puff ball loops here and there, and when Leo plays Melty Blood with Arcied he uses the wall slam loop, and in Arcana Heart 2, he does the loop with Zenia on occasion. Its best to play the game and have fun :p.

But Anyway cats, lets get back to May discussion and lets not make the May threads like SRK, or the matching making threads, May would appreciate it.

[Dogysamich]

i was lookin for animated may gifs. >.>

[Kyle]

...do ALL May players main objective in a fight revolve around some magical way into the Loop?

Or is there an alternative?

Well, this question is worded funny, like saying, "Do you only prioritize doing your 1 combo?"

My answer is no.

I prioritize myself to

-Have fun.

-Use options to successfully break opponents guard.

-Flash guard, SB, BackDash to effectively maintain a defense greater than my opponent offense.

-Do hard combos as an attempt to be unique. As it's even harder to be unique while maximizing damage in AC. Seriously, 6HS, HSVD, jackhound just looks HOT but does terrible damage. =/

[Hsien_Jo]

Well, this question is worded funny, like saying, "Do you only prioritize doing your 1 combo?"

My answer is no.

I prioritize myself to

-Have fun.

-Use options to successfully break opponents guard.

-Flash guard, SB, BackDash to effectively maintain a defense greater than my opponent offense.

-Do hard combos as an attempt to be unique. As it's even harder to be unique while maximizing damage in AC. Seriously, 6HS, HSVD, jackhound just looks HOT but does terrible damage. =/

I second that xD, I like doing things that make ppl say "WTF"

[Dogysamich]

you know what. Just cause we're talking about it, and i need it for the corner combo. I give up on jackhound, i cant combo out of it to save my life. >.>

[blargster]

i like (though i think is unsafe cuz they can just poke ya out of it) throwin a quick dust in at them for a ID combo hehe ^_^.... after a 5k while they're wakin up that is =D... but man do i hate chars with uppercuts T_T they make me cry btw i just recently changed from HOS to may..... i must say i'm VERY happy with the change =D nothin like fighting people with a cute little girl with squeeky shoes .. it was the squeeky shoes that sold me... and i like the ex k color =D pretty pink with brown hair.. just the way i like it ^_^

[AlwaysDizzy]

.. it was the squeeky shoes that sold me... and i like the ex k color =D pretty pink with brown hair.. just the way i like it ^_^

You sir deserve a dancing loli for that post,you got me with your honesty.