[CP] Rachel Alucard Gameplay Discussion

[mAc Chaos]

Same with Haku VS Rachel in CT. It was like 7-3.

[bakahyl]

Nu and Mu are still gonna be an uphill battle because of the character designs, and Bang... well I haven't seen much of him in CP yet. Hazama is still hard too, but at least we can IOH him now.

Rachel should probably be able to close in on Mu much easier in CP because of the changes of Mu's zoning tools (like the increased recovery on her habaya and totsuka). Not sure how the increased traveling speed of some Mu's lasers would effect this match though, because Rachel could already escape some of Mu's oki's with wind

[Diveman]

I'm interested in Rachel for CP, but since is not on consoles yet, what are some stuff I'd have to learn in EXT for CP? I've never used Rachel before btw

[TD]

She has changed drastically but all the fundamentals are still there. You just learn her like you learn any other character: play, read stuff here, watch videos. If you get good with ex rachel you should have no problem transitioning to cp rachel.

[Yaaay]

That^

But you can still practice the j2c combo if you feel like it. It doesnt seem to be her signature combo route anymore but it may still be important.

[Tari]

I'm interested in Rachel for CP, but since is not on consoles yet, what are some stuff I'd have to learn in EXT for CP? I've never used Rachel before btw

Getting used to Rachel's normals, tools, and movement is fairly important. That's all basic stuff that doesn't revolve around knowing combos, so if you aren't familiar with those things, it's worth learning/practicing them.

Notably, I'm referring to things like how to approach and retreat with wind, how to use lobelias/lightning/pumpkin/frog for zoning, and when to use your normals (6A anti-air, 2A/2B/5B over 5A for poking, etc.).

A lot of that is actually covered in our Rachel bible, if you will, that's located here: http://www.dustloop.com/forums/showthread.php?14170-CSE-Rachel-Gameplay-Guide

Give it a read. Sakaku fairly recently updated that for the first time since its inception back during CT when kro first wrote it, so it's as up-to-date as ever.

If you are familiar with all of that, there are some other non-combo related things that are fairly important, ala j.A instant overhead and the followup fuzzy guard, or things that are simply useful to know, ala 6CD > j.C > dash 5B.

And if you're good with all of that stuff, then yeah, it's still worth learning lvl 2 j.2C combo timings, as it comes in handy more often than not. Other than that, make sure you know your basic combos (6A > 5B > sjc j.B > j.A > j.B > j.C > jc j.B > (j.A) > j.C, and other simple combos).

Maybe practice things like 2C (CH) > 7D > 632146C, or 6A (CH) > 5B > sjc j.B > j.C > jc j.B > j.C > 63214D6C. Those are useful to know, but not core essentials.

Most of the new combos are not feasible to practice in the current iteration of the game, unfortunately.

l think its not used because frog activates too late after the normal pickups, 5b and 3c. it shouldnt be a proration issue though. there are still combos that link into frog late into it, and from an ok starter at that.

the problem with using frog in combos now is that he gained so much cooldown time, and heat gain/wind regen was nerfed, all traits that made him a staple in the first place. so outside of early in a combo or connecting into bbl, we'd probably be better off doing a melee combo into both summons oki or just save frog and use pumpkin.

also, maybe 5b 5cdc frog 5b 6a 4b 236a (frog hits) 3c works. all of the smp moves are being used so it'd be hard to extend this...

Hm, so George's proration is still decent? That's good to know.

Edited March 12, 2013 by Tari

[Yaaay]

Hm, so George's proration is still decent? That's good to know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AooJpFvUdE&feature=youtu.be&t=2h44m58s rape combo yaaay

[tofurr]

It's so inspiring watching N-O play. Has he always played Rachel? I don't remember anything before CP. It was always Matsu, Sesu, Rin-Hime and Kure Hane.

[TD]

Yes he has since ct, and I believe he played her exclusively pre-bullet.

[Zoular]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AooJpFvUdE&feature=player_detailpage#t=5769s

Holy shit that was awesome.

http://youtu.be/4AooJpFvUdE?t=4m8s

N-Otoko clearly has things going for Lotus, still no fully completed stuff yet though, but there is potential like you've all been saying

Edit: yeah that troll zoning

http://youtu.be/4AooJpFvUdE?t=1h47m52s

Edited March 15, 2013 by Zoular

[Tari]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AooJpFvUdE&feature=youtu.be&t=2h44m58s rape combo yaaay

Haha, nice response.

It's so inspiring watching N-O play. Has he always played Rachel? I don't remember anything before CP. It was always Matsu, Sesu, Rin-Hime and Kure Hane.

Yeah. CT-era was dominated by some of the other players, though, including the since-retired MSY.

[Wild Candy]

Haha, nice response.

Yeah. CT-era was dominated by some of the other players, though, including the since-retired MSY.

Not surprising that they retired given how Rachel was beaten with in an inch of her life with the nerf-bat with the release of CS...

[moofpie]

I think MSY plays Amane now. I recall a Valk/Amane combo video posted some time ago with his name in it.

Also, I'm really loving the new stuff with Barrel Lotus, especially that crush trigger j.2C combo. I wish there was more Beelze Lotus usage though.

[Tari]

I think MSY plays Amane now. I recall a Valk/Amane combo video posted some time ago with his name in it.

Also, I'm really loving the new stuff with Barrel Lotus, especially that crush trigger j.2C combo. I wish there was more Beelze Lotus usage though.

Ah, I think I recall hearing about MSY showing up again. Didn't realize he was playing Amane now.

And yeah, still hoping for more stuff from the lotus moves. That j.2C combo was pretty nice, though.

[currentlemon]

I saw a combo N-O uses in the acho videos. I believe he used 4b>Guard Crush>8D>lvl.3 j2c? I've been seeing him try the perform this in the latest Acho video. Not exactly sure what the actual combo is or the inputs.

[Sindelian]

N-Otoko clearly has things going for Lotus, still no fully completed stuff yet though, but there is potential like you've all been saying

I just wish he'd use the other lotus too

[kirbster]

Lol give him time, I think it's already awesome that he's figuring out hype stuff when no one else is really using lotus.

[TD]

hey did you guys notice that lotus goes right through hakumen's void and sticks to him, even if hakumen cuts the lotus it will just ignore the sword and the void, l think it even keeps it's hitbox but maybe that'd be too much...

rachel can also block while theyre out and they wont disappear. r.i.p litchi zoning.

n-o is using it alot and no one seems to know how to deal with them, lets hope it stays that way

[Minutes]

Ughhh it's so annoying that WE can't help discover their potential =__= releasedatepls

[TD]

they enjoy our anticipation. thats why all these figurines are being released. who wouldn't spend their money on a cute rachel toy, just to hold them until release.

[Yaaay]

hey did you guys notice that lotus goes right through hakumen's void and sticks to him, even if hakumen cuts the lotus it will just ignore the sword and the void, l think it even keeps it's hitbox but maybe that'd be too much...

rachel can also block while theyre out and they wont disappear. r.i.p litchi zoning.

n-o is using it alot and no one seems to know how to deal with them, lets hope it stays that way

For the hitboxes alone I would use them. It will be fun to zone and annoy people with Lotus. :3

[Rhannmah]

if hakumen cuts the lotus it will just ignore the sword and the void, l think it even keeps it's hitbox

It doesn't keep the hitbox, so there's no hitstop or damage, but the bats still latch on to him

[Yaaay]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dThiY7i2T3U&feature=youtu.be&t=2h48m14s

Maybe I'm being a bit hopeful here, but this simple 5b 5c 6cd etc. combo still managed to do 3k. Is it correct to assume that 6c's proration got improved?

[kro_]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dThiY7i2T3U&feature=youtu.be&t=2h48m14s

Maybe I'm being a bit hopeful here, but this simple 5b 5c 6cd etc. combo still managed to do 3k. Is it correct to assume that 6c's proration got improved?

It might be improved, but CP's 6c corner carry combo has plenty of extra hits after the wallstick (5b 6a 236a 6a 4b 3c). IIRC you can't do much after 5cc in CSE other than combo into frog or 236b 5cc.

It's so inspiring watching N-O play. Has he always played Rachel? I don't remember anything before CP. It was always Matsu, Sesu, Rin-Hime and Kure Hane.

Yeah he always played Rachel. In CT his videos never made it to youtube, but what little I got to see on Niconico gave me the impression that he had the most balanced playstyle. I think he was also the first one to use that ridiculous corner guardbreak loop against v-13. Getting to watch him play all the time on A-cho vids is awesome.

Is there still a need to know character-specific combos in CP? It seems like using 5b 6a 236a to pick people up off the ground and instant j.a overhead working on everybody has eliminated them.

[TD]

combos are looking pretty universal. maybe a few tager variants because of his weight/hitbox, otherwise all of n-o's bnbs are working on everyone.