max damage is lower and D specials add less, but combos without D are all greatly improved. Specials are greatly improved too ( Charges and Dives are much faster). the new J214D let's you extend a combo no matter how you land it for only 1 charge, easily. air confirms, for example. being able to put 6CC into IAD into combos, however you manage to do it, adds some greater corner carry and you can do it off normal confirms now. Not just CH starters. Corner carry is really important in Blazblue. Some of this stuff is humongous.