Kakimori

I also play on pad, but my thumb is kind of fat, so I can't rest my thumb on D and B without also hitting A and C when I try to piano. In Extend I could sort of do the combos because a lot of them did not require the input immediately after switching, but this is kind of rough :/ Thanks for the advice!

Question: I can't do CP Valkenhayn's basic basic Wolf Combo, w.[A > B > C > 6D > A > 5D] > 5B and onwards. The 6D into A is hard enough for me and I can't get it 100% consistently even after practicing it for hours at a time, but I can never get the 5B. Either I input it too early and w.B comes out, or it's way too late and they've already teched. Is there any way to better understand the timing on this?

No more 2C > 6C? What are they doing to Valkenhayn??

Hey, new (3-day-old) Azrael here. I read the Strategy Guide, Overview, and Combo pages (you guys are awesome!) but I still have a few questions. 1. When would you use 6A? Because of the guard point it feels like it would be useful after a blocked 5BB but faster characters just mash 2A so it would get caught out anyway. I never really use it unless I just feel like pressing a different button. 2. 2B > 5D seems awesome, but what can I get off a raw 5D midscreen meterless? Just TCL? 3. 2C > 6D > STUFF also seems good, but because you basically have to input the 6D instantly after 2C to land, there isn't time to hit confirm. Is this therefore a bad idea? 4. How do you usually combo into your Valiant/Bunker? 5. After a LW Bunker, what's your go-to combo? I.E., do you prefer j.2C or j.D? 6. Will 2C frustrate a counter-heavy Hakumen? (I can't remember if his counters still affect projectiles. Obviously it's a bad idea as an AA against him.) 7. Given that 3D/6D are so slow, when is a good time to use them? I've taken to using 5C > 3D as one of my mixups after a crossup j.B, blocked or not, but I wish I could incorporate these two moves into my gameplay more. 8. What in god's name can Azrael do to Taokaka? Thanks to anyone who reads my wall of text… >_> Also sweet mother of mercy Tager and Nu are stressful

I'm hoping we can get a guide for Kagura started, because I just came back today after a few months off and woooooooo was I getting my ass beat. Having to basically relearn him from scratch and I'm not even trying to optimize combos right now, correct me when I'm wrong: -2A is our best poke at mid range. -6D~B or 6D~A is basically a 50/50 when they're locked down under [4]6B. -2D~C > 5D~C > [2]8C is the best ender for most simple combos? In general, should I be following up blocked 5C/2C with 2D~B into ?? or with [4]6A/B? What is best to follow up 5D~A on block and on hit? When should 5A be thrown out? (I'm guessing out of 2A range but inside 5C range?) What is a good time to use 2D~A in a mixup? Seems like 6C and j.C are our best AAs? How safe is it actually to throw out 6D~C? When getting rushed down, do you prefer to footsie with 2A or try to flash kick out of it? Anyway just looking for tips/advice since I'm far from a good player and hopefully like I said we can get a guide started from some of this stuff

It worked out OK for me but probably just because I was up against a lower tier of Hazamas.

Well, I actually hold back a tiny bit after the 5C, so it's like…5C > half step > [4]6B. I do mix it up with A but I've never gotten poked out of the B that way…what should I look out for? If Hazama successfully lands a chain then he'll just be on you from dusk to dawn, but if you can read it and start your 6D~C a moment earlier, since its hitbox is so big it pretty much stops air and ground chains. If he's mid screen, he has no real way of getting in on Kagura other than chaining so it can be predictable unless you're against a really good Hazama IMO. If you accidentally 6D~C into his block, you can 5D~A and backstep out, which is not at all ideal but I've also stuffed Houtenjins with the 5D~A XD Altho Kagura can reversal out of chain pressure, can't he? I'm used to playing Valk so it feels very weird to actually have a reversal to escape pressure…Valk is more like jump > wolf > GTFO GTFO GTFO OMG RUN

Wait wait, 5C > 2D~B is a tight block string if they don't instant block the 5C?? I never knew that, I've always been going 5C > [4]6B. Never had a huge problem getting zoned with Kagura because 6D~C is so good if they get predictable with their projectiles. No better feeling than stuffing a Hazama chain...

Well, I always liked 5C and used it a lot in my neutral game so that's somewhat good news for me XD I assume you mean offensive falling j.C as pressure btw, not some sort of rising defensive j.C?

With the big wolf cooldown nerf, does Valk play a lot more human in neutral now? Poking with 5C and such?

FML, I know I'm late to the party but they nerfed her AGAIN? Can someone break down what the 6C changes mean? Is 6C > JC > j.B/j.C > land > blockstring still semi-reliable for pressure if they're not expecting it? Also, did this hit console yet?

Since we lost 6B > 3C gatling, what is supposed to be a good followup to blocked 6B now? Do we just have to 5B > whatever? Or is transform the best option? And, uh...is w.B basically just combo filler now? Or does it still function as his second best anti-air after 2C? Kiba, thanks for the combo practice tips. (Midscreen: w[j.A/5A > 5B > 5C > 6D > j.A > 5D] > 5B > 5C > hj.B > j.A > j.B > dj.B > j.C]) I see people looping his w[6D > j.A > j.B > C] or so sometimes, is that just for corner carry and not a BnB?

My God, this D change is going to take so much time to get used to. You have to be precise as shit on your wolf transformations 100% of the time or you're going to flat out lose. Ugh.

I'm really liking 6DC > 5DA as a "safe approach" option, stuffed a Houtenjin and god knows how many other things with it today. 5DA is just great in general.

It's true that 63214C and fireballs add a lot to her, but playing today I realllllllllllly felt like she took one step forward and three steps back as a character. 5BB nerf, 2CC nerf, j.CC nerf, j.D nerf, 236B/C mid-combo connections being wonky as hell...