Ronove

They may use the A version of Ice Car between their blockstring sometime, but if they use the B and C version I just crawl->3C->combo, and they stop doing it.

Good stuff. Regarding Tao's crossup abilities, you can instant airdash and land a cross-up j.b or a cross-up j.C on standing opponents that usually have a big/mid sized hitbox (Tager, Hakumen, Ragna, Bang and even Litchi if I am not wrong). Just 99(or a quick 8->66) from the ground when you're at around 5C range from them and do j.B (j.C works on Tager), it'll hit them behind. Be careful when doing it against Tager, only do it when you know you're not going to eat a backdash+buster. In general a IAD->crossup j.b is a good tool in your mixup game and may score some nice counterhits if the opponent was mashing one of their pokes thinking that you'd approach them from the front. I still need to try the IAD j.B as meaty on okizeme, and see on which characters it's convenient to perform on.

The general rule is to wait a fraction because you don't want Tao to be higher than your opponent since CS2 will elevate her even more. You atleast want to be at the same height or slightly below. So that's why usually you don't perform the CS2 right after the 9d, because you want Tao to be there to hit them with the first 236bb and still be able to follow up with an 236bbbb, else the opponent won't be in range. Keep in mind though that with characters with a huge hitbox you don't really need to do this (see Tager). So when you go to training mode to practice this it's better if you test it on Jin or Noel. Once you learn to land the 236bb->236bbbb on them you can basically do it without problems on the rest of the cast.

So far I haven't met a lot of Noels who use her flash kick since, as you said it's pretty risky if they whiff it or if it gets blocked. timed 4d~b sounds very interesting, I've seen it done in one of the latest vids I linked in the video thread (I think it was either Keita or Matoi doing it), since it managed to stop Noel's 2d right at the start of her move and would allow to follow up with a Taunt->combo, or otg 5b/5c combo. I guess it requires a bit of yomi. One thing I noticed is that a lot of Noels like to throw that 2D after I do a blockstring mostly made of 2b/2a's and 5b. Knowing that I suppose that could serve as a bait and I could immediately go for a quick airthrow/4d~b or IB. I'll keep these pointers in mind. Thankfully a friend of mine plays a very good Noel so I'll be sure to test this tactic out (baiting the 2D) and see if it works or not.

I hate doing that because sometimes it'll register the inputs even after the 5b came out which will make the combo whiff. That's why I am trying to iuse that other universal combo as often as I can, or if possible the hit version of the 5d~b one.

I find the no hit version harder to pull off online because usually the moment I am trying to follow up with OTG 5b->5c they tech away. Offline it's perfectly fine though. Anyway, an other combo that works on Rachel is: 5b->3c->5d~6->j.c->236b->j.2d~b->5c->your vertical drive loop route of choice It's pretty much a universal combo, it even works on Carl (although it has to be shorter).

Thanks a lot TaoFTW. Yeah, I do barrier guard because I am usually "scared" of just blocking since Noel can easily guard crash. However, I guess I should try to resort to IB on her 2d (without any barrier) so that I can go straight into a 5b. Fourth option is usually what I've been doing recently, but I didn't like it that much because I felt I was wasting a chance to create an opening for a CH combo. As for the air-grab, I guess it'll take me quite a while to reach that level of yomi unless the Noel player is constantly spamming her 2D, in that case that will surely be useful.

Question for you guys: how do you cope with a 2D happy Noel? I know I've been told to block/guard but I can't be doing it all the time (since Tao's defense sucks balls). I thought I could try throwing a 6a but I guess I'd have to develope good yomi since it's one of her D moves that doesn't have an uber slow startup and actually comes out pretty quickly. I've gotta try using 4d, maybe that could do the trick. Anyway, I'd like to hear your opinion on how you guys usually deal with her 2D->followup stuff.

Regarding taunt combos in general, one thing I noticed from watching Kazu, Keita and other japanese Tao players is that they include a taunt whenever they manage to land any drive move cancelled into b on an airborne opponent that's almost close to the ground. Example: in one match vs a Noel (can't remember who it was), the Noel was trying a jump in, the Tao (I think it was Keita doing this) did a 4d~b right away and as he landed he went Taunt->236cc->etc. Basically, rather than intentionally try to setup a taunt combo with the usual startup of 5b->6a(1) he would exploit any chance given by a d~b move that would allow him to juggle the opponent with the Taunt right after. I think it's a pretty interesting way to increase the possible amount of setups for taunt combos. It's certainly not easy (and it's harder to pull off online), but it gives more options to Tao players and less predictability.

[a bit OT] I'd love to record my stuff as well, but I keep plugged my PS3 directly to my monitor than my tv and I honestly have no clue what equipment I need to record stuff. :X

Today I played a really good bang who kept crossing me up and zoning my dash attempts with his nails. Any suggestion? Sometimes I try to backdash and attempt a Ch 5c->6C, but I'd like to hear someone's else opinion and see what kind of options we have in this matchup, specially when dealing with Bang's offensive game.

Added XDest's latest batch of vids.

@Final_Round The only visual clues that I use are Tao's position after the 9d~9 when facing the other character. Here's a suggestion: make Tao jump in the air (randomly) and do her 236b. Did you notice something? When she does it her sprite is slightly pushed upwards. With this in mind, when I try to connect the 236b after the 9d~9 I wait for the moment where Tao's body is slightly below the opponent and then do the 236b which pushes her up perfectly aligned with the opponent's body. This obviously works differently according to which character you're facing and it also depends on how quickly they fall. For instance Tager has such a freaking huge hitbox that you don't really need that trick. Viceversa it works well with Jin who has a small hitbox.

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*space reserved for other vids*

Welcome to the new and slashy edition of Taokaka's Video Thread! While the previous thread was filled with lots of Tao's goodness, our meatbuntastic moderator (TaoFTW) decided it was better to re-organize it so that you fellow Kakas could easily find what you've been looking for. Tao's videos will now be divided by matchup, and within each matchup segment you'll find all the most notorious players dealing against that specific character. For those who do not have an account at NicoNico Douga (Japan's very own video portal), you can find a guide on how to create your account HERE (you need an account in order to watch vids). Also, if you're interested in saving vids from NicoNico, you can find a guide on how to do so HERE. Feel free to link any interesting video that you think it's worthy of being shared! All the useful stuff will be included in this post which will be updated as we discover more footage of awesome Tao players. Combo vids are welcome as well! And now, on to the list. vs Arakune - [NicoNico](from 9:31 to 13:03) Backsteppo vs Doitsu Mura (03/14/09) - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 6:59) Denpa vs Arakune (12/09/08) - [Other](from10:42 to 14:53) Denpa vs Edo (02/22/09) - [NicoNico] Denpa vs Edo (03/29/09) - [NicoNico] Denpa vs Eji (05/19/09) - [NicoNico](from 3:06 to 7:47) Denpa vs Eji (06/21/09) - Doitsu Mura vs Fio (01/07/09) - Hima vs Fio (04/15/09) - [NicoNico] Fumo vs Hamepo (04/10/09) - [NicoNico] Kazu vs Hima (03/18/09) - Kazu vs Souji (05/21/09) - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 2:40) Kazu vs Fumo (05/29/09) - Keita vs Hima (07/04/09) - Keita vs Hima (07/15/09) - Mao vs Hima 1 (07/15/09) - Mao vs Hima 2 (07/15/09) - Doitsu Mura vs Kiyochuu (12/06/08) - from Joybox Blazblue (11/24/08) from US/Dustloop - from Arcade UFO part 1 (12/13/08) - TaoFTW vs CopperDabbit (09/10/09) vs Bang - [NicoNico](from 4:52 to 7:11) Denpa vs Bang (12/09/08) - Fio vs Dora (05/10/09) - Kazu vs Shadow (02/04/09) - [NicoNico] Kazu vs Shadow (02/04/09) - [NicoNico](from 5:46 to 8:40) Kazu vs Shadow (04/02/09) - Keita vs Shadow (06/24/09) - Roku vs Keita (07/01/09) - Keita vs Shadow (07/30/09) - from Joybox Blazblue (11/24/08) vs Carl - [Other](from 0:00 to 2:19) Denpa vs Carl Oji-san (02/22/09) - [NicoNico] Fio vs DIO (12/12/08) - Fio vs Zakiyama (12/21/08) - Fio vs DIO (04/15/09) - [NicoNico] DIO vs Fio (04/19/09) - Hamepo vs DIO (08/03/09) - Keita vs DIO (06/17/09) - Matoi vs MechaSue (08/01/09) from US/Dustloop - TaoFTW vs PhaethonH (05/30/09) - TaoFTW vs PhaethonH (09/10/09) - TaoFTW vs PhaethonH(10/30/09) NEW! - from Arcade UFO part 2(12/06/08) - from Arcade UFO part 3 (12/06/08) - from Arcade UFO part 4 (12/06/08) - from Arcade UFO part 5 (12/06/08) - from Arcade UFO part 6 (12/06/08) vs Hakumen - Shadow vs Fio (02/18/09) - Shadow vs Fio (03/11/09) - [NicoNico] Suzume vs Hamepo (03/13/09) - [NicoNico] Hamepo vs Suzume (05/11/09) - [NicoNico] Hamepo vs 0 (05/11/09) - [NicoNico] Hamepo vs Suzume (06/20/09) - Keita vs Shadow (05/25/09) from US/Dustloop - QWERTY vs TaoFTW (03/28/09) - Dustloop Casuals – Saeeda vs Kurushiikun (08/27/09) - Dustloop Casuals – YellowGuy25 vs Kurushiikun (08/27/09) - Dustloop Casuals – Unkyrona vs Kurushiikun (08/27/09) - Unkyrona vs RoseAndRose12345 (08/30/09) vs Jin - Fio vs Nise Pachi (12/06/08) - Fio vs Nise Pachi (12/06/08) - [NicoNico] Fio vs Keita (12/17/08) - Pikurin vs Fio (04/29/09) - [NicoNico] Fio vs Shadow (05/27/09) - Fio vs Shadow (06/16/09) - Gasou vs Soup (08/08/09) - [NicoNico] Kazu vs Buppa (02/04/09) - [NicoNico] Kazu vs Nise Pachi (02/04/09) - [NicoNico] Buppa vs Kazu (03/18/09) - [NicoNico](from 5:23 to 11:19) Kazu vs Kaqn (05/25/09) - Keita vs Kaqn (05/27/09) - Keita vs Dennou (06/24/09) - Dennou vs Keita (06/17/09) - Buppa vs Keita (07/01/09) - Keita vs Buppa (07/04/09) - Keita vs Soup (08/08/09) - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 2:53) from Athena Nihonbashi Qualifying Tournament (12/06/08) - [NicoNico](from 10:15 to 13:58) from TRF (11/25/08) - from TRF (12/02/08) - from TRF (12/02/08) - [NicoNico](from 2:05 to 5:10) from TRF (12/02/08) - [NicoNico](from 10:54 to 13:01) from TRF (12/02/08) - [NicoNico](from 15:14 to 19:08) from TRF (12/09/08) from US/Dustloop - from Arcade UFO part 2 (12/06/08) - Unkyrona vs Basilikus (08/31/09) - ehuangsan vs TaoFTW 1 (09/10/09) - ehuangsan vs TaoFTW 2 (09/10/09) - ehuangsan vs TaoFTW 3 (09/10/09) - ehuangsan vs TaoFTW 4 (09/10/09) - Ginseng vs TaoFTW 1 (09/10/09) - Ginseng vs TaoFTW 2 (09/10/09) - TaoFTW vs. Chef (10/30/09) NEW! - TaoFTW vs. Ginseng (10/30/09) NEW! - Kayin vs. TaoFTW (10/30/09) NEW! - XDest's Replay 3 - XDest's Replay 7 - XDest's Replay 12 - XDest's Replay 13 - XDest's Replay 14 vs Litchi - [NicoNico] Denpa vs TAD (12/27/08) - Fio vs Manakan (04/15/09) - Keita vs BLEED (07/15/09) - Keita vs Fio (he’s using Litchi) (08/08/09) - [NicoNico](from 10:22 to 14:19) from TRF (11/27/08) - [NicoNico](from 12:16 to 14:48) from TRF (12/09/08) from US/Dustloop - XDest's Replay 11 vs Noel - [NicoNico] GUCCI vs Akatsuki (11/29/08) - [NicoNico] Hamepo vs Zayasu (12/10/08) - [NicoNico] DB-Aikouka vs Hamepo (05/27/09) - [NicoNico] DB-Aikouka vs Hamepo 2 (05/27/09) - Kazu vs Noel (R-1 maybe?) (02/07/09) - [NicoNico] Kazu vs Kame (02/04/09) - abc55abc vs Kazu (07/21/09) - GUCCI vs Keita (06/17/09) - Keita vs GUCCI (06/24/09) - [NicoVideo] Keita vs Zakiyama 1 (07/20/09) - [NicoVideo] Keita vs Zakiyama 2 (07/20/09) - Keita vs Buppa 1 (08/08/09) - Keita vs Buppa 2 (08/08/09) - Kaqn vs Keita (08/08/09) - Mao vs GUCCI (07/15/09) - [NicoNico](from 4:49 to 6:24) from Athena Nihonbashi Qualifying Tournament (12/06/08) - [NicoNico](from 8:55 to 10:59) from TRF (01/23/09) from US/Dustloop - Aginor vs. TaoFTW (10/30/09) NEW! vs Rachel - [Other] Denpa vs Komugi (03/11/09) - [NicoNico] Hamepo vs Lurk (04/17/09) - [NicoNico] Hamepo vs Lurk 2 (04/17/09) - [NicoNico] Hamepo vs Lurk 3 (04/17/09) - [NicoNico] Hamepo vs Lurk 4 (04/17/09) - Shadow vs Keita (05/25/09) - Keita vs Shadow (05/25/09) - [NicoNico] Fio (he's using Rachel in this vid ) vs Satoshi (the Tao player of the vid) (04/19/09) - from Joybox Blazblue (11/24/08) - from Joybox Blazblue (11/24/08) - [NicoNico](from 3:00 to 5:27) from TRF (11/25/08) - [NicoNico](from 8:06 to 10:00) from TRF (11/25/08) - [NicoNico](from 6:49 to 09:00) from TRF (12/09/08) from US/Dustloop - TaoFTW vs Mike (05/30/09) - from Arcade UFO part 8 (12/06/08) - XDest's Replay 10 vs Ragna - [NicoNico](from 6:29 to 9:25) Oosaka Taiga vs Backsteppo (03/14/09) - [NicoNico](from 2:43 to 4:50) Denpa vs Ragna (12/09/08) - [NicoNico] Kaqn vs Fio (01/07/09) - [NicoNico] Kaqn vs Fio (02/04/09) - Fio vs Toriniku (02/18/09) - Fio vs Kaqn (05/10/09) - [NicoNico] Hamepo vs Sekidorian (12/11/08) - [NicoNico] Kaqn vs Kazu (03/18/09) - [NicoNico] Kazu vs Bashou (05/21/09) - [NicoNico] Kazu vs Shimakuro (05/21/09) - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 5:23) Kazu vs Kaqn (05/25/09) - Keita vs Kaqn (05/25/09) - Keita vs Kaqn 1 (08/08/09) - Keita vs Kaqn 2 (08/08/09) - from Joybox Blazblue(11/24/08) - from Joybox Blazblue (11/24/08) - [NicoNico](from 5:41 to 7:42) from TRF (11/25/08) - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 3:25) from TRF (11/27/08) - [NicoNico](from 11:23 to 13:08) from TRF (01/23/09) from US/Dustloop - TaoFTW vs Ricky (03/28/09) - TaoFTW vs Don (05/30/09) - KuroNoArcana vs Lurch_E_Bean (10/30/09) NEW! vs Tao - [NicoNico](from 7:14 to 11:22) Denpa vs an other Tao (12/09/08) - HORIKANE vs Taosis (07/24/09) - [NicoNico](from 2:55 to 4:47) from Athena Nihonbashi Qualifying Tournament (12/06/08) - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 2:59) from TRF (11/25/08) - AyNakuSig (TK) vs. RinHara(5aki) (TK) Part 1 NEW! - AyNakuSig (TK) vs. RinHara(5aki) (TK) Part 2 NEW! - AyNakuSig (TK) vs. RinHara(5aki) (TK) Part 3 NEW! vs Tager - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 3:04) Denpa vs Myonta (06/21/09) - Fio vs Yumura (12/06/08) - Fio vs Pr-009 (02/11/09) - Akiduki vs Fio (05/10/09) - Kazu vs Yumura (02/04/09) - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 3:00) Kazu vs Yumura (04/02/09) - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 2:24) Kusakabe Tarou vs Daibutsu (01/25/09) - Matoi vs Reno (08/01/09) - Galileo vs Taosis 1 (08/21/09) - Galileo vs Taosis 2 (08/21/09) - Galileo vs Taosis 2 (08/21/09) - Galileo vs Taosis 2 (08/21/09) - [NicoNico](from 0:00 to 2:03) from TRF (12/02/08) from US/Dustloop - TaoFTW vs Coopa 1 (09/10/09) - TaoFTW vs Coopa 2 (09/10/09) - XDest's Replay 2 - XDest's Replay 4 - XDest's Replay 6 - XDest's Replay 8 - XDest's Replay 15 vs V-13 - Hana Chichi vs Fio (02/01/09) - Kanyun vs Fio #1 (02/01/09) - Kanyun vs Fio #2 (02/01/09) - Kanyun vs Fio #3 (02/01/09) - Kanyun vs Fio #4 (02/01/09) - Kanyun vs Fio #5 (02/01/09) - Kanyun vs Fio #6 (02/01/09) - Kanyun vs Fio #7 (02/01/09) - Kanyun vs Fio #8 (02/01/09) - Shita Chichi vs Fio #1 (02/01/09) - Shita Chichi vs Fio #2 (02/01/09) - Shita Chichi vs Fio #3 (02/01/09) - System vs Fio (02/01/09) - Kanyun vs Fio (02/11/09) - [NicoNico] Kanyun vs Kazu (03/18/09) - [NicoNico] Tsukasa vs Taosis (06/06/09) from US/Dustloop - TaoFTW vs Goryus (03/05/09) - TaoFTW vs Goryus (10/30/09) NEW! - XDest's Replay 1 - XDest's Replay 5 - XDest's Replay 9 Combo Videos - RinHara5aki's Taokaka Intermediate Combo Video - TaoFTW's Taokaka Advanced Combo Video - Japanese Combo Video #1 - Japanese Combo Video #2

I suspected so. That said, it's not an impossible matchup, but Tao can't really make a mistake in this matchup since Jin can comfortably punish in the most painful way and then proceed to set their painful oki game (especially once they corner you). I've been wondering one thing though. Is there atleast one poke move we can use? Is 5C really our only possible poking tool? Since j.C gets negated by his DPs (or his 5D ). I guess we need to bait their DPs but smart Jin players won't fall for it and simply wait for us to make the first move and try to sneak something between our blockstrings... Heh. If any Tao has good success in this matchup, I'd like to hear their strategies.

Aid from the past! How could I have missed that.

I'm still having trouble getting taunt combos consistently (the j.2d~b one). I have a request to those who can execute it flawlessly: could you guys, like, record your hands while executing that string (5b->6a->j.2d~b->taunt)? I think "hearing the rhythm" of the pressed buttons and looking at the timing of how you input the directions with the stick would help me out a lot. If any of you could do that, I'd be really really grateful.

It's most likely their j.B (which is also a good crossup move), and j.C I'm having trouble with it as well. So far the only answer I found was to simply backdash away from his crossup/jump-in attempt and then react accordingly to what they do after that. Usually if they see you backdashing they're probably expecting you to counterattack once they land so they might be trying to throw either a 5D or 2D, so be ready to block and punish. It takes a bit of guessing and reading versus good Jin players, they have a lot of choices they can go from when pressuring you. x_x Personally it's the most difficult matchup for me (which is not good since there are A LOT of Jin on the net, heh). I even fare way better against V-13 than I do against Jin.

Only if it's on counterhit though.

Very useful post, XDest. But in the 3c combos 1, 2 and 3, didn't you forget to put a 9d~9 between the j.C and the last 236bbbb? Your string is "j.236BB .. j.C j.236BBBB" I thought normally one would do "j.236BB .. j.C 9d~9 j.236BBBB". Also, regarding combo #3 of the 3C ones, there's also this variation at the beginning: 3C->6d~6->j.C->236b->j.2d~b-> etc etc Mind you this works best if you directly happen to hit the opponent with 3c without having it chained from something else. If it's chained from a 5b or an other move chances are that the opponent won't be too high from ground and you won't have enough time to even put a j.c between the 6d~6 and the 236b. One more thing regarding the air-throw: if it's done early in the string (or if you directly start with an airthrow), you can also chain 236c right as Tao lands his victim on the ground. It works in a similar way like the backthrow combo.

Guys, I'm having quite a few problems with this matchup. I can't seem to effectively pressure Jin, and also I think my blockstrings aren't good enough. This is due to Jin's 5b (the kick that hits twice), and his 5d which has a freaking huge hitbox (doesn't even allow me any attempt to crossup 2d~b->j.c). Both these help him score counterhits which lead to his painful combos and also allow him to set his corner game which is a pain in the butt to deal with. Couple that with the fact that online sometimes the combos on him will whiff because of his hitbox, and this matchup has really gotten almost frustrating for me. Any suggestion, advice, whatever, is welcome.

Useful advices, Sileh. You have my gratitude. *pets Sileh and feeds him with meat buns* I got back into training mode this morning, and I was able to pull the j.2d~b a few times. I still haven't completely figured it out though. But atleast I managed to understand where I need to work on: I seem to be pressing b too early. So now all I have to do is to practice till I nail it consecutively and then follow up with a taunt in order to integrate that string into combos.

Ok guys, I can't seem to really get the j.2d~b in the taunt combos, the one that start with 5b->6a(1). Either I press the b too early and the drive won't inflict damage, or the drive does hit but she's already reached the ground making it useless to press b. but still being in her recovering frames which makes it impossible to followup with the next attack in the combo chain. Any tips on the timing of this move? I can perfectly get 2d~b off her 5b->3c->6d~6 startup, but I can't seem to do the same with the 6a(1) since she's fairly closer. Mind you, I'm trying this combo on Noel so that might also be a reason (but I've seen vids where other Taos use taunt combos against her). At what height am I supposed to input 2d? I think that's the problem, rather than inputting b at the right time (I usually do it on reaction the moment I see the "scratches" animation on the opponent). Any advice is helpful. :D Do the first cat spirit two wait for the second hit to finish and input again the 236 motion and b. As Travaton said there's a very short pause between the two cat spirit two (basically she returns to neutrail airborne state for a little span then immediately gets back to the second cat spirit two), but don't wait too much or the opponent will fall away and the following 236bbbb will whiff. It takes a bit of practice but it's not that hard to learn once you figure the timing. Watch replays of other players, they're very helpful to figure out the timing, even just by hearing the "rhythm" of her hits.