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IMO Cody has big advantages in 2 situations: corner, and certain hard knockdowns.

In the corner, Cody’s jabs will actually stuff EX Rainbow Ball (first one whiffs, second hits), so to escape you have to try to do something like st.lp xx EX Rainbow, and this might also be punishable but I’m not sure.

On mid-screen after a hard knockdown, Cody’s Double Zonk safe-jump OS works vs Blanka. Basically he does a safe-jump (depending on the situation it might only be safe if it’s an empty jump) and then you have to guess between block or tech throw because he will either do jumping attack -> EX Zonk, or jumping attack -> throw (or cr.lk xx EX Zonk, or empty jump EX Zonk, or empty jump throw etc etc). Backdash is beaten by OS regular zonk, and everything else besides blocking is beaten by the EX Zonk follow up (you can’t jump if he uses j.hk, but teching super late after this will block the EX Zonk cos the frame trap gap is considerably smaller). You can coward crouch but I’m pretty sure Cody recovers much faster than you do. I don’t remember if EX Rainbow works. I know some characters can block the EX Zonk by focus dashing into the jumping attack, but I don’t think Blanka’s dash is fast enough, and it’s a huge risk in any case. If he doesn’t go for either EX Zonk or Throw and you happen to eat eat a frame trap combo stun is practically guaranted if his next mixup lands.

Also hori balls are punishable on hit with U2 (but strangely only situationally punishable on block from certain ranges).

However, Blanka has a significant advantage IMO in the neutral game. Cody can’t quite keep up with him in footsies and eventually he resorts to focus fishing which is avoided with jab xx hop. Also Cody sucks on wakeup. So as long as he doesn’t into a bad knockdown situation and keeps away from the corner, Blanka wins the match IMO.

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Thanks ilitirit for your insights

Actually went to the lab for the safe jump into OS and unfortuantely it does beat both ex upball (safe jump) and ex zonk beats ex rainbow… it seems like the best option is to wake up focus backdash… but i wouldn’t be surprised of he’s got an answer for that as well…

As for jabs beating ex rainbow in corner… actually if he’s close enough pretty much any character can beat ex rainbow usually people here will meaty os into something to beat out ex rainbow but most of the time its not an option that beats out both ex upball and ex rainbow

PRetty much agree with your other points as well…

-LAU

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Yes, the EX Zonk follow up will beat it, which makes it the worst defensive option when Cody has three bars unless because after EX Zonk FADC he gets 1 extra unscaled hit of damage. Suprisingly Focus Dashing foward is fast enough to block the EX Zonk. The best option to use a very late crouch tech will allow you to block EX Zonk, but if he uses a jump-in with less frame advantage you can get thrown or Zonked. It’s pretty much a straight-up guess between block or tech.

124

Actually when i was testing if I focus backdash i’ll focus cody j.hk because of the pause from the focus/hit the ex zonk doesn’t come out and back dashing after absorbing from the focus will avoid the follow up after cody’s jump hk… i used jump hk into his s.hp (charged his ex zonk with lp+mp)

now if i just did a regular back dash to avoid his safe jump hk i’ll get hit by the os ex zonk.

Unless you’re talking about a different setup where ex zonk comes out for both regular ba kdash and focus backdash then i guess i haven’t done something right

-LAU

125

Cody holds 3 punches, does j.hk, releases 1 punch (this is the regular OS zonk), releases both punches after the j.hk hits. This covers every option besides blocking and focus dashing forward. When it’s done correctly you can only block or focus dash forward. You can actually mash backdash after the j.hk hits, but you can’t really be sure he’ll use that button or whether or not he’ll delay it. Both the latter options will beat the backdash, but should theoretically allow you to jump out. Eating the regular OS Zonk is better than dealing with another throw, but if he uses a different OS you’re screwed (if he does this he won’t be able to block the EX Ball). It’s safer to just block.

I forgot to demonstrate focus dashing forward but it does work. I don’t use it though.

EDIT: With this particular timing FA forward will not work. Cody needs to do the EX Zonk slightly later. It will still beat jumping and it will beat regular backdash after the j.hk as well.

126

what if you block the jumpin then f.hop?

127

That works.

128

Thanks for the vid i guess with this double os cody is commited to covering most of your standard options or potentially burning 3 bars to be safe… regardless having this double os is pretty scary against Blanka…

-LAU

129

It sounds batshit and I’m at work and can’t try it, but since OS slide beats Zonk, could you block and then slide? I don’t know how big the window is and whether your hitbox shrinks fast enough to avoid it. That’d be a hilarious solution if nothing else.

130

b.throw dash very late j.mk keeps cammy from f.dashing out of b.throw mixups. Always a crossup but keeps her honest.

Primer on Punishing Cody

Max range bingo cr.mp
close range, u1, stjab xx ball
Max range/close EX bingo, st.jab/sweep/u1

vs. cody if he attempts to do max range lp criminal upper for chip you have a lot of options.

crouch block 1-2 hits blocked, cr.mp
crouch block 3 hits blocked, st.jab or ex upball reversal

at range where 1-2 hits would be blocked, you can level 2 crumple him.

Example strings
f.mp, cr.lp, cr.lp, cr.lk xx lp cu
cr.lp, cr.lp, cr.lp, cr.lk xx lp cu
cl.hp, cr.mp, cr.lk xx lp cu
cr.lp x2 or 3, cr.mp xx lp cu (nice here that if the cu is not focusable it’s a true blockstring letting you os a block and still punish with st.jab)

vs. max ranged ex cu

cr.hp, slide

vs. max ranged hp cu(visual cue lots of blocked hits)

st.jab, cr.mp, cr.hp, cr.hk, slide

vs. max ranged mp cu(visual cue medium number of blocked hits)

st.jab, cr.mp, cr.hp

If you are unsure of what version he did ex upball or hit st.jab worst case scenario is a whiffed jab vs. max range lp cu which he can’t punish as far as I know.

Punishing Bad Spray

SLIDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Punishing Overhead

close - u1 or st.jab(ball will knockdown/be cancelable to super, can also cancel to elec)

far - st.jab

st.jab xx ball can be punished on hit sometimes with ex ruffian but I’m not working out when to do it or not right now.

131

more on anti cammy been playing against probably hk best cammy player a lot recently in fact had a ft5 unfortunately lost 3-5 bit the match is relatively close and the tips provided is stuff I learn after the ft5 and watching the xiaohai video against blanka. Now I play this cammy player I do slightly better for awhile I was winning only but he adapted to my new start so it’s more or less even a bit with cammy player winning a bit more.

Aside from the above mentioned I added the following to my strategy

  1. More s.lp poke. This pretty much beats out anything cammy throws out if you’re within range. The issue is while you’re poking and provoking with jabs your goal really is to pressure her and push her towards the corner or for you to push your way out.

What you need to look out for is when s.lp gets out of range. That’s when cammy gets dangerous. However if he’s blindly holding back because of her great walk speed. It’s not a bad idea to throw in a slide to catch her. If she’s occasionally going db, she can’t get away from your constantly pressure . Once she’s out of your range you’re open to her jumping and dive kicking you

  1. S.hk this is used with s.lp especially when you are about to get out of range. It catches cammy trying to jump at you early on. And basically beats out all attempts to counter poke simply because it’s still 3 frames

  2. Ex electricity after getting knocked down in certain cammy setup. The setup I’m talking about is when she tries to dive kick directly above your corpse which is the angle where ex upball won’t hit, regular upball will get beaten, ex rainbow won’t work and it’s super ambiguous and you’re forced to block correctly. Ex electricity is the solution to zap her out when she does this type of setup.

Everything else is more or less similar to what I mentioned above

132

I know I’m not exactly contributing here, but I read some input on the Cody matchup, and I’d just like to share my opinion that it kind of sucks for Blanka. Easily one of my most feared matchups. As for Dan, well, Ixion can’t touch my Blanka and he’s a better player than I am. Arguably the best Dan in the world so yeah, Dan definitely struggles against Blanka.

133

I don’t think Cody is that tough tbh. I’ve made mistakes and lost to Cody but as long as you don’t gimmicked out even top level Cody is manageable. I played Momochi at his peak and didn’t feel overmatched at all and most of why I lost was my own mistakes.

134

Nah, it’s not that bad, I agree. By what means can Cody punish lp ball, again? EX slide? U2?

135

non safeball: u2, lk slide, ex slide
safeball: ex slide(sometimes)