So… Is there any lucky guy that was able to test blanka in the Northwest Majors? Tons of people are saying several things got changed/reverted in that build vs the arcade release.
1:18:40 A few Ultra matches (about 10 mins) blanka vs gief/hakan, we can see some cr mk pushback ( doesnt seem that bad to me), some upball into red focus, upball fadc to safety and other goodies.
What have you heard?
From videos I’ve seen, cr. mk pushback also doesn’t seem that bad to me. I’m surprised that I haven’t seen more cr. mk into U1 combos, as that combo is so cake now.
cr.mk pushback does not matter much at point blank, cr.mk pushback matters from frametrap, scramble, footsie, and max range jumpin type situations.
I notice it less when watching than when playing as it warps the ranges I play at which sucks.
Several surprising things here, but as usual, since blanka is under represented there isnt a mention of any change him.
The impression that I get is that no one seems to care about poor Jimmy, so he got a few changes for Ultra e they forgot about him since the arcade release and I don’t expect Capcom to adjust him again before the console release.
So, being an ignored character might be benefical after all
Yeah Capcom is still making balance changes to Ultra but I doubt Blanka is going to get changed unless Japanese players make a fuss since they’re the only ones Capcom listens to anyway.
Did I read once that blanka is better after level 1 focus dash forward now? What is it now?
They reduced the frames of the forward dash from 21 to 20 so it should allow you to be safer and apply pressure easier after the move. As for specific setups or things that become safe or effective that weren’t… i don’t know yet, would have to wait till someone that knows frame data chimes in. “hint hint”
the 21 to 20 frame forward dash imo is one of his strongest buffs.
Reason is after a lvl 2 Focus. He was at +1 frames before, Blanka unlike other characters at close range his fastest moves are 4 frame start up.
So at +1 your 4 frame normal in best case scenario will only trade with a 3 frame normal.
However a throw has more priority than a (non-airborne) hit. Which means if your opponent simply just throws immediately after blocking the lvl 2 focus, he will beat out your 3 frame normal all the time.
If you try to throw your opponent despite the fact that your throw comes out 1 frame earlier, he will just tech the throw.
Since Blanka doesn’t really have immediate access to any of his special moves after lvl 2 focus due to charge, he doesn’t have a instant air-borne normal like rose and its either extremely hard to impossible to do get his jump attack to hit standing opponent on his way up he doesn’t really have any answer when the opponent throws you immediately after blocking. (Hop doesn’t work too due to the hop nerf making him easier to be thrown)
In USF4, 21 frames to 20 frames means after lvl 2 focus. He’s now at +2. meaning all his 4 frames normal will beat out both the opponent throw or any of their 3 frame normals. With the addition of cl.MK being airborne from frame 3 onward it ensures that you will be able to punish a throw attempt heavily.
One of Blanka’s strength is his range and speed of his Focus attack. It was a very mediocre tool to use before because the only use for it is to either score a counter with it, use it as a bait, or catch someone off guard with lvl 3 focus every once in a 100 matches. Most of the time it’s better to backdash against most match up if you know the opponent will block it. However in USF4, this is going to be a major tool for him and a method for him to get in to start his offense. When you combine this with RFC. He can potentially punish his opponent big time for simply trying to do a throw tech (standing or crouching) against you. (combo examples: c.LK, c.LK xx upball RFC U2 to beat throws/3 frame normals or cl.MK, s.LP xx MP ball RFC, c.MK xx U1 to beat standing tech (and maybe crouch tech).
It’s been a long time i don’t came here, can’t sign in with my old account lol…
Well, i don’t play the game anymore but it’s still interesting to see what’s happening. I watched some videos of Nishikin and i think but maybe i’m wrong, Blanka is looking good.
Like Lau said, Focus lvl 2 forward dash +2 is a HUGH buff. Now, we can start easily an offense with that tool and just do a cr.lk to beat cr.techs and low 3f.
New cl.mk look nice! Just after a focus lvl 2 +2 on block, it will beat cr.techs so and maybe after elec and on wake up on meaty.
HP Ball kd no matter the range is great.
New cr.mk +5/+2 is great but i hope the new pushback is not that bad damn… It seems OK on videos. You know, i played Bison a bit and he had a nerf too on his cr.lk (same kind of nerf, a little pushback and a worse hitbox) and it was not a tragedy, even if that cr.lk was one of his main tool. So i think Blanka can live with it.
EX Upball can be FADC is nice but damn, 3 bars for that… What a waste of EX.
New combos with RFC look great but it cost a lot of EX too damn…
I’m just disapointed they didn’t improve some of his pokes, i was hoping something like reducing the recovery of the cr.hp (-5 on block should be nice), or maybe a better hitbox for the st.mp.
Keep in mind Capcom is still making new balances and delete some from the arcade version for the console version… So i hope they will not delete some buffs like they will do to others characters like Guile it seems… I hope they will delete the cr.mk’s nerf!!
Honestly if you ask me
I wished c.lk is chainable or even c.lp might be ok too having it chainable will give me some OS options now he is extremely limited on what he can do for OS.
The more I play blanka the less I use s.hp.
It’s still a good move but it only beats certain moves if you look for it.
As mentioned before I’m reserving my opinion on c.mk, like expected it’s not as bad as the modded version.
Thanks. That is a very nice buff.
hugo can punish all blanka balls on block and on hit with ultra 2 
see video below
thinking about the cr.mk pushback makes me a little salty in conjunction with red focus.
stuff like cr.mk, st.lp xx upbal RFC seems like it would have been really good and let blanka get hit confirmable huge damage in footsies that would dramatically outpace ex ball fadc combos.
The range this will work at seems super limited now though as I was having trouble connecting st.jabs after cr.mk from ranges I do so constantly now.
I’ve been thinking the exact same problem recently too, been practicing my c.lk links but honestly multiple one frame links kinda sucks especially when the combo is so weak.
At least punishing a whiff dp is gonna be much bigger damage now
I don’t remember reading anywhere before about the increase in U2’s hitbox
It’s nice to know that it won’t whiff against certain characters after a focus crumple
you could always hop ultra those characters or pick the right ultra for the matchup though.
Hopefully it leads to less situations where you try to u2 a sloppy crossup and u2 just whiffs though.
Hop > U2 is harder than Hop > U1 for me
And now, with RFC I think U2 is a more interesting choice against a lot of characters. Nishikin seems to agree with me on this one… lol