Look at how Daigo plays. Notice how he’s slowly inching forward as they exchange fireballs. Once he corners him, he begins the rapage.
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This is called zoning. Sakura can do the same thing (but probably not so well). Akuma’s strength is his ability to zone well. For you to zone, you… gotta keep some distance. You can force a zoning character to the corner simply by approaching them slowly. Once in the corner, it’ll give you a few more options to play with.
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Very nice ROBIN. I think MBR could have been a little bit more cheap with his approach lol. I love setting up faux safe jumps and OS jumping to chase Akuma down. I don’t know if you use that much. Nice counter hit cr. strong conversion; that was sexy.
@Quinton: IMHO you’ve got to play that way against Akuma. Chase him down and try not to let him get set up his offense. You’ve got no other option.
@Hornett: I thought you were on PSN. I added “Hornett” but it was some random dude.
Akuma has both better options for zoning and better answers against zoning.
The only place Sakura has the advantage against Akuma is up close, which is why that is her primary goal.
One combo into ex shunpu will make Akuma end up in the corner from anywhere on the screen, and from there Sakura can control the match. The only point where it’s viable for Sakura to zone is when she has a meaningful lifelead going, otherwise her only goal is getting in and getting Akuma to the corner.
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Sorry. I don’t think I was being clear.
Sakura isn’t doing the zoning. Akuma is. What I was trying to say is that for Akuma to successfully zone Sakura, he’s gotta keep his distance. The point for Sakura is to get close. However, getting super aggressive isn’t really the best way. I recommend letting Akuma come to you. Once he’s close enough, don’t let him go.
I find the easiest way to get Akuma close to me is to slowly inch up until he’s trapped in the corner.
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But you have further reach than he does outside of his fireball (i.e. cr.MK & st.HK & st.MK)
So, it’s not hard to do.
Also, you’re not really walking. You’re simply pushing him to the corner. You can do it various ways. I honestly would need to show you a vid. I’m working on that though.
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Akuma c.hk is the single best normal in the entire game, since vanilla.
Akuma has the fastest walkspeed in the game.
Just those two things alone make a match of footsies ill-favoured for Sakura.
Take into account that you have to also deal with fireballs both grounded and air (especially air ex hado), demonflips, his godlike focus and his st.hk and you realize pretty quick that
This should be in the matchup thread but I have good success walking in and cr. forward after Akuma’s sweep. I hover in and out of sweep range then walk forward the instant I see sweep and cr. forward punish. I play against a few Akuma and I can’t say (or not say) they’re top tier but after a few matches, they tend not to sweep so much.
Akuma… tries to forget the train Infiltraion ran on me at EVO and SB
feels that void with the train I ran on Tokido at SB
But against Akuma, kinda approach him slowly and try to keep him grounded. Don’t get too impatient and get knocked down, and make sure he doesn’t get air fireballs on you. D=
Also remember that Sakura crouching and her focus goes under his far roundhouse.
