I’ve found that scoring a counter hit crumple is a very rare event. Most characters given the same situation will crumple Hawk but not the other way around.
Here is the frame data
Startup:
Level 1: 23
Level 2: 17+16
Level 3: 65
Active:
5 for all levels
Recover:
32 for all levels
Advantage on block:
Level 1: -21
Level 2: -16
Now let’s take Cammy-
Startup:
Level 1: 21
Level 2: 17+12
Level 3: 65
Active:
2 for all levels
Recover:
35 for all levels
Advantage on block:
Level 1: -21
Level 2: -15
So we see that she starts up faster and therefore has the lead on a level 2 counter crumple. It’s harder for Hawk since you have to predict a counter, and most characters have faster poke startups and since Hawk’s hitbox is so big they have an easier time reaching him first.
How do you guys use focus if at all? Level 3 guessing seems like the only good option.
judging from its performance in matches, T.hawk’s focus attack is decent. it’s utility is the same for about every other character in the game; to predict punishable normals and hit them with it. landing Focus attacks aren’t a big part of T.hawk’s game, but it plays its role. what level you should use is situational.
a good tactic involving focus is to quickly focus dash cancel through projectiles and normals to get in. I think the secret to doing it as quickly as possible was to walk into the focus, and press forward again to shortcut the dash. from there, its up to the situation on how you follow up. a particularly good tactic I saw (which I can’t replicate because I suck with inputs) is to focus through a projectile, and do ex spire right away. it acts a a method to extend spire’s range.
I don’t use the focus attacks more than a little. Occasionally for absorbing fireballs (though jumping them works better to set up condor dive). Otherwise, my use of focus attacks is purely a gut decision.