Uh, first thing I’ve noticed, is that you’re hanging around mid-range too much. You want to avoid that with Blanka, ESPECIALLY Online because you’re probably going to get swept, and ESPECIALLY don’t throw Sparks at that range, no exceptions other than his wakeup without meter. Get in his face and try to stay there. He doesn’t have TOO much to deal with you in his face other than really EX Upball and EX Rainbow to escape. EX Upball is an easy free punish on block, and if you have him cornered, it’s a free punish ON HIT (as long as you weren’t airborne when hit, otherwise you’re knocked down).
Mostly though, just use the first match to really download him to see how aggressive the Blanka is and to see how much he likes to burn meter.
I tried it out on Zangief and the spiral on the end has to be EX for the first combo.
So I’m sure I can think of a 3 meter combo that does more damage ;]
But regardless, even if we are talking about situational corner combos, the second combo is still so much better; it leaves you at a more advantageous position.
you ate a lot of U2 considering you could’ve punished them. (you were trying EX drill or didn’t try at all) From full screen, jump towards him then slide. mid screen and in his face, Jump U1 (if you have U1) otherwise, jump slide from mid range and jump poke when you’re in his face.
IIRC you can’ punish Blanka’s super just like his U1 with a soul throw while he’s airborne.
I don’t know why, but when I see Blanka hopping around me on wake-up, I panic. Sometimes I end up whiffing a throw and I get sweeped, or I get thrown. There was a couple of times where I tried to jump over his U2, and punish with EX Soul Spiral before the second attack hit me. Unfortunately, I don’t think it has enough invincibility to be an effective tool against his U2. Seeing that most Blanka players like to use U2 against Rose, I’m going to go ahead and use U1 a lot more. I have tried jumping over and using U1, and that works very well. I was trying to experiment which Ultra was the best choice against this particular Blanka.
I say U1 all the way (though Rose likes U2 and Renegade feels it’s a “depends on how the Blanka player plays” match) since Blanka has to be careful more on what he chooses to do. I’d also save meter in this match since Blanka will eat a super after a blocked ball. (If you don’t have Ultra)
with Blanka’s U2, EX drill’s invincibility is way too small to avoid and hit Blanka in time. I’m more than surprised the Blanka player didn’t throw U2 out more since you weren’t punishing him for it. I do agree he was jumping all over you and weren’t AAing or at least attempting a soul throw.
The problem with Blanka’s jump arc is that it’s fast, so it requires faster reaction time to punish with an AA. Sometimes when he jumped, I used the slide, and thus I was unable to AA him.
Jae: Thank you, I thought he had some sort of invincibility right when he is about to do his second attack. I’m going to practice this in training mode, so I can prepare.
(And yes, Blanka is a naturally lame character… it’s in its nature since ST… I’m used to it. To be honest, I consider Dhalsim much lamer. Depends on the matchup, but for the most part, top dhalsims can play way more lame than any top blankas. Dhalsim is “Pussy/GTFO” mode. Blanka is “Annoying fly” mode. You can swat a fly down after a while. Pussies are more resilient.)
I loved that moment where he went for Rose against Justin… and won. Well, at least one match. Went 1-1 then to Cammy and lost. Pity. Really fresh style, yes. He even did a J LK crossup, which is rare.
That’s pretty funny he won a match with Rose, then lost with Cammy. I think that might mean he’ll make a permanent switch to Rose though his Cammy is godlike.
