Find it way easier to mix up with like Ken and Yun rather than Gouki and Ibuki, the latter two who in my mind would be the mixup monsters out of the four.
I’ve had this on my mind for awhile, and its really lingering.
and for whatever reason, I usually try to play aggressive; but whenever I’m using Ryu I just get super defensive…its the weirdest thing.
maybe I just feel too vulnerable when I play Ibuki…
Not really, but are capable of some form of BASIC mixups that still work well, and both are higher tier than the latter two, and overall easier to play.
Ibuki has tools, but overall, she’s a worse character with some flaws at high level play, so that’s the vulnerability you’re feeling. If Ken and Yun work for you, just go with it, don’t stop. If you want to move on later when you have a better feel of Ibuki and Akuma, go for it, but just know you have more ground to make up than if you stick with Ken or Yun.
I find mixing people up with Ken easier then Gouki too.
@missingperson well I’ll always play ken, hes been one of my secondaries for a long time. I’ve messed with Ibuki and Gouki off and on for a couple months now, and they arent clicking like I wish. Yun however is making more sense to me than ever before. :eek: same with Makoto.
well none of this really matters that much, being a Chun main lol
I’m not an Ibuki player but shes similar enough to Gouki in game plan that I feel like I can generalize.
Basic Ken offense is easier than basic Gouki offense because of the hit confirms. To play the best offense you can with Gouki you need to be using all your tools, including hit confirms, demon flip, meaty air hadou setups, etc.
So basically you need to be able to use like double the tools effectively. Ibuki is similar. Not a lot of safe hit confirms but still tons of tools. Of course you’re also kinda walking on thin ice all the time with Gouki and Ibuki cause of their shitty ass stamina.
You just have to learn to open people up. A lot of people who main the top 3 don’t develop these skills as much since you can stay super simple and still play a decent offense. Eventually though any player who wants to be good needs to learn to open people up besides just doing a hit confirmable move, or throwing.
EDIT: Ryu is the same situation. For Ken players I think playing Ryu can help develop a more sophisticated offense (unless you resort to just throwing a bunch of ex hadous). I don’t recommend Sean cause he just suxxxx
Yeah Ill just keep playing her here and there, I like her too much to drop her.
ex hadou is the best get out of here you clown.
the other side of the coin is its also the go to “I don’t know what else to do right now” move for Ryu. Even more true for Ken
well yeah if you want to be serious and such.
You mentioned that peeps that main the top 3 dont get as good at this as others, being that I mostly play Chun, Mak, Ken. would you suggest I try other chars for awhile, or do I just simply need to think outside the box more when I play?
I do throw quite a bit some days, kara throw mix ups and such
I always thought Alex and Oro were good characters for learning how to open people up. As long as you don’t play like a complete pussy.
i imagine hes talking about how using a character with somewhat less straight forward powerful options makes you think a little more creative in your approach.
playing as ryu may stretch your brain a little since you can’t rely on reversal sa3, hitconfirming sa3 off pokes, an awesome target combo, etc. forces you to learn good application of basic stuff.
if im wrong pherai you can slap me
edit: yeah oro is a really good example of that i think.
That’s why I use Alex. His throws give him good mixup options and it’s satisfying as fuck (infinitely more satisfying than being a Bronie, Dander) to get someone in the corner and mindfuck them with Alex. Than they Super Jump EX Tatsu or Dive Kick out …
ya thats pretty much the jist of it! gives you an appreciation for more of your shoto tools
Maybe for a warm up match or two, but its not necessary. If you’ll indulge me getting really theory fighter here I think I can kinda explain what helped me. There’s a couple concepts introduced to me that guide my mixup game, but they are abstract.
-Always try to attack in different ways (use a different poke string, a different move for a tick throw, try to bait whiffs or fish)
-Have some kind of “free/cheap damage” and save it for round winning situations (minimal risk moves that are likely to give you damage eg. DED, Dudley f.RH, Gouki demon flip throw, Ibuki sa1)
-Adjust your gameplan based on the way your opponent defends
I think it also helps to keep in mind that your offensive goals can shift from dealing damage to creating a positional advantage or meter building which are situations where you can benefit from an opponent prone to blocking. Either way, this is just how I look at it, but I’m still just a student of the game too 
That’s the second time I’ve had Bronie thrown at me mid sentence. What is a bronie? No, I will not check 4chan.
A male “My Little Pony” fan, and now you know
And knowing is half the battle.
Alex would be more fun to mixup with if his throw range on PB wouldn’t be so asssssss, plus every time you land it Alex just has to jump to the other end of the screen instead of staying on the opponent’s ass. Same thing with Hugo. If I’d had to name one thing SF4 did right, it’s that all throws give a hard knockdown.
FRIENDSHIP
Why even bother bringing up Bronieism Loui? That pervasive shit is twisted!
On topic:
Maybe I’m repeating things but… kens bigger surplus of life is a big part of feeling like applying mixup is easier. More chances for you to screw up. One or two screw ups and Gouki’s dead against some characters.
It’s funny though Pherai. I always felt like it was easier to mixup with gouki BECAUSE he had so many options.