So, this is the first crossover game I’ve ever tried to get any good at. As such, Assists are a pretty alien concept to me. I was hoping I could ask a few questions here to get it sorted out, and it might help other people who are new to crossover games as well.
1. What are assists used for? I can guess that it’s to start/extend combos, supplement lockdown patterns, and provide cover if you’re trying to move in. But, are there other things that they’re used for? Are any of the three things I listed NOT a common use for Assists?
2. How are the different ones used? How is an anti-air assist used compared to a fireball assist? For that matter, how are anti-air Assists used in the first place? I can’t imagine that would be any faster than just doing an AA with your character that’s on point. Which types of strategies do the different types of Assist usually supplement?
I think this will cover it for now. I have a few more specific questions, but I think these two might cover the smaller questions, so I’ll ask later if necessary. Thanks for the help in advance!
You really answered #1 yourself. You use them any way you find that helps your main character. Extend combos, make your pressure more confusing or safer, etc.
As for #2 you really just need to experiment and watch match videos.
2. How are the different ones used? How is an anti-air assist used compared to a fireball assist? For that matter, how are anti-air Assists used in the first place? I can’t imagine that would be any faster than just doing an AA with your character that’s on point. Which types of strategies do the different types of Assist usually supplement?
You can use an anti air assist (AAA) to cover an angle your point character has trouble defending (for example in MvC2 Sentinel is most vulnerable right above his head) You can also use an AAA to allow you to combo for more damage, or perform combos you couldn’t do otherwise.
Assists help you influence more parts of the screen at once. A fireball would cover the grounded horizontal angle, a dragon punch assist the vertical one. The advantage of both is being able to move your point character while the other attack is on screen. Doing an anti air attack may be faster if you use the point character to do it, but why not call your assist and evade, combo, or mix them up while your assist attacks instead?