I feel a lot of people aren’t taking full advantage of training mode, usually newer people are just using it for combos. Thats just one aspect of training mode not the only thing it’s for. There are several way to take advantage of it in any game and here are just a few quick tips on how to fully utilize it.
Have a friend:
Training mode is real helpful when you have someone there also, you can talk over thing that give you issues, test different characters without having to use record etc.
Recreate situations:
So say you are playing someone and they destroy you with a certain tactic that you had no clue on how to deal with. Recreate the situation in training mode to see the counter for what was being done. A example would be vs Abel’s f+mk. Most people have trouble dealing with it, and rightfully so. Go in training and see what options your character has vs it (reversal throw beats damn near anything that isn’t TT, tech, or jump. When SF4 came out EX Messiah kick was killing me, do I went to training and found the best ways to punish and bait with Abel (roll under follow ups and punish, bait, roll, then ultra etc). When playing shotos and doing dash under cross ups I was getting dp xx fadc a lot whether it hit me or got blocked it was annoying so I started rolling then punishing etc.
This goes for anything though in any game, you have to recreate things so you can deal with it the next time. Otherwise you can lose to shenaigans.
Execution:
This goes with practicing combos and learning the moves etc, escpecially people who have a hard time transitioning from controller to stick. Turn on inputs and see what you are doing wrong so you can correct what you are doing wrong. The other day I couldn’t get stomps out after a c.fp xx lp dp with Seth for some reason. Checked the inputs and saw I was actually hitting down too late and mk to early so I was getting a j.mk. Also practice your timing for links, its all about repetition. I usually tell people go slow and speed up til you get it.
Normals:
You gotta learn how to use your normals, sorta important. Find out exactly what works as solid anti air and what works for situational anti airs (sorta goes with recreating a situation). A lot of people can get raped in A2 by Giefs jump ins when they use Rose. Happened to me when I was learning her, then I found LATE c.fp will always trade or beat any close jump, as well as a ton of normals at any range.
Learn the range and priority of your normals. Knowing the exact range vs character X can really help a lot and make them feel like they just can get in.
Know your best whiff punisher. This will really have people play more honest if you are knocking then down, hitting them to a super or special for them mashing say c.mk with shotos.
Throw range:
Know your max throw range, this can help you set up people for damage from attempting to tech. In ST, I’ll set up a throw with Chun’s s.mp. From there I either walk back and throw their normal for trying to tech, whiff punish, walk forward slightly and block (to punish dps), immeadiately sweep, etc. Walk forward slightly and block works even if they mash throw well on characters with a worse throw range than Chun. Not saying my playstyle is great or anything, that just one thing I do.
Find the most damage:
Doing c.mk xx LLs with Seth is only gonna get you so far. You need to know the most damage you can do with the amount of meter you have. If I’m playing Ryu and I’m tossing dps left and right (That’s the best thing to do right!!!), and the worse thing that happens to me is c.mk xx sonic boom, I have no real fear of tossing it out. Now if I toss out a dp and get hit with…
[media=youtube]inWGhGvSKp4[/media] (yes it’s only on Seth but you get the point, shout out to Monir for this vid)
…then yeah, I’m probably gonna be a little conservative with the dp. This also goes with knowing what is safe on block and what isnt and how to punish it.
Know your opportunities and options:
You have to know this, for both you and who you are fighting. If you are Honda (Mr SNK Sucks :D…jk) and anytime you get in all you do is some c.lp xx HHS blockstring, I’m just gonna block. Go in training and practice your options so they are second nature. Make them scared and having to think once you get in. Vs a good honda I’m gonna worry about, Oicho, U2, CH c.lp to HHS, and FADC shenanigans, c.lk to combos and so on. I don’t think I have had any Honda give me much trouble other than Mr SNK, cause he knew exactly what to do with his character.
You also need to know your options off knockdowns. Safe jumps, cross up, ambiguous cross ups etc. If I get a SPD with Seth I know I can meaty dive kick, j,rh, cross up, fake cross up, empty jump SPD, etc etc.
I hope this helps some of the newer guys, or even some the peeps who been around awhile. Remember training mode is one of the best tools when used right.