Ultra Preferences

Hey guys.

I’ve noticed something while watching a ton of streams, we all like to pick different Ultras in a lot of matchups (for example, I’ve seen U1 and U2 being used vs Gouken on stream by different players), and I decided to make this thread in order to try and find the best Ultra for every matchup.

This is how the Ultra picks go in my opinion, if I put both options then it’s because I think that both choices have their pros and cons and it goes down to a playstyle preference on the choice of one over the other:

Ryu: U1 / U2
Ken: U1 / U2
Chun: U2
Guile: U1
Zangief: U2
Blanka: U2
E. Honda: U2
Dhalsim: U2
Balrog: U1
Vega: U2
Sagat: U1 / U2
M. Bison: U2
Fei Long: U1
Cammy: U2
Dee Jay: U2
T. Hawk: U2
Juri: U2
Rufus: U1 / U2
El Fuerte: U2
Abel: U1
C. Viper: U2
Hakan: U2
Gouken: U1
Seth: U2
Makoto: U1
Ibuki: U2
Dudley: U1
Adon: U2
Cody: U1
Guy: U2
Rose: U1
Sakura: U1 / U2
Gen: U1
Dan: U1
Akuma: U2
Yun: U1
Yang: U1
Evil Ryu: U1/U2
Oni: U2 (although I’m thinking that U1 could be used)

Post your choices and ideas, if we arrive to a consensus I’ll edit the OP with the overall list.

You have to use U1 against everyone, because without ultra you have 0 mixups after LP-GH on hit. -2 and they can garanthrow u. And u are forced to just tech.

I mean in AE 2012.

Ryu: I use U1 if Ryu uses U1, and U2 if ryu uses U2.
I find the use as Anti Anti Air is very inefficient as they can just s.rh(early) or late EX-SRK. When Shotos with 3frame srk, can just mash SRK even though I am doing U2 after Light SPD -> Banflat -> Ultra2, because it takes to long to become airborn I start really feeling there is no use for this ultra in that matchup. But when ryus (such as Easyman in EU) opts for U2, I like to have my own U2 because if neutralises it more or less. ANd renders hes ultra equally bad.

Ken: I do the opposite of Ryu, U1 when he uses U2, and U2 when he uses U1(to neutralise hes ultra.)

Chun: Always use U1. I dont really see why it would be more rewarding to USE ultra 2 vs. her, especially with a jump that I can reactional counter with NJ.HB.

Guile: I use Ultra 2 because I feel I need the mixups when im in.

Zangief: U1 is prefered for me, unless the opponent opts for U2, then I like to use it to neutralise their Okizeme options. And since they are going to Tiger Knee Ultra 2,and my ultra will come from a very much airborn state, I will land before them and punish. I more or less NEVER go for the U2 myself, just keeping it safe.

Blanka: U2, because I can punish all random rainbow with fa, dash, u2. And guaranteed punish on ultra and super everytime. as well as when I land a knockdown without safejump, I can scare them from AA.

E. Honda: U2, I feel it is more than requierd to have that random option vs. Honda.

Dhalsim: U2, it counters Dhalsims own U2 100%. But I also prefer it when Dhalsim uses U1. Because we can catch stuff easier with it.

Balrog: I use U1, mainly to punish EX-Upper.

Vega: U2, to punish past midscreen random EX-Flies, and I find it requierd to have a good mixup on him.

Sagat: U1 / U2. I always use U2, because I need to have more options after landing a knockdown.

M. Bison: Ive been using Ultra 1 in the past, but I am starting to use Ultra 2 more, I find him escaping both to easily.

Fei Long: I have been using Ultra 1, because it can punish EX-Rekka #2 on block. And I dont find the risk vs. reward to be good with U2 against a char with such a big lifebar.

Cammy: Always used U1 because it punishes dropped links, and random spirals. I dont feel we get much use for U2 in this matchup as it needs to be airborn to work. So its not a defencive options, only offencive. But I sometime try to test out what I could do with U2 in this matchup.

Dee Jay: I use U2 because of hes air to airs, and hes really good charged anti airs.

T. Hawk: I use U2 vs. T.Hawk because you can confirm and react with Ultra 2, and u also destroy some of hes Oki when u have U2 stocked. Also you can counter hes AA-Ultra 2 with your Ultra 2 if u are neutraljumping while zoning him.

Juri: U2, because lol. She destroys gief, and all we got are guesses.

Rufus: U1, but I am gonna start using U2 as it catches EX-Messiah and backdash/jumpaway.

El Fuerte: U2 To make hes mixups harder.

Abel: U1, because well hes not that much airborn and you can optionselect it on knockdown to counter roll.

C. Viper: U2 Feel it is requierd.

Hakan: U2, to make him afraid to use hes U2 to counter splash mixups. If u dont press, u can dodge it with Ultra 2, and punish.

Gouken: U2 is my choice because of hes amazing keepaway but poor esapes. It really becomes true 50/50 when hes knockdown when u have U2.

Seth: I have been using U1, but I am gonna start using U2 to see if it may be better.

Makoto: U1, for Axe kick punishes etc.

Ibuki: I have been using U1 for the backdash U1 punish on one of her kunais. But I think maybe U2 is better. She is braindead though :v

Dudley: U1 Dont need to take big risks to win this match. Play solid.

Adon: I have been using U1, but Im starting to think U2 is better.

Cody: U1

Guy: U1 for maxpunish on slides.

Rose: U1 for maxpunish on slides.

Sakura: U1 risk vs. reward is so bad with U2 imo :stuck_out_tongue:

Gen: U1, but I think maybe U2 is better.

Dan: U1
Akuma: U2, to stop bad mixups.

Yun: I have been using U1, but I think having the mixup is good because of hes low vitality.

Yang: I have been using U1, but like Yun I find that maybe having the U2 mixup is better because of hes low vitality.

Evil Ryu: Same principles as Ryu and Ken.

Oni: I have been using U2, but I think U1 is better.

I think that U2 is a necessity vs Bison, actually lets you have some kind of oki vs him since EX Headstomp gets wrecked by it and he can’t risk the reversal EX Psycho Crusher after an SPD (I don’t think that attack is a particular issue though, reading it and going for Lariat gives you much better reward than the punish you can eat if Bison blocks).

I used U2 vs Gen, Yun and Yang for more than a year and I think it was a bad idea, if you feel like the DP is coming then you really can just block it and full punish it with U1, it also gives you a good option on their knockdown and if they jump back then they are just postponing the inevitable in these particular matchups (maybe not that much vs Gen since he does much better in the footsie fight than the other two).

vs Gouken I feel like U1 is preferable, the only thing you should be really careful about in his wakeup is (imo) his Counter, Ultra 1 makes that risk not even close to worth it on his part, U2 glues him to the ground but I don’t really worry about him jumping on wakeup, tbh.

vs Oni I feel the same, I’ve used U2 for a long while but now I’m thinking that there’s no real use for it.

vs Guy I used U1 for a long while but now I’m thinking that U2 is better since he can’t even attempt to start doing shoulder and bushin flip stuff, shuts down his game further and he has to start taking bigger risks or using meter to be safe.

U2 vs Seth is absolutely needed imo, since if you buffer shorts while Seth is in the corner you can react to the wall jump and punish it, also makes his wakeup risky for him if he doesn’t have 3 meters.

I like the oki on Cammy with U2 but that may be an entirely preference thing, U1 does sound stronger.

And, lastly, I’ve honestly never liked to use U2 vs Guile since his Flash Kick is grounded for a long time, he’ll eventually corner himself, and in trying to get out I feel like U1 is a great tool to punish his attempts to escape, I just don’t see myself landing U2 on someone who stays grounded for so long.

BIG regards though, feel free to comment on anything I have wrong or that you disagree with.

Now that you mention it, that U2 is pretty good vs. Guy. I think im gonna start using it, 250 is allready good for punish on slides :stuck_out_tongue:

Maybe you are right about the three Gen, Yun, Yang. But atleast vs. Gen, who is really hard to approach if played correctly. You sort of need a strong mixup tool.

I see what you mean about the Guil thing. But hes punishes are not very good on U2 either, so its not so risky to just do it. Which is why I like having it also.

I can agree with the option on Gen, I guess it depends on the kind of Gens that you play against, the Gens in my area like to wake up pressing 3 frame buttons, so the option to U1 them is better in my case, it’s all cool.

I can agree with the Guile thing, I guess both can be viable and have their uses (although none of them are exactly dominant and are more of a risky guess).