Consider a hardcore rushdown player who learns attack strings inside and out, learns how to move around helpers ect, all the basics that you would expect a mid lvl player to learn.
then
The same player wants to learn defensive tactics as well as zoning and keepaway(boost up the patience)
what kind of advice would you give?
Patience requires avoiding assists both full screen, midscreen, and next to the opponent. I would say the bare essence of this tactic is counter calling, but it is so much more than that. Understanding how moves hit and the lag associated with them, is how you become a defensive guru. For instance, mag dashes in and does c.lk launch, you should be able to punish that launch EVEN when your opponent throws out an em disruptor. Small things like that are a microcosm of becoming a defensive minded player. Another example, would be avoiding sentinel beams FULL SCREEN and not getting hit and zoning/building meter.
what are the keys to using this style to better read your opponents?
Well, its more about noticing patterns. This style prevents you from doing dumb stuff. If you’re far away you cannot be hit, and at the same time cannot hit them, but this is good if you can READ what your opponent is trying to do. You must enter their brain and predict what their goal is. what are they doing what they’re doing? What are they trying to accomplish with their style? Should I be attacking him? Should I be running away? all these questions must be answered while you’re playing the match. Every decision you make it a reflection of what you’re thinking. Defensive players should not make mistakes or attack when its inopportune. Reducing bad decision prevent losing the match. In my idiot opinion, it actually leads to your opponent making terrible decisions that directly lead to victory. To sum it up, you ever have that feeling where you regret attacking because it led to you getting fucked up? A defensive player rarely feels this way because he/she knows that there is very little reason to have put yourself in that position in the first place.
how can defensive style give you insights into your opponents play style?
Defensive players have to be analytical. You must observe for trends, you cannot play mindlessly, unlike all magneto players. You react to what your opponent gives you and punish their riskiness/retardation. To be a great player, not necessarily a top player, you need to differentiate when its optimal to attack and when to run/defend. For instance, if you have the lead what do you do? Do you keep attacking to try and end the match, or do you run and protect the lead? Answering this should tell you your style, a great player will know that at times and in other instances you do the opposite. When exactly do you do either one? You should consider: opponent, time, situation (both irl and in the game), screen positioning, assists, life, life of assists, teams (both sides), patterns, clutch, heart. EVERYTHING matters. However, your decision defines you. I can tell you what I would do though analyzing a video, but I still haven’t decided on one, especially since youtube doesn’t work on my computer.
Which players do you feel use both styles together the most effectively? Like I said, great players do. Few msp players do, only the best i.e. yipes, chris s, soo. I use it, bill does, sanford (at times), jwong, sin, combo, chunksta (sometimes), cablebitch, a few more.
some of these questions might be basic for some people, but i think to many that these would be useful teaching tools.
Maybe I left some tools off, but it seems that magnetos can’t fight sentinels. I can’t teach this, you need to understand spacing, if sentinel is throwing out a slow move, you should sj air dash and attack. It’s simple imo. When you include baiting, it gets harder, but that is just another pattern you need to adapt too. I cannot spoon-feed everyone how to play. It’s a natural progression and evolution, unless you learn msp. It’s just rinse and repeat.
ps. come to final round, we will get u hype again to play marvel, shit is too much fun
fuck marvel
