Fairly new to VF, trying to grasp Eileen...

I have played fighting games for many years, but not many 3D ones. I feel I am getting the basics of VF5 (Xbox) quickly enough, but am having more difficulty with characters. Eileen was the first I tried (her style looked interesting), but I stopped using her as I felt she lacked juice. Few interesting options. In my limited experience, it seemed most of her options were horridly unsafe, so I stopped using them. I tried several other characters, who I felt all had more options, but none of them were half as fun as Eileen. I have decided to come back and try to learn her better. I have been playing Quest mode with her and am currently sitting at 8 Dan, but the AI is beginning to beat be more often than not. As it does not seem to me that the AI is `cheating', this suggests there are glaring weaknesses in my game.

One of my issues with Eileen was that her cancels seem to be a major part of her mix-up game, but they all seem very unsafe (they did not seem to combo, as I could hit the initial string, then get hit out of the cancel). Are they a whole lot of useless, or am I just using them wrong? I am not too sure how useful the Warikomi moves are. I just never used them: should I? I have also found that some of her move strings seem to not be NC (eg PPP2K --- I have been punished on the 2K after landing the PPP). Again, are these bad options, or am I using them wrong?

Looking over Eileen's move list, she seems to have very few moves with any interesting properties. This again makes me think that her game should be in the cancel attacks, which are all that seem to make her unique. Since her style is so `honest' (no little tricks hidden away), what is her basic game plan? The way I have been playing is making use of her fast ARM (one of my favourite parts of her) to roam the ring looking for a chance to pop in with a poke (eg PPP). If blocked, I try to move back a little again; if not, I try to capitalise with some pressure (eg PP6P, 46P).

 

Thank you. I have been through this forum and the wiki (along with a few other sites) to improve my game. It has changed dramatically since I did this. I am not yet able to work those combos into my game yet, largely as I am not yet reacting to CH/stagger/etc situations effectively (needs more practice).

Firstly, a super-basic question: where do I find the forum notation for the movement graphics (eg arrows rather than 6)?

I have been working on using her ARM to get CH opportunities, mostly using 66P or 46P to jump in on them. I have also been using 66K to punish wiffs at longer range, though my timing and spacing on that one is significantly less developed (read: I stuff up 9/10 times). This has recently become a major part of my game, though still needs a lot of work.

I have been trying to work 2_6P+K into my game, though I have been preferring 6P+K+G,P. I find this easier to input than 333P+K, and am trying to work on mostly using the P follow-up, but sometimes slipping in K for a mix-up. I think this could be useful when I play against humans. So far, my timing stinks on this move and I rarely get away with it (often hit out of it, sometime wiff). I clearly need a lot more practice. 6P+K is also something I recently brought into my game, often as a follow-up to a P confirm. I feel this is working particularly well. I cannot ever recall using PK (often use PP6P), so I shall have to give that a try.

Something I particularly want to know is how to use her cancels effectively. I stopped using them when I was often getting punished, but I really want to bring them back into my game. When should I/should I not use them? I also want to use her throws as mix-ups, but seem to be doing quite disastrously with this. If the opponent blocks my string, I try to throw and often get hit out of it. What is the correct way to mix throws in with pokes?

In videos, I often see top-level players (eg Gorgeous) using 46K+G. Beyond its huge style points, I am not sure what is so special about this move. I have tried to bring it in, but cannot work out when it is a good choice. What is the advantage to this move over other options?

There are a couple of points I have had particular issues with against the AI. Firstly, one of the AIs has a Brad that uses his side-steps a lot, which completely dominates my very linear game. What is the correct approach to take on this situation? Another consistent issue for me is, well, Lau. Almost any level of the AI, Lau is a nightmare. Aggressive, fast, powerful. I also have some issue with aggressive Pai AIs, but nowhere near as much as I do with Lau. What should I be doing in these situations where someone else is dictating the pace and flow of the match? Less of a problem, but Jacky's auto-parry is something I am still struggling with (oddly, I have far less trouble with Vanessa's). I have been leading in with a kick, then into my usual strings, but having mixed luck with this. Which are the better lead-in options against him?

 

Marly will know more about this,

marly's eileen is evil in that he will throw you a lot and when hes not throwing you he's elbowing you.

eileen can do that 46K stagger or, maybe its 46 K+G, and then follow up with 66P and get a huge crumple combo.

what marly also does that is shocking, he will warikomi crouch right in your face and follow with a throw. its natural to want to defend when eileen goes into her warikomi stances because she could follow up with attacks, so throws are a surprise.

IMO P throwing is still a good option with eileen, since shes got a fast P and damaging throws that set you up for even more guessing (the one were she gets behind you).

thanks god she's linear, otherwise she would be a nightmare (more than she already is). there are only few good eileens online though, most are just PPP spammers (thats not to say they are easy to beat).

 

so is her offensive move attack any good? that and when going for her throws isnt damage the best option for her as in going for HCB,P+G?

 

Her OM P is pretty good at +1. If you OM to the opponents back you can get a CH if they 2P, 5P, basically most anything including throws and full circulars. If they delay just a frame then you're getting hit. I like using it after 6P+G2, PP6P, OMP towards their back. You can't abuse it as you'll need to mix up with your other options, but it is still strong.

 

thanks again guys~

 

Marly, I done some testing with Wolf at +2 (blocked jab). The results were largely similar but with a couple of differences. I remember coming to the conclusion that it is all hitbox based. Which I suppose would help explain why Blaze can teleport through moves...you know, 'cause he's a midget.

 

MarlyJay great work in testing this stuff out. I'm always learning something new man. This is by far my favorite throw so I'm glad to know how to make my OMP tactic a little more safe.