Blaze as a character

im a long time reader of the forums but i just recently joined since I wanted to ask a question.
For VF5 i decided to learn El Blaze and after about 400 fights I think im ok. Its just when i play my friends who play as brad or eileen its kind rather dificult for me to fend off their combos. So I checked out the tiers for the game and el blaze was at the bottom. My main used to be vanessa but el blaze is TOO COOL for me not to play as. so the real question is, is he realllly that low on the playability or am i just bad with him hahah.

 

El Blaze has some strengths and some weaknesses...

Strengths: good at close range combat, has many throws (in many directions), low throws, Rocket Discharge can be powerful if you are good at hit checking or the opponent doesn't like to reverse nitaku (hit you out of it)...

Weaknesses: weak at long range combat...

What exactly are your opponents doing to beat you?

Here are some moves you should use if you aren't already:

-/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif
This move is mid (will hit ducking opponents) and comes out faster than his elbow (/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif)... After hitting /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif you can delay the third hit, /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif, which can stagger opponents... If the opponent isn't good at stagger recovery hit them with /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif while they are staggered... If this floats them then use /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif to deal more damage to them in an air combo...

If they block or low punch before the delayed knee, you can throw them after the first two hits, or +/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif, or low throw...

-+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif is a great move for beating low punches... It can also hit people who dodge if you delay it a bit... However, if your opponent likes to attack a lot, don't use this move as it is likely you will wind up being floated and hit with a huge air combo...

-/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/db.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif
This is a low attack which will give Blaze advantage if it major counters... If it does this attack some more!

-Dodge attack-> rocket discharge
If your opponent likes to attack, try dodging their attack or /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif and then hitting /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif for Blaze's dodge attack... If this hits the opponent as a major counter, hit /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif to go into rocket discharge... From here I would either go for /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif from rocket discharge, or /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif... If the /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif hits use /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/ub.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif to hit the opponent while they are on the ground... After that hits you can often sneak in a /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif stomp as well...

-Dodge -> throw is also a good strategy...

If you are looking for El Blaze movies, check out this site ... The movies are divided by month (１１月 being november, １２月 being december, ect)... He a high level Blaze player (9th or 10th dan) and you can probably learn from watching his movies...

Let me know if that helps at all... good luck!

-Alex

 

Dude, your totally right; As a "El Blaze" player myself, the /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif is a great attack, and fast, just like his /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif. Just like supergolden pointed out, the /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/db.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif is a good low attack and it brings you in range of your opponent.

If catch yourself out of a opponents range,and decide to turtle, his standing /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif is a good, and fast high attack. And when it connects, you could combo it to /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif and when the /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif hits(The knee), is going to stagger the opponent, hit him(Or her) right away with a /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif and when that connects, is going to collapse the opponent, grab him(or her)with a /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif. When the low throw connects, and while you finish getting up, do a /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif combo; it will connect even if the opponent laying on the floor.

Remember, if your friends are really good at getting out of a "Stagger" state, this combo would not work..But, while their shaking the PS3 d-pad(or Joystick) you could mix it up, with a low attack(/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/db.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif) or mid attacks...Honestly, anything you want to do.

PS. Remember to mix-up your low throw when you do that combo, because even at that state, they could still low counter. The /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif does more damage then the /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif. But you can't do the /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif combo with that throw.

Have fun.

 

wow thanks for the advise, i tried out the above said combos (thanks so much) and they work very well. What I was getting beaten by was just getting bludgeoned by the how fast brad was with some of his high low combos. It was getting harder to break it up. I was using forward punch or diagnal down punch to break it up. But your recommendations work so much better.

How has "El Blaze" been working for you guys? Like him much? I love his colorfulness and his style.

 

Why is he so short?

 

I like him a lot. It just took some time to get use to him. I had the same beef you had. But, once I figured out his /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/u.gif../forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif counter, everything else became like butter. Remember, you can't use El Blaze as a Striker, b/c he's not. Once you get a feel for the El Blaze, the more you get to fight better with him. Just be calm with him(Turtle) and that my friend, would irritate striking opponents. Don't forget the low jab is a power tool in this game, you could use it to set up your throws.

 

Why is he ranked so low?He looks pretty good to me.

 

Played around with him a little bit yesterday. The thing that immediately came to mind is that he has a metric TON of staggers, and then 6k and 46P+K to crumple from them (provided the opponent can't struggle out in time; haven't tested that in the Dojo yet).

I'm not sure why he'd be ranked in the low tiers, but tiers aren't make-or-break in VF anyway (and he's a new character, so it could just be that people haven't fully learned the ropes yet), so I wouldn't be overly concerned.

 

The tiers you saw in the other thread really only apply at the highest levels, and even then, as others have posted, the difference between Shun and El Blaze is small. It's nothing like the tiers you see in Tekken, MvC, or KOF. Even in Japan's regional tournaments you will see El Blaze players qualifying.

El Blaze's primary weakness is a lack of a good long and medium distance game. For example, he'd have a tough time dealing with a machi (i.e. waiting and backdashing) Wolf who would poke with /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif and /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif all day. He has to rely a lot on /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif, /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif, and /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif at long/medium distance. While these moves are decent, they are not great. The way to overcome this weakness is of course to get in close, which thanks to El Blaze's speed he can. Once close he is as good if not better than most other characters.

Also his Rocket Discharge is seriously lacking -- not worth the risk against opponents who know how to deal with it. He needs a faster attack out of Rocket Discharge and/or seriously upgraded damage potential.

 

He needs something like Lei's arrow punch from Rocket Discharge. Something that hits rather soon in the animation, and carries a good distance. Well, ok maybe not as far as the arrow punch.

 

I started using Blaze again, I am not good at VF but this time I watched the replays of his matched that are included on the VF disk. It gives you some great ideas on how to create situations during a fight. I also noticed that you can tech roll the cross body block which is sweet, I never knew that. One other thing I noticed is that the flying move Blaze does
/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/uf.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif + /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif gets a very wierd animation if you back crouch dash it when landing. I am not sure how usefull it is but its there. There is also a spinning evade animation when you evade after landing from that move, it spins you onto the side of your opponent. I never read anything about this move has this move been known? Blaze is alot of fun and I am probably going to stick with him for a while.

 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">He needs something like Lei's arrow punch from Rocket Discharge</div></div>

Yeah, agree, especially if it crumples on hit. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

Is the third hit guaranteed? I messed around with this move in the dojo, the third hit gets blocked most of the time when I connect with the first two hits.

 

The thrid hit is not guaranteed, is a good setup. If it hit's, it will stagger the opponent. Just delay it to force the player to duck.

 

The third hit is not guaranteed...

Try a mixup between delaying the third hit and throwing the opponent...

-Alex

 

Id like to know how to deal with it really, Im having serious trouble against my blaze-playing friend (a fantasy player who will not hesitate using silly moves in crazy situations, and he has awesome sense of distance and timing). Interrupting his RD feels next to impossible. I currently play Akira as main and Sarah and eileen as subs.. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif Doesnt help that Im getting old and I start to doubt my reflexes /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif

 

Ha! That comment was made before I played against Namflow. I've come to realize that RD is not that great when you're doing it without a proper set up (just back dash away and unless El Blaze knows you're back dashing most moves will whiff). However, used properly, i.e. after counter hit on certain moves, RD can be used as a powerful nitaku.

 

He's based off of Rey Mysterio Jr. A pro-wrestler in the WWE currently, and a major lucha libre wrestler.

 

Rookie question for you fellow El Blaze players.

What are the different properties of his various punch strings besides the possible enders?

/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif series looks exactly like his /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif, which looks like /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif, which looks like /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif, which looks like /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif. I'm always at a loss as to which string to use where.

 

46pp can be used to interrupt your opponents standing p string since it ducks under their standing p even though it hits high.

ppp should be used when you have standing advantage since the first p is his fastest attack and all 3 hits is guaranteed 30 damage once the first hits.

6p+kp is a good poke to use since it is a quick high to quick mid since most would know to duck the standing ppp if they block the first hit.

i'm still a beginner myself but i'm sure others can elaborate further.



i don't really use p+kp except in juggles since they are both highs.