How do I know when to move?

Just started playing VF5 about a week ago. I play Wolf for now, I usually just like playing grab characters. I knew when I decided to play Wolf that I would have trouble against really fast characters, but it's starting to get kinda ridiculous. Especially against Eileen and Lei-Fei.

Against these guys, it seems like I really am in an assload of lose-lose situations. They just do some random attack strings against me with very low frame disadvantage. From there, they can keep attacking in case I try to respond to throw, evade and attack more if I try to /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif my way out, aaaaand..Yeah, that's pretty much it. If I have other ways out, I don't know about them.Also, there are a bunch of times when I think "Maybe I can move now!" but I just get hit.

These horrible things happen (not to mention some throws I get from trying to block forever) over and over until I'm dead.

So how do I know when I can really move? Should I try playing each character a little just to see where their disadvantages are?

If anyone wants to play me on XBL to teach me, my Gamertag is Mariodood.

 

Instead of trying to interupt them with low punches, I would suggest learning to block their attack strings better. Learn which attacks leave them at a disadvantage once blocked so that you can counter attack (quickest reply is generally /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif for all characters,) or even more important leave them at worse than 12 frames disadvantage. Then you can pressure them with a throw or launching attack.

A more advanced technique is to evade their attack strings, but you need to then also learn which attacks are linear and (semi-)circular. Wolf's defensive evade attack is a throw, which can be very effective. Check it out.

Go to the dojo and mess around a bit with Eileen and Lei Fei if they're your biggest problem right now... learn the hit levels of the attack strings that are giving you trouble so you know how to better block them. Learn which attacks give you significant advantage once you block them. Check out their movelists here to get frame data. (Link is in the upper left hand corner of this page.) You have to be able to recognize and react without thinking about it, otherwise you'll be too slow.

Welcome to VFDC.

 

I had your same issue playing VF4 evo and I didn't know when to attack and couldn't get away but when I started to block and watch how the enemy reacted I found many openings suddenly opened up. Blocking the strings and seeing how they attack is the key. If they attack high you can counter with a low attack that sets them up for throws and other attacks. If they attack mid you will react to it and if they go low Wolf can react with low throw afterwards or launcher. Evasions and potential escapes would be available if you know the timing of the moves ahead of time. Either way it all starts with effective blocking do that and you will find your issues negated quickly.

 

i had similar probs. thx.

 

It's hard to interrupt with Wolf because of his 12 frame punch (slow) and his difficult execution elbow (HCB+p).

If you really want to use Wolf, I'd suggest before you even think about throws that you master his elbow first. You should be able to do P, G-cancel the PPP string, HCB+p without losing any frames.

If you are totally new to VF, I'd urge you not to use Wolf as your first character. He is one of the most difficult characters to use well.

 

Welcome to VFDC. I know perfectly what you mean, but there really is nothing more to it than learning the disadvantage gaps in opponents strings, and most importantly, learn which opponent moves are advantageous on block so you don't ry to interrupt the string there. (luckily there arent too many of those moves advantageous on block)

Wolfs fastest moves are /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif, /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif and /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/db.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif which hits mid. Learning how to do this last move, screw lariat, is essential for playing Wolf. Wolf is quite slow character so all Wolf players can have it hard against fast characters (and everybody has trouble against Lei /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif )

If opponent whiffs anything, you have /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif which is a grea whiff punisher.

Also learn to immediately continue your attack after you have gained initiative.

If you have big advantage, use /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif(hit)/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif.

Wolf does have few special property attacks that can also be used to interrupt opponent pressure, such as /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/uf.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif which jumps over low attacks and gives combo (perfect for punishing low punches in any situation).

Also you can try /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif which is slow but goes under some moves.

Lei Fei may be annoying because he has multiple sabaki attacks that deflect your normal attacks. However, if you suspect he is doing one of these, you can do /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif or /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/b.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif which Lei cannot deflect.

Lastly, here is a Wolf special with which you can separate scrubs from real players. Its not a combo and good players defend against it, but I guarantee you have epic laughs when those scrubs playing Lei eat this:

/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/d.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif -> (from crouch) /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/df.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif (opp falls on their butt) -> /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/f.gif /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif (opp is stunned) -> /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/db.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/db.gif/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/p.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/k.gif+/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/g.gif = way over half life gone

Its not something to rely on against good players, but something that can help you get bit further without falling prey to other beginners that spam BS-moves. (hint: you can stagger recover from the buttstumble and block the rest)