Low Punch

Hello, I'm new to the VF universe because the last time I played it was VF2 on the Saturn and i didn't give it enough time to get good at it. I find this iteration of the franchise a lot more accessible than those days, so I'm investing my time learning and playing it.

I've been having problems with people spamming fast low punches to me. I have found players online that I know I'm better than them but they give me a hard time because of those low punches. It so aggravating. Whats the best way to deal with this situation?

 

If they're repeat spamming them, an elbow between the first and second will CH it, and you can pressure from that.

 

I use Wolf who has a low punch counter so I generally like to use that.

The advice from Arstal is good.

If you block the low punch a quick middle attack or a low punch of your own will put you on the offensive.

 

I try to back up and use a mid range game so we never get into a low punch war. If that is really all your spamming opponent can do mid range will kill him.

 

My problem is how do you break yourself of the LP habit? Working on doing that right now.

I really get that problem if I play for long stretches.

 

Thank you for the tips, ill try them tonight when i get home.
BTW i'm learning with Eileen, but I'm also trying to decide on a second character, i was thinking of Jeffry or Pai.

 

Jeff is more rare, but I think Pai's probably the easier transition. Jeff's very different from Eileen.

 

Go into the Dojo Arstal, because the second you face someone like me, Neobeast, Fulaani or anyone else with a scrap of ability we'd eat you alive. The Dojo rewards you for doing tactics other than Low Punch.

 

The long stretch thing - I have problems with that as well. I often stop thinking and revert to patterns.

To cure yourself of low punch (or dependence on any particular move), try playing against what you opponent is doing. Sometimes low punch IS the best response option, however, you may find that you can throw out something bigger and connect because of your advantage.

 

If I use Low punch, I do maybe at most three of them cause it's too risky to rely on them, and I keep reminding myself that patterns are your enemy because I fall into that problem myself.

 

Just because someone's LP'ing alot, doesn't mean they are a noob, they are only LP over and over cause either you are not blocking, or you are not doing mids, or you are not LP'ing back.

 

I will keep rewriting this advice on and on because its the sort of basics that all aspiring VF players should understand right away, as soon as possible.

I think the best way to break the habit is two-fold:

1) Fight against someone who will keep punishing you for constantly doing low punches.

2) Understand why repeated low punching is bad and practice punishing low punchers. By being the one that punishes the low punch, it should be easy for you to understand why you shouldn't do it without any thought.

<u>Why repeated low punching is bad</u>

1) If your low punch is blocked, a basic poke (low, mid, or special high) will beat your next low punch. For some characters, this basic poke could be a launcher which spells even more hell for you.

2) If you are interrupted and you persist in low punching, the opponent can most likely just launch you into a combo and interrupt that second low punch of yours.

3) Even if your low punch hits, the second low punch is just a waste of a decent (but not guaranteed) advantage. You could have done a launcher or a throw or just about anything better, but all you did was put another ding on your opponent.

4) If you are the type of player who keeps low punching, you are also the type of player who will keep getting hit by special highs (especially strings that end with a special high). And you probably won't know why until you read this.

5) Low punch is easy to dodge. This isn't that big of a deal, but it's still a wasted move, especially if you know your opponent will just go for the dodge.

<u>What you could be doing to punish repeated low punch</u>

1) Block any low punch and poke back right away. Elbows, low punch--anything that is fast and is either low, mid, or special high. If they are repeatedly low punching, your opponent will get interrupted unless you poked him/her with a normal high attack.

2) Be outside of low punch range, attack as your opponent whiffs his or her repeated low punch. For basics sake though, you should focus on #1 (block and poke), but hitting someone from outside of low punch range is an easy and good opportunity.

3) If you've already interrupted the low puncher (your hit yields a yellow flash) and you are fast enough, you can do a medium speed launcher if you know they are going to keep doing the low punch. You have to do this right away after interrupting the opponent, though.

<u>An example sequence of destroying a low puncher</u>

Opponent Low Punches -->

you block (which gives you medium advantage) -->

you low punch right away -->

opponent tried to low punch, but your low punch interrupts him which gives you BIG ADVANTAGE -->

You do a decently fast medium launcher attack -->

Your opponent for some stupid reason still tried to low punch, but is at such a big disadvantage (because of your big advantage) that your launcher beats his low punch and you get a free combo.

Here it is again in short-form (A is you, B is your opponent):
A blocks B's low punch --> A low punches right away
--> B's low punch is interrupted by A's low punch
--> A does a mid-combo launcher that's decently fast
--> B's low punch is beaten out by A's launcher because A had such a big advantage after interrupting B.

 

Is there a reason why people don't suggest sidestepping the low punch?

 

(Animation of move) - (Current Disadvantage + 21 Frames) = Advantage gained from evading

A lot of times, when you evade a low punch you get very very little if no initiative. Do the math.

It's not bad just not that great unless your are at very low disadvantage.

 

Thank you Chanchai for getting to the core of the problem. I think anything you are suggesting outside of your last example might be too hard to do for newer players, but good that it's there for the future.

I think it's not the right way to think that LP's are for noobs, as at higher level of play, it's pretty essential to use it.

 

I liked pai chan, got online today and realized something:
Player Match != Ranked Match.
Got my own handed in a plate every time.
At least low punch spamming didn't own me so easily this time.

 

low punch back?

Yeah i never thought to do that until like yesterday.

i suck.

 

Any advice on a practice pattern or just keep playing the game?
Mostly my problem was that i was getting overwhelmed by players constantly attacking me.

 

Anyone find the lag on online games sometimes doesnt let you get your low punch in after you've blocked theirs? Sometimes they can keep spamming LP and you cant interrupt it, plus the fact that I'm using Lion who has a slower LP than other characters.

 

when i'm using brad, i have a terrible time dealing with multiple low punches into counter and throw mix ups, even if i block the first punch and retaliate with a mid 6P or 2PK, the second low punch will hit me before my attack comes out (lag?), the options i have is evade attack, 100 low punch slap back (the safest), or dash back guard following a heavy mid.

still it's extremely frustrating when your opponent is ranked pretty high and still does this shit when they loss a few first rounds.

i'm guilty to do 2-3 (at most) in a row, but when you face someone who does 5-10 consistently, it's pure BS.