Could someone explain whether the changes to Asuka are good or bad? I don't have the patience to figure out how to make heads or tails of this stuff.
good overall.
the good: better antiairs, better overheads, better lows, better moves overall, and better damage overall.
the bad: no more easy mode dash cancel pressure.
anti-airs:
- she used to lack a reliable (meterless) anti-air. s.lp and dragon wheel kick (towards+lk) were the better ones. they have now both gained invincibility making them pretty damn reliable now.
overheads:
- c.hp can now be cancelled into special moves and starts up faster. gives her better damage options during combos, but the real reason for this is most likely comboing after her thunderfall kick overhead (towards+hk). before, after her overhead, all she could get was either c.hp or c.hk. now she can do overhead, c.hp xx special move.
- her other overhead, tsuwabuki (towards+mp) also got a slight buff. it was a 1-frame link before, and now its a 3-frame link, simply just making it easier to combo off of. at max distance, you now can also combo off of it using the newly buffed c.lk 4-framer.
target combos:
- hyakujitsuko (mk, down+mp) was a staple move for asuka. it's block stun got nerfed meaning no more easy mode dash cancel pressure. however, its still really too good for it to go away. either just let the onikubigari rip and use the newly buffed far lk to poke, or cancel into the newly buffed exorcisor which now appears to be safe on block.
- leg cutter 2nd hit (downfoward+hk, downfoward+hk) was also a good move and got its block stun nerfed similarly to hyakujitsuko (no more easy dash cancel pressure).
- whiplash to toe kick (back+mp, mk) i didn't really like that much before. now its improved with better hitbox and forward movement. still a bit skeptical about it, but hopefully its good. for the players who liked their dash cancel pressure though, this may now be the move to go to now since the other target combos got their block stun nerfed.
- her other mid-range target combo, heron dance (towards+mk, mp) i liked even less than the whiplash to toe kick. it had potential, but just did no damage and was unsafe. that has been remedied by the fact that is now cancellable. the fact that it also has better hitboxes/hurtboxes is just icing on the cake. i can see this move being used now.
normals:
- far lk was already a pretty amazing normal, and it just got better with its hurtbox reduced. my favourite normal, although the newly buffed c.lk is also looking pretty sexy. other normals got buffed, but i think lk/c.lk will still be my goto normals.
specials:
- onikubgari's damage was the only one to get nerfed due to its pressure ability, but fortunately its frame data didn't change so you still can pressure with it, it's just not as much damage.
- again, the exorcisor full string is now safe on block, but as well got a hefty meter gain buff. it looks like a fairly attractive option to go to from mid-range against fireball characters since the hp version has its projectile invincibility intact. doesn't matter if they manage to block it because you're getting ridiculously good meter.
- falling rain combo enders seem to be the way to go now.
- attack reversal and sweep throw give so much meter now. given her nerfed dash cancel pressure and her buffed overheads, it may be worthwhile to sneak in these moves more often.
