GOOd/BAD MATCHUPS???

I actually haven't had too many problems versus Raiden when playing as Shang. Granted, it's a very, very, very annoying fight, but it's winnable.

My biggest problems with Shang are against rush down characters like Reptile, Cage, etc. Once one of these characters gets in on you it's very difficult to get out of it with Shang because he doesn't have any fast wake up attacks that knock the opponent back off of you, and even worse is that Cage's combos are so quick that even if you block a string it's tough to start some kind of combo with Shang beause his starters are slower than Cage's (granted, this is online, I haven't really tested this out offline). Obviously the game with Shang is to keep the opponent off of you and juggle them all day with his fire skulls, but it's definitely not that simple. You have to be good at predicting your opponent with Shang because he doesn't have some of the other tools that are available to everyone else in the game (namely a really good wakeup attack to relieve incoming pressure).

All that being said, I think Shang can definitely handle anyone in the game and I don't think there's a matchup for him that the opponent has a heavy advantage. He may be at a slight disadavantage with some matchups, but never a big one. I think one of the biggest reasons for this too is the fact that his combos can't be broken because it's all projectiles (minus the 2 or 3 hit starter), your opponent just has to sit back and enjoy the ride...which is so very satisfying to watch.
 
I disagree with jade is a bad matchup for noob. I'll explain in full detail when I get to my computer. All it means is noob has to save his meter for 1 specific move.
 
NothingRhymesWithCircus said:
Cyber Sub Zero vs Shang Tsung is practically impossible for Shang Tsung if the CSZ player realizes that Shang Tsung can't punish his divekicks.

Shang Tsung has a 5-5 or better vs almost everyone else. Vs Raiden he's like 4-6, it's not in his favor but it's not impossible in the slightest.
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This Cyber is my 3rd main and whenever I face a good Raiden I have the hardest time beating them if im even able to beat them

Edit: My bad you were referring to Tsung vs Raiden either way though for me to best punsih Raiden with Cyber Sub is to use his EX Ice Parry on him when he superman's me and punish
 
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The worst match-up for Nightwolf I find to be Cyrax. It's very, very hard for Nightwolf t play defensive with Cyrax since almost every move from Cyrax is pretty tricky to figure out and Cyrax can very well play with Nightwolf with bombs and net (which he cannot reflect). Many of Nightwolf's moves are useless against Cyrax, lightning is not fast enough, arrows cannot win a war against bombs and net. Shoulder is good until Cyrax finds a way to uppercut it. Jumping is almost out of question if an experienced Cyrax plays anti-air. Not impossible, but very hard, that's for sure.
 
Good matchups for Smoke: Kung Lao, Noob Saibot, Sub-Zero, Shang Tsung, Sheeva
Bad: Kabal, Kenshi (still new though), Ermac

Good for Jax: Kung Lao, Johnny Cage
Bad: Sindel, Shang Tsung, Sub-Zero
 
Omega-F said:
Good matchups for Smoke: Kung Lao, Noob Saibot, Sub-Zero, Shang Tsung, Sheeva
Bad: Kabal, Kenshi (still new though), Ermac

Good for Jax: Kung Lao, Johnny Cage
Bad: Sindel, Shang Tsung, Sub-Zero
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I've found Sub-Zeros very easy if I just block low.
A blocked slide causes some serious combo damage to Sub-Zero players.

They can't throw iceballs forever, sooner or later they must come to you :)
 
They are not impossible with Jax, but it's damn difficult to get close to one that keeps doing ice clones. Jax ground pound is also slow against iceballs.
 
Now that I finally have a little bit of time to explain my thoughts.

Jade does not counter noob as much as you think. Sure her shadow glow helps her against noob's (Zone only) game. but let me explain noob saibot's options. I plaly both Noob and Jade and both of them are my mains.

1.) Enhanced shadow charge beats Jade's Normal shadow glow.

2.) you'll need to burn meter on enhanced shadow charge when you think jade will glow

3.) Once you get Jade conditioned to watch out for Enhanced shadow charge. You can use your single bar to condition her to not use glow AS MUCH when you have a bar. Thus opening your options for noob saibot. Now you got jade blocking once in a while with the threat of a Enhanced shadow charge under your belt. Putting her on defense mode so you can get her under your watch and make her react to YOU. and not the other way around.
 
Ermac is probably Kano's worst match-up. Ermac can force push/slam all of Kano's ball moves, making them nearly useless.
 
Jaclo said:
Ermac is probably Kano's worst match-up. Ermac can force push/slam all of Kano's ball moves, making them nearly useless.
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Ermac vs Kano is actually a very even matchup. If a Kano is overusing balls and knives vs Ermac then he doesn't know what he's doing. The Kano player has to rush down.
 
Johnny Cage against Reptile.
Because when you play against someone online, all they do is throw acid balls & acid spit at you,
then once you get close they just drop kick you or slam teleport, it's annoying.
And honestly, Reptile on "Expert" is more of a spammer then some people online.
I hate Reptile just because I use Johnny Cage ALOT.
 
Jax is underrated. When a player knows how to use him the opponent can get a NASTY surprise. I havn't had any problems with Noob players, jump over 1 or 2 shadow charges and EX superman punch through the 3rd and continue the assault :-)

SubZero, Raiden, Reptile however makes my Jax go on the defensive side for alot of the match up :-/ thier wake ups are too quick.
 
My Kitana and Jade vs BARAKA (stupid spinning and stabbing blades, KANO (his stupid BALL and his choking air grab crap), Raiden (stupid TORPEDO COMBO in the air and ground), Ermac's Teleport, Scorpion's Spear and Teleport, and sometimes Sonya (her dive kicks and AIR LEG GRAB) Noob (his stupid teleport) and Kung Lao (his stupid spinning move + combos). Luckily, I'm learning ways to beat them in an easier manner. My Edenian team will soon be unstopable!!! ;-)
 
teh pwnstr said:
Jax is underrated. When a player knows how to use him the opponent can get a NASTY surprise. I havn't had any problems with Noob players, jump over 1 or 2 shadow charges and EX superman punch through the 3rd and continue the assault :-)

SubZero, Raiden, Reptile however makes my Jax go on the defensive side for alot of the match up :-/ thier wake ups are too quick.
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Yes, Jax is severely underrated. He's an absolute beast for ground combat and for "bullying" opponents. His only real problem comes when facing projectile spammers since his specials take a while to use. If there was a buff to make his ground pound and projectile faster, he would be top tier imo.
 
Kitana vs Cyber Subzero is basically rape.
When she starts zoning with fans, you better just turtle.
Even Pig the Hut said it's a horrible match up, and that I was better off not even fighting a Kitana with CSZ.
It's on a stream somewhere, thanks to Critical_Limit for showing me that video on me getting name dropped :cool:
 
back said:
Wait until you meet a vortexing Scorpo
ion. Sektor is almost useless against them.
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True that, the only thing I could do to shake off a vortexing Scorp would be B2 or F2 to get that pressure off me.
After blocking low during the teleport of the vortex, of course.
 
My "bad" matchups with Cage. Sub-Zero, Cyber Sub-Zero (Go ahead, fight Pig of the Hut), Noob Saibot (Simply because of his overhead shadow), Kabal, Kenshi, and ironically enough Johnny Cage.
 
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