Those Who Would Wear the Crown, Bear Its Weight (2)
You've encountered an unfamiliar opponent in the arena. What do you do to gain the upper hand? The answer is simple: analyze them.
Are they aggressive or defensive? Impulsive or calculated? Once you grasp those basics, the match unfolds surprisingly easily.
But what if you're already in the game? How do you read a total stranger's style on the fly? Every Tuhon ranked match plays out this way.
There's a straightforward solution: backdash right at the start to create distance. You can mix in sidesteps or crouches and other variants, but the point is to observe your opponent's opening move. That first action reveals a ton of info.
If they throw out their fastest technique, they're aggressive and reckless. They'll charge in at the first opportunity. Against those types, mid-range counters shine—Ren's Siege Kick is perfect. The enemy barreling in like a wild boar will eat a sudden long-reach kick and tumble hilariously.
What if they backdash like you? They're defensive, maybe even calculated. Tough to read in one go, so probe again. Quick mid or low to test the waters. Fire the same move twice in a row. If they block the second? Quick reactions. Spamming the same tech will backfire on you. Build your patterns around that.
But not everyone fits those two cases. Higher ranks diversify patterns, and players learn to hide their tendencies.
Similar ranks? Especially a Golden Bracket foe? Brace to concede at least one set for analysis. Looks like a readout machine, but Golden Bracket is Golden Bracket.
Play like Mixer, and victory comes easy. Predict and guard their assaults, chip away bit by bit—they'll drop to K.O. before they know it. Clean 1-0 win.
Problem is, I don't wanna. That'd mean admitting Mixer's style reigns supreme. Hurts my pride. No way.
I'll win my way.
The opponent fits the first example perfectly: reckless charger. But don't assume blind boar rush—it's Michael.
Boxer-inspired, so minimal kicks—but his punches go berserk. Like Hanla dominating with footwork despite sealed hands, Michael earns "broken" status if mastered. Tricky controls hold it back.
Fake low into mid poke. Feint rush, pause half-beat, off-beat smash. Short-range but speedy stomps catch guards off-guard, leaving you dizzy. Auto mid-block stance dodges highs too.
Pressure-optimized beast.
Firepunch plays him as a berserker: overwhelming offense covers weak defense. Relentless assaults trap foes. Patterns usually show under pressure, but Golden Bracket vets mix it up. Sudden punishes suck, so constant variations. Nightmare to face.
Fluid steps and combos flow like water—against Golden Bracket? My Ren gets hit solo despite equal startup? Can't just guard and tank.
Step back, make space.
Mixer guards and absorbs. I force openings with groundwork. Wild evasion? Part of the offense. Backdash ain't guard.
HP disadvantage, time ticking, endless running—but victory's in reach. I engineered this deficit myself.
Two reasons for the risky Signature Pose. One: confirm if he's attack-mad. Decided by his opening lightning hook. "Full pressure incoming." "Take your licks." "Whiff and die." Like my instant Siege Kick or Cut Kick.
Nailed it shut with Sig Pose. Berserkers can't ignore taunts. I declared passive, then provoked—eyes rolled, as viewers said. Rationality out the window.
Two: test it.
Sig. Signature Pose. Signature Pose. No penalty triggered by words. Reading chat won't make me drop keyboard for "Ta-da, cute demon Ren here to steal your hearts!" Whew, no reaction. Would've sealed a move.
How fun is Sig Pose? Lose it, half the joy of Ren vanishes.
'Voice-only trigger?'
Test TTS donations later. For now, good.
Checks done, berserker confirmed. Time to wrap.
Before time-out. Conceding a set? Too generous for this clown. One Sig and he flips—how'd he cling to Golden?
Ppase brainless brawling? He'd be this guy.
Traded light hits. My HP ~21%, Firepunch 88%. One more and Ren rages. He won't care. Rage's one-shot Killer Move caps 70% outside specials. He'd love it—forces my trump, pure pressure bliss.
So eat his jab on purpose. HP drops to 20%, red aura flares.
Michael ignores, mid-hook rush. Ren crouches.
—Oof. Hit sparks, HP chips. Ren presses. Killer Move ignores stun till K.O.
Crouched Ren thrusts arms skyward, jumps.
—Yay~!
Ren's Killer Move: Cheer Up. Pom-pom cheer motion launches Michael sky-high. Damage? Absurd.
Weak chars mix aerials and Killer for 70% reversal. Ren? Can't combo into it—foe flies too far, follow-ups fixed.
Michael's 88% → 28%. Me 19%.
All that running and taunting? For this nuke. Viewers right—if no attack, game over. Killer reverses deficits, but Ren's short reach needs them close. Success? Guaranteed follow-up.
Foe launched to corner? Clockwise full circle from 12 o'clock, mash hands and feet.
—Ta-da, cute demon Ren here to steal your hearts!
Ren hops, spins 2 seconds singing. Wall-less map, distance launch—finicky conditions. But 10% HP, mental damage immeasurable.
Spreading wings and flying away…♬
Performance starts, all freeze as fans. Volcano stage or crumbling building—Ren's pro.
Flailing Michael whips glowsticks outta nowhere.
Dashing over vast clouds~♬
Ren's pro, so player's producer. Real dance precision: 80 commands in 10s for 1%/sec.
Who'd memorize 80 commands for 10%? Just land normals. But I do. Fun.
Imagine foe squirming through forced 10s serenade.
Flawless finish. Ren's pose.
—Trust me, your best partner!♪ V-sign wink, leg bend.
