[CSE] Valkenhayn vs Hazama

[Kiba]

Discuss the Hazama matchup here. Credits to Toasty.

Punishes:

If he goes for his 6A overhead, you can IB 5A>2C>6B>combo which can lead to 3k+ midscreen or in the corner (as long as you aren't in or near the corner yourself) and a little bit less fullscreen. IBing a chain will let you 6A if he pulls himself in (just make sure he's doing so, or else he can punish a whiffed 6A).

Anti-airing:

Zoning:

Their game plan:

Strategy:

The trick in this matchup is to stay mobile (while attempting to avoid predictability) and avoid the chains. He will have trouble if he has no meter and you get in, so once you do so, go for some staggers and mixup. If he does have meter, follow up with something safe (for example, you can stagger with 2C>6B>2C>6B since it only has a 4 frame gap, so if he is trying to punish this with a Houtenjin, do 2C>6B>5C/3C, and he won't be able to super).

Char specific details:

His 3C can also low profile under your 5B/C, and this will lead to big damage on CH. A quick 5A can be used if you see him going for an IAD cross-up during pressure.

[hipikachu]

No one posts here because Valks never have trouble with Hazamas

FRIGGIN w[5B]s

But jokes aside, this is very similar to the Lambda matchup in the fact that you want Haz to whiff shit, you don't want to block it.

Best example: Rising Fang. As much as I hate to admit it, this absurdly impossible to punish. ON BLOCK. However, the recovery on whiff is a godsend for you guys. A CH 5C>Nacht Rosen on the ground or j.5C in the air does nicely.

Neutral:

<1> Same thing with the chains. Just like Lambda, you're not going anywhere if you block them, but make them whiff and you've changed the tide of the match. Unless he decides to "run run." He still has to watch his stock though, and w[j.5B] can snag him as he's flying past you, assuming he's not mashing j.5C for a GORILLION DAMAGE. That, and Beast Cannon often clashes with chains. Be prepared for that.

<2> You really don't need neutral Nacht Jager to win this match. Blocked Nacht Jager, like in any other matchup not only kills your momentum, Haz is one of the lucky bastards who has a 6 frame 2A, which makes this an especially bad idea. And no, you cannot haz wolf cancel.

<3> Mash him out of 214D~A. Just do it. It has yet to fail. HOWEVER, if he catches on and decides to 236D, a CH will fling you across the screen, and you'll have to chase him down all over again.

<4> Run around with w[5B] if he's chucking chains in the air. Or if he's using 214D~A. Or if he whiffs a 214D~B. Or if he's using any standing normals. Or if you don't know how to play this matchup and you want to make Hazamas rage and flip over desks. Just be pesky and abuse this shit. 2B is his most rational option against grounded wolf, and that has a 10 frame startup, a risk not exactly in his favor.

<5> 4C/7C Rising Fang, he whiffs that, damage get. Or go for the 6A if you enjoy being raged at.

<6> A brave Hazama is a dead Hazama. So is a predictable one. Avoid being just as predictable when using Valk.

CLIMAX TIME:

The part of the match when Hazamas go running around with 50 heat trying to Hotenjin you.

Have fun guys:

<1> 6A beats it on reaction

<2> Superwolfblitzcombogroundsuper beats it clean. Unless he blocks it. Then you have to pray the knockback is large enough to save your furry hide

<3> j.5C can make it whiff if you're directly above him in the corner

<4> 6B wakeup on his wakeup SHOULD beat it out based on my experience, but I'm not quite sure how meaty this really is

If they don't like it raw and actually bother hitconfirminig like a good Haz, then:

<1> 2A>2A>2A>5B>2B>3C>Hotenjin. Don't even bother bursting out of this. This is the saddest waste of meter I often see Hazamas actually do online next to using RCs to red beat the TK Loop

<2> Chain confirm>Hotenjin. Again, nothing to really be afraid of

<3> Any other confirm that didn't begin with a A attack nor surpassed 2 hits prior. You probably wanna burst here. It's like, his only source of real damage. The psychological damage you inflict on him using this burst is more than anything he can inflict on you with the Hotenjin.