How to learn a combo without video/notation?

[Okidoki_Sir]

Hey there,

I wanna learn Ragnas combos, but I can't find a video with notation and the actual video. But if I only see the notation, how am I supposed to know the timing? Is there some way to figure it out, without trial and error? And the other way: If I got a video, how do I get the actual input notation? Of course I could just look which moves are done, but this usually is not all it takes to master a combo. For example: how can I distinguish a normal jump from a high jump? How do I know wether the person did input buffering? etc

I hope someone could explain me the way he learns new combos

Thanks in advance

[Fujiwara]

Well, this comes with experience with whatever character you're looking at.
There's also the matter of trial and error.
It's a matter of practice.
You'll hear a special sound when you highjump, also.

[The Katz]

Well, since you're looking for Ragna combos just look up for one of the thousand combo-bible videos that have the -everything- posted for each combo being done. You can distinguish a normal jump from a super jump for Ragna 'cause the height differences are pretty noticeable.


It's been forever since I was starting off in BB, but from what I remember...

When it came to watching combo vids that I really liked I would try to remember the small parts of the combos. Like, just the "X goes into Y" stuff. The reason why I separated the combos in my head was so that they were easier to remember if I didn't have it right next to me, like how you can remember a series of numbers (like a phone number) better when it's like "0798-7097-12-134" instead of "0798709712134". When I went into training mode I just goofed around with the little parts of the combos I remembered. Eventually I figured out my own combos, developed decent execution, and was able to mimic other players' combos without needing to practice them much 'cause of how I practiced stuff before.

Regrettably, going through without trial and error when it comes to text/notation-only combos is unavoidable. Most of the time people do not write the notations properly, like neglecting to put specifics in timing (as you mentioned) if it isn't straight-forward, or character-specific information and such. Being given a combo that only works on two-to-three characters without being told such is a bit of a problem if you go to practice on other characters without being able to notice whether or not if it is your error or not that causes the combo to drop.

My general advice is to experiment around to see what works and what doesn't on your own after browsing youtube/nicovideo a bit. Understanding your character's move properties is pretty important, as well. For example: Starting with (ground)Gauntlet Hades usually leads to 'weak' damage and is fairly easy to combo off of, but doing (air)Gauntlet Hades right off the ground (tk'ing it/tiger kneeing-it) allows for more damaging combos at the cost of needing better timing and execution. Training Mode it up whenever you get bored always helped me, too. If you go into training with the "work/grinding things out" mindset, then you're probably going to hate doing it eventually (if you already don't), so try to at least make it mildly enjoyable. If you drop a link or whatever too many times, just switch onto practicing something else.


TL;DR
Watch videos. Remember the small, but important bits of a combo. Practice. Take it easy.

[CupofT]

I hope someone could explain me the way he learns new combos

Do you mean how someone learns brand new combos that no one has seen/posted/uploaded yet? Or someone learning combos that have been posted but never done before?

Also Fuji and Katz do a good job answering your other questions.
To repeat: trial and error. Pretty much unavoidable.

[Manta]

Also, don't be afraid to turn off the training dummy's teching, at least when you're first learning the combo. Lets you learn the bit after that really annoying part of a combo you just can't get the timing right for.

[Ctrlaltwtf]

The core concept behind Aksys fighters is always "Bunch of basic attacks -> Special Attack Finisher."

Obviously, there's plenty of exceptions to that, but the way Special Attacks are linkable off of most basic attacks usually makes them end up as your combo finisher. Revolver Action (the ability to cancel basic attacks into other basic attacks) plays a key role in combos as well. Most characters can always do some kind of A-B-C-D combo. So for Ragna's combo the very first Combo you learn to do is A B C D Hell's Fang. Once you can do that on confirm, start looking at better, more complicated things to do.

Your combos will get better and better once you figure out ways to skip needing to use low-proration moves like As and Bs. Looking at Ragna again, he goes 6A -> j.C j.D -> j.C j.D because j.C and j.D are the highest damage basic attacks he can use in midair that still manage to combo. Using j.A or j.B before them would just shittify his damage.

So use your strongest basic attacks, but use weaker ones if you have to in order to get them to connect. That's the basic principle behind designing strong combos. The key is to figure which attacks are "worth it" in that the damage they do is worth the proration they put on the rest of your combo. Looking at Ragna's A B C D Hell's Fang, you might think that just C D Hell's Fang is better. This is true, but if my memory serves, B C D Hell's Fang actually does more, because Ragna's B is still a "worthwhile" hit.

Also, high jumps have an "after image" effect on them.

[Osuna]

Timing is dictated by necessity, so frequently you go for the earlier timing available, which is for a a cancel is when the previous move hits, for a link it is when the previous move finishes recovering. Timing is a per move basis, but you'll get used to that stuff pretty fast. When you have to delay, or something isn't making sense, post a question in the sub forum for you character and people will happily explain anything weird that goes on in the combo.

[Zeron_X25]

Timing comes with practice and also seeing others do the combo. It's very much like learning a new music on the piano. First you learn the notes, then the timing by practicing and listening to others play that song.

[mAc Chaos]

Break the combo up into smaller pieces and do those pieces first.

In other words, if the combo is B > C > Hell's Fang, then do the B > C part until you can do it without messing up, and then add try doing it again but with Hell's Fang tacked onto the end. If the combo keeps going then just keep going in that manner until you can do it all. Then practice it several times in a row.

Just because you did it once after trying 50 times doesn't mean you can do the combo. You have to be able to do it consistently, so try to do it 10 times successfully in a row. It will take a while though.

But before you even try to do combos, practice doing your separate special moves consistently.

[BladeOfJustice7]

If you mess up once while trying to do the combo 10 times in a row, then restart, it sounds exhausting but it pays off in the long run.