I basically want to talk about the progression of Shinnok in MKX and how the buffs/nerfs affected him.
Universal Buffs/Nerfs:
5/14/15
- Can now enhance Hell Sparks & Hell Blast on block.
- Away + 3 (Shin Kick) is now towards + 4 and he has a new away + 3 (Devious Heel "Overhead Starter)
6/23/15 - Adjusted several hitboxes to hit more consistently
7/2/15 - Hell Sparks / Hell Blast when enhanced is +14 on block (down from +24)
Imposter Buffs:
4/18/15 - He can now control the location of a stolen Goro Stomp.
5/14/15 - Now steals Dash Punch from Jax instead of Ground Pound.
Necromancer Buffs:
5/14/15 - Can now control the location of Judgment Smash & Judgment Fist.
6/23/15
- Adjusted tracking of Devil's Flick, Devil's Backhand, Summoned Fiend, & Summoned Slam
- Increased damage on Judgment Fist & Judgment Smash by 3
- Devil's Flick is no -8 on block (up from -4)
Boneshaper Buffs:
6/23/15
- Dark Beam is now a high block and +8 on hit (up from -14)
- Opponent can no longer techroll after Scepter Slam
- Deity combo (Towards + BP, BP, throw) can now be 2in1 cancelled on hit
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So, what made Boneshaper go from bottom to the top? First of all, the universal buffs really helped Shinnok overall. Getting an overhead starter was huge, but that's not a big reason why Boneshaper is dominant. Getting MB Hellspark on block was also needed, but they made it way too plus and then nerfed it a week later. It's still too plus, imo, but this buff affects all 3 variations.
Boneshaper and Imposter have been considered the best two variations since launch. I personally believed from the beginning that Boneshaper was the best variation he had, but I went back and forth on using both BS and Imposter. So the fact that Boneshaper got buffs and Imposter really didn't (the buffs he got in Imposter weren't really buffs, imo), is one of the reasons you only see Boneshaper Shinnok. BS was already arguably the best variation he had.
Anyway, the Dark Beam buff was warranted. Or rather, Dark Beam needed to be buffed as it was next to useless pre patch. It being +8 on hit is not too crazy of a buff. However, this buff combined with Deity now being 2in1 cancelable is what make these two buffs so good. Now you can do decent damage while being at + frames. Since Shinnoks low starter is 7 frames and you're at +8 after Dark Beam, it's guaranteed pressure. Add this plus MB Hellspark being +14 on block and Dark Beam being -4 on block, Shinnoks pressure is either safe or at advantage on hit or block.
No one really asked for all these buffs. We wanted an overhead starter, and to be able to MB Hellspark on block. Those were the main universal buffs we wanted. We didn't ask for MB Hellspark to be +24 or +14, just to be able to MB Hellspark on block and for it make us safe.
The reason I'm making this thread is to show all the buffs that lead to BS Shinnok being what it is today. Before the buffs, hardly anyone used him. I'm afraid that when gets nerfed after EVO, they will nerf things that don't need to be nerfed. What needs to be nerfed, if there's any nerfs at all, were the things that were buffed. Deity being 2in1 cancelable to me isn't necessary. However, I'm fine with keeping that if you nerf Dark Beam. Basically, one of them has to go, but not both. I think the best option actually is to nerf Dark Beam. +8 on hit, -4 on block is too good for a projectile that can be canceled from any string on block. What it means is that Shinnok will almost always be safe on block, which I'm obviously fine with (lol), but is too good.
Imposter and Necromancer are still decent, but they need help. Necromancer in particular is still not that great, way better than it was, but still not that great. While these two variations need some type of buffs, I feel Bonshaper needs some slight nerfs to what was buffed.
To be clear, I don't think any character in this game needs to be nerfed right now. There's been 2 patches within a month and I believe we need to let the game breathe. However, if they do decide to nerf Shinnok, these would be my suggestions.
My Shinnok nerfs edited.
Boneshaper:
- Dark Beam is now -9 on block, and +2 on hit. (down from -4, and +8)
I'm not 100% sure what to buff with Imposter and Necromancer, so I'll just refrain from posting my suggestions.
Universal Buffs/Nerfs:
5/14/15
- Can now enhance Hell Sparks & Hell Blast on block.
- Away + 3 (Shin Kick) is now towards + 4 and he has a new away + 3 (Devious Heel "Overhead Starter)
6/23/15 - Adjusted several hitboxes to hit more consistently
7/2/15 - Hell Sparks / Hell Blast when enhanced is +14 on block (down from +24)
Imposter Buffs:
4/18/15 - He can now control the location of a stolen Goro Stomp.
5/14/15 - Now steals Dash Punch from Jax instead of Ground Pound.
Necromancer Buffs:
5/14/15 - Can now control the location of Judgment Smash & Judgment Fist.
6/23/15
- Adjusted tracking of Devil's Flick, Devil's Backhand, Summoned Fiend, & Summoned Slam
- Increased damage on Judgment Fist & Judgment Smash by 3
- Devil's Flick is no -8 on block (up from -4)
Boneshaper Buffs:
6/23/15
- Dark Beam is now a high block and +8 on hit (up from -14)
- Opponent can no longer techroll after Scepter Slam
- Deity combo (Towards + BP, BP, throw) can now be 2in1 cancelled on hit
_____________________________________________________________________________________
So, what made Boneshaper go from bottom to the top? First of all, the universal buffs really helped Shinnok overall. Getting an overhead starter was huge, but that's not a big reason why Boneshaper is dominant. Getting MB Hellspark on block was also needed, but they made it way too plus and then nerfed it a week later. It's still too plus, imo, but this buff affects all 3 variations.
Boneshaper and Imposter have been considered the best two variations since launch. I personally believed from the beginning that Boneshaper was the best variation he had, but I went back and forth on using both BS and Imposter. So the fact that Boneshaper got buffs and Imposter really didn't (the buffs he got in Imposter weren't really buffs, imo), is one of the reasons you only see Boneshaper Shinnok. BS was already arguably the best variation he had.
Anyway, the Dark Beam buff was warranted. Or rather, Dark Beam needed to be buffed as it was next to useless pre patch. It being +8 on hit is not too crazy of a buff. However, this buff combined with Deity now being 2in1 cancelable is what make these two buffs so good. Now you can do decent damage while being at + frames. Since Shinnoks low starter is 7 frames and you're at +8 after Dark Beam, it's guaranteed pressure. Add this plus MB Hellspark being +14 on block and Dark Beam being -4 on block, Shinnoks pressure is either safe or at advantage on hit or block.
No one really asked for all these buffs. We wanted an overhead starter, and to be able to MB Hellspark on block. Those were the main universal buffs we wanted. We didn't ask for MB Hellspark to be +24 or +14, just to be able to MB Hellspark on block and for it make us safe.
The reason I'm making this thread is to show all the buffs that lead to BS Shinnok being what it is today. Before the buffs, hardly anyone used him. I'm afraid that when gets nerfed after EVO, they will nerf things that don't need to be nerfed. What needs to be nerfed, if there's any nerfs at all, were the things that were buffed. Deity being 2in1 cancelable to me isn't necessary. However, I'm fine with keeping that if you nerf Dark Beam. Basically, one of them has to go, but not both. I think the best option actually is to nerf Dark Beam. +8 on hit, -4 on block is too good for a projectile that can be canceled from any string on block. What it means is that Shinnok will almost always be safe on block, which I'm obviously fine with (lol), but is too good.
Imposter and Necromancer are still decent, but they need help. Necromancer in particular is still not that great, way better than it was, but still not that great. While these two variations need some type of buffs, I feel Bonshaper needs some slight nerfs to what was buffed.
To be clear, I don't think any character in this game needs to be nerfed right now. There's been 2 patches within a month and I believe we need to let the game breathe. However, if they do decide to nerf Shinnok, these would be my suggestions.
My Shinnok nerfs edited.
Boneshaper:
- Dark Beam is now -9 on block, and +2 on hit. (down from -4, and +8)
I'm not 100% sure what to buff with Imposter and Necromancer, so I'll just refrain from posting my suggestions.
