Rank the top 10 zoning variations in order

[SneakyTortoise]

It's really hard to do but with practice you can get it

Or just buy a hitbox like a scumbag

(I'm buying one as soon as I get paid)

 

[Icy Black Deep]

Zoning is not good in this game when one of your primary zoning tools has 50+ recovery frames on whiff. Kenshi will never be higher than a mid tier character until tele-flurry becomes safer, which should be the case given the character's lack of mix ups.

Can you lobby for improving Mystic Ermac's telekinetic push while you're at it?

 

[n1kosh]

I think Kenshi, Kitana, Quan Chi have best zoning.
As for players, I think Pig of the Hut best, who has mastered zoning.

 

[Zabru]

A bit off topic (really off topic actually) and a bit random but how is MK9 for the vita? I don't care too much for graphics and I know that online is no longer supported but I'm seriously considering picking it up but I'm worried that the pad will suck or their will be technical issues. My friends have vitas and never got into MK9 like I did and I try to convince them but we are split up on different console (PS3 and XBOX360) so I thought we could play directly via the infrared or wireless play or whatever the vita calls it. What you guys think?

 

[Orochi]

Why? Do you play possessed? Yes it has a thing for meter but it has semi-safe mixups and amazing pressure and to be honest more control of your opponent then balanced it it even has a vortex and lets not forget the damage. I'm not trying to be rude but I am really interested in why you would think balanced is better then possessed. Also both balanced and Kenjustu were nerfed last patch Kenjutsu was butchered (I lost 4% of my metered bnbs) and balanced lost only a percent or two of damage but this kinda took the edge off it's meterless damage which was the my fav thing about balanced.

Possessed didn't get the damage scaling nerf (thank god) so I think it's his best variant, I rarely find myself playing balanced but zoning just isn't that good in this game and I seldom play Kenjutsu when I need to rushdown and need access to more tools.

What of you?

Yes I play all variations actually and i've never been a fan of possessed though it's kind of fun. Why anti air with ex rk and get 17% instead of 27% why do 20s meterless midscreen when i can do 30+ I dont know maybe i missed where possessed has good damage midscreen without nj2.

Why pick possessed mixups over kenjutsus, you get like 10% on your overhead special instead of 29% with kenjutsu

Zone with possessed? Theres none just run straight through bf3 will whiff there goes your space control.

You need meter for anti airs, meter for mediocre midscreen dmg, meter for wake up, meter for breaker. Last i heard kenshi was no kung lao.

I just feel like kenjutsu is way ahead in the mixup department, dmg, mtr and meterless dmg and resets.

His combo launcher doesn't even have armor you have to stick to ex rk, do i need to go on?

But I win more w possessed

Meter building is actually good , better damage, no -51/-53 whiffed moves, safer sc, safer rk, resets, safe 50/50s. Better and safer spacing

The more I play all 3 the less I'm finding that's good w balance

I must miss those matches then i usually see you win with balanced. Like vs alucard i think you couldve done it with balanced than possessed. You just had to be less predictable with ex rks.

But anyway what do i know i rarely play the game every other weekend and tournaments thx to this trash net code so i only lab it up until i play again.

 

[Metzos]

Yes I play all variations actually and i've never been a fan of possessed though it's kind of fun. Why anti air with ex rk and get 17% instead of 27% why do 20s meterless midscreen when i can do 30+ I dont know maybe i missed where possessed has good damage midscreen without nj2.

Why pick possessed mixups over kenjutsus, you get like 10% on your overhead special instead of 29% with kenjutsu

Zone with possessed? Theres none just run straight through bf3 will whiff there goes your space control.

You need meter for anti airs, meter for mediocre midscreen dmg, meter for wake up, meter for breaker. Last i heard kenshi was no kung lao.

I just feel like kenjutsu is way ahead in the mixup department, dmg, mtr and meterless dmg and resets.

His combo launcher doesn't even have armor you have to stick to ex rk, do i need to go on?



I must miss those matches then i usually see you win with balanced. Like vs alucard i think you couldve done it with balanced than possessed. You just had to be less predictable with ex rks.

But anyway what do i know i rarely play the game every other weekend and tournaments thx to this trash net code so i only lab it up until i play again.

1) Kenjutsu mix ups are easy to see. Just block low, since b3 is 11f and if you see b2, which is 18f, you block high, same with BS Shinnok mix ups.

2) Why would you zone with bf3 and not with db4?

3) Possessed Kenshi builds good meter, i dont know what you are talking about. Also Possessed Kenshi deals the same ammount of damage with two bars (45% dmg) as Kenjutsu Kenshi and with 1 bar he deals 37% dmg IIRC, without a jump in punch. Thats not mediocre damage lol. Also his d2 and njp are great AA's against almost everyone, i dont know why no one mentions this.

4) Kenjutsu has the best mix ups, yes, but read sentence no1.

5) Ex teleport also has armor if the opponent likes to press buttons like an idiot while he is pressuring Possessed Kenshi.

I ve been playing Kenshi since day 1 and my opinion still stands. NRS put a zoner in a game where zoners are not allowed. Pig is right. I also agree that, at the moment, Possessed Kenshi is the best variation in almost all of Kenshi's MU's.

Kenjutsu would be viable if bf3 was a mid again, but that would incite too much salt even among top players, which i find logical. Imo they need to reduce the recovery frames on whiff on Balance and Kenjutsu Kenshi's bf3's in order for them to become viable zoners. Possessed is fine atm IMO.

 

[Metzos]

No Vicious listed ?

Also fucking this.

 

[FinalBoss_FGC]

Nobody can discredit a character's zoning simply because you can "crouch". That makes zero sense. 98% of the projectiles in this game are high...that doesn't discredit their use.

Kitana's fans are duck-on-reaction but that doesn't discredit her utility as a Zoner...same with Shinnok's boneshaper.

So please stop.

 

[Kombat Chef]

Shaolin kj is an underrated zoner imo. The low chakram mixed with the upkick really messes with peoples heads and allows you to control from full screen

 

[Metzos]

Nobody can discredit a character's zoning simply because you can "crouch". That makes zero sense. 98% of the projectiles in this game are high...that doesn't discredit their use.

Kitana's fans are duck-on-reaction but that doesn't discredit her utility as a Zoner...same with Shinnok's boneshaper.

So please stop.

Do Kitana's fans or any other projectile or zoning tool in the game have 50 frames recovery on whiff? Its easy to say such things when you dont speak with numbers.

Its also easy to mention two characters whose projectiles are safe on block and have extremely good recovery on whiff as well.

So i suggest that you stop.

Post edited.

 

[TopTierHarley]

Not enough Mournful, you guys will see.

 

[STB Sgt Reed]

1. Summoner Quan Chi
2. Royal Storm Kitana
3. Hish Qu Ten Predator
4. Boneshaper Shinnok
5. Mournful Kitana
6. Pyromancer Tanya
7. Cybernetic Kano
8, Flame Fist Liu Kang
9. Balanced Kenshi
10. Full Auto Jacqui

 

[Predannok]

A bit off topic (really off topic actually) and a bit random but how is MK9 for the vita? I don't care too much for graphics and I know that online is no longer supported but I'm seriously considering picking it up but I'm worried that the pad will suck or their will be technical issues. My friends have vitas and never got into MK9 like I did and I try to convince them but we are split up on different console (PS3 and XBOX360) so I thought we could play directly via the infrared or wireless play or whatever the vita calls it. What you guys think?

the exact same game just with badder graphics, fixed smoke reset and 150 bonus tower challange. The dpads feel suprisingly gud cuz their not too small.

 

[FinalBoss_FGC]

Do Kitana's fans or any other projectile or zoning tool in the game have 50 frames recovery on whiff? Its easy to say such things when you dont speak with numbers.

Its also easy to mention two characters whose projectiles are safe on block and have extremely good recovery on whiff as well.

So i suggest that you stop.

Post edited.

Kenshi still has one of the best anti-airs and every combo turns into full screen push. Zoning doesn't have to be full screen. Kenshi has the tools to push somebody back to the zone that he wants them and you can't deny that. Sorry about your 50 frame full screen zoning tool but that's not the only thing he has lol

 

[Vithar]

Nobody can discredit a character's zoning simply because you can "crouch". That makes zero sense. 98% of the projectiles in this game are high...that doesn't discredit their use.

Kitana's fans are duck-on-reaction but that doesn't discredit her utility as a Zoner...same with Shinnok's boneshaper.

So please stop.

Balanced bf3 has ~1 sec recovery on whiff, get out of here!

 

[Immortal]

Kenshi still has one of the best anti-airs and every combo turns into full screen push. Zoning doesn't have to be full screen. Kenshi has the tools to push somebody back to the zone that he wants them and you can't deny that. Sorry about your 50 frame full screen zoning tool but that's not the only thing he has lol

WTF are you talking about?

EX RK is most upplayed tool that Kenshi has. It's good but you all need to stop with this atrocious upplaying. It's -17 on block, full combo punishable. And to make things worse everybody is expecting it, since he has NO OTHER DECENT option to get out of pressure in balanced. Sure you have EX SC which is safe on block but it leads to absolutely nothing (unless your opponent is already in the corner).

Let me break it out for you (balanced):

- full screen : youre afraid do use TF since on whiff its certain death. TKS from time to time not to often since if they read it they will just run under it and you're dead.

- mid screen: you got.......SC and RK. Both punishable on whiff or block.

- up close: EX RK and......thats it. Full combo punishable on block and you waste a bar ffs.After blocked EX RK you're.... dead again.

The only area where Kenshi (balanced) is good is... AA and blowing crossjumps with EX RK.

Like i said before if anybody thinks Kenshi in balanced is a good zoner (or good character overall for that matter) then he should PACK IT UP.

 

[BillStickers]

Even tremor can outzone kenshi lol

 

[Metzos]

Kenshi still has one of the best anti-airs and every combo turns into full screen punish. Zoning doesn't have to be full screen. Kenshi has the tools to push somebody back to the zone that he wants them and you can't deny that. Sorry about your 50 frame full screen zoning tool but that's not the only thing he has lol

So how is he going to zone someone when he is at full screen? With what? I hear the same bullshit with Mystic Ermac. "he can zone blah blah blah" when his primary zoning tool is minus 25 frames on block and can be punished from almost the entire cast, even when done at max range, plus the fact that, for a zoning variation, he has ZERO full screen presence. Ffs even MoS can zone better than Mystic Ermac and MoS isnt even a pure zoning variation.

I know Kenshi has more than that (i dont want him to turn braindead like he was in MK9), but you also cannot deny the fact that the majority of zoners in this game cant zone for shit.

Requesting for some recovery reduction on his zoning tools is not an absurd thing to ask. Its logical since thats how the character was created from the start and from the looks of it, the character is not working as he should be.

All it takes is a whiffed bf3 in Balanced and Kenjutsu variations and boom, opponent is in. I ve never seen that in any competitive fg, like ever.

Kenjutsu for example has ZERO full screen presence, since bf3 is a high and has that much recovery on whiff. Opponent has nothing to fear from that and he can just push in with just crouching. Up close Kenshi is average at best, since he is a "zoner".

Same with Balanced. Overhead slash can be seen from a mile away and opponent can just run into your face and punish you for a full combo. Flurry can be countered the same way like Kenjutsu's bf3.

Possessed is at a slightly better state in terms of spacing.

 

[Juggs]

Boneshaper Shinnok is definitely top 3 zoner imo. He controls space, all the space really. Ironically he's weakest full screen, which isn't something consistent with good zoners. But don't misunderstand, he's still good at full screen, but he's better at every other range imo.

 

[SkizDriz]

Perhaps not relevant to zoning but Kitana's sharpen in assassin adds that edge for me. When opponents get psyched out and go into rage mode I usually pop it. And again not related to zoning (because you end up near them) when someone is edging towards Kitana I throw a throat slash or assassin strike, throwing them off. All integrated into the zone game - elements I feel make her a strong character that rests on her zoning abilities. Because she lacks in mixups big time.

 

[FinalBoss_FGC]

So how is he going to zone someone when he is at full screen? With what? I hear the same bullshit with Mystic Ermac. "he can zone blah blah blah" when his primary zoning tool is minus 25 frames on block and can be punished from almost the entire cast, even when done at max range, plus the fact that, for a zoning variation, he has ZERO full screen presence. Ffs even MoS can zone better than Mystic Ermac and MoS isnt even a pure zoning variation.

I know Kenshi has more than that (i dont want him to turn braindead like he was in MK9), but you also cannot deny the fact that the majority of zoners in this game cant zone for shit.

Requesting for some recovery reduction on his zoning tools is not an absurd thing to ask. Its logical since thats how the character was created from the start and from the looks of it, the character is not working as he should be.

All it takes is a whiffed bf3 in Balanced and Kenjutsu variations and boom, opponent is in. I ve never seen that in any competitive fg, like ever.

Kenjutsu for example has ZERO full screen presence, since bf3 is a high and has that much recovery on whiff. Opponent has nothing to fear from that and he can just push in with just crouching. Up close Kenshi is average at best, since he is a "zoner".

Same with Balanced. Overhead slash can be seen from a mile away and opponent can just run into your face and punish you for a full combo. Flurry can be countered the same way like Kenjutsu's bf3.

Possessed is at a slightly better state in terms of spacing.

Zoning is definitely at a disadvantage in this game, I can agree.

I say zoning options should not be judged based on the projectile being duckable then the Kenshis of the world come.

I never said Kenshi is even an above average Zoner lol saying you can "duck his zoning options" is like saying you can duck others. Kenshi still isn't as bad as everybody wants him to be.

 

[RM NoBrows]

I honestly don't understand how peoples list all don't have HQT predator as the best zoner. His zoning is outrageous and his recovery from said zoning is just as outrageous. Quan chi summoner has an argument, but the fact of the matter is that predator can always play his zoning game and its always great. Quan chi needs puggles present to produce great zoning.

 

[Metzos]

Zoning is definitely at a disadvantage in this game, I can agree.

I say zoning options should not be judged based on the projectile being duckable then the Kenshis of the world come.

I never said Kenshi is even an above average Zoner lol saying you can "duck his zoning options" is like saying you can duck others. Kenshi still isn't as bad as everybody wants him to be.

Yes, but zoning tools should work as intended, especially in a game that heavily favors rush down character AND it has a fucking run button. BS Shinnok's zoning for example is great everywhere on the screen. If a zoning tool is high, this means its easy to avoid and it has ways around it, so no 50 frames recovery on whiff is absurd to say the least.

Compare Kenshi's zoning with Kitana's zoning, QC'S zoning, or even with Vicious F/T zoning (another vastly underrated zoner/anti-zoner imo). Simply put, no contest.

NRS hasnt done its job correctly in the zoning department regarding some characters in MKX and thats a fact. Plain and simple.

Post edited.

 

[Falkunn]

I agree with what @Pig Of The Hut and @Immortal are saying. Playing Balanced against a top player is incredibly difficult. The TF being so negative on whiff, all they need to really do is just duck it, or wait for something, get one bait or one read and they're in. All you really have in your favour is the EX RK (which is sick), but even that can be baited. So it's a lot of work.

Playing sets against F0xy really stretched my ability and wore me thin. It's hard, but I wouldn't class him as 4th. That's too high.

 

[Deleted member 9158]

Warlock quan chi is more of an anti zoner than a zoning character. His portal kick and portal stab shut zoning down hard