I still don't see why Jax isn't higher. Not just YOMI's list but just in general. I don't understand what his weakness is.
It's tough to say. All of his pressure either starts with a high, or requires a high move to continue, which wouldn't be that big of a deal if his supposedly 'safe' specials like Gotcha Grab and Dash Punch were not also highs, both of which are safe on block but INCREDIBLY punishable on whiff.
Of course, he can check you with Downward Dash Punch, but it is risky, as it is extremely unsafe on both block and whiff.
Additionally, most people assume Heavy Weapons to be his most competetively viable variation, and all of his practical cancels are minus. This means that HW Jax's Rocket Cancels are really only useful for mind games and combo extensions, rather than pressure.
That's not to say that I don't necessarily believe Jax to be A+, as he might well be. Just not for the reasons non-Jax players assume he is.
IMO, I think that Heavy Weapons is overrated compared to his other variations. I think we can chalk this up to the fact that he has cancels, even if they are imperfect. Players are perfectly willing to ignore equally good, if not demonstrably better, tools in order to continue with 'the cancel variation,' it seems.
Meanwhile, Wrestler Jax has perhaps the most tic throw possibilities of any character in the game, he can choose which side to throw you to, and has perhaps the best corner damage in the game. It also maintains Energy Wave, which I believe to be a superior projectile to the rocket (despite the fact that it hits mid and deals 11% damage), as EW anti-airs to an insane degree and is +7 on block.
From what I see, Pumped Up Jax is by far his most slept on variation. Sure, his Gotcha is now unsafe at -9, but ex version serves as a 7 frame armored reversal that does 22% raw damage, restands the opponent at +3, and anti-airs jumping oppenents like it's a damn vacuum cleaner.
Meanwhile, he gets 40%+ meterless corner damage off BOTH his overhead and low starters.
Additionally, and perhaps the strongest overall sell for Pumped Up, is the combination of his Ground Pound and Energy Wave mixups, providing some of the best overall zoning in the game. Even the most steadfast of opponents will eventually begin to get caught by this, with proper conditioning. Oh, did I mention that EX Ground Pound OTG's?
Anyways, the point is, is that while I believe Jax's pressure to be overrated (still very good, just not God Tier like people assume it to be), he has perhaps the most complete toolset in the game. Jax is something of a jack of all trades, master of none (except in the corner, there he is your master). He has everything you could possibly need in a character, but other characters can do those things better.
I find it tough to say where he stands because other characters have so much dirt. Sure, Jax can do it all, but who needs to do it all when you can vortex like Quan Chi, or pressure like Kung Lao? I think that it is only natural to underrate him as the meta of the game changes, and people adapt to playing to his real strengths rather than his percieved ones.
Obviously, Jax is not the top 5 that many believed him to be early in the game, but he is still likely Top 10.
Holy shit that turned out to be a long post. I think I got bit carried away.
lol at people saying they can react to 15 frames, the human eyes quickest speed is 16 frames most people's reactions are 20 frames also.
