I've played SFV quite a bit from the betas.
A lot of the V-Trigger sentiments is that there's no general reason to not use them, even in neutral, right now. That's pretty true. There's tons of abstract situations to use them, and just the effects for most of the V-Triggers are pretty worth having. Using them in confirms, using the activation to scout, and various niche situations for the action V-Triggers, like a free corner escape for Vega. It'll become more refined in usage as time goes on, but that aspect is likely going to remain in that there's a lot of reasons to not specifically save them for damage.
On the building V-Trigger part, TKR was using st.HK a lot. The move itself is slow, so there's not really much room to use it in frame traps to land the counter hits, so where does it get applied? Footsies. Getting the target combo for Necalli requires him actually getting close enough to use it, since it starts off his st.MK. It's honestly not that easy to get in with Necalli against some of the better neutral characters in the game like Vega or Chun. So raw V-Skill gets usage in footsies more than you'll honestly see the target combo.
Cuongster was using the V-Trigger as a utility option. Yeah, it can be used for combos, but it has strong utility factors as well. Which is where he opted to go with it.
The lack of V-Reversal use stems from a couple factors. The V-Triggers themselves are extremely good. And the pressure in the game so far isn't really so overwhelming that you're compelled to get them off of you ASAP, unless you're like Dhalsim. Throw ranges are really short (even on command throws), you're usually pushed out of range for anything after 2 normals, and there's no threat behind being at chip kill range unless they have full meter. The Reversals are also generally slow, and you can bait them out.
There's a lot of things going on in the matches that are good. It's early, so yeah, it still looks pretty rough. But from what everyone's gathered so far, this is the current meta of the game...a huge emphasis on the basics.
- About Cuongster :
Not really saying he should save it, but when he hits with it (and he did that a few times), he could have used his CA right after it and win the round quite a few times since he wasn't using any EX move anyway.
Same with punishing with his target into trigger into CA, instead of using low damage shit. No need to save it for a "out of corner" moment if you kill your opponent with your next punish (and especially true when V gauge resets anyway).
V-Trigger as a free "out of corner" option is ok I guess, not sure it's actually safe though, or unstuffable on wakeup either.
- About TKR :
Using his V-Skill across screen seems ok though not his best way to counter zoning projectiles (his charge dash special has projectile armor), but really is poor at mid range. The risk/reward is totally laughable. You hit, you get almost nothing out of it (low damage, charge a bit of V-Trigger) on the other hand, if your opponent jumps or dash in, you are free like PerfectLegend to SonicFox
Landing his target combo instead of any other combo is trading damage for V gauge, it can pay off depending on how close you are to activating his V-Trigger.
- V-Reversals :
They are way better than most people think, considering they can get you out of a corner just as easy as Vega, for less gauge, and more importantly, without having to commit at all : you can just wait for a special on guard, and usually be able to push your opponent away (Necalli) or even get your opponent into the corner and switch side (Cammy).
Since V gauge resets every round, it's useful when you are close to end the round and have no chance to build the gauge to full, or when you need more defensive options (Dhalsim seems that kind, you're right).
Pressure on guard, I tend to agree with you though, is not as scary as it was in USF4. Only characters that seem scary on guard are Mika (cLK, LK>MP combo or cLK>special throw) or Laura (dash cancels / throws) ... and of course not quick standing after Ryu's MP>MP>V-Trigger>cHK meaning full charge denjin into CA in your teeth + stun meter almost full
Can't wait for February though. Game shapes up to be good now that they removed USF4's unholy trinity (vortex, focus attack, comeback ultras).
