Here's my main issue personally with the groupings. Swarm Queen D'Vorah, Wrestler Jax, and BS Shinnok in the same grouping as Mileena and Kano. Something here is off. How can you tell me those two characters in any variation are equally as good as the first three is beyond me. Especially as someone who came from Day 1 Kano to full maining D'Vorah, it feels like pure and complete upgrade in almost every way and she is far superior imo, and I say that not to up play her but she is legitimately that good in this game, but then I read how equal she is with Kano and Mileena.
I mean if that's the narrative hey, I won't argue it at all. Works better for me.
He isn't a super duper dirty character, but Saltshaker calling him honest is laughable.
As far a Cutthroat Kano, I agree that it's his best variation, but it's HIS best, not one of THE best in the game. What it seems like people do in regards to Kano is theory fighting. Things he can supposedly do in a match but neglect what he can't do or what's nearly impractical to do. I of all people know his strengths, but in game his weaknesses show, and some even hinder his strengths. This is a problem that many other characters do not face. Like D'Vorah. For example-
I'm hearing "oh but what about those 50% combos midscreen" which is just pure misdirection. First of all, you can't just walk up and 50/50 unless you're playing scrubs. Second, you need to spend meter on block for the plus frames and for the EX Buff (no one lets you just buff midscreen and walk up to them). Third, when you land the 50/50 you spend another bar for around a 43% midscreen combo (he has no real meterless combos outside of F2). 4th you lose up to 15% health in the process. So not in theory,
but in practice you will perform
optimal combos/setups of a total of 2 bars for around 43ish%, while losing 15% health to pressure, or stop it at 7% health but give up all pressure and Oki options post knockdown. So say you do a practical F2 on block into presssure, here are the actual numbers behind this-
-String on block, spend a bar, guy who doesn't know the MU presses buttons and you land combo with another bar, pressure their KD. 2 total bars, 43% damage, lose 15% health.
28% life damage value.
-String on block, spend a bar, guy who knows the MU doesn't push buttons and blocks 50/50, you're safe. Lost a bar. Or even worse, he armors through non B121 strings and combo'd you.
-String on block, spend a bar, land combo with another bar, cancel EX Buff to stop health loss. 2 total bars, 43% damage, 7% health loss.
36% life damage value while having lost all post KD pressure and oki options.
How is this "so dirty filthy" like the characters listed above and some in the same tier? This isn't nearly as dirty as half of what I can list with D'Vorah and I'm sure some of the other main's like Jax/Takeda/Shinnok can say the same.
Then there's the fact that his meterless combos don't exist outside of F2, he needs to be +on block to set up anything that revolves around his 50/50, no meterless pressure for a full blown pressure character, his Buff goes away on hit even the EX when most characters don't suffer from this, his Ball Special's have the priority of a cotton ball, his chip damage itself is balls especially meterless that doesn't exist, his meter building is balls yet he relies solely on meter to even breathe, whiffing issues get you punished, his jump normals are ass, his Cutt AA's outside of uppercut are ass, etc etc etc.
To put him in the same class as the three I mentioned earlier is insane, but opinions are opinions. I've never even considered going back to Kano because D'Vorah is just so much better with half of the drawbacks. Anyone can list a bunch of stuff to make a character seem Top 10. Look where Jacqui is on this list. Now watch.
Shotgun Jacqui-
-
Safe 50/50's. Second best only short of Quan Chi's.
-One of the best corner death in the entire game. Top 3 at it.
-50/50 that restands into vortex 50/50.
-inescapable chip set up that builds 85% of a bar back, 10% chip, and is safe.
-Dust that hits low and full combos into restand at mid range, EX Dust combos at any range it hits.
-Almost all strings are safe and many end
plus on block.
-Some of the highest damage in the game.
-Always has meter for breaking.
-Plus on block air special that leads to 44% easy combos for 1 bar.
-Top 3 run speed in the game.
-Best forward and back walk in the game for great movement.
-etc
Then I can say "oh look how A+ Jacqui is. So underrated", but in reality her weaknesses in actual gameplay hold her back more than all the strengths. Jacqui is a great theory character and Top Tier in the training room, but not so much in actual practice. Just like Kano.
