Hello everyone, I have just signed up and this is my first post and the first mortal kombat I've taken seriously. I come from a tekken background and although I am still new to the game, my fighting game knowledge is very good. I don't normally join fgc forums but this thread mixed with my passion for kano tipped me over the edge xD
I also want to thank everyone here, I stalk these forums and I respect everyones opinions and inputs. I am all for a strong community and the kano community seem like a bunch of reasonable gentlemen compared to the cavemen next door in some other forums lol anyway, these are MY thoughts on how to make kano the sturdy and reliable character he deserves to be. Many may disagree but hey, that's the nature of discussions xD
I don't play cutthroat much and so I can't give any real substance on it but I would say the additions he gets are fair. Having a range buff is completely fair and I feel quite essential, even if it's a small amount. But this will concentrate more on Cybernetic and Commando. So, here goes..
I agree with the general tweaks about the kano ball and other fixes, as people are saying, its about giving the move the intention it was supposed to have. One addition I would like to add is a d4 cancelled in his power slam throw doesn't connect at all. I can't see why this shouldn't connect as the rib strike throw does.
Having an overhead:
This is a tricky one, the amount of times I have sat there with the same "if I was playing a character with an overhead, this would have been over ages ago" thought a million times. But giving him an overhead in his other two variations, in the grand scheme of things, is too strong. I say this because he has a great low string, a great pressure string to compliment the low, good zoning and overall good speed normals. Yes you can argue with "make it slow, make it minus a million" but making something unsafe does not mean it's balanced (Erron black is punishable across the board but is still top 5, easily top 10 because of how STRONG his game is) in other words, adding in the aspect of an overhead mixed with his arsenal right now, sorry, I just feel is too much. If you want an overhead, play cutthroat and enjoy the range buff
and I honestly don't think he needs it. I would take improved pressure over and overhead any day. That's what he was designed for, quick, nimble and agile pressure.
His B31 string:
Firstly, if they are going to change this, they should absolutely maintain the +1 frame data on block. Change the move with that in regard. Making the 1 an overhead will add nothing but needed strength in this string and his game. No gameplay changes, nothing abuseable. He will gain an erron black-esque string which people will have to look out for. However, the overhead will obviously catch people and land alot more and b31 is +16 I think this will have to be lowered to compensate. Kano is a fast character, he doesn't need +16.
Tick throws
This is a dangerous area lol. This is the sort of thing that will break kano if tweaked too much. Kanos commando variation is the type of variation where the better you and your fundamentals are, the better commando is because you need to be completely comfortable at reading the game and utilising his close range throws. Tick throws are nice and d1 and d3 tick throws are a great way of opening someone up, but tick throws aren't the be all end all with this variation and you shouldn't think him having more tick throws are what will make kano good because it will take away the most unique aspect of kano, his ability to make you THINK. Playing kano engages your brain and forces you to plan your moves to play him, this alone gives you one of the most valuable things a character can give a player to make them good and that's good judgement in everything you do. Giving him a bunch of tick throws will only make you play him more brain dead and will just outright break kano. Kanos move list is just too small to give him anymore. A buffered command throw after a standing 2 is almost uninterruptable, pair that with the 4 ender of the string which comes out at a very similar timing as the throw setup and that it's 0 on block and you have a great mixup/mind game here. Giving him tick throws isn't the answer. What happened to the good old run up and throw?
that works great against turtles.
His B1 pressure
Has his standing jab always been 0 on block? Why am I asking this here? Because after some very budget testing, studying standing one on block, I don't think B1 should be 0 on block. In my experience, B1 is on the cusp of truly being a threat, some people see it, some people don't. That's why I feel this should be made -1 as it's a happy medium to what I am seeing and my experience playing people. I feel -2 is ever so slightly too slow on recovery. Again I'm not sure if 0 is too much, although he doesn't have an overhead in the variations with this string. So maybe it isn't. Either way, I would be happy with -1
Cybernetic
First of all, forget the air laser. I am completely happy accepting this as my brutality move and nothing else. Everyone has useless additions, this is kanos. I would rather him be buffed with something far more worthwhile and essential to his game play. The main thing I feel is reduce the pushback on his B1, 3,1+3. Right now the only thing that reaches open game is B2. The 3 of B2,3 even wiffs. If this was reduced to a range where standing 2 and f4 hits, this would significantly improve this reset. His damage output is absolutely fine in this variation, why buff it? The reset is FAR more important than the 3 or 4% you will gain in your combo.
MB knives
His mb knives being +5 is a bit half hearted. I don't know if this is absurd but is +11 (free f4) too much? Bare in mind kano uses them at all ranges, so in that context +11 is not as amazing as it sounds. It's enough to plant the player in one spot to apply pressure or come in from a heavy zoner. I'm not sure if making them +11 across the board is too much though.
Other than that, cybernetic is super solid. Add the improved B1, B31, hitboxes and general tweaks and he turns from solid to super solid. I've always said and still say the same thing as I'm playing kano: "if I ly he was a little bit better" and that's all he needs, small tweaks.
I just don't want him to be given buffs in the wrong places coughKENJUTSUKENSHIcough
Sorry this is such a long reply, im sure theres things ive missed. I'm passionate about kano
Thank you to anyone who made it this far xD
Thank you for your time
