General Tactics
Bedman's general gameplan can be boiled down to a two key stages: 1.) Play a slow-paced neutral game where you can frustrate your opponents with your movement options and zoning tools to create knockdown opportunities 2.) Utilize knockdowns with ground Task B or ground Task C to trap and pressure your opponent.
There are a few key important parts in his gameplan however.
Utilizing Task A
One of Bedman's core tools is Task A. Use Task A to cut off a large horizontal area to force your opponents to move in uncomfortable ways or to create openings.
An example of a Task A situation:
- Bedman throws low altitude air Task A, which will scan the ground.
- Opponent must take to the air, in which you can air-to-air them with jS or jP if you're already airborne near them.
- Opponent may air dash over the Task A, which may allow you to anti-air with 6P if you're on the ground and ready for it.
- Opponent blocks the projectile on the ground, which gives you an opening to move in safely with an air dash mix-up/pressure if you're already in the air that is.
As one can see, Task A creates a lot of good situations so having one out is very nice. Do note that Task A's is less useful in certain match-ups, such as Chipp or Millia where they have very strong movement options. Task A is also slow to come out and puts Bedman in counterhit recovery, so make sure you're in a safe situation before throwing it.
Hovering to bait out anti-airs
Bedman can still try to force his offense without the use of his zoning tools, but he's at risk of being anti-air'd. This is where having unpredictable movement is powerful. You can make use of Bedman's stall to throw off your opponent's anti-air timings. An example situation:
1.) Bedman jumps and hovers. He's at range to air dash forward with a normal.
2.) Opponent observes this and opts to anti-air.
3.) Bedman player holds the hover and waits until the anti-air whiffs and punishes the whiff recovery.
Making your opponent have less faith in their ability to anti-air is one of the strongest things you can do as a Bedman player. It gives you immense openings and opportunities to vary your offense. Your opponent may resort to air-to-airs more if it comes down to this. Remember to just block in the air if that's the case.
2H and 3H
2H and 3H essentially are long range pokes and can be valuable, but if misused, will easily cause you to lose the game.
2H and 3H should be used to deter your opponent's zoning options. If you can properly react to a May summon or Venom throwing a ball, you can call them out with this. Be careful about whiffing however. Remember that 2H/3H are jump cancel-able so you can always reposition yourself even if this attack is blocked.
If 2H and 3H counterhit a grounded opponent, they will be in untech state until they land. You can confirm from any distance into ground Task C by jump canceling the 2H/3H and air dashing with jS, (land), cS, Task C. You can also just do jS and air Task B for a knockdown.
I knocked them down. Now what?
A common stigma that Bedman has is "His oki is so strong once he gets the knockdown". Bedman's true strength isn't on how good his setplay is, but rather how good his ability to loop pressure after scoring a knockdown.
Bedman has three main knockdown situations:
1. Knockdown with no dejavu icons (usually as a result from far 2D or air task B midscreen)
2. Knockdown after Task B
3. Knockdown after Task C
In situation #1, if you're far away, you have to just settle for throwing Task A or air Task A. If you're closer in range, you can go for a high-low air dash mix-up.
In situation #2, if you have them cornered with Task B, you can replay dejavu Task B as they are getting up to force them to block on wake-up. Space yourself so if they blitz or reversal DP, you won't be hit. After you confirmed that they are blocking, you can walk up to them and continue to keep them in blockstun. Here is where Bedman shines. You can easily cancel any grounded normal into dejavu Task B and reset your pressure. If your opponent fails to IB the normal that you cancel into the dejavu, they can't properly escape (especially if it's high attack level normal like 6H, 2H, or 5H). Bedman's post oki situations become a minigame. If your opponent can properly IB the normal that you intend to cancel into dejavu, then they can super jump out and dodge the dejavu Task B in time.
You also don't have to go for blockstrings only. You can go for high-lows or throws even. The more you mix it up, the more stress you can put your opponent in.
Lastly, in situation #3, dejavu Task C is powerful for enforcing high-low mix-up since it is the most active dejavu attack (not counting Task A or Task A prime).
Blockstrings
General ground block strings without Dejavu Note 1: You don't have to complete any of these block strings. If a blockstring ends with 2H, remember to jump cancel to remove the recovery frames.
Note 2: It's recommended to end block strings with cS or 2S because they are even on block. 2H and 3H are good too because you can jump cancel them.
2P->5K->cS->5H(1)->2H
2P->5K->6H
This is a simple blockstring that can be effective at building RISC gauge. 2P->5K is a frametrap if you delay it. If 5K counter hits, 6H can combo. If 6H is blocked, you can do the full sequence and still be safe or you can cancel into Task A. Be careful if you cancel into Task A as some characters can low profile it and punish you (Ky Stun Dipper, Elphelt 2H)
2P->5H
This is also a frametrap. If they mash or attempt to throw, they will get counter hit. Counter hit 5H has a lot of success to hit twice no matter where the opponent is.
2K->cS->5H(1)->2H
A good string for hit confirming lows
2P->walk forward->2P-or-cS
2P is a good pressure tool and is only -1 on block. If they are expecting a long block string, this can throw them off. Short block strings can be VERY effective, so keep that in mind.
2P->cS->fS->2S->2H
long block string with many normals. Builds RISC mostly and is mostly immune to FD as these normals all go pretty far and are unlikely to whiff.
cS->5H(2)->jD-or-2D
if they block both hits of 5H, you can jump cancel into jD for a quick surprise overhead or 2D. jD is the safer choice as you can just move away after the jD connects. Do note that 5H into jD is NOT a true blockstring if 5H is IB'd. If they are prepared for the jD, 2D can get them, but 2D is unsafe if it's blocked at that range. It's generally bad to guess on your offense, so if you know the opponent is good at dealing with the post 5H(2) minigame, just jump away after 5H(2) and FD.
General air block strings
Note: These are assuming Bedman is air dashing onto a grounded opponent
jK->jP->jP
The classic 3 overhead hits. If any of these hit, you can hitconfirm into cS, 5H(1), Task B
jK->jS
Two overhead hits. You can substitute jS for delay jP to be trickier with timings.
jK->jH(whiff)->(land)->2K
A very tricky mix-up that will throw off people who are successful in blocking the typical overhead strings. The jH animation can throw off reaction-based opponents who will attempt to block more high attacks. Do note that mashers may throw or 2P mash you to beat this.
jK-jD6->jK
A weird one. if jD connects, Bedman will bounce on them and continue pressure. I included this for the sake of comprehension but its not that useful other than to do something different. Can build RISC, but FD can really change how this interaction works. If they FD jK, jD will always whiff.
jH->2K
The classic. jH into 2K is a pretty tricky high-into-low.
Corner Task B dejavu block strings
Note 1: These can apply in midscreen, but you only get one rep and you can't loop Task B dejavu
Note 2: Mix it up. These are only a few block strings. Make some on your own.
Dejavu Task B->5K->6H(2 or 3)-> Dejavu Task B
The classic looping situation. If the opponent does not IB the correct 6H hit, they will have to take the Dejavu Task B.
Dejavu Task B-> air dash mix-up of your choice
Self explanatory. If they block the mix-up successfully, you can do a blockstring and cancel into dejavu Task B and try again.
Tips and Tricks
Fighting Bedman