User:Kayin/SolComboRevamp

Corner Combo Theory

The Dustloop

The cornerstone of Sol's combos is the dustloop, a rising j.D linked to a second falling j.D. While not exclusive to the corner, this sequence's ability to combo into fafnir or back into itself makes it a staple of Sol's most damaging corner combos. There are two primary variants, the "Double Dustloop" and "Dustloop to Fafnir", which each have their own follow-ups and enders.

Starter -> Dust Loop -> Follow-up -> Ender

While Sol has many, extremely flexible options for starters, for now we will assume the most common starters...

2K/c.S > 6P > 6P JC > j.D j.D Follow-up WT > Run Under > 5H JC > j.D j.D > Follow-up

Dustloop to Fafnir

Example: 2K/c.S > 6P > 5H > j.D j.D > Fafnir > Running 6P > 5H JC > j.D > Break > 6P > 6H

Why: Combos following this route represent the most damaging combos Sol will get in normal situations. As such, routing into fafnir is preferred when possible. The tumble time after fafnir gives time for many character specific routes that maximize damage and can allow you to better routes for setting up safejumps, gunflame oki, or The Good Knockdown.

Why Not: Linking Fafnir after the second j.D can be tricky and often require proper spacing and manual delay, especially when comboing lightweight characters. You also may end up in situations like air to air conversions where a fafnir would not even be possible and a Double Dustloop might be the only option.

Common Issues and Adjustments: When practicing the dustloop, try not to practice 6P routes at point blank in the corner. Being too close can cause characters to whiff over you as you try to fafnir. Manual delays between the 6P > 5H AND the between the 5H and the JC can be used to give the opposing character more time to fall. Additionally the fafnir can often be slightly delayed. These are ESSENTIAL for comboing into fafnir off of a dustloop on light characters and ultimately make comboing midweight characters much more consistent. Additionally, neutral jumps can be used if you start a combo to close and deep in the corner.

Most common followups after Fafnir are...

... Fafnir > Running 6P > 5H JC > j.D > Break > Ender

or

... Fafnir > Runflame (2366P) > 6P > 5H SJC > Break > Ender

The former is the most universal and consistent, while the latter and it's variants (which we will get into) tend to be more character/combo length dependent. As a general rule though, the shorter the starter, the more likely runflame routes are to work.

Double Dustloop

Example: 2k/c.s > 6p > 5H > j.D j.D > 66 JC > j.D j.D > IAD > j.D > Break > 6p > 6H

Why: The double dustloop route is Sol's most reliable route for getting good damage. It works on more weights, at higher heights, and off messier conversions than Dustloop to Fafnir. Against some characters, the Double Dustloop is the most reliable corner BnB and the best way to get The Good Knockdown.

Why Not: Going to it in situations where a fafnir is possible is giving up damage. Players who can properly identify which combo is possible off a given hit will get more damage and drop less combos. Also sometimes you're just too many hits deep and should go right into the follow-up of your choice.

Common Issues and Adjustments: Pushback becomes a real concern in these combos. Deciding when to dash jump or not can help would consistency and help get the optimum spacing for your follow-up.

Most common follow-ups after a Double Dustloop are... The IAD Route ... j.D j.D x2 > IAD j.D > Break > ender

or

The Triple "Loop"* ... j.D j.D x2 > 66 > j.KD > j.KD > Follow-up/Ender

• (The 3rd "rep" isn't reaaaally a dustloop)*

The IAD route offers good consistency into a knockdown while the Triple offers more damage, especially if you can combo into Break. This can be extremely fussy but if you can get a sense for it, it can be the a great route vs lightweights for achieving The Good Knockdown.

Ender Theory

You can sort most enders into 4 different categories...

1. Air VV/BR Enders 2. Grounded VV Enders 3. Grounded BR Enders 4. 6H Enders

Air VV/BR Enders

These are the enders you use when you mess up and just want the knockdown. Too far out to hit Break on a Triple Dustloop? Bandit Revolver. Volcanic Viper is preferable when possible because it does more damage and can have more frame advantage, but both knockdowns leave you close enough that you have to spend frames repositioning for oki but without quite enough frames for *good* oki. While generally you want to avoid these when possible, but the ability to bail out of an awkward combo into an easy knockdown is one of Sol's real strengths.

Grounded VV Enders

Examples: ... Break > 6P > 6H > HVV > Follow Up

         ... Break > HVV > Followup

Good for maximizing damage or getting a followup after Break during long combos with lots of hitstun decay. An advantage to grounded VVs is they often lead to safe jump setups, though it depends on the character, length of combo, and might still require a slight manual delay.

Grounded BR Enders

Examples: ... Break > 6P > Delay > BR

         ... Runflame > 2H > BR

Grounded BR gives more frame advantage and can lead to The Good Knockdown, which enables Sol a little opportunity at setplay with Airdash/Empty Low Oki. That said, ending in BR is not always enough, as good spacing is required to maximize the power of these knockdowns and to prevent the opponent from OSing their way out.

6H Ender

Examples: ... Break > 6P > 6H > Gunflame Feint > Meatie Gunflame

         ... Break > 6P > 6H > Late Cancel Meatie Gunflame

6H Enders give optimal gunflame oki. Feint into Gunflame gives very consistent results, while a late cancel can provide the most advantageous gunflames.

Additional Enders

Break > 6P > Tyrant Rave (Especially with Burst), can be a strong round ender, though the damage and meter is not worth it otherwise. Fafnir into another fafnir can be used to get a ton of frame advantage. Usually you're giving up too much damage for it to be worthwhile, but sometimes it's one of the few follow-ups you have time to do.

The Good Knockdown

The Good Knockdown is any knockdown where Sol can jump, land, and hit a meatie low without entering his opponent's throw range. This allows for a rewarding mixup between late airdash j.S and empty jump 2k. If done properly this should be an unfuzzy-able mixup and lead to pressure on block. That sad, other options like backdashes and reversals prevent this from being a real fifty/fifty, though the risk/reward is still heavily skewed in your favor.

Be warned, if you're too close, some characters can throw OS with 6PH to knock you out of the air or throw you, depending on your options. On the other hand, characters who can't beat your airdash wih 6P can still be airdashed in on safely, still making this an advantageous knockdown.

Along with dustloop routes, Sol's normal throw and air throw can often give The Good Knockdown. Air Hit Grand Viper can as well, which is very relevant vs lightweight characters where 2d -> GV properly connects, granting you damage, corner carry AND a mixup.

(Reformat and modify based off on research)

• • FAF BB GF GROUP: CH, EL, FA, JO, KU, KY, LE, PO**

ROUTE: 6P 5H J.DD FAF BB GF 2H BR. Microdash the fafnir vs. EL. Heavy delay after WT on CH. At 2+ hits before launcher use [...] FAF R.GF 2H BR instead.

• • RUNFLAME SJ GROUP: AS, AX, JC, RV, SI, VE**

ROUTE: 6P 5H J.DD FAF R.GF 6P DLY 2H 29 J.D BRK 6P BR. At 3+ hits before launcher (2+ on VE), use [...] FAF R.GF 2H BR instead.

• • DOUBLE LOOP GROUP: BA, DI, IN, JA, MA, MI**

ROUTE: 6P 5H J.DD 6 DLY 9 J.DD 669 J.SD DLY 9 J.SD BRK 6P BR. Adjust your spacing and timing between the loops by not walking forward or delaying less. At 2+ hits before launcher, use [...] J.DD IAD J.D BRK 2H BR

• • DOUBLE GF GROUP: BE, SO, SL, ZA**

ROUTE: 6P 5H J.DD FAF R.GF 6P GF

  ->9 J.D BRK 6P BR. *SO, SL, ZA*
      At 2+ hits before launcher, use [...] FAF R.GF 2H BR
  ->5H BR. *BE*
      At 3+ hits before launcher, use [...] 2H BR

• • RAM: RA**

ROUTE: 6P 5H J.DD FAF 66 2H 9 J.DD FAF BR. At 2+ hits before launcher, use [...] FAF FAF instead.