Vega Focus Attack usage

[Merkicus]

I think this deserves it's own thread, rather than being buried in a page of some other much more general thread.

Like a typical newbie I was using them on wake-up but after that got stuffed a ton of times I gave that up.(I mean opponents wake-up, after knockdown)

Now I use them rarely for jump-ins (I usually get stuffed by a low forward before the FA retaliation can even come out) or absorbing fireballs, but I haven't really found a way to use them reliably as a defensive counter.

When/why/how do you use FA's?

[luckyboyceo]

Honestly, I haven't been able to work them into my defensive game that much. I try to, but it seems that I use them defensively at all the wrong times, so still working on that.

Offensively yes, I try to use them quite a bit. His focus has pretty decent range with the claw, and if I can get a good one off then it's a free combo, or Ultra if I think quickly enough.

Could use some tips from people who incorporate the focus more in their game though, I feel like I'm definitely underutilizing it, so anything helps.

[demondaze]

I focus attack out of a claw roll then throw.

[Wil]

I use FA's against jump-ins (sometimes) or FA after the rolling attack into throw or if they block, I just dash back.

When I focus attack jump-ins and it connects, it's a nice way to setup an ultra.

[Jinofcoolnes]

I use them to to stuffout midrange footies like
Chun li's Cr.HK
Ryu's Cr.Rk/MK,
Ken's F+mk,
Random Elf stuff,
most of M.bisons pokes
Boxers Dashing punches
Sagats Cr.HK,Biating knees,
Blankas Slide,
Block Akuma first air EX fireball Then focus the 2nd one.
Getting a Dashin during my blockstrings.

Focus/FA to Ultra(i still have alot of problem with this one)

I wonder if it can be pulled of like this

Focus+charge F,360 Kx3 that would get me the last F for the dash and the ultra motion right?

[rattlejaw]

I find it's easier to get the Ultra off focus from a back dash. Input dash a bit early, straight to charge, then off-axis HCB (32147). I pretty much never get it right from a forward dash.

[Merkicus]

I use them to to stuffout midrange footies like
Chun li's Cr.HK
Ryu's Cr.Rk/MK,
Ken's F+mk,
Random Elf stuff,
most of M.bisons pokes
Boxers Dashing punches
Sagats Cr.HK,Biating knees,
Blankas Slide,
Getting a Dashin during my blockstrings.

Focus/FA to Ultra(i still have alot of problem with this one)

I wonder if it can be pulled of like this

Focus+charge F,360 Kx3 that would get me the last F for the dash and the ultra motion right?

Man that's some really good reactions - would you post some videos for us sometime?

[Jinofcoolnes]

^^Will try.

[XSilvenX]

I actually use Focus attacks a lot and I often get them off on many players (bad and good). I can't really explain how I get them off so well but I guess it's mainly off of reaction. I rarely get punished for it. I absorb fireballs a lot to build super and I absorb stupid players' jump in (better players will cr.lk you before the FA hits) and lastly for punishment. You better believe if you whiff a heavy Shoryuken or some other laggy move you're getting AT LEAST a level 2 focus attack to df.hk, ex walldive, izuna drop.

[n_nlemon]

You better believe if you whiff a heavy Shoryuken or some other laggy move you're getting AT LEAST a level 2 focus attack to df.hk, ex walldive, izuna drop.

nice..

i'm off to practice.. n_n

[JINK]

I was rehearsing range pokes in training mode and come up with the idea of using dMK~ExFA2~bDash~dbCharge.
Here's the thing, with dMK's range and forward movement it gives Vega, it can leave him at the right range (opponent dependent) and hit advantage for ExFA2 to hit or counter hit the opponent. If the opp blocks it, you got away from opp and be prepared to ST if they jump or WD or BF if they get close.
But if you hit or counter hit your opponent with ExFA2, you'll already have enough charge to link Bloody Claw (Ultra) to them out of this poke.

This is for when you have Ultra meter and one Ex bars, and think this gamble on reaction poke might work on your opponent.

The full command goes like this:
dMK,ExFA2,bDash~(hold db)~confirm hit~Ultra.

Note that Bloody Claw is less likely to hit the stunned opp if you and them are not in the path of Bloody Claw. If your opponents are at screen corner, do Bloody Claw to your back. If you are at screen corner, then try Bloody Claw to your front.

[otaru23]

Has anyone thought of using the focus attack like a parry?

[XSilvenX]

If by parry you mean, you deflect(in this case absorb) their attack and you punish them.

or

If by parry you mean, you deflect (in this case absorb) fireballs.

then

Yes MANY people have thought of using FA's like a parry.

[JINK]

I have in many ways. One time while sparring with my brother I was lucky enough to parry and punish most of his attacks. I fought the whole match using FA whenever he did something. I had a lot of Focus damage build up, at the point where if I got hit could had cost me the round. But it work. And it can still work for offensive play as Vega. You just got to go all Contra out on them. Is very funny, but I doubt I'll ever do that in a tournament.

[Zxero]

You wanna see something funny, Merkicus? If your playing against a shoto scrub (and you can tell when you are), focus on their wake up and dash back. Soooo many whiffed shoryus it's not even funny. Okay it is funny, which is why you should do it. And on the way down from their whiff, you can get another one in there to actually hit them with. The good ol' FA ->Cosmic Heel->Ex whatever you want

Anyway, i use that type of focus sparingly, and i use it to absorb fireballs to build up for the ultra

[XSilvenX]

You wanna see something funny, Merkicus? If your playing against a shoto scrub (and you can tell when you are), focus on their wake up and dash back. Soooo many whiffed shoryus it's not even funny. Okay it is funny, which is why you should do it. And on the way down from their whiff, you can get another one in there to actually hit them with. The good ol' FA ->Cosmic Heel->Ex whatever you want

Anyway, i use that type of focus sparingly, and i use it to absorb fireballs to build up for the ultra

Haha I love that, it backfires in lag though...

-They whiff SRK

-You charge FA

They SRK again before your FA comes out due to lag

Some scrub Ken used a heavy SRK (RIDICULOUS DAMAGE!!) to beat me one round when I clearly was gonna win..it was such bullshit. I stopped countering missed SRK's with FA's from then on. Now I just Cosmic Heel into whatever because you don't have to wait until they land. If you hit a FA in the air they will fly off and you won't be able to combo so it's somewhat of a risk online.

[Okiifresh]

I don't know anyone else but Focus is part of my whole gameplay I abuse Focus cancel then backflip or you know connect into fhk ex flyingB iono about all of you but anything else you guys do after Focus?

[Soundatron]

yeah just use as an anti-air and for footsies. I tend not to use a FA unless I have bar for df + HK, EX Flying Barcelona, Izuna Drop

[ToshyBoy]

Does it work on cross ups? Such as a Ryu/Ken HK/MK jump in, lp,lp straight into cross up HK/MK, lp, lp repeat over and over?

i.e. can you focus stop a hk/mp jump in at all and have the focus negate the HK? Im getting sick of Ryu scrubs using this tactic over and over knowing i have no AA against it whilst chipping away and then grabbing to mix it up.

If this works consistently then im golden.

[Jarekov]

Does it work on cross ups? Such as a Ryu/Ken HK/MK jump in, lp,lp straight into cross up HK/MK, lp, lp repeat over and over?

i.e. can you focus stop a hk/mp jump in at all and have the focus negate the HK? Im getting sick of Ryu scrubs using this tactic over and over knowing i have no AA against it whilst chipping away and then grabbing to mix it up.

If this works consistently then im golden.

yeah FAs work on cross ups with very good timing, you have to absorb the hit and let go so your attack hits them before a cr. lp hits you, online dont do it because the timing is really hard

also FAing balrogs dashes can work, but dont do it to much or youll end up eating a torpedo bunch or TAP