basic Nelson tutorial - KOFXIV

how to play as nelson
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Main combos

1) close HP > f+LP > b+LK > f+HK > b+LK > f+HK > f+HP
- combo off of a clean hit. You can put close HK at the front to do more damage, but you must be point blank for the rest of the combo to work properly.

2) f+LK > b+LK > f+HK > b+LK > f+HK > f+HP
- combo off of an overhead. Nelson can use f+LK in strings to force standing blocks and he can make them safe, so be sure to use the overhead option from time to time.

3) crLK > crLP > b+LP > f+HK > b+LK > f+HK > f+HP
- combo off of a low. Less likely than the other combos to occur but important when using fundamental mixups.

- instead of the f+HP at the end, you can do either punch super for extra damage and a hard knockdown.

- All 3 of these combos end with f+HP which grants you a semi-safejump. Be sure to abuse this. After f+HP ender, input an immediate hcf+HK, then an immediate neutral hop HP. You will land in time to block -almost- all invincible reversals in the game.

 - against most characters you can also do a forward hop HP, but against some small characters you will hop over them by accident. Be sure to test/practice!
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How do I land the combos? Step 1: GET IN

- hop LK / hop HP / hop CD
 - remember to use fulljumps from time to time, make your jumps unpredictable
- cmd dash
- run forward

- your main goal is to get a close HP or crLP blocked

 - on block, you have a mixup chance!
  - close HP OR crLP > f+LK > b+LK
   - did the overhead and b+LK hit? confirm into f+HK and finish the BnB with b+LK > f+HK > f+HP

  - close HP OR crLP > f+LP > d+LK > b+LK OR f+LP > u+LK > b+LK
   - did the overhead/low after f+LP hit? same as before, confirm into f+HK and finish the BnB. In this case you've already used two of the Group B command normals so after the f+HK you must end immediately with f+HP.

  - in both cases, if blocked, use b+HK to go to safety or take the risk on a HP option or a f+HK pass-through. All HP options are unsafe on block (except b+HP) and the f+HK pass-through can easily be mashed out of.

- dont forget fundamentals!
 - rehops
 - running throw
  - running cmd grab + safejump! (immediate hcf+LK, immediate hop C)
 - running low (combo 3!)
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ALTERNATE COMBO ENDER + MIXUP:
- In any combo where you use the b+LK > f+HK sequence, you can opt for an air reset into a difficult-to-see left/right mixup that you can control.
- after the f+HK crossunder, input close HP xx hcf+LK.
- you want the close HP to hit as high as possible. if it hits too low, it doesn't let you cross under them
- against MOST characters, this will leave you on the other side of them after they flip. You can go for a close normal here into a pressure string as usual.
 - against these characters, simply tap back once to end up on the OTHER side for an easy left/right mixup.
- Test this against many characters. Muimui is one example where the behavior is a little different and you'll want to adjust the mixup.
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MAX MODE
- EX cmd dash
 - fully invincible! punishable at the end
 - enables some wallsplat combos

- EX cmd grab
 - no invincibility, same speed as regular version
 - does more damage and recovers faster
  - enables an air reset in the corner (use crLP or close HP)

Thoughts:
- with nelson, comboing into max mode then doing a lv2 super or his climax doesn't increase his damage output much. My recommendation is using raw max mode in neutral if you use him in 2nd/3rd slot, or going for max mode cancels on blocked strings to increase his string variation.
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Alternate plan: defensive neutral
- neutral hop HP / neutral hop CD
- stHP / crHP / stLP
- AA super
- whiff cmd grabs (meter)
- bluff strings

wakeup:
- lv1 punch super (abuse this!)
 - safe on block!
 - opp can roll, but then cant punish
 - lv2 also works, but dont waste meter
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Appendix: All string possibilities

Group A
- f+LP
- b+LP
- f+LK

Group B
- f+LK
- b+LK
- u+LK
- d+LK

Group C
- f+HP
- b+HP
- u+HP
- d+HP

Group D
- f+HK
- b+HK

A>B
A>B>C
A>B>D

A>B>B
A>B>B>C
A>B>B>D
A>B>B>D>C

A>B>D>B
A>B>D>B>C
A>B>D>B>D
A>B>D>B>D>C *BnB combo
A>B>D>C
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