A discussion of why Kensei is not viable in 1v1 duels and my suggestion for change | Forums

[x_Senduko_x]

In all seriousness, I like the idea of allowing the forward light dash being able to come from any direction and not just the top. I think another way he could open up opponents as the feint master would be an ability to cancel heavies into a GB in the same way he cancels a top heavy unblockable into a side heavy.

U mean a soft feint from a heavy in a gb ? I think that wouldnt help too much cuz this small faster window issnt the fact to get through the enemy´s turtle stance

[Chucky_Jones]

kensei revolves around his upper unblockable mixups so it might help throw off opponents if feints counted as attacks toward the unblockable so opponents would have to worry about the feinting more.

[BaconBusterYT]

Here's an idea; instead of feints interrupting a chain for Kensei, they "pause" it. For example, feinting the second heavy in a chain into a light would result in the second light(the stab) rather than restart the chain. Also, decrease his stamina cost for feinting, speed up his side lights, and maybe make his dash attack not give a free GB. That last one is a hard maybe.

[Chucky_Jones]

Here's an idea; instead of feints interrupting a chain for Kensei, they "pause" it. For example, feinting the second heavy in a chain into a light would result in the second light(the stab) rather than restart the chain. Also, decrease his stamina cost for feinting, speed up his side lights, and maybe make his dash attack not give a free GB. That last one is a hard maybe.

I really like that idea because it would make the opponent really have to focus on how many attacks kensei did before he started feinting. They would have to wonder is the next attack gonna be a unblockable or side uninterruptible or light stab? You could do 2 lights and then start feinting overhead and as soon as you saw the opponents attempt a upper parry you could release the unblockable in the next swing.

[x_Senduko_x]

guys i found a vid were a kensei is able to feint his GB !

[Vingrask]

I'm not a Kensei player (Berserker rep 9) but I liked the discussion and want to add something:

No Hero has initiates except by feinting or those super fast attacks. The problem isn't on the heroes, but on defense itself, something Ubisoft already said will work on. I would like to see changes which give us tools to end the turtle. Just reworking the way parry works today I think can open the game.

Today we cannot use the moves because the threat of the parry. 1 single mechanic braking the game right now.

[Chucky_Jones]

I'm not a Kensei player (Berserker rep 9) but I liked the discussion and want to add something:

No Hero has initiates except by feinting or those super fast attacks. The problem isn't on the heroes, but on defense itself, something Ubisoft already said will work on. I would like to see changes which give us tools to end the turtle. Just reworking the way parry works today I think can open the game.

Today we cannot use the moves because the threat of the parry. 1 single mechanic braking the game right now.

Actually many heroes have risk free ways to initiate attacks, and here are a few examples: warden shoulder bash into gb into guaranteed heavy or follow through shoulder bash into two guaranteed light or opponent tries to cancel bash with quick attack and warden cancels bash and parries into free gb then free heavy. Warlord super fast head butt into guaranteed light. If the headbut is dodged it isn't punishable. Conqueror shield bash into guaranteed light attack. Raider is the only hero who can punish the shield bash with a gb if he dodges. Also saying that fast attacks are the only way any heroes can initiate doesn't counter the fact that kensei has no way to initiate because his only kind of fast attack is his top light which barely helps him because unlike warden and pk who have fast attacks in multiple directions, kensei always has to attack from the top. The opponent just has to keep their guard up and the kensei can't do anything.

[abecx]

We all agree that the play style of Kensei is fun, but to easily countered by simple block mechanics. A good player wont even try to parry a Kensei, they just block until they can force a punish.

One thing already in the game, but seems to be unintentional are soft feint on regular attacks.

How these are done: Guard right, switch to left attack, switch top attack w/ correct timing, and you will get the starting animation for a left but then it cancels into a top animation. You can do this with any attack as long as the first two directions and second two directions are different. You can go [left, right, left] [left, up, left] [right, up, left] and so on. This works on light and heavy attacks. Its not reliable so has risks but it can really mess with people. Make these part of Kenseis kit, and make it more reliable than the current state.

Make all attacks still combo when blocked. This would give Kensei the ability to put on pressure against someone who is turtles using blocks refusing to even parry. You still have to feint fake parry, you still need to know the mixup game, but this gives you another way into it while letting a Kensei put more pressure while attack even with lights.

This one was said, but I like it. Feint does not interrupt a combo. Possibly let it count as a combo if done in the middle of a chain. I could see both ways working, though letting it outright open a combo seems a bit op, though the thought of, faint, faint, top heavy unblockable, soft faint side, faint, gb, top heavy unblockable... Kensei wet dreams.


While the other vanguards have their unblockable openers, kensei gets the ability to block while dodging. I think this should be made a more major part of our kit.

To do this first make the opening animation of dodge for Kensei something he can do while changing guard stances. Effectively letting you shift guard direction and dodge at the same time. It was suggested to allow Kensei to change guard directions while dodging, but I think just during the opening frames should be effective enough, maybe until about 1/3rd the way through a dodge.

Second make a block while dodging count towards the mixup combo.

Third give forward dash the option for side attacks as well as top attack. Someone suggested this, and this would greatly improve a the options Kesnei has to initiate. This plays into the dodge block mixup giving Kensei another way into that top heavy.

Other classes have an unblockable they don't have to work for, they just use it, it happens, and everyone has to react to it or be punished. Kensei does not, he has to work for his, and I think it should be like that. However, I think all things should lead into his mixup.

[x_Senduko_x]

We all agree that the play style of Kensei is fun, but to easily countered by simple block mechanics. A good player wont even try to parry a Kensei, they just block until they can force a punish.

One thing already in the game, but seems to be unintentional are soft feint on regular attacks.

How these are done: Guard right, switch to left attack, switch top attack w/ correct timing, and you will get the starting animation for a left but then it cancels into a top animation. You can do this with any attack as long as the first two directions and second two directions are different. You can go [left, right, left] [left, up, left] [right, up, left] and so on. This works on light and heavy attacks. Its not reliable so has risks but it can really mess with people. Make these part of Kenseis kit, and make it more reliable than the current state.

Make all attacks still combo when blocked. This would give Kensei the ability to put on pressure against someone who is turtles using blocks refusing to even parry. You still have to feint fake parry, you still need to know the mixup game, but this gives you another way into it while letting a Kensei put more pressure while attack even with lights.

This one was said, but I like it. Feint does not interrupt a combo. Possibly let it count as a combo if done in the middle of a chain. I could see both ways working, though letting it outright open a combo seems a bit op, though the thought of, faint, faint, top heavy unblockable, soft faint side, faint, gb, top heavy unblockable... Kensei wet dreams.


While the other vanguards have their unblockable openers, kensei gets the ability to block while dodging. I think this should be made a more major part of our kit.

To do this first make the opening animation of dodge for Kensei something he can do while changing guard stances. Effectively letting you shift guard direction and dodge at the same time. It was suggested to allow Kensei to change guard directions while dodging, but I think just during the opening frames should be effective enough, maybe until about 1/3rd the way through a dodge.

Second make a block while dodging count towards the mixup combo.

Third give forward dash the option for side attacks as well as top attack. Someone suggested this, and this would greatly improve a the options Kesnei has to initiate. This plays into the dodge block mixup giving Kensei another way into that top heavy.

Other classes have an unblockable they don't have to work for, they just use it, it happens, and everyone has to react to it or be punished. Kensei does not, he has to work for his, and I think it should be like that. However, I think all things should lead into his mixup.

This in the Thik spelling is alrdy in the game, the valkyr got this mechanic. They should give us that too

[Kitsune..]

While the other vanguards have their unblockable openers, kensei gets the ability to block while dodging. I think this should be made a more major part of our kit.

Kensei can block while dodging actually, you just need to set your block in needed direction before you hit the dash button. Superior block is a part of kensei's kit since forever, still almost noone knows about it. If you dash forvard and successfully block the incoming attack this way, you'll get guaranteed (and probably uncounterable) GB or a Helm Splitter. Still this move is a bit risky as far as you can be GBd while dashing.
It would be great to change guard stances while dodging tho, a bit op even