Here is my idea just add a counter parry system much like the guardbreak counter. With a following guaranteed light attack much like the highlander and wardens R1 (PS4) parry attack. Thinking about it this was the answer to the defense meta all along. You would get players that would go on the defensive to get the parry and the guarantees that would follow. Even tho parrying attacks don’t give much now you could start adjusting defense back to were it was. The adjustments are helping single fights but killing us in fights being out numbered. By having this mechanic in place you don’t need character that need to faint there attacks to open players up. Keep the cancellation of the heavy and unblockable attacks. Then you could start reworking some of these characters that have offset the balance of the game. For example- As much as I like having kensei’s easy faints I do find them cheap and dirty to use and would much rather just have the faint from his unblockable attack and see the others removed.
This game needs more counter options. Players like myself hate the feeling this game has when no matter what you do there are more times then not you have absolutely no control in a situation and pretty much frustratingly having to watch yourself die. It really does not make for a fun experience.