Tactics 07 - Double Block Technique

This post is about a technique used to counter A LOT of cards that many people think are over powered. I called the technique the "Double Block" because that is basically what it is. I will go over what it is and give some examples as well as some cards that are thwarted by this technique.

What is it

How many times have you been in a situation where the opponent has one (or two) card(s) which enabled them to play block until you played strike and at the end, the opponent ends up with a safe card advantage in exchange for a small amount of life points? I have had this happen to me so many times (especially when Parry Lili was running wild) and it frustrated me till I realized the counter was so simple. Blocking with them, twice.

As you all know, the game will force all 5 players to discard their cards if there is no movement in cards (currently it is "if there is no change in the total # of cards on the field, but this will be corrected). The double blocking technique takes advantage of this and forces the opponent to perhaps "focus" so that they do not have to discard their card, but also risk a focus break or play "block" and risk discarding their cards. It ensures that no card grants an unstoppable ability and requires taking a risks. I will go over some examples ahead.

When is it Useful

Usually, the opponent will abuse their cards by constantly blocking in hopes that you strike. If you possess a card that they cannot afford let through and they possess one of the cards below, they will most likely block till you strike.

Kazuya

Demon Scissors: 19 Damage, Kick, Before the attack: Block: +1 Punch Parry & Opp 4th card -10 Hit

Opponent will block till you strike. Best case scenario: you strike with 5 cards, 1 card (5th card) hits your opponent and half a card (4th card) hits your opponent. The opponent has X cards and you have 0. In the worst case scenario, you end up striking for 0 damage, and your opponent has X cards and you have 0.

Entrails Smash: 20 Damage, Punch, Before the attack: Opp Strike: Opp cards ≥ 3: +1 Punch Parry

Similar to Demon Scissors but not as effective.

Law

Dragon Junkyard Kick: 22 Damage, Kick, After the attack: Opp cards ≥ 4: Card discarded +2 cards

Opponent will block till this card triggers, then they will strike or block. Best case scenario, you strike with 5 cards, 3 go through and they end up with 2+ cards and you 0. Worst case scenario, you strike them with 3 cards and 1 card goes through, they end up with 2+ cards and you 0.

Dragon's Descent: 25 Damage, Kick, After the attack: Opp Focus: Card discarded +30 HP

When the opposing Law desperately needs HP and a strike will potentially kill them, they will block till you focus.

Ab Cruncher: 23 Damage, Kick, After the attack: Block & Opp cards ≥ 3: -5 HP and +1 card

The opponent will block till you strike or have at least 3 cards. From there, they will activate Ab Cruncher's ability and receive 1 card at the cost of 5 hp whilst maintaining a strong defense.

Yoshimitsu

Sakanobori: 12 Damage, Kick, Before the attack: Block: +1 Parry

Exactly like Entrails Smash, opponent will block till you strike. This card works well when paired with Kurama Itto and other HP per turn cards.

Tobi Ushiwaka: 15 Damage, Kick, After the attack: Block & Opp Focus: +1 card

Opponent will block in hopes that you strike/focus. As a result they will draw a card safely for every time you played focus. They will sneak a strike in from time to time.

Shisetsu Genman: 16 Damage, Kick, After the attack: Cards = Opp cards: +1 card & Opp -1 card

When you are behind in cards by 1, the opponent Yoshimitsu will block, in hopes that you focus and thus triggering the effects of Shisetsu Genman.

Xiaoyu

Battering Winds: 10 Damage, Punch, After the attack: Opp Focus: +1 card

Exactly like Tobi Ushikawa. Opponent will block in hopes that you strike/focus. As a result they will draw a card safely for every time you played focus.

Lili

Dendrobium: 18 Damage, Punch, After the attack: Cards = Opp cards: Opp -1 card

Exactly Similar to Shisetsu Genman but not the ability is not as strong. Opponent will use this to force you to discard your 1st card especially if it is highly threatening one.

Autumn Wind: 15 Damage, Kick, After the attack: Opp Focus: Both +1 card

Exactly like Tobi Ushikawa and Battering winds, except Opponent Lili will draw 1 for every card you receive. For Lili, her cards add so much utility (especially when the opponent has 3 or more cards) as a result this is actually OK.

Direct Persuasion: 26 Damage, Punch, After the attack: Cards ≤ Opp cards & Opp cards ≥ 3: +1 card

Opponent will block with this card in hopes that you focus to 3 cards or strike. If you played strike, 2 cards will be blocked and they will get another free card by playing focus when you have 0, they will then continue to block till you focus to 3 cards.

Freesia Thrust: 20 Damage, Kick, Before the attack: Opp Strike & Opp cards ≥ 3: +1 Kick Parry

Works very well with the 130 HP Lili Power Card. Works very much like Demon Scissors. Opponent will Block till you have played strike. After your failed strike, opponent will have a safe focus and continue to play block.

Rafflesia: 12 Damage, Punch, Before the attack: Opp cards ≥ 3: +1 Parry

Works very well with the 130 HP Lili Power Card. Works Exactly like Freesia Thrust. Opponent will Block till you have played strike. After your failed strike, opponent will have a safe focus and continue to play block.

Rose Pique: 20 Damage, Punch, Before the attack: Cards ≤ Opp cards: 3rd card +15 Hit & Opp 3rd card -30 Hit

Works Exactly like Rafflesia and Freesia Thrust except instead of blocking the 3rd card, it reduces its damage to nearly nothing. Opponent will Block till you have played strike. After your failed strike, opponent will have a safe focus and continue to play block.

Examples

These are the best examples I could get. Some of them aren't as critical but it was difficult for me to find examples where the opponent had the card and the cards were in the right positions.

Xiaoyu's Battering Winds

Opponent Xiaoyu blocking to avoid potential strikes and the effects of Shisetsu Genman

Here the opponent Xiaoyu posses the card Battering Winds. By blocking, the Xiaoyu can gain cards whilst avoiding potential strikes and the effects of Shisetsu Genman due to the Yoshimitsu's 1st card, Tobi Ushikawa. As the actual Yoshimitsu player, I value 1 of my cards as more valuable than 1 of Xiaoyu's so I will focus all the way. If I wanted, I could block three times for an all card discard, but that would be counter productive for me and favorable to the opposing Xiaoyu.

Kazuya's Demon Scissors

Demon Scissors being used against an Opposing Kazuya to prevent Devastator from hitting at all costs.

In this mirror match, the opposing Kazuya has 4 cards with Devastator in 2nd position. Originally, white trunks Kazuya drew Demon Scissors the same time red trunks Kazuya drew Devastator. Knowing that Demon God Fist and Devastator hitting would be extremely unfortunate, white trunks Kazuya decides not to risk it and blocks till red trunks Kazuya strikes. As the red trunks, I would 2x block, focus, 2x block, focus to abuse the healing of Demon God Fist knowing that the White Trunks Kazuya is most likely not going to risk taking the effects of Devastator or the Damage of Demon God Fist.

Lili's Dendrobrium

Dendrobrium used to get rid of Devastator

Opposing Lili will play block to force Dendrobrium's ability to discard Kazuya's Devastator (Devastator is such a great card =] ). The match just started but the Lili does have card advantage. As the Kazuya, I will double block with the Lili, and possibly a third time. If the Lili wishes to forgo her card advantage and also block on the 3rd turn, the Kazuya and Lili will then be at equal cards, and thus the Kazuya will win. If the Lili decides her card advantage is worth more than the Devastator, she will focus but not knowing what Kazuya is thinking, she risks letting the Devastator ability go off.

Conclusion

After I think about it, the examples are pretty bad (lol). I will use this last paragraph to describe another example. Let's pretend we are Paul with 2x 60 Damage cards (the ones that reduce pauls HP by 20 each turn if he has 3 or more), and the enemy is Yoshimitsu with 4 cards, Tobi Ushikawa in position 1, 1 Sakanobori Parry card,(to keep things simple) and 2 bronze cards that do 15 damage each. Let's imagine that Paul is at 31 HP and Yoshimitsu is at 20 HP. Let's imagine Yoshimitsu plans to block and use Tobi Ushikawa to gain a card and secure the tie/win. Paul knows focusing will be his downfall so if Paul plays Double Block, Yoshimitsu is pressured to flip a coin and Yoshimitsu's Tobi Ushikawa card becomes useless. This is the scenario I was trying to get from countless staminaless Quick Fights but I couldn't get one, and if I did, it was too intense to take a picture (lol).

I hope this posts helps people out. I know the pictures would be a lot better if the HP were in critical numbers but that was the best I could do =].

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