Little Mac's Buffered K.O. Punch Brings Terror From The Skies

[The Derrit]

When Smash 4 first came out, Little Mac terrorized online warriors with his punishing smash attacks and lightning fast speed. As people have gotten used to the game's mechanics, however, Little Mac has become more and more of a niche pick. However, Smashboards moderator and high-level Smasher TheReflexWonder has found some exciting tech that gives Mac a new way to attack from the skies - in a manner of speaking.

He's coming for you.
​

In the video's description, TheReflexWonder explains that "normally, a KO Punch started in the air doesn't have the huge step forward seen on the grounded version. However, if you buffer your KO Punch after using an aerial attack, you still get the boost forward. It has to be an aerial, as buffering KO Punch out of an airdodge will not work.

This buffered step forward allows you to threaten opponents who are on the platform without needing to be up close and personal." Check it out in action below!

Also provided in the description were easy ways to properly buffer this powerful technique: "There are a number of immediate aerial setups that make the timing easier, kind of like post knockdown setups in Street Fighter. Ones specific to Battlefield are done in the video and are listed below:"

From the lower tier of platforms to the top, Immediate D-Air - KO Punch

Going one tier down, from the top to the middle or from the middle to the ground, Run off - immediate N-Air - KO Punch

From the ledge to the first tier of platforms, Ledge Jump - N-Air x2 - KO Punch

From the ledge to the ground, Immediate D-Air - KO Punch
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Do you think this new technique will help Little Mac regain his place as a Smash 4 contender? Or is it just a neat party trick? Make your voice heard in the comments below!

The Derrit likes this idea but will probably not put in the time to get the setups right because he's lazy. Follow him on Twitter at @TheDerrit.

 

[Blargg888]

K.O. Punch can be annoying, funny, and just plain weird sometimes. Not sure which of those times this is...

 

[LIQUID12A]

So who keeps saying that this game doesn't have tech?

 

[Ħαχση]

Down Tilt to KO punch gets me so mad

 

[CyberHyperPhoenix]

Little Mac: I will look for you... I will find you... and I will K.O Punch you

 

[Yomi's Biggest Fan]

So who keeps saying that this game doesn't have tech?

Shokio, but boy will he be dumbfounded once he hears about this.

 

[DavemanCozy]

inb4patch

But seriously, this is cool. Moving forward like that just makes the KO punch even more terrifying.

 

[Quinfordmac]

There's nothing more frustrating than a Little Mac that knows what he's doing

And now, there's more of them

 

[TheReflexWonder]

Mac could use all the anti-platform camp tech he can get.

 

[shinhed-echi]

Had to watch really close to see what was going on.

Wow! Does it work with all aerials? I have a feeling it'll work better with Nair since it has no cooldown.

I'll start practicing this later today.

 

[WinterShorts]

No, no, no, no, NOO! I've had enough rage with Little Mac on For Glory Mode WHY DOES HE GET AERIAL TACTICS!?!?!?

 

[TheReflexWonder]

Had to watch really close to see what was going on.

Wow! Does it work with all aerials? I have a feeling it'll work better with Nair since it has no cooldown.

I'll start practicing this later today.

It works with all aerials, and works well in tandem with fastfalling and B-Reversing. It also works with the special attacks that don't put you in Special Fall as long as you're still in the air afterward...but you shouldn't be using Neutral-B and Down-B like that.

 

[shinhed-echi]

It works with all aerials, and works well in tandem with fastfalling and B-Reversing. It also works with the special attacks that don't put you in Special Fall as long as you're still in the air afterward...but you shouldn't be using Neutral-B and Down-B like that.

Haha, alright thanks!
I have a lot to practice it seems.

Nice to know I can execute this after a counter that wasn't triggered. :D

 

[C-SAF]

So who keeps saying that this game doesn't have tech?

Sakurai does........Patch!

Mwahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

 

[Altais]

Yikes. Now I'm even more scared of Little Mac than ever before.

 

[S_B]

I'd hate to see them patch this out. LM needs all the help that he can get...

 

[SaltyKracka]

Mac could use all the anti-platform camp tech he can get.

Mac can use all the not-being-terribly-designed he can get.

 

[Opossum]

Oooooooh...this is gonna be fun. :D

 

[Defile]

Wow. Much advanced. Such technical. Very metagame.

"Aha! We found something sophisticated in Smash 4! Take that Maylay!"

 

[Daybreak]

Pretty neat. I am looking forward to what everyone will bring to the table. Smash 4 is only starting to grow

 

[Zeallyx]

Do. Not. Want.

Nice find though.

 

[Mrwhatzitooya]

.... KO punch has new tech...?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vHRMeRszw4

Cool, but scary! Looking forward to seeing the Mac pros out there using it in game!

 

[Gidy]

Battlefield no longer Mac counterpick.

 

[taolem]

Not sure how useful this'll be in For Glory, but cool I guess.

 

[Gidy]

Not sure how useful this'll be in For Glory, but cool I guess.

It could be useful for getting on to the stage or fighting diddy kong.

 

[TheReflexWonder]

Not sure how useful this'll be in For Glory, but cool I guess.

Use it from the ledge or out of a retreating aerial. It still has options.

 

[ATH_]

This seems like it has a decent amount of potential, considering that it can catch people off guard who don't expect. And for the people who do expect it, it throws you into a 50/50 + reads situation where the LM player gets to play a mindgame as to whether or not they know the tech, or are willing to use it.
This will likely help LM the most with MUs like Yoshi, Fox, Diddy, etc. Limb characters who don't have fast+high kb projectiles.

 

[Slaudial]

who care it's just going to get patched out once someone shows this video to Sakurai

 

[Sen. Sawft]

It's horrifying...

 

[ATH_]

who care it's just going to get patched out once someone shows this video to Sakurai

Have you been on sb for more than a day? :3

 

[N.T.A.O ChangeOfHeart 死の剣]

So who keeps saying that this game doesn't have tech?

If you honestly think that's tech then you're delusional.

 

[TheReflexWonder]

If you honestly think that's tech then you're delusional.

The buffer out of an aerial attack changes the properties of the aerial KO Punch in a way that is unique to that move and only works in specific situations. Even if it's a specific application of a more general/universal option, it's definitely tech that changes how the move could previously be used.

Ken's air Kara Hurricane Kick (before the most recent SFIV patch :< ) significantly increased its maximum air speed, which allowed you to run away with it in a way that was otherwise impossible in the air. This is very similar to that in terms of being specific tech, even if you can Kara cancel almost any move.

 

[JimmyTheCaterpillar]

It seems like this would only be able to be used to its full extent under pretty specific circumstances. For instance, you have to be on a stage with passable platforms (unless you want to pull the from-the-edge style, but that seems a bit more difficult.)
Not to mention, you have to actually have a KO punch charged, and if you miss, well congrats kid, you're ****ed.

It just doesn't seem that scary to me. Then again, I guess if it happened to me in a battle and I had never seen this article, I'd be pretty shocked so... Eh.

I'm just aware of it and how to do it now, so that takes away the fear. I know how to evade it now.

 

[Omegascizor456]

As i am an avid Little Mac player i am loving this move! I have pretty much mastered how to suprise them! The only downside to this move is that the opponents can hit the move out of you

 

[AirFair]

oh boy, more little mac.

 

[N.T.A.O ChangeOfHeart 死の剣]

The buffer out of an aerial attack changes the properties of the aerial KO Punch in a way that is unique to that move and only works in specific situations. Even if it's a specific application of a more general/universal option, it's definitely tech that changes how the move could previously be used.

Ken's air Kara Hurricane Kick (before the most recent SFIV patch :< ) significantly increased its maximum air speed, which allowed you to run away with it in a way that was otherwise impossible air. This is very similar to that in terms of being specific tech, even if you can Kara cancel almost any move.

Using an example of SF Ken analysis, well done. Though it's still meh and it will be patched so who cares. Though props towards the SF Ken comparison and Little Mac similarities.

 

[Tino]

Looks pretty risky for me to do but awesome, nonetheless. I gonna give that a shot sometime when I get the chance.

 

[sc458]

If you honestly think that's tech then you're delusional.

Surely tech = technique? This is a technique.

I don't know where you're coming from with this.

And coming from someone who has no liking of Little Mac, I like this. Gives the match-up a little more spice than just "hang around at edge and bthrow + aerial".

 

[Losho]

Very interesting find!

 

[MarioMeteor]

Or you could just down throw to KO Punch. Oh well, nothing a nice meaty back throw can't fix right?