Um, most of it has been said already, I'm just gonna clarify some of the info.
Only Noel's drive starter is invulnerable, the rest of the string is not. j.4D isn't invulnerable at all, it can just pass through the opponent when it starts up, so you can still hit her out of it. Noel can't special cancel her drive anymore with Optic Barrel unless she does it after the starter, and Optic Barrel is unsafe now (A version is -3, B version is -6, C version is -9). All of Noel's drive enders are unsafe, however Bloom Trigger is pretty difficult to punish because it pushes you so far away. If they do Spring Raid or Assault Through though, it's a free punish for you (though AT is a bit harder to punish, it's only -8). As Minato said, throw is one of the best ways to punish Assault Through, the invulnerability of passing through the opponent only lasts for the beginning of the move.
If Noel is using drive blockstrings, then the only safe and gapless one is: x > d.5A > d.6A > d.5A > d.6A > x. Everything else can be DP'd out of, and her drive strings without enders are all ridiculously unsafe, like -30 and -40, etc. Also, you play Hakumen, if Noel is just mindlessly mashing drive, you have counters to, well, counter that pretty easily. Also, her mixup while in drive state is pretty mediocre, just watch out for d.6B (big slow overhead kick) and d.6D (low kick). Also, if they're just mashing one type of drive starter, you can counter that pretty easily too: anti-airs will beat 2D, lows will beat 5D, 4D, 6D, etc.
Overall, keep in mind that Noel's drive is meant to make your offensive approach much more passive than it normally would be (and that goes for every character). Also, sadness at Livewire for thinking 2D was still an overhead, what the heck, bro.
EDIT: And now for something different, here's some loketest footage! http://kyushufgc.wordpress.com/2012...w=true&preview_id=36&preview_nonce=3545f0353d
Bullet looks pretty fun. :3c
Only Noel's drive starter is invulnerable, the rest of the string is not. j.4D isn't invulnerable at all, it can just pass through the opponent when it starts up, so you can still hit her out of it. Noel can't special cancel her drive anymore with Optic Barrel unless she does it after the starter, and Optic Barrel is unsafe now (A version is -3, B version is -6, C version is -9). All of Noel's drive enders are unsafe, however Bloom Trigger is pretty difficult to punish because it pushes you so far away. If they do Spring Raid or Assault Through though, it's a free punish for you (though AT is a bit harder to punish, it's only -8). As Minato said, throw is one of the best ways to punish Assault Through, the invulnerability of passing through the opponent only lasts for the beginning of the move.
If Noel is using drive blockstrings, then the only safe and gapless one is: x > d.5A > d.6A > d.5A > d.6A > x. Everything else can be DP'd out of, and her drive strings without enders are all ridiculously unsafe, like -30 and -40, etc. Also, you play Hakumen, if Noel is just mindlessly mashing drive, you have counters to, well, counter that pretty easily. Also, her mixup while in drive state is pretty mediocre, just watch out for d.6B (big slow overhead kick) and d.6D (low kick). Also, if they're just mashing one type of drive starter, you can counter that pretty easily too: anti-airs will beat 2D, lows will beat 5D, 4D, 6D, etc.
Overall, keep in mind that Noel's drive is meant to make your offensive approach much more passive than it normally would be (and that goes for every character). Also, sadness at Livewire for thinking 2D was still an overhead, what the heck, bro.
EDIT: And now for something different, here's some loketest footage! http://kyushufgc.wordpress.com/2012...w=true&preview_id=36&preview_nonce=3545f0353d
Bullet looks pretty fun. :3c
