Buffered pummels#643

Proposal: As the grabber, if I grab and press the pummel button before pummeling is possible, the pummel gets input on the earliest possible frame.

Alternative proposal: Hold the pummel button instead of pressing it to buffer, so that the grabber can change their mind and not pummel.

Today, as the grabber, if I get a grab and then press the pummel button before pummeling is possible, nothing happens, I do not pummel.

This means that if I want to pummel, I’m encouraged to mash the pummel button so I pummel on an early possible frame, because:

• There is no clear visual feedback for when I can pummel (playing as Clairen).
• Pummeling ASAP gives my opponent less time to react and pummel break.
• Missing the input without mashing gives my opponent a lot more time to react.

I dislike mashing, so I think it would be nice if I could press or hold the pummel button after getting the grab to buffer the pummel. It would also make the controls more consistent with pummel breaking, where you can input your pummel break any time after getting grabbed.

Sounds cool, I don’t see the reason why it’s not like that

If this change was made for the grabber it would also have to be applicable to the person who gets grabbed

While this would be a nice QoL change. It’s already optimal to buffer a pummel in most cases (especially a special pummel). So having to time your input (which is generous due to the 6 frame buffer) is nice as it introduces a small challenge for the player on offense. Unlike other cases where mashing is optimal, this is situation where you can learn the timing and a single well-timed pressed is better than mashing. So we wouldn’t have the same reservations with mashing as we did with SSDI down being optimal before.

Thanks for the insight Dan!

re: Kamui: “If this change was made for the grabber it would also have to be applicable to the person who gets grabbed” This is already the case! You can select your option any point after getting grabbed.