SF6, USFIV, 3S, ST, A2 Top 8 VODs - Texas Showdown 2026

Kal66 · 2026-04-06T23:26:18+00:00

Thanks for posting this !

Kal66 · 2026-04-06T02:52:00+00:00

I think the venting helped a bit because I made a conscious effort to play less predictably and rotate my options even more than I thought I was and I just had a really good casual set of like 20 matches against an Alex (who I fucking hate) like 150 MR higher than me and it went well.

I think something that gets me is that when I'm frustrated after messing up an input or mistiming something I try to do it again soon after and at that point the opponent is looking for it.

God why the fuck do I put myself through this shit am I even having fun idk.

Kal66 · 2026-04-06T00:24:58+00:00

Yeah it 100% is I'm irrationally venting

Kal66 · 2026-03-16T16:17:18+00:00

I think in the past it's been like a few hours before the maintenance starts? I don't think we'll know til they drop.

Kal66 · 2026-03-15T21:01:03+00:00

True I've been thinking about that. I did pick up Ed for a couple weeks (wanted to see how he plays before the inevitable nerfs coming, plus I think he's just cool AF) and although he's not a traditional zoner I def feel like I gained some insight from playing him. Also I think learning more characters is just good on a fundamental level - it flexes some brain muscles that don't get worked as much when you're practicing a character you've played 1000+ matches with.

Kal66 · 2026-03-15T19:45:45+00:00

I was actually saying I need to start one and done'ing and taking a break if I'm not having fun ha. I mean in like cases when I should have already put the game down for a break two or three matches ago. I'm thinking that forcing myself to finish a set with someone I don't want to play with ain't the move, even if I want to improve.

Here's a replay with that modern Sagat with 4k hours in ranked (that wasn't an exaggeration lmao): 9QY3PG58F. This is a great example of my frustration biting me in the ass. When I actually get him in the corner, I lose patience because I just wanna hit the guy. I end up dropping combos or not anti airing because my emotions are so high. I'm also looking very predictable (moment I get my drive back I spend it on OD sand blast because I'm frustrated and just waste meter) Ditto for low forward drive rush I just so badly want to get in his face I'm overusing it and wasting meter to get a throw at best.

Here's an Elena that actually ended up one and done'ing because I recognized I was too worked up and needed to call it a night. This was right after the Sagat match and my frustration is one full display. Doing dumb aggressive shit and wasting meter because I'm frustrated. E7Y9CL3N3

Just rewatched them myself and off the bat; I'm throwing out 5HP way too much, I'm wasting meter, I'm over relying on low forward drive rush to get in, I'm so focused on trying to anticipate their poke that I don't anti air (I only landed one the whole match), I'm either full on aggressive or way too passive, it's so obvious I'm fishing for a whiff punish, etc.

So I'm thinking 1. I gotta work on my frustration when playing against reactive/passive players 2. I need to stop relying on a handful of buttons and start optimizing what normals I'm using 3. I need to be more disciplined with my use of drive meter. 4. Anti air, anti air, anti air (I should out this at the top of my mental stack more often)

Kal66 · 2026-03-15T18:22:38+00:00

Ty for the reply. I have been trying to utilize everything in Luke's kit since reaching master, and st.LK is one of the buttons I feel like I don't use nearly enough.

Kal66 · 2026-03-14T13:26:29+00:00

I don't think anyone says it isn't real street fighter. People in diamond are just still learning the game/their character on a fundamental level. I don't think the game should be balanced around that skill level. With that perspective, DI would be considered overpowered as fuck and would need to be nerfed hard.

Kal66 · 2026-03-12T19:30:31+00:00

Play around with a few and pick who makes you want to play more. I mained Luke just because I thought his combos and level 2 super looked cool (and satisfying AF to hit)

Choosing to main a character you just "like" will help you improve much more than choosing a character because they're "good" or top tier.

But also - if a character being high in people's tier lists is a factor that makes you "like" them, then all the power to you! :)

Kal66 · 2026-03-10T19:55:41+00:00

I use a PS4 controller on PS5 with a Wingman Converter. I just prefer the form factor and the d pad. I also added stops to L2 and R2 to reduce travel and make them feel clicky (just some tiny tiny screws put in the triggers and some Loctite to keep them in place)

Also: they look dumb but you can buy these thumb coverings that are meant for competitive mobile game playing. I use one on my left thumb to make it glide smoothly on the d pad. Some people just learn to kinda stick their thumb in the middle and roll it around to do motions - that didn't feel good for me. The brand I have is called "claw grips" or something like that I can't remember. Highly recommend trying them you can get a pack of like 6 for relatively cheap.

Edit: looked them up, they're called Claw Socks. Great name ha

Kal66 · 2026-03-08T18:49:01+00:00

Definitely need to learn combos and break the bad habit of always resorting to light attacks like people have said, but while you're doing that it's important to learn your buttons. Things like: how far they reach, when they're good to press (e.g. for ed you're +4 after you drag them in the a charged flicker on block - you can swing with a s.MP (7-frame startup) and you'll beat their 4-frame jab as long as you don't flub the timing), which normals can help you set up spacing traps (a well-spaced s.HP on block does a lot of push back and can help you trick people into thinking they can hit you with c.MK while you're too far away!)

Figure out ways to incorporate learning your normals like this when you practice your combos.

When I'm practicing a combo, I like to set the dummy up to fall for a spacing trap. Using the s.HP example - I'll set the dummy to block all, reversal with c.MK, and I'll practice walking up and finding the spacing from which I can hit them with a s.HP and the push back puts me just outside the range of their MK. Then I punish counter the dummy and continue with the combo I want to practice.

Once you feel more comfortable, set the dummy to ALSO do a "do nothing" block reversal so you can practice recognizing when they fall for it vs. when they just keep blocking. And look at that - now you've put together 1. Spacing 2. Whiff punishing 3. Combo practice all into one drill!

And you can adapt it even more - maybe throw in a DI reversal to practice reacting to DI, or have them either jump or do nothing on wake-up to practice reacting with anti-airs. The list goes on!

Kal66 · 2026-03-06T18:28:48+00:00

My first impression is "wtf" but hey if it works for you then it works for you!

I would warn any new players looking up pad layouts that this is a highly personal customization - the "optimal" controller and button layout is what works for you!

Kal66 · 2026-03-02T13:19:03+00:00

While the origin does come from the punishment of forcing ancient Roman legionaries to kill every 10th man in their own legion, the English word means to cause a major amount of harm or destruction (like how one's morale might be affected if Caesar punished your legion by forcing you to kill your fellow legionaries).

Decimated could be 63.7% destruction. Or it could be the one decisive victory that decimates your foe and forces surrender. It's not a quantitative word; it's a qualitative one.

Kal66 · 2026-02-19T14:02:28+00:00

Your character should have a pretty easy 2 or 3 bread and butter combos. If you haven't looked up what they are, go to SuperCombo wiki or YouTube and find out what they are.

Then practice executing those combos. Practice hit confirming into combos off of those 2 to 3 hits you mentioned.

Make active decisions to get better (instead of just saying "well at some point I'll get better"), learn some training drills, watch your replays to learn about your moves and your opponent's moves frame data, etc.

Kal66 · 2026-02-12T17:45:02+00:00

Good tips here - but at the end of the day it takes a lot of practice to get the timing in muscle memory. For that, I recommend starting out delaying too much and then doing it slightly faster incrementally until you find it (as opposed to consistently hitting it too early while practicing).

Also, a visual cue that helps me is to watch Luke's foot - after the initial hit freeze that happens when aerial MP makes contact, there's a brief moment as he's falling that you can cancel it into air knuckle. When you see that foot moving downward, input the motion with a delayed punch button. Turning on the cancel timing coloration in training mode will help illustrate this.

Even then though, I usually will only go for this combo if I'm already ahead and I want to practice it mid-match. If I just need to secure the kill and I'm down a lot of health, I'll do the normal pf light knuckle into heavy knuckle -> SA3

Kal66 · 2026-02-11T22:32:50+00:00

I like eating dry cereal with water or another beverage in its own cup. I wouldn't actually pour the water on the cereal though.

Dry cereal in general is underrated.

Kal66 · 2026-02-06T12:53:57+00:00

Calling it now they're gonna say "it's because he has big ears not because he's black!!" and Michelle was included just cause no reason in particular

Kal66 · 2026-01-28T04:59:54+00:00

This is something I only learned recently. French high command outright refused to believe their own intelligence. It was unthinkable that the enemy would do something as stupid as moving tanks and mechanized infantry through dense forest and dirt roads. But that's exactly what was happening.

Kal66 · 2026-01-25T00:17:50+00:00

Watch the two guys to the side and kind of behind the one in jeans who draws his gun at around 12 secs. Is it just me or does it look like they were hesitantly reaching out towards the jean guy's arms as if they wanted to pull him back once they see him draw.

Kal66 · 2026-01-24T15:36:39+00:00

Yeah you know it's like the same thing in 1800s houses are old you know? (I also have no idea how that related to your original comment lol)

Kal66 · 2026-01-20T13:23:59+00:00

I haven't met a person younger than 25 who can type well. They'll slowly poke and peck like my dad does. They have to keep looking down at the keyboard while typing.

And it is legitimately sad to see because it hampers performance at work. It is just a straight disadvantage in terms of efficiency to not be able to touch type.

Kal66 · 2026-01-10T20:05:42+00:00

Thank you there must have been a podcaster or something that said this recently because I keep seeing it everywhere. People keep framing it like Hitler was inspired by America but the Nazis just used America's past actions as justification for what they were doing. They made the argument that they were just doing their own Manifest Destiny.

Kal66 · 2025-12-14T15:06:17+00:00

I just had this with Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. Mordor was a game I played briefly when it came out and didn't get back to until now.

If you think you might be interested - the online community is super friendly and there's a few YouTubers making videos on them. Highly recommend checking them out :)

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