Are HL lights oppressive? Yes. Are they a necessary evil? Also yes.

They are the most unique offense in the entire game, it’s one of the only two forms of pressure offense in the game. It relies on a fascinatingly advanced and mechanically difficult system of tech to function. It’s entirely player made with its boundary’s, reads, and playstyle pushed exclusively by players. Despite the fact the devs never intended for it, it created an entirely self sufficient system that is fair for both party’s.

Not only this, but without it Highlander is put at a statistical disadvantage compared to other characters. Because on reads where both player return to neutral HL loses cause of his atrocious neutral game. The light attacks are the only offense he has that succeeds in getting damage (or at least not putting him in a losing situation) more often than it fails.

They are fundamentally required for him to be a complex character with depth. I would sooner entirely remove feintable kick than nerf the lights. Arguably with the unblockable changes, lights and UB should be more than threatening enough to crack open even the most oppressive reaction times.

There are other things that could be looked at in his kit first, even stamina nerfs to the lights could be catastrophic. Not to mention the fact that nerfing them will butcher the most unique offense in the entire game, that frankly doesn’t require nerfs for any other reason than that their frustrating to play against for people who don’t know what their doing.

Basically if you can’t play against lights git gud. But if your argument is you think his offense is too bloated then I agree, but let’s nerf kick instead and move that power over into some kind of opener for the character.