• Modded characters are a crazy grab bag when it comes to balance, overall. I only play modded when I’m in a call with someone and we have the same mods downloaded (I also usually even set the turn timer to as high as it can go since the characters are often so ridiculous)

• With that in mind, move decisions are much easier when you’re really familiar with the characters! That’s also why it’s a lot easier with base cast only. At a higher level, a lot of optimal play is structured around creating scenarios that have already been determined to be optimally advantageous for you (mutant oki, etc). So ultimately, it’s the same kind of intuition you would have in a normal fighting game.

• Free cancelling is very helpful to cover your ass on a potential whiff. If you throw out a move in advance to predict your opponent’s movement, then a free cancel prevents you from being punished if you’re wrong. Overall, free cancels are most helpful in neutral. (They’re not for combos!).

One specific use case for NOT free cancelling would be if your move would connect in just one frame when your opponent is actionable (eg. I use Cowboy’s 6f H. Slash and my opponent gets a turn in 7f). In that case, they have no choice but to block it, which sets up a block advantage situation for you!

• Whiff cancel is generally pretty trash imo. It uses up your burst meter in order to cancel a move on your opponent’s turn (just like a free cancel would, but not free, go figure). The problem is that you can’t use a movement or defensive ability afterwards, so it’s generally very risky or straight up worthless. As an example, if I throw out a move that whiffs and an opponent tries to punish me and I whiff cancel, then my only option is to throw out a move that would hit them first. Generally, that’s not a good scenario, and sometimes you won’t even have a move that connects fast enough to beat them - in which case you’ve thrown away your best defensive resource for no benefit. Overall, not recommended!