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Kohaku's Magical Garage / The Bara Cancel (Bunker Cancel) Thread
« on: February 23, 2007, 02:45:37 PM »
Introduction
For those of you unfamiliar with Roll Cancelling or Kara Cancelling, these techniques exploit gaps between command inputs that are typically 2-3 frames wide, the amount of time that programmers allowed for two separate button presses to be counted simultaneously. While Melty Blood has extremely strict timing for throws (1f discrepancy), it has a technique that exploits the Shield Bunker (aka 'Alpha Counter' or 'Dead Angle Attack') into a command or special. This is known as Bara Cancelling. It may be easier to think of it as Shield Bunker Kara Cancelling.
Shield Bunker Mechanics
Shield Bunkers are done by performing a 214+D (QCB+D) while in blockstun. This requires 50% meter and has an extremely long startup (+30f), but may also carry clash frames (auto-parry). It may do little to average damage, but often has special properties such as wall-slamming.
Exploiting the Bara Cancel
To perform a Bara Cancel, an additional input must be introduced between or before the 214(QCB) and D. To give an example, because of Melty Blood's loose input rules, this command overlaps with 63214(HCB)+C and 214+C, which is a valid EX move for most characters, especially Nero Chaos. If Nero performs a 63214+D,C, as long as the C is pressed within the valid Bara Cancel frame window, Nero will instantly recover out of blockstun with his EX Phantom (that freaky claw guy) attack. Furthermore, on a successful Bara Cancel, because the Shield Bunker never activated, there is no 50% meter cost associated with it. However, if the Bara Cancel attempt is unsuccessful and the Shield Bunker does come out, the player must pay the 50% meter cost of the Shield Bunker. There are many other ways to sneak input commands before the Bara Cancel is attempted (i.e.: 2141236+D,C for a Bara Cancelled Arc-Drive), and with ver.B, Bara Cancelled Throws are also made simple through use of the E button.
A video by Linalys demonstrating this technique is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNH5MGsXZgY
Some characters have extremely useful moves that benefit from Bara Cancelling, which should be discussed in this topic.
Why can't I Bara Cancel this attack?
There is one other property that Bara Cancels absolutely require: Hitstop. Hitstop frames are a special window during the impact of an attack where one would typically cancel into other attacks or supers. Hitstop is NOT blockstun. You can think of them as impact or cancel frames. If you are finding yourself performing Shield Bunkers instead of Bunker Cancels, it's because you tried to perform the cancel too late. In short: You MUST activate Bara Cancels during Hitstop.
Because of this, Bara Cancels are best done on attacks with multiple hits. Because of Melty Blood's relaxed rules on block state (once you start blocking, it's hard to accidentally 'unblock' yourself), you can wind up the input for your bara cancel and then execute upon the impact of the next hit. Some moves have obscenely huge hitstop frames- these are the exception rather than the rule though. Rule of Thumb: Activate your Bara Cancel on the attack's impact.
For those of you unfamiliar with Roll Cancelling or Kara Cancelling, these techniques exploit gaps between command inputs that are typically 2-3 frames wide, the amount of time that programmers allowed for two separate button presses to be counted simultaneously. While Melty Blood has extremely strict timing for throws (1f discrepancy), it has a technique that exploits the Shield Bunker (aka 'Alpha Counter' or 'Dead Angle Attack') into a command or special. This is known as Bara Cancelling. It may be easier to think of it as Shield Bunker Kara Cancelling.
Shield Bunker Mechanics
Shield Bunkers are done by performing a 214+D (QCB+D) while in blockstun. This requires 50% meter and has an extremely long startup (+30f), but may also carry clash frames (auto-parry). It may do little to average damage, but often has special properties such as wall-slamming.
Exploiting the Bara Cancel
To perform a Bara Cancel, an additional input must be introduced between or before the 214(QCB) and D. To give an example, because of Melty Blood's loose input rules, this command overlaps with 63214(HCB)+C and 214+C, which is a valid EX move for most characters, especially Nero Chaos. If Nero performs a 63214+D,C, as long as the C is pressed within the valid Bara Cancel frame window, Nero will instantly recover out of blockstun with his EX Phantom (that freaky claw guy) attack. Furthermore, on a successful Bara Cancel, because the Shield Bunker never activated, there is no 50% meter cost associated with it. However, if the Bara Cancel attempt is unsuccessful and the Shield Bunker does come out, the player must pay the 50% meter cost of the Shield Bunker. There are many other ways to sneak input commands before the Bara Cancel is attempted (i.e.: 2141236+D,C for a Bara Cancelled Arc-Drive), and with ver.B, Bara Cancelled Throws are also made simple through use of the E button.
A video by Linalys demonstrating this technique is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNH5MGsXZgY
Some characters have extremely useful moves that benefit from Bara Cancelling, which should be discussed in this topic.
Why can't I Bara Cancel this attack?
There is one other property that Bara Cancels absolutely require: Hitstop. Hitstop frames are a special window during the impact of an attack where one would typically cancel into other attacks or supers. Hitstop is NOT blockstun. You can think of them as impact or cancel frames. If you are finding yourself performing Shield Bunkers instead of Bunker Cancels, it's because you tried to perform the cancel too late. In short: You MUST activate Bara Cancels during Hitstop.
Because of this, Bara Cancels are best done on attacks with multiple hits. Because of Melty Blood's relaxed rules on block state (once you start blocking, it's hard to accidentally 'unblock' yourself), you can wind up the input for your bara cancel and then execute upon the impact of the next hit. Some moves have obscenely huge hitstop frames- these are the exception rather than the rule though. Rule of Thumb: Activate your Bara Cancel on the attack's impact.
