Vs Puppetmasters a novice/intermediate take

[Sasori Red Sand]

I notice playing as Sasori that even some really, really good players have a hard time against puppetmasters. This leads to accusations of "spamming" when I'm really not. I use c.dash, combos, throws, tilts, ultimates mixed with a Hidan assist combo, etc.. etc... My playstyle as a puppet master is really diverse actually but when I fight someone unaccustomed to facing them I usually control the fight.

This is something you REALLY need to keep in mind when fighting a puppet master, their puppet is the only thing that can attack. Meaning, bypass the puppet and you essentially disarm the puppet master. Now most puppetmasters including myself are banking on the fact that their opponent isn't used to fighting a puppetmaster, which allows us to confuse our opponent by properly manipulating the puppet. Furthermore to those who aren't used to fighting against a puppetmaster they probably do seem cheap, because they seem unstoppable.

This is all in your head. Basically the puppetmasters main weapon is to psychologically psyche out their opponent. But they do have a massive weakness. I'm not big on revealing that weakness since Sasori is my weapon of choice in ranked battles, but due to some people complaining to me after wrecking them I'll spill the beans on this forum, which they likely don't read.

Truth of the matter is as I have evolved with Sasori I went from sucky, to okay, to really good. But then as I started fighting tougher opponents I found myself every now and then getting utterly pulverized. This actually helped my gameplay in two ways. It made me a better Sasori player, and it made it easier to beat puppetmasters with other characters I play.

To beat a puppetmaster you need to know how they play like. Namely how their c.dash differs from other characters. When they c.dash their puppet flies at their opponent while they remain a safe distance away. This keeps them for the most part safe, while they can easily drain a substitution bar from a distance.

But what happens when that opponent jumps forwards you as opposed to runs, or dashes from the ground? Aha... you see for the puppet to operate in aerial combat the puppet master needs to be in the air, but c.dashing the air as a puppet master makes you and the puppet dash at your enemy bringing you closer to your opponent which you don't want, and even if the puppet catches you in mid air from a grounded chakra dash it can't attack unless the puppet master dashes in the air. So basically when a Puppetmaster c.dashes someone in mid-air from a grounded position it renders their puppet inert.

The way to beat a puppet master is to advance on them from the sky. Jump, jump, and jump, then when close enough close the gap with a mid-air chakra dash. Most puppetmasters won't know how to react, and get destroyed. For a long time I didn't know how to react to this.

You see a bad habit of many puppetmasters is to plant themselves into the ground. When an enemy manages to get close they'll try to push you back with a tilt, throw, or assist, but if you come at them with an aerial c.dash and they try to c.dash the puppet and miss, you have some time to grab them as they block and try to bring the puppet back to counter. Most will plant themselves in one spot and block, and once they lose distance they are all kinds of vulnerable. You can even open them with combos. Basically just jump towards them, and keep airborne then close the gap with an aerial c.dash.

Now if the puppetmaster is tough they will not plant themselves and move away in anticipation of your assault, they will also utilize their tilt a lot more to push you away, but even still, using the jumping bean, c.dash assault puts you on even footing against a good puppetmaster. With an okay puppetmaster they will simply get blindsided and not know how to react, because they are so used to almost effortlessly controlling the match.

So yeah they are really weak against aerial assaults. It will give you the upper hand against many puppetmasters, and at least put you on even footing against more experienced puppetmasters. They are far from invincible if you know how to close the gap right. And always remember, they can't attack without their puppet/s. So when you can try to take it out however you can. That brief period you knock down the puppet can leave them extremely vulnerable too.

In closing hope this helps folks having trouble with Kankaro, Sasori, and Chiyo. Though I must warn you Chiyo is probably the toughest of the 3. Her jutsu can totally mess you up, but she's still beatable.

[What The Toast]

Great tips but, anyone who is good with puppets wouldn't be bothered at all by air chakra dashes, the easiest way to beat them is to zone them with shuriken, it keeps their puppets knocked down, or if they know how to instantly bring their puppet up, (hold block, move left or right and spam the shuriken button) locked down.

[Housh]

Can someone lab with me on Xbox. I tried practice but its too easy

[Housh]

Really rockin with Kankuro right now btw

[Uchiha Sora]

I'd play with you but I don't have it for 360

[Housh]

Ok...absolutly NONE of this works against a good player

[Parak111]

Originally Posted by Sasori Red Sand

And always remember, they can't attack without their puppet/s.

Not valid for Chiyo. Chiyo has her tilt, which has her fight herself and she has her chakra shuriken which doesn't come from the puppet, but rather from Chiyo herself.

Also, the jump hop > shuriken throw is a very pathetic and laughable strategy that all "advanced" players try to use vs puppets. As a puppetmaster, I have seen it MANY times and I say it can be very annoying for puppetmasters, yes, but effective? Only as much as wasting both your time and your opponents. When an advanced player does that, they rely on the fact that the puppet master will try to chase them around the map, while the shuriken deal their chip damage slowly but steadily.

Well, what happens when the puppetmaster doesn't want to chase you around the map and they simply block as long as you jump around like a rabbit? You deal zero damage, you waste time and the "strategy" fails. If I've dealed more damage to my opponent, and they start hopping like a rabit and use this strategy (which is what usually happens), hoping that I'd chase them around the map, well I don't. I have the advantage, in this case and there is no need for me to play by the person's tune. Eventually, when you see you waste your time with this, want or not, you will HAVE to approach the puppetmaster sooner or later, and that's when you get your butt kicked. It's a laughable strategy that relies on the opponent's action, and as such it makes you very dependable of your opponent, which can result in an absolute loss if your opponent is not a fool. You are better off using a personal strategy that relies on your own success than using a strategy that relies on your opponent's actions. If you are facing a good puppetmaster, and you attempt to use such a strategy which relies on their actions, then you dig your own grave, if I may put it like that.

You should utilize your chakra dashes/cancels better and corner the puppetmaster rather than being a moron and wasting your time with petty shuriken throws.

[What The Toast]

Originally Posted by Parak111

Not valid for Chiyo. Chiyo has her tilt, which has her fight herself and she has her chakra shuriken which doesn't come from the puppet, but rather from Chiyo herself.

Also, the jump hop > shuriken throw is a very pathetic and laughable strategy that all "advanced" players try to use vs puppets. As a puppetmaster, I have seen it MANY times and I say it can be very annoying for puppetmasters, yes, but effective? Only as much as wasting both your time and your opponents. When an advanced player does that, they rely on the fact that the puppet master will try to chase them around the map, while the shuriken deal their chip damage slowly but steadily.

Well, what happens when the puppetmaster doesn't want to chase you around the map and they simply block as long as you jump around like a rabbit? You deal zero damage, you waste time and the "strategy" fails. If I've dealed more damage to my opponent, and they start hopping like a rabit and use this strategy (which is what usually happens), hoping that I'd chase them around the map, well I don't. I have the advantage, in this case and there is no need for me to play by the person's tune. Eventually, when you see you waste your time with this, want or not, you will HAVE to approach the puppetmaster sooner or later, and that's when you get your butt kicked. It's a laughable strategy that relies on the opponent's action, and as such it makes you very dependable of your opponent, which can result in an absolute loss if your opponent is not a fool. You are better off using a personal strategy that relies on your own success than using a strategy that relies on your opponent's actions. If you are facing a good puppetmaster, and you attempt to use such a strategy which relies on their actions, then you dig your own grave, if I may put it like that.

You should utilize your chakra dashes/cancels better and corner the puppetmaster rather than being a moron and wasting your time with petty shuriken throws.

Obviously you don't ONLY jump around throwing shuriken.

[Sasori Red Sand]

Okay... I'll try to post an example at some point but it does work, for added pressure throw shurikan while you are trying to close the gap. Also it's true chances are they will be blocking, which means throw them. If you keep getting in only to have them block throw them. They will need to learn how to unplant themselves and get away. I'm not saying it's surefire, but it does take away the puppetmasters ability to control the fight with their puppet.

Also yes Chiyo is an exception. She's a pain, and I forgot her tilt is as big a problem as her Jutsu if not more so. Also the puppets are bothered by air chakra dashes, once they get up there they'll either miss you, or connect but it's tough to attack with them if the puppetmaster is grounded.

Ah well, take from this what you want, all I know is it works for me, and against me. While it isn't guaranteed to work for me, or against me all the time it does even things up a lot. Throw is your friend, long ranged assists are your friend too.

Then again, who knows perhaps this doesn't work so much way, way up there? *shrugs* Just trying to help out.

[TheJaceX]

I'll play. I use puppet masters

Xbox TheJaceXofAF

[Housh]

How do you bring the puppets back up fast

[Evert131]

Originally Posted by Housh

How do you bring the puppets back up fast

Press A twice on xbox, or press X twice on ps3, when idle ofc.

[What The Toast]

Originally Posted by Housh

How do you bring the puppets back up fast

Or just hold down block and move your left analog stick left or right while spamming the shuriken button.