Found a very great tech video on the Alex Nation discord by one of the members there. This shows off a lot of actual good data about the situations and set ups Alex has.


P.S. If you're new to my guide, you can watch this later.

If you're interested in Ultra Diamond Alex gameplay, then I've got some right here for ya!!!!
https://www.twitch.tv/twisted_rivera

It's been a while since I've updated this guide, but here I am now actually doing it.

Well as of the new CFN update and every other before that, there have been some changes to Alex that have changed for the better and have made him a little better.

First off. Let's start with one of his minor changes.


V-Skill start up frames has been reduced from 55 frames to 52 frames.
Pretty minor right? Well sort of, let me explain it.

When an opponent is stunned, you are now able to do V-Skill twice and still have time to land a Crush Counter Heavy Kick. This wasn't possible before and is useful because that's just a little less V-Meter Alex needs in order to pop his comeback factor. His V-Trigger.

Hitbox has been changed back to Season 1.
You may be asking why does this matter? Well it matters because it can now be used as a great anti air. You don't get the same pressure as S1, but having a valid anti air is good within itself.


THIS CHANGE IS SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD.

You can now abuse the living hell out of your opponent with L. Elbow. It's now -2 on block, which makes you unpunishable and if done against an opponent in the corner, will leave you in just enough range to catch them pressing buttons with st.mp and doing elbow again over and over until they stop trying to punish.

They also made some changes to the recoveries to Alex's buttons, but it's not really worth mentioning.

That's it for all Alex changes so far. I'll update more any time changes for Alex come up.
POWAH-BAWM

Alright so my name on steam is TwistedRivera (This is also my cfn), but usually people know me as Murloc. I made this guide to help fellow Alex players to know that Alex still isn't dead despite people saying he's now trash. I also made a Mika guide and am working to get all s2 info in there.

If you're new and trying to learn Alex, then this guide will teach you the things to do and the things not to do in matches. I'll even explain some fundamentals (you can skip that section if you don't need it).

I hope you enjoy this guide and it makes you a better Alex player (I'm diamond, so I guess I'm doing something right)

Follow me on CFN if you want to see my matches (the good and the bad)

Alright so before I start I want to say that I honestly don't completely use and study frame data, I kind of just feel like it's safe or unsafe (yes I'm diamond and I don't rely on the numbers so much) BUT + means you can press buttons and - means you can't. However FAT is a good app to keep in mind if you do know how frame data works and feel more comfortable with numbers and stuff (even though it's kind of not necessary)

I like this button to frame trap people in the higher levels. However the button is pretty terrible in terms of range, especially since s2 Alex is now able to do cr.lp (Crouching Light Punch) into Light chop.
It can still be used as an anti air, but I don't recommend it since it loses most of the time now.

With the new season 2 change, Alex can now link st.mp off of lariat! So yeah, but the button is kind of bad since most of the cast has a 5 frame medium that beats Alex if you try to contest. Only times I would really use this button is after you get a hit off of light chop to prevent them from moving, catch them pressing buttons, or yolo frame traps which I will show and explain in a video.

This button is great. You can use it to catch limbs and get some corner carry by doing medium slash or simply going for ex chop. It's also a great frame trap button that leads into big damage and stun since you can do st.hp > heavy chop > powerbomb off of counter hit st.hp. Learn how to use this button correctly and you'll win a hell of a lot more matches. I'll explain more about this button in a video

I honestly don't use this button much unless if I'm going for an ender like st.mp > st.lk > ex chop but that's all that's it's good for in my case. Use it for enders and I guess you can use it to tick throw as well, but I have no experience in that regard so don't blame me if you're getting bopped ;^)

This is a great poke button and can be used to stop other character moves on their start up, but keep in mind that it is a 9f start up, so don't throw it out willy nilly like it's the best button Alex has. Usually you can use this to keep your distance by using it in a block string.

Aw shucks this button is a blessing and a curse. It's great to land meaties with, but man does it suck to throw this button out and see your opponent jumping, this button can either save your life or it can end it. It's best to use this after a powerbomb to condition opponents into not pressing buttons or jumping on wake up after powerbomb so you can abuse them on powerbomb wake up later on, but that's all I would use this button for. It can kill you and will if you don't use it right, so basically use the button right :^).

This is a good button for frame traps and has a much better range than st.lp. You can also hide a down charge while chugging this sucker out, so use that to your advantage.

This button is Jesus in terms of the pokes game, it is absolutely godlike. However the start up Frames can get annoying, so learn when and when not to use this button. You can also link a st.hp or a lariat into st.mp combo if you cancel into v trigger.

This is supposed to be the new anti air Alex players should utilize, but in all honesty... It can be absolute garbage in situations where your opponent jumps into the range where you'll miss completely and have a chance in getting demolished. Use this button in optimal situations and for hard reads. There's more to show and say, but I'll leave that in the video.

This button is good to start your oki by linking into cr.lp then ex chop, but can also be used in some nifty and sneaky set ups. Watch the videos ;^)

This button is pretty meh now in season 2, I don't like it. It can however lead into combo starters if you cancel into v trigger, but videos are love and life.

This button is hot garbage most of the time, but it can be a great bait if you have v trigger. It makes your opponent press a very unsafe button to be parried deliciously.

I can't post a picture of powerbomb :( but all versions are a 6 frame start up and you should only ever be using light and ex powerbomb.

This is your main go to button press to fish for crush counters, use frame traps, and get pressure. It's a little more complicated to explain in text, so watch my video :D

I only ever use this button if I need that last bit of damage to finish off my opponent, this move is not good at all outside of that. It will get you killed in most cases or you'll get drabbed out of it.... I mean look at those start up frames.

This move used to be my favorite anti air back in season 1 (well ex knee was). It's still pretty good, but it resets the neutral so I don't tend to do my reactive ex knee anti airs anymore. Light knee is still pretty good (and beats all cammy air dive kicks) but it can often trade with most characters.

This is your main move to get an easy jump in on opponents who have their anti airs on point. I personally love it since it starts off oki and it's a decent damaging combo if you get a hit.
Please note that this move will NOT win against anti airs if you do it too early or too late, it has to be 100% calculated and will require some practice to use effectively.
If you don't hit it, well get ready to eat a full punish combo.

All flash chops are -4. There's a right way to use them and there's a wrong way to use them. The best way to use light flash chop is by using your buttons to safely use it with no risk of it being punished and like many other pieces of text.... Watch my video ;^)

This move is amazing to use after a v trigger hit, since it puts you into a 50/50 situation and allows you to keep your opponent guessing... tssss.... hey... watch my video

Man I love this chop out of all the others. It's start up is disgusting so don't use it in neutral unless if it's a hard read or a yolo, but it's mainly supposed to be used to use the Yami drop a.k.a the ♥♥♥♥ you grab (that's my name, not Yami but the other one)
I'll get into a video that teaches you how to use the ♥♥♥♥ you grab in the best way and only way.

This is your main oki starter and is best used as an ender, that's all its good for. Don't waste the meter on this unless if you need to start your oki.

I'm not going to explain how to use every single elbow, because it's not very good anymore.
However I would recommend using medium elbow after you get a st.hp hit, that is a must.
Heavy elbow is useless most of the time unless if you get a hard read and light elbow can be used to get some pokes in. Now with the new patch in, it is absolitely amazing in the corner by being able to do st.mp > light elbow loops.
Also never ever use ex elbow unless if you know for a fact that your armor will be able to absorb the hit.
You guys have to learn when and when not to use them, so play alex a while and learn for yourself :)

The ♥♥♥♥ you grab is actually very hard to utilize in real matches and the reason because it's so hard is because it's actually a 1 frame input I believe.

What you do is you input the heavy flashchop (yes I know it's -4)

HOWEVER! If you do the ♥♥♥♥ you grab properly and your opponent tries to punish the heavy flashchop with any 3 framer or 4 framer, IT WILL LOSE.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY GLORIOUS, but it's hard to pull off..... So use it at your own risk.
This technique is hard to master, so practice it.

Here's a video of Vesper talking briefly about it and showing what I just stated.

Alex V trigger in my opinion has probably got to be the best in the game in my honest opinion, the reason being is that it's 2 bars and it is absolutely deadly. Once you pop this thing, then it can be absolute hell for the opponent.

You can parry enemy attacks, bait them into throwing out moves and getting that hype factor going.


Bait your opponent into pressing buttons by going for cr.hk and then do sledgehammer to catch them trying to punish you, you can also parry cammy v trigger if you want to be a complete god. There's so mych fun and great outcomes for you if you learn how to use this v trigger.

Alex v skill makes the next attack you makes it have a counter hit effect, this however goes away once Alex gets hit or the move he uses is blocked. It's best to use this in situations where the opponent is far away from you or when he's stunned to get maximum damage.

Well I was going to put this in the video section, but hey I think it fits better here. Anyways, the CC set up I put in here that only works off of cr.hk has to be timed perfectly.

In the video you will see that I get hit a couple of times because I did sledgehammer way too early or too late, what I do is I basically jab as soon as I use v trigger and then go into sledgehammer; make sure to practice if you want to learn the set up. It is best however used in the corner, since it will be completely useless anywhere else.

ANYWAYS, here's the video and all the combos I used will be put under the video :)

Lariat > st.mp xx V trigger xx st.hp > sledgehammer > backdrop (powerbomb)
Lariat > st.mp xx V trigger xx st.hp > M chop > powerbomb (reset)
St.hk xx V trigger xx lariat > st.mp > sledgehammer > backdrop (powerbomb)
St.hk xx V trigger xx St.hk > sledgehammer > backdrop (powerbomb)
Cr.mk xx V trigger xx st.mp > sledgehammer > backdrop > M chop
Cr.mk xx V trigger xx st.mp > sledgehammer > backdrop > backdrop (powerbomb)
Cr.mp xx V trigger xx lariat > st.mp > sledgehammer > backdrop (powerbomb)
Cr.mp xx V trigger xx st.hp > sledgehammer > backdrop (powerbomb)
Dive > st.mp xx V trigger xx st.hp > sledgehammer > backdrop
St.mk xx V trigger xx st.mp > sledgehammer > backdrop
Lariat xx V trigger xx cr.hp > ex knee
Lariat xx V trigger xx cr.hp > sledgehammer > ex knee

Lariat > lariat xx V trigger xx lariat > st.mp > sledgehammer > backdrop (powerbomb)
St.hk > lariat > lariat xx v trigger xx
Lariat > lariat > st.mp xx V trigger xx st.hp > sledgehammer > backdrop (powerbomb)
St.mp (counterhit) > st.mp xx V Trigger xx st.hp > sledgehammer > backdrop (powerbomb)
Lariat > cr.hp > sledgehammer > ex knee

As soon as you pop v trigger on th cr.hk crush counter, you must press cr.lp (for timing) and then do sledgehammer (full hold). If you do it correctly, the incinvible move (Dp) will whiff and you will be able to get a full CC punish (this will only work in the corner)

Your main goal when playing Alex is making your opponent afraid of situations, buttons, and conditioning them to BE afraid of them.

What I mean for example is getting a powerbomb on your opponent and doing st.hk (meaty) a couple of times before dashing up and doing another one or doing the powerbomb and immediately dashing up to get another one. EDIT: Many people that know the MU will always tend to backdash after getting powerbombed, the counter to this is to simply do heavy elbow after you land to catch them and land an ex chop while they're in the Juggle state of heavy elbow.

You have a choice to either make them think you're going to meaty st.hk or dash up powerbomb, Alex is a character that thrives on reads and conditioning.

One thing you want to do is get your execution correct. It doesn't have to be 100% perfect (that's a lie, yes it does), but don't mess up your combos and you'll be fine.

Second thing you want to do is abuse your opponent when you get the knockdown. Dash up lariat or st.mp depending on the knockdown to get a meaty wake up or simply dash up powerbomb after a knockdown.

Third thing you want to do is learn how to hide your charges. What i mean by this is doing a down charge from a lariat. What I love doing against people in Ranked is doing a lariat into st.mp and then doing a ex headbutt or regular/ ex stomp, it gets them for the most part and can even win you the game.

Fourth thing is to always keep your opponent guessing. Play legit and let them know you can meaty, anti air, pressure, and all that good stuff. Then what you want to do is go for random stuff to keep them on their toes. Go for random ex headbutts, go for random ex hyper bombs, do what I do and do the most unsafe jump that you can do to make them press a button to anti air and do d.hp in the air to get a free st.mp > st.lk > ex chop combo.

Combos used in video in exact order:
Cr.lk > cr.lp > L chop
Cr.lp > cr.lp > L chop
Cr.lk > st.lp > L chop
St.mp > st.lp > L chop
St.mp > cr.lp > L chop
St.hp > M chop
St.hp > L slash
St.hp > M slash

Lariat > st.lp > L chop
Lariat > cr.lp > L chop
Lariat > st.mp > L chop

Cr.lk > cr.lp > ex chop
Cr.lp > cr.lp > ex chop

St.mp > cr.lp > ex chop

Lariat > st.mp > ex chop
St.hp > ex slash

Dive > st.mp > st.lp > L chop
Dive > st.mp > st.lk > ex chop
Dive (counterhit) > st.hp > M chop
Dive (counterhit) > st.hp > ex slash
Dive (counterhit) > st.hp > ex chop

St.hp > H chop > backdrop (powerbomb)
St.mp > st.mp > L chop
St.mp > st.mp > ex chop

Lariat > lariat > st.mp > ex chop
Lariat > cr.hp > ex knee
Lariat > st.hp > M slash
Lariat > st.hp > ex slash
( corner carry ) St.hk > H slash > cr.hp > L knee
( corner carry ) St.hk > H slash > cr.hp > ex chop

Lariat > st.mp > ex chop xx m headbutt (do immediately after ex chop)
*catches both normal and back recovery, ex will always tend to miss*

Lariat > st.mp > L stomp (very great for resets)

Lariat > cr.lp > st.hp > L stomp

Ex stomp xx dash xx dash > cr.lk > st.mp

Ex stomp xx dash xx dash > cr.lk > st.mp > L chop

https://youtu.be/t60qjZW7vUE

These are how to counter the things some people will do in real matches, because hey not everyone will stay still and eat the st.hk meaty. I also show off on how to get a free combo off of a parried V reversal.

https://youtu.be/qsX0S2pbfVo
A cool set up that coolkid posted a few hours ago! What he says earlier in the video with the sweep into v trigger and sledge (clothesline) set up can be found on my guide in the V trigger section around the 2:30 minute mark.
Enjoy!

Neat tech I found while trying to parry Ed in a match.

Some videos of me using some stuff in this guide (That Ken comeback though, jesus)

Don't press any buttons when you get knocked down unless if you know for sure you're already going to lose and want to do it as a final effort to maybe get a chance to win.

After getting a successful hit with light chop, go for standing medium Punch and another light chop. It usually gives you safe spacing and can catch your opponent pressing buttons.

Use your buttons to space yourself and use Standing Heavy Punch to catch your opponent pressing buttons.

Learn how to condition your opponents and apply nasty frame traps. You'll become a nasty Alex

Send me a friend request and message me or send me a discord chat to actually help you.

Discord name : Murloc#8514

NOTE THAT I WILL STILL BE ADDING MORE VIDEOS! SO FOLLOW THE GUIDE AND PLEASE RATE ME! ;)
Well that's most of everything covered, I am still planning to keep updating this guide and making it the best that it can be and flesh it out some more, but as of right now it seems like it will help you guys out.

Add me on steam or discord and feel free to message me if you want matches, help, tips, etc. I'd be happy to help.

"I'll win the next match too".

I just want to thank the people that have rated and read my guide! I really do appreciate it!

I participated in an online tourney on Saturday and actually managed to win. I lost my first set of the day and managed to win every single match afterwards and reset the bracket! #AlexRepresenting

Anyways here's the video with the times I play in.
This could help you on what to do in certain match ups. Pardon the commentators (they're sub par) Kappa.
https://youtu.be/v7ZI817a_lc
21:00 Diamond Ibuki vs me
38:30 Ultra Diamond Chun (Smurf account, his real cfn is CreamyManCandy)
55:34 Diamond Vega
1:17:38 Super Diamond Cammy (Screw this MU)
1:28:00 Diamond Birdie (Grand finals)