SFV: Blanka Tips - Beginner Combos

Want to learn how to play Blanka but don't know where to start? Confused by all the combo videos and waffle? Don't know how to GRAAAUH good? Then this is the tutorial for you!

In this tutorial I cover what I consider are the core beginner combos before going on to learn the more complex hit-confirms and link combos, it is by no means an exhaustive list or are the combos damage optimized, the idea is to find the simplest most effective combos for beginners to learn! I also cover Intermediate Combos (primer), punsishing, anti-airs and dealing with fireballs!

CHARGING
To be an effective Blanka player you know how and when to charge. The first thing to learn is that holding down-back charges both down and back charge moves! The second thing is to always be charging when you are not pushing forward or up, after jumping you need to be immediately holding db in order to get a charge ready for that juicy jump-in combo!
Luckily Capcom have given Blanka other tools to help when you don't have a charge at hand, like a medium starter target combo and EX Eletric Thunder that allows you to charge for a follow-up H Ball and is super plus on block!

MASHING
Similar to charging, to be an effective Blanka player you need to learn how to cancel into Electric Thunder easily (without cheating and using a turbo :P). If you are using pad you will probably find it harder than using a stick but use whatever works for you better!
4 (separate) inputs are needed for Electric Thunder, "pianoing" is a technique used when you run or drum your fingers quickly across the punch buttons (in this instance) in order to cancel moves with fast recovery. If cancelling into EX Electric Thunder ensure to finish on 2 or 3 punch buttons.

I would suggest to use V-Skill 1 and V-Trigger 1 for beginners. V-Skill 1 has more utility and doesn't require you to worry about finding time to charge it. V-Trigger 1 is just easier to use and is a 2-bar V-Trigger instead of a 3-bar. You can use charge specials without charge if from cancel however for single use Ground Shave Rolling is more bang for your buck and I've found Ball to Up Ball inconsistent without a leading Electric Thunder. V-Trigger 2 takes some getting used to but may lead to some more trickery and gimmicks.

I was not a fan of Blanka in SF4 to say the least but I like the changes they've made to him, made him more interesting. However he is still ultimately a gimmick character, which can work quite well in the lower levels, if you can find some gimmicks to abuse and have fun playing the character then why not!

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