Marvel Vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes

Marvel Vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes
Captain America FAQ
V1.0

=---Legal Stuff-------------------------------------------------------------=
This FAQ is Copyright 2000 Isao (William Chiang)

Capcom characters are Copyright 2000 Capcom Co., LTD.
Marvel characters TM are Copyright 2000 Marvel Characters, Inc.

United States and International Copyright laws protect this FAQ.

No part of this document may be reproduced without the expressed consent of
Isao (William Chiang) ([email protected])

=---------------------------------------------------------------------------=

============TABLE OF CONTENTS===========

I. Revision History and Introduction

II. Marvel Vs Capcom 2 Game System

III. Character Specifics and Move List

IV. Strategies (Specific and General)

V. Last Thoughts and Thanks

=========================================

=---------------------------------------------------------------------------=

I. REVISION HISTORY AND INTRODUCTION

------------------------
====Revision History====
------------------------

V1.0 (6-18-00): First Version of FAQ. Everything is new.

-------------------
====Introdution====
-------------------

The Vs series has been Capcom's bread and butter in the arcades these past
few years, and even between the ludicrous two and a half year wait between
MvC 1 and MvC 2, mindless drones have been dumping in quarters like no
tomorrow. My personal opinion about the Vs series is rather mixed. It's fun
and entertaining, but I have to admit that the gameplay isn't too great. Of
course Capcom has fixed the horrendous balance problems since X-men Vs Street
Fighter, Marvel Vs Street Fighter (the absolute low point in the Vs series),
and Marvel Vs Capcom 1. But in the extraction of some problems, and in the
quest to make an even more entertaining game, Capcom has allowed some glaring
problems in Marvel Vs Capcom 2. Almost every character has a 100% combo, and
an Infinite. Personally, I prefer games with more gameplay than flash (Like
King of Fighters). However I also prefer playing against a human opponent
rather than the computer, so I have committed myself to learning and becoming
a master of Marvel Vs Capcom 2.
This FAQ about Captain America is for the educated reader and player only. I
know it is long, but if you take your time to peruse the whole FAQ (including
the Legal Stuff ^_^), you will learn lots. I will try to stress fairness in
gameplay (i.e. stay away from throws), however even I have my cheap
inclinations sometimes, so I will not deny the reader of SOME cheap info.
But please, PLEASE do not play like a scrub. It just makes you seem like an
ass. In the Strategies Section, I will go into more depth about cheapness
and cheap characters, and how not to be one and how to stop one. Have fun,
and thanks for reading. (Note: An asterisk * beside a title means that there
are current plans to update that section.)

=---------------------------------------------------------------------------=

II. Marvel Vs Capcom 2 Game System

-----------------------------------------
====Control Abbreviations and Symbols====
-----------------------------------------

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT pay attention to the button labels on the Arcade
Board. They are wrong, and are labeled for MvC 1. Do not get confused when
I say Roundhouse (HK) and press the button labeled Roundhouse, which is
actually the Assist 2 (A2) button!

==Button Abbreviations==

LP: Light Punch (Jab)
MP: Medium Punch (Strong)
HP: Hard Punch (Fierce)
P: Any Punch
2P: Two Punches (LP + HP)

LK: Light Kick (Short)
MK: Medium Kick (Forward)
HK: Hard Kick (Roundhouse)
K: Any Kick
2K: Two Kicks (LK + HK)

A1: Assist 1
A2: Assist 2

==Joystick Abbreviations==

F: Forward
D: Down
B: Back
U: Up
DF: Down-Forward
DB: Down-Back
UB: Up-Back
UF: Up-Forward
QCF: Quarter Circle Forward
QCB: Quarter Circle Back
HCF: Half Circle Forward
HCB: Half Circle Back
270: Rotate Joystick 270 Degrees
360: Rotate Joystick 360 Degrees

+: Denotes button or joystick movement that must be performed in
conjunction with another button or joystick movement.
(i.e. D + LP = Down and Light Punch at the same time)

,: Denotes button or joystick movement that must be performed
immediately one after the previous button or joystick movement.
(i.e. D, DF, F = Down, then Down-Forward, and then Forward)

--------------------------------
====Basic or Universal Moves====
--------------------------------

For more info, please refer to other FAQs.

Jump: Simply tap up on the joystick.

Super Jump: Quickly tap Down, and then up. Or you may just press up
from a crouching (down) position. Or you may press two kicks (LK + HK)
for most characters (excluding Zangeif).

Dash: Simply tap forward twice. Or you may press two punches
(LP + HP) for most characters (excluding Zangeif.)

Roll: When falling from a knock down attack, quickly roll the
Joystick Back, Down-Back, and then Down plus any punch button.

Force Block: When blocking a multi-hit attack, such as a beam super,
Press two punches (LP + HP).

Switch Characters: To switch out to Character 1, simply press Jab and
Short buttons (LP + LK) at the same time. To switch out to Character 2,
press Fierce and Roundhouse (HP + HK) at the same time. Switching out
causes the character jumping in to lose all RED LIFE (The red life bar
behind the main life bar). So use smarts, and don't switch out every
three seconds, like some idiots do.

Assist: To call out an Assist, simply press the Assist 1 (A1) for the
second character, and Assist 2 button (A2) for the third character in
the team.

Snapback: Move the joystick Down, Down-Forward, and then Forward (QCF)
and press either Assist button (A1 or A2). The opponent will be knocked
out of the screen, forcing another opponent team member to jump in.
Uses 1 Hyper Combo Level.

Team Counter: To counter an attack by the opponent, simply press the
Assist 1 or Assist 2 (A1 or A2) button whilst blocking the attack made.
Either the second or third character will jump out accordingly and
attack the opponent. The characters will switch out at this point.
Uses 1 Hyper Combo Level.

Triple Delay Hyper Combo: Simply ram on both Assist buttons at the same
time (A1 + A2) and all three characters will appear on screen to perform
their according HC. Rather worthless if you ask me. Uses 3 Hyper
Combo Levels.

=---------------------------------------------------------------------------=

III. Character Specifics and Move List

Captain America is a character who has been looked upon as a weakling.
Because is on the slow slide, and because his combos aren't as flashy as
others, people think that he isn't good. However, on the contrary, Captain
America is one of the best characters in the game due to high priority,
range, and overall balance. All his attacks have their uses, and he has lots
to different styles to play as. He can even play a decent mind game.
Definitely underrated. (My rating system goes from 1: Really Crappy or worst
to 10: Totally Overpowered or best. 5 is the median rating, duh.)

------------------------
====Character Rating====
------------------------

Strength: 9.0. All of Captain America's attacks take out big chunks of
life from the enemy. He has simple combos that may strip away half of a
character's life bar in no time.

Vitality: 7.0. Captain America takes damage better than average. He can
sustain several Hyper Combos before ever being in critical condition. This
is part of the reason why he's so good.

Speed: 5.5. While Captain America isn't necessarily slow, he definitely
isn't fast either. I can't say that he has crap speed, but I can't say that
he has good speed either. If Captain America were faster, he'd be a monster.

Attack: 8.5. The difference between Attack and Strength is the character's
ability to go on the offensive. Someone may be powerful, but his or her
offense can completely suck (i.e. Hulk). Captain America has excellent jump
ins and lots of combos at his command. His double jump and Cartwheel are
excellent tools to confuse the opponent. The only thing that Captain America
can't to really well is to dash in blindly and combo.

Defense: 7.0. The difference between Defense and Vitality is the
character's ability to sit back and go on the defensive. Someone may have
high Vitality, but their defense can totally suck (i.e. Silver Samurai).
Captain America has a couple of defensive measures in his inventory. He can
use his Crouching Fierce, Stars and Stripes, or even Shield Slash. Things to
be careful of though are the facts that he has start-up on many moves and he
can't always match up against pixies in frantic speed battles. His high
vitality is a plus though. He can play keep away pretty well with his Shield
Slash.

Overall: 9.0. The overall score is independent from the rest of the scores.
It depends on the overall effectiveness of the character when played at
maximum ability. Captain America is definitely in the top tier of characters
in the game. He is well balanced in his ability to attack, defend, and to
take hits. Once again, the only thing that really limits his ability is
speed. His combos can take off massive damage, and his Hyper Combos each
have their uses. He's definitely not a character for beginners or mashers.
It takes practice and patience to completely master him. If he's played
correctly he can dominate whole teams by himself.

==------------Assist Options------------==

Every character has three variations of assists. Your choice is extremely
important, as it decides whether you lose or win. All of Captain America's
are decent at the very least, Gamma being the very best.

Alpha Assist/Projectile Type: Shield Slash. Captain America jumps in and
performs a jab version of his Shield Slash. Not too useful, but the damage
is alright, and you can use this to lead combos off with since it is fairly
quick. However, there are better projectile assists out there, and compared
to his Gamma assist, this is almost laughable. Rating: 6.5

Beta Assist/Anti-Air Type: Stars and Stripes. Captain America jumps in and
immediately does a Stars and Stripes. While the damage and range is decent,
the priority isn't that good. You can't really combo after this assist
either. The only good thing this is used for is to knock back opponents who
are closing in. There are way better Anti-Air assists out here. Rating: 6.0

Gamma Assist/Dash Type: Charging Star. Definitely one of the best assists
there is. Not only does it cover ground nicely and damage the enemy well; it
negates all Normal or Special projectiles. It does not cancel Hyper Combo
projectiles though, so beware. Use this assist whenever the opponent is
Jumping in, Dashing in, anywhere near you, or just sitting back across the
screen. It's that good. The only downside is the long lag time in which
Captain America slides to a halt and taunts the opponent. You can always
cover his ass while he's doing this, making him unstoppable as an assist.
You can abuse this assist to your heart's content. Rating: 9.5

Recommended Assist: Gamma. No Doubt. One of the best assists in the whole
game.

==------------Normal Moves-----------==

*Note: Captain America can fight without his shield. If after a Shield
Slash, Captain America does not retrieve his shield, he will fight without
it. He becomes faster, but loses priority and damage. I tend not to play
without his shield though. Some people consider him without his shield just
as good. But I beg to differ. I will go into further examination and
explanation of a "Shieldless" Captain America in upcoming revisions.

-------------------
====Light Punch====
-------------------

To perform a Light Punch, press the "Jab" button once.

Standing: Captain America shoves his arm out for a pretty quick, nice ranged
Jab. The priority is okay, and so is the damage. It's a nice poking tool
and combo starter. A very good Jab. Rating: 7.0

Crouching: Captain America does the same thing as his Standing Jab except
he's crouching this time. Nothing really bad about this, but I prefer his
Crouching Light Kick. Use this to poke at people and to keep opponents who
have landed from Jump ins in check. Rating: 6.5

Jumping: Captain America punches downward at a 30-degree angle. The
execution and priority is pretty good. The range is good too. You can use
this to poke at people, play an Air to Air game, or even as a jump in.
Rating: 7.0

--------------------
====Medium Punch====
--------------------

To perform a Medium Punch, press the "Jab" button a second time.

Standing: Captain America punches at an upward angle with his shield. This
used to be a mini launcher in the previous games, but now it just stuns the
opponent. Both Vertical and Horizontal range is okay for this move. The
execution and lag isn't bad either. But priority isn't that good. You can
use this to poke at people, but it's not a very good Anti-Air. Rating: 6.0

Crouching: Captain America chops downward with his shield in hand. The
range isn't very good, but the speed and priority makes up for it. You can
use this as a safe poke, just as long as you make sure the opponent is in
range to get hit. Rating: 6.0

*Jumping: Captain America chops in almost the same animation as his
Jumping Jab, except he does it with his shield this time. A lot slower than
the Jab version, and as far as I can tell, it doesn't have that much priority
(I may be wrong). The only real advantage this has over his Jumping Jab is
the damage done. Stick to using this as Aerial Rave filler. Rating: 5.5

------------------
====Hard Punch====
------------------

To perform a Hard Punch, press the button that is labeled "Strong" on the
arcade board. This is incorrect, due to the new button setup that MvC 2 has
introduced. Pressing the "Strong" button will result in a Hard Punch
(Fierce) to come out.

Standing: Captain America takes his shield and swings it in a sort of
circular motion parallel to the ground (not quite). The range is just
amazing on this move. The damage inflicted and priority are just unbeatable
for a fierce. There is some start up and lag time though, so you should
refrain from throwing this out every other second. If the opponent gets hit
with this, they are sent flying to the end of the screen. If the block it,
then they are pushed back a considerable distance. One of the best standing
Fierces in the whole game. You should use this in retaliation, combos and in
safe poking (if you're VERY careful). You can't really abuse it. Rating:
8.5

Crouching: Captain America sweeps upward with shield in both hands. This is
his main launcher. The priority is great, and so is the damage, but the
execution and lag time is something to be careful of. You must ALWAYS
anticipate your opponent's Jump in, or you will always get hit you if it.
People mistake this move for having little priority because so many times, a
Captain America player is hit out of it. The truth is, the start-up is so
bad, that it takes some time for the actual move to come out. You have to be
careful with this. It can beat out most jump ins, even Strider's or Spider
Man's. Rating: 7.5

Jumping: Cap takes his shield and sweeps his arm across in front of him.
Almost everything about this move is great. The damage, range, priority, and
even lag time is good. There is only a little start-up to be aware of. This
becomes a problem when you attempt a jump in or Aerial Rave finish and it
doesn't come out fast enough. Try to finish all his Aerial Raves with this
though. You can use this to poke, Jump in, combo, or even just to build up
your meter. It's really good, and you can almost abuse it. Rating: 9.5

------------------
====Light Kick====
------------------

To perform a Light Kick, simply press the "Short" button once.

Standing: Captain America lifts his leg up to hit the opponent in the
midsection. It's decent for a Light Kick. The range is good, but the
execution time is slower than normal. There is no real difference between
this and the Standing Jab. It has the same uses as the Standing Jab too.
It's you choice to choose which one you like better. Rating: 7.0

Crouching: Captain America sticks his foot out like every other character's
Crouching Light Kick. Has good speed and priority, so I rather use this than
his Crouching Jab. The damage is okay. It's an essential part of his ground
combos. You can use this to poke or for combos. Rating: 7.0

Jumping: Sticks his foot out in almost the same angle as this Jumping Jab.
Good range, and decent priority. This has pretty much the same uses as the
Jumping Jab. It's your choice to choose which you like better; execution and
priority or range and damage. Rating: 6.5

-------------------
====Medium Kick====
-------------------

To perform a Medium Kick, press the "Short" button as second time.

Standing: Captain America makes a medium speed kick to the upper section of
the opponent. This has been known to miss a character like Serv Bot (Kobun)
and Roll completely. It has good range and okay priority. I only use this
for poking and combo filler. There's not that much to say about it. Rating:
5.5

Crouching: Cap kicks forward on the ground. It has very good speed and
priority, so you can use this for many occasions. Since the range is so
good, you can use it to poke. Lots of his ground combos stem from a
crouching Medium Kick. You can also use it as combo filler and a keep away.
Rating: 8.0

Jumping: Cap sticks his leg upward in a 25-degree angle. The range is okay,
but since it's angled upward, its use is limited. I usually just use this
for Aerial Raves or Air to Air battles. It acts like a sort of mini launcher
in the air though, if you're interested. Rating: 4.0

-----------------
====Hard Kick====
-----------------

To perform a Hard Kick, press the button that is labeled "Forward" on the
arcade board. This is incorrect, due to the new button setup that MvC 2 has
introduced. Pressing the "Forward" button will result in a Hard Kick
(Roundhouse) to come out.

Standing: Cap props himself on one arm and swings his legs around to knock
the opponent in the midsection. Not only does this have impressive range,
but also the execution and lag times aren't too bad. Use this instead of the
Standing fierce if you want to combo. You can punish the enemy easily with
this, and play keep away. You can use this to combo into ANY of his Hyper
Combos. It's one of the best Roundhouses in the whole game. Rating: 8.5

Crouching: Cap sweeps his foot outward to trip up the opponent. The
execution time is very good. There is a little lag time afterwards though.
The priority is good, and so is the range. You can use this as a keep away
tactic. This used to be a major factor in his bread and butter combo (D +
LK, D + LK, D + HK, LP Shield Slash). Now, he has a new bread and butter
combo involving this that is more powerful (See Combo Section for more).
This is a major tool in his OTG combos and ground combos in general. Rating:
9.0

Jumping: Cap kicks at an almost completely straight angle. There is almost
no Vertical range whatsoever on this move. The Horizontal range and priority
is pretty good, but I'd stay away from using this too much. It's not like
the execution time is bad or anything, but it just that it has little or no
use. There are better Aerial Rave finishers is Captain America's move list,
better jump ins, and better poking tools. The only real use for this is for
Air to Air battles and to beat out a jumping opponent's priority. Rating:
5.5

==------------Command Moves------------==

--------------
====Throws====
--------------

F + HP (Ground Version): Cap grabs the opponent and tosses them over his
shoulder, onto the ground. Nothing spectacular here. I think you may be
able to OTG after this, I'm not sure. Like I have said in my other FAQs,
please do not use Non-Command throws. They're mostly for scrubs only. Don't
abuse them. Rating: 6.0

F + HP (Air Version): Cap crabs the opponent and smashes them back down to
the ground with his shield. I usually only do this on accident. People
sometimes like to finish off their Aerial Raves with throws, but I suggest
otherwise. Aerial Throws do miniscule damage most of the time, and can
always be Tech Hit out of. You shouldn't ever go for throws on purpose.
Rating: 6.5

F + HK: Cap grabs the opponent, rolls onto his back, and flips them skyward
by pushing them off with both feet. You can do a mini Aerial Rave after
this. Stay away from throws please. Rating: 7.5

-------------
====Other====
-------------

D + HK (Air Only): Captain America kicks downward as opposed to his normal
straight Jumping Roundhouse. Use this as an alternative to Captain America's
Jumping Hard Punch. The execution and lag is much better, and the priority
is still excellent. Better for combo starting purposes. Rating: 8.5

U or UB or UF (Air Only): Double Jump. Use this to trick your opponent into
attacking early and to escape Hyper Combos. You can also tack on extra hits
to your Aerial Raves if you're good enough. Very useful if you know how to
be unpredictable with it. Rating: 10.0

==------------Special Moves------------==

--------------------
====Shield Slash====
--------------------

QCF + P (Air or Ground):
Captain America tosses his shield at his opponent at a decent speed. If the
shield hits, then it slowly returns back to Cap. If it misses the opponent
completely, then it falls to the ground, and you must go retrieve it.
Execution and lag isn't too bad, but you'll lose out to projectile characters
easily. The execution and lag times are all pretty much the same for all
versions. In the Jab Ground Version of this, Captain America tosses the
shield at almost shoulder height. This is a change from the past Vs games in
which he appeared, as the Jab Version used to travel low to the ground at
foot level. His Jab Ground Version used to be VERY useful, but now, it's
used mainly as a keep away and to combat some fireballs. Never get into
Fireball fights with this though, because the time it takes for the shield to
return to Cap, the opponent should have already thrown out another fireball.
The Fierce Ground Version travels upward at a 20-degree angle and is used to
keep jumping opponents in check and to play keep away. Never pull it out if
the opponent is jumping in. The Jab Air Version is the most useful version
of Shield Slash. Cap throws the shield downward at a 30-degree angle. In
doing so, he slowly floats down only a couple of pixels during the WHOLE
duration of the attack (included is the shield return). You can use this to
play keep away and is better to combat fireball characters with. It has no
execution or lag times whatsoever. Lots of people choose to finish their
Aerial Raves with this, but it actually does less damage than a normal
Jumping Fierce or Roundhouse, so I don't recommend it. The Fierce Air
Version causes Cap to throw the shield straightforward in the air. It has
little or no use, so don't really try it. The only time in which you should
use it is when you're going up against someone like Gouki (Akuma) who throws
angled Air Projectiles all day. The closer you are when you execute this,
the more damage it inflicts on the opponent. However, I don't suggest
running up into the opponents face and doing a Jab Ground Shield Slash. It's
not too smart. This isn't as useful as it used to be, so don't use it as
much. Jab Ground Version Rating: 6.5. Fierce Ground Version Rating: 6.0.
Jab Air Version Rating: 8.0. Fierce Air Version Rating: 5.5

*Supposedly there may be a way to perform his "Old" Jab Ground Shield Slash,
where it travels at foot level on the ground. If you press QCF + HP + WK,
it may work. This is what my friend has told me, but I don't know if this is
true or not myself. I know that other characters can press HP + WK in order
to do an alternate version of their attack (like Gambit), but I'm not too
sure about Cap. In later revisions, I will either confirm this or prove it
to be wrong.

---------------------
====Charging Star====
---------------------

QCF + K:
Cap brings his shield up to his shoulder and dashes forward some distance.
There is a little start up on both Versions, but the lag is very bad on the
Roundhouse Version. You can cover yourself from counters by calling in
assists to help you. The Short Version travels only about 2/5 of a screen
and does a couple of hits. The Roundhouse Version travels about 5/6 of a
screen and does several hits. What makes Charging Star so excellent is not
only the damage it deals, but also it's ability to negate most Normal/Special
projectiles. It negates such projectiles as Hadoken, Optic Blast, Captain
Fire, and more. This is a HUGE advantage, since you can use this to punish
projectile scrubs. Just execute this once you see the opponent committing to
a projectile, and you will travel through the projectile, hitting the
opponent. If a projectile hits Captain America while doing a Charging Star,
he is slowed down and the overall distance of the attack is lessened. Be
aware though, that this does not negate Hyper Combo Projectiles. Hyper
Charging Star negates Hyper Combo Projectiles. If you try a normal Charging
Star to counter a Hyper Combo projectile, you will be very sorry you did.
His bread and butter ground combo uses this. D + LK, D + MK, D + HK, cancel
into QCF + HK. If you want to, you can even tack on a Hyper Charging Star
after the first hit of the Charging Star connects. Use this as a Counter,
Combo Ender, and even Combo Starter. The farther away you are from the
opponent when you execute a Charging Star, the more damage it incurs on them.
Short Version Rating: 7.5. Roundhouse Version Rating: 8.5

-------------------------
====Stars and Stripes====
-------------------------

F, D, DF + P:
Captain America jumps up with this shield raised to cover his shoulders. The
execution time is actually very good, but like all other "Dragon Punch" esque
Anti-Airs, the lag time is totally horrendous. This doesn't even have very
good priority. So, use the Jab Version as an Anti-Air, and the Fierce
Version as a combo tool. There is little use for the Fierce Version however,
since the Horizontal range is only decent at best. It does good damage, but
the risk is just too high. Use the Jab Version when you do not have time to
pull out a Crouching Fierce to counter the opponent's jump in. In my
opinion, the Fierce Version is a pretty useless move in Cap's repertoire.
Only the Jab Version has its uses from time to time. But even that has a lag
time. Don't rely on this like you would a normal Shoryuken. Jab Version
Rating: 7.0. Fierce Version Rating: 5.5

-----------------
====Cartwheel====
-----------------

HCB + P:
Captain America does a cartwheel forward, dodging all attacks during the
duration of the move. The only thing Cap is susceptible to is throws. Then
again, if you use this correctly, then your opponent will never be quick
enough to throw you. Use this to quickly switch sides with your enemy. Both
versions come out immediately, but the lag afterwards is different. The Jab
Version goes a shorter distance and has less lag while the Fierce Version
goes about 1/3 of a screen with some lag. Use this move liberally to piss
off your opponent. You can even use this to combat jump ins. Pull this off
while the opponent is jumping in, and they'll be facing the wrong way and
will get hit. It's really an excellent move. One of the main weapons in
Cap's mind game. You can't really abuse it though, so be careful. Use the
element of surprise and speed to make this effective. Jab Version Rating:
9.5. Fierce Version Rating: 9.5

==------------Hyper Combos------------==

---------------------
====Final Justice====
---------------------

QCF + 2P:
Cap faces with his back to the screen for about 1/2 a second with his shield
attached to his back, then dashes forward with his hands raised in a sort of
blocking manner (like his Charging Star animation but without the shield).
If the opponent is hit with the dash, they are knocked up into the air,
juggled on the ground with a combo, and the thrown up and slammed back down.
Cap dashes about 4/5 of a screen. The priority and damage is VERY good,
especially since it's a "Dashing" Hyper Combo. A "Dashing" Hyper Combo is a
Hyper Combo that once the initial hit makes contact, an Auto-combo is most
definitely guaranteed. The only real downside to this Hyper Combo is it's
rather long start-up. An Assist, Switch out, or a Hyper Cancel can protect
the lag after a miss. You can combo into this after many attacks. It CANNOT
OTG immediately after a Crouching Roundhouse though, so don't try it. What's
even better and rather unknown is that a Final Justice can go through certain
projectiles. If you're fighting against an annoying Gouki (Akuma) who throws
fireballs all day, then Final Justice through it to punish him. It's that
simple. On another note, this is his only Hyper Combo that can be used as a
pseudo-Anti-Air. Once an opponent commits to jumping in, execute a Final
Justice at the correct time and you will knock their asses up into the air
and finish the Auto-Combo. This is rather difficult though, and exact
precision and timing is needed. You certainly can't pull this out every
three seconds. As a warning though, NEVER attempt a Final Justice against a
Mech Zangief, Hyper Armor Colossus, or other characters with unbreakable
Hyper Armor (Super Armor characters like the Hulk and Juggernaut are okay to
use it on.) If you hit Hyper Armor characters with it, nothing will happen.
Cap will just hit them and slide slowly to a stop, allowing the opponent to
tear you into pieces. Be weary of this. You'll have to use patience and
smarts. Rating: 8.0

-------------------------------
====Hyper Stars and Stripes====
-------------------------------

F, D, DF + 2P:
Captain America crouches down and IMMEDIATELY begins to perform three Stars
and Stripes in a row. This is Cap's quickest Hyper Combo. However, it is
also his weakest and largest in lag time. It has very limited use too. The
opponent must fully be on the ground for it to connect for maximum damage.
The bread and butter combo to set this up is D + WK, D + MK, cancel into F,
D, DF + 2P. At first this is pretty difficult to pull off, but you'll get
used to it with practice. Only use this Hyper Combo if you see an opening in
a standing opponent or if you want a relatively easy combo containing a Hyper
Combo in it. This is NOT an Anti-Air Hyper Combo. I use this Hyper Combo
the very least. Rating: 6.5

---------------------------
====Hyper Charging Star====
---------------------------

QCF + 2K:
Captain America crosses his arms across his chest exactly like the start
animation of a normal Charging Star, then dashes forward with a huge wave of
energy surrounding his shield. This has the exact same uses as the normal
Charging Star. He covers ground VERY quickly and has high priority. Hyper
Charging Star is his best and most useful Hyper Combo. It can even negate
Hyper Combo Projectiles. Use it mainly as a combo ender. The lag time
afterwards isn't too good, so be careful with it. It can beat out the
priority of most Hyper Combos. I'll go more into depth later. Rating: 8.5

=---------------------------------------------------------------------------=

IV. Strategies (Specific and General)

==------------General Strategies------------==

To truly become a masterful Captain America player, you must pay attention to
several things.

His strengths:

+ All of his attacks pack some heat. Simple combos can drain at least HALF
of your opponent's energy.
+ His Double Jump and Cartwheel can both contribute to Cap's ability to play
mind games.
+ He can play both Offense and Defense well on command. He's a well-rounded
character.
+ His moves have high priority.
+ Lots of people underestimate him because there are so few Captain America
"Masters" out there. This should shock them when you totally tear up on
their worthless ass.
+ All of his Hyper Combos are useful.
+ His Gamma assist is one of the best in the game.

His weaknesses:

- He doesn't exactly have good speed.
- He has no excellent Anti-Air that can be abused.
- He's a character for experienced players only.
- He's not a mashing character (bad for some of you, good for me).
- He's corny.

To be able to win with Captain America, you have to be able to play a game of
both Defense and Offense. You need to be able to switch back and forth
between the two smoothly. You cannot just go crazy and mash on the controls
all day. Captain America is not a character to choose if you don't like to
use your brain while playing (Or if you don't like to win ^_^). Seriously,
Captain America has the skills to be one of the most dominating characters in
the game. A couple of Aerial Raves and a Hyper Combo will take most people
out of commission for good. Just remember, like I always stress, USE YOUR
BRAIN (if you have one).

*More stuff later.

-------------
====Teams====
-------------

Captain America works well with certain characters Assisting him. Here are
some teams that I have found very effective. Most of these teams have earned
me 15 or more win streaks.

1. Captain America, Jin, Magneto:
The trick to winning in MvC 2 is constant assisting. Never should there be a
second in the match when there is no partner assist coming out. Definitely
pick Gamma Assist for Captain America (Dash), Beta Assist for Jin (Anti-Air),
and either Alpha or Gamma Assist for Magneto (Projectile or Launch). Whenever
you face an opponent who just sits back or is a cheap Fireball/Beam character
(I.e. Ice Man), whip Magneto (Alpha Assist) out. Magneto will stop the
projectile in most cases. Against beam characters, I suggest going totally
on the offensive or to switch out to another character. That way, you can
use Cap's Charging Star Assist to teach those projectile scrubs a lesson.
Liberally use the Jin assist whenever the opponent nears you or is going for
a jump in. They will ALWAYS have to block or take hits. Abuse his assist.
You should always throw out a well-timed Jab Shield Slash to cover your
assist if needed. If you choose the Gamma Magneto Assist (Launch), just use
it to replace your own Crouching Fierce Punch. It's mainly an Anti-Air or a
combo starter. The range for it isn't too good though, so beware. His
Crouching Fierce is just as good, if not better, than your own Launcher.
People tend to get pissed when you play this team (for several reasons)
because it is so effective Assist wise. Many consider this style of play
cheap, but it's not like it's unstoppable. In fact, with this team, comboing
after the assists is almost impossible, so the overall strength is weakened a
little. Go for powerful, calculated hits instead. Magneto can hold is own
against anyone, and Jin's Hyper Combos are some of the best in the game.
This team is amazing. The Delayed Triple Hyper Combo for this team is hard
to connect, so don't use it. In fact, never use Delayed Triple Hyper Combos.
They all suck anyhow. Team Rating: 9.0

2. Captain America, Ryu, Dr. Doom:
The trick to winning in MvC 2 is constant assisting. Never should there be a
second in the match when there is no partner assist coming out. Pick Beta
Assist for Jin (Anti-Air), either Alpha or Gamma assist for Ryu (Anti-Air or
Variable), and Alpha or Beta assist for Dr. Doom. Use Alpha Ryu to knock
back incoming opponents and people who constantly jump in. Use Gamma Ryu to
knock back pixies trying to dash in and to play a keep away game. Dr. Doom's
assist will help you in fighting people who constantly jump in or dash in.
His Alpha assist, Photon Shot, spreads in all directions, so it's good to
keep people away and to keep projectile characters in check. His Molecular
Shield assist (Beta) will beat out most people who try to rush in. The best
character in the team is probably Ryu (it's really close between Ryu and
Captain America... I'm having a hard time choosing), so it's best if you
fight the match most of the time with him in the lead (plus, his assists are
the worst in the team). Captain America should be used mostly in the
beginning to weaken the opponent's team. Ryu should finish what Cap started.
And Dr. Doom should only be the main character if Ryu and Captain America are
both in critical situations (it should never happen). The Triple Delayed
Hyper Combo works alright with this team, but I'd rather not use it anyway.
Team Rating: 8.0

3. Captain America, Jin, Gambit:
The trick to winning in MvC 2 is constant assisting. Never should there be a
second in the match when there is no partner assist coming out. Pick Gamma
Assist for Captain America (Dash), Beta Assist for Jin (Anti-Air), and any
Assist for Gambit. This team is just like the first team I mentioned, only
with Gambit instead of Magneto. While Gambit isn't very strong in the assist
area, with partners like Cap and Jin, he can stand his own against more than
one opponent. Both of his Hyper Combos are assist friendly and are amazingly
useful. But like Captain America, Gambit can't play a mindless game. Gambit
should be the main character most of the time because both Captain America's
and Jin's assists fit his gameplay style perfectly. Captain America should
start out in most occasions though. The Triple Delay Hyper Combo for this
team actually works very well. Use it if you're not skilled enough to Hyper
Cancel. Team Rating: 8.0

4. Captain America, Jin, Captain Commando:
The trick to winning in MvC 2 is constant assisting. Never should there be a
second in the match when there is no partner assist coming out. Definitely
pick Gamma Assist for Captain America (Dash), Beta Assist for Jin (Anti-Air),
and either Alpha or Beta Assist for Captain Commando (Projectile or Anti-
Air). Captain Commando is definitely the weakest character in the whole
team, so be careful when using him. His assists are good in aiding Captain
America and Jin. Jin and Captain Commando actually work very well as a team
for some reason. Captain Commando gives this team a very much-needed boost
in speed. Use his assist to play keep away or as an Anti-Air. Since Captain
Commando is VERY easy to learn this team can be effective in the hands of a
Semi-Experienced player. It's still not for beginners or scrubs since
Captain America and Jin are the exact opposites of scrubs. The Triple Delay
Hyper Combo works alright with this team, but it really isn't that effective
in all situations. Team Rating: 6.5

*More Teams to come soon! I need to play a little more and experiment.

------------------------
====Cheap Characters====
------------------------

These are characters you shouldn't be playing for many reasons. Either
they're just cheesy, overrated, or just stupid. This is good advice to
follow if you want to become a respected player, not a loser scrub. This
section is bound to piss off lots of gamers out there, because so many call
themselves "Masters" at these cheese characters. People will argue that
these characters are good, but in truth, do you ever see the best players
using them without being cheesy? Character Ratings are based on how most
people play them, NOT how a master plays them. That is why their ratings are
so low. I'm not claiming to be a "Master" at these characters either, so
please do not e-mail me about being conceited or something.

1. Ice Man:
Grrr... the only people who play him are complete scrubs and worthless
idiots. His no blocking damage for "energy" attacks is an unfair advantage.
People just sick back and shoot Ice Beams all day. He's a scrubby character
that can't stand on his own. He takes Damage poorly, and without that cheap
ability to take no block damage, he'd be totally worthless. Stay away from
playing him. It only takes about two minutes to master his style of play.
If you rely on him, you're a scrub. Nothing brings me as much pleasure as
beating the living crap of an Ice Man player. If you play him, you might as
well label yourself as a no-skilled, worthless scrub. Enough said.
Character Rating: 4.0.

2. Wolverine (Both Versions):
It doesn't matter whether or not Capcom weakened him; he's still a masher's
dream. He almost totally sucks now, and is mostly flash. There's almost no
reason to play him at all. It's boring to play him too. He's old and tired
out. Capcom, please just let him age gracefully far, far away from the video
game spotlight. Most people who play him are beginners or people who haven't
realized how crappy he is. Character Rating: 3.0.

3. Strider:
Overrated, overrated, overrated! Sure, he has the speed and sometimes the
priority, but he's pretty much just a one trick pony. All people ever try to
do is jump in, Aerial Rave, and then Uroburos or Legion. Sigh... he's so
predictable, and so boring to play. Masher's dream too. His assists are
totally worthless. Only idiots will keep on choosing him. Please, just let
off, because he sucks. Most people that use Strider are beginners, cheap
asses, or people who are not skilled enough to play a concentrated game.
Character Rating: 5.0

4. Cable:
So many people do not know how to play Cable correctly. They just use his
Viper Beam over and over again. It's as if they don't know the meaning of
Execution and Lag time. He's actually pretty good if played correctly; but
then again, he's almost never used correctly. Basically a second scrub
version of Ice Man. If you wish to play him, please read up on some nice
FAQs first, or practice hard. Because if you don't then you just look
stupid. Character Rating: 4.5

5. Spider Man:
Sigh... like a second version of Strider. Jump-in, ground combo, Aerial
Rave, Web Ball, crap poking game, and sweep into a Crawler Assault. Spider
Man players are very predictable also. Spider man can not play a varied
game. He is limited to the same moves and same combos over and over again.
If played even at maximum ability, he is far from the best. He's a semi-
masher for semi-experienced characters. Most people who use Spider Man are
decently skilled, however they like to use predictable and characters with an
easy game to learn. Character Rating: 5.5

6. Jill:
Geez, she seems to be the most favorite, new character. She is used in about
3/5 of all the matches I have played. She really isn't that great of a
character either. And most people are very predictable when they play Jill
too. All they do is dash in for a ground combo, Aerial Rave ending in her
Hyper Combo, call countless undead helpers onto the screen, and try to do
chip damage with her Rocket Launcher hyper Combo. And they're not very
successful with it either. I have never really met someone who could play
her at her maximum ability. She has potential to be a very good Pixie
character, but no one seems to bother to learn how to use her correctly. Use
Jill only after practicing and reading up on her. But you'll still won't get
much respect for playing her because Jill players are a dime a dozen.
Masters are very rare. Character Rating: 4.5

*People to be added/removed to the list as time goes on.

==------------Specific Strategies------------==

Assist, Jab Shield Slash, Assist, Charging Star, repeat. ^_^ Just kidding.

*Coming Soon!

=---------------------------------------------------------------------------=

V. Final Thoughts and Thanks

Sorry for the missing sections, but they will be coming soon! I think that
this FAQ is a respectable size already ^_^. Anyway, just remember, the most
important part of playing a game is to HAVE FUN! Don't let the lust for
winning totally ruin your enjoyment of the game. Don't be an ass. Have
manners. Nothing's worse than a loser who takes the game too seriously.
There was once this guy who called me a derogatory name for African Americans
while playing me >_<. Even though I am Taiwanese, that's a no-no. Please
don't be like that. It's not cool. Oh yeah, and don't bring your boy/girl
friend to the arcade! It sucks for them!

Thanks to:

All the scrubs who have forced me to learn to play fair and still kick ass.
My best friend who's Importing habits have given me lots of time to play.
All the people who write FAQs.
The owner of www.Gamefaqs.com.
You.

Please e-mail me at [email protected] if I have violated any Copyright Laws
or have insulted you in some way. Or just e-mail me if you have comments or
opinions or suggestions. Please limit your bitching to 1 e-mail only please.
Replies will take some time so please wait.

That's it for now! Look for more FAQs on other characters and updates!
Laters people!

Copyright Isao (William Chiang) 2000.