ERMAC
Ratings:
Speed: 6/10
Range: 9/10
Power: 7/10
Safety: 5/10
Specials: 8/10
Overall: 7/10
Stances:
Choy Lay Fut
Axe
Specials:
Hado Energy: D, B, 1
Ermac fires a green projectile at his opponent. It has very long range and has a wavy trajectory, so enemies who want to jump over the Hado Energy are taking a calculated risk. It can be ducked or blocked standing and doesn't come out very fast, making it a move that doesn't have many uses. The only feasible way to make this move useful is after a juggle combo, but you have other options for that situation.
Telekinetic Slam: B, D, B, 4
Ermac's TK Slam is his bread and butter move when enemies get too close to you or if you think you can catch them off guard. Let them walk or try to jump in, then catch them with this and send them for a ride. It's a great juggle starter, though unfortunately can be blocked high and is pretty unsafe if it gets sidestepped. If you want to take to the air with Ermac, this is the easiest move to start with.
Telekinetic Throw: F, B, 2
The TK Throw is useful when you have your back to a deathtrap and are close to it. Like the TK Slam it can catch opponents out of the air and although it doesn't have the options that the TK Slam has, it is much more strategic if you're playing on an arena littered with deathtraps, like the Wastelands. The throw does decent damage and is a good way to end a juggle combo. The TK Throw can be used right after the TK Slam for a short combo. The problem with this move is that you will get punished badly on a whiff.
Mystic Float: D, U, 3
This can almost be considered a third stance for Ermac, as it sets up his other two special moves. The Float itself goes nowhere but up, does no damage, and you have four options: Perform either of his two specials, just hang there until Ermac comes down to earth on his own, or if you're well ahead in the fight and want to give your opponent a free combo, let them take you down.
Dive Kick: D, U, 3 -> F, 3
The Dive Kick can be used as a deceptive move when you're in the Float stance and your opponent thinks they're about to get a free combo. This move doesn't have great range, but it can be tricky if you've been using the Mystic Bomb often after the Float. Use this move often against someone who tries to anticipate the bomb by jumping.
Mystic Bomb: D, U, 3 -> D, 3
The real reason to go up into the Mystic Float is the Mystic Bomb. This move is useful because it cannot be blocked or avoided from anywhere on the screen, your opponent must jump (and still be in the air) before Ermac hits the ground in order to avoid this move. Use this move often if you have established good distance from your opponent and are too far away to use Ermac's telekinetic moves. The Bomb is also good after a juggle. If you're playing against someone who stays grounded, abuse this move, because it still has the priority it had in MKD.
Throw: Set and Spike
This is a cool looking throw and it does decent damage, but unfortunately you can't juggle off it, which is fine because of Ermac's other options. You shouldn't be close enough to your opponent to throw them anyway, because that isn't Ermac's best range.
Buzzsaw: Choy Lay Fut 1, 1, 2, CS
Ermac's style branch looks cool and is good for 6 hits, normally taking about a quarter of your opponent's health. The window for this combo isn't as large as it was in MKD, so it's possible to get just the first three hits and not hit the Axe part. For anyone who wants to just do the Axe part, it's B+1 in Axe stance. All hits come in mid.
Best Moves:
Choy Lay Fut: F+1
This move comes out pretty quick compared to the rest of Ermac's moves in this stance (Choy Lay Fut isn't particularly quick) and it has knockdown and pushback properties. Use this attack if your forced to get into a slugfest to get yourself some range and reset.
Choy Lay Fut: B+2
This should be your primary launcher if you aren't using the TK Slam instead. It's pretty quick and gets your opponent in the air, where you can tack on big damage with TK Slams and Throws.
Axe: D+4 and D+3
Given the incredible reach of Ermac's Axe, low attacks should be abused. D+4 and D+3 allow you to play a long distance game with the Axe and since they both hit low, you have a good chance of these attacks connecting.
Axe: U+2
This is Ermac's only launcher that can combo in Axe, and should be your bread and butter move out of this stance. Ermac's juggles with the Axe are more damaging than when he's in Choy Lay Fut, so make sure that you establish this move and make your opponent recognize it, and then throw out other moves to set this up.
Combos:
(Axe) U+2, jump, 1, 1, 3, 4 (6 hits, 23%)
(Axe) U+2, B, D, B, 4, jump, 1, 1, 3, 4 (7 hits, 25%)
(Axe) U+2, jump, 2, 2, 1, 1, 3, 4 (8 hits, 29%)
(Axe) U+2, CS, B+2, jump, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 3 (8 hits, 23%)
(Choy Lay Fut) B, D, B, 4, B+2, jump, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 3 (8 hits, 20%)
(Choy Lay Fut) 1, 1, 2, CS (6 hits, 24%)
(Choy Lay Fut) B+2, jump, 1, 1, 3, 1, 1, 3 (7 hits, 25%)
(Choy Lay Fut) B, D, B, 4, 1, 1, 2, CS (7 hits, 31%)
(Either Stance) B, D, B, 4, F, B, 2 (3 hits, 16%)
There is also a possible infinite, if you go into Axe stance and alternate the TK Slam with U+2, unless your opponent tech rolls out you can do this all day, because U+2 tracks.
Also, you can add extra damage by doing TK Throws after your ground juggles and Mystic Bombs when they get up.
Playing As:
Play keep away often. You need a good amount of breathing room to play Ermac effectively. You can try to play up close, but he only has one sweep in Choy Lay Fut and although he has a lot of mids from this stance, most of them are punishable, and he has a lot of moves that can be parried. Only go in if you have already popped up your opponent with the TK Slam (or B+2 in Choy Lay Fut, U+2 in Axe) or if you're looking to land Ermac's style branch combo. Use the Mystic Bomb to your advantage from far away, but don't always do the Bomb right after you execute the Float. Sometimes it's best to stall a bit, draw the jump, then go in with the Dive Kick or wait for your opponent to be nearly on the ground before dropping with the Bomb. Try to end every juggle with the TK Throw, as it does good damage and can set your opponent up for a deathtrap. Don't use the Hado Energy unless you want to try to counter an opponent's wakeup, but you have the Mystic Bomb for that so only throw your projectile if you have a strong feeling it will hit.
Playing Against:
Since Ermac is a character that relies on proper positioning, throw him off by dodging, jumping and playing hit and run. Counterpick with characters that have many moves that cause position swaps and pushbacks to force the Ermac player to reset to a comfortable range. Other characters that fare well against Ermac are characters that can move in and out freely and play a good hit and run game. If you don't let Ermac get into a position where he can pull off a juggle, you stand a good chance of winning the fight. Another good way to do this is to use your own juggles, or to get in close and try to ground combo him to death. Don't try to beat Ermac by using deathtraps because the next thing you know, you've been TK thrown and you're up against the barrier yourself. Again, just make sure you don't get caught by a launcher, otherwise you'll probably lose upwards of 30% by the time you come back down.
Final Analysis:
Ermac can definitely hold his own against nearly all of the other fighters when played properly. His combo damage isn't amazing from what I've seen so far, but his air options (including the Mystic Float) are definitely up there with the best. Axe stance is still his best due to its ridiculous reach, but Choy Lay Fut is nearly as useful. It's a shame they went to two styles, because Hua Chuan was so great in MKD and it suited Ermac. I can see Ermac being high mid-tier, but probably not in the same league as Subby, Scorp, Sareena, and the godlike trio of Moloch, Blaze, and Onaga.
