the breakaway doesnt work alot on sonias brain dead combo that does 50% of your health with only 1 offensive meter.... It is wonky sometimes. I miss the rolls too but I also think i just suck at the rolls and mis-time them.
As for the special meter, go in the tutorial because some meters have to be amplified after the special move and some are pressed with the special move.
The roll is good to roll towards them and punish a combo or use fatal blow. But a back dash can prevent both rolls and both wakeups then a punish follows right after. Sub zero and kollector can combo you all day because you cannot use breakaway on them and I think that's absolute trash that kollector can endlessly combo you then attempt a reset. I still whoop his ass but its still dumb gameplay .