The highest DL can go even as leader is really B. DL and Adel are pretty similar in this aspect as having a great LDM boosts the ranking of an otherwise not so spectacular character.
Despite the potential lethalness TOD ability of DL's LDM, the user himself has admitted that it requires heavy command inputs on the part of the user. Extensive practice may/should remedy this and reduce the margin of error to the minimum, consistentency issues notwithstanding, it is really projected damage vs guaranteed damage. Unless one can say that fatigue is not a factor and that both players can unleash their maximum abilities every single match. However, even with that condition active, I am still rooting for Gato/Kula/Oswald leader than DL leader anytime of the day.
Think of it this way then, in a last character scenario, 5 stocks and 2 skills, Kula/Gato/Oswald/Adel VS DL. It is not very hard to predict who will win. Odds will definitely go to the above mentioned 4 rather than DL if people are interested in betting. I stress that I am not saying DL will lose automatically. Chances of the S tiers (Adel isn't S tier but he has a S tier LDM.) landing a light/heavy attack to LDM is as high if not higher than DL. In fact, the S tiers have more avenues and methods to land than DL.
This is really situational and restrictive. Malin is pretty S tier to me if she is leader in this case. Should we add her to the S tier list if one fine day, a Malin user starts posting in this thread? Who needs an infinite when you really should go for that one time counter hit damage? XD
Jhun is right in saying that DL can be shut down effectively way more easily than other S or A tiers.
From experience, even though I got hit by the LDM of doom a bit too much to my liking, I always considered it a gimmicky aspect in gameplay. Mighty, yes, match turner, yes to that too, but ultimately in the long run, be practical. S tiers are not S tiers for nothing. They do have better winning odds in the end.
If one has to unilaterally push DL up to S/A tier when leader due to what you have said, then Ash should also be at the same rank if not even higher because of this too. Ash's infinite is even simpler to land and it is unescapable once unleashed. In addition, Ash if compared to DL has less mismatches and is more rounded. Better character in general + comparable level of LDM threat = SS tier?
I have been playing XI for nearly a year now and I only do see that few people use DL as leader. Even if I include my online sources, forums, vs vids, the numbers do not go up significantly. I can safely conclude the general consensus across the globe is, "There are more effective leaders than DL in this game."
Perhaps the most glaring fundamental flaw is this, none of the A tiers have overpowered LDMs. They are mostly either excellent QS starters/enders, high damage or very good as an individual character. i.e their gameplay do not revolve around the utilising of their LDMs.
Lastly, do not compare Daigo with ordinary people. Besides, I don't think Daigo can reproduce that every single time on demand.
Derrick wrote:
yah, it's true no one won any major tourney with Duolon as leader, that's because of the heavy command input required of the player when they use DL's LDM. But we should also note this: More chance to stuff up doesnt neccesary equate to crap LDM. There arent that many DL users because tourney players tend to go with the flow. high Damage with easy inputs and high priority. Think of it this way, Kula/Gato/Duck/any char Vs Duolon, if both players are down to 1 char each, both with 5 stocks and 2 skill bars, it's hard to say who would win. Chances of one of DL's down attacks hitting is very very high. U can have tick health for all I care, 1 down A, and it's GG. Now, surely that is worth more than a C tier.
sure there are hard combos to master, it just requires training, once perfected, it's very very nasty. Flashback SF3 Comp: Who would have thought that Daigo's Ken would parry every hit of Chunli's Kick Special? Hard to do, yes, impossible? no way.