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CHAPTER 3: HARLEY QUINN
Hello to those, who love fightings and DC universe.
This is third part of Strategy Guide for Injustice: Gods Among Us.
Today we are going to talk about villain, that arrived recently (comparing to others)
but became very popular amongst comics fans. It's 16th out of 100 sexiest comics' character by Comics Buyer's Guide.
HARLEY QUINN
First she arrived as Joker's ally in "Joker's Favor" episode, in "Batman, the animated series" cartoon, 1992.
A character, that has a name, similar to word "harlequin" quickly gained many fans and it's own biography.
There after she was included in canons of DC universe. Harleen Frances Quinzel while being a teenager
did acrobatics and even got scholarship for it, which allowed her to study in Gotham City University.
Despite her bright talent, acrobatics wasn't her goal. She was eager to become a famous psychiatrist.
But she wasn't very succesfull and used all possible ways to fix that. She was getting good grades by seducing professors.
After finishing university, she got psychiatrist diploma, which was pretty prestigious,
and decided to quickly gain some fame amongst psychologists, using maniacs
and psychically unstable people by writing a serie of articles and books about them.
Certainly, the most known of them were in "Arkham" clinic, where Harleen went to find her success.
There she became an intern and started to inspect prisoners. She found Joker the most interesting of them,
that occasionally became interested in new doctor too. But since he was considered especially dangerous
even for Arkham, doctors weren't allowing her to inspect him. She was begging for a session with him for a three months.
And finally she got a permission. Not much time passed when Joker made her fall in love into him
telling her touching stories from his life. Then he made her hate Batman. A bit later
Joker escaped, but was returned injured by Batman pretty soon.
That made Harleen pity Joker and hate a hero in a coat even more.
She decided to do her past away, dressed harlequin costume, and
takes the name that Joker called her after they met again. It was Harley Quinn.
There she rescued her beloved from Arkham. According to her own words,
she dreamed about shiny family future together with Joker.
But this dream cannot become true while Batman is alive, standing between two people in love.
That's what Harley thought. She got more detailed biography in graphic novel of 1994: "Mad Love",
that got very positive feedback from Batman series fans and helped to popularize Harley Quinn.
Later, comics character of Harley started to be less comical and more cruel,
which made her character closer to Joker's. Their relationships are
one of the most complicated in DC universe. Despite Joker, Harley has close relationships with Poison Ivy,
and is somewhat friendly to Catwoman. Harley didn't arrive even once in movies.
After two failed screenings of Joel Schumacher, fifth movie about Batman:
"Batman Triumphant" was cancelled, but that's where Harley had to arrive, along with
Scarecrow and Mad Hatter. It's also interesting, that she had to be a daughter of Joker,
instead of his beloved. In "The Dark Knight Rises" it was planned that Harley arrive, but in the end
she didn't. Perhaps because of Heath Ledger's death and complete strike out of Joker out of scenario.
Yet, she was arriving in TV series. In a year of 2002 there was an attempt to film "Birds of Prey" comics.
There Harley was played by Mia Sara. But, despite a wide audience, this project was cancelled after 13 series done.
Otherwise Harley was arriving in few cartoons, lots of games about Batman,
and of course in comics, including alternative variations. Mostly, character of Harley was gained
thanks to the popularity of Joker, but she didn't stay in the background for too long.
Today Harley has her own wide audience of fans and it's nice to see her in Injustice roaster.
She doesn't do much in a plot, so let's see what kind of fighter she is.
Harley is not one of the top characters, which is, of course, a pity.
She has nice zoning tools, she can shorten the distance quickly, has useful mix-ups.
All these make Harley dangerous enough, if one knows how to use it. But unfortunately,
she is not very diverse and having lots of cons. Trait is completely useless, EX bars
are nothing to spend on, because increasing special moves' damage isn't worth wasting meter.
But first things first. Let's look at her specials.
Bag O' Tricks. Harley's trait, and it's very random, because it can be three different things, which doesn't depend on anything.
1. Picture of The Joker. Gaining strenght boost.
2. Time Bomb. The most useful out of those 3. Unblockable launcher, which can be used to start a combo.
3. Poison Ivy Plant. A gift from Poison Ivy, that grants some health to Harley.
Due to randomness of trait, it's absolutely useless in real battle, that's why it's better to simply forget about it.
Pop Pop. Very slow projectile, that can be charged by holding 2. Can be cancelled by dashing.
Not good for zoning, because of too slow startup, but it hits ducking enemies.
It's even worse for middle or close distance. Max charged shot is another random surprise:
it can be a slow ball, that pierces block, deals additional damage and knocks down the enemy.
Or it can be a misfire and Harley will lose lot's of time on recovery. Unfortunately,
it is useless to charge in real fight, because no one gives you that much time.
Enhanced version allows Harley to instantly recover after shot, which can be used to close
the distance or usage of another attack.
Line of Fire. Main Harley's projectile. Quick and good for zoning. It is worth
mentioning, that when she shots it, she does a step forward. Bullets aren't hitting
ducking enemies. Enhanced version does two shots and two steps.
Head's Up. Quick antifly, that can be used on reaction. And even more:
after you hit enemy in air, you can continue combo. Enhanced version will hit twice,
but it's not very useful, because it's hard to continue combo after it.
Oopsy Daisy (Air). Diagonal shot. Excellent option to stop enemy and counter zoners.
Good tool to relatively safely close distance to opponent, that tries to throw projectiles at you.
It's an overhead. EX version hits twice.
Cupcake Bomb. Can also be used as antifly, but unlike Head's Up, doesn't provide combo opportunity.
Can be used as zoning tool, but not as effective, as Line of Fire. Enhanced version makes her
throw three grenades, covering almost all air space and hittig far.
If it hits, enemy is launched, but you won't be able to catch him and perform a combo,
because enemy falls fast and recovery is slower. Normally useful to take last bit of health off of enemy,
not letting him to make clash.
Play Doctor. Grab, that's not quite spectacular, except for making opponent stay, without letting him do a wake-up attack.
Enhanced version does more damage.
Silly Slide. Interesting option that doesn't do damage, but quickly covers distance, which can be used
for pressing. Can be cancelled into following special:
Tantrum Stance. Quick low attack, that makes Harley lay on the ground. Very unsafe on block,
but if enemy is not familiar to Harley, then beginning animation of this can confuse him
and make him block standing. You can perform next actions out of Tantrum Stance:
1. Forward Cartwheel. Most obvious option, because it's a juggle-starter. Unsafe on block.
2. Handstand. Knocks the enemy down with low hit. Unsafe on block.
3. Bullet Frenzy. Projectile. Useful when distant. Also unsafe on block.
4. Somersault. The only option, the let's you runaway relatively safe. But even this can be punished.
As you can see Tantrum Stance isn't safe. It cannot be used all the time. But if you play
against Harley and see that she did Tantrum Stance, don't be in hurry to punish, because if
she does one of her options, she will hit you earlier. That's why it's safer to block her next move,
reacting with proper block and then punishing with full combo.
In battle it's Harley's tool to cancel combo into. Not very useful out of nowhere.
Mallet Bomb. Harley's super move. First she hits with a mallet and then throws it at the enemy.
Fast enough if close, but it definitely not for use from afar. Yet, unsafe on block on close or mid distance.
So, if you want to use it - do it in combo. After finishing super move, Harley can continue combo.
As for combos, Harley doesn't have many option of using special moves in them.
That's why they are mostly meterless. Before patches, combos could be finished with Play Doctor,
which was leaving enemy standing and not letting him to wake up.
But this option was fixed. Not that you cannot do it at all, but it's hard to perform on mid-screen,
that's why it's not very reliable. Before describing combos, we should mentioned 1 1 2 string.
It ends with firing from distance, which makes it safe to use. Also recommended to
finish Harley's combos with. In this case, enemy will get most damage and he will fall far from you,
which let's you start zoning, that is effective enough. If you're focused on melee fight and pressing,
you can do bf3 dash. That will make you arrive near enemy.
If you managed to catch enemy with charge,
jump with 3; 1 1 2. 28%
Main combo: b+2 2 Tantrum Stance; Forward Cartwheel, b+3, jump with 3; 1 1 2. 38%.
What's nice about this combo - it start's with low hit. b+2, 2 is safe on block.
Do not jump with 3 immediately; delay it and only then Harley will keep the combo on.
1 1 Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel, b+3, jump with 3; 1 1 2. 33%
If 1 1 is blocked, then proceed to safe 1 1 2.
1 2 Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3; jump with 3; 1 1 2. 34%. 1 2 is safe on block.
b+1; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3; jump with 3; 1 1 2. 34%
If first hit is blocked, proceed to safe b+1 2 1.
f+1; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3; jump with 3; 1 1 2. 34%
f+1 is an overhead and is safe on block.
f+2; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3; jump with 3; 1 1 2. 36%
f+2 is a safe overhead. You can proceed to f+2 3 on blocking. Or not.
3 3;Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3; jump with 3; 1 1 2. 31%
3 3 is safe on block.
Corner combos are different from others with their end: they keep your enemy standing, not giving wakeup possibility.
b+2 2; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; f+1 3; f+1 3; 1 2; Play Doctor. 41%
11; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; f+1 3; f+1 3; 1 2; Play Doctor. 36%
12; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; f+1 3; f+1 3; 1 2; Play Doctor. 37%
b+1; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; f+1 3; f+1 3; 1 2; Play Doctor. 37%
f+1; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; f+1 3; f+1 3; 1 2; Play Doctor. 37%
f+2; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; f+1 3; f+1 3; 1 2; Play Doctor. 39%
3 3; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; f+1 3; f+1 3; 1 2; Play Doctor. 34%
Super move combos are the same, except for ending.
b+2 2; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3, jump with 3; 1 1 super move... jump with 3. 53%
1 1; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3, jump with 3; 1 1 super move... jump with 3. 48%
1 2; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3, jump with 3; 1 1 super move... jump with 3. 49%
b+1; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3, jump with 3; 1 1 super move... jump with 3. 50%
f+1; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3, jump with 3; 1 1 super move... jump with 3. 50%
f+2; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3, jump with 3; 1 1 super move... jump with 3. 52%
3 3; Tantrum Stance; Cartwheel; b+3, jump with 3; 1 1 super move... jump with 3. 48%
Harley has enough average options, and if you learn to use them properly,
you can catch the enemy. But those tricks won't do much damage.
Harley can be used for both zoning and pressing, being diverse enough.
But while Harley's zoning is not frightening, because of her weak attacks,
her pressing leads to mixups. Don't forget about Silly Slide! It's helpful in this tactics.
Unfortunately her Enhanced attacks aren't giving her much: no launchers, no relaunchers,
and her Tantrum Stance is unsafe. But she has simple juggles, that do nice damage without wasting bars.
And of course her trait, that can fail at the most important moment and that's why cannot be used in real battle.
That was Harley. Unfortunately, she, same as Joker, isn't very strong fighter,
and mostly unable to deal with stronger characters, that are more fast, more dynamic,
with better pressing and zoning tools. She has too many unreliable options.
Those, that are useful, cannot stop strong players, that's why Harley Quinn
isn't good for professional level playing. She is here for fun, not for hardcore battles.
At this note I'm finishing third part of Strategy Guide series. I am Genickus. Good bye.