OK, everyone has different strategies for SB, right? Like what characters to use, whether you prefer Special Attacks to B combos, which moves you prefer, and, of course, how you equip Emerl.
What I'd like to hear is other people's preferences for the game.
I always use Emerl, because even before my friend hacked my game for me, Emerl was pretty much invincible, what with clearing the game twice and such. Sometimes, I use Knuckles (Ground Set, Air Power) or Sonic (Ground Set, Air Shot), but since my friend hacked me all the cards and 999 Skill Points (of which I only use about 6-700), I've equipped Emerl with all Ultimate moves EXCEPT:
-Sonic's ??? Air Action (Works wonders with Ultimate Air Power)
-Shadow's Dash & Dash Attack
My attitudes towards Special Attacks change frequently, but I often tend to use B Combos wherever possible, but if enemies are attacking in groups or if I'm dealing with one or more Gamma in a corner, I tend to use a mix between Ultimate Air Power and Ultimate Ground Shot.
My friend refers to my Emerl as 'Emerl on crack' with Ultimate Fight Pose and Ultimate Run, WITH Acceleration Up Lv2.
Also, a quick warning to those NOT playing on hacked games: Gamma is a nightmare on Virtual Training. Especially if you're using combos. Guess why.
It's been a while, really...I think I've forgotten. I never realy had a strategy. I just went straight in and blitzed. O_o Obviously this wasn't true for the Emerl fights in the first few chapters, but, yeah.
I use everyone apart from Cream, Gamma, Chaos. Their speed annoys me. I need blitzers. >_> I've not got past match 14 on VT. I keep getting hit by stupid OHKO specials. Because of how cheap VT is, I just stopped playing the game cos I knew I wouldn't be getting all the cards.
My most used are easily Shadow and Emerl...I just can't resist them. They're so fast and powerful. My Emerl mainly uses Shadow and Amy moves IIRC. I don't use ??? or combo cards because they go as far as to take the fun out of the game by making it so easy.
A few combos I discovered and like:
Shadow B. Kick -> Deep Impact. OHKO.
Tails' circular punch thing OR Gravity Increase special -> Shadow Eagle. Makes it much easier to hit if you don't knock your opponent into a wall.
I almost never used specials or even blocking. Infact, I never blocked. I first played it when the ROM was leaked and it was just uncomfy being ready to block and use specials, so I never used either...But I do remember healing, which kinda throws what I just said out the window. Meh, whatever.
Buuut I guess I'll just type down what I do with the characters I like...
Knux: Avoid using the PPP 'combo' and just go for his heavy attack. I pretty much only use his heavy, aim, ground trap and deep impact.
Rouge: Not the spam air attack thing. That's boring. She has the only special I ever use frequently: Silent Size. I use it like a heavy attack and follow it up with an aim. It's great.
Amy: BLITZ.
Emerl: BLITZ.
Sonic: BLITZ.
Shadow: BLITZ.
When I play as Emerl I don't use any Ultimate skills or Combo cards because I feel they're cheap.
This card set has served me well in Story mode, battling friends, and in the Virtual Training.
Sonic's Skills- Ground Power, Air Power
Tails' Skills- Air Action
Knuckles' Skills- Other Support
Shadow's Skills- Run, Dash, Dash attack, Aim attack, Strength Support
Rouge's Skills- Ground Shot, Air Shot
Amy's Skills- 1st attack, 2nd attack, 3rd attack, Ground Trap, Air Trap
Cream's Skills- Jump, Heal, Air Attack
Gamma's Skills- Heavy attack, Upper attack, Fight Pose, Attack Support
Chaos's Skills- Guard, Color 1, Color 2, Color 3 (obviously the color scheme is optional- if you prefer another set, go for it)
Speed is ALWAYS more important than power. In Sonic Battle, the person who wins is often the person who hits fastest.
When you get knocked out, change your attack settings. The enemy always changes theirs to guard against your favorite attack.
The best Rare cards are Shadow's Speed or Rouge's Low Gravity. Accelleration seems a good choice, but there's often too much in the way to put it to good use.
With Shadow's Ultimate air move, a variant of Chaos Control, you can stay in the air as long as you want and actually gain height with each use. It's especially cool in Gamma's Warehouse, since you can get from one end to the other in a flash, and while the slug catches up with you, you can start charging up.
Try to stay near the bottom of the screen. The GBA can see all, but you might miss things if you end up behind something. Amy's room is a good example.
Style doesn't actually do much except for Gamma's, where you blow up. Colour is a waste of points. Don't bother.
Go for a low guard like Rouge's. The stronger your guard, the longer before you can heal and charge up. Get the fastest heal you can afford, preferably with a powerful charge. Chaos is the best non-Ultimate, but you don't see him until near the end. In the meantime, go for Shadow or Cream if you can.
When fighting Chaos, run from him with your best speed and start charging. By the time he gets to you, you'll be ready to unleash your super move. If not, run and charge up again until you do.
When fighting Eggman, use your best shot attack. Aim it at his SHADOW, since he has a tendency to levitate and put your aim off.
Once you've earned Virtual Training, 20 straight wins will gain you an Ultimate. Combo Cards are best for beating the groups, since if you die even once you'll have to return to the beginning. Use Sonic's Combo, since it's fast and ends with a shot to knock Gamma and Gamma Phis away. Try to get all your enemies together before you go combo on their rears. If you want to fight Tails alone, he'll be on the beach at the far right, not at his lab.
2-Player Tips - Gamma's style will really annoy your best friend, since you blow up when you die, possibly knocking them out. And for Set, Knuckles' Mine attack is invisible - just remember where you left it. And remember what I said about speed.
