Purpose of switch stance and command grab?

[Rykur]

Hey, I am trying to get better at MK and I have two questions that I can't find a good answer for online yet so thought I would ask here.

What is the purpose of switch stance? I see it switches what direction your character is standing but does not seem to have any real effect on combat, but I figure this is probably me just not understanding it. so where is this useful?

Also right now my favorite character is Reiko, however he has this standing grab that he does as a command grab. and all the tutorials say how this is so good, but I don't see why... seems like it is just a grab that takes three four times as long to activate then a normal standing grab. I get why they sliding on the ground command grab is so good I mean it is amazing haha but the standing one I don't see the benefit other then it does some decent base dmg. What makes command grabs better then normal grabs?

[Shoah Kahn]

Stance switch is nothing but a utility button that is used for Fatal Blows. NRS never refined the mechanic as they initially intended, from when it was fist introduced back in, IIRC, MK9. It's a remnant of their game engine that seems to be stuck there, and is in some way evidencing the assertion that they have never actually used a new fighting game engine -- just the same "XXX" one re-purposed for each game.

Command grabs looks weak in MK1, when compared to the grappler beasts which Injustice Bane and MKX Jason were. NRS can, indeed, make good grapplers, as cited... But, Reiko looks like a joke character -- both in terms of grappling tech, as well as the jobber footstool standing-in for Shao's erstwhile harem of hotties that NRS have made rendered him in MK1's timeline.

[Zer0]

Yeah outside of some super micro ♥♥♥♥ stance switch is kinda just there, like I guess at least Shang Tsung's form change is tied to it?

Command Grabs cannot be teched out of, so if you can get the timing down and start mind gaming your opponent to respect frames then you've got them where you want them without even a chance to guess grab their way out. I believe also both of Reiko's command grabs can combo into/combo'd into.

[Rykur]

Cool, good to know thx guys.