The King of Fighters '98 UMFE/Saisyu Kusanagi

Notation

- Light Punch

- Light Kick

- Heavy Punch

- Heavy Kick

Throws

Issetsu Seoi Nage - (close) / +

Hikiri Tsuchi - (close) / +

Command Normals

Ge-Shiki Gou Tsui - +

Ge-Shiki Kubu Tsuchi - +

Special Moves

108 Shiki Yami Barai - + /

100 Shiki Oniyaki - + /

427 Shiki Kamukakari - + /

110 Shiki Nata Guruma - + /

720 Shiki Homuragasane 1 - + /

┗ 720 Shiki Homuragasane 2 - + /

Desperation Moves

Ura 108 Shiki Orochinagi - + /

1207 Shiki Tsumugari - + /

Introduction

Saisyu has great offensive tools to stay close to the opponent and confirm into big metered damage or a meterless hard-knockdown. Alternatively, he can zone out the opponent with his ground-traveling fireball and a strong anti-air DP. His weakness definitely lies in his mostly short-ranged normals, which often cannot compete with the opponents' in neutral. Saisyu has to make up for this deficit with good positioning, so he can use his great jump-in normals to get in and start his pressure game.

Changes from Previous Versions

98 to 98UM

Normals:

• cl.C's activation range has been reduced, it can still be linked from a cl.A or 2A

• 5B now has 3 more active frames

• Ge-Shiki Gou Tsui (6A) how has 2 frames less startup

Specials:

• 108 Shiki Yami Barai (236P) now has 3 frames less recovery

• Light 427 Shiki Kamukakari (63214B) now has 2 frames less startup, now connects from heavies and f+A

• Light 720 Shiki Homuragasane 1 (214A) now has 2 frames less startup.

• You can now juggle from the A version of 720 Shiki Homuragasane (214A)'s second hit.

Supers:

• 1207 Shiki Tsumugari (236236P) now has less startup; both A and MAX versions have 5 frames less startup and can now connect from lights.

• Heavy 1207 Shiki Tsumugari (236236C) is now invulnerable until after the first active frame.

98UM to 98UMFE

Specials:

• Light 110 Shiki Nata Guruma (623B)'s second hit now has a larger hitbox, so it shouldn't whiff if the first connects

• 427 Shiki Kamukakari (63214K) now has less recovery, second hit should be easier to connect if the first connects

• 720 Shiki Homuragasane 1 (214P)'s first hit now has a bigger hitbox and less recovery

Supers:

• 1207 Shiki Tsumugari (236236P)'s A and MAX versions have faster startup

Normal Moves

Close

• cl.A: Can stop hops, otherwise useless. Chainable and cancelable.

• cl.B: Use cr.A instead for more reliable range and same combo potential. Cancelable.

• cl.C: 2f start up, 2 hits, both cancelable. Can link from 2B. Your heavy normal for combos.

• cl.D: Same as 5D.

Standing

• 5A: Crappy range, can stop hops from close up but no other use for it really. Chainable.

• 5B: Farthest range of his normals. Good as a poke. Combos after 2B.

• 5C: Cancelable, but slow and crappy range and whiffs on crouchers. Rarely useful.

• 5D: Can work as anti-air against hops, but 623P is much more reliable.

Crouching

• 2A: Fast and good range for a 2A. Use this in confirms and blockstrings after 2B and as a short poke. Chainable and cancelable.

• 2B: Low combo starter. Links into cl.C. Chainable.

• 2C: Not a reliable anti-air. Can be used in punish or combo situations when too far away for cl.C. Cancelable.

• 2D: Cancelable sweep. Not bad at what it does.

Jumping

• j.A: Nice air-to-air.

• j.B: Typical Kusanagi knee. Often beats weaker anti-airs and air normals, and can crossup without much hassle. VERY GOOD.

• j.C: Decent jump-in, but nothing special about it. Use this on characters j.D might whiff on.

• j.D: Most damaging jump button (except for j.CD). Usually used for air zoning out of a hop. Can whiff on small crouchers and low-profile moves.

CD Normals

• 5CD: Quite fast, enough range to hit after some light-button blockstrings. Saisyu has good safe options to fish for counterhit combos with this. Cancelable on hit, block, and whiff.

• j.CD: Great move. Often wins against other good moves and anti-airs thanks to good hitbox. Good for fishing counterhit combos just like regular CD.

Throws

Issetsu Seoi Nage: 4/6C (close)

• Regular throw, techable.

• Does not switch sides.

• Hard knockdown.

Hikiri Tsuchi: 4/6D (close)

• Regular throw, techable.

• Goes fullscreen and switches sides.

• Backturned hard knockdown, but okizeme is only possible in the corner.

Command Moves

Ge-Shiki Gou Tsui: 6A

• Hits overhead when done on its own.

• No overhead but cancelable when cancelled into. Acts as heavy normal for the purpose of comboing.

• Combos from cl.C and true blockstring. Safe on block.

Ge-Shiki Kubu Tsuchi: 6B

• Plus on block, but combos from nothing. You can link into a variety of moves on hit.

• Mostly exists to extend your offense with plus frames, can be interrupted since it's not a true block string.

Special Moves

108 Shiki Yami Barai: 236A/C

• Ground traveling projectile. Not great but serves its purpose if used with care.

100 Shiki Oniyaki: dp+A/C

• Saisyu's DP. Good reversal and reliable anti air especially C version. Both versions are very unsafe.

427 Shiki Kamukakari: 63214B/D

• Very slow overhead move. Not recommended. Punishable on block.

110 Shiki Nata Guruma: 623B/D

• B version combos from 2A, D only combos from heavy buttons.

• Very nice go-to combo move that causes a hard knockdown and has decent damage.

• B version is a good meterless raw punish tool, more horizontal range than DP. Unsafe on block.

720 Shiki Homuragasane: 214A/C (x2)

• Saisyu's rekka. Combos from heavy buttons. A version combos into 623C. Best meterless damage but only soft knockdown. Unsafe on block.

Desperation Moves

Ura 108 Shiki Orochinagi: 2141236A/C (can be held)

• A/C versions are identical. Combos from heavy buttons. Deals more damage than qcfx2+A/C. Safe on block.

• SDM deals even more damage and still more than qcfx2+AC. Plus on block.

• Best Orochinagi in the game.

1207 Shiki Tsumugari: 236236A/C

• A version has very fast startup. Combos from 2A and 6B. Can punish almost anything unsafe. One of the best raw super punishes in the game.

• C version is slower than A but has lots of invul and more range. Useful as a counter in situations where invul and range matter more than speed.

• SDM is like the A version but deals more damage. Combos from 2A/6B and is just as fast but no invul.

Combos

Meterless

Low

2B, 2A, 623B

Basic low confirm.

2B, cl.C(1), 6A, 623D:

Low starter frame link.

Mid/Jump-In

(j.X), cl.C(1), 6A, 623D

Your go-to heavy starter.

6B, 5B/623B

With Meter

2B, 2A, 236236P

Low confirm into DM.

(j.X), cl.C(1), 6A, 2141236P

2B, cl.C(1), 6A, 2141236P:

Low frame link into super.

6B, 236236P

With Quick MAX

2B, ABC, cl.C, 6A, 2141236P

6B, ABC, 5C, 2141236P

Quick MAX on 6B is incredibly tight.

2B, cl.C(1), 6A, 214A > 214A, ABC, 2141236P

Saisyu's highest damage.

Videos

King of Fighters 98 UM FE: Saisyu Guide by Mash It Out