The King of Fighters '98 UMFE/Takuma Sakazaki

Introduction

Takuma is a versatile character that can both zone and rush down pretty well. For zoning, he has a good backdash for gaining distance and a fast, high-flying projectile to control space. He also has access to a good anti-air button in st.B and a great anti-air DM. Takuma also has good anti-zoning tools with a projectile reflector and a fast projectile DM. When going in, Takuma also has strong options like an overhead, a running command grab, a good crossup, good low confirms, and a proximity unblockable DM. No matter what strategy he uses, Takuma also gets reliably high damage. His main weakness is that he's very meter-reliant for both his best damage and his most consistent anti-air; he also lacks a meterless reversal option.

Changes from Previous Versions

98 to 98UM

Normals:

• st.D now has 2 frames less startup

• st.D's priority has been reduced

• f+A's active frames have been increased by 5

• cr.A now does less damage

• cr.B now does less damage

• cr.D now has 1 frame more recovery

Specials:

• qcb+P can now reflect projectiles

Supers:

• f,hcf+P is now a DM, it comes out faster but you can no longer charge it

• qcfx2+P now comes out on the second frame; the super flash locks the opponent's inputs, so they can't reaction roll out

98UM to 98UMFE

Normals:

• st.B now has more active frames

• cl.C no longer whiffs against short characters

Specials:

• qcb+P now has less recovery

Supers:

• qcf,hcb+A is now invincible until just after the hitbox appears

Normal Moves

Close

• cl.A: Starts up slightly faster than his st.B, but serves the same purpose of anti-air against hops. Chainable and cancelable.

• cl.B: A light combo filler. Chainable and cancelable.

• cl.C: The main fast heavy combo normal. Cancelable.

• cl.D: Long upwards reach. Good for stopping jumps at closer ranges. Whiffs on short crouchers.

Standing

• st.A: Decent anti-hop button. Whiffs on regular crouchers. Chainable.

• st.B: A great anti-air that can stop both hops and full jumps. Has a lot of upwards priority. Whiffs on regular crouchers.

• st.C: Mid-range poke with good priority. Whiffs on regular crouchers.

• st.D: Long startup and recovery. Has okay priority.

Crouching

• cr.A: A standard low poke. cr.B is mostly the better choice, but this one can be good if the opponent uses moves with lower-body invincibility a lot. Chainable and cancelable.

• cr.B: A fast low. You can connect 3 of these in a row with good timing. Chainable and cancelable.

• cr.C: Good anti-air button and combo tool. Cancelable.

• cr.D: Sweep with good range. Cancelable.

Jumping

• j.A: Fast startup and a lot of active frames. His is his best air-to air normal.

• j.B: Good crossup jump-in with a lot of active frames. Comes out fast, so it can also be good as a speedy air-to-air.

• nj.B: Longer-range air-to-air.

• j.C: Good jump-in button.

• j.D: Great crossup jump-in. Has more startup than j.B, but its backwards hitbox is bigger, so it's easier to crossup with it.

CD Normals

• st.CD: Fairly fast startup for a st.CD and a good forwards hitbox, making it good as a close-range poke.

• j.CD: Has very good priority. Great air-to-air. Whiffs on tiny crouchers.

Throws

Oosotogari: b/f+C (close)

• Regular throw, techable.

Ippon Seoi: b/f+D (close)

• Regular throw, techable. Switches sides.

Command Moves

Oni Guruma: f+A

• Knocks down when used on its own. When canceled into, it leaves the opponent standing and functions as valuable combo filler.

• If it's canceled late, however, it retains its raw properties while still combo-ing, giving you a great knockdown right next to you. Combos from all cancelable normals.

Kawara Wari: f+B

• An overhead when used on its own, a cancelable mid when canceled into (unless canceled late, in which case it acts like the raw version).

• Can be combo-ed into from light attacks, but has more pushback than f+A, so generally this is ignored as combo filler.

Special Moves

Ko'ou Ken: qcf+A/C

• Takuma's generic but powerful airborne projectile.

• A version is slower and does less damage than the C version.

• This is a very good move to keep the pressure on your opponent from further ranges.

• It can be combo-ed into from both command normals, and juggled into from db~f+D.

• If your opponent is in the corner and you hit them with this from fullscreen, you can connect db~f+D or qcf,hcb+P afterward, though this is fairly impractical.

• Since it's an airborne projectile, a lot of moves can low-profile it, and Leona and Chris/O.Chris can low-profile it by running. It completely whiffs on tiny crouchers.

Zanretsu Ken: f,b,f+A/C

• Trademark Kyokugen gigantic and unbelievably active hitbox.

• Both versions of the move do the same amount of damage; the C version stays out a bit longer and has slightly more startup.

• Can be connected after a db~f+D juggle, and is the damage-optimal meterless ender in that case.

• Very punishable on block or whiff, though it has a vacuum effect that can suck in opponent's normals if they mistime a punish or attempt to punish it with a move with low priority.

Moh Koh Burai Gan: qcb+A/C

• Takuma performs a parry and then delivers a powerful strike.

• Does two hits if it connects at point-blank range, but only one if slightly further out.

• This move has autoguard on startup, making it useful as a quasi-counter.

• A version has faster startup than the C version.

• This move can also reflect projectiles, making it excellent in zoning wars.

• A version can combo off of lights but not heavies (due to pushback), and both versions can be juggled into after db~f+D.

• Good to use to blow up predictable attacks with the autoguard.

• Can be hard to anti-air with, because if you're late the opponent can land and block before the strike comes out.

Hien Shippuu Kyaku: db~f+B/D

• Forward-traveling airborne move. B version causes a soft knockdown, while the D version puts the opponent into a very generous juggle state and thus is a vital combo tool.

• This move can be combo-ed after a cr.C, and is easiest to land after a jump-in.

Shoran Kyaku: hcb+B/D

• Takuma does a running command grab.

• Good to use when you expect the opponent to roll to avoid a fireball.

• Also good to use as a sneaky mixup tool after something like a j.B, though this should only be done occasionally.

• Can be used to make his projectiles unblockable thanks to the unblockable projectiles bug.

Desperation Moves

Shin Kishin Geki: qcfx2+A/C (close)

• Command grab DM. Hits on the second frame.

• The DM doesn't really have much range to it, and if you whiff it the opponent will have more than enough time to punish you.

• Can be combo-ed from f+A.

• Helps his mixup game a lot, since it's faster than hcb+K.

• Both versions are identical. The MAX version does significantly more damage than the regular versions.

Haoh Shikou Ken: f,hcf+A/C

• Standard Art of Fighting projectile DM.

• Can be combo-ed into a variety of ways, making it very handy for metered conversions.

• C version is good for winning projectile wars or using as a long-range punish. Also just good for controlling neutral generally.

• A version is slower than the C version. MAX version does more hits and damage.

Ryuuko Ranbu: qcf,hcb+A/C

• The classic Kyokugen ranbu DM.

• Takuma is invincible during the startup, and has very good priority.

• Makes for a great invincible anti-air.

• C version has slower start-up and is harder to combo into than the A version. MAX version does more hits and damage.

Combos

General Notes:

• In any metered combo with f,hcf+P/qcf,hcb+P, it can be replaced with f,hcf+AC/qcf,hcb+AC for more damage if you have the resources.

• f,hcf+P is less damaging in any given situation than qcf,hcb+P, but may be easier to input or more reliable to connect. It also works in juggles from db~f+D where qcf,hcb+P does not.

Meterless

Low

cr.Bx1-2, cr.A, f+A, qcf+C

Standard low confirm.

cr.Bx1-2, cr.A, f+A

Alternative low combo, has a delayed cancel into f+A as opposed to an immediate one. Does less damage than the previous one but grants hard knockdown with great oki.

cr.Bx1-2, f+A, f,b,f+P

Low confirm into f.b.f+A. Spacing/execution requirements are much tighter.

Mid/Jump-In

(j.X), cl.C, (f+A), qcf+C

Easy and safe combo from jump-in, no need to hit-confirm. f+A should be omitted if the pushback is too much.

(j.X), cl.C, f+A

More damaging jump-in combo that also grants hard knockdown with great oki. f+A must be a delayed cancel.

(j.X), cl.C, f+A, f,b,f+P

A less damaging crossup combo than a confirm into db~f+D. However, it does not require a charge. You can substitute cl.C for cr.Bx1-2.

(j.X), cr.C, db~f+D, f,b,f+P

Most damaging meterless combo, you need to charge down-back during your jump to get enough charge for db,f+D.

With Meter

Low

cr.Bx1-2, cr.A, f+A, qcf,hcb+A/f,hcf+C

Mid/Jump-In

(j.X), cl.C, f+A, qcf,hcb+A/f,hcf+C

(j.X), cr.C, db~f+D, f,hcf+C

With Quick MAX

Low

cr.B, cl.A, ABC, cl.C, f+A, qcf,hcb+A

Requires a microwalk before the cl.C.

cr.B, ABC, cr.C, db,f+D, f,hcf+C

Color Chart

• A: White/Black
• AB: Red/Blue
• B: Crimson Red
• BC: Green/Black
• C: Yellow
• CD: Beige/Brown
• D: Black (Mr. Karate AOF Color}
• AD: Paint White/Brown (Marco/Butt MOTW Color)

Strategy & Tips

• Takuma can perform the unblockable projectile glitch with qcf+P and hcb+K.

Videos

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

Takuma COMBO TUTORIAL f+A › Hien Shippu Kyaku by Adriano Lopes

• Tutorial video on how to combo into Takuma's db~f+K or [1]6K from his f+A command normal. English subtitles are available with closed captions.