Sakura Strategy and Match-up Thread (2.0)

Yeah, you know what. I was testing something wrong, I was wondering how I was getting a combo but was me making a mistake. Which makes sense since hk tatsu is only +2 on hit, just sets up a frame trap.

any tips on rufus sakura?

Zone him with fireballs and throw in some random charged fireballs to possibly catch dive kicks. Know your anti airs, I use standing jab to stop dive kicks close up. Meeting him air to air with j.mp works pretty well. If he is using cr.fierce alot to control the space you can focus dash forward on reaction and catch the end of it with cr.mk into dp if you know the spacing properly. Make sure you use os crouch tech with cr.hp, it takes away so much of his dive kick game. Learn the timing in training mode of when to os crouch tech after a blocked divekick. As a rule of thumb its always better to block a divekick standing, if your crouching it allows him to do dive kick cross ups and he hes more frame advantage.

When I get a knockdown I like to use cr.hp -> lk.tatsu. Then if it hits I go into whatever, but if its blocked I use nj.hk. The reason I do this is cause if you do cr.hp during ex messiah it makes ex messiah go over sakura for some reason and you get a full tatsu loop punish. If he blocks the cr.hp -> lk. tatsu then nj.hk will stuff ex messiah if he tries after that. This is just a little tip if your scared of ex messiah. Let him burn ex messiahs, as long as your not grounded he cant do much damage from it and cant fadc it but obviously be smart about it, try and bait it.

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These can prove to be somewhat handy… but these are dangerous to try! They are especially dangerous against an opponent who likes to DP or grab a lot.

Here is my reasoning: All of this stuff is done on block. Meaning that the opponent has a quicker time to react than you do after you perform your tatsu. This leaves you at a huge disadvantage. You also open yourself up to get punished to high heaven.

Another issue is spacing. If you’re frame trapping, it’s usually best to frame trap someone who is in the corner. Although it’s possible to frame trap someone in mid screen, it’s not as easy to do as opposed to an opponent who is in the corner. Doing these tatsu crossups will end up putting you in the corner or simply causing your HK/MK tatsu to push your opponent further back. It will also stop your frame trapping strategy because the MK/HK tatsu has less recovery time as the LK tatsu.

Very very dangerous.
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Yeah for sure, but its got some uses. With bison I sometimes use this mid screen to take away his charge and set up a frame trap. Thats if I can make him respect my lk tatsu loops on block.

You can’t set up frame traps from mk/hk shunpu since they are both - on block.
This is only worth going for when the hit is going to win the round.

but the cross up hits leaving you at +2 setting up a frame trap?? I had my friend mash jab after the cross up hit and it was working fine for me.

Su

Sure, they can punish you if they react to the tatsu and hit you out of it, but that tatsu is obviously safe on hit or on block… Seems like these could be useful and not so dangerous in a lot of situations.

But when you’re crossing up, you’re hoping it’s going to hit. So if it hits, like you want it to, sure you can frame trap.

Thanks for the tips, very useful! Also I was testing j.mk and nj.mk and they beat all his options and stuff all his normals on the ground. I believe nj.hk loses to his far standing medium punch.

I don’t play on hopes and prayers

I u2 it and it hit twice. Maybe at higher level play it wont work since most ppl on psn have ADD.

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I 2nd Sakura now.
Resets are so overrated.

How do I get the meaty tatsu to beat ex psycho crusher? I’m not sure of the timing…

Wait till he’s almost on his feet.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

That chick from Serei no Moribito is insanely powerful. No body should be that good.

same window where you can throw them if you don’t know throw timing, it’s quite late. test it if you need to.

in terms of real numbers, throw is 3f startup. lk tatsu is 16f. adjust as necessary.

sure wish this thread would get updated.

i’m getting blown up by a 9000 bp hakan.

>Battle points

Was there further strategy advice to Hakan than ‘neutral jump’?