Ultimate Sakura Match-Up Thread (3.0) {WIP}

TheBlackHombre · November 26, 2013, 4:05am

This thread will be the accumulation of all relevant Sakura information organized into one thread. This thread is currently undergoing construction and will be updated one character at a time in alphabetical order until completion.

Shoutouts to Funkie, MichaelGalardi, Fergus2k8, Shano, and A-LX for awesome awesome tech, info, and videos!

Notable links worth checking out:
[The Notebook - in-depth character specifics](The Notebook - in-depth character specifics
Sakura Safe Jumps and Setups
Sakura Option Selects
Sakura Video Match Ups
Skatan Milla Blog (on mainly Sakura)

General Info

[details=Spoiler]General Safe Jumps
HP dp > 1mm walk forward j.HP/HK, (if they late wakeup) -> whiff st.LP, nj.HK
HP dp (corner) > whiff st.LP, nj.HP (hits infront, lands behind) / j.MK (crossup), (if they late wakeup) -> whiff st.LP, nj.HP/MK again

Throw > small step back > j.MK/HP (safe jump; makes dp’s whiff)
Throw > whiff cr.MP > j.MK (alternative, makes shotos dp’s whiff except Akuma - he can walk away due to his fast walk speed)
Throw > st.LP > j.MK (5-frame safe jump)
Throw > st.LK > j.HP (fake crossup on Sagat/Cammy)

Sweep > slight step back > j.mk/HP

Use j.HK for safe jumps against Cammy and Sagat otherwise it will whiff (they wake up a few frames slower than the rest of the cast).

General Corner Setups
Throw in corner > whiff cr.LK > j.HK (fake crossup, timing is hard)
Throw in corner > whiff cr.LP > j.HP (fake crossup, timing is hard)[/details]

Match-Ups
Characters will be listed without initials (I.E. M.Bison = Bison, E.Honda = Honda, C.Viper = Viper)

Abel

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Match-Up

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MichaelGalardi
I saw that this match is either even or slightly in Sakura’s favor. Typically, whoever gets knocked down first loses. Try to keep this guy cornered and keep pressuring him or he will pressure you. Because counter pokes from both sides are egregiously hard; footsies are dead even. A LK tatsu after a deep jump in RH or FP will beat absolutely anything abel chooses to do, or put you at equal advantage. Because footsies are dead even, a well timed LVL 1 or EX hadoken will be your best poke. Wheel kicks are incredibly unsafe! The most reliable punishes are MP shoryuken on block or cr.HP on reaction. Understand that mashing cr. tech after stepkick will get your grabbed because you have frame adv. delay/time your cr. tech properly. Also both st.LP and HP whiff on Sakura after stepkick. Therefore, you always have frame advantage after a blocked stepkick. In these situations, you only have to worry about EX tornado. For this reason, every option of his can be beat by either jumping or cr. teching.

Abel absoluely cannot be 50-50’d due to his hitbox. Because of this, we must resort to alternate methods of pressure. At any time attempting the 50-50, sakura will either all-blockable, or cross him up, leaving it extremely easy for Abel to block any jump-in attempt. -There are alternate methods of getting a proper corner 50/50, but they are incredibly inconsistent.

Be careful! Many people are misinformed on how carpable Abel’s wakeup is. Abel has an answer for every single wakeup timing and spacing. It is up to you to pay attention to which on is best for the situation, and player you are against. (I.E. if he has meter, corner or midscreen, if he can armor-cancel (shown in intro of video)).

Final verdict. 5-5 even. Sakura, as proven in this video, undoubtedly has more tools to dominate with than Abel, but all of those tools are nullified by the power of armor canceling.
http://youtu.be/1hXoaNabD-4

Old Matchup Info

What I do for Abel is I do a light shinpuukyaku torwards him, then jump as he tries to grab you for it. After that just punish him for it by kicking the shit out of him. Being in the air is a No-No against him 'cause he’ll just do falling star and put you into the dirt. Instead use light Shinpuukyaku a lot 'cause there isn’t much he can do against it. WHEN ABEL ROLLS YOU CAN THROW HIM OUT OF IT~! So you see him roll, throw that sucka!

Special-K-

Rekka is punishable after first hit and if he tries to roll past you, you can either:
a) sweep
b) throw

Either way you get knockdown and the potential to turn the tides. ? GoDSh0t

His U2 can be broken in many ways:
Reversal Ultra, all shunpuus, all shouoken’s, ex hadoken.

You can escape by using air kara tatsu. ex air kara tatsu goes full screen.

Try to keep this guy cornered and keep pressuring him or he will pressure you.

You can lp shou his wheel kicks on reaction. Both Ultras will also punish any wheel kicks on reaction. If you want to fight him air to air then use j. lp alot.

U2 is recommended for this match but I still use U1 vs Abel. - Mr. Flowers

Safe Jumps / Setups

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Unblockables
#1 Ex.shunpu, dash, sweep, c.lp, j.hp (early)
#2 Ex tatsu, j.HP, land, HK otoshi (won’t combo, but leads to unblockable otoshi setup)
#3 Opponent blocking: cr.lk, st.lk (chain throw for roll OS), cr.lk, HK otoshi (unblockable otoshi setup)

Corner Setups
#1 Focus crumple > dash > j.hk (late), whiff cr.lk, jump back HK (instant overhead - safe on hit, unsafe on block - but who would block, c’mon)
#2 Focus crumple > dash > j.hp (late), jump forward HP (double crossup)

Option Selects

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#1 OS throw beats Rolls
#2 OS sequence (if opponent blocks): jump in (os throw), lk tatsu, jump back HK/MK, land crouch block (watch matchup video for clarification)
#3 block > jump > backdash to get out of Tornado Throw pressure

Skatan Milla
If Abel is mixing you up with xup mk into pressure or empty jump TT/EX TT the best option you’ve got is to option select that mixup.
Basically the** option select is block > jump > backdash, you input it in that order.**
You want to block just so long so that IF he did j.mk you’ll block it.
IF he did an empty jump you’ll have inputted jump at that point, since it takes longer for Abel to land and do a move than it does for j.mk to get blocked.
After you input the jump you start inputting backdash so that if you blocked j.mk you’ll start backdashing in case he tries to pressure you with a blockstring or if he goes for an instant TT.

Of course Abel has answers to this option select, but that’s only if he’s even aware that it exists and you’re using it.
But this is an option select I figured out myself against Zangief, but it works against any other character as well.
So it shouldn’t be well known.
The option select also works against characters that like to mix you up with jumpin/empty jump throw/empty jump c.lk.

Character Specific Combo(s)

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cr.lk/lp, cr.lp, cr.hp xx lk tatsu, cr. hp xx ender
cl.mk xx lk tatsu, st.hp xx lk tatsu, cr. hp xx lk tatsu, cr.hp xx ender

Adon

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Match-Up

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Old Match-Up Info
All the specials of Adon are armor breakable, expect his jaguar kick if he does it from air (the circular kick), it is VERY UNSAFE to try a focus attack against him. Don’t forget you can punish his “dive kick” (i think it’s jaguar tooth) by a well timed c.fierce (not so difficult to get the timing). Punish the circular kick by ex dp (harder timing), and the wiffed ones by c.mk to dp. ? Richmonx

The thing that I would be aiming for, would be the instant right after I block his jaguar tooth. I’d go straight into a focus attack. After that, I would either release the focus right after his first jab, and/or dash and low jab and then throw. However, that would be the only time that I would ever attempt a focus attack since Adon has alot of armor breakers. Luckily, his jaguar kick is not an armor breaker so if he tries one after his jaguar tooth I’m pretty sure only the first hit connects at that range, and then he’ll be in for some punishment. I wouldn’t worry too much about his anti-air since they don’t really do much damage. Like Sakura, a majority of the damage he does are from combos. I think standing fierce punch or roundhouse (Note that a standing roundhouse or fierce punch becomes like an anti-air if the opponent is close enough) will punish fake jump-ins and would also try to cross-up as much as possible after knocking him down keeping in mind to time/distance your light kick cross-up well. ? minase

his normal jaguar kicks are -3/-2 on hit, air jaguars can be focussed

Safe Jumps / Setups

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Safe Jumps
#1 Throw c.lk j.hp safe mixup jump after throw on adon
#2 Throw st.lk j.mk (safe jump)
#3 corner hp.srk nj.hk c.lk c.lk j.hp/j.mk (50/50)

Corner Setups
#1 EX Tatsu, otoshi x2, dash, lk dp, j.hk(late) hits xup lands behind
#2 Mp.shouken UF j.mk (safe xup) on delayed wakeup. st.lk nj.hk (safe jump) or do j.mk again for another safe xup.
#3 EX tatsu, Otoshi x2 whiff 3 c.hp backdash j.hp (hits behind) j.mk (hits infront) i perfer j.hk (hits infront)
#4 EX tatsu, Otoshi x2 jumpback dash j.hk (very very late) (hits infront) j.mk(hits behind)
#5 Ex.tatsu dash sweep dash mk.shunpu - This will cross him up and you can combo full with cl.st.hp if he is blocking standing up. If he is sitting down it will hit him and your still infront and can combo him. Safe vs. Reversals and Ultra.
#6 Throw - st.lk, J.hp / Mk (50/50)

Option Selects

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Character Specific Combo(s)

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cr.lk/lp, cr.lp, cr.hp xx lk tatsu, cr.mk xx hp dp
cr.lk/lp, cr.lp, cr.hp xx lk tatsu, sweep
cl.mk xx lk tatsu, cl.hp xx lk tatsu, cr.hp xx lk tatsu, cr.mk xx hp dp

Akuma

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Match-Up

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If they like to xup tatsu on wake up, use wake-up U2 to keep them honest. It also looks nice because Akuma is behind you when it hits. - dragonballjoseph

Focus attack is great vs his s.hk. Absorb the first hit and release after the second hit whiffs while she is crouching. If he is doing jump back fireball alot you can shouoken to get under it and punish him. The strength used depends on the distance he is from you.

You can use lp shouoken to escape any demon flip shens but if he does demon upon landing you are screwed so mix up how you deal with demon flips or just be careful once he has ultra.

You won’t win a fireball war against him but you can war a little to build meter or get him to come to you or look for a chance to ex otoshi.

U2 is best for this match to catch demon flips and after lp shouoken’s that catch his jump back fireball. - Mr. Flowers

OS block his j.hk/tatsu

Safe Jumps / Setups

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Safe jump
#1 Hp.shouoken, walk fw, j.hp
#2 throw 1mm back j,hp
#3 (corner) fw.throw c.lp j.hp (hits infront) j.mk (behind)

Corner Setups
#1 Otoshi x2, UF, c.mp j.hp (late) (unblockable)
-If Akuma does nothing, he won’t be hit-
(Options Select the unblockable with jump back c.mk xx hp.shouoken)
#2 Otoshi x2 (whiff 3d at the end) c.hp, backdash, j.mk (unblockable)
-he can only focus dash out of this one-
(Options Select the unblockable with jump back c.mk xx hp.shouoken)
#3 Otoshi x2, dash, lp.shouoken, j.mk (safe vs. everything 100% unblockable)
~os backjump, c.mk xx hp.shouoken to cover his teleports.
#4 Otoshix2 (whiff 3d) backdash, lk.shunpu j.hp/j.mk
#5 EX tatsu, otoshi x2, backdash, lk tatsu, dash, lk tatsu (hits meaty and crosses up)
#6 EX tatsu, backdash, lp dp, U2, dash x3, lk tatsu (hits meaty and crosses up)
#7 Ex.shunpu dash sweep dash mk.shunpu - This will cross him up and you can combo full with cl.st.hp if he is blocking standing up. If he is sitting down it will hit him and your still infront and can combo him. Safe vs. Reversals and Ultra?

Setup
#1 Any bnb or c.mk into hp.shouoken fadc lk.shunpu
(blocking DB makes it xup) (blocking FD makes it hit and xup)
#2 ex.shunpu dash sweep dash c.lp lk.shunpu (semi unblockable)
#3 mp.shouoken UF j.hk (safejump) dash dash lk.shunpu (semi unblockable)

Option Selects

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#1 OS block j.hk/tatsu (vortex)
#2 OS jump forward/back after jump in, land cr.mk xx dp to punish teleport (ex tatsu won’t reach teleport)

Character Specific Combo(s)

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cl.mk xx lk tatsu, cl.hp xx lk tatsu, cr.hp xx hp dp

Balrog

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Match-Up

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Old Match-Up Info
s.LK > EX Tatsu punishes Straight punches range dependant - TOKiMONSTA

As a charging character, he hates to be crossed up. He also doesn’t has cross-ups of his own. So my main priority is to try to knock him down and cross him up. Most of Boxers that tries to headbutt my cross-ups usually misses so I time my cross-up just a split second before he turns to the other side. His dashing straight can be focused, so in some instances I do try to throw him after a focus dash. Then I can either attempt a cross-up, crouching jab, do nothing, and lot of other things. Another thing that I find effective against charging characters like Rog is after the launch-into-midair with EX hurricane kick, instead of following-up with jump-smash, mix up with a jumping roundhouse or a well-timed jumping light kick to land on the opposite side and then go for another combo. - minase

You got to be really good at blocking in this match because he can out footsie you easily. Anytime you see him flash yellow (ex moves) hit grab or ultra. As stated by others cross ups and empty cross ups are good in this one. Chuck in an overhead now and again to shake him up whenever you feel safe enough to try one. Do not just blindly jump in at this guy. He is great at controlling space.

U1 for this match. You need the damage and if you are lucky you can catch a ex move with U1. - Mr. Flowers

*TC note: a meaty lk.tatsu on wakeup is safe because headbutt will miss you (do it a little bit later then normal). Ultra will probably hit you though.

Safe Jumps / Setups

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Corner Setups
EX tatsu, otoshi x2, backjump, dash, j.mk (fake crossup) / j.lk (crosses up, delay if necessary)
EX tatsu, otoshi x2, lk tatsu, mk tatsu, cr.lp -safe to all reversals

Option Selects

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Character Specific Combo(s)

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cr.lk/lp, cr.lp, cr.mp xx lk tatsu, cr.hp xx hp dp
cl.st.hp xx lk.shunpu, c.hp xx lk.shunpu, c.hp xx hp dp

Bison

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Match-Up

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Safe Jumps / Setups

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Option Selects

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Character Specific Combo(s)

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Layout for Editing Purposes
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Match-Up
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Safe Jumps / Setups
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Option Selects
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Character Specific Combo(s)
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TheBlackHombre · November 26, 2013, 4:05am

Reserved

TheBlackHombre · November 26, 2013, 4:05am

Reserved

TheBlackHombre · November 26, 2013, 4:05am

Reserved