Samurai Shodown V Special/Kyoshiro Senryo

千両 狂死郎, Senryo Kyoshiro

Colors

Introduction

Failed to begin an actor line, for his frog listens to no one but him.

Strong defensive space control and the ability to mix up from arm's reach combined is what makes Kyoshiro tick. To this effect, he has a good suite of tools to choose from and a bunch of ways to use them, gimmicky or otherwise. He's played most safely in the war of attrition, as his mixups range from risky to spectacularly risky. But nobody blocks the frog anyways.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Good range on normals. Really good mixup potential. Good at okizeme game Good chip damage tool to finish a round Good at turtling up and sitting on a lead. Many decent anti-air possibilities.	Bad at forcing damage, has a much more difficult fight when he's behind. Slow dash and jump. Relies heavily on normals, making him more vulnerable to deflections. Frog and stuff that do lot of damage are heavy punishable

Data

• Damage taken: 105%
• Rage duration: 10 seconds
• Amount to rage: 15
• Walk speed: 544
• Backwalk speed: 480
• Dash speed: 1200
• Jump duration: 59 frames
• Width: 16
• Throw range: 12
• Throw recovery: 50 frames

Normals

Far Slashes

5A: Pole swing. Generally an ok attack to throw out and does better against jumpins, but otherwise 2A will get better results.

5B: A decent range attack, but nothing really going for it compared to other normals and it has a high risk of getting jumped over.

5AB: An outstanding heavy that multi-hits but doesn't have problems connecting. This attack really capitalizes on Kyo's reach and is his default range punish. It also plays safe in neutral with potential recoil cancels.

2A: An incredibly quick and useful poke. Don't hesitate to throw this out as it's fast enough to be safe against jumpins and there's no real downside to it apart from being deflectable.

2B: Kyoshiro's primary low attack. A specialized normal that can rapidly hit them in the foot at halfscreen. Has major risks associated with jumpins due to the recovery, so use this sparingly.

2AB: A semi-fast anti-air heavy. You can sometimes rack up tons of damage with this just by reading jumps. Not safe at all on the ground and doesn't touch people unless they are airborne and close.

Near Slashes

n.5A: Great jab for tick throws and interruptions.

n.5B: No real use for this attack because the jab is so much better.

n.5AB: Remarkably fast heavy with a decently tall hitbox. Aside from normal use, this slash may catch someone trying to hop around near you.

n.2A: Quick slap to the shins.

n.2B: Same hitbox as n.2A, but slower in exchange for a little bit more damage.

n.2AB: Same as far version. Doesn't hit ground targets.

Overheads

5BC: A great overhead if you're really okay with using these. Great horizontal movement and hitbox. The distance and duration jumps clear over many projectiles.

u.5BC:

Kicks

5C: The clown's kicks are absolutely terrible in every way compared to slashes. This one can be used as a "get off me" poke, or you could use 5A, 2A or n.5A which are all faster and not as bad on block.

6C: Some say this is a move that exists, but I have never seen anyone use it. I hear it hits low.

2C: When they're all up in your grill and you don't think 2A will arrive fast enough.

3C: Sweeping kick

Jumping

j.A:

j.B: A horizontal spear poke. When you need more range, this attack will outclass j.AB.

j.AB: Kyo's strongest aerial. It shares the speed and good hitbox of n.5AB. It doesn't stay out long compared to j.B.

j.C:

Dashing

66A: Tick throw tool maybe? Super unsafe if blocked, has no cancel options, and Kyoshiro runs pretty slow. But you might catch someone with this, so go for it if you like gimmickry.

66B: Dashing overhead. More or less detectable, but always good to have. One possible gimmick is cancelling the startup phase into the frog (214C), although the cancel window comes a bit too early for this to be a truly effective fake-out.

66AB: A lookalike to n.AB, but with lower damage. Not a lot of use for this. Since Kyshiro's dash is so slow, why dash in and go for this when you have a nice, far-reaching 5AB? Has the same startup cancelling shenanigans as 66B, but with a bigger cancel window.

66C: Dashing low kick that knocks down. Hit confirm into a low pursuit.

Unarmed

u.5S:

u.2S:

ju.S:

u.66S: Knocks down like all unarmed dash attacks.

Pursuits

Small Pursuit - 2BC

Big Pursuit - 8BC With well-practiced timing, this pursuit can be chained from the frog. The risk of whiffing this and being punished is high.

System

Deflect - 216D:

Weapon Pickup - 5A:

Taunt Disarm - Start Start Start: Kyoshiro can confirm a frog tongue into the weapon discard, input it before the death blow when they hit the wall.

Specials

Ootsunami - 236S: (can be used unarmed) Ground projectile that is punishable on block if close. Mainly used just to keep them on their toes, as it's all he can safely do to someone at max distance.

Gama Jigoku - 214C: (can be used unarmed) The frog. An ultra high-risk low attack that reaches along the ground and deals impressive damage, but is incredibly punishable by most. It can also hit people on the ground for small damage as a sort of alternate pursuit attack.

Kaiten Kyokubu - 623S: An anti-air DP. Sometimes better than 2AB, to hit floaty jumps, the umbrella kid, and Yunfei Airlines. It puts all its chips on startup, so you might get an anti-air on react where 2AB would be stuffed. In rare cases the extreme range of the AB version could be useful, since it gets you to the other corner of the screen. The recovery is insanely long though.

Chikemuri Kuruwa - j.2S: Spin attack that can be used in midair, with a hitbox so huge it makes 623S feel inadequate. Great air-to-air for an unexpected high priority/crossup, but at the cost of landing recovery. Can also be used from a backdash for pretty effective instant overhead shenanigans.

Choubi Jishi - 214S: Kyoshiro does a wide horizontal multi-hit attack. The AB version hits quite a few times and launches him super far forward. All versions are extremely punishable so this move is just a round-ender gimmick.

Kaen Kyokubu - 421S: (can be used unarmed) A surprisingly good fire breath attack. It usually forces nearby opponents to block until it ends, returning you to neutral. It can sometimes be jumped over (or rolled under from getup) and punished. Otherwise, it's nearly impossible to hit Kyoshiro until the fire goes away. It will beat virtually anything on the ground, vaporize projectiles, and stuff most jumpins unless they jumped before you started. The knockback prevents much chip damage unless they're cornered, but they can be stuck in a position where trying to move (possibly even backdashing) will get them hit by the fire. The startup is high, so this is mostly an oki tactic. Though the duration can be predicted from the starting animation, its possible but still not particularly easy or safe to attempt punishing this from the front.

Aragotoshi Kyoshiro "Ketsuniku no Mai" - 236CD - WFT: Kyoshiro spins quickly across the ground to the other side of the screen. This can be seen coming lightyears away and is a subpar super that is mainly good for the amount of chip damage it does if they decide not to jump. It does have a respectable shoulder check and causes trouble for the low jumping characters.

Combos

Normal

• 66C 2BC

The Kyoshiro's 66C slow down really quick and can be guarded and punished, so be carefull when you use it.

• 66C 2BC (Center)

If you're to close you have to do a small walk or dash (depend on distance) to hit with 2BC.

• 3C 2BC (Corner)

In corner you can 2BC freely.

• 421A 2BC (Corner)

It does few damages. Usually you'll prefer doing another 421S or whathever.

• 236CD 2BC (Corner)

Same. The damage added are not that good. You'll prefer doing 421S or whathever.

• 214C 8BC (Center)

If you practice enough the timing, you can do it regular.

• 214C 8BC (Corner)

Carefull, if you're to close you may have difficulties to do it, and if you do you'll be hard punished.

• 214C xx ABC xx 8BC (Corner)

This one is a finish move, use it when you know you gonna win the match. It does a lot of damage so have fun.

• 236CD 8BC (Center)

You can do 66 in the animation of the WFT and maintain 6 to dash as soon as possible. This combo works only against heavy characters as Kusaregedo, Gaira and Tam Tam.

• 236CD 8BC (Corner)

Be aware that the 8BC timing is not the same for the WFT than the Frog. In this case do the 8BC as soon as possible.

• n.2A xx 623A

Not the simpliest timing of the game, but this combo exist.

Jump

• j.AB 214C 8BC/Whathever

You'll probably never use it, but this combo exist. Can be followed up by 8BC or okizeme move.

• j.AB 214C 8BC/Whathever (Backhit)

Easier in backhit. Can be followed up by 8BC or okizeme move.

Anti-air

• j.AB

Your j.AB is a good anti-air move because it's very fast.

• 2AB

It's more tricky to use because you can be hitted by your opponent first (or having a double hit) but this move is a decent anti-air if you know how and when use it.

• 44 2S

The third anti-air of Kyoshiro, this one is even more tricky than 2AB (for the same reasons) but it's a very good anti-air.

Gimmick

• 66B xx 214C (Karacancel)

It may surprise your opponent. This one is more a gimmick or a yolo gambling than a real move.

• 66AB xx 214C (Karacancel)

Same. It may surprise your opponent but don't count on it in long term.

Shenanigan

• 66B xx 214C

This one is more reliable. Still a gambling, if your opponent guard both 66B and 214C you'll get oblitered.

• 421A + 214C/Whathever

After 421A you can do 214C, if your opponent want to punish he will get hit by the frog. You can mixup with 623S (anti-air) or 216D (deflect) or guard instead.

• 44 2S

Instant overhead. You're offering you to a free punish if it's guarded. You should not abuse of it.

• 2A 44 2S (Center)

Use this one when you want to pressure and force low guard to bait the instant overhead.

• 2A 2A 44 2S (Corner)

Same principe but with two 2A in corner.

• 5AB xx 216D xx 214C 8BC/Whathever

You can't do it against all character. 5AB xx 216D xx 214C is more safe than 5AB xx 214C but it's rage-cancellable with ABC. Can be followed up by 8BC or okizeme move.

Pure luck, absolute yolo gambling loto, don't use it unless carpe diem is your way of life

• 236CD (Meaty/Crossup)

It may crossup your opponent in meaty if you have a godlike read (or insane luck).

• 4CD 214C (Throw cheese)

Cheesy play on careless opponent, may work once if you're lucky enough. +50 cool point if you manage to place it. May be mixed with WFT if your opponent jump to escape another throw cheese.

Time slow

• j.AB j.AB j.AB 2S

Can be usefull to know this. Due to the amount of meditation needed to do this, you'll almost never do the three j.AB, so don't try to force the third j.AB and stop to the second or first. Anyway you will rarely use the time slow with Kyoshiro.

• 2B 214C or BCD

If they don't block the 2B you can freely use the frog or issen.

• n.5A 2C BCD

Standard strat to try to open the guard and get the issen. You can use the n.5A for tick throw purpose. Anyway as I said before, don't count too much on the time slow as Kyoshiro.

• 5B 214C

If you're used to the cheese gimmickly strat with Kyoshiro, this one often works the first time, so feel free to use it (but only once per person!). You can do only the 214C too.

Link

Here is a playlist with some videos to show how to do the combos.

Strategies

General

Kyoshiro is a very strong defensive character with good range and damages. With him, you want to force your opponent to stay far and made him make mistakes to control space and punish him. By the way, even if he's a zoning/defensive character, he's not weak at all at close combat courtesy of falling spin.

Zoning and poking

Due to his good range on his normals, Kyoshiro has a good set for zoning and poking purpose.

• 2A - Quick and usefull poke, it's fast and can be spammed because it's pretty safe. But be carefull because it can be deflected.
• 2B - Hit low from far range, it's an usefull poke if you use it wisely. The main problem of this normal it's that can be punished with a good read, jumping opponent or character with good range.
• 5B - This one can be jumped over and being deflected but has many use thanks to the recoil cancel.
• j.B - Really great air option. Against some match-up you can literally abuse of this and having the priority against all attack and never being punished. If blocked backdash, if they run toward you add 2S to the backdash.
• 5BC - One of the greatest overhead in the game, jump over many projectiles, great range and good damage. Thanks to the frog and 2B, people often turtle with low guard, giving you good opportunities to do it. Not safe if blocked and you'll be thrown in most of case.
• 236S - Don't use it if it's not from far screen or you'll be punished by an AB by almost every character in the game. Even for chip damage or for poking purpose you'll have better option in any case.

Anti-air

2AB, 5AB, j.AB, j.B, 44 2S, 623S, 236CD... Kyoshiro got so many options to anti-air someone. The main problem and difficulty of this amazing set that is difficult to know which option use on which situation. The three best options are j.AB, 2AB and 44 2S.

If someone jump and do an action, do the j.AB, didn't work? Go for the 2AB, didn't work? Go the the 44 2S. With these three option you can cover almost everything (if it's not everything).

Okizeme

Kyoshiro has a really good okizeme tools, 5BC, 3C, 421S, 44 2S, 66B... Not all of these options are safe but if you mix-up enough you'll be very annoying for your opponent every time you knockdown him because of the low, overhead and chip damage mix-up.

The 421S option is a good one to do some chip damages (and the A version is pretty safe and can be followed up by the frog) but if you do it immediatly after knockdowned your opponent, he will not wake-up and stay on the ground to avoid the chip damages.

Round finisher and chip damage

One of the Kyoshiro' strenghts is his ability to chip damages and ending rounds (with chip damages or not).

• 214AB - Gimmickly but you can use the fire dash after recoil cancelling a 5B/5AB. If your opponent don't jump you'll kill him with the chip damages.
• 421S - After a knockdown against a cornered opponent, this one is pretty usefull to end a round. Be carefull of the slide effect if your opponent roll.
• 2S - When your opponent got 1 or 2 "chip health point" you can jump and do the 2S. This won't work against every character (Enja or Kazuki can 2AB as anti-air).
• 236CD - This one has ridiculously strong chip damages. But because of it your opponent will be on guard and jump over if you do it blindly. Anyway if you manage to hit (on guard) your opponent will not be able to ABC for escape.
• 214C xx ABC xx 8BC (corner) - This one is more a match ender than a round ender but it does really hurt. The best thing about that is a that's lot easier than the normal 214C 8BC.

Cheese, gimmick and shenanigan

In addition of his range, his anti-airs options, his okizeme game and his chip damage, Kyoshiro can be a really cool gambling character with high risks but also high rewards.

That can be an empty throw into the frog, low punch into backdash spin, forward dash attack into frog... The clown got many stuff in his set to force some panic punish reaction to get frogged. But as I said, it's high rewards but also high risks, so don't use these strategies as they were normals strategies, the goal isn't to play yolo and to do random move!

These strats works on people when you usually play normaly. The empty throw will works only if you did before only normals throws on the same opponent, the change will make him fell for that nearly only in that case, and only once. So use them wisely.

Time Slow vs. Rage

Kyoshiro will almost never use the time slow, the sword gauge boost and the anti-air/chip damages capacity of the WFT are more consistents strengths than the time slow. Anyway if your opponent jump you can j.AB and finish with 2S/another j.AB.

Frame Data

Move	Damage	Startup	Active	Total	Cancel	Weapon Clash	Hit Adv.	Backhit Adv.	Block Adv.	Guard	Notes
5A	6	7	3	26	1~4(4) / 10~15(6)	-	-9	-9	-12	Mid	Weak attack, Deflectable(weak)
5B	11	13	3	33	1~7(7)	11~12(2) / 16~18(3)	-2	+6	-18	Mid	Medium attack, Deflectable(med)
5AB	5, 24	15	3	45	1~2(2)	6~14(9) / 18~20(3)	+8	+18	-26	Mid	Weak attack, Deflectable(heavy)
2A	6	8	3	21	1~7(7)	-	-3	-3	-12	Mid	Weak attack, Deflectable(weak)
2B	11	12	2	36	1~4(4)	10~12(3)	-6	+2	-18	Low	Medium attack
2AB	27	13	9	47	1~2(2) / 36~39(4)	-	-3	+13	-26	Mid	Heavy attack, Deflectable(heavy)
n.5A	4	5	3	18	1~4(4) / 8~18(11)	-	-3	-3	-8	Mid	Weak attack
n.5B	7	11	5	34	x	-	-5	+3	-18	Mid	Medium attack
n.5AB	29	14	3	58	1~3(3)	12~13(2)	-7	+3	-26	Mid	Heavy attack, Deflectable(heavy)
n.2A	4	5	2	10	1~2(2) / 5~10(6)	-	+5	+5	+0	Mid	Weak attack
n.2B	7	10	2	29	x	-	-1	+7	-14	Mid	Medium attack
n.2AB	27	13	9	47	1~2(2) / 36~39(4)	-	-3	+13	-26	Mid	Heavy attack, Deflectable(heavy)
5C	6	9	10	33	1~5(5)	-	-6	+2	-19	Mid	Medium attack
6C	6	8	10	35	1~3(3)	-	-17	-17	-22	Low	Weak attack
2C	2	5	4	21	1~4(4)	-	-6	-6	-11	Low	Weak attack
3C	6	14	5	36	1~4(4)	-	KD	KD	-17	Low	Knockdown attack
u.3C	6	16	4	36	1~4(4)	-	KD	KD	-17	Low	Knockdown attack
j.A	4	6	23	32	1~3(3)	-	--	--	--	High	Weak attack
j.B	9	12	8	43	x	-	--	--	--	High	Medium attack, Deflectable(med)
j.AB	25	10	3	40	x	-	--	--	--	High	Heavy attack, Deflectable(heavy)
j.C	5	8	6	17	x	-	--	--	--	High	Medium attack
ju.C	5	8	6	17	x	-	--	--	--	High	Medium attack
5BC	16	20	5	x	1~2(2)	-	KD	KD	-13	High	Medium attack Knockdown attack
u.5BC	6	20	8	x	1~3(3)	-	KD	KD	-23	High	Medium attack Knockdown attack
66A	4	14	5	37	x	-	-5	+3	-18	Mid	Medium attack
66B	11	20	2	48	9~10(2) / 34~35(2)	-	KD	KD	-23	High	Medium attack Knockdown attack
66AB	15	15	3	44	1~14(14)	-	KD	KD	-24	Mid	Knockdown attack
66C	4	3	6	32	x	-	KD	KD	-24	Low	Knockdown attack
u.5S	4	11	5	34	1~3(3)	-	-5	+3	-18	Mid	Medium attack
u.2S	3	7	2	24	1~2(2)	-	-7	-7	-12	Mid	Weak attack
ju.S	5	6	21	30	x	-	--	--	--	High	Weak attack
u.66S	4	10	7	30	1~9(9)	-	KD	KD	-15	Mid	Knockdown attack
u.66C	4	3	6	32	x	-	KD	KD	-24	Low	Knockdown attack
2BC	5	18	2	42	x	-	--	--	--	Mid
u.2BC	4	3	3	11	x	-	--	--	--	Mid
8BC	13	39	3	113	x	-	--	--	--	Mid
u.8BC	8	39	1	74	x	-	--	--	--	Mid
Ootsunami - 236A	9	17	x	60	x	-	-6	KD	-31	Mid	Medium attack 7-9f throw invincible
Ootsunami - 236B	9	19	x	68	x	-	-12	KD	-37	Mid	Medium attack
Ootsunami - 236AB	9	22	x	71	x	-	-12	KD	-37	Mid	Medium attack
Chikemuri Kuruwa - j.2S	22	1	x	x	x	-	KD	KD	-67	Mid	Knockdown attack
Gama Jigoku - 214C	22	17	5	117	x	-	KD	KD	-73	Low	Knockdown attack fixed damage
Kaen Kyokubu - 421A	17	35	35	87	x	-	KD	KD	-9	Mid	Knockdown attack
Kaen Kyokubu - 421B	17	36	52	109	x	-	KD	KD	-13	Mid	Knockdown attack
Kaen Kyokubu - 421AB	17	38	84	153	x	-	KD	KD	-21	Mid	Knockdown attack
Kaiten Kyokubu - 623A	18	9	18	62	x	-	KD	KD	-47	Mid	Knockdown attack 1-8f knees-head invincible 9-26f throw invincible
Kaiten Kyokubu - 623B	18	9	24	71	x	-	KD	KD	-56	Mid	Knockdown attack 1-8f knees-head invincible 9-32f throw invincible
Kaiten Kyokubu - 623AB	18	9	26	128	x	-	KD	KD	-113	Mid	Knockdown attack 1-8f knees-head invincible 9-34f throw invincible
Choubi Jishi - 214A	17	17	12	88	x	-	KD	KD	-56	Mid	Knockdown attack 1-7f upper body invincible 14-16f fully invincible 4 hits on guard
Choubi Jishi - 214B	18	20	19	100	x	-	KD	KD	-57	Mid	Knockdown attack 1-10f upper body invincible 7 hits on guard
Choubi Jishi - Ranshin - 214AB	23	31	28	143	x	-	KD	KD	-83	Mid	Knockdown attack 1-20f fully invincible 7 hits on guard
Ketsuniku no Mai - 236CD	30	20	35	95	x	-	KD	KD	-29	Mid	Knockdown attack. 20-54f throw invincible 14 hits on guard