Them's Fightin' Herds/Velvet

Overview

Strategy

Combos

Velvet
Species:	Reindeer
Playstyle:	Zoner (Keepaway)
HP:	5100
Meter Size:	250
Movement Options:	Slide
Voice Actor:	Tia Ballard
Stage(s):	Reine, Wee Hours

Profile

Velvet enjoys premiere status as a member of Reine City‘s ruling elite, the peak of modern civilization at the center of the world, high in the frozen north. She is the daughter of Jarl Stronghoof Hoofstrong, whose family line has been passed down his family line for generations.

No deer in Reine is Velvet’s equal in the practice of Winter Magic, in form nor in function. She is perfection personified, supremacy symbolized. Those who dare challenge her will be left with nothing but a cold shoulder.

A grand tournament was held in Reine City to determine who was most fit to answer the Council’s call and become Foenum’s Champion. Velvet trounced all opposition without so much as breaking a sweat. Haven’t heard the news? Well, you’re forgiven for now. Can’t rightly blame someone for living under a rock. You’ll see… soon enough.

Gameplan

Velvet's toolset allows for a more defensive, zoning playstyle. She has a good backdash, effective reversal, strong anti-airs, and oppressive projectiles, as well as a variety of specials to help lock the opponent down. However, her close-range options aren't the best, with few low attacks and poor framedata on her normals. While she can use various tools to pressure the opponent offensively, her offense is more based on traditional frametraps and throws rather than other mixups. Otherwise, her zoning is the most potent in the game.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Wide Array of Zoning Tools: Icicles, eruptions, shatters, and snowballs all contribute well to Velvet's versatile zoning Great Anti-Airs: Almost all of your normals have high hitboxes, or low profiles, giving you several versatile anti-airs to play around with High Meter Gain: Having the smallest meter size in the game, Velvet can gain meter easier than any other character, giving her near-constant access to Cross Canter, and making her already good level 3 super even more threatening. High Damage: High damage off of almost any starter and good chip damage means you can close off rounds with relatively few touches Good Defense: Having a 1 magic frame 19 reversal and several anti-airing moves, Velvet has tools to leave disadvantage once the opponent gets a hit. Knowledge of player patterns and character tools will be necessary to consistently take back your turn.

Resource Intensive: Velvet requires magic for a lot of her higher damage routes, zoning patterns, and pressure resets, making this gained-over-time resource valuable Committal Normals: A lot of your normals have high recovery, meaning they are very easy to whiff punish. This, on top of specific hitboxes, means you have to be extra wary of spacing Short Pressure Sequences: No safe resourceless special to end on means a lot of your pressure routes will end with your B normals, heavily restricting your offense. No unreactable lows also means she has a very hard time punishing upback Vulnerable to Corner: Requiring proper space for her gameplan against a roster of fast characters with fast movement options and long reach means it is easy for Velvet to be walked to the corner when disengaging

Movement Options

Jump: Velvet, like any other character, can jump. However, she has no super or shorthop variations.

Forward and Backdash: Velvet can do quick dashes forward and backward, but cannot run and walks fairly slow. Her backdash is the quickest in the game.

Slide: An ability unique to Velvet, Velvet can slide forward and backward if she crouches immediately after dashing, allowing her to approach/retreat while blocking low.

Normal Moves

5A

5A

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 35 Mid - 5 1 18 vs. Grounded 0 -1 vs. Airborne Velvet swipes out with her hoof once. Her fastest attack, good for quick challenges or punishes. Only has one active frame, so it's not great as a meaty or neutral tool. Hits higher than most other jabs, letting it be used to hit jumping or flying opponents.

6A

6A

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 70 Mid - 9 6 27 vs. Grounded -14 -11 vs. Airborne Velvet breathes a gust of frosty air upward to hit her opponents, airborne or on ground. Has the most active frames of any 6A, making it a reliable anti-air. Jump-cancels on hit.

5B

5B	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 35, 40 Mid - 10 1(9)1 19 vs. Grounded 0 -2 vs. Airborne Velvet quickly swings out her foreleg twice in an attempt to hit her opponent. Either hit can be cancelled.

5C

5C	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 155 Mid - 13 4 29 vs. Grounded 0 -15 vs. Airborne Velvet does a quick spin, before slamming her opponent with a wave of ice. Has good range, but will miss crouching opponents far away.

2A

2A	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 25 Mid - 6 6 14 vs. Grounded -2 -3 vs. Airborne Velvet pokes the enemy with an icicle. Not a low. Has a decent amount of active frames, as well as a disjoint, making it a better poke/meaty than 2A despite doing less damage.

2B

2B	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 90 Mid - 10 6 16 vs. Grounded 1 -3 vs. Airborne Velvet forms a small sculpture of ice resembling that of herself. Decent disjointed poke and punish starter.

2C

2C

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 170 Mid - 13 6 25 vs. Grounded 0 -14 vs. Airborne Velvet spins around and bucks the opponent with her back hooves. Has a very short hurtbox for the first 23 frames, making it good as a poke/anti air. Does more damage than 5C and hits crouchers at range, making it a more reliable punish. Can cancel into 5C if 5C was not used in the chain yet. Amazing anti-air.

3C

3C

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 130 Mid - 12 9 25 vs. Grounded Launch -16 vs. Airborne Velvet forms a beautiful, gorgeous sculpture of herself providing a totally-accurate-and-not-exaggerated-at-all representation of her strength to launch her opponents upward. Jump cancels on hit, horribly unsafe on block.

j.A

j.A	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 30, 50 High - 9 1(2)1 4 vs. Grounded vs. Airborne Velvet creates a quick, double-hitting cross with her legs. Has the best downwards hitbox of her jump normals.

j.B

j.B	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 20, 30, 80 High - 11 8(3)5 14 vs. Grounded vs. Airborne Velvet uppercuts with a volley of frost, multi-hitting opponents. Barely hits below her, but can hit opponents above her in midair.

j.C

j.C

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 60[x3] High - 16 6 16 vs. Grounded vs. Airborne Velvet spews out a cone of frost from her mouth, knocking opponents backward. Moves Velvet backwards, changing her jump arc. This move also induces a wall-bounce on midair opponents. You can only use one wall-bounce per combo. On grounded opponents, causes a ton of hitstun. Can cancel into icicle summon on whiff.

Special Moves

Icicle Missile

Icicle Missile 236A/B/C/j. "Beautiful!" "Beautiful!"

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 125 Mid - 50 - 27 vs. Grounded 38 29 vs. Airborne Velvet forms an icicle and fires it at the opponent. It takes a while to fire, and if Velvet is hit, the projectile is dismantled. Tends to whiff on crouching opponents midscreen and closer. 160 Mid - 76 - 27 vs. Grounded 39 31 vs. Airborne Same as before but with a longer delay and slightly more damage. 205 Mid - 106 - 27 vs. Grounded 41 34 vs. Airborne Same as before but with a long delay and even more damage. 160 Mid - 96 - 20 vs. Grounded 41 31 vs. Airborne Air icicle. Each version does the same damage and has the same delay. Instead, the icicle's angle is determined by button strength. A goes downwards, B has the same angle as a grounded icicle, and C goes perfectly straight. An air icicle can be active at the same time as a ground icicle, allowing Velvet to summon two icicles at a time.

Shatter

Shatter 214A/B/C >insert meniacal laughter here >insert meniacal laughter here

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 210 Low - 19 9 34 vs. Grounded HKD, 27 -19 vs. Airborne "Now, despite what she may say, Velvet is perfectly willing to touch you with a 10 foot pole." ~Oleander, on Velvet's Shatter A move Shoots a path of frost forward that hits low, and one of Velvet's only low attacks. Very disjointed, unsafe on block unless cancelled into magic attacks. Is considered a projectile. 250 Mid - 13 7 32 vs. Grounded HKD, 38 -17 vs. Airborne Summons ice spikes ontop of Velvet that hit enemies. Can't be cancelled into magic on block. Has a low hurtbox, but not really a good anti-air. Generally used as a combo ender. 175 High - 30 7 37 vs. Grounded Bounce -20 vs. Airborne An overhead that summons a massive icicle to crush the opponent. Slow overhead, but still effective, because players tend to try and crouch under icicles, 5C, and block low eruptions. Can be made safe if spaced or covered with an icicle. Also works as a combo extender, using a groundbounce.

Ice Eruption

Ice Eruption 623A/B/C "SPIKES!" "SPIKES!" "Stabby-stabby!" "Stabby-stabby!"

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 200 Low - 24 2 15 vs. Grounded Launch 2 vs. Airborne Velvet summons a patch of ice spikes beneath her opponent, dealing damage. Different versions summon at different distances, but they are always bounded by the side of the arena if they would otherwise exceed it. The light version of this attack does a short distance infront of her. One of Velvet's only low attacks. Is + on block. 200 Low - 24 2 15 vs. Grounded Launch 2 vs. Airborne The medium version of this attack summons spikes at a medium distance infront of her. 200 Low - 24 2 15 vs. Grounded Launch 2 vs. Airborne The heavy version of this attack summons spikes at a long distance infront of her.

Super

Ice Cyclone 236XX "TOOooooOORNADO!" "TOOooooOORNADO!"	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 20[x18], 100, 300 Mid - 0+10 90 90 vs. Grounded HKD -32 vs. Airborne Velvet creates a cyclone of wind and ice, blowing opponents away from her and hitting them multiple times as they are forced to the side of the screen.

Follow Up

Frostbite 214XX "CHILL OUT!" "CHILL OUT!"

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 10[x10], 150 Mid - 0 52 50 vs. Grounded 48 -17 vs. Airborne Velvet fortifies her cyclone, creating stronger, chilling winds that freeze her opponent (if hit), slowing them and their attacks down for a few seconds afterward. This move also instantly restores 3 stacks of magic when cast, and unlike other characters, can be cast regardless of if her Level 1 hits or not.

Level 3 Super

Sculpted Perfection 63214XX "You're quite beautiful! When you aren't moving." "You're quite beautiful! When you aren't moving." "Too cool for school." "Too cool for school."

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 100[x2], 200[x7], 400[x3], 200 Grab - 6+1 23 70 vs. Grounded 0 vs. Airborne Spend 3 bars to use an invincible command grab that is cannot be jumped after the super flash. It is inescapable when landing from a jump, allowing Velvet to mix between an unseeable command grab super, and an antiair blockstring into the inescapable command grab.

Throws

Forward Throw

Forward Throw B+C / 6B+C "Did you slip?" "Did you slip?"	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 400 Grab - 6 3 23 vs. Grounded HKD, 36 vs. Airborne Velvet grabs the opponent and freezes them, before tossing them away from her. Can be combo'd out of if an icicle/snowball is set up before.

Back Throw

Back Throw 4B+C "What have ve here...?" "What have ve here...?"	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 400 Grab - 6 3 23 vs. Grounded HKD, 39 vs. Airborne Velvet grabs the opponent and freezes them, before tossing them behind her.

Air Throw

Air Throw j.B+C	Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 75[x4] Grab - 8 3 18 vs. Grounded HKD 38+ vs. Airborne Velvet grabs the opponent and freezes them, before tossing them away from her. Can be combo'd out of with magic snowballs.

Magic

Velvet specializes in ice magic, and is tied with Paprika and Shanty for the most magic in the game with a maximum of 6 stacks. She starts with 0 magic at the beginning of the round, but regenerates it slowly. Using her follow-up super also restores 3 stacks of magic.

Instant Snowball

Instant Snowball 5D smug deer is smug smug deer is smug

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 125 Mid - 14 - 18 vs. Grounded 15, 32 14+, 32 vs. Airborne Velvet fires off a snowball quickly, using 1 stack of magic. Very fast, combos on hit, and is a massive +14 on block. Can be used to make moves like 2C or 214A safe, as well as being a very fast and effective projectile.

Snowball Toss

Snowball Toss 1D/2D/3D "Poke!" "Poke!" "Pew!" "Pew!" "Beautiful!" "Beautiful!"

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 125 Mid - 19 - 3 vs. Grounded 43 32 vs. Airborne Velvet fires a snowball from right behind her that goes in a long arc forward. Costs 1 stack of magic. 125 Mid - 19 - 3 vs. Grounded 43 32 vs. Airborne Velvet fires a snowball upward that goes in a high-arc to land just infront of her. Costs 1 stack of magic. 125 Mid - 19 - 3 vs. Grounded 43 32 vs. Airborne Velvet fires a snowball from far infront of her that goes in a long arc backward to land on her. Costs 1 stack of magic.

Magic Wind

Magic Wind 6D/4D "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier - - - 10 15+ 7 vs. Grounded vs. Airborne Velvet pushes the opponent away from her by pirouetting and creating strong winds. This move requires at least 1 stack of magic to be available to use and drains it slowly over time. This also pushes airborne opponents up. - - - 10 15+ 7 vs. Grounded vs. Airborne Velvet pulls the opponent closer to her by pirouetting and creating strong winds. This move requires at least 1 stack of magic to be available to use and drains it slowly over time.

Magic Ice Eruption

Magic Ice Eruption 623D

Base Damage Guard Properties Startup Active Recovery   Hitstop Hitstun Adv. on Hit Blockstop Blockstun Adv. on Block First Hit Juggle Decay Base Juggle Decay JDG Multiplier 100 [x3] Low - 19 2(3)2(3)2 10 vs. Grounded Tumble -6 vs. Airborne Velvet creates a quick, multi-hitting eruption of ice infront of her that hits low and forces opponents backward. It requires 1 stack of magic and provides her with invincibility for the first 19 frames while casting. Can be punished with a jump, but otherwise is a powerful reversal, being safe on normal block and comboing on hit.

Combos

General BnB

If you want a generally applicable route that works in most scenarios regardless of starter, consider this route:

• (Starter) 623A > 5C > 3C > Jump Cancel > j.A > j.B > 6A > 214C > Dash Forward > 6A > 5C > 214B

The above route and alternate versions of it can be seen here. This route works without consideration of the Juggle Decay system, and thus you'll miss out on the benefits of playing around the JD system in the long run. This combo is fine if you're starting out and don't want to go too in-depth on combo optimization and JD.

If you keep getting 214A after 6A when trying to 214C, try holding the A button until after doing 214C to avoid negative edge misinputs.

Midscreen

• 5A > 5B (2 hits) > 5C > 3C > j.A (2 hits) > j.A (2 hits) > j.B > 5A > 5B (2 hits) > 214B (611 damage)
• 2C > 623X > 66 > 5A > 5B(2 hits) > 5C > 3C > j.A (2 hits) > j.C (927 damage)
• 2B > 2C > 623A > 2B > 5C > 3C > j.A > j.B > 2B > 6A > 2B > 5C > 2C > 214A (1205 damage)
• 2B > 2C > 623A > 66 > 2B > 5C > 2C > 3C > j.A > j.B > 2B > 6A > 2B > 5C > 2C > 214A (1275 damage)
• 2B > 2C > 623A > 2B > 5C > 623A > 2B > 5C > 2C > 3C > j.A > j.B > 2B > 5C > 2C > 3C > 8214B (1392 damage)
• 2B > 2C > 623A > 5C > 3C > j.A > j.B > 2B > 5C > 2C > 3C > j.A > j.B > 2B > 3C > 3D > 5C > 3C > 8214B (1439 damage)

Icicle Missile Loops

Icicle Missile loops are a large part of what makes Velvet a technically difficult character. With proper timing, she can keep the opponent airborne with strings that end in a Tiger Knee(TK) inputted aerial Missile for massive tacked-on damage.

Almost every loop repetition starts with your standard launcher(3C) into backwards Snowball Toss(1D). This props the opponent up nicely for followup combos.

Colors

Velvet

Icy

Ice Pop

Solstice

Maniacal Laughter

Cotton Tail

Deep Winter

Strong Hoof

Below Zero

Neapolitan

Mulled Wine

Butter Caramel

640

Aura

Arctic Blue

Oh Deer

Ice & Fire

Chilling

Arctic

Deep Blue

Chestnut

Equinox

Niflheim

Valentino

VIP

Chilly Sunrise

Candy Floof

Winter Night

Frosty

Winter Sunset

Majestic Milliner

Glacial

Bird of Prey

FRZN

Tennis Shoes

A Song of Ice