Samurai Shodown/Yashamaru Kurama

Yashamaru Kurama
鞍馬 夜叉丸, Kurama Yashamaru

Introduction

Yashamaru is a relatively straightforward character focused on fundamentals and aerial mobility. He is the only character in the game with access to a double-jump, which allows him to play his neutral game from the air as well as from the ground. His long-reaching, damaging strikes lend themselves naturally to a keepout playstyle, although he also has a basic, yet functional mixup between his 66C overhead and 66D low slide.

Another thing that makes Yashamaru unique is how much he benefits from Rage: EX Arctic Tempest can cross up, depending on range, and his raged 5C and EX Wintry Gust both grant a followup on hit. It is not uncommon for Yashamaru to deal 40% damage or more when enraged. However, with just 3 Special moves at his disposal, Yashamarus kit feels somewhat limited compared to the rest of the cast. His offense is also extremely unsafe, meaning he has to commit to hard reads from time to time.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Above-average reach on his normals Very high burst damage Wide range of consistent punishment options Makes great use of Rage...	...which, in turn, makes Rage Explosion extremely costly for him Limited toolset Highly unsafe approach options

Data

• Damage Taken: 100%
• Rage Factor: 0.32
• Rage Duration: 14 seconds
• Jump: 46 frames (Average. Has a Double Jump)
• Forward Walk Speed: 0.3 (Average)
• Back Walk Speed: 0.23 (Average)
• Dash Speed: 1.25 (Average)
• Back Dash: 27 frames
• Weapon Pickup / Drop: 40 / 80 frames

Gameplan

Yashamaru is primarily a defensive character who relies on whittling the opponent down with single button pokes, air to airs, baits and punishes. Along with Haohmaru, he is the main face of the game, meaning that his restrictive nature and low execution barrier teaches the player how to be patient and use the system mechanics effectively, making him great for beginners and the old-school crowd alike. To put it simply, he isn't good because he has strong tools, he is good because he is efficient at dealing with other character's strong tools.

This is all thanks to the one tool that sets him apart from every other character in the game; the double jump. It's a simple yet robust movement option that opens up a whole world of depth for Yashamaru. The very act of jumping itself is already a good option in this game, but chuck a second jump in the mix and suddenly it can seem hopeless to land any kind of meaningful damage on him. You will be and should be double jumping a lot. It forces your opponent to make decisions such as committing to a DP or going in for an air-to-air. This is where you bait and punish the opponent for overextending. Jump forward to elicit the DP, then jump back and punish it hard with a heavy slash or Super Special Move (SSM). This is how and where you'll be scoring most of your damage.

Running with the life lead is key and Yashamaru has more than enough options to do so. However, if the opponent threads the needle correctly and knocks you down, or if they steal the life lead, that's when Yashamaru's true weaknesses are exploited. Unlike a lot of other characters, he can't just dictate neutral with a fireball and a DP. He has no invincible reversals, reliable grounded anti airs or escape options. Almost everything other than aerial buttons and pokes are very punishable. Once they take back the lead, the match starts to become this pitiful cat and mouse chase where Yashamaru is forced to make hard reads to get in and steal it back.

He is drastically changed in rage more so than others, so Just Defending whenever you can is the meaningful optimization that separates the intermediate players and the high level ones. Not only does his damage output increase tenfold but his Arctic Tempest (DP / 623+S) turns into an imperative cross up tool used to catch your opponent off guard in the hopes of taking the life lead back whenever you're at a deficit.

Be smart and be crafty with your double jump. Always put the ball in their court and force them to approach you. Sit on that life lead and play lame. That is Yashamaru's true strength and that is his gameplan.

Neutral

Because of his double jump, Yashamaru's neutral falls outside of the norm. He has an unorthodox method of attaining damage and screen control but it is most certainly a great one. Because of his aerial options, he adopts the philosophy of "air footsies" as a means for whiff punishing the opponent. This means that anything from air-to-air attempts to DPs can be exploited.

On the ground, it's easy to imagine that his far medium slash (otherwise known as 5B) is his greatest poke. It has a long amount of range when compared to most characters and it serves well as a means of whiff punishment and interrupting forward movement. Other than this, however, he doesn't really have any other grounded pokes he can mix it up with. This means that his ground control alone is quite linear and can be easily adapted to and shut down with a deflect (qcf+A/B). It's always best to keep yourself at the mid-range to intercept their approach with 5B instead of going in yourself.

His running Heavy Slash (66C) is a full screen overhead which knocks the opponent away on hit, granting a good grip of damage while giving the opportunity to either run in or back away safely. He is also airborne during the animation which means it can travel over a number of low attacks and fireballs. Examples include Kyoshiro's fireball, Haohmaru's fireball, Jubei's fireball and Wu Ruixang's floor trap. Introducing this method of punishing projectiles will make the opponent second guess their options for zoning. If blocked, it is dangerously punishable, so it holds a lot of risk.

If you find yourself up close with the opponent, he doesn't have tremendous options. The two most common tools used in this situation are 2D (crouching kick) and Surprise Attack (universal overhead, B+C). 2D is his safest and quickest attack option but it barely offers any reward. It is mostly used to check the opponent's movement and blocking habits to condition them to guard low. After conditioning them with 2D, Surprise Attack will have a higher chance of hitting. If it connects, you have the advantage (+3) which means you can continue to attack safely. It is punishable when blocked, but correctly spacing it slightly further away from the opponent will render it a lot harder to punish with anything meaningful. Mixing these options up with a Guard Break (throw, C+D) is all he really has offensively at close range.

His ground control doesn't bare a lot of nuance. This opens up his stronger and more effective air game. Because of his double jump, he can dodge and weave his way throughout the space with ease, dictating the pace of the match. His air buttons have a gargantuan amount of range. Jumping Light Slash (jump A) is an incredibly fast and reliable air-to-air. Yashamaru has no real normal/special anti-airs so jump back A is a great way of sniping them while keeping your distance. Its downward hitbox makes it a menace in real match situations. Jumping Kick (jump D) is also a quick vertical attack but with a lot less range. It is actually a lot harder for the opponent to anti air with a button than his other jumping attacks so it does have its niche uses. Jumping Medium Slash (jump B) is almost used in the exact same way as jump A but in a more horizontal capacity. It is slightly slower than jump A but also deals more damage, so you will more commonly use them in conjunction with one another to be as risk free as possible. He has two versions of jumping Heavy Slash (jump C), a neutral jump one and a forward/back jump one. Neutral jump C is a huge button that come crashing down vertically yet also covers a large amount of space in front of him. Forward/back jump C is a monstrous button that sweeps almost all around him. These are the heavy hitters which will cause your opponent to think twice before confronting him in the air again. There is a catch, however. They may do damage and cover a great amount of space, but they are among the slowest air buttons in the game. This means that an unnecessary reliance or abuse of jump heavies will usually result in taking the opponent's faster air-to-air. Yashamaru thrives in being as annoying and risk free as possible, so be wary. Never forget to use every single one of his air buttons in tandem with each other.

Okizeme

His EX Arctic Tempest (623+S) is an effective crossup tool which can put them in the exact same knockdown situation if landed successfully. The trajectory can be altered depending on which version of the attack you use, so placing it correctly on top of the opponent's head can be next to impossible for them to block because they just don't know which side it's hitting them on. If this is blocked then prepare to eat a heavy punish.

EX Azure Gale (236+S) passes through the opponent on contact. This means that, when timed correctly with their wakeup, it can actually cross them up. The timing is incredibly tricky and it can be hard to pull off considering rolls. This is also punishable if blocked.

His WFT can be used as a meaty attack which can score you a lot of free chip damage. If used from the correct range, the opponent will have no choice but to wake up and block the oncoming barrage of tengu feathers while being completely safe. It isn't uncommon to win matches through chip damage this way. This move is very unsafe if performed too close to an opponent who is rolling towards you.

Most invincible reversals in this game have a lot of startup. This means that a well timed meaty Close 2A (crouching light slash) can be used to intercept jumps, back dashes and other attacks on their wakeup while still being safe against a wakeup DP. When used correctly, the meaty Close 2A will recover before the active frames of their reversal come out, so you will be able to block in time for a hefty punish. This works against Charlotte, Genjuro (WITHOUT rage), Shiki and Yoshitora to name a few.

Normal Moves

Far Slashes

5A

5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 9 - - - -5 -5 - - - - -

5B

5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 14 - - - -4 -12 - - - - -

5C

5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 27 - - - -7 -16 - - - - -

2A

2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 9 - - - -8 -5 - - - - -

2B

2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 12 - - - -8 -12 - - - - -

2C

2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 11 - - - -10 -28 - - - - -

Near Slashes

n.5A

n.5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 5 - - - -2 -5 - - - - -

n.5B

n.5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 7 - - - -2 -12 - - - - -

n.5C

n.5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 17 - - - -3 -28 - - - - -

n.2A

n.2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 5 - - - -1 -4 - - - - -

n.2B

n.2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 10 - - - -3 -12 - - - - -

n.2C

n.2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 11 - - - KD -28 - - - - -

Kicks

5D

5D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 11 - - - -2 -5 - - - - -

6D

6D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 10 - - - -3 -6 - - - - -

2D

2D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 5 - - - 0 -3 - - - - -

3D

3D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 9 - - - KD -13 - - - - -

Dash Normals

66A

66A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 8 - - - -2 -42 - - - - -

66B

66B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 11 - - - -4 -35 - - - - -

66C

66C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - High 24 - - - KD -35 - - - - -

66D

66D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - Low 5 - - - KD -17 - - - - -

Air Normals

j.A

j.A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 H 8 - - - - - - - - - -

j.B

j.B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 High 11 - - - - - - - - - -

j.C

j.C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 160 High 16 - - - - - - - - - -

j.7/9C

j.7/9C File:SamSho Yashamaru j9C.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 200 High 15 - - - - - - - - - -

j.D

j.D File:SS Yashamaru jD.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 High 10 - - - - - - - - - -

Unarmed Normals

u.5S

u.5S File:SS Yashamaru u5S.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 - 5 - - - -1 -6 - - - - Yes

u.2S

u.2S File:SS Yashamaru u2S.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 - 5 - - - -1 -6 - - - - Yes

ju.S

ju.S File:SS Yashamaru juS.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 High 6 - - - - - - - - - Yes

u.66S

u.66S File:SS Yashamaru u66S.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - - - - - - - - - - - Yes

Universal Mechanics

Guard Break

Guard Break (Throw) 4/5/6C+D Forward throw Forward throw File:SS Yashamaru 4CD.png Back Throw Back Throw	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Back - - - - - - - - - - - - - Universal throw. Can be followed up with an attack. Forward - - - - - - - - - - - - - Universal throw. Can be followed up with an attack.

Surprise Attack

Surprise Attack (Overhead) 5B+C File:SS Yashamaru 5BC.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 20 - - - +3 -10 - - - - Yes Universal overhead.

Dodge

Dodge 5A+B File:SS Yashamaru 5AB.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - - - - - - - - - - - - Universal dodge.

Counter / Blade Catch

Counter / Blade Catch 236A+B Counter Counter File:SS Yashamaru u236AB.png Blade Catch Blade Catch

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Armed - - - - - - - - - - - - - Universal counter. Allows you to follow up with a guaranteed attack of your own. The follow up depends on the strength of the attack you counter. If you counter a heavy slash, your opponent will be disarmed. Disarmed - - - - - - - - - - - - - Universal counter. While disarmed, your counter will disarm and knock away your opponent regardless of slash level used.

Rage Explosion

Rage Explosion 5A+B+C File:SS Yashamaru 5ABC.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - Unblockable pushback attack.

Lightning Blade

Lightning Blade (Issen) 5A+B+C during Rage Explosion File:SS Yashamaru Issen.png	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - - - - - - - - - - - - Has projectile invulnerability and anti-airs. Damage scales up beased on reamaining health.

Command Moves

Double Jump

Double Jump j.7 or j.8 or j.9 File:SS Yashamaru j789.png Double Jump Double Jump	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - - - - - - - - - - - Yes Yashamaru can do a second jump in any upwards direction.

Special Moves

Wintry Gust

Wintry Gust j.214S File:SS Yashamaru 214S.png Wintry Gust Wintry Gust

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Normal - - 17 earliest - - - KD -90~ - - - - No Punishment tool or combo tool only. Don't use this without thinking or else you will be punished by any move in the game. Each version changes distance the spear goes out Rage - - - - - - - - - - - - No Token Special Move description. For more info on how to add rekkas, stance moves, etc. go to Template:MoveData for examples.

Azure Gale

Azure Gale 236S(air okay) File:SS Yashamaru 236S.png Azure Gale Azure Gale

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Light - - 18 - - - KD -32 - - - - No Medium - - 18 - - - KD -32 - - - - No Heavy - - - - - - KD - - - - - No Light version is standard, Medium goes further, Heavy version goes up in the air. Rage - - 18 - - - KD -30 - - - - No Can be done in the air and is slightly less minus on block while in rage.

Artic Tempest

Artic Tempest 623S File:SS Yashamaru 623S.png Artic Tempest Artic Tempest	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Normal - High 31 - - - KD -27 - - - - No Version changes distance traveled. Light is closest and Heavy is furthest away. Rage - High 31 - - - KD -19 - - - - No While in rage the final hit of this move will auto correct if it crosses up.

Supers

Weapon Flipping Technique

Ebony Tengu Feathers 236B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 24 - - - KD -43 - - - - - Available only during Max Rage. Disarms on hit.

Super Special Move

Skand's Divine Squall 641236C+D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 30 - - - KD -50 - - - - - Available only once per match.

Combos

List combos, use numpad notation.

Videos

Link to Yashamaru videos and specify year it was produced or patch version in brackets.

Example: Yashamaru combo video by "name of content creator" (2019).

Colors

External Links

• Yashamaru frame data 2
• Yashamaru frame data
• #SS_YA on Twitter