Idol Showdown/Ayame Nakiri

Playful Giggling Ojou - Nonstop Oni Offense

Introduction

Playstyle

Ayame is a high-speed oni who excels in closing in on opponents from the midrange. She can keep the pressure on opponents with her dual katanas, leaving little room to escape.
Pros	Cons
A cute easy-to-play and fast well-rounded Character Small hurtbox that may influence interactions Great Anti-Air options Notable conversion potential Strong mid-range pokes A massive high damage invincible reversal Good meter gain	No meterless projectiles Linear pressure Poor anti-zoning gameplay Meter reliance Unsafe normals and special moves Poor frame data

Normal Moves

Standing Normals

5L

5L Ittoryu Ittoryu	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 25~ Mid 5 - - -1 +5 None A quick mid poke. Useful for her stagger pressure when chained in tandem with 2L and 5M. The speed also makes this a good option to check the opponent as a general abare tool.

5M

5M Nitoryu Nitoryu	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 60~ Mid 7 - - -7 0 None A forward advancing slash with good range. Useful for confirming hits and stagger pressure.

5H

5H	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 85~ Mid 10 - - -19 +2 None A shorter range double slash. Good for confirming into 22L for combos and stagger pressure. Wall bounces on corner hit for extra combo conversions.

Crouching Normals

2L

2L	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 20~ Low 5f - - -3 +2 None A quick jab that hits low. Another important tool for general abare and her stagger pressure in tandem with 5L. It's a fast low, so it can be used for high low mixups as well.

2M

2M	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 55~ Low 8 - - -8 -3 None A long range low slash. This normal is one of Ayame's most important pokes. It's one of her farthest ranged buttons that confirms easily into 236M even at max range. Very useful for pressure and poking This attack is air unblockable, so it is useful for tech traps.

2H

2H

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 45-86~ Mid 11 - - -11 KND None A 2 hitting slash that acts as one of her launchers. The first hit is a mid, but the reach is quite significant. This button is very minus on block, but you can special cancel or jump cancel it on block/hit. It also functions as a serviceable anti-air and is heavily used in her combos. The second hit has a much more vertical hitbox and is multihit if it hits by itself.

3H

3H Haiya Haiya	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 70~ Low 11 - - -20 KND None A generic sweep. Mostly overshadowed by her 2M and other assortment of low options. It is special cancelable, but not generally recommended to use.

Jumping Normals

j.L

j.L	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 30~ High 5f - - - - None Quick jumping normal, not generally very useful. Could work as a fast air to air.

j.M

j.M	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 45-86~ High 8,7 - - - - None 2 hitting jumping normal. Useful in combos and jumpins. On taller characters you can get both hits of jM to connect, leading to some strong sequences.

j.H

j.H	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 90~ High 12 - - - - None A larger slower jumpin. Useful to use in tandem with jM as her go to jumpins.

Universal Mechanics

Throw

Throw L+M	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 160~ - 7 2 - - - None

Overhead

Overhead M+H	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 60~ High - - - - - None Universal standing overhead

Special Attacks

236X

Asura's Fury 236 L/M/H

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability L / 5S 40 - 10 - - -4 - None LL / 5SS 35 - 19,11,13 - - -7 - None LLL / 5SSS 47 - - - - -11 KND None Ayame's Rekka series. 236L on it's own is a safe way to end your pressure, but threatening with the rest of the hits is a good way to push stagger pressure. However, most of the hits are unsafe on block. In air juggle, 236LL is good for maintaining oki and 236LLL is good for damage conversions. Can be super chat cancelled into 22L for a full combo. *Be careful using this at long range as the second hit can whiff. M / 6S 45 - 17 - - -6 - None MM / 6SS 41 - - - - -9 - None MMM / 6SSS 64 - - - - -14 KND None Very similar to the L version, however it reaches much farther at the cost of being more unsafe in general. This will be the version of the rekka you want to use as a poke and for confirming from pokes as it consistently reaches after common moves like 2M and 5H. Can be super chat cancelled into 22L for a full combo. H 60 - 12 - - -10 - None HH 63 - - - - -10 - None HHH 63 - - - - -10 - None HHHH 50 - - - - -15 KND None HHH8H 72 - - - - -19 - None HHH2H 72 - - - - -10 KND None Ayame's H version of the rekka is the most versatile. Same as the other version, but more damage and more stagger opportunities. You can hit 8H for the final hit to get an overhead 2H for the final hit to get a low

22X

Demon Cutter 22 L/M/H

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability L / 2S 75~ - 9f - - -21 KND None Ayame swings her katana upwards. One of her most useful combo tools for launching the opponent into a full juggle. This can also be used as a servicable anti-air. M 143~ - 9f - - -37 KND None Similar to the L version, but this move acts as one of her more consistent combo enders for decent oki. Also a serviceable anti-air. Air Unblockable, which is useful for tech traps. H 184~ - 9 - -39 - - None This version of the attack is her invincible reversal. Launches the opponent on hit for high damage combo opportunities. It hits all around her head and can beat bursts. Uses one bar of Star Power Invincible reversal Burst bait tool

214X

Oni Flip 214 L/M/H

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability L / 4S 75~ - 17f - - -5~ - None Ayame does a short quick flip-kick, useful as a combo ender for good oki. 214x flips can also go over some fireballs, but it is very inconsistent and spacing dependent. Advantage on block is also dependent on spacing. M 75~ - - - - -5~ - None Same as the L version, but she goes much farther. This version can be used in for combos in the corner as well as tech traps. H 65~ - - - - -5~ - None Same as the M version but fullscreen. Uses one bar of Star Power Useful for surprise attacks to beat fireball startup from full screen.

j.214X

Heavenly Oni Flip j.214 L/M/H	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability L/M/H/S 75~ - - - - - - None Ayame does a quick flip attack on air going downward. Mostly used to as a combo ender and a way to leverage 22S mixups. All versions are unsafe on block.

22S

Karma and Shiranui 22 S

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 75~ - 11f - - -3 - None Ayame summons a wisp projectile that plants a bomb on the opponent that will detonate after a short amount of time. The wisp projectile is unblockable, and can be setup in combos or blockstring. The detonation itself occurs shortly after the projectile hits. The detonation is blockable, but ayame can leverage it for mixups. Uses one bar of Star Power Can be used to make attacks safe Useful for pressure and mixups

Super Star Attack

I'm the Real One! 236S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Adv. on Block Adv. on Hit Invulnerability 269 - 5f - - -28 KND None High damaging super for 2 star gauge. Has high scaled damage, so a very useful way to spend meter for damage at the end of combos. This is also invincible on startup, but 22H is a better reversal in general. Uses two bars of Star Power

Combos

General

Mid-screen

Combo	Difficulty	Damage	Cost	Meter Gain	Location
5L > 2M > 5M > 5H > 2H > 22L, 22L, 5H > 2H > 22M		250	0 Meter bar	? Opp: ?%	Anywhere
Basic midscreen BNB for decent damage
5L > 2M > 5M > 5H > 2H > 236MMM > 22L, 22L, 5H > 2H > (236MMM) > 22M		270 (279)	0 Meter bar 1-2 Superchat bar	? Opp: ?%	Anywhere
Midscreen BNB spending 1-2 superchat meter, adding more corner carry

Corner

Combo	Difficulty	Damage	Cost	Meter Gain	Location
5L > 2M > 5M > 5H > 214M > 5L > 2M > 5M > 214M > 5L > 2M > 5M > 2H > 22L > 22L > 5L > 5M > 2H > 22M		258	0 Meter bar	? Opp: ?%	Corner
Basic Corner route

Combo Theory

Mid-screen

The goal of a combo midscreen is to secure oki, as well as get as much corner carry as possible. Ending combos with 22M gives a good amount of carry and consistent oki. By spending superchat meter, 236MMM can be used to extend combos and carry the enemy further.

Corner

The corner allows access to 214M in combos. After lifting the enemy with a move such as 5H, 214M can be used to loop into another string. Keep the juggle limit in mind, 2 flips before an ender is best.

Enders

Meterless combos should be ended with 22M, which gives enough time to dash up for oki. For 1 meter, 22H easily works in the same places. Be careful when routing into 236S, if they are bounced too high (e.g. with a high hitting 236MMM), they may recover before landing in the super. 2H > 236S seems to keep them low enough.

Recommended Collabs

Kanata Amane

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Amelia Watson

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Marine Houshou

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Iroha Kazama

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Mio Ookami

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Roboco

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Miko Sakura

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Kiara Takanashi

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Matchups

Vs. Aki

Matchup advice goes here.

Vs. Ayame

Matchup advice goes here.

Vs. Botan

Matchup advice goes here.

Vs. Coco

Matchup advice goes here.

Vs. Fubuki

Matchup advice goes here.

Vs. Korone

Matchup advice goes here.

Vs. Sora

Matchup advice goes here.

Vs. Suisei

Matchup advice goes here.

External Resources

• Twitter Tech: #ISD_AYA

Colors

Original Outfit

Cosplay 1

Cosplay 2

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Iroha Kazama (Hololive)

Cosplay 3

Cosplay 4

Cosplay 5

Cosplay 6

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Baiken (Guilty Gear)