Melty Blood/MBTL/Arcueid Brunestud/Combos

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#MBTL_AR

Notation Help
Disclaimer: Combos are written by various writers, so notation may differ slightly from this notation. For more information, see Glossary and Controls
X > Y	X input is cancelled into Y.
X, Y	X input is linked into Y, meaning Y is done after X's recovery period.
X+Y	Buttons "X" and "Y" must be input simultaneously.
X/Y	Input "X" or "Y" can be used.
dl	There should be delay before inputting "X".
w.X or Xw	Attack "X" should whiff and not hit the opponent.
j.X	Button "X" is input while jumping or in the air.
dj.X	Button "X" is input after a double jump.
jc	Jump cancel the previous action. Will occasionally be omitted due to being obvious. Will occasionally be notated with 7/9 to indicate backwards/forwards.
sj	Perform a superjump, which is performed by inputting 2~8.
sjc	Superjump cancel the previous action.
IAD	Instant Air Dash.
AT	Air throw, often used as a combo ender that leads to knockdown.
md.X	Perform a micro-dash before performing "X". Unused in favor of writing "microdash."
tk.X	Indicates the motion "X" is input immediately after leaving the ground. Stands for tiger knee.
(X)	Input "X" is optional. Typically the combo will be easier if omitted.
[X]	Input "X" is held down. Also can be known as "Increase" or "IC" for short. Depending on the character, this can indicate that this button is held down and not released until indicated by the release notation.
]X[	Input "X" is released. Will only appear if a button is previously held down.
{X}	Button "X" should only be held down briefly to partially charge the attack, instead of the full increased version.
X(#)	Attack "X" should only hit # of times.
X~Y	This notation has two meanings. Use attack "X" with "Y" follow-up input. Input "X" then within a few frames, input "Y". Usually used for option selects.
(...) OR (...)	Use only one between the two alternative routes.
RB1/2	The first or second hit of Rapid Beat auto combo.
CH	The first attack must be Counter Hit.
FC	The first attack must be Fatal Counter.
MD	Perform a Moon Drive, which is inputted by pressing 5B+C.
Heat	Perform Heat, which is performed by inputting A+B+C.
AD	Perform an Arc Drive, which is performed by inputting 236B+C. Characters with more than one Arc Drive will have theirs notated by input.
LA	Perform a Last Arc, which is performed by inputting A+B+C+D or successfully Shielding in Blood Heat.

BnBs: Midscreen Meterless

Since Arcueid can take an opponent to the corner from midscreen very reliably, this section will deal in combos that work anywhere on the screen, and specifically combos starting anywhere from 100%-to-corner to 60%-to-corner.

A Starter

Combo	Damage	Cost	Meter Gain	Location
2A/5A > 2B > 2C > 5C > 214A > 5B > 3C > j.BCA > AT	3062	0%		Anywhere
Alright damage for how simple it is.
2A > 5B > 5C > 4C > 66 > dl.j.C > j.2B > 214A > dl.2B > 2C > 3C > BCA > AT	3362	0%		Anywhere
The delay on 2B is important to avoid Arc swinging the wrong way.
2A/5A > 5B > 5C > 4C > j.66 > dl.j.C > j.2B > 214A > dl.2B > 2C > 623B(2).B > jc > j.B(1)C > jc > j.C > AT	3481	0%		Anywhere
If you end with j.B(2) sj j.A AT it does 3513 dmg.

BnBs: Midscreen Meterless Near Corner

Arcueid has natural tools that give her routes very high corner carry, so "near corner" for Arcueid can mean anywhere from true midscreen(60%-to-corner) to almost in the corner(16%-to-corner). Each route's notes will include a note like "X%-to-corner" which denotes what percentage of the total stage length away from corner the combo can be started and still work properly. In general, combos that work farther from the corner will still work closer to the corner(and also become easier), though there are some exceptions, like in the case of 214B superjump routes.

BnBs: Corner Meterless

A Starter

Combo	Damage	Cost	Meter Gain	Location
2A2A5B5C > 214B > dl.2C623A~A > jCB (2)AT	3302	0%	75%	Corner
25%-to-Corner
2A(2A)2B5C > 214B > 2Cdl.623A~A > 5B3CjCB (2)AAT	3565	0%	85%	Corner
25%-to-Corner. A similar combo (2A 2B 5C 214B dash (3C) 623A~dl.A 5B3C jCB(2)A AT) works from of up to 33%-to-corner for slightly less damage(3477).
2A5B2C5C > 214B > 236[A] > 2B > 623AA > jCB AT	3617	0%	85%	Corner
25%-to-Corner. Fastest timings on everything until 623A. Trivial differences in damage between enders (3616 on jB(2)C AT, 3619 on jCB(2)A AT). Can use 2A 2B 2C 5C 214B 236[A] 5A 5B 623A~A jCB(2)AT as an easier option with slightly less damage(3599).
2A5B5C > 4Cdl.j.2B > 214B > 236[A] > 5A2C > 623A~A > jCB (2)AT	3674	0%	85%	Corner
Only works against fully cornered opponents. Delaying j2B is the best but not only way of stabilizing this combo. Doing everything at fastest timings will cause 236[A] to pull the opponent out of the corner (this can be a good thing, see section on grow/guro combos.)

B Starter

Some notes on what corner routing modules work with a B starter but not an A Starter:

• 2C 236[A]

Some notes on what corner routing modules are recommended with a B starter but not an A Starter:

• 623A~A 3C

Some notes on SMP and adapting combos to strings you use to hitconfirm.

Combo	Damage	Cost	Meter Gain	Location
	3775	0%	85%	Corner
Low starter combo. 4A 4C(1) 623A is optimal for damage but not for your sanity. Skip the 4C for 53 less damage but a lot more comfort.
2B5C4C > dl.j.2B > 214B236[A] > 5A2C > 623A~A > 5B3C > j.CB(2) > AT	3795	0%		Corner
Low starter combo. This route is a headache from start to finish, but it is a decent ad-lib for when you land a 2B 5C but mess up the route that leads to a grow-combo. Omit the final 5B3C for comfort or if your default 2B hitconfirm string is 2B 5B 5C.
5B2C5C > 214B > 236[A] > 2B623A~A > 3C > j.CB(2)A > AT	3813	0%	85%	Corner
Mid starter combo. Optimal and shockingly doable max damage combo for 5B punishes. Its not so often that you land a raw 5B on people, but this is a good combo to use for when you do get that hit.
5[B]5C > 214A > 2C214B > 623A~A > 3C > j.CB(2)A > AT	3760	0%		Corner
Overhead starter combo. Can do 5[B] 5C > 214A > 2B 2C 214B > 623A~A > j.CB(2) > AT (3710) for an easier combo.
5[B]5C > dl.623A > tk.22A(1)~A > 2C236[A] > 2A2B214B > 3C > j.B(2)C > AT	3899	0%	90%	Corner
Overhead starter combo. Difficult but optimal. tk 22A should be done with 228A.

C Starter

C button starters are either high-damaging, extremely-low hitstun-decay starters or in the case of airdash jC are medium damage, high hitstun decay starters. It's very important to be aware of whether a combo has airdash hitstun decay applied to it, since trying a long combo on airdash jC starters will lead to drops.

Combo	Damage	Cost	Meter Gain	Location
jC		0%		Anywhere
Notes.
AirdashjC		0%		Anywhere
Notes.
2CAir hit		0%		Anywhere
Notes.
2CRebeat2AOTG route		0%		Anywhere
Notes.

BnBs: Throw Starter

Throw combos start with both a high hitstun decay value and also poor starting damage prorate. Doing a harder combo is at most 75 more damage, so its better to either pick a combo with a superior okizeme situation or just one you personally find more reliable.

Combo	Damage	Cost	Meter Gain	Location
Throw > j.2C > 2B2C623A~A3C > j.CB(2) > AT	2147	0	65%	Corner
Fairly easy combo that is very comparable in damage to the harder routes.
Throw > sj > jB (1)2C > dl.22A(2)~A > 2Cdl.4C > jC AT	2077	0	65%	Corner
Poor damage, but works at up to 33%-from-corner. The route of choice for converting from a throw just outside the corner.
Throw > 214A > 2C623A~A > 5B3C > j.CB(2) > AT	2229	0	69%	Corner
Intermediate combo. Throw 214A is an important link to learn for other combos.
Throw > dl.2C214A > dl.5B > dl.5C > dl.623 > dl.A > jCB (1)AT	2231	0	69%	Corner
Doing a significantly harder combo nets 2 more damage but a lot more style points. For only the price of a drastic increase in difficulty, you too can pretend to be have played F Arcueid since Third Strike.
2B5C4C > dl.j.2B > 214B236[A] > 5A2C > 623A~A > 5B3C > j.CB(2) > AT	2145	0	65%	Corner
Sets up a unique corner okizeme situation with the opponent displaced a few pixels from the corner if any part of the combo after 236A is delayed. Do 236A 2B for an easier combo at the expense of 6 damage. See section on corner steal combos.

BnBs: Corner steal combos

Corner steal combos are a class of combos first discovered by Japanese players @ymd_alternative and @grovegrow31 that set up a unique okizeme situation where, depending on minor delays made in combos, Arcueid can leave a cornered opponent displaced from the corner by extremely small amounts(the best known displacement so far is 2 pixels). This can enable safe OSable, unseeable and unfuzzyable meaty left-right mixups that force the opponent to make a guess or commit important resources like moon drive.

Combo	Damage	Cost	Meter Gain	Location
2A2A2B5C > 4Cj.2B > 214B > 236[A] > 5B5CCC > jCB (2)AT	3235	0%	85%	Corner
Needs completely cornered opponent. Delaying 5B>5C, 5C>C, 5CCC>jC, jC>jB and jB>AT can all contribute to leaving a corner gap.
AirdashjC 2A2B > 4Cj.2B > 214B > 236[A] > 5B5CCC > jCB (2)AT	3550	0%	85%	Corner
Only two hits are allowed between the jC and the 4C to control hitstun decay. 2AA2B will cause the combo to fail at 236[A]5B.
(2A)2B2Cpartial charge 5C5B > 214B > 236[A] > 5B5CCC > jCB (2)AT	3341 (3292 from 2A)	0%	85%	Corner
Variant that works from just outside the corner (16% to 20%-to-corner). The hold time on partial charge 5C is the most important delay. When doing this combo from 2A, jB(2)C is the recommended ender since hitstun decay will be very high.
	3001	0	70%	Corner
Combo that loops the okizeme situation if you choose to crossup after ending a corner steal combo, putting the opponent back into the same mixup. No delays before 22A allowed. Quite important to have a small corner displacement to do this, since poorly executed crossups will cause drops after 5C.
	3218	1-2 Units Moon Gauge	25% (Moondrive 105%)	Corner
Easy combo that loops the okizeme situation if you choose to crossup after ending a corner steal combo, putting the opponent back into the same mixup. Works even if you have 0 moon gauge, but is a net loss for the moon gauge. Makes barely any meter outside of moondrive.
Throw > 214B > 236[A] > 5B5CCC > jCB (2)AT	2145	0	65%	Corner
Sets up the okizeme situation from a corner throw. Doing 236[A] 2B instead is an easier combo for 9 less damage.
5[B]2C > 214B > 236[A] > 2B5CCC > jCB (2)AT	3617	0	75%	Corner
Sets up the okizeme situation from a near corner 5[B].
2A2A2C5C4C > AirdashjB (1)j.2C > 5A2C214A > 5B3C > jB (1)CAT	2981	0	75%	Corner
Very tricky combo with even more tricky crossup arithmetic. Needs additional research.

Situational: Frametrap Combos

Handle special move starters like 214B/236[A]

Situational: Moon Skill Combos

Handle BOTH moonskill starters as well as MD activated combos that are optimized to build lots of meter.

Situational: Trades

Handle 2C trades, 236[A] trades, DP trades, air counterhit elbow trades, list frame advantage for significant trades that allow reliable conversions or for canned situations like akiha oki, etc.

External Links

• Melty Blood: Type Lumina Arcueid Combo Guide by Sandals