Samurai Shodown/Wu-Ruixiang

Wu-Ruixiang
呉瑞香, Wú-Ruìxiāng

Introduction

Wu-Ruixiang’s most defining feature is without a doubt her ground traps, which makes her a character for lab monsters who like to find crazy setups and stylish juggles. Though she can also be played as a more traditional zoner, of which she has arguably the best projectile game out of the entire cast, with high, medium and low fireballs that become active very early in their animation. Her shield counter can also reflect projectiles, in addition to being a strong anti-aggression tool. Ruixiang’s WFT is fast and covers a huge area, making it risky for the opponent to challenge her zoning.

However, these traits come at the cost of surprisingly stubby and quite laggy normals. Her defense isn’t spotless either as she somewhat struggles with anti-airing and her damage is way below average without setups. Combined with slow movement and floaty jump, she has a hard time positioning herself properly. So it's crucial for Ruixiang to keep the opponent far away, or else she crumbles very easily.

Playstyle

Wu-Ruixiang is a trap-based zoner who lays mines on the ground to create opportunities for herself.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Oppressive traps: Wu's 623S ground trap makes her neutral risky to maneuver around. Missteps into traps can be juggled off of on hit for huge damage (including SSM from close enough distance). Blocked traps can lead to unblockable setups, 50/50 mixups, and solid guard crush pressure. Strong zoning: Wu's projectiles cover a lot of air space and knockdown on hit, allowing her to set up more traps. Great WFT: Wu has one of the best anti-air WFTs in the game. She can also cancel into her WFT and juggle it off of trap easily. Guard points: The guard points on her forward run, 66A and n.2B allow Wu unique opportunities to reverse pressure. Good anti-airs: Using 2B, n.2B, 22A, and her counter, Wu can keep antsy opponents out of the air and gets good oki for doing so.

Bad pokes: Wu's grounded pokes have poor range, slow startup, and high recovery, making it hard to compete with other characters on the ground if she can't get her zoning game going. Poor air game: Wu's jump is floaty and her short air normals make it hard for her to air-to-air or control space when off the ground. Poor SSM: Wu's SSM has slow startup and short range, making SSM punishes harder for her than other characters. High recovery: Wu's projectile and trap placement both have very high recovery and she can take a lot of damage off a bad read while zoning. Terrible when Disarmed: She literally loses all of her specials when disarmed, which is an integral part of her whole zoning toolkit.

Data

• Damage Taken: 105%
• Rage Factor: 0.20
• Rage Duration: 16 seconds
• Jump: 50 frames (Very Slow)
• Forward Walk Speed: 0.3 (Average)
• Back Walk Speed: 0.23 (Average)
• Dash Speed: 1.0 (Very Slow)
• Back Dash: 28 frames
• Weapon Pickup / Drop: 40 / 31 frames

Gameplan

Neutral

Her neutral is mostly zone and AA opponents (22A, 236C) if they try to jump for it.

Okizeme

22C
If Wu gets a knockdown in the corner she can use 22C to be +10 to +5 depending on if they roll or not and will catch all tech rolls. If they take the hit Wu can easily convert because of how meaty the special hits. Sample idea of this would be 66D > microwalk back 22C.

• If they get hit you can follow up with many different options

• normal(restand) > 623A
• 214C
• WFT
• Issen (it will also sometimes hit a mid screen opponent as well but you need to run)

623S

• On hit

• SSM
• normal(restand) > 623A or B
• WFT
• 66C
• Issen

• Close range 623S options on block

• B+C(overhead) is good
• 6D, if your opponent blocks a 6D you have enough time for a free tick grab (with this setup you need to time the 6D properly because the spikes have thrown invul for a certain period. Practice this in training mode for consistency).
• 6D if hits you can frame trap into 2A

• Far Range 623s

• 66D/f.2C(safer option due to pushback)
• 661/6643 B+C for an instant running overhead

Normal Moves

Far Slashes

5A

5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 40 Mid 7 - - 22 -3 -5 5 Yes Yes Yes No A quick swat with the shield. Cancellable, but no real combo potential.

5B

5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 [80,20] Mid 12 - - 46 -8 -12 10 Yes Yes Yes No 2-hit medium slash with okay range (little less than half screen). Can be cancelled after the 1st hit, but not after the 2nd.

5C

5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 240 Mid 24 - - 69 -5 -16 25 No Yes Disarm No Kind of a baby hard slash with slow startup, short range and no special cancelling. Be ready to recoil cancel if you do go for this.

2A

2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 40 Mid 8 - - 24 -4 -5 5 Yes Yes Yes No Like 5A but lower to the ground and 1 frame slower.

2B

2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 Mid 10 - - 36 -2 -12 10 Yes Yes Yes No Ruixiang's main anti-air, being decently quick and reaches far up. Can cancel into WFT in any range, 214S would whiff at far ranges.

2C

2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 160 Low 18 - - 56 KD -15 25 No No No No This is her farthest-reaching low. Startup is slow, but it knocks down. Although pretty minus, the pushback makes this okay.

Near Slashes

n.5A

n.5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 6 - - 15 +3 0 5 Yes No No No "Talk-to-the-hand" smack.

n.5B

n.5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 90 Mid 10 - - 31 +3 -12 10 Yes Yes Yes No Quick shield bash that combos into any 214S and WFT.

n.5C

n.5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 200 Mid 15 - - 48 +5 -28 25 No Yes Disarm No Another slow-ish hard slash.

n.2A

n.2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 7 - - 16 +3 0 5 Yes No No No Just the crouching version of n.5A, still hits mid as well.

n.2B

n.2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 7 - - 29 +2 -12 10 Yes Yes Yes No Another pretty quick upwards shield bash with anti-air potential, though struggles against big disjointed aerials. Has a guard point 4-6f.

n.2C

n.2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 180 [150,30] Mid 16 - - 51 +8 -28 25 No Yes Disarm No More damage than far 2C but no knockdown, also hits mid instead of low. Attacks twice with the second hit pulling the opponent closer, which combos into guaranteed n.2B.

Kicks

5D

5D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 9 - - 26 -2 -3 5 No No No Yes Standard kick, it's ok but nothing special.

6D

6D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Low 13 1 10 23 +2 -1 5 No No No Yes Because of little pushback and a false animation this can be good for tick throws if the opponent isn't ready.

2D

2D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 20 Low 7 - - 22 0 -6 5 No No No Yes Lowers her hurtbox slightly, allowing her to slip under some moves and projectiles like Ruixiang's 236B.

3D

3D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 70 Low 15 - - 56 KD -26 5 No No No Yes Not very useful compared to her 66D, which is an all around better move.

Dash Normals

66A

66A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 9 - - 24 -5 -20 5 Yes Yes Yes No Has a guard point before the attack, but also short range. Can be used to nullify projectiles, but can be risky.

66B

66B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 [80,20] Mid 14 - - 44 -3 -36 10 Yes Yes Disarm No Great combo tool for throw and also great whiff punish tool as well. Can whiff cancel this into traps or fireballs. Cancelled after the 1st hit, but not after the 2nd.

66C

66C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 150 Mid 16 - - 66 KD -15 20 No No Disarm No Not very fast, but decent running normal.

66D

66D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 70 Low 9 8 33 49 KD(+84) -18~-10 5 No No No Yes Pretty useful slide, as it's her fastest knockdown move. Good range too, but space it carefully to not be punished on block. Good low profile, can slip under moves.

Air Normals

j.A

j.A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 High 6 - - - - - 5 No No No No Her fastest air normal, but pitiful range and damage.

j.B

j.B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 High 7 - - - - - 10 No No No No Your go to air-to-air normal, only 1 frame slower than j.A but better damage and reach.

j.C

j.C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 140 High 12 - - - - - 20 No No No No Not a move you'll use very much, considering Ruixiang's slow jump.

j.D

j.D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 High 10 - - - - - 5 No No No Yes Standard jumping kick.

Unarmed Normals

u.5S

u.5S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 7 - - 24 +3 -2 5 No No No Only Not very fast or long reach, but it's serviceable.

u.2S

u.2S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 8 - - 26 +2 -3 5 No No No Only Slower than u.5A, otherwise pretty much the same.

ju.S

ju.S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 High 6 - - - - - 5 No No No Only Fast air-to-air.

u.66S

u.66S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 10 - - 30 KD -5 5 No No No Only Not the fastest of it's kind, but give you knockdown and time to pickup your weapon (and glasses).

Universal Mechanics

Guard Break

Guard Break (Throw) 4/5/6C+D Neutral Throw Neutral Throw Forward Throw Forward Throw Back Throw Back Throw	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Neutral / Forward 0 Throw 3 - 71 74 +20 N/A - No No No Yes Universal throw. Can be followed up with an attack. Back 0 Throw 5 - 69 74 +25 N/A - No No No Yes Universal throw. Can be followed up with an attack.

Surprise Attack

Surprise Attack (Overhead) 5B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 60 High 18 6 33 56 KD -20~-15 10 No No No Yes Universal overhead. Decent startup with good range.

Dodge

Dodge 5A+B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - 1 16 22 38 - - - - - - Yes Universal dodge. Avoids all attacks for a brief moment, and is mainly used to avoid throws. Complete invincibility from frames 1 to 10. Strike invincibility from frames 11 to 16.

Stance Break

Stance Break A+B during Just Defense	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 0 Mid 5 - - 52 KD -24 - No - - Yes Universal Stance Break.

Counter / Blade Catch

Counter / Blade Catch 236A+B Counter Counter Blade Catch Blade Catch

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Armed 0 N/A 2 11 34 46 +35~+59 N/A - N/A N/A N/A No 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 0 N/A 2 12 9 22 KD N/A - N/A N/A N/A Only Universal counter. While disarmed, your counter will disarm and knock away your opponent regardless of slash countered.

Rage Explosion

Rage Explosion 5A+B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 0 Unblockable 21 1 - 58 0 - - - - - No Unblockable pushback attack.

Lightning Blade

Lightning Blade (Issen) 5A+B+C during Rage Explosion	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 300~709 Mid 9 - - - KD -44 - No No No No Has projectile invulnerability and anti-airs. Damage scales up based on remaining health.

Special Moves

Black Tortoise Torrent

Black Tortoise Torrent 236S 玄武 (Xuán​wǔ) 玄武 (Xuán​wǔ)

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed A 60 Low 28 - - 60 KD -21 5 - - - No Low projectile. Actually a low and has to be crouch blocked. B 60 Mid 19 - - 55 KD -25 5 - - - No Middle projectile. Fastest startup and lowest recovery, but worst on block. 236B will miss on the following characters if they are offensively crouching (2 or 3 input): Baiken, Shizumaru, Nakoruru, Kazuki, Mina, Iroha, Rimururu, Tam Tam, Cham Cham. Wan-Fu (2 only), Kyoshiro (2 only) C 60 Mid 28 - - 60 KD -21 5 - - - No High projectile. Anti-air version, projectile will come out even if you're hit. Will only hit Earthquake standing.

Vermilion Bird Blaze

Vermilion Bird Blaze 214S 朱雀 (Zhū​què) 朱雀 (Zhū​què)

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed A 75 [25*3] Mid 15 - - 56 KD(+86) -9 12 - - - No Destroys all projectiles but the main usage of this move is for combos. Shortest range but fastest startup. Best version to destroy projectiles with, due to lowest total frames. 214A will miss on Galford's 214A/B dog projectile. B 125 [25*5] Mid 20 - - 69 KD(+80) -15 20 - - - No More range than A version, but still mainly used in combos. C 160 [20*8] Mid 23 - - 96 KD(+59) -36 32 - - - No Longest range but slowest startup. Only really used in combos, not to destroy projectiles. Rage 264 [22*12] Mid 15 - - 88 KD(+63) -32 48 - - - No Rage enhanced version of 214C comes out much faster, deals more damage and does a lot of guard damage.

White Tiger Fangs

White Tiger Fangs 623S 白虎 (Bái​hǔ) 白虎 (Bái​hǔ)

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed All 100 [20*5] Low 53 - - 68 KD +15 10 - - - No Ruixiang's defining trait, her trap. A sets close, B sets mid and C sets far. The most important tool about this character. This can be used for zoning, okizeme, and blockstrings. On hit it allows for massive damaging combos with RE > (push into trap) Trap hit > Issen/SSM

Azure Dragon Thunderstrike

Azure Dragon Thunderstrike 22S 青龍 (Qīnglóng) 青龍 (Qīnglóng)

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed A 100 - 15 - - 59 KD -20 10 - - - No Like 214S it also destroys all projectiles, but the main purpose is for anti-airing and combos. Best version to destroy projectiles with, as the other versions are to slow and laggy. Only one worth anti-airing with, but is often a bit too slow against characters with fast jumps. B 140 - 22 - - 73 -5 -22 20 - - - No Unlike A and C versions, this doesn't knockdown. C 180 - 35~36 - - 86 KD -23~-22 30 - - - No One of the most practical tools of this is using 22C meaty in the corner to be either +10 or +5 on block if perfectly spaced and it converts easily on hit.

Kirin Earthen Rampage

Kirin Earthen Rampage 421D 麒麟 (Qí​lín) 麒麟 (Qí​lín)

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 200 - 8 14 45 66 KD - - - - - No Counter that reflects projectiles and will counterattack if the attack hitting the shield is a mid or high. 421D can't reflect projectiles from the following characters: Cham Cham (rage), Amakusa (rage), Charlotte (rage), Nakoruru (Mamahaha), Galford (Poppy), Kazuki (lv3), Mina (lv3), Sogetsu, Hanzo, Rimururu 421D misses projectiles from the following characters: Mina (236S>B), Tam Tam (236B), Kyoshiro

Supers

Weapon Flipping Technique

Nine-Headed Dragon Strike 236B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 420(490) Mid 1+17 - - - KD -52 - No No No No Available only during Max Rage or Rage Explosion. Disarms on hit.

Super Special Move

Primordial Chaos of the Yellow Dragon 641236C+D 黄龙 (Huáng​lóng) 黄龙 (Huáng​lóng)	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 675 [80,15*38,25] Mid 10+24 - - - KD -74 - No No No No Available only once per match. Last hit doesn't follow regular damage scaling rules. This move is very good to use if you can confirm off trap.

Combos

List combos, use numpad notation.

Midscreen

• n.5B/n.2B/5B/66B
  • ...236B
  • ...214S
  • ...22A/22B
  • ...WFT

• ... 2B xx WFT
  More damage than other mediums.

• n.2C xx n.2B xx 214C / WFT
  New combo works in close range where near 2C would come out.

• Close range 623S
  • ... 236B
  • ... 22C
  • ... 214C
  • ... WFT
  • ... Issen
  • ... SSM
  • ... n.5C/j.C/n.2C

• Medium range 623S
  • ... 236B
  • ... run up 22B/22A
  • ... run up 214C
  • ... WFT
  • ... 236C xx WFT
    A little closer than mid range and character specific.
  • ... Issen
  • ... SSM
  • ... 5C/j.C/66C

• Far range 623S
  • ... 236B
  • ...run up 214C
  • ... WFT
  • ... Issen
  • ... j.C/66C

• 5CD / 4CD...
  • ... (5B/66B) xx 214C / WFT
  • ... 2B xx WFT
    More damage than 5B or 66B.
  • ... 66B xx 22B
  • ... mid range spikes to 236B
  • ... mid range spikes to run up 22B/22A
  • ... mid range spikes to run up 214C
  • ... mid range spikes to WFT
  • ... mid range spikes to Issen
  • ... mid range spikes to run up SSM
  • ... mid range spikes to 5C/66C/j.C
  • ... 3D

• Deep j.C
  • ... n.5C / 5C
    Universal j.C combo.
  • ... (5B/66B) xx 214C / WFT
  • ... 2B xx WFT
    More damage than 5B or 66B.
  • ... 66B xx 22B

Corner

• 5CD / 4CD...
• n.2C xx n.2B xx 214C / WFT
  New combo after grab into the corner.

• Close spikes in the corner.
  • ... 22C xx 22A
  • ... 22C xx 214C
  • ... 22C xx WFT
  • ... 22C xx Issen
  • ... SSM

Anti-Air

• 22C
  if opponent tries jumping out of the corner and if opponent jumps into late.
  • ... 214C
  • ... WFT
  • ... Issen

• 236C
  If opponent tries jumping out of the corner.
  • ... Issen

Guard Crush

• n.5C / 5C...
  After recovery...
  • • n.2C xx n.2B xx 214C / WFT
      Optimal GC follow up.

• n.5C / 5C...
  Cancel recovery...
  • Lightning Blade
    Universal Issen combo.
  • 623A...
    The A version should always be right under the opponent...
    • SSM
      SSM follow up. (Can't burst out of it)
    • Lightning Blade
      Issen combo from trap.

Videos

• Wu Ruixiang tutorial and combos by LegendaryWolf Shirou
• LewdStares vs ScrubSaibot
• Bboysonicx vs Chueko at Vortex Gallery 2022

Colors

External Links

• Twitter hashtag: #SS_WU