Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax/DFCI/Yukina Himeragi

Yukina Himeragi (姫柊雪菜)
No, senpai, this is our battle!

Players to Watch

JP:

• Piza-ra (Rank 1 Yukina/Celty)
• Segawa (Former Rank 1 Yukina/Celty) Retired in 2016. Very strong despite the era being before the game was fleshed out.
• Sono (Rank 16 Yukina/Celty)

NA:

• The Spine (Can be found in DFCI Discord), runs the Grand Prix

Introduction

Sword Shaman and classmate of Kojou sent to observe the Fourth Progenitor. She wields a lance called Sekkarou that can destroy even an elder vampire.

Originally from the light novel series Strike the Blood.

Yukina is a lance wielder with impressive range and control of mid-range combat. In exchange, the start-up of her moves trend toward the slower end. Her air normals, combined with three available jumps and a Climax Art Super that can be activated in mid-air, give her commendable command of the air. Yukina's most unique ability is her Potential, which eliminates the pushblock effects of Reflection Guard for 20 seconds when active. In this state, Yukina can comfortably play in close quarters and frustrate the opponent.

Yukina Gameplay Sample

Pros

• Excels at mid-range with her far-reaching ground normals, forcing most foes to take to the air to approach her, where she has parity or greater. In the right hands she's difficult to fight in neutral.
• Relatively reliable anti-air with 2C, checking how opponents approach past her lance as well as a great jA for A2A.
• Extremely powerful Potential ability that eliminates the opponent’s strongest defensive option
• Unique air-enabled Climax Art makes every stray air conversion a potentially devastating confirm.
• Has access to three jumps.

Cons

• Run speed and frame data are on the slower side, making her a passive character.
• Insanely linear even by red trump standards due to her gameflow and options.
• Special moves are overall mediocre without the threat of resources (Meter, Blast, Assist call).
• Can appear underwhelming without Potential active, where she is forced to make things happen in that window of time.

Recommended Assists

Celty - Celty completes Yukina as a character. 5S makes up for her slower movement speed, letting her play at further spacings and be a threat against opponents landing. 6S lets her take advantage of airtech enders more often to delay her potential and trump install, making her scarier later in the gameflow while not giving up momentum. On trump install, 5S lets her start pressure after as trump otherwise launches them too far with high recovery. Its reason for being strong with Yukina is simple but cannot be understated.

Dokuro - Dokuro is a very safe pick for Yukina that can help players who struggle to take advantage of her AA tools. 5S is an AA of course and it can cover airtech options on her airtech enders. 6S is an OK fullscreen projectile for some MUs.

Mashiro - Mashiro is a more technical assist for Yukina. 5S is an alright neutral option to change up the flow but Mashiro shines on 6S covering airtech enders, where Yukina not only gets access to some coverage for pinning an airtech but gets tickthrow/overhead setups going.

Potentials

Universal Potential: Increases damage dealt by 10% for 20 seconds when health falls under 30%. If behind in rounds won, increases damage dealt by 20% instead.

Character Potential: Use 2 EX Special Attacks to disable the opponent's use of Reflection Guard (while the pushback effect is negated, it is still possible for the opponent to use Reflection Guard to avoid air unblockable attacks) for 20 seconds. Can be activated once a round.

Gameplan

Neutral This section is dedicated to showing unique elements in a characters' gameplan, not necessarily defining it entirely (ie. explaining how Yukina might play around her 2C/jA or assist in neutral but not exactly what spacings to be at).

2A
Despite Yukina's slower speed, micro-dash 2A can be a great way for Yukina to protect her space especially against an antsy opponent or faster character at times.

5B/2B
A nice counter-poke option, and after establishing 5C as a landing pinning tool you can use it after dash-up to get more ambiguous pressure going.

5C
Massive 5C even for a sword normal. This move can pin landings, check space, etc., and is easy to hitconfirm into 5AB. Be careful swinging it around as it is easy to avoid C normals in this game via jump scouting.

2C
Yukina's grounded AA. This move is best after a dash-under or to check players who double-jump high up and are easy to call out.

jA
Likely Yukina's best button, it's great for air scrambles, as a close jump-in after 9j, as an AA, etc. jA is super strong and mastering it will greatly increase your Yukina's strength.

jB
Yukina's normal jump-in attack. Likely what will you fall with when scouting from double-jumps etc.

j236AB
A last second lifesaver which should be used WITH CAUTION. In checkmate situations, such as after triple jumps and the opponent dashes under, you can user j236AB to throw your opponent off-guard. The hitbox is large AND it is plus, but it also makes you go into character potential sooner. This is a problem for Yukina, as when your potential starts up you want to be in trump state to encourage the opponent to also trump and to stay on even terms even against top tiers. Use with caution.

Triple Jump
Yukina uniquely is the only character who gets a triple jump, other than Yuuki in trump state, and as such makes her air ambiguity stronger. You can use it to delay your landing even further, to circumvent AAs, etc. However you should keep in mind that the triple jump is more like a short air hop and Yukina can no longer block while in triple jump state. Triple jump does not affect proration unlike airdashes.

Character Potential
Yukina's wincon. Ideally, you trigger this around the time you go for a trump install as the combination of not being able to be pushblocked, with Yukina's massive normals, double overhead in trump, and free assist cancels to stay ambiguous on 236x pressure means that you push the opponent into a gambling position. After trump install, your opponent should be at around roughly <50% HP (in R3 if you have two trumps things are different) to where you can encourage them to pop blue trump while you have an assist to keep them pressured etc. Learning to optimize when you go into potential is key to obtaining success with Yukina.

Picking an Assist
Yukina unfortunately does not have a lot of synergy and as such Celty is HIGHLY recommended at least against the stronger characters in the roster. 5S makes Yukina's grounded presence terrifying and she has jA and 2C for AA purposes already. 5S also covers Yukina's 236x RPS in pressure allowing her to redash and punish disrespect for a decent amount of damage. On top of this, after trump install, 5S will allow you to cover your superjump in to get pressure started as Yukina's trump flings the opponent VERY far for a character as slow as her, and in trump she can use 5S to cover her triple jumps. 6S works to cover airtechs, something very important to Yukina as she often ends her combos until trump state in airtech and her HKD 6S oki is very fuzzyable anyway. Alternatively, Mashiro and Dokuro can work with similar utility, and there is some synergy with Kouko.

Offense

5A/2A
Standard A normals for pressure. 5A is an ambiguous pressure starter, in which you can frametrap into 2AA to check fuzzys and mashing, you can recover into grab, frametrap into 2C/5C on a reflect-guard read, or jump cancel instantly/with a delay to stay in.

5B/2B
Yukina's 5B and 2B are slightly above average. Both have good reach and work as ambiguous pressure tools. You can frametrap into your ridiculous C normals, end a blockstring and redash vs jump vs delay B normal again vs assist call etc., and of course instant vs delay jump cancel. Be sure to mix up your options and don't commit to redashing after too often as it is somewhat easy to answer if presented too much.

5C/2C
Incredible normals. In DFCI, single hit C normals are insanely easy to confirm into 5AB and CA/Ranbu. As such, abusing 5C/2C staggers, two normals that are very disjointed on Yukina, will grant you lots of momentum against antsy opponents who wish to act immediately on any gap. On block, you can end pressure and are put at a nice spacing where you can easily walk out of 9js, react to people double-jumping at you, can establish your assist, etc. With extra meter, establishing 236x~x~5s cancel pressure is good too!

236x
Not to be over-relied on but not to be ignored either. Yukina 236x is a spear thrusting special, which has a follow-up that drags the opponent in. You can frametrap into this follow-up, but keep in mind the initial attack is minus and they may ranbu the gap. After 236x~x, you can 5S cancel with Celty, or 6S with Dokuro, etc. to check the opponent for trying to take their turn and not respecting this game's massive stagger windows. A great tool that rounds Yukina's non trump pressure very well.

Jump Cancel
Yukina has a lot of freedom during jump cancel pressure. You can establish jA to catch people looking to 5B AA or rising button, or jB/C with more respect for more frame advantage. After jA on block, you should keep in mind that the advantage is not great and as such characters like Tatsuya/Yuuki will probably establish fuzzy 2AB in certain parts of the gameflow. As such, doing a driftback ([4]) before jA and walking back on landing will clear you of fuzzy 2A as well as possibly avoid the 2AB entirely, and at worse block it. If you aren't worried about 2AB being presented due to the gameflow/resources available, you can delay 2A/5A on landing as post jA block is also a common fuzzy jump spot. Besides just falling with a button, or drifting back with a delay button to outspace an AA, you can do a delayed dj to bait out throwtechs or fuzzy 5As, and Yukina also has a triple-jump on top of these to bait even further. However, remember that after double-jumping your triple jump state does not let you block and as such you lose the option to jump cancel your air normal vs 2AB clash to stay safe.

Defense

Yukina's defense is rather mediocre. Your impact skills are not to be used, as even with combo-blast utility you are probably better off looking to fuzzy mash with escape-blast as insurance instead. 2AB whiffs on crouchers and 5AB goes airborne meaning your CB frametrap advantage is probably closer to +0/-1. Yukina's A normals are also slightly slower than average due to their size. As such, learning to abuse the system mechanics is your key to success. The threat of Yukina reflect guarding and whiff punishing with 5C, or calling her assist means the opponent will be antsy to avoid it with wide staggers and jump cancels. As such, learning to late stand-guard, apply fuzzyjump (171) and fuzzy superjump, as well as establishing your jA at times on jump cancel reads is the key to success. Of course, defense as a whole is rather strong in DFCI and as such being patient is important. You can take a few grabs instead of gambling your life away.

Move List

L = Low, H = High, A = Air
JC = Jump Cancel, SC = Support Cancel, EX = EX Cancel
ISC = Impact Skill Cancel, TCC = Trump Card Cancel, CAC = Climax Art Cancel

Startup includes the first active frame.

Normal Moves

5A	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 300 7 2 15 -4 +8 (JC) JC, SC, EX, ISC, TCC, CAC HLA - Standard 5A, mostly seen in pressure or scramble situations.

2A	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 250 6 3 16 -6 SC, EX, ISC, TCC, CAC LA - Standard 2A low, used in neutral to sometimes check the space in front of Yukina at a lower risk than 5B/5C and in pressure to check fuzzy/throwtechs.

5B	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 500 9 3 19 -7 +10 (JC) JC, SC, EX, ISC, TCC, CAC HL - Good 5B which may not be great for AA purposes, but can check jump attempts in neutral especially after the opponent lands and looks to jump again. Be sure to give this button love as its total recovery is much lower than 5C on whiff.

2B	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 450 10 3 19 -7 +10(JC) JC, SC, EX, ISC, TCC, CAC HL - Average 2B by DFCI standards which unfortunately only hits mid. A slightly risky option in neutral but likely has some utility as a counterpoke. Mostly seen as a pressure tool.

5C

Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 700 11 4 21 -8 SC, EX, ISC, TCC, CAC HLA - 5C with some of the best range in the game. Can easily be confirmed into 5AB or Ranbu but CA whiffs at most ranges as it only hits close to her. Great for checking an opponent's landing but can be used elsewhere in neutral, just remember if the opponent jumps on you when you go for it you are likely dead as with all 5Cs.

2C	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 700 11 4 21 -8 SC, EX, ISC, TCC, CAC LA - Incredible 2C. This move works to AA checkmate characters with poor ATG, or universally as a dash-under AA vs bad double-jumps. An underrated tool.

j.A	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 250 7 2 X+2 Varies JC, SC, EX, CAC HA - Among the strongest jAs in the game. This move can check an opponent dashing under her air scouts, can be done in scramble spacings up close after an 8[4]j/9j, and is just a great A2A abare. Infinitely more useful than your other air normals.

j.B	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 450 9 3 X+3 Varies JC, SC, EX, CAC HA - Yukina's traditional air-to-ground button which has a small cross-up hitbox. Most commonly seen in trump where she can rebeat into jA for double overheads.

j.C	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 650 11 4 X+4 Varies JC, SC, EX, CAC HA - Another possible air-to-ground for Yukina. It has a lot of active frames by DFCI standards but likewise plenty of startup. Use wisely.

Special Moves

Wild Strike 「牙撃 -ワイルドストライク-」 236X 236A/B/C 236AB

Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox A 700 13 4 27 -14 SC, EX, TCC, CAC HLA - A stationary forward thrust with her lance that has fairly fast startup and hits midscreen. None of these should be used on their own and are usually layered behind C normals. Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox B 750 12 4 33 -20 SC, EX, TCC, CAC HLA - Same as A version, but moves her forward a very short distance. Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox C 800 11 4 37 -24 SC, EX, TCC, CAC HLA - Moves her a decent distance forward, technically has fastest startup out of the three, but also has the most recovery and worst advantage. Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox EX 1400 11 4 62 Lance only: -33 With Follow-up: -14 SC, TCC, CAC HLA - Adds 2A+B to the move as a follow-up and knocks the opponent away, wall bounces if done in the corner. There are some setups in the corner with the right proration as the opponent will swap sides with Yukina, allowing for ocassional left/rights with Celty, Kouko, and possibly more characters. Not seen too often however.

Hikiyoseru (Pull In) 「引き寄せる」 A, B, or C after Wild Strike	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox A: 400 B: 480 C: 560 A: 5 B: 6 C: 7 4 A: 28 B: 29 C: 30 A: -9 B: -10 C: -11 SC, EX, TCC, CAC HLA - Pulls the opponent in and knocks them down in front of you. Only gives meterless HKD on low proration routing.

Arrow Strike 「空撃 -アローストライク-」 214X 214A/B/C 214AB

Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox A 700 21 11 26 -10 or worse SC, EX, CAC HLA - Yukina rises into the air and lunges forward with her spear. When Yukina reaches the apex of her hop, you can cancel that animation into the A, B, or C follow-ups immediately on hit or on whiff. You can also use the follow-ups after lunging forward from 214X. Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox B 700 23 13 31 -15 or worse SC, EX, CAC HLA - Nearly identical to the A version, but Yukina rises to roughly the opponent's head's height before lunging. Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox C 700 25 15 34 -15 or worse SC, EX, CAC HLA - Yukina rises to about her jump height before lunging forward with her spear. Technically only hits airborne opponents. Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox EX 1457 12 9 49 -5 SC, CAC HLA - The move starts similar to the B version, but Yukina will always follow up with Kahou Tosshin. The follow up creates a large ground shockwave surrounding Yukina. Adds 10% to Burst meter on execution, regardless of hit/block/whiff

Zenpou Tosshin (Forward Charge) 「前方突進」 A After 214X Charged	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 900 14 8 X+26 -32 or worse SC, EX, CAC HLA - The A follow-up to her 214X series. You can easily traverse a whole screen using this after a 214. Highly unsafe on block, however.

Kahou Tosshin (Descending Rush) 「下方突進」 B or C After 214X Charged

Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 700 B: 26 [B]/[C]: 39 C: 29 B: 4 [B]: 5 C/[C]: 6 B/C: X+28 [B]/[C]: X+26 B: -5 [B]: +3 C: -7 [C]: +1 SC, EX, TCC, CAC HLA - A downward pierce usable on hit or whiff on 214X. The B version is active roughly at head height, whereas the C version rises further up before Yukina strikes downward. Fully charging the move provides frame advantage on block.

Heavy Strike 「重撃 -ヘビーストライク-」 j.236X Charged j.236AB

Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox A A: 700 [A]: 800 A: 17 [A]: 32 7 A: 31 [A]: 25 A: -10 [A]: +2 to -2 SC, EX, TCC, CAC HLA - Functionally the same as Yukina's B or C follow-ups to her 214X series, except that you can do in from a free air state. You can charge the move to make it safer. Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox B B: 700 [B]: 800 B: 24 [A]: 39 8 B: 28 [B]: 22 B: -7 [B]: +2 to +1 SC, EX, TCC, CAC HLA - Almost the same as the A version, but Yukina rises further up before attacking. Fully charging the move guarantees plus frames. Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox C C: 700 [C]: 800 C: 27 [C]: 42 6 C: 28 [C]: 22 C: -6 [C]: +3 to +1 SC, EX, TCC, CAC HLA - Yukina rises to the top of the screen before charging downward. Version Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox EX 1354 8 6 18 +6 SC, TCC, CAC HLA - The quickest version of Heavy Strike. It hits twice, with the second hit causing a shockwave on the ground.

Universal Mechanics

Throw 6C or 4C

Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 1100 4 1 99 +33 (hit) SC, EX, TCC, CAC N/A - Knocks the opponent back. It's somewhat difficult to follow up as Yukina shoves them too far back for her otherwise slow grounded movement speed. Funnily enough, the grab is two hits, but if you cancel into trump on the first hit the opponent recovers from the grab and is forced to be ready for this overhead knowledge check.

Impact Skill Twin Strike 「双撃 -ツインストライク-」 5A+B	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 1096 12 8 73 -33 SC, EX, TCC, CAC (hit only) HLA - Yukina slashes forward twice, then hops back in recoil. When timed right, she can do j236AB on hit after the 2nd hit, and she can meterless trump cancel after both the first and second 5AB hit.

Impact Skill Young Thunder 「若雷」 2A+B

Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 1100 12 4 38 -27 SC, EX, TCC, CAC HLA - Likely the only useless 2AB in DFCI. It has no KNOWN combo utility, can whiff vs standing opponents if they aren't in your face, and has no combo follow-ups without combo-blast. Possibly, and only possibly could be used vs a double-jumping opponent to clash their air attack but is NOT recommended.

Impact Break 4A+B	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox First hit: 900 Launcher: 800 First hit: 22 Launcher: 9 First hit: 8 Launcher: 2 First hit: 14 Launcher: 50 First hit: -2 Launcher: -37 First hit: N/A Launcher: SC, EX, TCC, CAC (hit only) First hit: HA Launcher: HLA - Standard universal overhead. Although it looks similar to Yukina's jB, the horizontal range is slightly smaller.

Trump Card Howl of the Wolf 「狼の咆哮」 5A+C	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 3000 25 3 51 -27 N/A H - Yukina slashes downward with her spear sending the opponent flying. Among the worst recovery on red trumps in the game and should not be used as a reversal. Best when paired with her potential activating as discussed in the gameplan section.

Climax Arts

Strike the Blood 「神槍解放 -ストライク・ザ・ブラッド-」 41236B+C Air O.K.

Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 3510 13 2 X+21 -41 or worse N/A HLA - An interesting Climax Art being the only one that can be activated in the air. Yukina jumps into the air and does a crescent slash- if it connects she does a brief incantation followed by a rising slash. If done point blank, she'll end up behind the opponent- midscreen she'll land directly right in front of them

Sacred Howling 「雪霞繚乱 -セイクリッド・ハウリング-」 63214B+C	Damage Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Cancels Guard Hitbox 2960 7 23 20 -28 N/A HLA - Yukina runs forward after a quick incantation, if she hits the opponent she follows up with a series of strikes that knocks the opponent airborne.

Combos

• Note: You can always trump after any of the 214/j.236EXs/5AB(1)/5AB(2) to either do extra damage and/or activate the trump+potential combo.

Stuff > 2C

• Meterless HKD for 0 bar Yukina.

Stuff > 5C/2C > 5AB

• Meterless soft KD for when Yukina does not want to spend meter.

Stuff > 5C/2C > 5AB(2) > slight delay > j236AB...

• Absolutely the basis of almost ALL Yukina routing. By slightly delaying your 236AB input after 5AB is done, you can get a j236AB which you can extend into a longer route, an air combo, stuff into 5AB again into trump, etc. Get this down to play Yukina.
• After j236AB, you can do 2B2C or 5B2C > 5AB(1)5AC/5AB(2)5AC/5AB(2)214AB5AC, you can do 5B jBjC djC tjB~C > land > assist call, etc.

Stuff > 5C/2C > 5AB(2) > slight delay > j236AB > 5B > jBjC > djC > tjB~C

• Your go-to BnB when it's not potential + trump time. Slightly delaying the final jC is for better advantage. You'll want to learn to answer airtechs to maintain momentum.

Stuff > 5C/2C > 5AB(2) > slight delay > j236AB > 5B/2B > 2C > 5AB...

• Go-to BnB when it's trump time. If you're ready to trump and still need one more EX move spent, you can do 214AB after 5AB. If the initial j236AB cancel put you into potential already, you can 5AC cancel with a slight delay after the first 5AB hit, or after the second 5AB hit depending on the proration.

jA > djBC > j236AB > (micro-dash) > 5B > 2C > 5AB...

• Like the route above, you can go into trump after this (or omit 2C > 5AB for air extension). Used for A2A conversions.

4AB~X > jBjC > djC > tjBC > j236A

• Standard 4AB route. Can do j236AB after j236A, or omit j236A for the usual airtech assist Yukina stuff.

Air Combo > j236A > j236AB

• HKD off of A2A routing.

Stuff > 5AB(2) > combo-blast > slight delay > j236[C] > dash > 5B > jAjB > djC > tjB~C

• Mostly seen in round 2 for Yukina to manage her resources, letting the blast cycle re-new and getting a bar for it.

Setups

Grab > recover > ...

• After recovering from a grab, you can superjump and if you microwalk, depending on the timing, you can get a pretty ambiguous l/r safejump going.

5AB(2) > j236AB > Air Combo > land > Assist Call

• This is your most common "setup". You don't want to go into potential too early, and just a single EX after 5AB is a lot lower damage than the 5B air extension post 5AB(2) j236AB. As such, learning to abuse the opponent's airtech decisions and lock them in with your assist is key.

Colors

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