Melty Blood/MBAACC/Kohaku/Crescent Moon

Overview

Playstyle

C-Kohaku is an insanely strong setplay character that requires really good hands to conquer the match.
Pros	Cons
Normals: Extremely strong normals, has a normal for almost every situation (abare, anti-air, long range). Corner Carry: Each hit leads into corner carry and oki, even corner to corner. Great Meter Increase: Combos are meter positive even after using metered knockdown ender, allowing her to always go MAX mode in many ocassions and not worrying too much about using it. Infamous Damage: Some of the highest meterless damage in the game, can reliably 3 touch characters and in some cases 2 touch them, although there are easy combos that can make 4k and give access to good oki, so can be learned from the most basic with great reward. Combo drops are common and yet, can do really easy tech chases. Great Pressure: Very flexible pressure in the game with rebeat, a command grab that gives her oki in the corner, gapless plus frames and a standing overhead that can be feint canceled for a low. Mixups: Pretty strong left/right and high/low mixups that are really hard to defend against. General Match-Up: Stable MU spread, has a decent time against every character of the game and in some cases she destroys them.	EX Guard: If you can EX Guard so that she's out of 4B range, there are decently exploitable gaps during her pressure. Different characters capitalize on this in different ways, though in general this makes it so it's harder for her to reset her pressure or land a command grab, lowering the quality of her pressure. The reason for EX Guard being particularly detrimental for C-Kohaku is the lack of a variety of forward moving normals and the nature of her dash, at least when compared to other characters that have an easier time against the extra pushback. Cactus Counterplay: There are 2 main ways to keep her honest on cactus okizeme. Bunker is the main way to challenge high/lows, and EX Shield->jumping the first hit is a solid way to try to escape the setup. Kohaku can beat these options, but very rarely on reaction. Even though it's not entirely a weakness that you can interact with her powerful okizeme, it's noteworthy that if you mix up your options against this setup she has a harder time mixing you up.

Move Descriptions

Frame Data Help
Header	Tooltip
Move Box Colors	Light gray = Collision Box (A move lacking one means it can go through the opponent's own collision box). Green: Hurt Boxes. Red: Hit(/Grab) Boxes. Yellow: Clash Boxes (When an active hitbox strikes a clash box, the active hitbox stops being active. Multi-hit attacks can beat clash since they will still progress to the next hitbox.) Magenta: Projectile-reflecting boxes OR Non-hit attack trigger boxes (usually). Blue: Reflectable Projectile Boxes.
Damage	Base damage done by this attack. (X) denotes combined and scaled damage tested against standing V. Sion.
Red Damage	Damage done to the recoverable red health bar by this attack. The values are inherently scaled and tested against standing V. Sion. (X) denotes combined damage.
Proration	The correction value set by this attack and the way it modifies the scaling during a string. See this page for more details. X% (O) means X% Overrides the previous correction value in a combo if X is of a lower percentage. X% (M) means the current correction value in a combo will be Multiplied by X%. This can also be referred to as relative proration.
Circuit	Meter gained by this attack on hit. (X%) denotes combined meter gain. -X% denotes a meter cost.
Cancel	Actions this move can be cancelled into. SE = Self cancelable. N = Normal cancelable. SP = Special cancelable. CH = Cancelable into the next part of the same attack (Chain in case of specials). EX = EX cancelable. J = Jump cancelable. (X) = Cancelable only on hit. -X- = Cancelable on whiff.
Guard	The way this move must be blocked. L = Can block crouching H = Can block standing. A = Can block in the air. U = Unblockable.
Startup	Amount of frames that must pass prior to reaching the active frames. Also referred to as "True Startup".
Active	The amount of frames that this move will have a hitbox. (x) denotes frame gaps where there are no hitboxes is present. Due to varied blockstuns, (x) frames are difficult to use to determine punish windows. Generally the larger the numbers, the more time you have to punish. X denotes active frames with a duration separate from its origin move's frame data, such as projectile attacks. In this case, the total length of the move is startup+recovery only.
Recovery	Frames that this move has after the active frames if not canceled. The character goes into one frame where they can block but not act afterwards, which is not counted here.
Advantage	The difference in frames where you can act before your opponent when this move is blocked (assuming the move isn't canceled and the first active frame is blocked). If the opponent uses a move with startup that is at least 2 frames less than this move's negative advantage, it will result in the opponent hitting that move. ±x~±y denotes a range of possible advantages.
Invul	Lists any defensive properties this move has. X y~z denotes X property happening between the y to z frames of the animations. If no frames are noted, it means the invincibility lasts through the entire move. Invicibility: Strike = Strike invincible. Throw = Throw invincible. Hurtbox-Based Properties: Full = No hurtboxes are present. High = Upper body lacks a hurtbox. Low = Lower body lacks a hurtbox. Miscellaneous Properties Clash = Frames in which clash boxes are active. Reflect = Frames in which projectile-reflecting boxes are active. Super Armor = Frames in which the character can take hits without going into hit stun.

Normal Moves

Standing Normals

5A

5A "If you look where I'm pointing, you can see the frame data!" "If you look where I'm pointing, you can see the frame data!"

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 350 166 78% (O) -SE-, -N-, -SP-, -EX-, (J) LH First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 4 4 8 0 3.5% - Standard 5A for whiff canceling and antiair. It is really viable to use to trade with air attacks. This attack will hit Wara, Nanaya, Tohno, Archetype, Wlen, and Nero while they are crouching, but it barely whiffs on everybody else. This means if they use any move that extends their hitbox during the startup, the 5A will most likely counterhit them.

5B

5B 5[B]

5B Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 600 392 70% (O) N, SP, EX, (J) H (Whiffs vs Crouch.), LH First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 9 5 14 -4 (vs Stand.) -2 (vs Crouch.) 6.0% - Kohaku swipes with the broom over her head. This antiair attack will trade or beat most jump in attacks provided you space it correctly and because of the air CH you can convert into a combo after the trade, but the broom extends Kohaku's hurtbox making her particularly vulnerable to disjointed air to air attacks. It can also be used to halt jump out attempts when your opponent is in the corner. 5[B] Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1000 686 70% (O) N, SP, EX, (J) LH First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 18 8 12 -5 10.0% - This looks the same as 5B but has a very different purpose. This is a very fast charge move that has a disjointed horizontal hitbox that's perfect for stuffing pokeout attempts in your blockstrings. Ground techable the moment the opponent hits the ground. It's very good at swatting your opponent trying to jump out of the corner as even if they tech it Kohaku can punish very easily on reaction, also it is really good at frametrapping opponents after a B or C normal. This normal is also a mainstay for her very damaging corner loops.

5C

5C 5C~C

5C Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 900 686 90% (O) N, SP, -CH-, EX, (J) LH First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 8 6 18 -9 6.0% - Kohaku stabs you with the broom handle. Like most of her other normals, this is a very strong poke that can be used in a variety of situations such as meaty, combo filler, and antijumpout. Almost the entire broom handle is unhittable, so at the right ranges this can beat much quicker attacks and it is almost always confirmable into its command followup, 5CC. Abuse the hell out of this move. 5C~C Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 150*3, 800 (1160) (451) 100%*3, 60% (M) N, SP, EX, (J) LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 3 10 29 -15 1.0%*4 (4.0%) - After 5C, Kohaku does a twirl with her broom handle for 4 hits, with the last hit launching them. It cancels your pushback from 5C which makes it an invaluable asset in her strings and combos. If they block it, cancel the first hits into 2A or 4B to keep pressuring or into 5A whiff and command throw them, if it hits you can just go into a normal combo. Avoid the last hit though, its use is limited to specific blockstrings and her 5CC > 236[B] loop.

Crouching Normals

2A

2A

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 300 98 75% (O) -SE-, -N-, -SP-, -EX-, (J) L First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 4 4 8 0 3.0% - One of the very best 2As in the game. It has 4 frames of startup, hits low, and has decent range. This move by definition is one of the strongest and most terrifying things the opponent has to look for when they're pressuring you because of the move by itself being good and the risk return you can get out of it, but also it's the main thing an experienced player will try to cover, so avoid abusing it while always put on the table the possibility of a mash.

2B

2B 2B~2B Do NOT ever whiff this Do NOT ever whiff this

2B Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 500 294 85% (O) N, SP, -CH-, EX, (J) LH First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 8 4 22 -11 5.0% Clash 8-11 Mostly used for blockstring and combo filler, this move also doubles as a decent antiair from certain angles and it hits high enough to tag players who are jumping out of the corner. The horizontal range isn't as good as it looks, so be careful when you are adding it to combos and use 4b if you are too far away. This is a mid attack. 2B~2B Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 500 313 85% (O) N, SP, EX, (J) L First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 7 4 17 -6 5.0% - Low hit command followup to 2B, you can delay the hit to make it useful in blockstrings as a niche frametrap, it also works very well for combos since it can add more damage, however you need to be careful on using this follow up, as it depends on whether the opponent is more far to Kohaku, 2BB will probably whiff 4B if you use it, so if it's very far due to the 2BB it's better to combo with 5CC(1-3) immediately.

2C

2C 2[C]

2C Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1100 686 60% (O) N, SP, EX, (J) L First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 10 4 24 -10 7.0% - A long range sweep attack that hits low. This is your main long range abare option and a good one for that purpose, you can use it in situations when you can only defy a blockstring from midrange or to catch someone dashing at you, after you hit it depending of the situation you can do a normal BnB or a 5A/236B~C cancel into an OTG combo. 2[C] Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1400 980 90% (M) N, SP, EX, (J) L First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 22 5 24 -11 12.0% - Charged version has a smaller hurtbox, it can work as a frametrap for jump ins, but overall is better to use simply 2C.

Aerial Normals

j.A

j.A	Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 300 98 73% (O) SE, N, SP, EX, J LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 5 4 10 - 3.0% - A broom handle poke in the air. This j.A is angled in such a way it's good for jumping in as well as air to air, also it has high hitstun for a j.A so you can convert into combos much more easily than other characters.

j.B

j.B

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 680 392 90% (O) N, SP, EX, J HA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 8 4 - - 5.0% - A blazingly fast upward broom swipe that has a truly staggering range. This is your mainstay air to air attack and one of the best at what it does. The broom tip does not have a hittable box, so use this move to swat your opponent out of the sky when they are at that upward angle, but it's speed also allows it to be used as a instant air backdash overhead or just a move you can throw out on the way down when you don't have time to use j.C. Most of Kohaku's neutral game comes from calculated abuse of this move.

j.C

j.C j.[C]

j.C Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1000 637 70% (O) N, SP, EX, J HA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 10 3 - - 10.0% - A downward broom swipe. On air hit, it slams them to the ground for a techable knockdown which Kohaku can punish at most ranges in the corner. Random air hits should be avoided and the main useage of this move should be to attack someone who is on the ground. j.[C] Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1050 686 80% (M) N, SP, EX, J HA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 28 3 - - 5.0% - Charged version ground bounces on air hit, one of the main charge normals for the corner to corner combos, also it has a niche use as a fakeout overhead into 2A or delay overhead, don't try to use this in neutral because all the charge startup is air CH hittable.

Command Normals

4B

4B 4[B]

4B Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 800 490 80% (O) N, SP, EX, (J) L First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 7 5 10 0 8.0% - A super moe side kick. This modest looking normal is one of the best in the game for a crescent moon character, it's like they accidentally gave her a full moon normal. It's a standing low that has blazing fast startup, an almost unbeatable hitbox, almost no recovery, and it moves Kohaku forward during the startup. It's neutral on block, and if you counterhit them with it you can link it to another 4B into a full combo. Abuse this move whenever you are in range, and even when you aren't you can throw it out there to stuff a normal that extends your opponents hitbox. 4[B] Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1000 784 55% (O) N, SP, EX, (J) L First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 27 5 10 1 10.0% - A charged kick that hits low and vacuums the opponent in on block or trips on hit. This is a very slow charge move that has more range than her normal 4B and a good vertical hitbox, but extends her hittable box far more. It's +1 on block, but due to it's slow speed it is very hard to successfully get the move out against a mashy opponent so you have to mix in half charge 4B's into your strings to make them scared. This move can also OTG relaunches which makes it an important part of her combos in the corner.

6C

6C

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1000 490 45% (O) SP, EX, (J) L First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 11 3 31 -6 4.0% - Downward sword slash that hits low and is special cancelable only. The main purpose of this move is for blockstrings and should always be canceled on hit or block into fake battou or 236[A] overhead. On block, if you cancel it into 236BC Kohaku gets plenty of + frames to work with, you can stuff whatever nonreversal they want to do by throwing out a 4B after it. On hit, Kohaku gets a hard knockdown that she can followup with an OTG string, or 4[B] relaunch if you are fast enough at confirming. On counterhit she can followup with a full juggle without the need for otg relaunch. Since the 6C also ignores hitstop it can also be a perfect counter against ex-shield if you follow it with a command grab after it, though the window is very fast so you would react as fast as you can. That setup can also counter Last Arcs due to not having hitstop. Ignores clashboxes, so against bunker or special moves with clashes like F-Hisui's chair and F-Ciel's command grab it can also be a great counter. Video demonstration of what is the normal capable of.

Universal Mechanics

Ground Throw

Ground Throw 6/4A+D

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1000 490 100% - U First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 3 1 20 - 0.0% - Syringe hit. Untechable knockdown. After this you can do an almost universal meaty 2A with the following framekill: neutral jump, drift forward, land and then 2A: you can mix this with Option Selects like 2A 2DB in order to catch slow EX reversals and heat on wakeup, or the 2A 5A command grab setup in the pressure section. For more information about the frame data of the character wakeups go to the 63214C section.

Air Throw

Air Throw j.6/4A+D

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1600 (Raw)/1300 588 30% - U First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 2 1 12 - 0.0% - Ground bounces the opponnent using a 16-ton weight. as a raw airthrow it can follow with combo, but needs to add j.A(w) to get closer to the opponent, as Kohaku goes very far from the airthrow. In a normal airthrow ender Kohaku gets enough plus frames to run up and meaty the opponent, making it a good way to end some confirms that can't go into the feint loops.

Shield Bunker

Shield Bunker 214D in neutral or blockstun

Bunker Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 500 196 50% - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 26 4 19 -5 0.0% (-50.0% in blockstun) Clash 1-10 (Clash) Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 500 196 50% - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 8 4 19 -5 0.0%/-50.0% Strike 1-7 Flaming battou swipe. A pretty decent bunker for the thing it does, Shield Bunker for C Kohaku is a pretty niche defensive option so you don't have to rely on it, but if you had to bunker something it does have good range to hit the opponent and sets up a situation of air/ground tech that Kohaku can chase and read the opponent's tech option in a relatively safe way.

Heat

Heat A+B+C

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 100 0 100% - U First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 16 7 25 - -100.0% (min) Full 1-22 Decently quick and large hitbox. A good thing about Heat is that, because Kohaku gains a lot of meter while in most situations She doesn't use it, you have more opportunities to spend the bar for a Heat and not risking lack of resources long term, this makes universal options like pressing Heat in gaps of a blockstring less resource-risky. in a post Heat situation fullscreen you can use Johnny in order to cover the ground and have the upper hand in neutral, while if you Heat and the opponent was in the corner you can cover their tech options after the heat or, if they don't tech, setup a 22B for a mixup.

Circuit Spark

Circuit Spark A+B+C during hitstun/blockstun at MAX

Ground Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 100 0 100% - U First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 11 10 20 - removes all Full 1-39 Air Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 100 0 100% - U First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 12 10 15 - removes all Strike 1-30 Universal burst mechanic. Like the previous section, even though you are risking a lot of resources going for it because Kohaku's meter gain is so high and her reliance of it so low you can use this option more often than other characters and shift the momentum into your favor, a grounded burst is essentially a way to enforce offense if you get hit pressuring in the corner, because it forces a grounded tech chase that Kohaku can cover with 5B, and if the opponent doesn't tech after the 5B you can meaty them and continue your offense. Still despite all the pros of a successful burst you still have to be careful in using it, if you get baited you might lose the whole round.

Special Moves

Special Movement

3

[3]	Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard - - - - - First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln - - - - - - Slow approach that shrinks Kohaku's hurtbox. Can be useful against projectiles like C-Roa's orbs.

Grounded Specials

236X

Battou - Hidden Sharp Sword 236A/[A]/B/[B]/C (236A/[A]/B/[B]~A/B/C) A A [A] [A] B B [B] [B] A/[A]~A A/[A]~A B/[B]~A B/[B]~A ~B ~B ~C ~C EX EX

A Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1000 656 96% (M) (SP)*, -CH-, -EX- LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 8 2 29 -13 10.0% - [A] Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1500 950 60% (O) -CH-, -EX- HA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 29 2 44 -28 10.0% - Low slash. Charged version knocks down and is an overhead, recommended to use for pressure. Uncharged version can cancel into 236B on hit, so is more useful as a follow up for combos. B Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1000 656 70% (O) -CH-, -EX-, (J) LHA* First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 9 4 44 -24 3.0% - [B] Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1200 980 70% (O) -CH-, -EX- LH First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 26 4 44 -24 10.0% - High slash. Charged version wallslams and is air-unblockable. Unique to Crescent, uncharged version can jump-cancel the recovery on hit. Charged works for the ender while uncharged works for starter. A/[A]~A Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 800 294 70% (O) - LH* First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 13 4 28 -18 ~ -17 8.0% - B/[B]~A Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 800 294 85% (M) - LH First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 13 10 40 -38 3.0% - ~B Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard - - - - - First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln - - 35 - - - ~C Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard - - - - - First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln - - 18 - - - For non-EX versions, any of these can be used on hit, whiff, or block: Pressing A will do a follow-up attack, launching the opponent. Will launch behind Kohaku if done from A slash, and upwards if done from B slash. Pressing B will do a follow-up roll. Pressing C during startup will cancel the attack. EX Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 2000 1568 100% - LH First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 4+6 1 55 -38 -100.0% Full 1-7 Low slash. Untechable launch. Gives a hard knockdown, which makes it ver useful as an easy ender to add oki.

214X

Magical Amber Missile 214A/B/C (~X) A/B A/B ~X ~X EX EX What happens when you missinput the command grab. What happens when you missinput the command grab.

A Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard - - - -CH- - First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 22 18 18 - - Strike 18-46 B Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard - - - -CH- - First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 21 18 36 - - Strike 17-45 ~X Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 600*3 (1743) (853) 100%*2, 80% (O) - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 32 ~ 33 2 (2) 2 (2) 8 - - 6.0%*3 (18.0%) - Kohaku jumps off the ground and flies on her broom. While airborne, she can drop one explosive projectile on the ground by inputting any button. She lacks hurtboxes and a collision box while flying, but can still be air thrown. A version fully recovers in the air, so it can be followed by a jump/airdash or a j.A. B version goes farther but has to go through landing recovery. Unfortunately, this is not very recommended to use freely, as Kohaku can get easily punished by it with a raw airthrow, it can only work during pressure with the 22B on but it's still not a really useful special. EX Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard (500*3) x4 (313*3) x4 (100%*2, 75% (M)) x4 - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 17+(37 ~ 18) X 71 - -100.0% Strike 1-115 Same as above, but Kohaku will automatically drop 4 projectiles in succession. It is less recommended to use as it has longer time for the opponent to react with an airthrow.

22X

Difficult Childhood♪/Look at What I Grew♪ 22A/B/C (22A~[X]) Go my children! Hold down the oki Go my children! Hold down the oki

A (~[X]) Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 333*N 98*N 100% - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 57 (~58) X 49 - 3.0%*N - Kohaku puts out a spinning pine tree that goes diagonally upwards. The take-off can be delayed by holding any button beforehand, giving you a negative-edge type attack. Very useful for characters like Nero and Len against their backdashes. B Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 280*8 (1724) (782) -4%*8 - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 81 32 53 - 3.0%*8 (24.0%) - This version puts out a grounded multihit spinning tree that will stay for a long time. This is your main oki ender, if the opponent doesn't jump it will lock them in a high low mixup, and if they do jump you recover before them so you can meaty them with a 2A or 4B. also worthnoting that the plant if fully blocked gives you 20% meter for free, so a combo that ends in 22B you can assume you will have +20% more meter, It is also uncancellable, so if the opponent mashes you and get hit, they still get the hit of the plant leaving them easy to punish, however if your opponent has a full invul DP, you need to be focused when you put the oki or they can hit you easily if you're not careful. EX Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 500, 250*12 (1986) (1521) -4%*8 - LH (1), LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 4+24 15 (12), 1 (7) 1 (9) x5, 1 (5) 2 4+34 - -100.0% Full 1-5 Pulls out a cactus that performs a series of punches. On hit, this will finish with a superflash into a wallslam hit. This version is really useful after 236C because you can make 22C meaty with walk 5A whiffcancel 22C, and cover the gap between the first and second hitbox with 4B, the blockstun of the cactus is so high you can pretty much do 2 mixups and stay relatively safe after it ends. Be careful though, as the cactus will dissapear if Kohaku is hit by anything (not if she blocks) so a good bunker will stop the mixup vortex if Kohaku is in range.

2222C

Johnny 2222C

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 800*4 588*4 80% (O) - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 3+114 X 3+46 +74 -150.0% - Special plant that spits 4 fireballs. Will correct which way it faces if it appears behind the opponent, depending of the distance it might have a gap between the second and third fireball. Really only practical in MAX because it costs 150% meter unlike other better enders, you can use Johnny to cover the tech options in a combo that ends in 236[B] 2222C, you will recover fast enough to do a meaty 5C for all techs and if they don't tech Johnny will lock them in blockstun

22222C

This is a victim of modern medicine. 22222C

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 100 49 50% - LH First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 3+109 72 3+36 - -150.0% - Special plant that spits a slow poison projectile. On hit, it will inflict a damage over time effect on the opponent for approx. 15 seconds, though that effect only deals recoverable damage. The DoT effect automatically ends if Kohaku is hit. Will correct which way it faces if it appears behind the opponent. Costs 150% meter.

63214C

Amber Colloseum - Uppercut 63214C (~X)

Grab Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 500 (440) (431) 80% (O) (CH) U (Whiffs vs Air.) First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 4 1 22 - 8.0% - ~X (Lv 3) Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 3500 (2826) (2435) 80% (O) - - First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 0 1 30 - 20.0% - ~X (Lv 2) Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1500 (1462) (1232) 80% (O) - - First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 2 2 28 - 10.0% - ~X (Lv 1) Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 1000 (1121) (898) 70% (O) - - First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 4 3 23 - 10.0% - A command grab. If it lands, Kohaku will try to bat the opponent using her broom. The followup is done using any button, and Kohaku will still perform and whiff it if nothing is pressed. The followup has 3 levels of strength depending on how low to the ground you hit the opponent (see second image). Level 3 will send the opponent flying as far as possible and result in an untechable knockdown. If you hold the C button while in the animation, Kohaku will do the followup immediately and whiff it for a guaranteed hard knockdown, you will do little damage in the command grab but you will have good oki. for more information about the oki check the excel about the plus frames of both Throw and whiff command grab oki. Whiff command grab/Throw plus frames

1632143C

Magical Attack ・ Kohapon X 1632143C (16213C) Don't do drugs, kids, as they are a waste of meter. Don't do drugs, kids, as they are a waste of meter.

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard - - - - - First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln - - 24+100 - -100.0% - Kohaku injects herself with drugs, granting her Blood Heat and super armor during its duration. After the long super flash, there is a long startup (100f), and it can only be safely used if the opponent is under cactus lockdown. The Blood Heat lasts 300f (5 seconds), shorter than Full Moon's maximum Blood Heat duration (750f, or 12.5 seconds). The super armor completely ignores normal throws, even if you tech throw it she's still invulnerable to that, however command throws can beat it. The only way to cancel it with a throw is by attacking Kohaku during the animation before the super armor comes, with that it becomes a total waste of meter. 24f of startup, then long super flash, then 100f before it becomes active. While cool-looking, this move has no real practical uses, unless you want to use it for memes.

Aerial Specials

j.214X

Magical Amber Missile (Air) (B: Magical Missile Squall) j.214A/B/[B]/C

A Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 600*3 (1743) (853) 100%*2, 80% (O) - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 19* X - - 6.0%*3 (18.0%) Strike 8-40 Aerial version of 214X that automatically drops an explosive. It can be used for air footsies with Kohaku, though it can be easier for the enemy to chase them if they're grounded, so always be sure to have at least double jump saved. B Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 300*3, 200*3 (1170) (680) -5%*3 - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 20* X - - 1.0%*3, 0.5%*3 (4.5%) - Kohaku hovers around and drops up to 3 explosives depending on how long this move is held. No strike invincibility. This move is primarly used in some 22B oki setups: you can do while the opponent is in 22B blockstun j.214B and then double jump cancel for land 2A or land 63214C, you can also drift your landing for a crossup 2A or do a gapless j.C, all these options have a counterplay and not all molotovs are gapless, so you have to condition pretty well in order to make the oki effective. This mixup main advantage is the guaranteed chip damage it provides. EX Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard (500*3) x4 (313*3) x4 (100%*2, 75% (M)) x4 - LHA First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 17+(35 ~ 18) X - - -100.0% Strike 1-59 Aerial EX version drops 4 explosives in a much faster succession than its grounded counterpart. Shares the same weaknesses as the other Magical Amber specials but if it hits it does a really good amount of damage.

Arc Drive

Low Blow Amber Kick 41236C during Max/Heat

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 4700 (2176) (859) 50% (O) - U (Whiffs vs Air.) First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 2+15 X Knockdown* - removes all Full Kohaku dashes forward at high speed and goes into a 3-hit sequence that circuit breaks and knocks the opponent down, the knockdown is plus enough to do a dash 2A/63214C mixup. This is an unblockable that can only be evaded jumping. If this misses, Kohaku will hit the wall and be in an untechable knockdown state that allows for the opponent to OTG you. For most cases, you'll be +18 on hit in the knockdown, so you can create an autotimed meaty for a strike throw mixup, this is character dependant however so you have to check the opponent's character knockdown in the excel below and follow the indications to meaty. Arc Drive plus frames on hit

Another Arc Drive

Low Blow Amber Overthrow 41236C during Blood Heat

Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 13800 (5238) (3826) 50% - U (Whiffs vs Air.) First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 2+18 X Knockdown* - removes all Full Essentially the same as Arc Drive version in the beginning, but it has much more hits and wallslams the opponent into a ground tech situation. More damage, but does not circuit break. Overall very useless move compared to the Arc Drive as it doesn't work as either a reversal or a combo ender for meter break.

Last Arc

Ultimate Battou - Happy New Year's Comet Grounded EX Shield during Blood Heat	Damage Red Damage Proration Cancel Guard 7000 (3500 ~ 7000) 2930 ~ 5374 50% + 50% * remaining BH time - U First Active Active Recovery Frame Adv Circuit Invuln 4+0 1+1 16+56 - removes all Full The final battou. Goes into a cutscene on hit. Untechable knockdown. Can be avoided if the opponent's attack had invul like Nanaya's DP.

General Gameplan

One of the strongest and infamous characters in the game, C-Kohaku is a midrange setplay character with high damage, absurd normals yet fast, high meter gain (which grants her the ability to abuse better the Crescent Moon mechanics) and good hitconfirm ability with the capacity to convert almost all her hits into her best oki in the corner. Despite all the pros, it comes with the cost of being very technical, an ideal C-Kohaku round needs to land combos that requires optimization on the way because of how Melty Blood's gravity scaling works and being on point with the feint cancel combos. The general gameplan of C-Kohaku is to play neutral with some of her best buttons (j.B, 2C, etc) to force the opponent to respect her range and threat, once the opponent is conditioned, start pressure with her frametraps, plus on block resets, anti-jump strings and her very strong command grab. Once the first hit lands, it might be the last time you have to play neutral in the round.

Neutral

• 5C is active frame 8, faster than many at the same range and the broom handle has no green on it to hamper the red. Fairly useful for anti-jumping, as well as not having much hurtbox, so it's safe to abuse as a poke and anti-air with good spacing. If confirmed, you can throw in an additional C and follow up with a 236B for combos. In rebeat is -1, which is very useful if you manage to react to being blocked. Can be low profiled however.
  
• 2C is a "sweep" taken to the logical extreme. Very long range, but very slow. Useful against zoners, and in neutral exchanges when the opponent is getting used to walking in front of you.
  
• 5B is deceptively small, but still excellent for anti-airs compared to other moves in this game. Don't expect the entire swinging animation to defend you, but on frame 9 a big chunk of red will be just above Kohaku's head. Long recovery, so don't miss.
  
• 5[B] is the "stay the hell away from me" button. At the ranges you'll use it at, the opponent will likely be too far to whiff punish you. Obscenely long and disjointed AF. It will thwart all grounded & low-to-the-ground approaches. The trick is to know when to abort a charge attempt and go for 5B instead of allowing yourself to get CH by a preemptive approach. 5[B] has no air hitbox, again contradicting the swing-down animation.
  
• 4B is a great middle-ground between 5C and 5A/2A in neutral. Fast and disjointed. Be sure to release the button without delay to have the hitbox come out when you need it.
  
• J.B is a strong move; infamous in fact. Utilize it to the fullest with IAD backwards & forwards. J.B is disjointed at the tip of the broom so for A2A exchanges aim to hit the opponent at that range. Kohaku is entirely green and stretched out during the 2 frames preceding its active frames, so be wary of opponents using J.A's to interrupt.
  
• J.C is very strong itself. J.B is angled upwards, so you'll find opponents maneuvering themselves in ways that avoid that angle but make them susceptible to this downward angle. Use during air-to-ground and air-to-air exchanges where you need something to hit them from above. Disjointed at the broom bristles. In neutral, consider doing A2G J.C and airdash cancelling; if the J.C CH's you can do another J.C to confirm, and if not you're still relatively safe.

Pressure

C-Kohaku options for pressure are very flexible. with a bunch of plus frames enders in blockstrings and mixups very hard to defend. your main objective with most of them however is to keep the distance short with your opponent, because if the opponent is too far from Kohaku at the end of the pressure sequence the opponent can escape more easily and the options of Kohaku for catching jumps and mashing for afar are less rewarding than up close mixups.

Plus frames strings

Note: a general rule for string enders is that if it ends with a 236B-C (feint cancel) it will have 2-3 frames more recovery than the full animation of 5A, that means if a 5A whiff is +2 the feint cancel should be -1 or 0, depending of how fast the special is inputed. for labbing the feint cancel frame data there is the MBAACC_Training app for visualizing the in real time frame data on block of strings.

• 2AA > 5CC 5A(w) [+2]

This string is amazing because it lets you react to if the 2As hit or not and after the 5A(w) you have the perfect distance to do a whiff cancel 4B or 2C to catch mashing and hitconfirm into the BnBs (keep in mind that, because of the pushback, you can't reach 4B if the opponents only blocks, for a more consistent on block pressure use 2C into feint, if it's blocked it's 0 on block).

• 2AA > 2B > 4B > 5C > delay 2C > 5A (w) [+2]

This string is mostly to catch buttons and jumpouts, it ends with a clear distance from the opponent so if they are not aware of the situación you can catch them with another 2C and cancel it to get an OTG conversion.

• 2AA > 2B > 4[B] [+1]

This is a really strong setup because it forces a strike throw mixup, 4[B] brings the opponent close, because C-Kohaku is tied with the fastest 2A in the game it will win against every mashing interaction and if they try to shield or respect it, they are close enough for an immediate 63214C. Note that the opponent might backdash, in that scenario you can cover it with 2A whiffcancel 2C. This string has some clear weaknesses though, 2B into 4[B] has a clear masheable gap so you have to make the opponent respect your blockstrings to make it work, also the opponent can still reversal you if they have the tool so be careful with that if you try the mixup.

• 2AA > 2B > 5CC (1-3) > 6C > 236B-C [+3]

This is the best plus frames scenario you can get from the character: gapless, +3 on block, practical and most importantly doesn't use rebeat so rebeat scaling is not applied to you, after it you can use 5C to frametrap opponents or do another 5CC(1-3) > 236B-C to apply more pressure in their guard bar, also worth noting that if you shorten the string and go for the 6C feint you can frame trap with 4B and create a +0 situation or restart the string, when they get conditioned you can "fake" the string with 236[A] and gain the knockdown for an OTG combo or a metered mixup.

Command grab setup

• 5A(w) > 63214C (works different with tall characters that 5A hits crouching, like Hime, Nanaya, Nero, Tohno, Warachia)

The basic setup, simple but very effective as it works perfectly against shield counters (except for EX-shield) or even mashing, since 5A meaty counterhits/gets shielded the opponent is still going to get grabbed, so it's very useful against opponents on wake up.

• 2A > 2B > 5CC (1-3) > 5A(w) [-4] > 63214C

Despite being unsafe against some characters, 5A has a total duration of 15 frames, assuming you're going right into the command grab (that is frame 3) it creates a borderline unreactable command grab setup that starts in the same normal as the 6C string, so they can't stand block the 5CC(1-3) because 6C will catch them.

Frametrap setups

• B/C normals > 5[B]

Any B and C normal of C-Kohaku can create an autotimed frametrap into 5[B] (the only exceptions being 6C not being rebeat cancelable and the multihits of 5CC, only the final hit of 5CC has the necessary blockstun), if it counterhits you have a lot of hitstun to work with, and if it's blocked you can 5A (w) and being relatively safe because of the pushback.

• 2B > slight delay 2BB

A pretty niche frametrap that, despite being not as strong as other options it can still catch people fuzzy mashing changing your timing.

• 4B > 4B

Stagger pressure that, despite having a clear masheable gap, it catches people trying to mash on reaction or trying to contest the max range of 4B (that is disjointed). It can also bait heat properly spaced.

• 2A > delay 5A > 63214C (works different with tall characters that 5A hits crouching, like Hime, Nanaya, Nero, Tohno, Warachia)

This string, despite simple, is one of the strongest options selects you have against mashing/shield/blocking opponents, if the opponent mashes between 2A and 5A the 5A hits them because of the extended hurtbox and because 63214C is also a hitgrab you can combo into it without reacting to the hit, if they still crouch block the 5A will whiff and then they will be grabbed, and if they shield the 5A the command grab will still interrupt any counter except EX Shield. A really scary situation that requires riskier options to beat it.

Note: There are characters that work more differently like H-Seifuku and C/F-WLen, 2A doesn't extend her hurtbox above to these characters.

Overhead string

• 2AA > 2B > 5CC (1-3) > 6C > 236[A] > 22C

The strong thing about this string is that, even though the overhead it's frame 28, if you condition the opponent to expect the 6C feint, by the moment they found out it's 236[A] it's already too late, but if they block it you can save yourself in most MUs with 22C, the cactus will cover attempts of redashes and it might be hard for the opponent to punish you with an IAD (also if they react too late you can even punish their attempt to escape the corner), another good thing is that if the overhead hits you can go into an OTG combo when the cactus first hit lands or go for a mixup.

Note: This string is NOT recommended against characters that can still punish you even if you do 22C (Hime). It doesn't mean you can't use the standing overhead ever, it just means that you have better options with much lower risk that can still mix those characters and you should prioritize them.

Okizeme

• 2C > 22B / 22A

Basic plant okizeme. Plants will not hit meaty and will not catch jumpouts (9 direction), but you can dash in and throw a poke. Even if you get countered, the plant persists and they will get hit, allowiwng you to combo again. Because of this most of the time people will respect plants and block, allowing you to go for mixups. You can also go for dash in throw before the plant hits. Using 22A opens up fuzzy opportunities. (Video example)

• OTG 4[B] > 6C > 22B

This plant setup makes the plant hit jumpouts, but can't be used with long combos (e.g. double feint/battou loops) because the opponent will be able to tech the 6C.

• OTG 4[B]...

- 22A / 22B

- 6C > 236A > 236C

A great okizeme option, as it opens up a lot of possibilities. You can go for plants, crossup mixups (with dodge, or jump into 3-way), and even OTG into 236C knockdown.

• 2C > 236B~C, OTG 4[B]

Cancelling the 2C into feint brings back all the normals, allowing greater freedom in enders.

- 2C~5C > 6C > 236A > 236C

OTG string into hard knockdown.

- 2C > 5C~C(4) > 236[B] > 2222C

The Johnny setup. After the opponent hits the ground they can tech in any direction, but this is easily punished by 5C on reaction. If they do not tech, they are forced to block the fireballs coming from offscreen, and you can use their pushback (pushing the opponent out of the corner) for ambiguous crossup mixups. If you punish with 5C you can go for 236C - while they're in the hit animation the fireballs will still hit for some nice damage.

• 236C...

- (delay) 22C (meaty)

- 22B

After 236C you can go for the cactus, punching plant or poison plant. Note that the cactus needs to be delayed to hit meaty. When they start blocking the cactus, you have plenty of time to go for high-low mixups. (236[A] / 236{A} 4B, last moment airbackdash j.B, j.[C] fakeouts, etc.) Double IAD j.[C] (whiff) 236[A] hits them in such a way that you will be able to continue with a combo after the cactus wallslams them. Setting up the poison plant opens up fuzzy opportunities. (IAD j.C -> 2A / j.[C])

Mixups

'High/Low Setups'

• 236[A]

236[A] is an overhead, however, with 236A~C you can feint that into a 2A or 4B depending on spacing, so you can get to do feint in any ocassions to get them with a low or into an overhead.

• IAD > j.C/j.{C}

Another great setup as with plants it's harder to see the mixup. With j.C you can get ways to play high/low with a slight charge in it. The high is simply the j.C, but, if j.C is slightly charged the animation will occur but whiffs the crouching opponent, but since it doesn't have recovery, C-Kohaku can hit a 2A as it's fast enough to hit low.

'Left/Right Setup'

• 2C > 236B~C, OTG 4[B] > 2{C}/dl.2C...

- 236B~C > IAD j.A(w)

Partially charging or adding a slight delay on the 2C opens an invisible gap between the opponent and the corner, allowing you to IAD and ambiguously crossup.

- 236{B}B

Same setup but with 236{B} into roll as it is more ambiguous to crossup, more recommended to use. Needs to be partially charged as pressing it immediately hits the opponent, while fully charged doesn't give you time for a meaty.

'Overhead Setup'
After a 22B oki, you are able to do a dangerous high/low setup for the character, since 236[A] hits with 22B it launches the opponent while getting hit by the plant, making the opponent have no problem teching and escaping it. This is where you can apply this setup. When you hit the opponent and the plant hits, press the B followup to roll for a lesser recovery, then you can do:

• (5B>) j.BCAA > dj8.BC > 5C.
  

This allows you to tech chase at any point with 5C, as it also allows you to 5CC OTG if they don't tech as well. Make sure to do a neutral jump (8) for the dj.BC, if in any instance the opponent techs forward, Kohaku gets too far from the opponent, making it more difficult to combo corner to corner without whiffing a button due to the distance.

Special thanks to Tomoharu for the tech!

Defense

Defense is the weakest aspect of C-Kohaku, because the only reversals she has are 214C and Arc Drive that are really slow and can be punished on reaction, despite that you have strong options thanks to the C-Moon universal mechanics having good synergy with the character.

• 2C

The first thing to note is that C-Kohaku is capable to punish any blockstring that ends in -9/-10 onwards in 2C range, so characters that usually have a safe ender because of the pushback have to space carefully against that tool, also 2C is excellent at punishing redash pressure because of how fast it is for a long range attack, if you land it you can then start either an OTG combo at max range or a full combo when the 2C hits closer.

• EX Shield

If the opponent resets their pressure with airdash jump normal land you can time an EX Shield 5A that will counterhit their attempt, shifting the momentum in Kohaku's favor with a full corner to corner conversion into oki after the 5A CH. You can also use the low shield against A normals meaty or crouching normals and have the same reward with low shield 2A, because low shield buffer window is bigger it can be easier to do on wakeup than regular shield.

• Normal Shield

Kohaku's normal shield has the benefit of having a special cancel in 236A (that is frame 7), so if something is punishable on shield but it's too far from 5A/2A range or you didn't land EX Shield this is your second best option against grounded opponents, after 236A you can do the A followup and link it with 5A/2A for a full combo conversion.

Combos

Combo Notation Help
Disclaimer: Combos are written by various writers, so the actual notation used in pages can differ from the standard one. For more information, see Glossary and Controls.
X > Y	X input is cancelled into Y.
X > delay Y	Must wait for a short period before cancelling X input 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	Either the X or Y input can be used.
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.
X(w)	X input must not hit the opponent (Whiff).
j.X	X input is done in the air, implies a jump/jump cancel if the previous move was done from the ground. Applies to all air chain sections: Assume a forward jump cancel if no direction is given. Air chains such as j.A > j.B > j.C can be shortened to j.ABC.
sj.X	X input is done after a super jump. Notated as sj8.X and sj9.X for neutral and forward super jumps respectively.
dj.X	X input is done after a double jump.
sdj.X	X input is done after a double super jump.
tk.X	Stands for Tiger Knee. X motion must be buffered before jumping, inputting the move as close to the ground as possible. (ex. tk.236A)
(X)	X is optional. Typically the combo will be easier if omitted.
[X]	Input X is held down. Also referred to as Blowback Edge (BE). 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. This type of input is referred to as Negative Edge.
{X}	Button X should only be held down briefly to get a partially charged version instead of the fully charged one.
X(N)	Attack "X" should only hit N times.
(XYZ)xN	XYZ string must be performed N times. Combos using this notation are usually referred to as loops.
(XYZ^)	A pre-existing combo labelled XYZ is inserted here for shortening purposes.
CH	The first attack must be a Counter Hit.
Air CH	The first attack must be a Counter Hit on an airborne opponent.
66	Performs a ground forward dash.
j.66	Performs an aerial forward dash, used as a cancel for certain characters' air strings.
IAD/IABD	Performs an Instant AirDash.
AT	Performs an Air Throw. (j.6/4A+D)
IH	Performs an Initiative Heat.
AD	Performs an Arc Drive.
AAD	Performs an Another Arc Drive.

• Note: ~ is used in this section to indicate a slight delay.

C-Kohaku's combos have changed dramatically since her PS2 incarnation. 6C > battou feint no longer links to 4B, so she is forced to use 236A 236B~C combos as a replacement. Luckily, the versatility of her new 236B > j.[C] combo gives her easy hitconfirms that carry to the corner where she can do massive damage into easy setups. Note that due to the way gravity works, a corner juggle that starts with a full ground string may not work off of an airthrow or a j.B counterhit without minor adjustment in timing or normals.

C-Kohaku is very flexible combo-wise. Combos vary from fairly basic variants to long-winded loops with severe execution requirements. Generally her combos consist of a launcher into j.[C] and then a ground string, but she can opt to use j.[C] as a knockdown tool in the corner. There are three main ways to add damage to her combos: corner battou loops (236B~A), feint loops (236A 236B~C), and 5[B] segments.

See here (Youtube) for combo video examples.

Despite all of its difficulty, pro players and veterans have come up with ways to solve it, whether it be cutting combos or setting up a tech chase with intentional drops, which has thus recommended players to never tech against a nearby C-Kohaku, as well as optimizations and specifics for more complicated hurtbox matchups. To know about optimizations and timing differences, check out the C-Kohaku section of the guide written by Osugure.

While the character does have a variety of starters and enders, these combos are the best ones to learn thanks to its optimization and more universal routes that are highly recommended to learn.

Basic combo to begin

Condition Notation Damage vs V.Sion Notes
Normal starter, grounded opponent 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC(1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > 2C > 22B 3724 Meter Gained: 43.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 20.1% Most basic combo to begin with the character, as it only gets harder from then on.

Universal Combo

Condition Notation Damage vs V.Sion Notes
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236A > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 2C (> 4[B] OTG) > 22B/22C 5290 Meter Gained: 89.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 26.7% BnB that works on almost everyone but Necos. For characters like Ryougi it's very recommended to press 2C as fast as you can after 2B, or else the hurtboxes will get higher and harder to hit. For j.CB, if j.B doesn't hit, there are two ways to do it: 1) press j.E instead of j.C, as j.[C] gets charged too much it makes it more impossible to hit the j.C after the airdash, so pressing E works better to link or 2) Once you get to airdash after j.[C], start mashing j.C until it confirms and hit j.B immediately, the more you do that, the easier is going to press it once instead of mashing it. Simplified and optimized by DannySsB.
Fullscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB (> land 2C) > 5CC > 236[B]B > 2C > 22B/22C 5045 Meter Gained: 85.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 25.5% BnB but on fullscreen, a direct corner carry, though the 2C can get tight against some characters, so it may work with just pressing land 5CC.

L/R Mixup Combos

Condition Notation Damage vs V.Sion Notes
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236A > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 2C > 236B~C > 4[B] OTG > 2{C}/dl.2C > 236B~C > IAD j.A(w) 5526 Meter Gained: 96.6% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 31.8% BnB combo with the L/R mixup, if you add a delay to the 2C or half charge it, it'll open a small gap in the corner that can let you swap to the corner, if you don't add delay, it lets you on the same position, so you can always play around the L/R by changing the 2C delay.
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236A > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 2C > 236B~C > 4[B] OTG > 2{C}/dl.2C > 236{B}B 5526 Meter Gained: 96.6% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 31.8% The same combo with the same mixup but ending it with a 236B roll instead, this is more recommended as it is more ambiguous, makes it harder to tell the mixup.
Midscreen, Riesbyfe 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC(1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > dl.2C > 4[B] OTG > dl.2C/2{C} > 236{B}B(w)/236B~C > IAD j.A(w) 5013* *On Riesbyfe Meter Gained: 86.6% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 28.8% Full combo that works specifically on Riesbyfe since her OTG is different than the rest. Instead of going for 236A > 236B, you can go for just 236B to adjust the knockdown on Ries. Keep in mind to add delay 2C or else pressing it early is going to whiff.

Feint Loop Combos

Condition Notation Damage vs V.Sion Notes
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 5A/2A > 2C > 22B/22C 5197 Meter Gained: 95.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 28.5% Full combo feint loop with j.CB in starter. For the loops there are some characters that get lower into the ground, so as a way to adjust it, you can do slight delay to 4B before 236A, since it'll get them a bit higher, or else the feint loop will drop, however, be careful with the delay, or else the 236A whiffs, some characters like Ryougi are not recommended to do it as it is harder to adjust.
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236A > 236B > j.[C] > 2C > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 5A/2A > 2C > 22B/22C 5639 Meter Gained: 102.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 34.8% Another option for a full feint loop combo without j.CB, deals more damage but requires focus on the 2C, if it hits too early the character will be launched higher and won't be able to hit 5[B]. More recommended against Ryougi.
Fullscreen 2A > 2B > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 2C > 5CC (1) > 236A > 236B~C > 2A > 2C > 22B/22C 4914 Meter Gained: 80.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 24.0% Feint loop combo on fullscreen, doesn´t get into corner carry, however, it can still be pressured by the plant oki and chase jumps.
Fullscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > land 66 > 2C > 5CC (1) > 236A > 236B~C > 2A > 2C > 22B/22C 4673 Meter Gained: 70.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 21.0% Another feint loop but without j.CB, still doesn't get into corner carry.

Advanced Feint Loop Combos

Condition Notation Damage vs V.Sion Notes
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 5A/2A > 2C > 4B > 5CC > 236[B], 2A > 2C > 22B/22C 5749 Meter Gained: 133.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 59.8% Full feint loop combo, most optimized version of this extension and the most recommended extension to do.
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236A > 236B > j.[C] > 2C > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 5A/2A > 2C > 4B > 5CC > 236[B], 2A > 2C > 22B/22C 6132 Meter Gained: 140.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 83.5% The same feint loop but without j.CB, deals more damage but easier to drop if the 2C isn't well timed.
Fullscreen 2A > 2B > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 2C > 5CC (1) > 236A > 236B~C > 2A > 2C > 5CC > 236[B]B, 2C > 22B/22C 5452 Meter Gained: 107.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 41.7% Feint Loop that actually directs to corner carry.
Fullscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > land 66 > 2C > 5CC (1) > 236A > 236B~C > 2A > 2C > 5CC > 236[B]B, 2C > 22B/22C 5253 Meter Gained: 97.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 34.1% Another feint loop without the need to do j.CB, though is harder, for if the opponent is too high, do delay to 2C for the loop.
Fullscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > land 66 > 2C > 5CC (1) > 236A > 236B~C > 2A > 2B > 236A > 236B~C > 2A > 2C > 5CC > 236[B]B, 2C > 22B/22C 5381 Meter Gained: 115.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 63.8% Another combo without j.CB but with a 2B extension for another loop for more meter gain.

Advanced Feint Loops With Mixup Enders

Condition Notation Damage vs V.Sion Notes
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 2A/5A > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 2C > 236B~C > OTG 4[B] > 2{C}/dl. 2C > 236B~C > IAD j.A(w) 5773 Meter Gained: 126.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 53.9% Example of a Feint Loop combo with a L/R setup ender on IAD j.A(w).
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 2A/5A > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 2C > 236B~C > OTG 4[B] > 2{C}/dl. 2C > 236{B}B(w) 5773 Meter Gained: 126.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 53.9% Same combo but ending with 236{B}B(w).
Midscreen, Metered 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 2A/5A > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 2C > 236B~C > OTG 4[B] > 2C > 5C~C(4) > 236[B] > 2222C 5884 Meter Gained: 135.6% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 77.0% Feint Loop Combo with the Johnny offscreen setup.
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236A > 236B > j.[C] > 2C > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 2A/5A > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 2C > 236B~C > OTG 4[B] > 2{C}/dl. 2C > 236B~C > IAD j.A(w) 6163 Meter Gained: 133.6% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 78.9% Same IAD ender but without j.CB and is replaced by 2C > 5C
Midscreen 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236A > 236B > j.[C] > 2C > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 2A/5A > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 2C > 236B~C > OTG 4[B] > 2{C}/delay 2C > 236{B}B(w) 6163 Meter Gained: 133.6% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 78.9% Same 236{B}B(w) ender but without j.CB.
Midscreen, Metered 2A > 2BB > 4B > 5CC (1-3) > 236A > 236B > j.[C] > 2C > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 2A/5A > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 2C > 236B~C > OTG 4[B] > 2C > 5C~C(4) > 236[B] > 2222C 6268 Meter Gained: 142.6% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 111.2% Same Johnny setup but without j.CB.

Misc. Corner Combos

Condition Notation Damage vs V.Sion Notes
Normal starter, grounded opponent 2A > 2B > 4B > 2C > 5CC(1-3) > 236B~A... 3181 Meter Gained: 36.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 10.8% Starter for the battou loop. Yields suboptimal damage. Can continue the combo in any of the ways listed.
Normal starter, grounded opponent 2A > 2B > 2C > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236B~A, 5A > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236B~A, 5A > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236B > j.[C] > 2C > 22B/22C 5687 Meter Gained: 131.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 41.4% Because this corner combo omits the relaunch part, the gravity is not as scaled and you can go for multiple battou loops and 5[B] segments. For ender you can either opt for a single j.[C] into the usual options.
Normal starter, grounded opponent 2A > 2B > 2C > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236B~A, 5A > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236B~A, 5A > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236A > 236B~C, 2A > 2C > 22B/22C 5606 Meter Gained: 136.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 47.3% Corner specific battou loop. Similar to the above combo, but includes a feint ender.

Misc. Hitconfirms

Condition Notation Damage vs V.Sion Notes
Long-range 2C starter 2C > (6C >) (236A >) 236B > j.[C]... 2668 Meter Gained: 29.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 8.7% Long-range hitconfirm for when j.[C] can connect. Most of Kohaku's pokes can easily confirm into very damaging combos, making the opponents fear her pressure.
Long-range 5[B] starter 5[B] > 2C > 236A > 236B > IAD j.B > sdj.BC... If the opponent techs... 5CC (2-3) > 236A > 236B > j.[C]... - In corner: 2C > 22B/22C - Out of corner: land 66 > 2C > 5CC > 236[B]B > 2C > 22B/22C If they don't tech: OTG (2AAA >) 5CC > 236A > 236C > 22B/22C example 3598 Meter Gained: 50.0%* (*only the starter) Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 15.0%* (*only the starter) Long-range hitconfirm for when j.[C] can't connect. The knockdown is techable, so be prepared to punish any techs as appropriate.
Aerial normal starter j.AAB > dj.ABC > AT 2656 Meter Gained: 29.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 9.8% Random aerial hitconfirm when you don't want to risk techable knockdown. Number of j.A can be adjusted.
22B starter 4B > 5C > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 2C > 4[B] OTG > 22B/22C 4673* (*after a 2C knockdown) Meter Gained: 148.5% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 46.2% Use this combo if the opponent disrespects the plant or tries to get out.
22C starter (Cactus Hits)... - 5C (x2-3) > j.[C] > dj.[C] - 5C (x2-3), 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 2C > 4[B] OTG - 5C (x2-3), 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236B > j.[C], land 2C - 5C (x2-3), 2[C] > 4[B] - 4B > 5C > 236A > 236B~C > 4B > 5C > 236A > 236B~C > 4B > last cactus hit > 2C > 22B/22C - wallbounce after the last hit > 2C > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236A > 236B > j.[C] > 22B/22C example 1583 (Total cactus damage) Meter Gained: 0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 14.4% Use any of these if the opponent tries something to avoid the cactus except block.
Raw Airthrow starter Raw AT, j.A(w), land 66 2C > 5CC(1-3) > 236B > j.[C]... 2599 Meter Gained: 22.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 7.7% Note that airthrow gives slightly different gravity scaling and combos will need to be adjusted.
236[A] starter, metered 236[A]... - AD - 236C - 22C, 5[B] > 4B > 236B~A... (Corner) 1500 Meter Gained: 10.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 3.0% Use any of these if the opponent gets hit by the overhead. Note that while Arc Drive hits OTG, Another Arc Drive does not.

Raw Airthrow Combos

Note: Kohaku gets very far away after the AT, to avoid that, do a j.A(w) to get closer.

Condition Notation Damage vs V.Sion Notes
Ends in the corner Raw AT > 2C > 5CC (1-3) > 236A > (dl.)236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 2C > 22B/22C 3426 Meter Gained: 75.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 23.6% Basic Raw AT. Keep in mind to add delay to the 236B if the opponent is very high, or else it'll whiff j.[C]. This is the most recommended way to get into 2B > 2C without any problem.
Ends in the corner Raw AT > 2C > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 5A/2A > 2C > 4B > 5CC > 236[B] > 2A > 2C > 22B/22C 3764 Meter Gained: 119.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 46.2% Raw AT full combo with a feint loop.
Ends in the corner Raw AT > 2C > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 6C > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 5A/2A > 2C > 4B > 5CC > 236[B] > 2A > 2C > 22B/22C 4190 Meter Gained: 145.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 69.7% Raw AT with a 5[B] in starter, though is very tight in midscreen, which is better to do it in corner.
Ends in the corner Raw AT > 2C > 5CC (1-3) > 236B > j.[C] > j.66 > j.CB > 5C > 5[B] > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 5A/2A > 5C > 5[B] > 2B > 4B > 236A > 236B~C > 5A/2A > 2C > 4B > 5CC > 236[B] > 2A > 2C > 5CC(1-3) > 236A > 236C > 22B/22C 3923 Meter Gained: 179.0% Meter Given (vs C-Moon): 173.1% The same as the first but adding another loop for more meter gain, as well as ending it with 236C for a safer oki.

Additional Resources

C-Kohaku Match Video Database
C Kohaku guide by Isaac, DannySsB and Onemi which is used in this article (Spanish)
C-Kohaku's 6C Tech Video By DannySsB
C-Kohaku Overhead Setup by Tomoharu
Winty & Osu's Kohaku document

Notable Players

Name	Color	Region	Common Venues	Status	Details
anpan (アンパン)		Japan	A-cho	Active	One of the top players that's very active, plays very well-rounded with C-Kohaku.
beta		Japan	A-cho, Play Spot BIG ONE 2nd	Active	A great top player with a lot of crazy and interesting setplays to learn.
CT Warrior		North America	Netplay	Inactive	Long time NA player that has gotten the best results with the character in the region.
DannySsB		South America	Dream Match, Netplay	Active	Found in Melty Sud. Best C-Kohaku player in the region, still very active with the character and knows a lot about optimizations and matchup details, so is always up for questions with anything related to the character.
ieda (いえだ)		Japan	Kirisugu, KoreWaMelty	Inactive	The first C-Kohaku top player that has a lot of tech and strategies that has been used more recently to learn the character. Used to play mostly C-Ryougi.
lutherssx (madtsunami)		North America	Netplay	Active	Found in main Melty server and Melty Blood Community Server. Knows C-Kohaku in a technical level, also knows her other moons.
miya~ (みゃ～)		Japan	KoreWaMelty, Play Spot BIG ONE 2nd	Inactive	Player with very aggressive pressure to learn, plays more F-Miya but still has good tech for pressure.
Tomoharu		Brazil	Netplay	Active	Found in Reverse Beat Brasil. Recent player with great results in the region.
TSA		Japan	A-cho, Play Spot BIG ONE 2nd	Inactive	Another top player that's inactive and plays mostly Lumina, though sometimes labs the character and brings new techs for C-Kohaku.
urchinrumbler		North America	Netplay	Active	Found in main Melty Blood server and Melty Blood Community Server. A more recent player with good experience. Uses random color palette.

Players to ask in the community

Opinions may differ between players and not all may agree on the same topic.

Name	Discord username	Languages	Servers
Isaac	isaacsmiith	Spanish, English	Melty Sud, Meltycord, Melty Blood Community Server, Reverse Beat Brasil