Melty Blood/MBTL/Saber

Story

Real name: Artoria Pendragon. A knight with braided blonde hair, shining blue and silver armor, and a somewhat cold attitude. She is well-known from the legends of King Arthur, wielder of the holy sword Excalibur who founded the Knights of the Round Table. Somehow, she has appeared in this world without the use of a summoning ritual. She now searches Souya for answers to this mystery.

Gameplay

Saber is a rushdown character centered around strike/throw mix-up and mobility-based whiff-punish game.

The original "Saberface" from Type-Moon's older work Fate/stay Night crossed over to Type Lumina for some reason, confounding both herself and the opponent. She sports great normal attacks for close to mid range both on the ground and in the air, but have no long range tools whatsoever. Instead, she relies on Elfin Dance (214X) dashes/backdashes to punish slow or whiffed moves, before blending the opponent with First Air (236X) rekka series, Wing Air (623X) multi-hit DP and Cross Air (236X) aerial sword dive. Smart usage of Moon resources allows Saber to seamlessly play strike/stagger and ground/air mix-up between her special moves, leaving opponent confused.

Outside of her sword range however, Saber only has universal mechanics and her Avalon (214BC) parry that requires meter as her defensive option. Her easy mix-up tools being gated behind 236X means Saber must commit to risky strike/stagger/throw offense to get anything done.

All of these make Saber a character for intermediate-level player at least despite her simple looks. But once you gain experience and learned to make good reads on opponent's defense habit, this gender-bend king will leave your foe stupefied.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Strong Normals with some fast midrange pokes, the best rapid beat in the game, and some dominating air normals Powerful Air Presence with top notch air normals for approaching opponents in the air and ground, as well the best divekick series in the game Consistent Okizeme off all her combo enders anywhere on screen with one of the best safejumps in the game Varied special cancel options, with a solid rekka and a lot of gimmicky resets with her 214X and 623x series to cover many potential responses Strong EX options like 22C, having the ability to easily push and maintain advantage with meter Avalon is a powerful counter that can successfully parry anything in the game, being the strongest reversal option in the game and invalidating all potential okizeme at the cost of 3 bars	Resource intensive, demanding meter for some of her strongest tools and struggles to enforce her presence during defense and neutral without it Reliant on strike throw to open up the opponent due to a lack of setplay and strong mixup options Mediocre shield crush options, having to squeeze out the potential of her close up strike throw to discourage it Lacks long range presence in a cast that is largely comprised of characters with polarizing neutral

HP Value: 12,000

Backdash: -

Movement Speed: -

Additional Resources

Saber Match Video Database Combo & Tech Document Saber Discord Saber Guide by GO1

Character Summary

Move list

Moon Skills

6B+C - First Air

3B+C - Wing Air

4B+C - Elfin Dance

j.6B+C - Cross Air

Special Attacks

236A/B/C (EX OK) - First Air: Advancing attack.

> A/B/C - Second Air - Hold: Follow-up attack.

> 4A/B/C - Second Air - Defeat: Low follow-up.

> A/B/C - Second Air - Ground: Ending attack.

> 4A/B/C - Second Air - Break: Overhead follow-up.

623A/B/C (EX OK) - Wing Air: Combo tool, anti-air.

214A/B/C (EX OK) - Elfin Dance: Evasive attack.

22C (EX-Only) - Strike Air: Pressure reset, anti-air.

j.236A/B/C (EX OK) - Cross Air: Diving attack.

Arc Drives

236B+C - The Sword of Promised Victory: High damage attack.

214B+C - Avalon: High damage counter attack.

Last Arc

A+B+C+D / D in Blood Heat - The Sword of Promised Victory - Sword Dance: Very high damage attack.

Unique Attacks

6C, 3C

Blowback Edge Moves

5[C], j.[C], 214[A], 214[B]

Stats & vitals

Dash startup: 7

Dash actionable: 9

Jump startup: 4

Jump airtime: 38

Quick combo reference

Coming soon.

Move Analysis

Normal Moves

Standing Normals

5A

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/Data#5A

5A

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
160	HL	-SE-, -N-, -SP-, -EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
5	2	11	17	-1	-

Saber's fastest button.
Whiff cancels starting on frame 10.

Very short range. Used mainly for rebeats and anti-airing IADs.

5B

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5B

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
480	HL	(N), (SP), (EX)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
8	3	19	29	-8	-

Relatively fast and long poke. Hitbox is tall enough to catch IAD approaches.

5C

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5C

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
610	HL	(N), (SP), (EX)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
10	4	27	40	-14	-

Longest normal that isn't a charged or command normal.

Serves mainly as blockstring and combo filler. High commitment poke that can incidentally anti-air IADs. Pulls back during recovery and advances forwards if rebeated from.

/Data#5[C]

5[C]

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
990	HL	(N), (SP), (EX)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
21	5	26	51	-14	Clash 19-20

Gains clash frames.

Staple combo filler and frame traps from 2C. 2C 5[C] beats normals active on frame 6 and trades or clashes with normals active on frame 5.

Crouching Normals

2A

+

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2A

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
180	L	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
6	2	11	18	-1	-

Whiff cancels starting on frame 11.

Longer than average 2A. Strong pressure and mixup tool.

2B

+

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/Data#2B

2B

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
420	L	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
8	4	20	31	-9	-

A less committal low poke than 2C due to its lower startup and recovery. Slightly taller hitbox makes it a bit more forgiving in juggles and for catching fuzzy jump.

2C

+

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/Data#2C

2C

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
620	L	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
9	4	24	36	-11	-

Saber's longest low normal.

One of Saber's best combo starters. The large, disjointed hitbox makes it ideal for catching the landing recovery of whiffed jump normals and interrupting certain ground approaches. Long overall frames make it vulnerable to IAD.

Jumping Normals

j.A

Aerial

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/Data#jA

jA

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
140	HA	(SE), (N), (SP), (EX)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
6	4	-	-	-	-

Very high rising anti-air.
Whiff cancels starting on frame 21.

Excellent air-to-air option for opponents above Saber. Must be delayed slightly or be the second hit of a normal chain to hit crouching opponents after IAD. 3rd and 4th active frame are smaller than the 1st and 2nd.

j.B

Aerial

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/Data#jB

jB

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
400	HA	(N), (SP), (EX)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
7	4	-	-	-	-

Saber’s fastest hitting normal out of IAD against crouchers. Must be chained out of into either j.A or j.C to keep frame advantage if done as fast as possible during the IAD. Important for specific rejump combos with j.[C].

j.C

Aerial

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/Data#jC

jC

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
560	HA	(N), (SP), (EX)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
11	5	-	-	-	-

Second fastest air button out of IAD. Can chain into j.B for more frame advantage out of IAD and doing so allows Saber to jump cancel on block to extend pressure.

/Data#j[C]

j[C]

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
900	HA	(N), (SP), (EX)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
20	6	-	-	-	-

Big hitbox with clash frames.
Ground bounces on hit.

Saber’s staple jump-in. The clash frames make this move more difficult to contest. Important combo starter and combo filler.

Command Normals

3C

+

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/Data#3C

3C

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
700	HL	(SP), (EX)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
10	3	26	38	-12	Head: 5-12

Debatable anti-air, but it exists. Buffer 623[x] when you press this to anti-air in case it clashes.

6C

+

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/Data#6C

6C

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
700	HL	(SP), (EX)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
16	3	23	41	-9	-

Wallbounces airborne opponents.
Does not chain into normals.

Can be delayed to use as a frame trap, but you'll generally be using this in combos.

Universal Mechanics

Rapid Beat 2

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rapid2

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
120*4 (408)	HL	(SP), (EX),	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
-	-	-	-	-10	-

Huge vacuum effect make it good for stabilizing weird hits into combos.

Hits about 3/4 in front of the screen. This move is huge AND air unblockable but highly unsafe on whiff. Remember to special cancel it on block.

Rapid Beat 3

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rapid3

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
700	-	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
-	-	-	-	-12	-

Same animation as 3C

Ground Throw

throw

/

+

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/Data#4/6AD

4/6AD

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
1500	-	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
4	-	-	-	-	-

High advantage on hit.

Saber can safejump after her throw with 5Aw > j.[C].

Air Throw

airthrow

Aerial

/

+

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/Data#j.4/6AD

j.4/6AD

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
1200	-	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
-	-	-	-	-	-

Universal air combo ender.

Keeping her double jump gives Saber a safejump that she can land with on either side. It's not too hard to block when you know the matchup but it's still useful to keep opponents on their toes. After airthrow, 8j.[C] will stay same side and 9j.[C] will land on the other side (however it can still be blocked same side high, but if you leave a 1f gap after it and land or triple jump they have to switch their blocking side for the next attack). You can make this more ambiguous with air drift. It's also possible to fake the j.[C] and go left/right ambiguously low, but this loses to mashing.

Special Moves

First Air

+

236A

236B

236X~X: Second Air-Hold

236X~4X: Second Air-Defeat

236X~X~X: Third Air-Ground

236X~X~4X: Third Air-Break

236C

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/Data#236A

236A

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
1000	HL	-EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
10	2	21	32	-6	-

Rekka starter.
As of the new patch, Saber can now dash cancel her rekka, excluding the final hit(?).

Saber's rekka starter. Unsafe on block but far safer than any of the follow-ups.

/Data#236B

236B

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
1000	HL	-EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
12	2	23	36	-8	-

Rekka starter.

Slightly slower and worse frame advantage with no real upside. Stick to the A version.

/Data#236X~X

236X~X

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
700	-	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
13	3	23	38	-5	-

Rekka extender.
Hits mid.

/Data#236X~4X

236X~4X

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
700	L	-EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
13	3	24	39	-6	-

Rekka extender.
Hits low.

/Data#236X~X~X

236X~X~X

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
1100	HL	-EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
13	3	27	42	-11	-

Rekka ender.
Hits mid.

/Data#236X~X~4X

236X~X~4X

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
900	H	-EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
22	3	23	47	-9	-

Rekka ender.
Hits high.

This is not a mixup. Block high after the second rekka.

/Data#236C

236C

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
530*4 (1870)	HL	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
11	-	21	78	-7	-

Rekka super.
Launches if 3C has not been used in the combo.

Somewhat redundant due to 22C being a combo super that doesn't need 3C launch, but nice to have regardless.

Wing Air

+

623A

623B (1)

623B (2)

623C (1)

623C (2)

623B (1)

623B (2)

623C (1)

623C (2)

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/Data#623A

623A

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
1200	HL	-EX-, (J)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
11	3	23	36	-9	-

One hit.
Jump cancelable on hit.

Less damage and slower than the B version. Not very useful.

/Data#623B

623B

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
640*2 (1196)	HL	-EX-, (J)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
9	2 (8) 3	25	46	-11	-

Two hits.
Jump cancelable on hit.

You'll be using this a lot in combos. Great hitstun and benefits highly from Skill Bonus.

/Data#623C

623C

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
370*6 (1841)	HL	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
4 + 4	3 (4) 8	30	52	-17	All: 1-16

Two swings, 6 hits total.
Saber's invincible reversal.

Looks like it should launch like 3C, but it doesn't. Instead, this is your reversal super. Pretty good at what it does but pretty bad on block or whiff due to the multihits.

Elfin Dance

+

175px

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/Data#214A

214A

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
1500	HL	-EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
27	2	23	51	+5	-

Knocks opponents into the air on block.

Saber dashes backwards before running forward and slashing the opponent. Even though this is +5, it knocks opponent into the air and gives them air options. It's really hard to capitalize on this move's frame advantage.

/Data#214[A]

214[A]

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
-	-	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
-	-	-	35	-	-

214A fakeout, but has clash frames. Saber runs forward but doesn't perform the slash, giving you a chance to throw the opponent.

/Data#214B

214B

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
1400	L	-EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
22	2	19	42	-4	-

Advancing low.

Saber dashes forward before slashing the opponent at their toes. Useful in some combos and safe on block.

/Data#214[B]

214[B]

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
-	-	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
-	-	-	35	-	-

214B fakeout, but has clash frames. Works similarly to 214[A].

/Data#214C

214C

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
1900 [Min: 456]	HL	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
11	3	25	38	0	-

Saber dashes forward after the super flash and cuts at the opponent toes, cause HKD. The 0 on block looks good until you realize 22C has the same startup and is +8.

Strike Air

+

Pretend you're Wagner

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/Data#22C

22C

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
430*5 (1602)	HL	(AD)	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
11	19	12	45	+8	-

Projectile persists if Moon Drive Cancelled, allowing for safe mixups.
Excellent combo extension and pressure reset tool.
Great anti-air due to being air unblockable and having a giant hitbox.

This is the move that ties Saber's kit together. If one of your unsafe special moves is blocked, cancel into this or Moon Drive to keep your turn. It's also useful if any of them hit as it can be comboed out of fairly easily.

Cross Air

Aerial

+

Hits once

Hits twice

Hits thrice

175px

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/Data#j236A

j236A

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
340, 470*2 (1153)	HLA	-EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
11	-	-	-	-3 (TK)	-

Saber's divekick series

Saber lunges downward with her sword, if it hits a quick cinematic will play. Relatively fast.

/Data#j236B

j236B

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
340*4 (1216)	HLA	-EX-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
15	-	-	-	-1 (TK)	-

This version has longer startup however perform a longer cinematic and does more damage, also side switches. Opponent can tech afterwards. It has good frame advantage if tk'ed as well.

/Data#j236[B]

j236[B]

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
-	H	EX	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
23	-	-	-	-1 (tk)	-

Overhead.

/Data#j236C

j236C

Damage	Guard	Cancel	Property	Cost	Attribute
600, 500*5 (2590)	HLA	-	-	-	-
First Active	Active	Recovery	Overall	Advantage	Invul
4+6	-	-	-	0 (TK)	-

Saber lunges quickly to the ground, performs a even longer cinematic and does not side switch. Also give HKD. 0 on block when tk'ed.