Million Arthur: Arcana Blood/Iai Arthur

Iai Arthur

Profile

• EN Name: Iai Arthur
• JP Name: 居合アーサー
• Voice Actress: Sumire Uesaka
• Element: Ice
• Health: 21000

Overview

Stance character with battou strikes. Has very strong mixup potential in both left/right and high/low varieties. Can carry into the corner very easily off a conversion if desired. Has no run but instead has a dash.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Normals have good hitboxes High mix-up potential with left/rights and high/lows Overhead Dive kick that can be up to +7 on block and tracks Easy conversion potential with slashes Has Ice Element super for synergising with Enchant Boost	Step dash. Can't block during step dash Command mixups are punishable on block Pressure is generally not safe, especially without use of slash cancels

Recommended Support Knights

• Enide

Great assist to use in both neutral and combos.

Great for mixing up Iai's commital step dash and movements by stopping her and summoning a large hitbox infront of her

Off stray hits, Iai is able to confirm from many otherwise impossible situations with a well timed 236B>236D~C.

Synergises amazingly well with Iai's natural ice element allowing for great combo flexibility

• Hawkeye

Decent neutral and pressure assist

Slow startup but is often used in Iai's favour for controlling neutral, allowing her to setup advantageous situations with its great frame advantageous

Often seen paired with Enide, allowing her to pick up from stray hits into an easy combo

• Mercenary Arthur

Good assist for corner pressure and combos

Forces launch on grounded opponents, allowing combos from 236D~C and 623B

Can also be used to setup j.D freeze okizeme, using the long untechable time from j.D CH into setting up a mixup with many of Iai's rolls and specials

• Balin

All-round good assist, great at controlling space and forcing pressure

Its low pushback is good for approach and or forcing Iai's turn and establishing mixup opportunities from certain attacks such as 236D~B or 236D~C

Overall a bit lackluster in supplementing Iai's combo ability

• Lancelot

Good utility support, serving to cover Iai's movements in neutral and okizeme

Can be used as a counter-poke in neutral to absorb attacks and strike back

With 236A/B, Iai can easily pick up off stray hits

Iai's consistent knockdowns and good corner carry from 236D~C can allow Lancelot to be used as good okizeme. Adjusting the timing on Lancelot cancel can allow an array of mixups

• Pharsalia

Used solely for maximising damage off EB combos

Iai's great range of reilable routes off EB combos allows this to be a consistent damage dealer

Synergises great with Iai's 623XX super as its ice element does not break the multiplier. This can lead to extremely high damaging EB combos such as 623XX > Pharsalia > 623XX

Normal Moves

5A

5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 500 All 6 - - -5 - - - A quick jab with the hilt of the sword Decent jab but frame advantage is not great Mainly used to start stagger pressure strings

5AA

5AA	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 1270 All 11 - - -8 - - - Iai thrusts at the opponent with her sheathed sword while moving forward Good for going into stagger pressure but is not safe on block

5AAA

5AAA

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 2404 L 11 - - -11 - - - Iai slashes at the opponent's legs while side-swapping with the opponent Can cancel into specials on hit but she can only cancel into 5AAAA on block Good in combos to side-swap with the opponent for positioning Extremely unsafe with limited cancel options on block make this very undesireable outside of combos. Can be made 'safe' by cancelling into 5AAAA and then into 236D

5AAAA

5AAAA	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 3254 All 10 - - -16 - - - Iai performs a quick slash with her sword Shares its animation and properties with 236B but cannot be held nor feinted Can be cancelled into 236D on hit or block to make it safe, although the follow ups to 236D are also risky or challenge-able

5AAAAA

5AAAAA

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element - - - - - - - - - Iai jumps and dashes behind the opponent before dive-kicking them to the grounded Can only be performed on hit Finisher to the autocombo if performed below 100 meter. If Iai has more than 100 meter, this cannot be performed and instead she will perform her 236xx Million Skill "Cross Air Flash" Side-swaps with the opponent, returning to the original side

5B

5B

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 1200 All 7 (11) - - -2 - - - Iai swings her sword in a wide arc above her head to infront of her Hits grounded opponents on frame 11 Jump cancellable on block Great fast hitbox above Iai makes this normal a good anti-air and can anti-air situations where 6C may not work Iai's main poke button due to a balance of good range and cancel options

5C

5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 1800 All 12 - - -13 - - - Iai performs a large swing Has the longest horizontal range of all of Iai's normals Iai is positive when canceling 5C into 236A~Feint

6C

6C

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 1700 All 11 - - -7 - - - Anti-air round-house kick that launches the opponent away on hit Unblockable when connecting with opponents in neutral Iai's dedicated anti-air button but its slow startup and lack of good combo potential outside of the corner leads it to only be used when the anti-air invulnerable properties are needed

2A

2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 400 L 6 - - -3 - - - A low kick with her feet Can chain into itself once. Attempting to chain again will cancel into 5AA Standard low kick. Good for staggers

2B

2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 700+700 L(1) All(2) 8(1) 11(2) - - -6 - - - Iai slashes at her opponent's legs, hitting twice Hits twice but only the first hit is a low Decent range and poking ability

2C

2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 1800 L 13 - - -13 - - - A wide slash at the opponent's feet, tripping the opponent on hit Standard sweep. Iai is positive when cancelling 2C into 236A~Feint

j.A

j.A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 800 H 8 - - - - - - A simple kick with her legs Has a hitbox slightly behind Iai and can be used as a crossup Can hit certain characters standing (Iai, Snow White, Zex, Riesz, Iori)

j.B

j.B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 1200 H 9 - - - - - - A horizontal slash with her sword Hitbox is more horizontal than vertical making it a sub-par jump-in when coming down on top of an opponent Great air to air poke

j.C

j.C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 1800 H 15 - - - - - - Iai flips upside down and slashes beneath her Forces knockdown on aerial hit and can cancel into j.236D for okizeme Has a fairly large vertical hitbox beneath her but a short horizontal hitbox. Good as a jump-in when jumping down on-top of the opponent.

Elemental Attacks

5D

Ice Flower 5D 5D 5D 5[D] 5[D]

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element Uncharged 2400 All 19 - - -12 - - Ice Iai slashes and summons a flower of ice infront of her Unsafe on block and mainly used in combo-fodder Can be used as a high-risk frame trap but requires resources to be safe Charged 2400 All 38 - - +8 - - Ice Iai launches the ice flower across the ground, hitting the opponent on contact Positive on block and good as a frame trap and pressure option against wary opponents Its long animation time makes this susceptible to rolls when used predictably

j.D

Ice Moon j.D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 2000 H 11 - - - - - Ice Iai twirls and performs a high freezing slash Hitbox is approximately focused around Iai's upper body Hits on both sides of Iai but its high hitbox may make it difficult to hit crouching opponents Has long untechable on hit and is mainly used in Enchant Boost combos

Throws

5/6B+C

Forward Throw 5/6B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 2550 Throw 7 - - - - - Throw Iai grabs the opponent and smacks them with her hilt, launching them before slashing down with her sword Opponent will be put in an OTG state after throw In the corner, OTG hits can be added for a minor damage increase. Comboing OTG > Kriemhild can allow a full combo

4B+C

Back Throw 4B+C

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 2550 Throw 7 - - - - - - Iai does her forward throw, but backwards! Grabs the opponent and smacks them with her hilt, launching them before slashing down with her sword Opponent will be put in an OTG state after throw In the corner, OTG hits can be added for a minor damage increase. Comboing OTG > Kriemhild can allow a full combo

j.B+C

Air Throw j.B+C

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 2550 Throw 5 - - - - - - Iai grabs the opponent and does two slashes, sending the opponent across the screen The first slash, if cancelled will knock them down close to Iai, the second will knock them further away. The second hit is untechable until landing, when Iai is comboing mid-screen, she needs to air dash to chase after the opponent

Special Moves

236A/B/C

Piercing Strike 236A/B/C 236A/B/C ~A ~A ~B ~B ~C ~C

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 236A 1700 All 14-80 - - -6 - - - 236B 1700 All 16-80 - - -17 - - - 236C 1700 L 18-80 - - -27 - - - Feint - N/A - - 6 (feint) - - - - Iai enters into a draw stance before slashing at an angle. Attack can be held for up to 80f. Upon max charge or button release, Iai will slash at an angle based on the initial input On hit or block, Iai can cancel into 236D and its subsequent follow-ups While maintaining stance by holding the button, Iai can feint and quickly return to neutral by pressing any other button Due to differing startup values, the earliest cancel window differs per version with 236A being the fastest and 236C being the slowest 5C/2C into 236A~Feint leaves Iai at +1 and is integral to maintaining pressure and stance cancel combos in EB 236A~Feint can also be buffered via 236A~A at a certain timing, which differs from hit or block.

623A/B/C

Snowfall Edge 623A/B/C

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element A 2600 H 27 - - -10 - - - B 2700 H 30 - - -11 - - - C 2800 H 33 - - -12 - - - Iai teleports to the sky before falling down with a slash Iai is airborne from frame 6 The teleport can sometimes avoid attacks Startup may vary slightly based on standing/crouching state and character specific hurtboxes A version will allow tech on hit, B version will put the opponent into an OTG state and C version will bounce the opponent, allowing for a follow-up combo

236D

Freezing Glide 236D 236D ~A ~A ~B ~B ~C ~C ~D ~D

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 236D - - - - Total 56 frames - - - Ice Iai enters a stance and slides across the ground. From her stance she can cancel into a number of followups Lowers Iai to the ground and can low profile some attacks Can cancel into followups from 8F and onwards ~A - - - - 31 - - - - Iai cancels her slide into a roll This can cross-up an opponent Great for left/right okizeme Cancelling into this as soon as possible is the fastest method to exit stance and can sometimes serve as a combo piece ~B 2200 L 9 - - -14 - - - Makibarai. Iai slides fast and low to the ground and slashes the opponent's legs Low profiles lower than 236D and has projectile invulnerability Can cross up early in its active frames Fast and reaches very far, using this to attack before cancelling into a support/EB can be a great way to approach and force Iai's turn ~C 2400 H 25 - - -15 - - - Crescent Blade Flash. Iai leaps into the sky before performing a leaping crescent slash Knocks down the opponent on hit Common combo ender after 236A/B and can be comboed from with some supports On block, Iai can cancel into support to remain airborne and threaten a high/low mixup ~D 2400 All 37 - - +23 - - Ice Iai dashes forward before releasing an ice flower behind herself Does not hit cross-up Iai is able to side swap with the opponent right until she stops her dash Although the startup is quite lengthy, the far dash incorporated into the attack may make it difficult to interrupt for some characters

j236D

Air Freezing Glide j.236D j.236D ~A ~A ~B ~B ~C ~C ~D ~D

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 236D - - - - Until Landing + 12 - - - - Iai enters a stance and leaps diagonally upwards into the sky. From her stance she can cancel into followup attacks Can cancel into followups from frame 14 onwards With all of Iai's strong follow-up options, TKing this off jump cancellable normals such as 5B can make Iai's pressure and mixup tough to deal with ~A - - - - Until Landing + 12 - - - - Iai dives to the ground towards the opponent Tracks the opponent on startup and dives at a set steep angle towards the opponent If done at close horizontal range, the dive's set angle can allow Iai to crossup the opponent on landing ~B 2000 H 17 - Until Landing + 7 ~Varies to +7 - - - Hayabusa Strike. Iai dives down towards the opponent with a kick. Tracks the opponent on startup and dives at a set steep angle towards the opponent Generally positive on block but can be up to +7 when hitting the opponent's feet Great for mixup and pressure. Mixing up the ~A and ~B follow ups can keep the opponent guessing what side Iai will be on. At certain ranges, delaying the ~B followup from dive can force a left/right mixup ~C 2400 H 16 - Until Landing + 16 Varies - - - Crescent Blade Flash. Similar to the ~C followup from her ground slide, Iai leaps across the sky and does a large crescent slash Knocks down on hit Leaps extremely far forward and can hit cross-up Difficult to combo from at certain positionings but in conjunction with Iai's other mix-up tools, can serve as a potent mixup for stray damage ~D 800*4 All - - Until Landing + 12 Varies - - Ice Ice Shard. Iai leaps further into the sky before twirling and dropping 4 icicle shards down in a fan pattern With the slow fall speed of the projectiles, Iai is extremely positive on block. Coupled with the amount of projectiles, this can be hard to dodge when Iai is at low heights Because the shards fall at different angles, at high enough heights, it's possible to weave between the icicles

Million Skill

236XX

Cross Air Flash 236XX/J.236XX	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 6800 All 9 - - -34 - - - Iai leaps forward. Upon contact with the opponent, Iai will perform two dramatic slashes Decent super to combo into but its lack of element bonus and Iai's great synergy with EB combos tends to leave this underused Does not cause knockdown at high heights or scalings

623XX

Ice Blade Sculpture 623XX

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 6608 All 15 - - -49 - - Ice Iai smashes her sword into the ground, summoning a large wall of ice. On a clean hit, Iai will perform additional followup attacks Reversal super Clean hit is hitbox based and very generous. As long as they are within the ice wall, and not hit by the edge, Iai will perform the follow up At further ranges, one of the followup slashes may whiff and the super will do slightly less damage Its full ice element and large hitbox makes this the super of choice in conjunction with EB combos. It can also be cancelled into 3 mana supports (e.g Phalseria) for even more damage and even retain the ice element bonus

Million Excalibur

Chaotic Seasons (Snow Moon Flowers) 214XX

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv Starter Scaling Combo Scaling Element 10000 All 14 - -58 - - - Ice Iai throws a flower that floats slowly across. Upon impact with the opponent, she will perform 3 powerful slashes Great for damage but may struggle to connect on some routes due to the projectile travel speed Generally 623XX is more preferable as its faster startup allows a more stable combo into Phalseria, which can then be comboed into another 623XX for equal or more damage Coupled with Iai's ability to easily use EB combos means that, although this attack does add a lot of damage, it's generally not seen in lieu of more meter efficient reliable routes

Combos

Solo Combos

A Starter

• Autocombo > Million Skill

Autocombo into super.

• 5AAA > 236[X]~X > 5AAAA > 236D~C

Advanced 5/2A confirm. After the first autocombo you need to manually cancel into 236A/B/C to be able to cancel the stance. Any version will work so if you're having trouble with the stance cancel try other combinations of buttons to see which feels best.

• 2/5A > 2/5B > 5C > 236B > 236D~C

Works from most ranges on standing or crouching, but not at max range.

• 2/5A > 2/5B > 5C > 236C > 236D~B

More consistent than the above, but harder to extend because of the ender.

• 2/5A > 2/5B > 2C > 236D~B
• 2/5A > 2/5B > 2C > Lifee assist > 236B > 236D~C

2C starter

• 2C > 236D~B > A+B+C > Dash > 5AA > 5B > 5C > Airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > 236A > 236D~C

236A/B/C Starter

• 236A/B > 236D~C
• 236A > 236D~D > 5A > 5B > 5C > 236B > 236D~C

Only works near the opponent otherwise the 236D~D will not connect and they will fly outward and tech.

• 236C > 236D~B

623A/B/C Starter

• 623A/B (ch) > 236A/B > 236D~C
• 623C > 5A > 5B > Jump Cancel > j.B > (j.C) / (Jump Cancel > j.B > j.D)
• 623C > 5B > 236A/B > 236D~C
• 623C > 5B > Jump Cancel > j.A > j.B > Jump Cancel > j.B > j.C

236D~X Starter

• 236D~B > A+B+C > Dash > 5AA > 5B > 5C > Airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > 236B > 236D~C
• 236D~D > Dash > 5AA > 5B > 5C > 236A > 236D~C

Grab Starters

• Grab > A+B+C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > Airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > Jump Cancel > j.A > j.B > j.C > (j.D > 236XX)
• Grab > A+B+C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > Airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > (236A > 236D~C) / (236XX/623XX)

Corner

• 2/5A > 2/5B > 5C > 236B > 236D~C
• 2/5A > 2/5B > 5C > 236B > 236D~A > 5B > Jump Cancel > j.B Jump Cancel > j.B > j.C

Enchant Boost Starters

• 2/5A > 5B > 5C > 236[X]~X > Micro Dash > 5A > 5B > 5C > 236[X]~X > Micro Dash > 5A > 5B > 5C > 236B > 236D~C
• 2/5A > 5B > 6C > Airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > 236A > 236D~C

Support Knight Combos

236A/B/C Starter

• 236A/B > 236D~C > A+B+C > dash > 5B > Lifee assist > airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > (236A > 236D~C) / (623XX > Pharsalia assist)
• 236C > 236D~B > A+B+C > dash > 5B > 5C > airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > (236A > 236D~C) / (623XX > Pharsalia assist)

623A/B/C Starter

• 623B > A+B+C > dash > 5B > Lifee assist > airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > (236A > 236D~C) / (623XX > Pharsalia assist)

236D~X Starters

• 236D~C > A+B+C > Dash > 5B > Lifee assist > Airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > 236A > 236D~C

You don't need to input "Dash" if you do this combo when the opponent is in the corner. Also note that if this combo is done in midscreen keep in mind the beginning 236D~C will in fact put you on the other side of the opponent after the Enchant Boost activation.

Corner

• 623B > A+B+C > 5B > Lifee assist > Airdash > j.B > j.C > 5AA > 5B > 5C > 236A > 236D~C
• 623C > 5A > 5B > Jump Cancel > j.A > j.B > Jump Cancel > j.A > j.B > j.C > (j.D > Mercenary Arthur assist > j.236D~C)

Counter Hit 623A/B also leads into this same combo.

Videos

• Iai Arthur official combo video A by Square Enix (2017)
• Iai Arthur official combo video B by Square Enix (2017)

Colors

Note: Colors 20 and 21 were pre-order exclusives for JP PSN and Amazon respectively. Unfortunately, they aren't selectable on Steam without the use of Cheat Engine.

Color 1

Color 2

Color 3

Color 4

Color 5

Color 6

Color 7

Color 8

Color 9

Color 10

Color 11

Color 12

Color 13

Color 14

Color 15

Color 16

Color 17

Color 18

Color 19

Color 20

Color 21

External Links

• Twitter hashtag: #MAAB_IA