Samurai Shodown/Haohmaru

Haohmaru
覇王丸, Haōmaru

Introduction

The original Samurai Spirit has mellowed out a little over the years, and while his notorious Heavy Slash might be a little more in line with the rest of the cast in SamSho 7, he still retains his hard hitting bait-and-punish playstyle, coupled with one of the very best normals in fighting game history.

Haohmaru has all the tools you might expect from a typical “Shotokan”-character. His Cyclone Slash projectile can be “faked” (think HDR Ryu) to bait the opponent into an ill-timed jump. He has two flavours of DP and a projectile-reflecting sake bottle that pulls double duty as a command overhead. Haohmaru makes good use of system mechanics as well, with tricky recoil cancel options on his key normals and a long-range WFT that can be comboed into from throws.

While Haohmaru can hold his own in just about any area of the game, he is generally outclassed by more specialized characters if they successfully force their game onto him. His limited arsenal of mixups also requires you to play fairly honest most of the time. Fortunately, Haohmaru reaps big rewards from winning the neutral game, so it’s all good.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Amazing heavy slash, easily one of the best normals in the game Balanced, easy-to-use toolkit High overall damage output	Strengths are less pronounced than on other characters Somewhat weak against specialists Shallow bag of tricks

Data

• Damage Taken: 100%
• Rage Factor: 0.24
• Rage Duration: 10 seconds

Gameplan

Similar to the Strategy section of the 5sp wiki pages. List Haohmaru's archetype, strengths, weaknesses, etc. Sample subsections could include Neutral, Okizeme, etc.

Normal Moves

Far Slashes

5A

5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 7 - 24 -5 -5 / -8 Yes Yes Yes No Fast light slash with cancel ability.

5B

5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 100 Mid 14 - 38 -4 -12 / -8 No Yes Yes No Main poke tool, a little slow but good range and recovery.

5C

5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 300 Mid 24 - 70 -7 -16 / -11 No Yes Yes Disarm Signature heavy slash, long range but slow start up and recovery, it's +11 frames on recoil cancel.

2A

2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 8 - 24 -4 -5 / -7 Yes Yes Yes No Fast light slash with cancel ability.

2B

2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 90 Mid 11 - 30 +1 -12 / -3 Yes Yes Yes No Mid slash with cancel ability and good range and start up.

2C

2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 150 Mid 19 - 53 -7 -28 / -11 Yes Yes Disarm No Slow hard slash with cancel ability, mostly used in combo instead of anti-air.

Near Slashes

n.5A

n.5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 5 - 19 -2 -5 Yes Yes Yes No Fast hilt attack with cancel ability.

n.5B

n.5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 8 - 29 -1 -12 / -5 Yes Yes Yes No Standard near mid slash with cancel ability.

n.5C

n.5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 220 Mid 15 - 45 -3 -28 / -7 No Yes Disarm No Standard near heavy slash.

n.2A

n.2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 5 - 18 -1 -5 Yes Yes Yes No Fast hilt attack with cancel ability.

n.2B

n.2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 6 6 23 +3~+8 -12 Yes Yes Yes No Medium hilt attack with cancel ability.

Kicks

5D

5D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 12 - 27 -3 -6 No* No No Yes A high kick that moves forward. If throw button is input immediately after pressing kick button, it will cancel the kick and do a grab with extra range.

6D

6D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 30 Low 7 5 22 -4~±0 -7~-3 No No No Yes Fast low kick to make the opponent blocks low.

2D

2D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 20 Low 5 - 17 ±0 -3 No No No Yes Good low kick with fast recovery.

3D

3D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 70 Low 12 8 57 KD(+79~+86) -29~-22 No No No Yes Slide kick with slow start up and very punishable on block. (The opponent can easily land jumping deep hit combo)

Dash Normals

66A

66A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 5 6 32 -5~±0 -12~-7 No No No No Running punch with fast start up and beats deflect, good pressure tool but need to space it correctly. (It's counter hit on punish)

66B

66B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 8 - 29 -1 -35 / -5 Yes Yes Disarm No Fast running slash with cancel ability, but it's very punishable on block, its recoil motion is long, therefore makes it easy to apply the auto hit confirm trick. It's -8 frames on recoil cancel.

66C

66C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 140 Mid 12 - 51 KD(+97) -17 No No Disarm No Standard running heavy slash, able to catch air opponents.

66D

66D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 70 Low 10 8 57 KD (+77~+84) -31~-24 No No No Yes Almost same as 3D but not consider as crouching if got hit by jumping attacks.

Air Normals

j.A

j.A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 High 8 - - - - No No No No

j.B

j.B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 100 High 10 - - - - No No No No

j.C

j.C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 160 High 13 - - - - No No No No

j.D

j.D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 30 High 8 - - - - No No No Yes

Unarmed Normals

u.5S

u.5S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 6 - 32 -5 -10 No No No Only Standard punch.

u.2S

u.2S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 6 - 30 -4 -9 No No No Only Standard crouching punch.

ju.S

ju.S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 High 6 - - - - No No No Only Standard jumping punch.

u.66S

u.66S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 5 - - KD -10 No No No Only Same motion as 66A but knocks down, also a little less punishable.

Universal Mechanics

Guard Break

Guard Break (Throw) 4/5/6C+D Neutral / Forward Throw Back Throw	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed Neutral / Forward 0 No 3 - 74 20 - - - - Yes Back 0 No 5 - 74 25 - - - - Yes Universal throw. Can be followed up with combos. Back throw has slower start up but better frame advantage.

Surprise Attack

Surprise Attack (Overhead) 5B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 70 High 20 - 43 +2 -11 No No No Yes Universal overhead. It's the same while disarmed.

Dodge

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

Stance Break

Stance Break A+B during Just Defense 175x250px	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 0 Mid 5 - - KD -24 No - - Yes Universal Stance Break.

Counter / Blade Catch

Counter / Blade Catch 236A+B Counter Blade Catch

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed Armed 0 N/A 2 11 34 +35~+59 - - - - No Universal counter. Allows you to follow up with a guaranteed attack of your own. The amount of time you have to followup depends on the strength of the attack you counter, with heavy attacks staggering the opponent for the longest amount of time. Additionally you counter a heavy slash or a running slash, your opponent will be disarmed. Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed Unarmed 0 N/A 2 12 9 KD - - - - Only Universal counter. While disarmed, your counter will disarm and knock away your opponent regardless of slash level countered.

Rage Explosion

Rage Explosion 5A+B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 0 No 21 1 - 0 - - - - No Unblockable pushback attack. Hitbox extends all the way up to top of the screen.

Lightning Blade

Lightning Blade (Issen) 5A+B+C during Rage Explosion	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 300~709 Mid 9 - - KD -44 - - No No Has full invulnerability all the way through. Can be used as an anti-air. Damage scales based on remaining Rage Explosion Gauge.

Special Moves

Crescent Moon Slash

Crescent Moon Slash 623S

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed A 100 Mid 7 - 58 KD(+91) -30 - - - No B 120 Mid 7 - 78 KD(+86) -50 - - - No C 180 Mid 7 - 100 KD(+84) -71 - - - No Rage 210 Mid 7 - 100 KD(+98) -71 - - - No Haohmaru's crescent uppercut, all version has same start up. The first couple hits deal much more damage than the rest. Medium version has inviciblility against air attacks from frame 1~8. Heavy and rage version has full invincibility from frame 1~8. Detail damage break down: A version 100 = 60 + 40 B version 120 = 60 + 20 + 40 C version 180 = 80 + 40 + 30 + 30 R version 210 = 84 + 36 + 24 + 12 x 2 + 6 x 7

Renting Tremor Slash

Renting Tremor Slash 6623S	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed A 100 Mid 7 - 58 KD(+91) -30 - - - No B 120 Mid 7 - 78 KD(+86) -50 - - - No C 180 Mid 7 - 100 KD(+84) -71 - - - No Rage 210 Mid 7 - 100 KD(+98) -71 - - - No Haohmaru's dashing crescent uppercut, all properties are the same as standard version, except moving forward while rising.

Cyclone Slash

Cyclone Slash 236S	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed A 80 Mid 33 - 57 KD -5 - - - No B 80 Mid 35 - 68 KD -14 - - - No C 80 Mid 37 - 80 KD -24 - - - No Tornado projectile that increases in distance as you go from light to heavy.

Fake Cyclone Slash

Fake Cyclone Slash 236K	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed N/A - - - 41 - - - - - No Fake version of the tornado projectile.

Earthquake Slice

Earthquake Slice 421S

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed A 100 High 25 - 81 KD(+46) -17 - - - No B 120 High 26 - 85 KD(+46) -17 - - - No C 180 High 33 - 92 KD(+46) -17 - - - No A somersault slam that hits as an overhead, also can fly over some projectiles. In version 1.70, the light version doesn't fly over crouching opponents, make it a decent overhead attack.

Rice Wine Whack

Rice Wine Whack 214D Rice Wine Whack	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 15 - 43 KD(+95) -16 - - - Yes Sake bottle bash which reflects projectiles. Available during disarmed.

Supers

Weapon Flipping Technique

Flame of the Conqueror 236B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 420 (490) Mid 15 - - D(+68F) -41 - - - No Available only during Max Rage or Rage Explosion. Disarms on hit. It covers 2/3 of screen space and catches air opponets.

Super Special Move

Judgement Blast Slash 641236C+D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 700 Mid 30 - - D(+54F) -45 - - - No Available only once per match. Standard SSM with short range.

Combos

List combos, use numpad notation.

Midscreen

• (5A / n.5A / 2A / n.2A)...
  • 623S
    Fast punish combo. All 3 version DP have same start up, and the stronger version has better range.

• (n.5B / n.2B / 2B)...
  • 623S / 214D / WFT
    Dash stopper & punish combo.

• 66B xx 623S / 214D / WFT
  Dash combo. In version 1.70, 623C rarely whiffs after 66B.

• 2C xx 623C / 214D / WFT
  Slow but heavy punish combo. 623C only connects all hits at point-blank range.

• 2C xx 421A
  Only connect when 2C hits meaty, not useful in real match.

• 4/5CD...
  • 66B xx 623C
    The most damaging basic confirm you can get off throw.
  • (66B / 2B) xx WFT
    Standard WFT combo. Far 2B has a tiny bit more damage than 66B.

• 5CD...
  • 2C xx WFT
    More damage than the combo above, but input timing is tight.

• 4CD...
  • 5C
    A little more damage than 66B xx 623C, but input timing is tight, not useful in real match.

• j.C / j.B...
  • 5B / n.5C / Lighting Blade
    Jumping deep hit combo, n.5C whiff at far range.
  • (66B / n.5B) xx 623S / 214D / WFT
    Optimal combo, 66B combo covers lot of space and easy to apply auto hit confirm. Far and near 2B often whiffs so not recommended.

• j.B 2C xx WFT
  WFT combo with most damage, 2C only connects at close range.

• ju.S u.66S
  Unarmed combo that knocks down.

• 214D (Reflected projectile hits) WFT
  Only connects against Rimururu's rolling ice ball.

Corner

• 4CD...
  • 2C xx WFT
    Easy to connect when back throw the opponent into corner.

Videos

Haohmaru tutorial and combos by LegendaryWolf Shirou

Colors

External Links

• Twitter hashtag: #SS_HA
• Haohmaru frame data
• Haohmaru frame data 2