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
Good set of grounded and air normals that cover most spaces Great pressure via strong running normals WFT makes his offense very rewarding and oppressive Great DP for anti-air Fireball is very active and knocks down both on the ground and in the air Well-rounded set of recoil cancel options Very high damage overall	High low mixup is very poor, featuring one of the worst slides in the game Fireball is slow and can be high-profiled Can struggle against longer-range characters

Data

• Damage Taken: 100%
• Rage Factor: 0.24
• Rage Duration: 10 seconds
• Jump: 46 frames (Average)
• Dash Speed: Average
• Back Dash: 27 frames
• Weapon Pickup / Drop: 40 / 31 frames

Gameplan

Neutral

RushDown Style

Despite being the good old and goldy, he still have great buttons, one notable one is his 66A, being quite useful as anti air, and a poke. Abusing this button can suppress many characters without the best mobility or true invincible moves, they really need to respect this button if it's used continuously for pressure and find other ways in. Pressuring with the button can frustrate opponents to make big mistakes, throwing out big buttons and big recoveries. Use it with some neutral jumping and 2D for a rush down play style.
Strengths

• Easy to use.
• Beat most of normal (include air normals) and most quick specials.
• Good pressure in neutral, also corner.
• Can get back a life lead pretty easility.
• Good way to get out damage for the guard meter, if the opponent is blocking all of it.
• Can potentially set up for a throw on block.

Weaknesses

• Low damage input.
• Can be punished by characters with fast cancellable lights.
• Prone into trading in opponent's favor.
• Easy to be low profiled.
• Risk-reward ratio is not the best, can run in a lot of stuff.
• Lose to players that do good JD.

Keep Out

Another good button is his far 5B, it's a great poke with great range. Can be used to play a game of keep out, can force character to jump in some cases.
Strengths

• Great keep out, decent damage.
• Pretty safe on block.
• Amazing range and speed.

Weaknesses

• Prone to be deflected if too predictable.
• Kind of easy to be low profiled.
• Can be punished afar due to its hurtbox being extended very far horizontally.

Zoning Style

He can play a good old and oldy zoning style with his fireball and DP. The most obvious to just prompt people into jumping and anti-airing them with his DP (one of the best in the game). His fake fireball can be used to make things more interesting and safer.
Strengths

• It will always work on most characters.
• Easy to sit on a life lead with it.
• Zone and scam for time.
• Easy to master and effective.

Weaknesses

• Lose to some characters with better zoning.
• Can eat a hard jump-in if fireball is spammed without plans.
• Not useful when you don't have a life lead, especially with long range opponent.
• Can be dashed in sometimes.

Okizeme

Haohmaru doesn't have the best tool for high and low mix up with he lacks a good low attack. A good way to pressure people on wake up as most of characters can is do a 66C (think that they will move on wake up) or do a grab, tick throw with 2D(think that they will block on wake up). Or just go stand on their face to do a 5C which has faster startup for either damage if they move, or for guard damage, and can recoil for bottle (214D) that is relative safe on block. Either way it's risky and may seem not worth it to Oki with Haoh, but it usually works if you condition your opponent to do something (e.g. someone likes to back dash or jump on wake up, use 66C to make them stay in place)
Note that if you are suspecting a dodge on wake up just delay your input a little or do 236D (a good move for baiting) to see what they do.

Another good thing to do is have a fireball hit meaty or go for a meaty normal.

Normal Moves

Far Slashes

5A

5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 7 - - 24 -5 -5 5 Yes Yes Yes No Fast light slash with cancel ability.

5B

5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 Mid 14 - - 38 -4 -12 10 No Yes Yes No Main poke tool, a little slow but good range and recovery.

5C

5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 300 Mid 24 - - 70 -7 -16 25 No Yes Disarm No 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 8 - - 24 -4 -5 5 Yes Yes Yes No Fast light slash with cancel ability.

2B

2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 90 Mid 11 - - 30 +1 -12 10 Yes Yes Yes No Mid slash with cancel ability and good range and start up.

2C

2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 150 Mid 19 - - 53 -7 -28 25 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 5 - - 19 -2 -5 5 Yes Yes Yes No Fast hilt attack with cancel ability.

n.5B

n.5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 8 - - 29 -1 -12 10 Yes Yes Yes No Standard near mid slash with cancel ability.

n.5C

n.5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 220 Mid 13 - - 43 -3 -28 25 No Yes Disarm No Standard near heavy slash.

n.2A

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

n.2B

n.2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 6~11 6 12~7 23 +3~+8 -12 10 Yes Yes Yes No Medium hilt attack with cancel ability.

Kicks

5D

5D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 12 - - 27 -3 -6 5 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Low 7~11 5 11~7 22 -4~±0 -7~-3 5 No No No Yes Fast low kick to make the opponent blocks low.

2D

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

3D

3D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 70 Low 12~19 8 38~31 57 KD(+79~+86) -29~-22 5 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 5~10 6 22~17 32 -5~±0 -12~-7 5 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 8 - - 29 -1 -35 10 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 140 Mid 12 - - 51 KD(+97) -17 20 No No Disarm No Standard running heavy slash, able to catch air opponents.

66D

66D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 70 Low 10~17 8 40~33 57 KD (+77~+84) -31~-24 5 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 High 8 - - - - - 5 No No No No

j.B

j.B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 High 10 - - - - - 10 No No No No

j.C

j.C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 160 High 13 - - - - - 20 No No No No

j.D

j.D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 High 8 - - - - - 5 No No No Yes

Unarmed Normals

u.5S

u.5S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 6 - - 31 -5 -10 5 No No No Only Standard punch.

u.2S

u.2S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 6 - - 30 -4 -9 5 No No No Only Standard crouching punch.

ju.S

ju.S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 High 6 - - - - - 5 No No No Only Standard jumping punch.

u.66S

u.66S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 5 - - 30 KD -10 5 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 Neutral / Forward Throw Back Throw Back Throw	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Neutral / Forward 0 No 3 - 71 74 20 - - - - - Yes Back 0 No 5 - 69 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 70 High 20 - - 43 +2 -11 10 No No No Yes Universal overhead. It's the same while disarmed.

Dodge

Dodge 5A+B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed - - - - - 38 - - - - - - - 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	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 0 Mid 5 - - 52 KD -24 - No - - Yes Universal Stance Break.

Counter (Deflect) / Blade Catch

Counter (Deflect) / Blade Catch 236A+B Weapon Deflect Weapon Deflect Blade Catch Blade Catch

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Armed 0 N/A 2 11 34 46 +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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Unarmed 0 N/A 2 12 9 22 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 0 No 21 1 - 58 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed A 100 Mid 7 - - 58 KD(+91) -30 22 - - - No B 120 Mid 7 - - 78 KD(+86) -50 22 - - - No C 180 Mid 7 - - 100 KD(+84) -71 39 - - - No Rage 210 Mid 7 - - 100 KD(+98) -71 43 - - - 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed A 100 Mid 7 - - 58 KD(+91) -30 22 - - - No B 120 Mid 7 - - 78 KD(+86) -50 22 - - - No C 180 Mid 7 - - 100 KD(+84) -71 39 - - - No Rage 210 Mid 7 - - 100 KD(+98) -71 43 - - - 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed A 80 [30,50] Mid 33 - - 57 KD -5 5 - - - No B 100 [30,70] Mid 35 - - 68 KD -14 5 - - - No C 110 [30,80] Mid 37 - - 80 KD -24 5 - - - 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed N/A - - - - 41 - - - - - - No Fake version of the tornado projectile.

Earthquake Slice

Earthquake Slice 421S

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed A 100 High 25 - - 73 KD(+53) -17 15 - - - No B 120 High 26 - - 77 KD(+53) -17 20 - - - No C 180 High 33 - - 84 KD(+53) -17 25 - - - 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 Rice Wine Whack	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 15 - - 43 KD(+95) -16 10 - - - 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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 420 (490) Mid 1+14 - - ? KD(+68) -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 Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 700 Mid 10+20 - - ? KD(+54) -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.

• 4CD...
  • 5C
    Timing is tight, most damaging without rage after back throw, but no knock down.

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

• ju.S xx 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.

Guard Crush

• n.5C...
  After recovery...
  • 66B xx 623C / WFT
    Standard follow up.
  • SSM
    SSM follow up. (Be careful with opponent bursting to avoid it)

• 5C...
  After recovery...
  • 66B xx 623C / WFT
    Standard follow up.

• n.5C...
  Cancel recovery...
  • Lighting Blade
    Universal Issen combo.

• 5C...
  Cancel recovery...
  • Lighting Blade
    Universal Issen combo.
  • 236D...
    So he stands a bit closer...
    • 2B xx WFT
      And goes for that one bit more damage or else just don't use 236D.

Safe Jumps

Unless specified otherwise, these setups assume that you are buffering every whiffed normal/special so that it comes out on the earliest possible frame. Also every j.c safe jump setup doubles as a stance-break bait on their wakeup. Each setup has 2 stages after the Knockdown(KD). First stage is doing certain normals/specials to get close to the knockdowned opponent, and the second stage is the actual safe jump, where you have to read/guess which direction the opponent will roll(forward/back/no roll).

• Midscreen 623C (KD) ~ Dodge...
  • forward jump C (forward roll)

Videos

Haohmaru tutorial and combos by LegendaryWolf Shirou

Colors

External Links

• Twitter hashtag: #SS_HA