Samurai Shodown/Ukyo Tachibana

Ukyo Tachibana
橘 右京, Tachibana Ukyō

Introduction

Ukyo has everything you could ask for in a character: Fast movement, long reach, damaging punishes, reliable anti-airs, great mixups, you name it. He specializes in harassing the opponent from mid-screen with fast, high priority normals and punishing mistakes with his far-reaching strikes or a quickly executed TK Tsubame. Once Ukyo has scored a knockdown, he can employ his deadly mixup-game, which include an instant overhead and a grounded cross-up.

While Tsubame is nowhere near the terror it was in previous games (most notably Samsho 2), it comes out in only 5 frames, granting him near unrivaled control over the airspace and making up for his unusually floaty jump. On the ground, 2B is fast and covers the space directly above your head, so jumping is almost always a bad idea against Ukyo. Like Haohmaru, he can also “fake” his Hiken Sasameyuki special to make the opponent commit to something stupid.

If you want a character who’s basically guaranteed to be strong in one way or another, look no further than Ukyo. Play him if you like simple effective playstyles, good neutral, mixups, long blue hair, or want to raise awareness for tuberculosis.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Great punishment Strong mix-ups due to good lows and access to an instant overhead (Tsubame Gaeshi). Ironclad grip over the airspace. One of the most versatile moves in existence in Tsubame Gaeshi, which covers all points above. Longest rage duration in the game.	Floaty jump. Lacks a traditional projectile. Bad frame data on heavy slashes. WFT that is extremely situational to land. Slowest rage gain in the game. Below average health.

Data

• Damage Taken: 105%
• Rage Factor: 0.12
• Rage Duration: 20 seconds
• Worst rage meter gain and longest duration

Gameplan

Ukyo is best thought of as a hit-and-run character. Due to his variety of strengths, he can be played in a multitude of ways. You can play a defensive game of maintaining neutral and punishing the opponent’s mistakes, or a rushdown style with high and low mix-ups abusing Tsubame Gaeshi. None of these strategies are set in stone, you can implement different parts of his toolset in different amounts into your own playstyle. Ukyo is a character that is scary both when up close in the opponent’s face, and when down backing at full screen with a life lead.

Neutral

Generally you want to control space and harass with 5B as your primary grounded poke. Recoil cancel on block into 236S if you read they will press a button. Look for whiffs from the opponent and capitalize on them with 2C, 6K, 66K, Tsubame, or aforementioned 5B. Shut down their jump-ins with Tsubame, 2B, and air-to-air j.C. Counter projectile zoning with backdash Tsubame reflect. Score a knockdown from his punishment tools or his fast dash into throw, and use the momentum to either regain space or go in to apply his mixups.

Normal Moves

Far Slashes

5A

5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 8 - - -5 -5 Yes Yes Yes No Same range as 5B, 1 frame faster but less damage. Overall outclassed by 5B.

5B

5B

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 9 - - -6 -12 Yes Yes Yes No This is your go-to poke in neutral, combo starter, essentially one of the buttons you will be pressing a lot. Relatively fast for a far B normal. Whiff canceling into 214D reduces its recovery. On block, you can recoil cancel into 236S to catch counterattacks, though this is unsafe if they keep blocking. Combos into all versions of 236S on hit if close enough.

5C

5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 160+180 Mid 12 - - -9 -28 No Yes Yes No Changed to his close AB from V Special (RIP old 5AB). Minus on hit, and can't be recoil canceled, thus only use as a guaranteed punish. Even then, 5B xx 236 deals more damage, so ignore this normal.

2A

2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 40 Mid 5 - - -2 -5 Yes Yes Yes No Fastest far slash normal. Good poke with less range than 5B but better speed. Relatively safe on block.

2B

2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 100 Mid 10 - - -9 -12 No Yes Yes No Useful anti-air, though finicky to time against many jump ins. Be aware of spacing to not get n.2B instead. Very strong at protecting the space near and above his head, in the few situations where Tsubame won't work.

2C

2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 200 Mid 12 - - -6 -10 No - Yes (disarm) No Long range punisher and one of your best moves for whiff punishing. Unsafe on block so be careful about throwing it out in neutral outside of punishing. Negative frame advantage on hit making it punishable on hit by certain characters.

Near Slashes

n.5A

n.5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 5 - - 1 -2 Yes No Yes No No recoil animation. Use as an up-close defensive button in scramble situations.

n.5B

n.5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 90 Mid 8 - - -3 -12 Yes Yes Yes No No longer combos into WFT like in V Special. Still combos into 236S for damage and knockdown. Use as a close range punisher.

n.2A

n.2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 5 - - 1 -2 Yes No Yes No No recoil animation. Similar in use to n.5A.

n.2B

n.2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 6 - - 3 -2 Yes No Yes No No recoil animation. Fastest attack that leads to a combo. Good frame advantage on hit and many active frames, can be up to +8 on hit if it lands meaty allowing a n.5B xx 236S to combo.

n.2C

n.2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 150+70 Mid 15 - - -2 -28 No Yes Yes (disarm) No Does less damage than 5C but less negative on hit. Outclassed by other normals.

Kicks

5D

5D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 8 - - -6 -9 No No No Yes Solid keepout kick with a nice hitbox.

6D

6D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 40 Low 5 - - Knockdown -20 No No No Yes Long range low slide that knocks down. Fantastic for long range punishing, stuffing dash in attempts, and catching people who stand block midscreen in fear of Tsubame. Unsafe on block unless spaced to tip range. Very useful normal when unarmed.

2D

2D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 20 Low 6 - - 1 -2 No No No Yes Still a good button but much weaker frames than V Special. No longer combos into Tsubame on hit, no longer +0 on block. Solid low check, close range poke and pressure tool. Use to stagger into Tsubame or tick throw.

3D

3D Ukyo's fancy new hair clip

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 70 Low 5 - - Knockdown -7 - - - - Fast sweep with a good hitbox. This is your low mix-up with IOH Tsubame. One of your best moves to meaty with because since it's fast, active for a long time, hits low, safe on block (when meatied), and sets up 50/50 guessing situations for the opponent on their wake-up.

Dash Normals

66A

66A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 40 Mid 11 - - -3 -42 No Yes Yes (disarm) No Very unsafe on block and little reward on hit. Best use is as a crossunder anti-air.

66B

66B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 110 Mid 27 - - Knockdown -29 No Yes Yes No Crosses up when performed closer in. Can mixup with same-side dashing C. Chases side rolls and autocorrects, can be confusing for the opponent to deal with on wakeup. Unsafe on block and throwable startup, so don't overly abuse.

66C

66C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 150 Mid 11 - - Knockdown -14 No - Yes No Essentially running 2C. Highest damage long-range punisher if you need to close out a round.

66D

66D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 40 Low 6 - - Knockdown -10 No No No Yes Essentially running 6D, but much safer on block. Good long range block punish, whiff punish, and mixup tool with 66B.

Air Normals

j.A

j.A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed - High 7 - - - - - - No No Generally outclassed by other jump normals.

j.B

j.B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed - High 6 - - - - - - No No Decent air-to-air. Can be used as instant overhead or cross up. Instant overhead is very punishable on block and hit, and no more VSP time slow confirms reduces its effectiveness. Use to close out a round.

j.8C

j.8C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed - High 10 - - - - - - No No Strong horizontal air-to-air with very good range.

j.7/9C

j.7/9C

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed - High 11 - - - - - - No No General air-to-air, similar in use to anti-air Tsubame. Off of a forward jump air-to-air, you can take advantage of the air reset situation to dash to the opponent's landing and apply a mixup. Best air-to-ground button as well, though you won't be jumping in as often with Ukyo outside of punish situations.

j.D

j.D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed - High 5 - - - - - - No Yes Fast jump kick. Use if you find yourself needing a quick air-to-air, or when unarmed.

Unarmed Normals

u.5S

u.5S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 5 - - 2 -3 - - - Yes

u.2S

u.2S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 6 - - 2 -3 - - - Yes

ju.S

ju.S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 50 High 9 - - - - - - - Yes

u.66S

u.66S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed - - - - - - - - - - Yes

Universal Mechanics

Guard Break

Guard Break (Throw) 4/5/6C+D Forward Throw Back Throw	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed Back - - - - - 20 20 - - - - Universal throw. Can be followed up with an attack. (See below for combos) Back - - - - - 25 25 - - - - Universal throw. Can be followed up with an attack. (See below for combos)

Surprise Attack

Surprise Attack (Overhead) 5B+C

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed Armed - - 19 - - -1 -14 - - - - Universal overhead. No longer knocks down or hops backwards like in V Special. Minus on hit and hops forward. Useful for avoiding lows and throws, but as a mixup is outclassed by Tsubame though it is much safer on block. Blockstun ends nearly immediately and Ukyo nearly recovers by the time he touches the ground. Unarmed - - 20 - - 0 -13 - - - -

Dodge

Dodge 5A+B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed - - - - - - - - - - - Universal dodge.

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 - - - - - - - - - - - Universal counter. Allows you to follow up with a guaranteed attack of your own. The follow up depends on the strength of the attack you counter. If you counter a heavy slash, your opponent will be disarmed. Disarmed - - - - - - - - - - - Universal counter. While disarmed, your counter will disarm and knock away your opponent regardless of slash level used.

Rage Explosion

Rage Explosion 5A+B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 0 - - - - - - - - - - Unblockable pushback attack.

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 - - - - - - - - - - - Has projectile invulnerability and anti-airs. Damage scales up based on remaining health.

Special Moves

Concealed Sabre Snowfall Slash

Concealed Sabre Snowfall Slash 214S Hiken Sasameyuki

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed Light 100 Mid 19 - - +5 -2 - - - No Medium 120 Mid 19 - - -7 -21 - - - No Heavy 140 Mid 22 - - -17 -50 - - - No Essentially the same as VSP. Strength of the button determines amount of slashes. Useful on block for chip kills. Not recommended as a recoil cancel or combo tool since 236S is faster and grants a knockdown. When hit at tip range, followup slashes will whiff making this punishable on hit at bad ranges. Inexperienced players will run into this move when they misjudge when it's over. Overall a bit of a gimmick move but can work against reckless opponents.

Swordless Sabre Snowfall Slash

Swordless Sabre Snowfall Slash 214K Hiken Sasameyuki

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed - - - - - - - - - - Yes To be an Ukyo main, you must throw at least 20 apples per round. Fakes his 214S series and only throws the apple. Best use is as a whiff cancel to shorten the recovery of normals. One tactic with this move is to scare the opponent from approaching out of fear of the slash followup, then commit to 214A/B/C when you read that they will overextend.

Concealed Sabre Swallow Swipe

Concealed Sabre Swallow Swipe j.1236S Tsubame Gaeshi

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed Light 140 High 5 - - Knockdown -34 - - - No Medium 160 High 5 - - Knockdown -41 - - - No Heavy 180 High 10 - - Knockdown -64 - - - No The classic. Far reaching and unreactable overhead that knocks down and is also an anti-air and also a block punisher and also reflects projectiles. Tell your opponent when they complain about this move, they’re more than 20 years too late. Horizontal hitbox has been nerfed from V Special, no longer combos from 2K, and heavy version does not hit crouching opponents consistently. B version is still amazing as a mixup tool, and the move still functions great as an anti-air and punish tool. Some characters can crouch under B version up close, *needs testing. How to TK Tsubame: This deserves its own section since it’s the first thing people learn with Ukyo. Perform as an instant overhead with 12369B. If you get his standing 236B instead, you pressed the button too early (you need to put a slight delay between hitting diagonal and hitting the button, the timing is slower than VSP). If you get a jumping normal, you pressed the button too late. How to BD Tsubame: Backdash Tsubame has two uses, to reflect projectiles while staying close to the ground, and to make his overhead safer on block at the cost of less range. To input this, perform the input 441236S. Essentially, just backdash then input the Tsubame while you are airborne during the backdash. Video guide on Tsubame Gaeshi inputs Projectile reflect interactions Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed Rage - - - - - - - - - - No Tsubame Gaeshi!

Concealed Sabre Phantom Strike

Concealed Sabre Phantom Strike 236S Zanzou Fumikomi Giri

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed Light 100 Mid 16 - - Knockdown -20 - - - No Medium 20+100 Mid 15 - - Knockdown -25 - - - No Heavy 20+40+100 Mid 15 - - Knockdown -39 - - - No Pseudo-rekka that has Ukyo send afterimages to slice you. Strength determines range and amount of slashes. Combos off of throw and most normals for solid damage, and more importantly a knockdown. Outside of combos, it is generally best to use this as a recoil cancel on blocked normals to dissuade the opponent from trying to press buttons. All versions are unsafe on block, but mixing up the amount of hits will make the opponent second guess when they can press a button and potentially miss their punish.

Supers

Weapon Flipping Technique

6 Swallow Flash 236B+C

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 384 High 22 ground 21 air - - Knockdown -57 - - - - Available only during Max Rage or Rage Explosion. Disarms on hit. Projectile invulnerable on startup. Still kind of bad and not used often. Its best use is as an early anti-air. Has no strike invulnerability, slow startup, and cannot combo off of throw midscreen. Ukyo is strong in Max Rage, and his lasts for a long time. It's better to keep your rage and utilize its damage boost and Tsubame buff rather than focus on landing his WFT.

Super Special Move

Eightfold Path of Gloom 641236C+D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv Cancel Weapon Clash Deflectable Unarmed 680 Mid 31 - - Knockdown -39 - - - - Available only once per match. Very powerful as a situational punish tool. Can punish Tam Tam's j.C on block and stand hit. Poem translation: "Tasogare ya Ryou no te ni saku Manjushage" "Twilight Blooming in both hands Red spider lily"

Combos

Midscreen

• n.5B xx 236C
  250 damage. Very consistent when not spaced far. Go-to combo for close range punishes.

• 6CD...
  • 5B xx 236A
    144 damage. Very consistent combo.
  • microwalk, 5B xx 236C
    192 damage. Optimal conversion from forward throw, now works on every character. No microwalk required on Earthquake.

• 4CD...
  • microwalk, 5B xx 236C
    192 damage.

Corner

• 6CD, n.5B xx 236A
  200 damage. Very consistent and grants good okizeme options.

• 4CD (back throw them into the corner), WFT
  231 damage. In the chance you get a defensive throw when cornered, take away their weapon.

Videos

• Ukyo gameplay trailer by SNK (2019)
• Throw Conversions by nevillebamshew
• Option Selecting Wakeups by nevillebamshew

Colors

External Links

• Twitter hashtag: #SS_UK
• Ukyo frame data
• Ukyo frame data 2