Samurai Shodown/Warden

Warden
ウォーデン

Introduction

As a guest character from the game series For Honor, Warden is here to challenge you to a fight of life and death in defense of his loyalty to his home country.

He is pretty well adapted to the game with his amazing aerial attacks as most of the characters in the game rely on. He depends on his short jumps to apply constant pressure from the air, and to test the patience of his opponent to block the attack or the ability for them to anti air him. His j.A and j.B are great moves for air to air so he doesn't struggle too much with other characters with amazing aerials.

Aside from his jumps, his unique move set of command normals are useful for a mix of his own. His stand mediums, near heavy and dashing medium are able to follow up with another move that is an overhead, it will mostly hit if the opponent tries to move. But he do not have to go for an overhead but can follow up with his long reaching 2C for a low or set up for a grab. This ability makes him one of the strong mix-up characters of the game. As one of the few characters with a command parry, his is one of the easy ones to use but it does require a certain knowledge for follow up attack, as it doesn't automatically follow up with attacks.

Overall, you will found yourself playing him for big damage and easy inputs. His mix requires some practice to be used at its full potential. Though he might struggle to get in on some character but he's a strong well balanced guy that you would like to try out (especially if you are a fan of For Honor).

Strengths	Weaknesses
Shallow jump and great air buttons make for strong pressure; can also zone people with j.B Great running normals for pressure Great 50/50 via 2C and B+C One of the best 5Cs in the game Gets standing reset loops via target combos to continue pressure from punishes and throws Guard point on cl.5B gives him unique anti-air and ground punishment options	Grounded normals are quite stubby Awful recoil cancel options; can be raw punished on most recoils Lacks strong long-range and anti-fireball options Shoulder charge special is generally too slow to be practical

Data

• Damage Taken: 95%
• Rage Factor: 0.22
• Rage Duration: 12 seconds
• Jump: 42 frames (Very Fast)
• Dash Speed: ?? (Slow)
• Back Dash: 27 frames
• Weapon Pickup / Drop: 40 / ?? frames

Gameplan

Warden can pressure, with his shallow hop and his big buttons.

Neutral

The basic idea of his neutral is his j.B and j.C, most characters that lack a good anti air is hard to get around being pressured by j.C, and his j.B is an amazing air to air, or even use j.A to prevent people from jumping higher than him. Something to do, j.C pressure, suddenly empty jump and grab. His 2C has amazing range to use as a punish or mix-up.

Some good mix from grab: 5B, feint, 2C (low). 5B, B (high). 5B, feint, grab(reset for more). Etc.

His parry is also a good one, it reflects projectiles and parry air normals, the follow up has to be done manually, see the combo section for more info.

Okizeme

His UOH has amazing range making it hard to punish at long range. You may use your jump with a button or no button to pressure a wake up or to bait out stuff.

Normal Moves

Far Slashes

5A

5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 7 - - 22 -3 -5 5 Yes Yes Yes No Fast poke and cancellabe, but it whiffs against crouching opponents at far range.

5B

5B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 120 Mid 14 - - 42 -4 -12 10 No* Yes Yes No He moves forward and then slashes, can follow up with B for overhead or D for feint.

5C

5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 320 Mid 27 - - 74 -8 -16 25 No Yes Disarm No High damage slash with long reach. It's pretty slow therefore it doesn't combo after back throw or jump C deep hit. He can input D to cancel the motion before the slash comes out.

2A

2A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 5 - - 18 -1 -4 5 Yes No No No Fast elbow attack with very short reach and cancellable.

2B

2B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 Mid 12 - - 34 -2 -12 10 Yes Yes Yes No Cancellable mid range poke, combos into WFT. It has better range than it appears (reach further than 5A).

2C

2C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 150 Low 20 - - 51 KD(+93) -28 25 No Yes No No Fast low sweep slash with long reach.

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 No No No Fast hilt attack and cancellable.

n.5B

n.5B Guard Point Guard Point Crushing Counterstrike Crushing Counterstrike

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 13 - - 39 -6 -12 10 Yes* Yes Yes No His main combo starter, can follow up with B for combo, then another B for overhead or D for feint. Before the slash comes out (from frame 4 to 8), it has 1 hit guard point against mid and high attacks (also works on punches / kicks, special moves, WFT, SSM and Lighting Blade, but not projectiles?). If it counter hits the airborne opponent, the opponent won't get air reset, therefore he can combo with the B follow up or WFT. (Air counter happens if the opponent attacks in the air)

n.5C

n.5C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 220 Mid 15 - - 47 -3 -28 25 No* Yes Disarm No He can follow up with C for overhead or D for feint. He can input D to cancel the motion before the slash comes out.

Kicks

5D

5D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Low 11 - - 26 -3 -6 5 Yes No No Yes Standing low kick. Cancellable since version 2.10.

6D

6D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 30 Mid 11 - - 25 -2 -5 5 No No No Yes Decent forward kick.

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 Fast low kick.

3D

3D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 70 Low 11 - - 41 KD(+94) -14 5 No No No Yes Low kick that knocks down with long reach, but punishable on block.

Dash Normals

66A

66A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 5 3 - 29 -4 -9~-7 5 No No No No Fast palm strike, not deflectable.

66B

66B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 80 Mid 10 - - 31 -1 -35 10 Yes* Yes Disarm No Almost the same motion as near 5B but without the guard point. It has the same follow attacks as near 5B as well.

66C

66C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 160 Mid 15 - - 54 KD(+96) -17 20 No No Disarm No Standard running heavy slash.

66D

66D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 70 Low 11 10 - 44 KD -17~-8 5 No No No Yes Standard running slide kick.

Air Normals

j.A

j.A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 High 9 - - - - - 5 No No No No Fast air to air slash.

j.B

j.B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 High 12 - - - - - 10 No No No No Air slash with very long reach, but it whiffs against crouching opponents. It has long hit stun and very easy to combo with standing mid slashes.

j.C

j.C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 160 High 14 - - - - - 20 No No No No Jump heavy slash with good reach and downwads hitbox. It's able to cross up against crouching opponoent.

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 Standard jump kick that hits downwards.

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 - - 26 ±0 -5 5 No No No Only Standing hook punch.

u.2S

u.2S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 6 - - 24 +2 -3 5 No No No Only Same motion as 2A with slightly better damage.

ju.S

ju.S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 High 8 - - - - - 5 No No No Only Jumping double hammerfist with good downwards hitbox.

u.66S

u.66S	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 50 Mid 5 - - 28 KD -8 5 No No No Only Same motion as 66A but knocks down the opponent.

Universal Mechanics

Guard Break

Guard Break (Throw) 5/6C+D / 4C+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 Throw 3 - 71 74 +20 N/A - No No No Yes Universal throw. Can be followed up with an attack. Back 0 Throw 5 - 69 74 +25 N/A - No No No Yes Universal throw. Can be followed up with an attack.

Surprise Attack

Surprise Attack (Overhead) 5B+C Armed Armed Unarmed Unarmed	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Armed 70 High 20 - - 48 ±0 -16 10 No No No No Overhead sword thrust with very long reach. Unarmed 70 High 20 - - 44 +2 -12 10 No No No Only Overhead double hammerfist which doesn't knock down.

Dodge

Dodge 5A+B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 0 N/A 1 16 22 38 N/A N/A - N/A N/A N/A Yes 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 / Blade Catch

Counter / Blade Catch 236A+B Counter Counter 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 N/A - N/A N/A N/A 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, if you counter a heavy slash or a running slash, your opponent will be disarmed. Disarmed 0 N/A 2 12 9 22 KD N/A - N/A N/A N/A Yes 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 Unblockable 21 1 - 58 0 - - - - - - Unblockable pushback attack.

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 No No Has full invincibility and can anti-air. Damage scales up based on remaining health.

Command Moves

Vanguard's Advance

Vanguard's Advance (after n5B or 66B) B	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 100 Mid 16 - - - -5 -19 10 No No No No The second slash that combos after near 5B or 66B, does chip damage on block, he can follow up with B for overhead or D for feint.

Vanguard's Advance (2 / Cancel)

Vanguard's Advance (2 / Cancel) (after n5BB or 66BB) B or D Slash Slash Feint Feint

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed B 200 High 30 - - - KD -15 15 No No No No D N/A N/A - - - - +1 N/A 0 No No No No Strong overhead attack. Does chip damage but punishable on block. Has a 1 frame gap in between hits, so opponents can DP on reaction. Cancelling into feint will leave you +1 and just outside of throw range, giving you a slight advantage in the upcoming scramble. Opponents holding back will usually be safe from microwalk throw, so check them low with moves like 2D or 5D to keep them from walking away.

Guardian's Assault (Slash / Cancel)

Guardian's Assault (Slash / Cancel) (after 5B) B or D Slash Slash Feint Feint

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed B 220 High 30 - - - KD -15 15 No No No No D N/A N/A - - - - -7 N/A 0 No No No No Far 5B>B is usually preferable to 5C after a far grounded parry, since it rewards you with a knockdown. Leaves you -7 after feint, but since opponents are more likely to try and take their turn here, you might catch them off-guard. 5B>D is still fairly safe if spaced well, leaving you just outside Warden's own 5A range. Don't throw this out recklessly!

Warden's Wrath (Slash / Cancel)

Warden's Wrath (Slash / Cancel) (after n5C) C or D Slash Slash Feint Feint

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed C 240 High - - - - KD -15 20 No No No No D N/A N/A - - - - +2 N/A 0 No No No No Your most damaging route after a successful parry, netting you a whopping 370 damage without rage! n.5C>D leaves you at +2 but a little bit farther away than n.5B>B>D, so it might be more difficult to press your advantage, especially after a throw, where even your 5A will miss.

Special Moves

Parry

Parry 214S

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 0 N/A 6 15 - 43 +30 N/A - No No No No A parry move that counters mid and high slash and sword specials (not working against low attacks and punch / kick / hilt attacks, neither lighting blade and SSM ). Upon success parry ground attacks, it stuns the opponent and makes Warden's chain attacks into combos (except 66BBB). The opponent can rage explosion to burst out of the stun. Upon success parry air attacks, it juggles the opponent and allows follow-ups. It reflects projectiles as well, but it doesn't reflect Tam-Tam's low skull, Rimururu's rolling ice ball, and Mina's low arrow.

Shoulder Bash

Shoulder Bash 236S Level 1 & 2 Level 1 & 2 Level 3 Level 3

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed Level 1 40(60) Mid 23(15) - - 62 +8 +1 10 No No No No Level 2 40(60) Mid - - - - +18 +4 15 No No No No Level 3 40(60) Unblockable 58(44) - - 114(75) +23 N/A - No No No No Hold slash button to increase its level, each level runs further distance and has more frame advantage. Level 2 version will juggle airborne opponent and allows follow up combo. Level 3 version runs full screen and becomes unblockable attack with 1 hit armor (takes 40% damage, works on any attack except WFT, SSM and lighting blade), however it doesn't hit airborne opponent. During max rage, it charges the level faster with extra damage.

Supers

Weapon Flipping Technique

Blackstone Bash 236B+C	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 384(448) Mid 16 - - 63 KD -42 - No No No No Available only during Max Rage or Rage Explosion. Disarms on hit. Strong wft that covers half of the screen.

Super Special Move

Catapult 641236C+D	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Total Hit Adv Block Adv Guard Dmg Cancel Recoil Deflectable Unarmed 700[100,600] Mid 31 - - - KD -48 - No No No No Standard SSM with with long reach, start up 1 frame slower than average. Available once per match. It has full invincibility frames 1~10.

Combos

List combos, use numpad notation.

Midscreen

• (n.5B / 66B / 2B) xx WFT
  WFT punish combo.

• (Deep hit jC / jB)...
  • n.5C
    Knocks down the opponent from jump C, mix up from jump B.
  • n.5BB / 66BB
    Strong follow up with mix up.
  • (n.5B / 66B / 2B) xx WFT
    WFT combo after jump deep hit.
  • Lighting Blade
    Issen combo.

• jB WFT
  WFT combo from far away jump hit.

• 5CD / 4CD...
  • 66BB
    Strong follow up with mix up, 66B at close range to continue the pressure
  • n.5C
    Corner only, more damage with mix up.
  • 66C / 2C
    Knocks down.
  • 2B xx WFT
    The optimal WFT combo after throw.

• 236S (level 1) n5A / 2A / 2D
  A little extra damage.

• 236S (level 2 air hit) 5A / 2B / n5B / n5C
  2B is much easier to land than n5C, also with good damage and 2C / BC mix up after air reset.
• 236S (level 2 air hit) Lighting Blade
  Issen combo.

• 236S (level 2 and 3)...
  • n.5C / n.5BB
    Strong follow up with mix up.
  • 2B xx WFT
    Optimal WFT combo.
  • Lighting Blade
    Issen combo.

• JC (Deep hit) 236S (level 1 rage version) n5A
  Fancy combo, not useful.

Parry

• n.5B (air parry) xx WFT
  Anti air WFT combo, connects on ground parry as well.

• 214S (ground parry)...
  • 5BB / 5C / n.5BBB / n5CC
    Normal follow ups from low to high damage. Heavy slash follow ups have more damage.
  • (2B / 66B) xx WFT
    WFT combo follow up.
  • Lighting Blade
    Issen follow up, needs to wait a little bit otherwise it would become n5C / 5B.

• 214S (air parry)...
  • 66C
    Connects from close or mid range. (About the range of 5A)
  • WFT
    Dash immediately after parry to connect, it covers similar range of the combo above.
  • 5C
    Only from close range or near corner, micro walk forward to connect.
  • 236S (level 2 rage) n5C
    Corner only, not useful

Guard Crush

• n.5C...D...
  Feint...
  • Lighting Blade
    Universal Issen combo. (Don't have to feint can just cancel)
  • SSM
    SSM follow up. (Be careful with opponent bursting to avoid it)
  • j.C xx n.5C
    Deep jump heavy combo into standing heavy.
  • 2B xx WFT
    WFT combo after feint.
  • j.C xx 2B xx WFT
    Deep jump heavy combo into WFT combo.'

• 5C...
  Cancel recovery...
  • 236S(Hold)...
    Hold for lvl 3 charge...
    • 66C
      Knocks down.
    • 2B xx WFT
      WFT combo after charge.
    • Lighting Blade
      Issen after charge.

Videos

• Warden combo video by MESO

Colors

External Links

• Twitter hashtag: #SS_WD