Virtua Fighter 3tb/Lion Rafale/Strategy

Overview

Strategy

Combos

Resources

Frame Data

Movelist + Frame Data

Strategy

Introduction

Lion has good damage throws, multiple strings with knockdown hits in them, very strong lows, great pokes, good pressure, and multiple CH launchers. He's has arguably the strongest okizeme in the game along with Shun. His PPP is a true normal hit knockdown, which is very strong, and he has the fastest NH launcher in the game with 44K. He has many low knockdown hits, both single and with strings.

However his backdash isn't very good, but he still has other tech to compete in frame tight situations, and he relies very heavily on foot-stances in all situations (whether it's for his extra mobility options or for maximizing his combo damage). This, combined with a pretty slow jab, means he will need to work hard in low advantaged situations to enforce his strategy and take advantage of what he's good at.

Key Techniques

• P - 10f execution, making it on the slower side.
• PK - Important natural combo. Can be used to force crouch, and is a safe pressure tool.
• PPP - Knocks down and is a natural combo. Use for 10f punishes.
• PP2P - Ends in a low and knocks down. Not natural.
• 2P+E - Arguably Lion’s best low attack. Fast, not very telegraphed, switches foot stance
• 6P - Will stagger on crouch. Fast. Good pressure starter.
• 3K - In certain scenarios this will launch, so go for a small combo! Same for 3K+E.
• 8P+K - Fast mid with a long reach that can go into a small combo.
• 44K - The fastest way to go into backturned for Lion and a great whiff punishing tool.
• 1K - A strong low attack that will knock down. Keeps Lion in his current foot stance.
• 9K - Typical combo ender. Works as a down attack and can crush low rising attacks and rolls.

Throws

• 63214P+G - This is Lion's main damage-dealing throw. He pounces onto his opponents and pushes them back a bit, dealing 60 damage with some ring out potential. It also requires a 46P+G throw break, making it a difficult throw to break.
• 2_6P+G - Lion's from crouch throw. Does the most amount of damage (upwards of 70) on most characters due to being able to combo from it. Try crouch dashing with a 323 input before attempting this throw.
• 4P+G - Lion's standard back throw. High damage (50 points) for not difficult execution, however Lion is very negative when this throw is broken so be careful!
• P+G - Lion's neutral throw. Great for okizeme because of the fast recovery time for Lion compared to his opponent.
• 66P+G - This throw is nice because you can bake in the input from a dash, making it significantly easier to pull off than his other throws. Also great for ring outs.
• 46P+G - An odd throw that has the potential to get yourself rung out. Wouldn't recommend using this throw when 66P+G already exists, but when your back is at the edge this isn't a bad call as it can ring out the opponent too.
• 9P+G - This throw is breakable and NOT a catch throw, despite what its input and animation suggest. It's an okay throw that is boosted by its strange throw break direction.
• 3P+G - Lion's reversal throw. Especially effective on Taka because he's much heavier so a knockdown after this throw will deal significantly more damage against him due to him landing closer to Lion.

General Strategy

Lion is a tricky character to get to grips with in the system because his basic tools can be seen as slightly worse than everyone else’s. Notably, his backdash is bad compared to characters other than Taka-Arashi who cannot dash at all. His knee doesn’t give very high floats, and even though it's his main mid-level launcher, nets low combo damage and his jab is slower than almost everyone else’s. However, much of this can be resolved by playing strictly for knockdowns to start an okizeme game where Lion is quite strong. Key moves for knocking down opponents are 3K, 2P+E, 1K, and his P+G throw. These are all single hit or single command moves that have a good chance of succeeding unless an opponent is looking for them. Make sure to use Lion’s 6P to create opportunities to use these moves, especially since crouching opponents will be staggered allowing him to start his pressure game.

In low advantage and disadvantage situations, Lion’s basic quick jabs can get you by just fine. Landing a jab can lead to deadly knockdown strings like PPP and PP2P. He also has true lows in 23PP and 1PP to eek out wins or get small amounts of damage. Beware that when an opponent blocks these, Lion is -15 which is a knee punish for the opponent, so use these moves sparingly. To force opponents to crouch, try using PK which is quite safe and may lead to opponents trying to duck your high strings to get a throw punish or similar, opening them up to elbow staggers.

During the okizeme game, basic options are 2P+E, 2K+G, 66K+G, 1K, and throwing the opponent. These will all catch evades or people abusing standing guard too much. The safest options are usually just to keep elbowing or do an okizeme-friendly throw, but there are reasons to use Lion’s other low attacks in this scenario, such as to keep foot stance or push opponents closer to the ring or wall.

Watch Your Feet

Lion becomes a much more mobile character when he is in left foot forward stance. This is because of a strange animation behavior that when holding back, Lion will take a much larger step back than most of the cast and thus will move his whole character model backwards. The basic option for this is 4E~41: a backdash into a 41 step. This gives him an incredibly large backdash but will cause him to go back to right foot forward. You can use this enhanced backdash to protect yourself against close and mid-ranged punches and kicks and throws. A punish with 3K or an elbow is recommended here unless the move whiffed is a large move in which case 44K will likely catch the opponent.

Another enhanced backdash option is 4G. This will cancel Lion’s walk back animation but still move him slightly back in a granular fashion depending on how often the G button is pressed. To perform this maneuver, hold back and then repeatedly press G. This will cause Lion to do a funky teleport by one step or less, and can be used to create massive amounts of space between you and your opponent. This is effective for running away, but also to make moves whiff on wake up. It is not recommended to use this in low disadvantage or above situations as you may get caught by a longer range-move such as a side kick.

Easy and safeish ways to switch foot stance are 4P and 2P+E. Both are quite fast but be careful when using 2P+E to switch stances in case your opponent is in range for a whiff punish. It is more recommended to use these attacks when up close and when Lion can get a real hit on the opponent. 1K meanwhile will keep your current foot stance and knock down, making it an effective knockdown tool when in left foot forward stance.