Real Bout Fatal Fury 2/Laurence Blood

Gameplay Overview

Laurence is a big defensive matador who, fittingly enough, specializes in being hard to hit. He centers around playing the midrange game and baiting his opponent with his 5BC Ole dodge and punishing their whiffs accordingly. To complement this, his Breakshots are versatile and have good damage and he is difficult to punish himself unless he makes a wrong guess with Bloody Cutter. Unfortunately, his close-range defense is lacking at times, as his otherwise reliable Ole completely loses to throws and it's possible to stuff his other attempts to get out of pressure if he's reckless. To play Laurence, you need to read your opponent well and frustrate them into making a big enough mistake to capitalize on. And his stage theme is a serious banger too.

Pros	Cons
BC sidestep will avoid nearly everything and allow unique punishes Strong chipping potential Versatile and damaging Breakshots Good safety on a surprising amount of stuff	Mediocre normals Poor mobility No feint of any kind Crumbles against characters with command grabs Very limited combo chains Unique execution compared to others thanks to multiple charge specials

Normals

Standing

5A	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 9 - 8 4 14 -2 -6 HL Y - - Long range 5A but on the slow side. Due to this, it is best reserved for safe, quick poking than any AA usage. Due to this aforementioned range, if you were downbacking before, Laurence can punish stuff that's mostly safe, like a midscreen hop, and then cancel into Bloody Cutter.

n.5A (within px of opponent)	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 9 - 5 2 9 4 0 HL Y - - Your quickest normal. Because it is a proximity normal, it's a somewhat unreliable abare tool, but it's really useful for specific punishes (non-spaced Leg Tomahawk from Krauser, for example) and it's low duration makes it great for baiting breakshots

5B	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 11 - 7 4 17 -5 -9 HL Y - - Your most common punish starter, cancelling into Bloody Spin or Bloody Cutter if you were charging is what you will do most of the time after this.

n.5B (within px of opponent)	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 11 - 7 4 12 0 -4 HA Y - - Most of what was said of 5B applies here, this is your other punish starter, but comes with some quirks. On pressure, it is a nice tool to catch jumps and backdashes On punishes, the hitbox will make it so some attacks go under it. In those cases, try to use 2B instead

5C

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 24 - 10 7 22 -3 -9 HL N - - This is Laurence best poke in the ground. It reaches really far and it's active for a decent time. Be careful to not overuse It, though. If you get predictable with it, its long horizontal range but non-vertical hitbox makes it so opponents reading it could be able to punish it with a jump-in combo.

n.5C (within px of opponent)

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 12,12 - 12 3,2 18 6 0 HL Y - - n5C is useful in many ways. It moves Laurence forward and chains into the 5CC chain, making it good for mantaining pressure and for stagger pressure It allows for very powerful combos, especially in the corner. Sadly, it doesn't have the fastest start-up, and you need to be close to them, so you need to make them respect you if you want to use this on offense.

Crouching

2A	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 9 - 6 4 8 4 0 HL Y - - Standard 2A. Good for breaking pressure and for link combos.

2B

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 11 - 7 7 4 5 1 L Y - - Laurence main low attack. It's +1 on block and, if meatied, allows for links with n5A/2A into Bloody Spin/Bloody Cutter. Sadly, Laurence doesn't have chains from his 2B, so you need to meaty it and link a normal from It or raw cancel without confirming for people to want to start blocking low against him, due to Ole>632C being an ever présent overhead tool.

2C	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 24 - 9 7 20 KD -7 L N - - Laurence sweep lost its sliding properties in RB2. While it's still a good low range low due to its hitbox and active frames, it's a shadow of what it used to be

Command

Swiping Kick 6B

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 19 - 13 3 20 1 -3 LH Y - - This is Laurence slowest but also most damaging combo starter due to it being able to chain into 5D or 2D. 6B>5D>C Bloody Spin, Bloody Cutter is extremely damaging while also being meterless, and It isn't limited by range like n5C. Sadly, its slow start-up and active frames make it a not really good neutral tool.

Back Kick 5AB High Avoid Attack	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 14 - 9 7 20 -11 -11 LH Y - - Laurence lacks diagonal anti-airs, so this is a welcome addition to his arsenal, considering its hitbox and ability to punish landing frames with 5AB xx A Bloody Spin

Ole

Ole 5BC Ole! Try again?

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle - - - 37 - - - - Y - - Rather than have a feint, Laurence possesses this gameplan-defining dodge. It is completely invincible to anything except throws for the entire duration, can be special cancelled, and has followups that fill the roles of punish and high/low mixup. Learn to love, use, and abuse this move for every single bit of its worth, because Laurence needs it to do anything worthwhile.

(During Ole) 5B	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 11 - 7 4 17 -5 -9 LH Y - - The simplest followup for Ole, it's basically 5B with all the same uses as it. That being: cancel this into A Bloody Spin for a quick bit of damage and the knockdown.

(During Ole) 5C

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 14 - 10 10 19 -6 -9 LH N - - A strange kick that looks a lot like 5AB. It whiffs on crouchers, but that's fine because it sets up for the overhead followup. Note that you can cancel this on whiff, and even before the hitbox comes out. There's really no reason to actually hit them with this unless you really need the reach.

(During Ole 5C) 632C	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 35 - 10 3 30 3 -13 H N - - Laurence's overhead. It requires a lot of setup thanks to being locked behind an Ole followup, but it's fast and can score a quick bit of damage if you psyche your opponent into fearing the sweep.

(During Ole) 2C	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 14 - 9 7 20 KD -7 L N - - A basic sweep. There's not much to this. It mostly exists to make people get hit by the overhead. It has a sliding effect so It isn't that bad on neutral.

Jumping

j.A

Version Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle Neutral Hop 9 - 6 8 7 +7 +3 H N - - Quick air-to-air. Laurence really appreciates having something like that due to its few anti-air options without charge. Diagonal Hop 9 - 9 6 7 +7 +3 H N - - Its added 3f of start-up make it too slow to be used as an air-to air Neutral Jump 9 - 6 9 6 +8 +4 H N - - It does have a hitbox that hits downwards, so it isn't that bad for hitting people that are under you in the air. You can cancel into j.C for continuing the air string. Diagonal Jump 9 - 6 11 6 +8 +4 H N - - Out-performed by j.B

j.B Neutral Jump Neutral/Diagonal Hop, Diagonal Jump

Version Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle Neutral Hop 11 - 8 Till landing 7 +7 +3 H N - - Preenptive anti-air due to always being active. Diagonal Hop 11 - 8 Till landing 7 +8 +4 H N - - Good option from a hop to approach/retreat somewhat safely, as it is active throughout all the move. Neutral Jump 11 - 7 7 6 +8 +4 H N - - Somewhat bizarre angle for a neutral jump normal. In very few cases will opponents be that high in the air for this to be useful Diagonal Jump 11 - 7 8 6 +8 +4 H N - - If you manage to jump over an opponent that just used a really slow to recover attack, this is where your punish should start, as it chains into j.C

j.C

Version Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle Neutral Hop 11,11 - 7 1,4 8 +15 +9 H N - - Powerful air-to-air but more risky than j.A due to slower start-up Diagonal Hop 11,11 - 10 1,5 8 +15 +9 H N - - Your option for hop pressure. Its 2 hits allow you to confirm it really easily Neutral Jump 11,11 - 7 1,4 8 +15 +9 H N - - You would usually do j.A instead if the downward reach is what you want, but again, it is a more damaging option. Diagonal Jump 11,11 - 7 1,4 8 +15 +19 H N - - You don't really use this by itself, mostly from a j.B chain

Oversway Actions

5D (opponent in oversway)	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 20 - 7 5 17 4 -2 H N - -

2D (opponent in oversway)	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 20 - 7 3,4 17 2 -4 L N - -

A (from oversway)	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 11 - 24 5 12 2 0 H N - -

B (from oversway)	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 11 - 25 4 12 1 -1 L N - -

C (from oversway)	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 20 - 27 4 12 11 -3 LH N - -

Throw

Backbreaker 4/6C Buster!	Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 26 - - - - - - - - - - Basic throw. Leaves the opponent just far enough away that he can't pressure them much afterwards.

Special Moves

Bloody Mixer mash A

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 6x5 (23) 1x5 21 29 20 8 5 HL N N N Stationary mashing move with less reach than the animation suggests. It can erase fireballs and is good if the opponent is forced to block it, but the slow startup and input both severely hamper this. The plus frames enable a rare combo or two afterwards, if you somehow manage to trick your opponent into letting Laurence actually combo them.

Bloody Spin 63214A/C

Version Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle A 6+21 (24) 1+2 11 2+24 22 KD -4 HL N Y N Light Psycho Crusher. Can get Laurence closer to the opponent and force a quick bit of chip damage. It's difficult to punish without the use of Breakshots, particularly when spaced. This is your primary meterless combo tool off of light attacks. The launch property lets it occasionally convert into Bloody Cutter if connected with later in the travel path. A useful Breakshot, though C Bloody Spin and Bloody Cutter both outshine it in most situations. C 6, 5, 10x3 (31) 1x2, 2x3 19 5+37 19 KD -3 HL N Y N Heavy Psycho Crusher. Slightly safer on block than light Bloody Spin, but the multihitting nature of this move gives the opponent more time to prepare a Breakshot. Only n.5C and 5D will actually combo into this, albeit the damage payoff is huge when juggled into Bloody Cutter afterwards. This also works wonders when used as a Breakshot against moves with long active/recovery periods like Rick's Shooting Star.

Bloody Cutter [2]8C

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 42 7 10 10 41 KD -23 HL N y Y Your anti-air of choice. This is what you juggle into off of Bloody Spin if circumstances allow. Despite the invincibility not lasting through the active frames, this move's travel speed and strong hitbox placement lets it snipe jumps from a great distance away. It is a swiss army knife on defense: it is a quick and damaging Breakshot, it cancels from Ole, and generally can still manage to stuff a bunch of attacks. Just don't let it get blocked or you'll die.

Bloody Saber [4]6C

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 32 7 20 7 31 -10 -12 HL N N N A mixed bag of a move. It's Laurence's longest reaching attack outside of Bloody Spin, does solid damage, and has strong priority when spaced. The main problem is its awful recovery time leaving Laurence noticeably disadvantaged even on hit, and it's additionally very easy to crouch under or otherwise low profile. You can still get a few clean hits with this at midrange, but relying on it will let the opponent close in and bully you to no end.

S-Power

Bloody Flash 641236BC

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 10x6, 21x2 0 22 5(7)5(7)15(5)7(5) 19 KD -3 HL N N N A disappointingly flashy move that doesn't work as much other than a bit of free damage if you can force them to block it. This does very high damage if all of the hits connect, but this only happens from point blank. Be warned that whiffing this attack will let the opponent hop into the sway plane and punish you with ease.

P-Power

Bloody Shadow 641236C 10f invincible

Damage Stun Startup Active Recovery Hit Advantage Block Advantage Guard Cancel BS Juggle 90 0 1+9 3 31 KD -12 HL N N N Big damage super that is your ultimate weapon once you hit red life. It has decent comboability, but its synergy with Ole is the real star of the show. The ability to cancel into this from Ole can give your dodges incredible threat when you confirm the opponent's whiff. This allows it to play the part of a devastating anti-air. Time the Ole dodge so your opponent's attack whiffs through you and tag their landing recovery. Try not to hit them in the air, because it doesn't fully connect on airborne opponents. Strictly not a move you can just throw out and hope for the best.

Combos

Meterless

• Close B/2B/Ole>5B xx 63214A

This is your most reliable punish. Laurence doesn't have a confirmable low so most of your damage will come from baits and punishes than actual mix-ups.

• 5CC, [2]8C

This is your meterless punish against really unsafe stuff like DPs. Hold down the moment you input the second C. The charge timing is very lenient.

• (In the corner) 5CC xx 63214C, [2]8C.

Laurence's highest meterless route against most of the cast.

• (In the corner, Andy and Rick only) [Jumping B>C, 5CC xx 63214C, [2]8C]x2

Their hurtbox is wide enough for 63214C to combo even after all being pushed that much. The first rep stuns so you can do it again. Very situational and character specific.

Metered

• (S-Power) 5C xx 641236BC.

You need to be pretty close with the 5C for your super to combo all hits as it pushes away too much.

• (P-Power) 5CC xx 641236C

The hitbox is big enough for you to combo into it.

• (P-Power, Corner, against Andy or Rick) Jumping BC, 5CC xx 63214C, [2]8C, Jumping BC, 5CC XX 641236C.

Laurence's ToD and an extremely hard to set-up one. If you land this there is 100% chance people will spam the coin button.