Takuma is a versatile character that can both zone and rush down pretty well. For zoning, he has a good backdash for gaining distance and a fast, high-flying projectile to control space. He also has access to a good anti-air button in st.B and a great anti-air DM. Takuma also has good anti-zoning tools with a projectile reflector and a fast projectile DM. When going in, Takuma also has strong options like an overhead, a running command grab, a good crossup, good low confirms, and a proximity unblockable DM. No matter what strategy he uses, Takuma also gets reliably high damage. His main weakness is that he's very meter-reliant for both his best damage and his most consistent anti-air; he also lacks a meterless reversal option.
Changes from Previous Versions
98 to 98UM
Normals:
st.D now has 2 frames less startup
st.D's priority has been reduced
f+A's active frames have been increased by 5
cr.A now does less damage
cr.B now does less damage
cr.D now has 1 frame more recovery
Specials:
qcb+P can now reflect projectiles
Supers:
f,hcf+P is now a DM, it comes out faster but you can no longer charge it
qcfx2+P now comes out on the second frame; the super flash locks the opponent's inputs, so they can't reaction roll out
98UM to 98UMFE
Normals:
st.B now has more active frames
cl.C no longer whiffs against short characters
Specials:
qcb+P now has less recovery
Supers:
qcf,hcb+A is now invincible until just after the hitbox appears
Normal Moves
Close
cl.A: Starts up slightly faster than his st.B, but serves the same purpose of anti-air against hops. Chainable and cancelable.
cl.B: A light combo filler. Chainable and cancelable.
cl.C: The main fast heavy combo normal. Cancelable.
cl.D: Long upwards reach. Good for stopping jumps at closer ranges. Whiffs on short crouchers.
Standing
st.A: Decent anti-hop button. Whiffs on regular crouchers. Chainable.
st.B: A great anti-air that can stop both hops and full jumps. Has a lot of upwards priority. Whiffs on regular crouchers.
st.C: Mid-range poke with good priority. Whiffs on regular crouchers.
st.D: Long startup and recovery. Has okay priority.
Crouching
cr.A: A standard low poke. cr.B is mostly the better choice, but this one can be good if the opponent uses moves with lower-body invincibility a lot. Chainable and cancelable.
cr.B: A fast low. You can connect 3 of these in a row with good timing. Chainable and cancelable.
cr.C: Good anti-air button and combo tool. Cancelable.
cr.D: Sweep with good range. Cancelable.
Jumping
j.A: Fast startup and a lot of active frames. His is his best air-to air normal.
j.B: Good crossup jump-in with a lot of active frames. Comes out fast, so it can also be good as a speedy air-to-air.
nj.B: Longer-range air-to-air.
j.C: Good jump-in button.
j.D: Great crossup jump-in. Has more startup than j.B, but its backwards hitbox is bigger, so it's easier to crossup with it.
CD Normals
st.CD: Fairly fast startup for a st.CD and a good forwards hitbox, making it good as a close-range poke.
j.CD: Has very good priority. Great air-to-air. Whiffs on tiny crouchers.
Throws
Oosotogari:b/f+C (close)
Regular throw, techable.
Ippon Seoi:b/f+D (close)
Regular throw, techable. Switches sides.
Command Moves
Oni Guruma:f+A
Knocks down when used on its own. When canceled into, it leaves the opponent standing and functions as valuable combo filler.
If it's canceled late, however, it retains its raw properties, giving you a great knockdown right next to you. Combos from cancelable normals.
Kawara Wari:f+B
An overhead when used on its own, a cancelable mid when canceled into (unless canceled late).
Can be combo-ed into from light attacks, but has more pushback than f+A, so generally this is ignored as combo filler.
Special Moves
Ko'ou Ken:qcf+A/C
Takuma's generic but powerful airborne projectile.
A version is slower and does less damage than the C version.
This is a very good move to keep the pressure on your opponent from further ranges.
It can be combo-ed into from both command normals, and juggled into from db~f+D.
If your opponent is in the corner and you hit them with this from fullscreen, you can connect db~f+D or qcf,hcb+P afterward, though this is fairly impractical.
Since it's an airborne projectile, a lot of moves can low-profile it, and Leona and Chris/O.Chris can low-profile it by running. It completely whiffs on tiny crouchers.
Zanretsu Ken:f,b,f+A/C
Trademark Kyokugen gigantic and unbelievably active hitbox.
Both versions of the move do the same amount of damage; the C version stays out a bit longer and has slightly more startup.
Can be connected after a db~f+D juggle, and is the damage-optimal meterless ender in that case.
Very punishable on block or whiff, though it has a vacuum effect that can suck in opponent's normals if they mistime a punish or attempt to punish it with a move with low priority.
Moh Koh Burai Gan:qcb+A/C
Takuma performs a parry and then delivers a powerful strike.
Does two hits if it connects at point-blank range, but only one if slightly further out.
This move has autoguard on startup, making it useful as a quasi-counter.
A version has faster startup than the C version.
This move can also reflect projectiles, making it excellent in zoning wars.
A version can combo off of lights but not heavies (due to pushback), and both versions can be juggled into after db~f+D.
Good to use to blow up predictable attacks with the autoguard.
Can be hard to anti-air with, because if you're late the opponent can land and block before the strike comes out.
Hien Shippuu Kyaku:db~f+B/D
Forward-traveling airborne move. B version causes a soft knockdown, while the D version puts the opponent into a very generous juggle state and thus is a vital combo tool.
This move can be combo-ed after a cr.C, and is easiest to land after a jump-in.
Shoran Kyaku:hcb+B/D
Takuma does a running command grab.
Good to use when you expect the opponent to roll to avoid a fireball.
Also good to use as a sneaky mixup tool after something like a j.B, though this should only be done occasionally.
Can be used to make his projectiles unblockable thanks to the unblockable projectiles bug.
Desperation Moves
Shin Kishin Geki:qcfx2+A/C (close)
Command grab DM. Hits on the second frame.
The DM doesn't really have much range to it, and if you whiff it the opponent will have more than enough time to punish you.
Can be combo-ed from f+A.
Helps his mixup game a lot, since it's faster than hcb+K.
Both versions are identical. The MAX version does significantly more damage than the regular versions.
Haoh Shikou Ken:f,hcf+A/C
Standard Art of Fighting projectile DM.
Can be combo-ed into a variety of ways, making it very handy for metered conversions.
C version is good for winning projectile wars or using as a long-range punish. Also just good for controlling neutral generally.
A version is slower than the C version. MAX version does more hits and damage.
Ryuuko Ranbu:qcf,hcb+A/C
The classic Kyokugen ranbu DM.
Takuma is invincible during the startup, and has very good priority.
Makes for a great invincible anti-air.
C version has slower start-up and is harder to combo into than the A version. MAX version does more hits and damage.
ADV/EX Strats
Combos
General Notes:
In any metered combo with f,hcf+P/qcf,hcb+P, it can be replaced with f,hcf+AC/qcf,hcb+AC for more damage if you have the resources.
f,hcf+P is less damaging in any given situation than qcf,hcb+P, but may be easier to input or more reliable to connect. It also works in juggles from db~f+D where qcf,hcb+P does not.
Meterless
Low
cr.Bx1-2, cr.A, f+A, qcf+C
Standard low confirm.
cr.Bx1-2, cr.A, f+A
Alternative low combo, has a delayed cancel into f+A as opposed to an immediate one. Does less damage than the previous one but grants hard knockdown with great oki.
cr.Bx1-2, f+A, f,b,f+P
Low confirm into f.b.f+A. Spacing/execution requirements are much tighter.
Mid/Jump-In
(j.X), cl.C, (f+A), qcf+C
Easy and safe combo from jump-in, no need to hit-confirm. f+A should be omitted if the pushback is too much.
(j.X), cl.C, f+A
More damaging jump-in combo that also grants hard knockdown with great oki. f+A must be a delayed cancel.
(j.X), cl.C, f+A, f,b,f+P
A less damaging crossup combo than a confirm into db~f+D. However, it does not require a charge. You can substitute cl.C for cr.Bx1-2.
(j.X), cr.C, db~f+D, f,b,f+P
Most damaging meterless combo, you need to charge down-back during your jump to get enough charge for db,f+D.
With Meter
Low
cr.Bx1-2, cr.A, f+A, qcf,hcb+A/f,hcf+C
Mid/Jump-In
(j.X), cl.C, f+A, qcf,hcb+A/f,hcf+C
(j.X), cr.C, db~f+D, f,hcf+C
With Quick MAX
Low
cr.B, cl.A, ABC, cl.C, f+A, qcf,hcb+A
Requires a microwalk before the cl.C.
cr.B, ABC, cr.C, db,f+D, f,hcf+C
Color Chart
A: White/Black
AB: Red/Blue
B: Crimson Red
BC: Green/Black
C: Yellow
CD: Beige/Brown
D: Black (Mr. Karate AOF Color}
AD: Paint White/Brown (Marco/Butt MOTW Color)
Strategy & Tips
Takuma can perform the unblockable projectile glitch with qcf+P and hcb+K.
