Saisyu has great offensive tools to stay close to the opponent and confirm into big metered damage or a meterless hard-knockdown. Alternatively, he can zone out the opponent with his ground-traveling fireball and a strong anti-air DP. His weakness definitely lies in his mostly short-ranged normals, which often cannot compete with the opponents' in neutral. Saisyu has to make up for this deficit with good positioning, so he can use his great jump-in normals to get in and start his pressure game.
Changes from Previous Versions
98 to 98UM
Normals:
cl.C's activation range has been reduced, it can still be linked from a cl.A or cr.A
st.B now has 3 more active frames
f+A how has 2 frames less startup
Specials:
qcf+P now has 3 frames less recovery
hcb+B now has 2 frames less startup, now connects from heavies and f+A
qcb+A now has 2 frames less startup, you can follow up after the second hit now
Supers:
qcfx2+P now has less startup; both A and MAX versions have 5 frames less startup and can now connect from lights
qcfx2+C now has invincibility during the first active frame as well
98UM to 98UMFE
Specials:
dp+B's second hit now has a larger hitbox, so it shouldn't whiff if the first connects
hcb+K now has less recovery, second hit should be easier to connect if the first connects
qcb+P's first hit now has a bigger hitbox and less recovery
Supers:
qcfx2+P's A and MAX versions have faster startup
Normal Moves
Close
cl.A: Can stop hops, otherwise useless. Chainable and cancelable.
cl.B: Use cr.A instead for more reliable range and same combo potential. Cancelable.
cl.C: 2f start up, 2 hits, both cancelable. Can link from cr.B. Your heavy normal for combos.
cl.D: Same as st.D.
Standing
st.A: Crappy range, can stop hops from close up but no other use for it really. Chainable.
st.B: Farthest range of his normals. Good as a poke. Combos after cr.B.
st.C: Cancelable, but slow and crappy range and whiffs on crouchers. Rarely useful.
st.D: Can work as anti-air against hops, but dp+P is much more reliable.
Crouching
cr.A: Fast and good range for a cr.A. Use this in confirms and blockstrings after cr.B and as a short poke. Chainable and cancelable.
cr.B: Low combo starter. Links into cl.C. Chainable.
cr.C: Not a reliable anti-air. Can be used in punish or combo situations when too far away for cl.C. Cancelable.
cr.D: Cancelable sweep. Not bad at what it does.
Jumping
j.A: Nice air-to-air.
j.B: Typical Kusanagi knee. Often beats weaker anti-airs and air normals, and can crossup without much hassle. VERY GOOD.
j.C: Decent jump-in, but nothing special about it. Use this on characters j.D might whiff on.
j.D: Most damaging jump button (except for j.CD). Usually used for air zoning out of a hop. Can whiff on small crouchers and low-profile moves.
CD Normals
st.CD: Quite fast, enough range to hit after some light-button blockstrings. Saisyu has good safe options to fish for counterhit combos with this. Cancelable on hit, block, and whiff.
j.CD: Great move. Often wins against other good moves and anti-airs thanks to good hitbox. Good for fishing counterhit combos just like regular CD.
Throws
Flaming Hammer:b/f+C (close)
Swift Shoulder Throw:b/f+D (close)
Command Moves
Thundering Hammer:f+A
Hits overhead.
Cranium Press:f+B
Plus on block, but combos from nothing. You can link into a variety of moves on hit.
Mostly exists to extend your offense with plus frames, can be interrupted since it's not a true block string.
Special Moves
Dark Thrust:qcf+A/C
Ground traveling projectile. Not great but serves its purpose if used with care.
Fire Ball:dp+A/C
Saisyu's DP. Good reversal and reliable anti air especially C version. Both versions are very unsafe.
Divine Demolisher:hcb+B/D
Very slow overhead move. Not recommended. Punishable on block.
Hit Hatchet:dp+B/D
B version combos from cr.A, D only combos from heavy buttons.
Very nice go-to combo move that causes a hard knockdown and has decent damage.
B version is a good meterless raw punish tool, more horizontal range than DP. Unsafe on block.
Fusillade of Flame:qcb+A/C (x2)
Saisyu's rekka. Combos from heavy buttons. A version combos into dp+C. Best meterless damage but only soft knockdown. Unsafe on block.
Desperation Moves
Serpent Wave:qcb,hcf+A/C (can be held)
A/C versions are identical. Combos from heavy buttons. Deals more damage than qcfx2+A/C. Safe on block.
SDM deals even more damage and still more than qcfx2+AC. Plus on block.
Best Orochinagi archetype DM in the game
Annihilating Slicer:qcfx2+A/C
A version has very fast startup. Combos from cr.A and f+B. Can punish almost anything unsafe. One of the best raw super punishes in the game.
C version is slower than A but has lots of invul and more range. Useful as a counter in situations where invul and range matter more than speed.
SDM is like the A version but deals more damage. Combos from cr.A/f+B and is just as fast but no invul.
