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The King of Fighters '98 UMFE/Saisyu Kusanagi
Notation
- Light Punch
- Light Kick
- Heavy Punch
- Heavy Kick
Throws
Issetsu Seoi Nage - (close) 
/ 
+
Hikiri Tsuchi - (close) / +
Command Normals
Ge-Shiki Gou Tsui - +
Ge-Shiki Kubu Tsuchi - +
Special Moves
108 Shiki Yami Barai - 
+ /
100 Shiki Oniyaki - 
+ /
427 Shiki Kamukakari - 
+ /
110 Shiki Nata Guruma - + /
720 Shiki Homuragasane 1 - 
+ /
- ┗ 720 Shiki Homuragasane 2 -
+ 
/ 
Desperation Moves
Ura 108 Shiki Orochinagi - 
+ /
1207 Shiki Tsumugari - + /
Introduction
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.
Gameplay Overview
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 2A
- 5B now has 3 more active frames
- Ge-Shiki Gou Tsui (6A) how has 2 frames less startup
Specials:
- 108 Shiki Yami Barai (236P) now has 3 frames less recovery
- Light 427 Shiki Kamukakari (63214B) now has 2 frames less startup, now connects from heavies and f+A
- Light 720 Shiki Homuragasane 1 (214A) now has 2 frames less startup.
- You can now juggle from the A version of 720 Shiki Homuragasane (214A)'s second hit.
Supers:
- 1207 Shiki Tsumugari (236236P) now has less startup; both A and MAX versions have 5 frames less startup and can now connect from lights.
- Heavy 1207 Shiki Tsumugari (236236C) is now invulnerable until after the first active frame.
98UM to 98UMFE
Specials:
- Light 110 Shiki Nata Guruma (623B)'s second hit now has a larger hitbox, so it shouldn't whiff if the first connects
- 427 Shiki Kamukakari (63214K) now has less recovery, second hit should be easier to connect if the first connects
- 720 Shiki Homuragasane 1 (214P)'s first hit now has a bigger hitbox and less recovery
Supers:
- 1207 Shiki Tsumugari (236236P)'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 2B. Your heavy normal for combos.
- cl.D: Same as 5D.
Standing
- 5A: Crappy range, can stop hops from close up but no other use for it really. Chainable.
- 5B: Farthest range of his normals. Good as a poke. Combos after 2B.
- 5C: Cancelable, but slow and crappy range and whiffs on crouchers. Rarely useful.
- 5D: Can work as anti-air against hops, but 623P is much more reliable.
Crouching
- 2A: Fast and good range for a 2A. Use this in confirms and blockstrings after 2B and as a short poke. Chainable and cancelable.
- 2B: Low combo starter. Links into cl.C. Chainable.
- 2C: Not a reliable anti-air. Can be used in punish or combo situations when too far away for cl.C. Cancelable.
- 2D: 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
- 5CD: 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
Issetsu Seoi Nage: 4/6C (close)
- Regular throw, techable.
- Does not switch sides.
- Hard knockdown.
Hikiri Tsuchi: 4/6D (close)
- Regular throw, techable.
- Goes fullscreen and switches sides.
- Backturned hard knockdown, but okizeme is only possible in the corner.
Command Moves
Ge-Shiki Gou Tsui: 6A
- Hits overhead when done on its own.
- No overhead but cancelable when cancelled into. Acts as heavy normal for the purpose of comboing.
- Combos from cl.C and true blockstring. Safe on block.
Ge-Shiki Kubu Tsuchi: 6B
- 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
108 Shiki Yami Barai: 236A/C
- Ground traveling projectile. Not great but serves its purpose if used with care.
100 Shiki Oniyaki: dp+A/C
- Saisyu's DP. Good reversal and reliable anti air especially C version. Both versions are very unsafe.
427 Shiki Kamukakari: 63214B/D
- Very slow overhead move. Not recommended. Punishable on block.
110 Shiki Nata Guruma: 623B/D
- B version combos from 2A, 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.
720 Shiki Homuragasane: 214A/C (x2)
- Saisyu's rekka. Combos from heavy buttons. A version combos into 623C. Best meterless damage but only soft knockdown. Unsafe on block.
Desperation Moves
Ura 108 Shiki Orochinagi: 2141236A/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 in the game.
1207 Shiki Tsumugari: 236236A/C
- A version has very fast startup. Combos from 2A and 6B. 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 2A/6B and is just as fast but no invul.