The King of Fighters '98 UMFE/Saisyu Kusanagi

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.

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 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.

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.

Combos

General Notes

Meterless

Low

cr.B, cr.A, dp+B

Basic low confirm, might whiff at max range cr.A.

cr.B, cl.C(1), f+A, dp+D:

Low starter frame link.

Mid/Jump-In

(j.X), cl.C(1), f+A, dp+D

Your go-to heavy starter.

f+B, st.B/dp+B

With Meter

cr.B, cr.A, qcfx+P

Low confirm into DM.

cl.C, f+A, qcb,hcf+P

cr.B, cl.C(1), f+A, qcb,hcf+P:

Low frame link into super.

f+B, qcfx2+P

With Quick MAX

cr.B, ABC, cl.C, f+A, qcb,hcf+P

f+B, ABC, st.C, qcb,hcf+P

cr.B, cl.C(1), f+A, qcb+A, qcb+A, ABC, qcb,hcf+P

Best combo.

Videos

King of Fighters 98 UM FE: Saisyu Guide by Mash It Out