Soulcalibur VI/Maxi/Strategy

Combat Lessons

Fighting Style

Shissen Karihadi originated in the Ryukyu Kingdom long ago, and its whirling nunchaku can unleash a flurry of brutal strikes that leave no time for a foe to get in an attack of their own. Seemingly endless combinations can be spun out through a series of different stances, and most opponents will have a difficult time judging just where the next attack will come from.

Flowing smoothly from stance to stance, the force of a spinning nunchaku can deliver a stunning amount of damage, and quickly lay low even a hardy warrior.

Style Lesson: Beginner

Before Learning Special Stances...

This fighting style utilizes a variety of special stances to defeat an opponent, but you should start by learning its regular moves first.

Fight at Close Range

Nunchaku are primarily designed to allow the fighter to get up close and personal with their opponent. After moving in, use a Tongue (2A) to put them on the defensive, then unleash the middle attack Dragon's Brand (6A+B) and the low attack Guillotine Dance (2A+B). The Dragon's Brand (6A+B) is useful for deflecting your opponent's high attacks, so keep that in mind.

Tongue
2A

2A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
12	12	-6	6	6	1%
Tech Crouch[8-RC]

Dragon's Brand
6A+B

6A+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	35	-8	KND	KND	9%
Tech Crouch[4-16]

Guillotine Dance
2A+B

2A+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
30	18,20	-24	KND	KND	4%
Normal Hit Combo. Tech Crouch

Closing Distance

Charging attacks are useful for getting closer to your opponent. Striking Snake (33_66_99A) is a quick horizontal attack; Rolling Sobat (33_66_99K) and Dragon Cannon (33_66_99B+K) are extremely useful attacks for getting close from somewhat far away.

Striking Snake
33_66_99A

(3)_(6)_(9)A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	20	-6	10	10	1%

Rolling Sobat
33_66_99K

(3)_(6)_(9)K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
26	24	0	KND	KND	4%
Tech Jump[21-39]

Dragon Cannon
33_66_99B+K

(3)_(6)_(9)B+K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	42	-12	KND	KND	9%
Tech Crouch[14-21]. Tech Jump[27-50]

Style Lesson: Adept

Hound Your Opponent with Combos

The Snake Wing Sobat (4B~BK) is a middle attack and combo starter effective against crouching opponents. If your opponent guards against the high kick of the third strike, the opening is still small enough that you'll be able to continue attacking. If they guard against the first two and then go to duck the third, press 4B~B~AA to change the third attack into a Dragon's Beard (during Right Cross AA).

Snake Wing Sobat (Snake Kiss ~ LO ~ Wing Sobat)
4B~BK

4B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	16	8	16	16	2%
into LO. Tech Crouch[10-13]
LO BK - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	16,24	-2	KND	KND	4%
Counter Hit Combo. Tech Jump[12-30]

Snake Wing Dragon's Beard (Snake Kiss ~ LO ~ Wing Sobat ~ RC ~ Dragon's Breath ~ LI)
4B~B~AA

4B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	16	8	16	16	2%
into LO. Tech Crouch[10-13]
LO B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	16	-4	2	STN	2%
into RC. Tech Crouch[5-16]
RC AA - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
22	14,20	8	18	18	8%
Normal Hit Combo. into LI

Use Special Stances to Break Your Opponent's Guard

The third blow of a Dragon Snake Bite (B~AK) strikes in the middle; the third blow of a Swooping Falcon (B~A~KK) strikes low. Both are extremely useful for getting past your opponent's guard at close range. The fourth blow of a Serpent's Bane (4AAAB) hits in the middle, but you can move into a Behind Lower stance by stopping after the third hit. Enter 4AAA~KK to switch to the Swooping Falcon's third and fourth attacks, strike low, and break your opponent's standing guard.

Dragon Snake Bite (Snake Bite ~ RO ~ Dragon Bite)
B~AK

B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	10	6	14	14	2%
Cancel with G. into RO
RO AK - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	14,26	-10	6	6	5%
Normal Hit Combo Can be partially charged, grants knockdown

Swooping Falcon (Snake Bite ~ RO ~ Dragon Bite ~ BL ~ Fury Kicks)
B~A~KK

B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	10	6	14	14	2%
Cancel with G. into RO
RO A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	14	5	12	13	1%
TS right. into BL
BL KK - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	22,22	-14	KND	KND	2%
Normal Hit Combo

Serpent's Bane
4AAAB

4AAAB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	18,14,14,21	-16	KND	KND	10%
Normal Hit Combo. Tech Crouch[3-21]

Serpent's Fury (Serpent's Bane ~ BL ~ Fury Kicks
4AAA~KK

4AAA - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	18,14,14	9	17	17	5%
Normal Hit Combo. into BL
BL KK - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	22,22	-14	KND	KND	2%
Normal Hit Combo

Style Lesson: Master

Aim for a Lethal Hit with the Seven Stars Rebirth

When in a stance, you don't always have to attack right away. Try using Seven Stars Rebirth to switch to another stance first. For example, you can trick your opponent into thinking you're going to use a Dragon Snake Bite (B~AK), but then use B~6 to perform a Seven Stars Rebirth and unleash Fury Kicks (during Behind Lower KK) instead. Doing so can catch your opponent off guard, allowing a low attack to hit. Additionally. transitioning into a Black Serpent (during Behind Lower B) from a Seven Stars Rebirth results in a lethal hit, adding more guard smashing capabilities to your arsenal.

Furious Snake Bite Rebirth (Snake Bite ~ RO ~ SSR ~ BL ~ Fury Kicks)
B~6KK

B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	10	6	14	14	2%
Cancel with G. into RO
Any Stance 6 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
-	-	-	-	-	-
into the next stance in the loop
BL KK - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	22,22	-14	KND	KND	2%
Normal Hit Combo

Black Serpent Bite Rebirth (Snake Bite ~ RO ~ SSR ~ BL ~ Black Serpent)
B~6B

B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	10	6	14	14	2%
Cancel with G. into RO
Any Stance 6 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
-	-	-	-	-	-
into the next stance in the loop
BL B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
22	16	4	14	14	4%
into RC. When done after a PSL transition

Performing an attack after Seven Stars Rebirth will also light up a star corresponding to your stance, and each new star you light up will increase your soul gauge. Take advantage of any opening your opponent shows to use Seven Stars Rebirth and power yourself up.

Seven Stars Severance

If you use Seven Stars Rebirth to change stances and attack from all of the special stances (Right Outer, Right Cross, Behind Lower, Left Outer. Left Inner, Neutral Guard), you'll trigger the Seven Stars Severance. Once it's been triggered, it stays active across all rounds in a match. While Seven Stars Severance is active, you can use an enhanced version of Fury (B+KBBBA), Astral Fury.

Fury ~ RO
B+KBBBA

B+KBBBA - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,16	-32	KND	KND	5%
Normal Hit Combo. Perfect input required. into RO

Astral Fury ~ RO
B+KBBBA

SSR B+KBBBA - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,16	-32	LNC	LNC	5%
Normal Hit Combo. on hit into RO

Critical Edge

Raging Dragon Zodiac

Properties

A downward middle attack with a long reach. it can be used from both a neutral stance and a Neutral Guard, where it becomes a break attack. Additionally, it deals a large amount of damage when shifting to an attack throw during Seven Stars Severance.

Raising Dragon Zodiac
A+B+K

NG A+B+K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	90	0	KND	KND	8%
Damage increases to 100 when 7SR is active. .

Tips

Unleash it after evading an attack with an 8—way run, or integrate it into a stun combo. Hold the final input to switch to Right Outer instead of an attack throw. Remember to choose a stance and follow-up attack that suits the situation.

Raising Dragon Zodiac: Reprisal
[A+B+K]

NG ++ (A)+(B)+(K) - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	32	0	LNC	LNC	8%
.

Soul Charge

Simple Attacks Become Break Attacks

The Dragon's Brand (6A+B) and Dragon's Cross (during Right Cross AB) become break attacks, which are strong against reversal edges. You will automatically finish in a Left Inner stance, so if you land the hit, follow up with a Backfist Blow (during Left Inner B) combo. If your opponent guards, use Seven Stars Rebirth to change stances.

Hydra's Brand ~ LI
SC 6A+B

SC 6A+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	31	10	STN	STN	15%
SS into LI. Tech Crouch[3-15]

RC ~ Hydra's Cross ~ LI
SC RC AB

SC RC AB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
22	15,22	10	KND	KND	15%
SS into LI. . Tech Crouch[3-14]

LI ~ Backfist Blow
LI B

LI B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	40	-28	KND	KND	15%

Stances Enable Extra Attacks

The following moves are examples of valuable combo moves, even just to put your foe on the defensive: Ocean Splitter (while soul charged during Right Outer A+B); Crashing Waves (while soul charged during Right Outer AA+B); and Lightning Dragon (while soul charged during Left Outer BA+B)

RO ~ Ocean Splitter ~ RO
SC RO A+B

SC RO A+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
28	35	4	STN	STN	15%
into RO

RO ~ Crashing Waves ~ BL
SC RO AA+B

SC RO AA+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	14,21	10	KND	KND	10%
Normal Hit Combo. into BL

LO ~ Lightning Dragon ~ LO
SC LO BA+B

SC LO BA+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	16,25	4	STN	STN	15%
into LO

Zodiac Dragon's Might & Guardian Dragon's Might

Middle soul attacks that put you into a soul charged state and pummel the opponent with nunchaku strikes. Their second hits are automatically triggered upon hit or guard, and put you in the Right Cross stance. This gives you the chance to use soul charge techniques from special stances like Swooping Swallow (during Right Cross while soul charged A+B).

Guardian Dragon's Might ~ RC_LO_RO_RC_NG)
236A+B+K(5_6_2_4_8)

NG 236A+B+K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	24,19	4	16	16	8%
Normal Hit Combo. into RC. Builds SSR on hit. Adds NG star on hit
NG 236A+B+K6 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	24,19	4	16	16	8%
Normal Hit Combo. into LO. Builds SSR on hit. Adds NG star on hit
NG 236A+B+K2 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	24,19	4	16	16	8%
Normal Hit Combo. into RO. Builds SSR on hit. Adds NG star on hit
NG 236A+B+K4 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	24,19	4	16	16	8%
Normal Hit Combo. into RC. Builds SSR on hit. Adds NG star on hit
NG 236A+B+K8 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	24,19	4	16	16	8%
Normal Hit Combo. into NG. Builds SSR on hit. Adds NG star on hit

Reversal Edge

Following Up with A

Crashing Wave (after a successful reversal edge AA) is a good followup that knocks down the opponent upon hit, and can be chained into two different stances (A for Behind Lower, [A] for Right Outer) against foes that are wary of a second attack. These options let you keep your opponent guessing and seize the initiative.

Following Up with B

These maximize damage. Backfist Blow (during Left Inner B) on a normal hit and Dragon Pounce (during Left inner K[K]) on a lethal hit are air combos.

LI ~ Dragon Pounce
LI K[K]

LI K(K) - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
30	22,40	2	LNC	LNC	20%
after a guard crush

Following Up with K

Kicks give little opportunity for a counterattack, even if blocked. They can also be great for causing a ring out with careful positioning.