The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match/Chizuru Kagura

Introduction

Nearly all of Chizuru’s special moves are bodily projections. The way you use these, is based on the idea that the opponent can’t tell which one will be where you will end up until the projection disappears (and you are no longer vulnerable). If it is the projection itself that is attacked, then unless it is a locking move, Chizuru takes the damage in her actual location, which means that it is difficult to take a severe counterattack. The gameplan, of course, is to trifle the opponent between the projections and Chizuru’s actual body such that you cannot be easily countered.

She is somewhat weaker than her OG counterpart, but there isn’t really anything in particular that has changed about how she is played.

Move list

At a glance

Normal throws
Reigetsu	(throw) f/b + C
Kaiten	(throw) f/b + D
Command moves
Jokatsu: Sōsō	f + A
Jokatsu: Sōsō	f + B
Jokatsu: Sōsō	df + B
Special moves
108-Katsu: Tamayura no Shitsune	qcf + P
100-Katsu: Tenjin no Kotowari	dp + P
212-Katsu: Shinsoku no Norito	hcb + P/K, (P/K)
┗ 212-Katsu: Shinsoku no Norito – Tenzui	(during Shinsoku no Norito) qcb + P/K
212-Katsu: Otsushiki – Chōmon no Isshin	d d + P/K
Super special moves
Rimen 85-Katsu: Reigi no Ishizue	qcb hcf + P
Rimen 1-Katsu: Sanrai no Fujin	qcf qcf + K

Normal moves

• cl.C – does not touch crouching opponents. cr.C and cl.D are safer choices.
• cr.D – the reach is longish, but the startup is somewhat slow.
• st.B and st.D – Powerful as zoners (primarily in the jump-checking department). You have to be careful that you don’t accidentally use the command moves, though.
• st.C – powerful in the same light as the standing kicks, but the recovery has been increased somewhat.
• j.A – easy to use for jumping in.
• j.B – so-so ability for jumping in. Also functions as an overhead.
• j.C – good hitbox horizontally, so use it in air-to-air.

Command moves

• Jokatsu: Sōsō (錚錚)

• f + A
• Combos from strong attacks. When not cancelled into, it is an overhead. The not-cancelled-into version now does unrollable knockdown, so the vulnerability when it hits has been decreased, but you cannot use a combo to avoid anything afterwards (since it cannot be cancelled because it wasn’t cancelled into).

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• Jokatsu: Sōsō (瑲瑲)

• f + B
• Chizuru takes a hop and kicks. It covers a bit of distance like all of Chizuru’s moves, but there isn’t much point to using this one.

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• Jokatsu: Sōsō (淙淙)

• df + B
• A sliding kick with long reach. Doesn’t leave you open at all if the very tip touches. It also combos from weak moves, and hits low even if cancelled into, but it cannot itself be cancelled regardless.

Special moves

• 100-Katsu: Tenjin no Kotowari

• dp + P
• Resembles the average Shōryūken clone. The attacker is the projection for the weak version and the real body for the strong version. The strong version makes for a strong anti-air, but the weak version is just plain weak and has no real merits to it (except maybe if you’re really quick on the draw – the problem is, it leaves you open on the ground). It is now more difficult to score a skirting blow.

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• 108-Katsu: Tamayura no Shitsune

• qcf + P
• A striking move that reflects projectiles. The strong version has some seriously slow startup, but there is also some serious invincibility time, and it is an overhead. The recovery has been sharply reduced.

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• 212-Katsu: Shinsoku no Norito

• hcb + P/K, (P/K)
• The punch versions launch the opponent, the kick versions do unrollable knockdown. The advance is done by the projection for the weak versions and the real body for the strong versions; the strong versions also have longer recovery. The kick versions do more damage. By pressing the same button again during the rushing portion, Chizuru will begin the attack portion from that spot instead.

• 212-Katsu: Shinsoku no Norito – Tenzui

• qcb + P/K during Shinsoku no Norito
• First note: you can only use punch versions of this for punch versions of the original Shinsoku no Norito; same goes for kicks. The weak version strikes the opponent upwards, the strong version slams downward, doing an unrollable knockdown on hit (except from a kick version, where it does an OTG).
• Regardless of which Shinsoku no Norito version you used, the real body is used for this move, leaving you close to the opponent regardless.

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• 212-Katsu: Otsushiki – Chōmon no Isshin

• d d + P/K
• A rushing move that strikes from low altitude. Contrary to its appearance, it is not an overhead. If you’re careful about interruption, you can use this reduce the vulnerable spots in combos. The projection is used for punch versions; the real body is used for kick versions. The weak versions have short reach and the strong versions have long reach. The C version has a short hitbox and won’t touch crouching opponents.

Super special moves

• Rimen 85-Katsu: Reigi no Ishizue

• qcb hcf + P
• When it hits successfully, the opponent will be unable to use special moves for a certain period of time (and with some characters, it seals command moves, too). It is powerful, but you have to be careful about relying on this secondary effect, because a temporary lack of special moves doesn’t mean much to some characters. The weak version has quick startup to the extent that it will combo from weak moves; the strong version doesn’t make combos, but it has long invincibility time. The startup of the MAX version is now faster.

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• Rimen 1-Katsu: Sanrai no Fujin

• qcf qcf + K
• Sends out a series of projections that continue attacking in the meantime. During this period, you may move Chizuru’s actual body around freely.
• When the opponent blocks it, you can use low and overhead hits to make the opponent start taking damage, and during the hits, you can pile on extra hits of your own (though none that do knockdown).
• On the downside, it doesn’t have anything like invincibility frames, and until the projections disappear, you can only use normal moves. Also, the attack duration of the normal version is now much shorter.
• If you use the three-stock MAX with the ADVANCED gauge (qcf qcf + BD with no MAX activation), it will safely combo from strong attacks.

Combos

Basic

• (corner) j.B > cl.D >> Jokatsu: Sōsō (f + A) >> 212-Katsu: Shinsoku no Norito (A) > st.C or weak Rimen 85-Katsu: Reigi no Ishizue

• It’s extremely powerful, so you’ll want to proactively set up for this one. You need to hit the button again for Shinsoku no Norito so that it attacks faster.

• j.B > cl.D >> Jokatsu: Sōsō (f + A) >> 212-Katsu: Shinsoku no Norito (B) >> strong 212-Katsu: Shinsoku no Norito – Tenzui

• Use this pattern when in the middle of the screen or when you have no gauge. You need to hit the button again for Shinsoku no Norito on this one, too.

• cr.B >> cr.A >> weak 100-Katsu: Tenjin no Kotowari or weak Rimen 85-Katsu: Reigi no Ishizue

• A combo from weak moves.

Match-Ups

The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match