Soulcalibur VI/Cervantes/Strategy

Combat Lessons

Fighting Style

This fighting style features a weighty longsword paired with a dagger/gun combination, and requires superhuman strength and skill to wield effectively. A forceful strike can turn the tide of battle in one fell swoop, while combos that utilize both weapons leave no openings for an enemy to exploit.

The gun can be used to hit an opponent from a distance, blindingly fast leaps can close the gap and impale them, and inhumanly high jumps can be used to come at them from above. With such a wide range of moves, what is a challenger to do? This style even utilizes walls to further broaden its range of attacks, climbing and kicking off of them to launch fierce combinations. Anyone bombarded by this style's many fearsome techniques will soon find themselves consigned to Davy Jones' Locker.

Style Lesson: Beginner

Effortless Mid-Range Offense

This style has a plethora of powerful mid-range attacks. Simple options to forestall your foe include Lagging Wave (33_66_99A), Bile Lunges (66B), and Head Scratch Kick (33_66_99K). Once the opponent is pinned down, you can keep up your offensive with Riot Storm (33_99B) and Galleon Sinker (44K), which let you recover quickly even if blocked.

Lagging Wave

(3)_(6)_(9)A - Attack Level: cer-92
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	28	-10	KND	KND	4%

Bile Lunges

(6)B - Attack Level: cer-103
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	24,30	-14	6	KND	9%
followup on close hit (causes 66 damage)

Head Scratch Kick

(3)_(6)_(9)K - Attack Level: cer-108
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	18	-4	2	10	3%

Riot Storm

(3)_(9)B - Attack Level: cer-104
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
26	38	-6	LNC	LNC	15%

Galleon Sinker

(4)K - Attack Level: cer-112
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	32	-4	KND	KND	9%
Tech Jump[18-31]. Tech Crouch[30-RC]. Can be up to +3 oB depending on distance

If your opponent is in a standing guard, hitting them with chain attacks that open with a low attack like Gibbering Torpedo (22_88AA) or Scissor Lifter (1aB) is a good option.

Gibbering Torpedo

(2)_(8)AA - Attack Level: cer-96
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	14,14	-14	KND	KND	3%
Tech Crouch[20-37]. Launcher if only 2nd hit lands. Counter Hit Combo

Scissor Lifter

1aB - Attack Level: cer-12
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	10,12	-20	-6	-6	3%
Normal Hit Combo. Jails

Close Combat Strategies

This style shows its true potential when it has a foe with their back against a wall. Once you're up close, open with Half- Mast Wave (6AA) or Sail Nautilus (6BB) to keep pushing your opponent back.

Half-Mast Wave

6AA - Attack Level: cer-6
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	14,22	-6	KND	KND	3%
Does not jail

Sail Nautilus

6BB - Attack Level: cer-30
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	14,31	-14	KND	KND	9%

Another choice is to crack their defenses with powerful middle attacks and throws like Cannonball Lifter (3B) and Killer X (2A+B).

Cannonball Lifter

3B - Attack Level: cer-33
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
19	28	-14	LNC	LNC	9%
STN and reduced damage on tip hit

Killer X

2A+B - Attack Level: cer-72
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	30	-6	KND	KND	9%
(counterhit vs light attack). Tech Crouch[19-RC]

Using the Dread Charge Stance

Changing into Dread Charge by using moves like Half—mast Wave (6A[A]), Lagging Wave (33_66_99[A]), and Devastater (while rising [B]) lets you adjust the timing of your attacks, giving you an offensive edge. If the opponent misses while you are dodging back, hit them with Geo Da Ray (during Dread Charge B)

Half-mast Wave ~ Dread Charge

6A(A) - Attack Level: cer-7
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	14,22	-1	KND	KND	2%
Into DC

Lagging Wave ~ Dread Charge

(3)_(6)_(9)(A) - Attack Level: cer-93
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	28	-17	KND	KND	4%
i61 (-17 on guard) to enter stance for DC A, DC B, DC K and DC A+B. 7 more frames for DC B+K, DC 6 and DC G..

Devastater ~ Dread Charge

WR (B) - Attack Level: cer-45
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	30	-20	LNC	LNC	9%
Tech Crouch[0-6]. into DC

Dread Charge ~ Geo Da Ray

DC B - Attack Level: cer-122
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
11	30,10	-16	LNC	LNC	9%
DS if B is held near a wall. GC. Tech Jump

if the foe is wary of your stance, continue your attack with Damned Onslaught (during Dread Charge A) or Rolling Slapper (during Dread Charge K): quick moves that allow you to act first if blocked.

Dread Charge ~ Damned Onslaught

DC A - Attack Level: cer-121
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
27	12,20	2	KND	KND	3%
Tech Jump[14-24]. Normal Hit Combo

Dread Charge ~ Rolling Slapper

DC K - Attack Level: cer-124
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
30	20,20	2	STN	KND	3%
Normal Hit Combo. Tech Jump[25-39]

Style Lesson: Adept

Go for Wall Combos

One of this style's outstanding features is the number of options available when you're near a wall. For example, using Head Snap Kick (bK) or Cursed Blow (while rising A) into Anchor Steep Kick (4KK) to cause a wall hit gives you a chance at a massive wall combo.

Head Snap Kick

bK - Attack Level: cer-28
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
26	28	2	KND	KND	9%
Tech Jump[11-27]

Cursed Blow

WR A - Attack Level: cer-17
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	18	-16	16	16	3%
Tech Crouch[0-15]

Anchor Steep Kick

4KK - Attack Level: cer-60
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	16,20	-12	0	0	8%
during the attack. Counter Hit Combo

The throw Dead Compass (33_66_99A+G) is helpful against opponents that use a standing guard to defend against middle attacks. While it doesn't do damage, it's impossible to grapple break, and if your opponent is against a wall you can follow up with a wall combo.

Dead Compass

(3)_(6)_(9)A+G - Attack Level: cer-88
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	0	-	-	-	-
Unbreakable.

Dread Storm

Walls aren't just for combos with this style: they're also needed to pull off certain techniques. Using moves like Dark Flame ~ Dread Storm (22_88[B+K]) and Geo Da Ray ~ Dread Storm (during Dread Charge 2_8[B]) when near a wall will put you into the Dread Storm stance.

Dark Flame ~ Dread Storm

(2)_(8)_(1)_(4)_(7)_(3)_(6)_(9)B+K - Attack Level: cer-118
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
-	-	-	-	-	-
into DS. Tech Jump[6-34]

Dread Charge ~ Geo Da Ray ~ Dread Storm

DC 2B - Attack Level: cer-123
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
11	37,12	-16	LNC	LNC	9%
DS if B is held near a wall. GC. Tech Jump

From here, you can use A, B, or K to do one of three attacks.

B is a charge that lets you move first if blocked.

A is a wide horizontal attack that will inflict a lethal hit if your foe tries to dodge with B

K is a low attack that is hard to see coming.

Dread Storm ~ Rolling Geo Da Ray

DS B - Attack Level: cer-129
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
-	66	-6	LNC	LNC	50%
Tech Jump. Can be up to +6 depending on distance

Dread Storm ~ Soaring Spider

DS A - Attack Level: cer-128
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	38	-8	KND	KND	4%
on run counter. Tech Jump. Can be up to +2 depending on distance

Dread Storm ~ Abduction

DS K - Attack Level: cer-130
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
26	32	-10	KND	KND	9%
. Tech Jump

These attacks come from angles that are hard to defend from, so pay attention to positioning and utilize walls to their maximum effect.

Style Lesson: Master

Master 214:B (Fast)

If you press 4 and B simultaneously during the 214B command, you will perform Geo Da Ray Rafaga, a swift and powerful charge attack. It leaves you open if blocked, so it cannot be used haphazardly. However, it is the perfect technique to use after baiting out a miss from your opponent, or to extend the damage of a juggle.

Geo Da Ray Rafaga

214B - Attack Level: cer-41
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	30	-26	LNC	LNC	9%
at max range is -15 on block. Perfect input for +8 damage. Tech Jump[19-56]

Slash Through Weaker Attacks

While this style has few quick moves, many of its attacks have priority in a clash. Killer X (2A+B) is especially potent, as it will overwhelm a weaker attack and deliver a lethal hit. This is easier after hitting with Storm Signal (a6), Anchor Knee Kick (6K), or in other situations where you can move first and gain priority over a foe's A, 2A , or other weak attacks.

Storm Signal

a6 - Attack Level: cer-4
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	14,12	-8	6	6	3%
comes out at i24

Anchor Knee Kick

6K - Attack Level: cer-55
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	14	-4	6	6	3%

Using Special Movement from a Run

Dark Flame can be used during an 8—way run by pressing B+K, and will put you into Dread Charge afterward. If you hold the button during the move and hit a wall, you will switch to Dread Storm. Use this in arenas with walls to make your attacks more unpredictable than ever.

Critical Edge

Casa de Leviathan

Properties

A charging attack, followed by a high-damage critical edge if the initial attack hits. This pushes the opponent a great distance, letting you use the wall for a continued assault afterward.

Casa de Leviathan

A+B+K - Attack Level: cer-137
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	80	-16	KND	KND	10%
invincible [15-16].

Tips

This is best used as part of a combo or after an opponent misses an attack at mid range. If it hits and the foe is near a wall, you can use Dark Flame (22_88[B+K]) or other techniques to keep up the pressure.

Soul Charge

Use the Wall Stance Anywhere

This move chains from Geo Da Ray (during Dread Charge 2_8B), causing you to kick off of thin air and letting you use Dread Storm techniques. This allows you to use wall attacks where there is no wall to terrorize your opponent.

Greater Offense with Expanded Teleportation

Many moves gain teleport effects when you are soul charged, which, among other benefits, can help you avoid getting counterattacked. Deep Sea Storm Flare (during soul charge BBBB) is an excellent example of this: it eliminates the period of vulnerability before the fourth attack if the third is blocked, and increases the damage on a hit.

Deep Sea Storm Flare

SC BBBB - Attack Level: cer-142
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	12,11,37,16	6	KND	KND	13%
3rd and 4th hits Normal Hit Combo. Counter Hit Combo. SC. (4th hit)

In addition, the movement speed of Dark Flame (22_88B+K) is improved, giving you much greater mobility.

Cyclops Carnage

A soul attack that starts with a sword strike and is immediately followed up with a gunshot. The sword strike has a quick start—up that makes it great for close-range combat, while its long-range gunshot can punish opponents from a distance. You can cancel the second hit with G.

Cyclops Carnage

236A+B+K - Attack Level: cer-139
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	24,14	10	KND	KND	8%
(2nd hit)

Cyclops Carnage Cancel

236A+B+KG - Attack Level: cer-140
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	24	-7	-3	-3	4%

Reversal Edge

Following Up with A

A horizontal slash with a number of follow-ups. You can guarantee a combo with AA on a normal hit, or AB on a lethal hit.

If an opponent blocks, you can catch them off guard by using [A] to go into Dread Charge.

Following Up with B

A middle attack that slashes upward. A hit causes you to combo your airborne foe automatically. Holding the input while soul charged will turn this into Black Storm Ignition, which inflicts heavy damage.

Following Up with K

Delivers a kick from the opponent's side that causes you to switch positions. This move is ideal if you are cornered at the edge of the arena.