Sogetsu Advanced FAQ v.1.0 By Kazuki Overview: Very fast slashing with good range. Limited power. Most special moves are strong, especially when POWed. Slash is a commonly used character who is powerful, but usually used in a cheap way. Bust is a strong balanced character in the air and the ground, and a great super. General: Sogetsu's A slashes are hand attacks and therefore cannot be countered by Jubei, aggressive blocks, or Zankuro (so repeated crouching A's is very effective). His B slashes have very good range and speed and are his primary weapons. His C slashes have various uses, but none have exceptionally high damage. Crouching C should be used just to pick at long range, to check to see if they are paying attention. Keep in mind that the lag is fairly high, and if they jump in, you are probably toast. The standing C is something to be used VERY carefully since the recovery time is HUGE. However, since it rushes forward very quickly, it can hit where most people (except Ukyo) can't. Use it to counter blocked attacks with lag. Also can be used after a successful aggressive block (QCB, F). The air C has great range, but has a slight startup time, so use the B when defending. Tech Specific: Slash: The water spout is his primary weapon, being able to snuff out projectiles and air attackers easily. The bubble has a few uses, but is needed to perform the "Unblockable Death Slash" (see Nasty Tricks). The teleport is near worthless except for escape since it will put you right next to your opponent as you recover if you try to use it offensively. Bust: Bust is one of my best characters since he has a vast variety of attacks, normal and special, along with one of the best supers in the game. The biggest mistake you can make is to think that his triple waterball and air throw can be used anytime. Don't do that. The air triple has plently of recovery time, and the ground one has its share as well. The air throw, if missed and not and attempted cross up, will land you smack in front of them, rolling. Use the single waterball ON THE GROUND and the air triple only if you know they will have to block all of them. Don't use them as projectile defense since most other projectiles bust right through them. Only use the air throw when you have a clear shot (like as they thrown a projectile) and always try to cross up. His air block is VERY useful since it not only blocks any slash, but also allows you to jump again or fall in ANY direction, and then perform any move except for another bubble. Notable Styles: The Grinder (Slash only: VERY cheap): Use your spout to protect yourself. Always lead off so if they rush or jump, they get hit, but nothing happens if they don't. Keep in mind that the spout can still hit the entire time if they haven't touched it. Keep fighting till you get POWed. Then the evil starts. Use the multiple ticking POWed up spout to force them into the corner. Then keep using the spout of your choice to tick their health away. Any spout, even C, has enough recovery to start another spout BEFORE the first is done. This can tick away a whole bar. Your opponent will likely kill you physically after and your honor will definetly be in question. Fighting against Sogetsu: General (Against Slash): When he is unpowed, run in and take the ticks from the spout. After the ticks end, the spout is harmless. Hit him. Guard crush him out of all teleports. Remember that when the bubble flashes, it cannot hurt you. General (Against Bust): Try to get under him everytime he tries to air bubble. If you see the ground triple coming (the start time is significantly longer), cover and much ground as possible and either jump, or block and try to get a hit in. Watch your blocking when he is in the air and maximinze damage if the air throw is blocked. Don't get too aggressive against the air. Stay on the ground to protect from the air block and super. When POWed: Slash: To grind or not to grind. That is the question Bust: The waterballs come back so feel free to toss them out if you know they will make contact (blocked or not) Using the Super: Slash: Standard close B or A into super works. You can also chain it in the CD combo. Bust: Almost perfect air defense, use it as such. Don't use it against the ground since it doesn't tick all that much. Can chain it into a BBC combo. Misc.: After guard crush: B. DO NOT TRY THE C UNLESS THEY ARE IN THE CORNER. Slash: in the corner, can close B, into A Spout "BBC" Combos: Slash: A Spout Bust: Super! Chain Combos: Slash: Super! Nasty Tricks: Slash: Sogetsu's Unblockable Death Slash! Get a bubble close behind them. Get close enough to hit them with the rage explosion and knock them into the bubble. They will be stunned long enough to Death Slash them. Winning in Style: Slash: Do the Nasty Trick. You will either get a complement, or outrage. Bust: BBC into the super or land the final hit with his taunt (almost no damage and only chainable after the very end of a d/f + D) Questions? Comments? E-mail me at perseus@uclink4.berkeley.edu Note: As long as you give me credit for my work, and don't use this FAQ for profit, do whatever you like.