Waku Waku 7/Mauru

Overview Combos Matchups Strategy

Introduction

Mauru (Marurun) is a big animal living in the woods, who understands human words to some degree. Likes fruit and singing. Met Mugi, a little girl, when she was lost and crying alone in the woods.

Mauru is a very simple character. He is considered to be the worst character in the whole game while having some very good practical damage but extremely commital options, Mauru posesses a few decent normals to play footsies with and an amazing throw that can lead into his unblockable super or Death frames set ups. Mauru oftens struggles to win neutral and get in, most character can shut down his pressure at most ranges, He requires to be at melee range to be effective but doesn't have the means to do so.

Strengths

Weaknesses

King of Damage : Mauru is often refered to have some of the best damage in the game as he can win from a few interactions if he has any meter. Take the throw?: Mauru throw is one of the 2 throws in the game that can abuse Dead Frames, if you tech a throw in this game you will start a soft thrown animation which thanks to Dead frames Mauru can use to hit you in your vulnerable frame. In the case of Mauru throwing you on midscreen and you don't tech he can easily use his Hara Hara super to take about 70% of your lifebar, is a very favorable situation for Mauru. Reversals: Mauru has the best EX DP in the whole game, EX DP is an absurd move with huge range that Mauru can use if he has any meter on reaction to any jump ins. Bunbun Typhoon (360 super) is also pretty good, if you can pull off the reversal timing is the hardest reversal to punish in the game as you can control its direction both on hit and block.

Predictable approach: Mauru doesn't have any way of getting in that is not easily punishible by all the cast, he can get out range in most situations which heavily limits how he can play the game. His jumps ins aren't great and can be thrown on landing if not space out and most of his normals have huge hurtboxes which are easily punishable on whiff. Weak to Zoning: Not only Mauru can be out range pretty easilly but he struggles heavily against zoning, gladly in this game a lot of projectiles can be destroyed via normal moves but character like Rai can send more fireballs than you are able to deal with that way. Tesse and Dandy J are specially bad Matchups for Mauru due to Mauru very rarely being able to get in against their zoning, Tesse 2B will be your nightmare. Meter dependant: Mauru strongest and effectivest moves require meter to use. This forces Mauru to start matches more carefully as any mistakes can snowball hard. No winning Matchups: Mauru is notable for not having a single winning MU, not even having a good time against Bonus Kun the joke character of the game, you will struggle and will have to find answers to everything that all the characters can do in order to even be able to play the game. Commital Options: Mauru suffers from all of his very commital options, as even your more reliable way of scoring a Knockdown, 5D can whiff at most ranges. His mix up is very predictable and highly punishable, frame traps aren't great. You need to pick your options wisely. Bad Lows: Mauru lows are underwhelming, 2A is fast but combos into your best knockdown options require to be up close if you try to hitconfirm after chaining into itself, 2B is your sweep and is quite slow with very limited combo options, 2C is a joke and 2D is decent high profile.

Mauru
Character Data
Forward Run Duration	105F to cross stage
Back Step Duration	34 frames (1~34F: invincible)
Pre-jump Frames	3 frames
Jump Duration	46 frames
Landing Frames	5 frames
Jump Height Apex	123
Forward Jump Distance	119
Backward Jump Distance	118
Back Step Distance	96
Knockdown Recovery	25 frames
Chain Series	Solo Heavy Series

Move List

Standing Normals

5A

5A

Hello fellow gentleman

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
14		Mid	5	y
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
5	4	5	+8	+1
tied with 2A and 8C for second fastest Mauru normal + on block Can be used as an Anti air but is not recomend due to the short range and short vertical hitbox Huge range for being a 5A

5B

5B

Boy if you don't-

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
37		Mid	25	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
7	5	12	+8	-2
Fast but has more recovery so is more recomended to use as an anti air on reaction, due to the vertical space it covers unlike 5A -2 on block so is decently safe and safe when well spaced Can be used in combos Less range than 5A

5C

5C

Big steppy

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
18		Mid	10	y
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
4	2	6	+9	+1
This is your main normal to cancel in specials when you have the meter. Fastest Mauru Normal Safe on block best normal at close ranges less range than 5A and 5B

5D

5D

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
44		Mid	25	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
7	6	24	KND	-15
Excelent tool as a combo finisher due to the Knockdown, easier combo finsher at most ranges when you don't have any meter. Moves like Arina J.D are likely to win against this move and other AA like 5B making it not a reliable AA in some MU. Decent anti air mostly used to set Oki or even catch someone mashing on wake up if they don't wake up with a rising attack Really minus on block, this can be punished hard if you use it on any other situation Decent horizontal and vertical range

Crouching Normals

2A

2A

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
13		Low	5	y
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
5	2	6	+9	+1
Good range but has less range than 5A Good to pressure and catch buttons for being + on block Hits low and is the fastest crouching normal

2B

2B

Dorime

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
33		Low	0	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
15	4	20	KND	-9
You are mostly using this normal after a 8B to be able to do it on time. Best range for a crouching normal Knockdown the opponent and do good damage Slow and minus on block so it can be blocked and punished hard

2C

2C

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
17		Low	5	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
6	4	7	KND	+1
The shortest Mauru normal Moves Mauru forward Can eat most of Rai projectiles Cause Knockdown but due to the short range is only used in really close range for pressure and catch buttons

2D

2D

You wanted to do 5D right?

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
40		Low	10	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
9	16	17	KND	-18
This is your Sweep, it will high profile lows in a lot of situations. Same range as 2A but really unsafe on block

Air Normals

J.A

J.A

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
14		high	5	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
7	Gnd	-	-	-
Decent jump in better used when jumping from afar Mauru Hurtbox extends from the Hitbox so it can be easily anti aired

J.B

J.B
7/9 B

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
37		high	5	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
9	12	GND	-	-
Good Jump in Decent hitbox and it can cross up, this is your main crossup tool, you are going to use this a lot in jump ins because of the good damage and combos on hit, you can link mauru doki after hit the opponent low to the ground with this move.

J.C

J.C
7/9 C

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
8~9		high	5	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
7	-	GND	-	-
When you use this move you want to pressure the opponent, by mixing a basic jab string into your grab or command grab, doing command grab right way or if it isn't point blank and the opponent is respecting it you to much do belly flop. This move is completely active until it touch the ground Normally used as a pressure air to ground button Hits multiple times

J.D

J.D

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
44		high	5	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
11	4	GND	-	-
Great Jump in Decently fast More used in close jump ranges and air to air

Command Normals

6.B

6B

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
18+37		Mid	45	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
24	6	25	- WSL	-15
Can be used as a preenctive anti air Really unsafe on block Air unblockable

8.B

8B

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
37		High	25	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
11	6	GND	- -	- -
This one of your main neutral tools against characters like Slash or Tesse and pretty much in general, when used well. you want to throw this move every once in a while and when you know large limbs or teleports are coming, due to the KND state it gets on air to airs you can start oki right away or do a combo on air to ground situations. Good overhead to use on oki Can catch some Rissing attacks, it will lose to Dandy

8.C

8C

I don't know why you would use this move

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
18		High	5	n
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
5	GND	- -	- -	- -
Completely active until it touchs the grounds Only one hit

Universal Mechanics

Throw

Ground Throw
4/6B

Po-i

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
52		Thw	0	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
1	1	-	KND	-
This right here is the best grab in the game and mostly considered broken. This grab will always throw the opponent to the corner no matter where Mauru grabs you, when you get grab is when his game starts. in Waku there is a bug regarding frame data that we call Dead frames (see System), when certain grabs in the game are tech see Arina, Slash, Fernandez and Mauru in the corner those char at exception of Slash gets a 45+ frames of advantage which will lets them time an attack to hit you in your soft throw animation, this right here is one of the reason Mauru grab is considered the best, no matter where in the screen you are if you tech the throw against mauru you are going to eat a lot of damage and being put in a KND situation where Mauru can starts his Oki. So the main though would be to just take the throw, this is true against most character in the corner but not against Mauru at Midscreen with Meter, when Mauru has 1 bar and grabs you midscreen he can time a HaraHara after having seen the opponent Health to determine to run at you or not that will hit the moment the opponent wakes up, this also grants a pursuit right after, which can TOD most of the cast. Mauru Throws is his best tool and you want to mix it a lot, making the opponent fear your throw is the main goal of Mauru. Can be thrown softened within 20F

Air Throw

Air Throw
J.4/6B

Kuuchuu Po-i

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
52		Thw	0	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
1	1	-	KND	-
Mauru grabs the opponent and throws them at the contrary side he's looking on Can be thrown softened within 18F

Command Grab

WakuWaku Nage
63214D

Universal command grab

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
66		Thw	0	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
1	1	-	KND	-
This is one of your main mixing tool when the opponent is afraid of pressing buttons, you can link a 5A and EX DP on Tesse in the corner Mauru grabs the opponent and slaps them in the face Unblockable

Universal Overhead

Middle Attack
A/B+C/D

Universal Overhead

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
37		High	5	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
24	2	23	0	-10
A slow overhead that can be reacted Mauru in general has better overheads but due of being only -10 onblock can be used instead of his most - moves

Pursuit

Oshiri Do-n
When a opponent is down 8+any move

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
44		Mid	0	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
50	3	40	KND	-38
Universal Pursuit mechanich In general is not very used due to long start up and that you can mash out of knockdown to get up quicker

Rissing attack

Okiagari Gururi'n Kick
When down, [8]

Universal Reversal

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
37		High	20	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
15	6	24	KND	-15
Universal reversal mechanic Good to use when being down but can be punished if the opponent blocks it

Super mode

Super Mode
Any 3 buttons

Totoro SSJ

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
37		Mid	50	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
16	9	9	KND	-9
Mauru Super Mode is the only Super Mode in vanilla Waku that is pretty much safe in almost any situation (Fernandes SM is +1 on block), besides being -9 on block it also pushbacks the opponent meaning that unless the opponent makes a read they aren't punishing Mauru. Amazing neutral tool, can be used as his most safe AA, Mauru in Super Mode is another beast, the damage buff will convert his damage in easy 60% meterless jump in combos, Mauru trully shines once this mechanic is being used a lot. Air Unblockable 1~24F: invincible. Has a decent hitbox

Special Moves

623X

Guruguru Punch
236A/B/AB

236A	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	59		Mid	30	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	19	2 (2) 10	28	KND	-18
Slow so can be guarded on reaction
236B	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	66		Mid	45	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	21	14	32	KND	-20
Travels a bit further than A version but is worst in just all aspects
236AB ES: "Guruguru Punch"	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	106		Mid	40	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	2	15	33	WSL	-21
Really useful for big damage on combos Can be used to chipp your opponent when they have few health The fastes of all version but the most minus on block

623X

Bunbun Copter
623A/B/AB

623A	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	29+30		Mid	20	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	6	3 (3) 1	36	KND	-24
5F invincible Main Combo tool meterless
623B	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	22		Mid	30	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	8	3(3)3(3)3	49	KND	-49
7 invencibility frames Gets higher but is more minus
623AB ES: "Bunbun Copter"	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	100		Mid	45	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	6‼0	-	74	KND	-76
Best Mauru AA and probably best DP in the entire game, you want to react with this against jump ins, because of the invibility since frame that last for 23F you are able to punish most Jump ins for good damage Hits on 18/20F of super flash 1~23F: invincible.

214X

Body Press
214C/D/CD

Welcome to -58 city, population you

214C	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	59		High	50	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	17	5	59	KND	-49
Air unblockable Amazing damage for an Overhead Can be used as a Anti Air
214D	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	66		High	50	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	17	5	67	KND	-57
Air unblockable This move is just the C version but being a bit more minus, you're going to be catch even using the C version so is better to just use this button instead
214CD ES: "Body Press"	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	104		High	35	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	5‼4	7 (12) 8	71	KND	-58
this Move is a bit worse if blocked than the D version but hits double, mostly used in combos and you can chipp kill someone with it. An Actual useful move Air Unblockable

Air Special Moves

623X

Kuuchuu Bunbun Copter
J.623A/B/AB

J.623A	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	29+30		Mid	20	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	6	3 (3) 1	36	GND	-24
5F invincible
J.623B	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	22		Mid	30	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	8	3(3)3(3)3	49	GND	-49
7 invencibility frames Gets higher but is more minus
J.623AB ES: "Kuchuun Bunbun Copter"	Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
	100		Mid	45	-
	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
	6‼0	-	74	KND	-76
Hits on 18/20F of super flash 1~23F: invincible.

DokiDoki

DokiDoki

Bunbun Typhoon
360+AB

Yeah,they used all the same animations for this attacks

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
14~15		Mid	5	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
8‼0	-	23	KND	-23
You can move Mauru by imputting 4/6 Hits on 42/46F of superflash. AIR UNBLOCKABLE. 1~49F: invincible Not a very useful super, it has situational uses and is better to just spend the meter on something else

HaraHara

HaraHara

Miracle Voice
22+AB/CD

Damage		Guard	Dizzy	Cancel
190		-	5	-
Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv. Hit	Adv. Guard
103	-	64	KND	-
Unblockable Projectile The best non boss HaraHara move Second fastest harahara move Great tool as oki