Soulcalibur VI/Sophitia/Strategy

Combat Lessons

Fighting Style

The Athenian Style utilizes a short sword and small shield blessed by the gods themselves. It allows for excellent offensive and defensive moves appropriate for any battlefield. While the sword's length makes landing decisive blows at a distance difficult, the light weight of this style's battle gear makes the Angel Step possible—a quick move that closes the gap between you and your opponent. The Athenian Style is known for its use of a shield, which can be used to deflect the opponent's attacks, leaving room for you to launch your own.

Style Lesson: Beginner

Get Close and Break Through Your Opponent's Defenses

Battles begin at a fairly long range, so your first priority should be closing in. Watch your opponent carefully and move in with Silent Cross (33_66_99A) or Sword Shower (4B). Hitting with 66A gives you a chance of breaking your foe's guard. You can use throws like Heaven's Arch (33_66_99A+G), or open up a combo with Paladin Purifier (3B) to deal out some hefty damage.

Silent Cross
33_66_99A

(3)_(6)_(9)A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	20	-12	6	6	4%
Tech Crouch[6-20]

Sword Shower
4B

4B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	20	-2	4	4	2%
Forces crouch on opponent

Heaven's Arch
33_66_99A+G

(3)_(6)_(9)A+G - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	55	KND	KND	KND	-
after 4+ successfull guard impacts

Paladin Purifier
3B

3B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	22	-14	LNC	LNC	9%
Tech Crouch[8-17]

Moves with Offensive and Defensive Aspects

When your opponent blocks one of your attacks at close range and tries to counter, you can turn the tables with Roaring Stream (6AA) or Press the Hilt (6BB). These techniques allow you to attack and defend simultaneously with sword and shield. If these are blocked, use a quick reversal edge to handle any counterattacks.

Roaring Stream
6AA

6A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
22	12	-8	0	0	1%
[6-16] vs attacks. Tech Crouch[6-14]
6AA - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
22	12,18	-10	-2	-2	2%
Normal Hit Combo. Tech Crouch[6-14]

Press the Hilt
6BB

6B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	14	-10	-2	4	2%
[ M verticals 8-15]. Tech Crouch[8-26]
6BB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	14,16	-8	4	4	6%
Normal Hit Combo

Style Lesson: Adept

Use Angel Step (236) to Close the Gap

You can press your close-range advantage even further by using Angel Step (236, etc.) to dash in. You can input 6 during attacks like Starlight Blade (AAA6) and Roaring Stream (6AA6) to perform an Angel Step immediately after the attack, and attacking right after another step lets you keep the pressure on.

Starlight Blade ~ AS
AAA6

AAA6 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
12	8,10,25	-2	8	8	2%
Tech Crouch[4-RC]. AS

Roaring Stream ~ AS
6AA6

6A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
22	12	-8	0	0	1%
[6-16] vs attacks. Tech Crouch[6-14]
6AA6 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
22	12,18	-2	6	6	2%
Normal Hit Combo. Tech Crouch[6-14]. into AS

AS ~ Angelic Retribution
AS A+B/236A+B

AS A+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	14,18	-6	2	2	4%
Tech Crouch[4-11]. Tech Jump[17-68]. Tech Crouch [70-92]

Harry Your Foe with Angel Step Follow-Ups

Stick close to your foe and keep up the assault with Angel Satellite (during Angel Step AA), which breaks an 8—way run, or use Holy Arrow Kick (during Angel Step K), an attack hard to counter even if blocked. Seraphim Echo (during Twin Angel Step AB) is effective when facing a stiff defense. It allows you to act first even if blocked and is a break attack, so it will tear through a reversal edge.

AS ~ Angel Satellite
AS AA/236AA

AS AA - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	22,18	-14	KND	KND	2%
Tech Jump[0-29]. Tech Crouch[33-59]

AS ~ Holy Arrow Kick
AS K/236K

AS K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	20	-6	KND	KND	9%
versus H attacks except

TAS ~ Seraphim Echo
TAS AB/236236AB

TAS AB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	18,35	4	KND	KND	12%
. on impact counter

Style Lesson: Master

Take Advantage of Any Opening

Strong counterattacks are this style's specialty. If the opponent delivers an attack that leaves a large opening after being blocked, such as a low attack or combo opener, immediately counter with an Angel's Strike (236B). It's lightning-fast, so you can often connect before the opponent has a chance to defend.

AS ~ Angel's Strike/Painful Fate/Heaven's Rapture
236B/236B:4/236B:B

AS B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	30	-20	-6	KND	2%
+6 damage on exact timing. Tech Crouch[4-22]
AS on hit B4 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	30,15	-	KND	KND	-
+10 dmg on exact timing. Normal Hit Combo
AS BB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	30,15	-	KND	KND	-
+5 damage on exact timing. Normal Hit Combo

If you avoid an attack with an 8-way run or other method, use that chance to strike with a Plasma Blade (33_66_99K) Once your foe is in the air, you can follow with an Angel Satellite (236AA) or other juggle attack.

Plasma Blade
33_66_99K

(3)_(6)_(9)K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	16	-14	LNC	LNC	9%

Critical Edge

Providential Thunder

Properties

A middle horizontal critical edge that transitions into a high-damage attack throw on hit, and will restore your guard stamina during the attack throw. It can be used as part of an air combo after you launch the opponent with something like a Plasma Blade (33_66_99K), or as a counter after guarding against an attack that leaves the opponent open.

Providential Thunder
A+B+K

A+B+K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	80	-16	KND	KND	8%

Tips

This attack is excellent for increasing combo damage and punishing missed attacks. Thanks to its horizontal swing, it's also useful against foes that try to dodge vertical attacks.

Soul Charge

Close In and Dominate

During a soul charge, Cutlass Seraphim (4AB) becomes a break attack that can pierce a reversal edge. Even if this attack is blocked, you can recover and move before the opponent can, making this one of your best options for closing distance.

Cutlass Seraphim/Cutlass Empyrean
4AB/SC 4AB

4AB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	18,20	-12	KND	KND	6%
delayable. Normal Hit Combo
SC 4AB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	18,33	2	KND	KND	13%
Normal Hit Combo.

Take Advantage of Fierce Attacks

Break attacks are added to attacks like Divine Mist (BBB) and Twin Step Grace (4A+B), letting you apply an offensive edge. Twin Step Sword Rain (during soul charge 4A+BB) is reliable for juggling after a launcher and can do an impressive amount of damage.

Divine Mist/Mystic Sword Rain
BBB/SC BBBB

BBB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	12,14,14,16	-6	KND	KND	6%
Tech Crouch[9-20]
SC BBBB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	12,14,14,16,21	2	KND	KND	10%

Twin Step Grace/Twin Step Sword Rain
4A+B/SC 4A+BB

4A+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	14,16	-6	KND	KND	9%
on whiffed throw. Tech Crouch[9-20]
SC 4A+BB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	14,16,21	2	KND	KND	12%
Normal Hit Combo. . versus whiffed throws

Zeus's Fulmination

A soul attack in which you use the power of the gods to rain down lightning bolts in front of you. It can be performed from either a normal stance or from Angel Step. You'll be able to act first if the opponent guards the attack, allowing you to begin a flurry of soul charged attacks.

Zeus's Fulmination
AS A+B+K/236A+B+K

236A+B+K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	39	0	8	8	9%

Reversal Edge

Following Up with A

An attack that can follow an Angel Step by pressing A6. When it connects, it can combo with Angel Satellite (during Angel Step AA), and when guarded you keep up the pressure with an attack during the step.

Following Up with B

A launcher with great damage potential. Allows air combos on hit.

Following Up with K

A spin kick that delivers a middle attack while dodging your opponent's B attacks. Has a short delay, but does not deal a lot of damage. However, if your soul gauge is full, it can be chained into a critical edge, which should be kept in mind.