Soulcalibur VI/Cervantes

Overview Move list Combos Matchups Strategy Resources

Introduction

Cervantes is a powerful character with solid neutral tools, flashy combos and devastating whiff punish options. Between his teleports, Psycho Crusher-like moves and gunshot techniques, his schemes and tactics are nigh unmatched on the seven seas.

Strengths	Weaknesses
High-damaging combos Solid frame data Excellent backstep Superior whiff punish game	Lacks solid approach options Reliant on movement and capitalizing on opponent's mistakes Struggles with spacing due to pushback on hit Highly dependent on stage (needs full walls to be able to use some moves)

Unique Mechanics

Gunshot Techniques

Nirvana, Cervantes' offhand sword, has a pistol built into the hilt, and as such some of his attacks utilize gunshots. Two of his attacks, namely b2 and 3B+K, will lethal hit after landing nine gunshots. There is no UI element to track the amount of gunshots scored, but as with many condition-based lethal hits, he will emanate a quake-like effect when the 9th gunshot hits, indicating the lethal hit is ready to use. The gunshot count is tracked across rounds and only resets once either b2 or 3B+K hit and the lethal hit is expended.

Dread Storm

Cervantes' Dread Storm is a very unique stance that can only be done at walls. He can access it either by teleporting directly into a wall, such as via 66[B+K], or by crashing into it with a Geo Da Ray and holding the B input (DC [B]). The stance only has a few followups, but they are all very potent options, including the ability to teleport behind the opponent no matter their distance to him.

Naturally, this stance's reliance on walls makes stages without walls less desirable for Cervantes. However, he can still access Dread Storm options without a wall in Soul Charge via angled Geo Da Ray attacks. For example, SC DC 2B.B will have him do a Geo Da Ray to the right, then interrupt it midway to do a Shrieking Geo Da Ray (DS B) towards the opponent.

See Strategy for a full breakdown.

Cervantes #SCVI_CER
Soul Edge was clawed back from the depths of history by the great pirate Captain Cervantes, who used it to usher in a reign of carnage around him as it manipulated his mind. Then, for twenty years, the sword lay dormant. It desired to be as strong as it had once been, but its plans were thwarted by a ninja and a warrior.

Key Moves

A

Bridgette Cannonball
AA

AA - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
12	10,12	-6	6	6	3%
Normal Hit Combo. Jails
Uniquely high push back on block and high advantage on hit. AA on hit sets up frames traps with a6 and 2A+B.

Storm Signal
a6

a6 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	14,12	-8	6	6	3%
comes out at i24
Incredibly strong horizontal containment tool. RE safe and rewarding on hit and decent push back on block

Scissor Wave
3A

3A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	16,16	-12	6	6	3%
-20 on grd if 2nd hit misses. Normal Hit Combo

Sever Soul
2A

2A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
12	12	-6	6	6	1%
Tech Crouch[8-RC]

Scissor Lifter
1aBB

1aB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	10,12	-20	-6	-6	3%
Normal Hit Combo. Jails
Unique low string. Not very advantageous on hit for the first two hits of the string, but the 3rd hit is safe and deals a lot of damage as a combo starter. Also

Cursed Blow
WR A

WR A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	18	-16	16	16	3%
Tech Crouch[0-15]
Very rewarding horizontal mid combo starter. Useful for punishment and catching opponent movement and timing. Unsafe on block but low overall recovery makes it difficult to optimally block punish with an i16.

B

Head Snap Kick
bK

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

Scissor Wave
3B

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

Geo Da Ray Rafaga
214B

214B - Attack Level:
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]
Colloquially known as "iGDR" and "hi-GDR" for perfect input. High exection but powerful whiff punish tool.

K

Anchor Maroon Kick
k2

k2 - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
22	18	-14	-2	-2	2%
Tech Crouch[13-RC]

Anchor Middle Kick
3K

3K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
14	14	-4	6	6	3%
One of the fastest moves in the game in terms of total animation making 3K a very low commit poke.

Anchor Revive Kick
WR K

WR K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
12	16	-8	6	6	1%
Tech Crouch[0-26]
Fast horizontal mid with good push back on block. Also remains crouching until after impact, making WR K very evasive.

Head Scratch Kick
66K

(3)_(6)_(9)K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	18	-4	2	10	3%
Low commit counter hit tool. Good push back on block.

Anchor Swirl Kick
11K

(1)_(7)K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
22	16	-12	4	4	4%
Tech Crouch[16-RC]

Multi

Slant Cross
3A+B

3A+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	18	-16	14	14	4%
Tech Crouch[6-15]

Killer X
2A+B

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

Vile Dirge
3B+K

3B+K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	22,21	-8	KND	KND	9%
if you landed 9 shots (if you hold B+K, lethal hit will not come out). UA comes out automatically on hit as 2nd attack.

Throws

Dead Compass
66A+G

(3)_(6)_(9)A+G - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	0	-	-	-	-
Unbreakable.
An unbreakable command throw that can wall splat giving Cervantes one of the most threatening wall offense's in the game. This throw along with mids that deal high damage at the creates a very threatening mix up situation. Cervantes can also use the wall splat to convert into a ringout over half walls.