Street Fighter 6/A.K.I./Strategy

Overview

Combos

Strategy

Matchups

Frame Data

Resources

Match Footage

#SF6_A.K.I.

Neutral

A.K.I.'s neutral is at her strongest when she is able to approach behind her slow moving fireball 214LP/214PP. However, unless she is quite far out from the opponent, it is very risky to use her fireball, as there is a significant recovery allowing opponents to jump-in on her for a huge punish. Therefore, it is often best to play footsies with the opponent at midrange, until she is able to pressure the opponent up close, or until the opponent moves back enough for A.K.I. to be able to set up her fireball safely.

Footsies

Close RangeMid RangeFar Range

Close RangePlenty of options

Some of her good close range buttons, ordered according to their range:

• 

  5LP Hitbox

• 

  2LP Hitbox

• 

  5LK Hitbox

• 

  2LK Hitbox

• 

  5MP Hitbox

Note: 5LP, 2LP, 5LK ranges are quite close to each other.

A.K.I. does very well when she is right up close to her opponent. She has a wide variety of tools to reset her pressure or to open up the opponents with frame traps.

• Her 5LP~LP target combo combos on hit and frame-traps on block, making it a good option to use. The second hit of the target combo also moves her forward slightly, making it more consistent to hit compared to two 2LPs.
• Her 2LP and 2LK chain into each other, and 2LK has a decent range. On hit, 2LP can be canceled into 236HP, giving her access to 236HP knockdown setups.
• 5LK has slightly more range than 2LP/5LP and is special cancelable. This can be a good tool for interrupt opponent's buttons or used for checking their walk forwards with little risk due to the low recovery of the move.
• 5MP is similar in that sense, but links to 2LP or 2PP~K on counterhit, making it more rewarding. 5MP also moves A.K.I. closer to the opponent, and provides more blockstun allowing for better options off a drive rush cancel.

Outside of these options, A.K.I. can also use 3MP for an overhead option that is +3 on hit for a pressure reset or to close out the round. It is best used sparingly, as the reward isn't great and is reactable.

Mid RangeA bit of a struggle

Some of her good mid range buttons, ordered according to their range:

• 

  2MK Hitbox

• 

  2MP Hitbox

• 

  5HK Hitbox

• 

  5MK Hitbox

• 

  2HK Hitbox

• 

  6HK Hitbox

Note: 2MP and 5HK have the same range. The first hit of 6HK and 2HK also have the same range.

A.K.I. somewhat struggles at this range, as a lot of her normals are not special-cancelable making it very susceptible to Drive Impacts, and their reward on hit is not that great.

• 2MK links to 5LK at closer ranges. On counter-hit, it links into 5MP, and on punish counter, it links into 5HK. It is super cancelable, but isn't easy to hit confirm (14f window). It is an important tool for checking walk backs, and is plus on block on top of all this.
• 2MP and 5HK are both special cancelable with a similar range. Both of these are easily whiff punishable, so be careful with whiffing them. These buttons are good to drive rush cancel off of to extend her pressure. 5HK > 236LP is also a true blockstring that combos on hit and depletes one drive gauge on block if the opponent does not parry, making it a good poking string.
• 5MK has a good, disjointed hitbox that functions very well as a poke. Doesn't convert to much unless close range (links to 5MP) or on PC (links to 2HP or Level 3). One of her best pokes.
• 2HK knocks the opponent down on punish counters and is safe on block. It is super cancelable, and is much easier to hit confirm compared to 2MK (19f window). Additionally, it also cannot be low crushed, making it a good tool against moves like Zangief's 6MK.
• 6HK is A.K.I.'s pressure reset tool, as it is +2 on block, and links into 2LP/5LK on hit. It is relatively slow compared to her other options, especially at a range where only the 2nd hit connects, so use it when the opponent has shown to respect A.K.I's pressure. 6HK does low crush later in its startup, so it could be good to use when calling out lows.

Far Range

Some of her good far range options, ordered according to their range:

• 

  5HP Hitbox

• 

  2HP Hitbox

• 

  6HP Hitbox

• 

  236LP Hitbox

A.K.I. has some decent options at this range. They are mostly pokes that harass the opponent from further out. Keep in mind that these tools are quite susceptible to Drive Impacts. At ranges further than 236LP, A.K.I. can quickly reach the opponent with some drive rush normals, leading to good reward on hit and good pressure on block. Outside of these ranges, A.K.I. can also start setting up her fireballs before approaching.

• At further ranges, 5HP is one of A.K.I.'s better tools as it is hit-confirmable into a knockdown or toxic blossom. It is a good whiff punish tool, reaching further than expected. Up close, however, it is punishable on block up close, so make sure to space it well.
• 2HP moves A.K.I. forward and knocks the opponent down on hit, but is punishable on block.
• 6HP is a good poke option that moves A.K.I. significantly forward. It is super cancelable with a 17f window, which means that it is hit confirmable and a good option against the opponent's drive impact. On counter-hit, it links into 5LK > 236LP if A.K.I. is close enough to the opponent.
• 236LP recovers faster than A.K.I.'s fireball and beats characters' anti-fireball tools (such as Cammy's spin knuckle or Marisa's Phalanx). It is a good option, because she usually recovers in time to block opponent's jump-ins (unless they perform it preemptively). Applies poison on hit, which further incentivizes opponents to approach A.K.I.
• Drive Rush 2LK/2MK/5MP are all great options that are still relatively fast (11+5f for 2LK and 11+7f for 2MK). Because A.K.I.'s drive rush travels very far and is quite fast, this makes it a scary option to close the gap between A.K.I. and her opponent, especially if the opponent back walks often. While drive rush 2MK is slower than the other two options, it is +5 on block, making it extremely threatening as A.K.I. can safely continue her pressure after.

Zoning

A.K.I. has access to some far-range pokes that enables her to harass the opponent at a distance. However, over-reliance on these tools can lead to A.K.I. getting punished for it, as these tools have a significant recovery, allowing the opponents to jump-in on her with relative ease (as A.K.I. does not have access to a meterless frame 1 air invincible move, unlike some other characters). Despite this, they are still essential to A.K.I.'s overall gameplan, as it adds to her overall damage and allows her to safely approach the opponent in some cases.

236LP214LP214PP214MP

236LP (L Serpent Lash)

• 

  236LP Hitbox

236LP is A.K.I.'s main "fireball" tool. It has a good range, and poisons the opponent on hit, encouraging the opponent to either approach A.K.I. or is forced to take the damage from the poison. It also allows A.K.I. to get more damaging combo extensions if A.K.I. hits the opponent soon after. At a distance, it is safe on block, and if the opponent jumps in on A.K.I., the recovery is not as bad as 214LP, meaning she will likely be able to block or parry the jump-in. If the opponent is already poisoned, Toxic Blossom will activate on hit, the opponent will be knocked down and A.K.I. will be able to pressure the opponent easily. In the corner, this will allow A.K.I. to perform a safe jump.

Another advantage 236LP has over traditional fireballs is that it will beat projectile-invincible moves, as 236LP is not really a projectile. For example, Cammy's Spin Knuckle will lose out to this move.

214LP Nightshade PulseA.K.I.'s "Neutral"

• 

  214LP Hitbox

• 

  214LP~6P Hitbox

A.K.I.'s actual fireball. It is very slow moving, allowing A.K.I. to safely approach the opponent behind the fireball, making it an extremely powerful tool for A.K.I.'s neutral and offense. However, it does not come without its risks. 214LP has a significant recovery, allowing the opponents to easily jump-in on her at closer ranges. A.K.I. can cancel into her follow-up (214LP~6P) to increase the size of the hitbox, which could hit the opponent jumping above the projectile, but this is extremely unreliable. She can also cancel the later frames into 236KK (OD slide), allowing her to escape from getting hit by the opponent's jump-in, but it comes at a cost of 2 Drive Gauge bars. Canceling into 236KK can also be used offensively to quickly approach the opponent.

This move, on its own, is best used unpredictably and at a good distance from the opponent. Otherwise, it can be used as part of her oki options or as part of a frame trap blockstring.

214PP (OD Nightshade Pulse)

• 

  214PP Hitbox

• 

  214PP~6P Hitbox

Her OD fireball is a better version of her regular fireball. It serves almost the same function as the regular fireball, but has less recovery making it safer to use in most cases. The lower recovery frames also allows A.K.I. to approach the opponent while being much closer to the fireball than the regular version, giving her access to offensive options that would not be viable when used with the regular version (such as dash up 3MP).

214MP (Orchid Spring)

• 

  214MP Hitbox

214MP poisons the opponent if they walk over the puddle. This can be used when the opponent has shown to be playing extremely passively, as it may encourage them to approach A.K.I. in a predictable way, such as jumping, which allows her to easily counter their offense. It also passively damages the opponent, which could add up throughout the match, so this may be worth using from time to time to get in some extra damage.

Outside of that, the total number of frames of this move is a bit lower than A.K.I.'s 214LP, so this could be safer to use in certain situations (for example, after an anti-air 5HK or certain knockdowns).

Anti-Projectile

A.K.I. has access to a wide arsenal of situational anti-projectile tools, each best used under a specific circumstance. Most of her anti-projectile tools will work best when performed preemptively, as they all have a significant startup.

236PP214PP214K2PP236K

236PP (OD Serpent Lash)

• 

  236PP Hitbox

236PP is one of A.K.I.'s more rewarding anti-projectile tool, allowing her to link into 2LP on hit. If the opponent is not poisoned, it will apply poison to the opponent on hit. If the opponent is already poisoned, the opponent will be put into a crumple state, leading to higher damage routes.

However, it comes with several caveats. 236PP cleanly beats meterless projectiles, but loses to multi-hitting OD projectiles. The range is also more limited than it seems, requiring A.K.I. to be somewhat closer to the opponent for the tip to reach. She is also not strike-invincible during the startup animation, meaning she can be hit out of it. The final caveat is that the startup for this move is quite significant at 21f, which means A.K.I. has to preemptively use this in order to beat the opponent's projectiles. If she uses it on reaction to the opponent's projectile, it will still destroy the opponent's projectile but may be too slow to actually land a hit during the opponent's recovery.

214PP OD Nightshade Pulse

• 

  214PP Hitbox

Like other characters' OD projectiles, OD Nightshade Pulse shuts down the opponent's attempts at beating A.K.I.'s projectile without using meter, requiring them to use their own OD projectile to counter 214PP. Much like the regular version, OD Nightshade Pulse allows A.K.I. to safely advance behind the slow-moving projectile, which makes it a good option for her to approach opponents that attempt to zone from afar with projectiles.

214K (Cruel Fate)

• 

  214LK Hitbox

Cruel Fate is a low crush, anti-projectile tool. The LK version is faster, but has a shorter range, while the HK version is slower, but has a further reach. The EX version allows A.K.I. to be able to steer between the shorter LK range and the further HK range, with M version's startup.

As an anti-projectile tool, it is mostly too slow to be used on reaction. It is safe on block, so it is not too risky to throw it out preemptively on a read. The EX version is +2 on block, making it an excellent tool to sometimes throw out midscreen. All the versions allow A.K.I. to link into 2LP on counter-hit (the EX version leaves the opponent knocked down on a clean hit).

2PP (Sinister Slide)

• 

  22P Hitbox

A.K.I.'s character-defining stance that puts her into a low-profile state that ducks under most projectiles, as well as a lot of other moves. The upper-body invincibility starts on frame 10, meaning A.K.I. is able to use this on reaction and duck under opponent's projectiles. This is similar to jumping projectiles, as it leaves the opponent's projectile on screen longer rendering them unable to throw out another projectile. It also does not drain A.K.I.'s drive gauge, unlike simply blocking the opponent's projectile.

The caveat to this is Sinister Slide has a significant recovery when exiting the stance, so it is important to use this when A.K.I. is far away from the opponent enough to not get punished on exit, or be sure to use of her follow-ups to avoid the exit recovery. It is important to note that her K follow-up (Heel Strike) does not have any projectile-invincible property, and A.K.I. will get hit out of it by a projectile.

2PP~P (Venomous Fang)

• 

  22P~P Hitbox

A.K.I.'s only anti-projectile follow-up from her Sinister Slide stance. Like many of her anti-projectile tools, this move has a slow startup, especially combined with the startup with 2PP. It is best used when A.K.I. is already in her Sinister Slide stance, expecting for the opponent to throw out a projectile. While in her stance, it is possible to hit the opponent with Venomous Fang on reaction. It works particularly well against faster moving projectiles, such as Luke's sandblast (236P). It also works decently well against Ryu and Ken's projectiles at closer ranges, but mistiming can lead to death as A.K.I. is -25 on block.

236K (Snake Step)

• 

  236LK Hitbox

• 

  236MK Hitbox

• 

  236KK Hitbox

Snake Step is similar to A.K.I.'s 2PP (Sinister Slide) stance, allowing her to low profile underneath projectiles for a set duration. The LK version leaves A.K.I. at the same spot, making it useful in making projectiles whiff without having to jump, though the timing may be tight against slower moving projectiles. If she mistimes it, she will recover from Snake Step and will be forced to block the projectile. The other versions move A.K.I. forward a set distance, potentially allowing A.K.I. to punish the opponent's recovery after using a fireball. The OD version is strike invulnerable, allowing her to potentially move through the opponent's other moves, leaving them for a whiff punish. This is better against characters that attack from afar, such as JP, Dhalsim, or Guile.

With the exception of the LK version, the other versions are best used sparingly and preemptively as the total duration is too long for it to be used on reaction. A.K.I. is also in counter-hit state during the slide, so it is important to be careful when using this move in neutral.

Offense

Drive Rush

Approaching with Drive Rushes

A.K.I.'s offense greatly benefits from drive rushes. Her drive rush is quite fast and covers a lot of distance, which enables her to be able to open up the opponent from afar into a combo and knockdown. Additionally, she is able to quickly approach the opponent by drive rushing behind her fireball (214LP/214PP), which makes for an extremely powerful offensive option.

Drive Rush 6HKDrive Rush 2MKDrive Rush 2LKDrive Rush 5MP

PDR 6HKPlus frames...

• 

  6HK Hitbox

Drive Rush 6HK is an extremely powerful tool as it is +6 on block and +8 on hit. Since the duration is relatively long, players can hit confirm into 2MP/5MP on hit and 5HK on counter-hits. As it is +6 on block, A.K.I. can safely link into 5MP for a true blockstring, or she can go for frame trap options with 2MP (leaves a 2f gap) and 5HK (leaves a 3f gap), or simply opt for a throw if the opponent keeps on blocking. She can even reset the pressure again with another 6HK if the opponent has shown to respect her pressure too much.

Be careful, as this option will lose to Drive Impacts and leave her very vulnerable for punishes if she whiffs!

Here are some example strings she can use:

• On hit: PDR 6HK, 5MP > Ender
• On counter-hits: PDR 6HK, 5HK > 2PP~K, 2LP > 2LP, 5LK > Ender
• On block: PDR 6HK, 5HK frametrap

PDR 2MKFantastic combo starter

• 

  2MK Hitbox

Drive Rush 2MK is an excellent tool for opening up opponents, especially those that walks back often. 2MK's range is quite long, and will link into 5HK on hit, giving A.K.I. a full BnB conversion. It is +5 on block, allowing A.K.I. to safely frametrap with 5MP, or continue on with her lights for a true blockstring. 5HK will also frametrap, but since there is a 4f gap there, opponents' jabs will trade with A.K.I., leaving her able to continue on with at trade combo. If done from further ranges, A.K.I. may have to walk up slightly to be able to threaten the opponent with a throw on block.

Be careful, as this option usually loses to Drive Impacts.

Here are some example strings she can use:

• On hit: PDR 2MK, 5HK > 2PP~K, 2LP > 2LP, 5LK > Ender
• On block: PDR 2MK, 5MP frametrap

PDR 2LKA faster way to open up opponents

• 

  2LK Hitbox

This functions similarly to A.K.I.'s PDR 2MK. It has less range and gives her less reward on hit and block, but is much faster and is better for catching opponents off guard. Additionally, it will lose to Drive Impacts much less often compared to Drive Rush 2MK because she will recover sooner.

A.K.I. will be +7 on hit, allowing her to link into 5MP (although, not at max range). On counter-hits, she can combo into 5HK just like with 2MK. She is +2 on block, meaning that 5MP will trade and give her a trade combo with opponents' 4f buttons. For a safer blockstring, she can continue her pressure with 2LP/5LP, although this may be difficult to confirm.

Here are some example strings she can use:

• On hit: PDR 2LK, 5MP > Ender
• On counter-hit: PDR 2LK, 5HK > 2PP~K, 2LP > 2LP, 5LK > Ender
• On block: PDR 2LK, 5LP~LP frametrap

PDR 5MPFast and forward moving!

• 

  5MP Hitbox

Since 5MP moves A.K.I. forward, this option can allow A.K.I. to reach quite far quickly. Since it is special cancellable, this is also safe to Drive Impacts. It is a good, relatively low-risk option to start pressure with A.K.I. that has a deceptively far-reaching range.

On a regular hit, A.K.I. can link into another 5MP. On counter hits, she is able to link into 5HK for her regular BnB. She is usually +1 on block, which means she can safely continue her pressure on block with 4f buttons (e.g. 2LP), or trade with opponents' 4f buttons with 5LP/2LK. Again, if the opponent has shown to be respectful of A.K.I.'s pressure, she can opt for other options on block such as 2MK to catch walk backs.

In certain knockdown situations, such as a corner throw or a punish counter throw, A.K.I. can drive rush 5MP for an auto-timed meaty 5MP that can be up to +4 on block and +10 on hit, allowing her to combo into 5HK on normal hit.

Here are some example strings she can use:

• On hit: PDR 5MP, 5MP > Ender
• On counter-hit: PDR 5MP, 5HK > 2PP~K, 2LP > 2LP, 5LK > Ender
• On block: PDR 5MP, 2LP frametrap

Drive Rush Cancel Frame Data

When canceling a normal into Drive Rush on block and following it up with another normal, there may be an interruptible gap in the blockstring. The following table lists these blockstring gaps when performed at the fastest possible timing.

Gap Value	Meaning
0	True Blockstring (no gap) if input with fastest button timing; can still lose to Drive Reversal
1 to 4	Small blockstring gap; opponent can interrupt with an invincible reversal; a 4f gap can trade with 4f normal attack
5+	Large blockstring gap; opponent can interrupt without an invincible attack
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Drive Rush Cancel - Blockstring Gaps

	5LK/2LP	5LP/2LK	5MP	2MP/2MK	5MK	5HK	2HP/2HK	5HP	6HK	6HP	3MP
5LP~DRC	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	14	16	18	26
5LK~DRC	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	13	15	17	25
2LP~DRC	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	12	14	16	24
5LP~LP~DRC	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	8	10	12	20
5MP~DRC	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	5	7	9	17
2MP~DRC	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	4	6	8	16
5HK~DRC	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	5	7	15

The following table lists the general BnB combo routes when canceling a button into Drive Rush on hit.

Drive Rush Cancel - Combo Routes

Starter	Hit Adv.	Combo Route
5LP~DRC	+3	No combo without CH/PC
5LK~DRC	+5	5LP/2LP, 5MK, 5MP ...
2LP~DRC
5LP~LP~DRC	+6	5LP/2LP, 5MK, 5MP ... 5MP > 2PP~K ... 5MP, 5MP ...
5MP~DRC	+11	5HK > 2PP~P ... 5MK, 5HK ...
2MP~DRC	+12
5HK~DRC	+16

Frame Traps

Some commonly used frame traps are listed in the table below. Any frame trap with at least a 4f gap is mashable with the opponent's 4f button. The smallest possible gap is listed for special cancel frame traps. It is often possible to increase the gap by manually delaying the special cancel further.

Frame Trap Table

String	Gap	Notes
5LP~LP	3f	Can safely cancel into 214HP on block without any gap.
6HK, 5MP	4f	If the opponent mashes, A.K.I. can combo back into 5MP on trade except for E.honda, Manon, and JP
2LP > 214HP	4f	If the opponent mashes, A.K.I. is usually +9 to +10 on trade, so she can continue the combo with 5HK or 5MP
214LP~6P	1f	Does not frame trap at further ranges.
PDR 2LK, 5MP	4f
5MP > 214LP	3f	Can continue to frame trap with ~6P follow-up.
2MP > 2PP~K	5f
PDR 5MP/2MP, 2LP	4f
5HK > 2PP~K	3f
6HK, 2LP	2f
j.HP, 6HK	2f	j.HP is assumed to hit as deep as possible
PDR 6HK, 5HK	3f

Jump-ins

j.HPj.HKj.2HPj.LK

j.HPAmazing jump-in button

• 

  j.HP Hitbox

One of A.K.I.'s best jump-in buttons and is her go-to option for jump-ins. Hits extremely deep and from extremely high up, allowing A.K.I. to easily punish a lot of characters in their whiff recovery when she is in the air. For example, if A.K.I. jumps in anticipation of a delayed throw tech from the opponent, she can consistently punish their recovery with j.HP when most other characters will not be able to. When used high up in the air, it can also be difficult for the opponent to react and cleanly anti-air this button without an air invincible move. Combos into her BnB on hit, and gives great frame advantage on block.

j.HP will not hit cross-up, so do be careful if A.K.I. jumps and ends up crossing up her opponent because she will whiff the j.HP.

j.HK

• 

  j.HK Hitbox

Works very similarly to j.HP, though the vertical reach isn't as good. The advantage to using this button is that it is faster compared to j.HP, which makes it consistent to use as part of a combo, or for beating out air-to-air attempts, especially since its hurtbox is fairly retracted.

j.2HPCross-up button

• 

  j.2HP Hitbox

A.K.I.'s dedicated cross-up button. j.2HP will only hit crossup, so use it if A.K.I.'s jump will end up crossing over the opponent. This button will always whiff in the corner. This is also A.K.I.'s go-to button for when her safejumps will cross over the opponent.

j.LK

• 

  j.LK Hitbox

This button can hit cross-up, but has a lower hitstun and blockstun value compared to j.2HP and j.HP. It is best used when the player is not certain if A.K.I. will cross over the opponent or not.

Okizeme

Knockdown Advantage Table

All scenarios assume that opponent will Back Rise midscreen when possible, unless otherwise stated.

Knockdown	KD Adv.	Oki/Notes
Forward Throw	+19	Gives corner throw loops by walking forward with 16-17f manual timing Midscreen, oki is fairly weak even with Drive Rush (unless Punish HKD)
Back Throw	+27	After back throwing opponent into corner, walk/dash and manually time oki Midscreen, oki is fairly weak even with Drive Rush (unless Punish HKD)
Drive Impact (No Crumple)	+35	?
Drive Reversal	+23	?
2HP	HKD +27 HKD +49 (CH/PC)	On normal hit: +6 after Forward Dash for point blank oki On Punish Counter: +11 after Forward Dash x2, or +10 after 236MK for easy oki
5HP~HP	KD +34	?
214HP	KD +40	?
... > 236HP	KD +44	Sets up a safe jump. Just hold up forward and meaty with j.HP or j.2HP. You'll have to react to the opponent's recovery direction midscreen. Works on a grounded opponent, no Toxic Blossom (TB).
... > 236MP	KD +44	Another safe jump setup. Only works near the corner on a grounded opponent, no Toxic Blossom (TB).
... > 236LP TB	KD +44	Safe jump near corner
... > 236HP TB, PDR 2MP > 236HP	KD +44	Safe jump setup for Toxic Blossom routes. As demonstrated with this example, 236HP can also setup a safe jump in a juggle if the opponent is at a specific height.
... > 236MP TB, PDR 5MP > 2PP~K, PDR 5MP > 236HP	KD +44	Safe jump setup for Toxic Blossom routes. You can end the combo early with PDR 5MP > 236HP instead of 2PP~K for a cheaper safe jump, but the extra damage and corner carry is usually worth one more bar of drive gauge.
... > 2PP~P TB > 5MP > 236HP	KD +44	Another safe jump setup. The 236MP TB route above can also work with 2PP~P TB.
... > 236PP TB > 5MP > 236HP	KD +44	Another safe jump setup. The 236MP TB route above can also work with 236PP TB.
SA1 - 236236K (Deadly Implication)	+30	? Meaty 214LP grants strong frame advantage, and can cancel to 236KK if opponent uses reversal Super
SA2 - 214214P (Tainted Talons)	+30	?
SA3 - 236236P (Claws of Ya Zi)	HKD +30	Leaves opponent full screen away: Drive Rush for a ranged meaty strike, but no true throw oki Can block to bait fast reversals
CA - 236236P (Claws of Ya Zi)	HKD +21	Leaves the opponent a bit closer than SA3: DR~6HK trades with 4f normals (approx. +14/+6 for pressure or a trade combo) No true throw oki

236HP Setups

A.K.I.'s 236HP (Heavy Serpent Lash) is an extremely useful combo ender that gives A.K.I. a lot of setup options, especially in the corner. Midscreen, her setups will depend on the opponent's wake-up option. If her opponent is poisoned and the 236HP hit triggers Toxic Blossom, A.K.I. can DR 2MP > 236HP to gain access to the same setups as she would have without Toxic Blossom.

Anywhere

These are setups that work both anywhere on the screen. Doing it in the corner may require some minor adjustments to the setup.

Safejumps236MKDouble Dash

Safejumps

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236HP, immediate (jump forward) j.HP/j.2HP

Allows A.K.I. to continue pressure without much risk. Requires reacting to the opponent's wakeup option. If the opponent normal rises, then A.K.I will have to do j.2HP. If the opponent back rises or is put in the corner, j.HP is used.

Note that there are specific setups that allow safejumps without having to react to the opponent's wakeup options. In that scenario, only j.HP will work.

236MK

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236HP, 236MK, Normal/Throw

Using 236MK will put A.K.I. right next to the opponent with +5 frames of advantage, allowing her to continue her offense with a meaty throw or a meaty normal. Keep in mind that A.K.I. will trade with the opponent's 4f button if she uses 5HK (A.K.I. will be +11 here, meaning she can follow-up with a trade combo such as 5HK > 2PP~K, 5LK > 236HP). If the opponent back rises, A.K.I. has time to walk back to shimmy, and punish the throw whiff with 5HK. However, if the opponent normal rises, then A.K.I. will not be able to shimmy after 236MK. Instead, if A.K.I expects a throw tech from the opponent, she can backdash for a guaranteed punish, or neutral jump j.HP, which will only punish delayed throw techs (but not immediate throw techs). Near the corner, A.K.I. can also use 236LK to shimmy instead of 236MK.

Double Dash

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236HP, 66, 66 Normal/Throw

Dashing forward twice will put A.K.I. closer to the opponent than the 236MK option, and leaves her +6, which means the opponent cannot use normal moves to interrupt her 5HK. She can also choose to throw the opponent on wakeup, however, if she inputs the throw immediately, this will whiff. She will have to delay the throw by at least 1 frame. The downside to this option is that A.K.I. does not have a "good" shimmy option, in that walking backwards will not leave enough space for the opponent to whiff their throw. She can, however, backdash if she expects the opponent to throw, but this will lose to reversals. A good option to partially cover both reversals and throws is to jump. If A.K.I. jumps, she is able to punish the opponent's throw whiff with j.HP as it hits from quite high up. If the opponent uses their invincible reversal, A.K.I. may be able to avoid getting hit depending on the character.

Corner Only

Note that these options only work in the corner or near the corner. The options presented above for midscreen are also usable here.

• 236HP, 66, 3MP, 5LP~LP > 236HP

Overhead option. Dashing forward frame kills to allow for a meaty +5 on hit 3MP, allowing A.K.I. to link the hit into 2LP/5LP > 236HP. Ending in 236H can allow A.K.I. to loop these setups in the corner. Also works midscreen if the opponent normal rises.

• 236HP, (whiff) 5LP, 2PP~LPLK

Meaty command throw option. 5LP frame kills. The opponent can only get out of this by jumping or using an invincible reversal. A.K.I. can mix up her options by going for a meaty button if the opponent expects a command throw and jumps.

236MP Setups

In general, A.K.I. does not have as many options after a normal hit 236MP compared to 236HP. In the corner, since it is still a +44 knockdown from 236MP, she gains her usual 236HP setup.

Near Corner

• 236HP!, PDR 5HK > 236MP, 236HK

Meaty option that is agnostic to the opponent's tech (normal rise/back rise) option. This leaves A.K.I. at a +5 advantage, allowing her to safely throw or use lights as a meaty option. Also gives a slightly better corner carry compared to the usual 2MP > 236HP route, especially if the opponent chooses to normal rise there.

• 236MP!, PDR 5HK > 214LK, 2LP > DI

Corner meaty DI reset option. This is one of A.K.I.'s few tricky corner DI reset options.

Rise Independent Safejump Setups

A.K.I.'s usual midscreen safejump setups require reacting to the opponent's rise option (if they normal rise, she has to use j.2HP, back rise, she has to use j.HP). This can be difficult, and often times, she gets punished for reacting wrongly.

The setups listed below help to prevent this problem from happening as it guarantees a same-side safejump with j.HP regardless of the opponent's rise option. Most of these setups require the opponent to be poisoned before (with some character-specific exceptions), so when the opponent is not poisoned, A.K.I. will have to still react to the opponent's rise option for the safejump, or go for a different setup.

236MP! Meterless236MP! Corner Carry236HP!Character-specific 236HP

236MP! Meterless Setup

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5HK > 2PP~K, 5LK > 236MP!

A.K.I.'s most basic and drive-efficient option for setting up a rise independent safejump j.HP. This option only works if A.K.I. is relatively close to the opponent before 236MP!, which means that it is best to immediately go into 5LK > 236MP! from her stance kicks.

236MP! Corner Carry ()

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5HK > 2PP~K, 5LK > 236MP!, PDR 5HK > 2PP~K, PDR 2MP > 236HP

This route gives A.K.I. the best corner carry and uses up two drive gauge bars. This setup is most consistent when A.K.I. is closer to her opponent before 236MP!. It is possible to perform this setup even when A.K.I. is further away from her opponent before 236MP!, she will just have to delay her 5HK during the drive rush to maximize the distance she travels to ensure that she is close enough to the opponent for the 5HK.

236HP! ()

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5HK > 2PP~K, 2LP > 2LP, 5LK > 236HP!, PDR 2MP > 236HP

Unlike the previous two setups, for this setup to work, A.K.I. has to be relatively far away from the opponent before 236HP!. This setup is more inconsistent compared to the previous two due to the difficulty in judging whether or not A.K.I. is far enough from the opponent before the 236HP!. If A.K.I. is in range to connect three lights (2LP > 2LP, 5LK), then the same-side safejump is always guaranteed. However, often times, she will not be in range for that, and it is up to the player to judge whether or not A.K.I. is sufficiently far enough from the opponent for the same-side safejump.

Character-specific 236HP Setup

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5HK > 2PP~K, 2LP > 2LP, 5LK > 236HP

If A.K.I. gets the right spacing before the 236HP, she can get a guaranteed same-side safejump against certain characters without requiring the opponent to be poisoned.

Currently, this only works against:

• Marisa
• E. Honda
• Blanka
• Zangief

SA1 into Meaty 214LP

A.K.I.'s Level 1 Super sends the opponent flying far away if used midscreen, and around 1/3 screen away if used on a cornered opponent. A common oki setup after SA1 is to lock down the opponent with Nightshade Pulse (214LP). This puts A.K.I. at around +12 on Block in the corner, and severely limits the opponents movements midscreen (though it gives plenty of time for them to reposition before the projectile connects). However, some characters can punish this projectile on reaction, especially near the corner.

A.K.I. can cancel the end of her 214LP into OD Snake Step (236KK), which is strike and projectile invincible. If the opponent tries to punish your meaty fireball with a Super, this will usually keep A.K.I. safe or even allow a punish, though there are some exceptions. The following table lists all wakeup reversals that can punish a meaty 214LP, and whether or not OD Snake Step can keep A.K.I. safe.

Opponent's Character	Wakeup Special/Super	Location	236KK Avoids Reversal Punish?	Notes
A.K.I.	SA2 (HP)	Midscreen	🟩 Yes	SA2 (HP) whiffs against A.K.I. if too close to the corner
	SA2 (LP)	Corner	🟥 No	236KK recovers directly into LP Super active frames
	SA3		🟩 Yes	-
Akuma	623PP	Corner	🟨 Yes*	No Super freeze to react to (236KK to avoid reversal is a risky hard read) Trades hits, with A.K.I. having +3 KD Advantage after wakeup
	SA2		🟩 Yes	Akuma is only -8 after A.K.I.'s 236KK (stricter punish timing)
	SA3		🟥 No	Akuma gets hit by projectile, and can Throw punish A.K.I. 236KK in the corner (-7)
	CA (Demon)			A.K.I. cannot jump out or escape Demon with 236KK
Blanka	SA3	Corner	🟩 Yes	-
Cammy	SA2	Corner	🟩 Yes	A.K.I. cannot punish Cammy's SA2 escape
	SA3			A.K.I. cannot punish Cammy's SA3 escape; If Cammy attempts SA3 midscreen, gets hit by projectile (can be juggled with DR~delayed 2HP)
Chun-Li	SA2	Corner	🟩 Yes	-
	SA3		🟥 No	Chun-Li gets hit by projectile, and can Throw punish A.K.I. 236KK in the corner (-9)
Dee Jay	SA2	Corner	🟩 Yes	A.K.I. cannot punish Dee Jay's SA2 escape
	SA3			Dee Jay is only -8 after A.K.I.'s 236KK (less optimal punish)
Ed	SA3	Corner	🟩 Yes	-
E. Honda	SA2	Corner	🟩 Yes	A.K.I. can only punish with her own SA2 (HP)
	SA3			-
Elena	SA2	Corner	🟩 Yes	Elena is -26 after A.K.I.'s 236KK Can DR~6HK or Microwalk 5HK punish
	SA3		🟥 No	Elena gets hit by projectile, and can Throw punish A.K.I. 236KK in the corner (-7)
Guile	[2]8KK	Corner	🟨 Yes*	No Super freeze to react to (236KK to avoid reversal is a risky hard read); Even on a successful read, A.K.I. is cornered at only +4 with an awkward punish timing
	SA3		🟩 Yes	-
Jamie	236KK (DL2)	Corner	🟨 Yes*	No Super freeze to react to (236KK to avoid reversal is a risky hard read)
	SA3		🟩 Yes	After A.K.I. 236KK, the spacing makes the punish slightly awkward; A.K.I. can reach with a punish 5HP~HP launch, 6HK > 2MP, or DR~5MP > 5HK
JP	SA3	Anywhere	🟩 Yes	-
Juri	SA3	Corner	🟩 Yes	-
Ken	623HP	Corner	🟨 Yes*	No Super freeze to react to (236KK to avoid reversal is a risky hard read)
	623PP
Kimberly	SA2	Corner	🟩 Yes	A.K.I. cannot punish Kimberly's SA2 escape
	SA3			-
Lily	236KK (Windclad)	Corner	🟨 Yes*	No Super freeze to react to (236KK to avoid reversal is a risky hard read); A.K.I. cannot punish Lily's Windclad OD Condor Spire escape; Midscreen, Lily will fly through projectile but won't reach A.K.I. (-24 on whiff)
	SA2 (Windclad)		🟩 Yes	Without Windclad stock, hitbox does not reach far enough to punish A.K.I.
Luke	SA3	Corner	🟩 Yes	-
M. Bison	SA3	Corner	🟩 Yes	M. Bison is -27 after 236KK but recovers a little far away Microwalk + 5HK > 2PP~P for a strong crumple punish, or Drive Rush for a closer start
Mai	623PP	Corner	🟨 Yes*	No Super freeze to react to (236KK to avoid reversal is a risky hard read)
	SA2		🟩 Yes	Mai is left fullscreen at -15 (too far to punish with anything)
	SA3		🟥 No*	Fireball hits Mai; A.K.I. is left cornered at -7 when dodging with 236KK
Manon	SA2	Corner	🟥 No*	Manon trades with projectile, landing only 1 hit of SA2 If A.K.I. cancels to 236KK, she is cornered and Throw/Command Throw punishable at -9
Marisa	SA3	Corner	🟩 Yes	-
Rashid	236PP	Corner	🟨 Yes*	No Super freeze to react to (236KK to avoid reversal is a risky hard read); Trades with projectile for only 1 hit, so it's better to accept this small risk than to attempt a 236KK cancel
	SA3		🟩 Yes	-
Terry	SA2	Corner	🟩 Yes	Terry is -26 after A.K.I.'s 236KK If SA2 hits, he can continue with Double/Triple Geyser
	SA3			After 236KK, Terry is -38; A.K.I. can cross-up j.2HP to retake the corner and punish If SA3 hits, A.K.I. only takes 350 damage and recovers point blank to punish Terry's landing (-6)
Zangief	SA2	Corner	🟩 Yes	-
Opponent's Character	Wakeup Special/Super	Location	236KK Avoids Reversal Punish?	Notes

Note: Dhalsim and Ryu do not have a reversal that can avoid meaty 214LP

vs. Burnout

TO-DO

Defense

Reversals

A.K.I. has limited access to invincible reversal options, requiring meter to be able to use her strike and throw invincible options. Nevertheless, she has decent tools that can be used to catch opponents off-guard when they don't respect A.K.I.'s defensive options.

OD Snake Step (236KK) - "OD Slide" is A.K.I.'s situational reversal that can be extremely good for escaping the corner. While it is strike-invincible, the opponent can throw A.K.I. right back into the corner for a Punish Counter that depletes 1 Drive bar. The opponent can even perform an option select by pressuring with a light normal while still getting a throw punish. This doesn't make it useless as an escape option; opponents who overuse this option select are more predictable, weakening their offense overall. 236KK can also be used against jumps or moves with more reactable startup.

SA1 (236236K) - A.K.I.'s Level 1 Super that is both strike and throw invincible. It is still vulnerable to projectiles, however, so be careful against characters with that can pressure with meaty projectiles or frame trap with a projectile cancel. At 10f startup, many characters can safely pressure A.K.I. with a fast light normal, making it a somewhat risky reversal on wakeup.

SA3 (236236P) - A.K.I.'s Level 3 Super that is fully invincible on startup. Similar uses to SA1 (including the mediocre startup) but without the weakness to projectiles. It also has better horizontal range.

2LP/2LK - while not a "true reversal", these are good options to catch opponents trying to shimmy, or performing a move that does not hit meaty on A.K.I.'s wakeup. 2LP is her fastest option, at 4f startup, and 2LK is 5f, but is able to catch opponents walking backwards.

• 

  236KK Hitbox

• 

  SA1 Hitbox

• 

  SA3 Hitbox

• 

  2LP Hitbox

• 

  2LK Hitbox

Anti-Airs

A.K.I. has access to some decent anti-air tools. If the opponent jumps in at certain ranges (e.g. cross-up range), A.K.I. may find it difficult to anti-air them consistently due to her anti-air tools having a limited range/hitbox or slower air-invulnerable frames.

5HK - A.K.I.'s main anti-air option. It has a disjointed vertical hitboxes, good range, and anti-air invuln frames, making it a consistent option against most jump-ins. It is also special cancelable, allowing for rewarding Punish Counter juggles or setting up a meaty Nightshade Pulse (214LP). At 9 frames, it is slightly slower than some similar anti-air normals, and loses to cross-up attacks, forcing A.K.I. to pick other options at close range.

2HK - Better horizontal range than 5HK, making it a better option at farther ranges. It has upper body invincibility during the active frames, and the crouching hurtbox gives a little more time to react to jumps. Like 5HK, it whiffs against cross-ups. If the opponent inputs an air attack, the Counter-hit/Punish Counter will put the opponent into a juggle state, allowing a cancel into Super to connect; just be wary of empty jumps, as this will whiff. A Punish Counter also causes a higher juggle state and gives more time to confirm into a follow-up, including Drive Rush extensions.

HP Serpent Lash (236HP) - A.K.I's other main anti-air option, with air invulnerability on frames 6-16 and a reduced head hurtbox. 236HP applies poison on hit, or triggers Toxic Blossom when already poisoned, making it one of the more rewarding anti-air options. The downside is that it is quite slow, requiring fast reactions. The horizontal hitbox is also quite small, and will whiff underneath jump-ins near cross-up range.

MP Serpent Lash (236MP) - A situational anti-air for opponents jumping further away, or for neutral/back jumps. The hitbox is quite narrow and specific, making it difficult to space properly.

j.LK/j.MP - These are good air-to-air options for A.K.I. j.MP is a 7f disjointed button that will knock the opponent down on hit. Meanwhile, j.LK has a longer range and is faster at 5f, but will not knock the opponent down on hit. They are good options for when A.K.I. wants to keep the opponent in the corner, or when the opponent performs an ambiguous jump-in.

SA1 (236236K) - Reliable outside of cross-up range due to its invincibility and large disjointed hitbox. Buffering this in neutral against Divekick characters can make it easier to deal with their air approach.

• 

  5HK Hitbox

• 

  2HK Hitbox

• 

  236HP Hitbox

• 

  236MP Hitbox

• 

  j.LK Hitbox

• 

  j.MP Hitbox

Fighting vs. A.K.I.

When defending against Sinister Slide, you can use a delayed 4 frame normal, such as a crouching jab, to option select against all possible followups.

Overview

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