Kameo Considerations
When picking a kameo for Shao, the main considerations are:
- Being able to turn Axe F2 into a full combo
- Giving a safe combo confirm from B3
- Maximizing the damage from Axe 22
- Giving an answer to enemy projectiles
- Covering the Power Strike (DF4) cancel gap
- An attack to use with the lengthy animation of Reverse Treechopper (DF2)
- A low attack to complement his overhead enders
- A safe, hopefully gapless ender for his midrange pokes and advancing normals
- An armored reversal to use in places where Devastator would be insufficient
Kung Lao
Currently the most popular kameo, General Shao has excellent synergy with Lao.
- Low Hat fulfills quite a few of the above criteria by itself. Up close, being a +2 low allows it to be used with his overhead enders and midrange pokes, and from afar it's superb for counterzoning and getting in - deploy Low Hat on the ground, and then approach from the air with Axe J2. Holding Low Hat also lets him use it to cover the Power Strike gap.
- Spin, while not the best armored reversal, is still a usable alternative to Devastator and can be applied in situations where Devastator would whiff. From an Axe 22 confirm, Spin lets Shao continue the combo with J12 > 22 for better damage and corner carry.
- Away We Go (teleport) will let Shao get full combos from Axe F2 while giving him an additional tool (albeit a slow one) against zoning, though the Motaro teleport is generally better for these purposes.
Shao also has numerous opportunities to end combos with Low Hat for dangerous oki situations. These are amplified in Unarmed Stance, where Shao can armor break with held Low Hat into F2 and then continue the combo with B32 for significant damage.