不知火 舞, Shiranui Mai | |
---|---|
Difficulty | Mostly Easy |
Max Mode Needed? | Big benefits from it |
Tier Placement | Pretty Good (B) |
Standing Hitbox | ? |
Crouching Hitbox | Short |
Introduction
Mai Shiranui needs no introduction as one of the most popular SNK and fighting game characters of all time, and here she's no different. The bubbly kunoichi is just as annoying to deal with here as she is in any other fighter with her hit-and-run, poke and zoning heavy gameplay. Her first appearance was Fatal Fury 2, where she gained her popularity, many fans, and her eternal love for Andy Bogard - a love so strong that even in a post-apocalyptic setting she is on the hunt for his whereabouts. Here, she plays as a mix of her KOF98 and KOF2002 iterations, and for the most part, works just well enough to hold her own in the right hands, albeit they made the questionable design choice to limit Cho Hissatsu Shinobibachi - her staple super - as an Exceed only.
Strengths | Weaknesses |
---|---|
|
|
SVC Chaos: SNK VS Capcom Frame Data Glossary | |
---|---|
Damage |
How much damage the attack does. This takes into account no defense modifiers, so the damage assumes a 0% damage modifier, or in other words the average defense modifier of 223 against characters like Kyo and Ryu.
|
Counter Damage |
How much damage the attack does on a counter hit, or when it connects with an opponent while they're performing an attack. Counter damage values listed are pulled from the SVC Chaos Enterbrain Mook, save Athena, Red Arremer, Serious Mr. Karate and Shin Akuma. |
Guard |
Where the attack hits, and thus where it must be blocked.
|
Guard Crush |
How much guard meter damage the attack does to the green Guard Gauge. |
Stun |
How many points of stun the attack adds to the opponent's invisible Stun Gauge. |
Meter |
How much meter is gained for performing/landing the attack. Special moves earn meter both when activated and when they connect with the opponent, whether it hits them or they block it. |
Cancel |
The type of cancel the attack can perform.
|
Startup |
How many frames it takes before the move becomes 'active' or has a hitbox. The SVC Chaos wiki uses classic startup notation, which does not include the first active frame. A move with 3 startup becomes active on frame 4. Super and Exceed startup will calculate both the frames before and after the super flash animation as such: X+Y, with X being the startup frames before the flash animation and Y being the startup frames after the flash animation.
|
Active |
How many frames a move remains active (can hurt opponents) for. Consecutive sets of active frames on a multi-hit move are separated by a comma. (Example: 3, 4 - The attack has its first hitbox for 3 frames, then the second hitbox for 4 frames)
|
Recovery |
How many frames it takes for a move to finish after it's been active. |
Total |
The total number of frames the attack lasts on screen for. This adds up the startup, active, and recovery frames into one number. |
Hit/Block Adv |
These are frame advantage values when the attack hits or is blocked. If the number is positive, then the move will end before the defender can act again. If the number is negative, the defender will be able to act before the attacker and maybe even punish.
|
Invulnerability |
Indicates whether there's any frames of invulnerability during the attack. |
Moves List
Normal Moves
Close Normals
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Far Normals
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Crouch Normals
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Jumping Normals
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Overhead | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Overhead | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Overhead | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Overhead | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Overhead | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Overhead | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Overhead | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Overhead | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Command Moves
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
Special Moves
Kachou Sen
- QCF+P - Mai's classic projectile. The button pressed will determine the speed of it. Don't use this outside of combos(I mean, to begin corner combos from fullscreen away), because it has a very long recovery(Mai needs to find another fan on her suit).
Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi
- HCF+K - Another classic move. The B version does two hits, and can be used on combos, while the D version does only one hit, and can't be used on combos(Thanks to the long startup). The first hit of the B version can be max canceled too.
Ryuu Enbu
- QCB+P - You know this move too, because it's a classic one. The A version does only one hit(But can't be comboed after the Lights), and the C version does two hits, and can be comboed from any cancelable move(Including the Lights), which is good!
Sayo Chidori
- QCB+K - This is a great move. The button pressed will determine the speed of the attack. The B version is very fast, and can be used to anti-air the opponent. The D is just slower(Can't even combo). Mai has a loop using this move on the Max Mode(The hit can be max canceled).
Hakuro no Mai
- DP+P - A move from her KoF '98 version. The A version will do 3 hits, and the C will do 5 hits, while the last hit of each version will knock the opponent down, and any hit can be max canceled(But you can't combo with the last hit, so... Cancel after it). Mai has a Max Mode loop involving this combo too.
Koshuu no Mai
- DP+K - It was a great anti-air... Thanks, SNK. On KoF '98, Mai would do a Flame Kick, which was great to anti-air! But this has changed. Now it's a rush move. The button pressed will determine the distance Mai will travel. If you ask me: "It looks good, can I combo with it after a normal?" I'll just say: "No." But there is a good thing about it, the hit can be max canceled, but I don't know why would you cancel it, because you can't combo it from normals/Command moves, and you can't max cancel moves into it. You can use this to punish the opponent from far away, but only that.
- Follow-Up:
- Tsuika Kougeki
- DP+K - Here is the flame kick... A sad thing about it is that you can only use this move if the move above connects(Meaning, no anti-air for Mai). Anyway, each version will do 2 hits, and the button pressed will determine where Mai will land. On the B version, Mai won't move from her initial position, and she will land very quickly. On the D version, Mai will jump forward while attack, but she will take some time to land, making it unsafe on block.
- Tsuika Kougeki
- Follow-Up:
Musasabi no Mai (Kuuchuu)
- QCB+P (In the air only) - Classic move. This one is Mai's dive attack. The button pressed will determine the angle, and the speed of the move. Each version will act as an overhead too. You can cancel some air normals into it, which is interesting for her! You can use this move during a backdash too, which can be useful to build meter.
Musasabi no Mai (Chijou)
- Charge d, u+P - Mai will do a wall leap(Like Claw, or even Choi). After she jumps off the wall, you can move her(With the left/right directionals), to decide where she will land/attack. The button pressed won't change anything.
- Follow-Ups:
- Musasabi no Mai
- Hold P - Mai will do her dive. The button will determine the angle, like the normal version. It has the same properties as it too.
- Musasabi no Mai (Kuuchuu)
- QCB+P - The dive again. It has the same properties as the other dive versions.
- Ukihane
- d+K - Mai will do her d+B Command Move(No matter the button pressed). It has the same properties as it too(You can try to crossup using this version too).
- Yusura Ume
- d+P - Mai's d+D, with the same properties.
- Toki Tsubute
- d+D (While near from the opponent) - A grab. It's unblockable, but very risky to use anyway. I think you can grab an opponent in the air too, but I'm not sure. The opponent can't do a recovery roll from it too.
- Musasabi no Mai
- Follow-Ups:
Super Moves
Mizudori no Mai
- QCF(2x)+P - Mai will throw 3 fans on the opponent(Like a Super projectile, but each one will act as a normal projectile), and the last one will knock the opponent down. The button used will determine the speed of the 3 projectiles. You can use this move on some combos, and each fan attack does decent damage.
Hou'ou no Mai
- QCB(2x)+P - This is a great move to use. You can use this move to punish projectiles, due to the part where Mai is going up. If you hit an airbone opponent with this move, you'll get more damage, and you'll have the opportunity to juggle after it(There are some corner combos using this feature, I think).
Exceed
Damage | Counter Dmg | Guard | G. Crush | Stun | Meter | Cancel | Startup | Active | Recovery | Total | Hit Adv | Block Adv | Invulnerability | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | - | Mid | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
|
The Basics
Mai's gameplan
Mai is a fast character with great movement options, and that's your plan, move and attack the opponent, mainly in the air with her Command Moves, and her wall leap. You can walk/dash/jump back/forward while using pokes too, Mai's attacks are good for that. In the air, you can just use the j.D (probably her best jumping attack), or even her Command Moves. Her supers are iffy when used in combos, given her supers themselves aren't too useful. It's better that you use them for punishing situations as the damage is still good enough. For her Exceed, confirming into it is easy, but be careful using it by itself if at all, even if it has invulnerability. Basic gist: play hit and run as Mai, mixup your opponent, play primarily zoning with projectiles and pokes, and be annoying to fight against.
Some combos: (Without Max Mode)
BnBs:
1- (j.X,) cl.C, df.B(1), qcb P / qcb B / hcf B / Super / Exceed
The most damaging of her basic combos, her main go-to BnB.
2- cr.B, cl.B, df.B(1)
Like the above, but with a low starter. This is Mai's only real low starter with a light, though the link itself isn't too hard. Worth learning since Mai has no light starter without it, otherwise.
Kokuen no Mai (f.B) combos:
1- (Corner only) f.B, st.A
An easy link with Mai's overhead, but it's a corner only combo, sadly. Other bad things on this combo: You can't combo a normal into this Command Move; You can't cancel the st.A outside of Max Mode.
2- (Corner only) f.B, walk/dash a little forward, cl.C, df.B(1), qcb P / qcb B / hcf B / Super / Exceed
Probably the most damaging thing you can do with the overhead outside of Max Mode, but it can be hard to do(You'll need to have a good timing to link the f+B with the cl.C).
3- (Corner only) Any normal, f.B, qcb P
A simple combo but pointless beyond mixing up the opponent, assuming they try to attack back after f.B. Important notes: The f.B can be canceled into the qcb P only if you cancel a normal into it, but the Command Move will lose the overhead properties.
Dairin Fuusha Otoshi (d.A in the air) combos:
1- (Corner only/On a deep jump-in) d.A, j.qcb P
This is an exclusive combo(You can't connect the qcb P if you canceled the jumping normals). You'll need to do a very deep jump if you want to land this one. I would recommend using the qcb A on the combo, but if you want to try with the C version, go ahead. On certain characters(Big ones), this combo can be easier.
2- d+A, any ground combo
You can use the d.A to start your combos like a normal jumping attack.
Kachou Sen (qcf P) combos:
1- (j.X,) cl.C, df.B(1), qcf P
A not-that-hard combo. I wouldn't recommend this one, due to the bad recovery on the projectile(But I think it can be safe on combos). Mai has better options, but this one still can be used.
2- (j.X,) cr.B, cl.B, df.B(1), qcf P
Just a combo with a low starter. The above does more damage too.
3- (Corner only; Mai needs to be fullscreen away) qcf A, Superjump forward(For me, it was easier with dash+forward jump, but I think you can do this combo with the simple Superjump), Jump Attack, any combo
This is better to use while the opponent is stunned/if you want to do corner pressure on the opponent(By using the projectile as a meaty). You can learn this if you want to do more damage(Or even if you like to do combo videos, this one can be a good combo for you).
Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi(hcf K) combos:
1- (j.X,) cl.C, df.B(1), hcf B
Probably the most damaging thing you can do with the hcf K. Note that you can't combo with the D version, due to the long startup of it. Remember that you can max cancel the first hit of the HCB+K(Only on the B version), so you can do more damage if you need.
2- (j.X,) cr.B, cl.B, df.B(1), hcf B
Does more hits, has a low starter, but won't do more damage than the combo above. You can use this on some mixup games.
Ryuu Enbu(qcb P) combos:
1- (j.X,) cl.C, df.B(1), qcb C
You'll know how to use this combo if you're used to that first link. You can use the A version too, but the C version has better startup.
2- (j.X,) cr.B, cl.B, df.B(1), qcb C
Can be used too. Has a low starter, which can help. The df+B is optional on this combo too.
Sayo Chidori(qcb K) combos:
1- (j.X,) cl.C, df.B(1), qcb B
A good combo. You can use this one to confirm Mai's Max Mode loop. Note that you can't combo with the D version, due to the startup of it. If you're used to the pattern, you'll know the second combo(And probably some other ones below too).
Hakuro no Mai(dp P) combos:
1- (j.X,) cl.C, df.B(1), dp C
This one is one of the best(If not the best) of Mai's no-meter combos. Does many hits, and decent damage. You can use this to confirm Mai's loop too.
Mizudori No Mai(qcf(2x)+P) combos:
1- (j.X,) cl.C, df.B(1), qcf(2x)+P
This is probably the best confirm for this super. This Super isn't that fast when compared to most projectiles(Assuming the Super ones as well), and the 3 fans will connect into each other, and this is right, because you probably used it, and saw the Super doing 3 hits. But you used it alone, not on a combo. We need to add at least one attack before the Super to call it a combo. And that attack will push the opponent(If you tried this combo, you can see that the opponent stopped being pushed during the first 2 fans, and then he continues being pushed during that little pause after the first 2 fans(That means, the target's position changed, making the 3rd fan nearly useless, because the opponent can block it). I just noticed on the training mode that the opponent's position is what determines if the 3rd fan will connect or not(You can test the positions, but the fans will combo if they are used on point-blank reach, or even if they are used fullscreen away. This combo will do 5 on the corner as well.
2- (While Fullscreen away) qcf A, qcf(2x)+C
This is an interesting combo. You can use it while your opponent is stunned, and you don't know what to do. This combo can be used as a cheap finisher too(4 chipping moves from far away), but only when you need to(Don't waste your meter like that if you know that you're not going to win the match).
Hou'ou no Mai(qcb(2x)+P) combos:
1- (While the opponent is in the air, and near the corner) qcb(2x)+P, hit the opponent with something while he/she's in the air
This is the only possible combo for this Super, sadly(But you know, the opponent can't block while he/she is in the air here). The A version of the Super does less hits, but it's easier to combo after it, so you can stick with it for now. There are some great combos using this juggle properties on the Max Mode(And even a confirm for the Exceed!), but we'll see that later.
Exceed (qcb, hcf KK) combos:
1- (j.X,) cl.C, df.B(1), Exceed
It's just the most damaging Mai combo outside of Max Mode. It's not that hard to do(You don't even need good hands to cancel the df+B). Well, it's very important to confirm the Exceed on any match, so learn this combo, you will need it on your matches.
Advanced Strategy
Some combos (With Max Mode)
Loops:
1- [Jump Attack] cl.C, df+B, DP+C, (Cancel it before the last hit) QCB+B, (Cancel it into) DP+C, (Again) QCB+B ... QCB+C, (Cancel the first hit into) QCF(2x)+P (Note: This last part of the combo is possible only on the corner) - 6+5n(Where n is the number of loops); 7+5n with a Jump Attack
This is a great combo, but not that hard to perform, thanks to the DP(You can get a projectile if you miss the input. To avoid that, stop the motion on df, not on f). The corner only finisher is great, because it will add some damage to the combo, but... It's very hard to cancel a QCB+C into a QCF(2x)+P(You won't have so much frames to perform the inputs), but there is a way to make it easier, which is: Buffering the first QCF. Try something like QCF, QCB+C, QCF+P(While on Max Mode). You'll need to do it very fast to make it work.
2- (Corner only; The opponent needs to be in the air) QCB(2x)+P, QCB+C(Try to land the first hit, not the second one), (max cancel it into) DP+K, (Juggle the opponent with) QCB+C(Again, land the first hit only), (max cancel it into) DP+K ..... (When you want, cancel any first hit of the QCB+C into) Exceed - (Up to) 22+2n
This is the most damaging way to confirm the Exceed, and the only way to use the DP+K on combos. You can learn this, but it's a little hard to land it on a real match(You'll need to predict your opponent's jump for that). It's easier than the loop above too.