Fatal Fury Special/Mai Shiranui

Introduction

"Nippon Ichi!" Easily one of gaming's most iconic characters, Mai Shiranui takes to the fighting stage in Fatal Fury Special as a powerful zoning character, capable of shutting anyone out with ease. Easy to play as right away, she has great anti-air tools, a great fireball, a deadly (albeit very risky) super, simple combos, rewarding damage, and a unique stage where she actually gains an additional advantage from it, Mai Shiranui is holding nothing back. Her super is very risky as already mentioned, as while it does great damage and decent chip damage, everyone can very easily punish her on block and can be predictable. Her mobility too is not the greatest, albeit not as bad as some other characters. And while she may seem like a great glass cannon type character, she's not. You must play her defensively as a strict keepaway character. But no matter who she's up against, chances are her impeccable zoning give her an advantage at all times as even her up close game isn't too lacking when she's forced to confront the opponent.

Pros	Cons
Strong defense Easy to use Fast normals	Jumps and backsteps are a bit quirky Short combos Not suited for rushdown

Move List

Standing	Crouching	Jumping	Jumping 2	Backdash
				Mai is grounded during her backdash and can more easily be thrown.

Close Standing Normals

c5A

c5A
Senda/扇打

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
6	2	Mid	4	7	6	16	+3	+4	Kara Cancel
2nd hitbox is +6 on hit and +7 on block. Knockback is minimal, so you can combo into heavy Ryuuenbu from this. Works as an emergency anti-air.

c5B

c5B
Tatsumakigeri/竜巻蹴り

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
8	2	Mid	8	4	11	21	+1	+2	Kara Cancel
You're generally better off using close A, unless you need those extra 2 points of damage for your stun combo. Whiffs against crouching Jubei.

c5C

c5C
Dai-senda/大扇打

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
14	4	Mid	8	7	17	31	0	-1	Kara Cancel
2nd hitbox is +3 on hit and +2 on block. Close A is generally better as a combo starter, as this one has too much knockback on hit to properly connect into heavy Ryuuenbu. You can still combo into Kachosen or super from this, though.

c5D

c5D
Tatsumakigeri/竜巻蹴り

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
16	4	Mid	10	7	17	33	0	-1	Kara Cancel
Not much reason to use this, unless you want to combo into super. Same hitbox as c5B.

Far Standing Normals

f5A

f5A
Sensu-uchi/扇子打ち

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
4	2	Mid	6	4	10	19	+2	+3	Kara Cancel
Mai's main ground poke. Very good reach for a light normal. Doesn't combo into anything, but you can still create some powerful pressure by cancelling this into light Kachosen on hit or block.

f5B

f5B
Taikuu Mai Kick/対空舞キック

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
6	2	Mid	6	6	8	19	+2	+3	Cancel
Mediocre anti-air. Mai has better options available.

f5C

f5C
Taikuu Sensu-tsuki/対空扇子突き

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
10	4	Mid	8	13	10	30	0	-1	-
Another anti-air normal. Pretty good, but you'll still want to use heavy Ryuuenbu over this.

f5D

f5D
Mai Kick/舞キック

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
14	4	Mid	8	8	17	32	-2	-3	-
Decent reach, but can't be cancelled unlike Mai's other pokes and thus less useful. Largely outclassed by CD.

Crouching Normals

2A

2A
Haimen Hiji-uchi/背面肘打ち

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
4	2	Mid	6	4	8	17	+4	+5	Kara Cancel
Not terrible, but Mai's other crouch buttons are better.

2B

2B
Kaerigeri/反り蹴り

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
6	2	Low	6	4	7	16	+5	+6	Kara Cancel
Has less range than 2D, despite using the same animation. Still a great low poke.

2C

2C
Haimen Hiji-uchi/背面肘打ち

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
12	4	Mid	5	10	18	32	-4	-5	Kara Cancel
Fast startup for a heavy normal. Cr. D has more reach, but you can combo off this.

2D

2D
Kaerigeri/反り蹴り

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
14	4	Low	8	11	21	39	KD	-9	Kara Cancel
Superb sweep kick with great range and speed. Your most useful button in neutral along with 5A. Can be cancelled into Kachosen to deal chip damage on block.

Jumping Normals

jA

jA
Fuushaken/風車拳

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
6	2	Overhead	5	∞	-	-	-	-	-
Beats low profile anti-airs, like Joe/Jubei slides.

jB

jB
Shoukyaku/翔脚

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
8	2	Overhead	10	∞	-	-	-	-	Air
Beats low profile anti-airs. Almost interchangeable with jump A.

jC

jC
Shousenda/翔扇打

Version	Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
Diagonal Jump	14	4	Overhead	5	8	-	-	-	-	-
Fast startup and good horizontal reach.
Neutral Jump	14	4	Overhead	5	6	-	-	-	-	-
Same as diagonal, but has less active frames for some reason.

jD

jD
Hayabusageri/ハヤブサ蹴り

Diagonal Jump

Neutral Jump

Version	Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
Diagonal Jump	16	4	Overhead	5	20	-	-	-	-	-
Pretty average jump-in.
Neutral Jump	16	4	Overhead	5	12	-	-	-	-	-
You can air-to-air with this, but you're much better off using Mai's grounded anti-airs due to her slow pre-jump animation.

Universal Mechanics

Lane Blast (CD)

Lane Blast
Tensui no Mai/天水の舞
C+D

Front Lane

Back Lane

Version	Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
Front Lane	22	5	Mid	9	7	22	37	KD	-10	Cancel
Fast startup as far as CD moves go, and the range isn't bad either. Useful move when cancelled into Kachosen on block.
Back Lane	22	5	Mid	11	7	17	34	KD	-5	Cancel
Slower startup, more range.

Lane Attack

Lane Attack
A/B/C/D from opposite lane

Front Lane

Back Lane

Mai has the same lane attack for punch and kick buttons.

Version	Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
A/B	18	2	Overhead	13	-	4	-	-	-	-
A straight and fast lane attack.
C/D	18	4	Overhead	13	-	4	-	-	-	-
A slower high angle lane attack.

Dodge Attack

Dodge Attack
Hanegeri/跳ね蹴り
6A during proximity guard

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
11	5	Mid	15	16	15	45	Air reset	-12	Kara Cancel, Upper-Body Invuln 1-30F
Very good reach.

Throws

Fuusha Kuzushi (4/6C)

Fuusha Kuzushi
close 4/6C

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
26	3	/	1	1	-	-	KD	/	-

Yume Zakura (j2D)

Yume Zakura
close j2D

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
26	3	/	1	1	-	-	KD	/	-
Air throw. Can be used to catch wakeup backsteps and lane attacks if your timing is on point.

Special Moves

Kachosen (236P)

Kachosen
236A/C

Fan service.

Version	Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
A	14 (3)	3	Mid	15	-	36	50	-	-	-
Mai throws a fan at the enemy. Standard projectile that's generally very safe to use. It can be avoided with dodge attacks or low profile moves, however.
C	22 (5)	6	Mid	17	-	45	61	-	-	-
Projectile travels faster, but Mai recovers much slower making this riskier to use. Can be used to punish wakeup backsteps.

Ryuenbu (214P)

Ryuenbu
214A/C

Version	Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
A	16x2 (4x2)	3x2	Mid	7	2+2 (4) 12	12	38	KD	+1	Foot Invuln 11-18F
-11 if only the first hit is blocked standing, or -9 crouching. Comes out slightly faster, but isn't fully invulnerable during startup unlike the heavy version. Can be used to destroy enemy projectiles.
C	22x2 (5x2)	6x2	Mid	9	2+2 (5) 17	19	54	KD	-6	Invincible 1-13F, Foot Invuln 14-23F
-16 if only the first hit is blocked standing, or -22 crouching. THIS is what makes Mai the top tier powerhouse she is. Invulnerable startup, so it's a foolproof anti-air when timed right, and it does crazy damage when both hits connect. Excellent "get off me" tool against rushdown characters trying to pressure you up close. Your main combo ender as well, although it only connects properly from close light attacks.

Hissatsu Shinobibachi (41236D)

Hissatsu Shinobibachi
41236D

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
20 (5x2)	3	Mid	26	26	6	57	KD	-7	Invincible 11-14F, Airborne 20-51F
Flying elbow charge. Very unsafe on block unless it hits meaty, so use with caution. Since Mai is off the ground, you can dodge and punish certain projectiles with this. Note that there's no light version of this move.

Musasabi no Mai ([2]8P)

Musasabi no Mai
[2]8A/C

Charge time: 30F.

Version	Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
A (Non-Mai Stage)	20 (5)	3	Mid	Jump + 16	21	18	-	KD	-1 at best	Invuln 1-15F after touching wall
Dives fullscreen.
C (Non-Mai Stage)	20 (5)	6	Mid	Jump + 16	21	18	-	KD	-1 at best	Invuln 1-15F after touching wall
Dives at a steeper angle.
A (Mai's Stage)	20 (5)	3	Mid	30	22	20	-	KD	-3 at best	Invincible 1-29F
Even after it starts up, it takes 18 frames for Mai to return to the lane and hit her opponent.
C (Mai's Stage)	20 (5)	6	Mid	30	22	20	-	KD	-3 at best	Invincible 1-29F
Even after it starts up, it takes 18 frames for Mai to return to the lane and hit her opponent.

Super Move

Chou Hissatsu Shinobibachi (616BC)

Chou Hissatsu Shinobibachi
When health is flashing
616B+C

Damage	Stun	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Property
30 (0 + 7x3)	4	Mid	15	6+5+5+32	20	82	KD	-14	Invincible 15-18F, Upper-Body Invuln 19-23F, Airborne 26-62
Powered up version of Hissatsu Shinobibachi. Good chip kill move. One of the easier super inputs, too. You can combo into this, but your standard C Ryuuenbu combos deal the same amount of damage, so it doesn't matter much.

Combos

• c5A/B > 214A/C
• 2C > 236A - 31 damage
• c5C/D > 616BC - 40/42 damage

Strategies

The Basics

If you're new to the game and want to start winning matches as fast as possible, you can't go wrong with picking Mai. Her gameplan is very simple but effective and revolves around a small number of moves. She's also one of the least demanding characters when it comes to execution: you don't need to learn any weird motions or long tricky combos to play her properly. Despite this, she's still extremely powerful even in high level play and does have a lot of tricks up her sleeve that give a dedicated player plenty of potential for improvement. In nearly all of her matchups, Mai plays a pure defensive keep-away game, using projectile pressure to force her opponents into taking risks and punishing all attempts at getting close with her heavy Ryuuenbu.

The moves you'll be using in the most in neutral are:

• Light Kachosen (236A): A great projectile that's very safe to use and gives Mai good spatial control. Use this as often as possible to pressure your opponent and force them to jump or do some sort of evasive action lest they keep taking chip damage.
• Heavy Ryuuenbu (214C): Once your opponent goes for a jump or tries to challenge you up close, this is what you use to get them off your back. Fully invulnerable startup, making it very difficult for your opponent to counter this move with anything. Against jump-ins, you'll want to time this quite late so it catches your opponent during their landing recovery; this way the move hits twice dealing a ton of damage.
• 2D: One of the best sweep kicks in the game and possibly Mai's most useful normal. You can cancel it into 236A on block to continue your pressure and deal chip damage.
• 5A: Another great ground poke that's even faster than her sweep. You can also cancel this into 236A or other specials.

Despite all her strengths, Mai does also have some weaknesses unique to her: she has twice as much jump start-up and landing recovery frames as average, and she's the only character to not be considered airborne during a backstep, making it possible for her to grabbed out of her backstep with any ground throw. Her walk speed and jump duration are still faster than average, though, so all things considered her overall mobility is still far from bad.