Introduction

HUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Samchay is the Fighter's History equivalent of Sagat (sort of) - he's a kickboxer, he has a fireball, and he has "tiger kicks". Samchay is an easy character to pick up and play, but his simplicity ultimately limits his options a bit. He's a solid mid-tier character and can pull out a lot of wins, but expect to run into some problems against the top tiers.

Samchay appears to be a bit of a fan favorite in Japan (or at least a running joke). The Great Grapple 2004 tournament held an all-Samchay side tournament that 48 players ended up entering. What is their infatuation with Samchay? The world may never know...

Weak Spot


Frame count	-	2	2	-

Color Options

Punch	Kick

Moves List

Quick Reference

Special move name	Input	Nickname	Note
Matlon Dusalop	+		fireball
Ti Kau Koon	+	tiger knee	reversal
Ti Kau Loi	+	dp	dp anti-air, reversal, better use LK version
Pap So Kau	/

Normal Moves

Light Punch

Standing LP (Close): activation range = 55

Damage	10	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	+5
On block	+6
Frame count		6	3	4

Light hook punch. Damage for a jab is above average. Hits crouchers, but still not chainable and even don't comboes into itself. So it's pretty garbage. No real reason to use this when you're close.

Standing LP (Far):

Damage	10	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	+4
On block	+5
Frame count		3	3	5

A high jab that whiffs crouchers. Not chainable into another attack, so you can't even do rapid standing LP's like most other characters. Don't use this.

Crouching LP:

Damage	10	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	+3
On block	+4
Frame count		2	3	6

An unchainable crouching jab, which makes it very bad for combos. Use Crouching LK instead.

Jumping LP (Diagonal/Neutral):

Damage	12	Startup
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	no
Frame count		4	∞

Elbow drop. Not good for starting combos with, but good as an air-to-air attack. Usable as a tick...

Heavy Punch

Standing HP (Close): activation range = 55

Damage	28	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	-3
On block	-8
Frame count		4	6	18

Elbow attack, no real reason to use this in combos when standing HK does more damage.

Standing HP (Far):

Damage	28	Startup			Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	-2
On block	-7
Frame count		5	5	(5) 18

High punch that whiffs crouching opponents, except Marstorius and Samchay himself. Too bad, as this does have decent range and great priority. Use it if you can.

Crouching HP:

Damage	28	Startup				Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	-3
On block	-8
Frame count		4	3	3	(6) 18

Anti-air uppercut. Really nice priority for knocking people out of the air, but they have to be close (and it helps if you do it early).

Jumping HP (Diagonal/Neutral):

Damage	28	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	no
Frame count		4	6	∞

A punch that doesn't hit very deep, not very good for starting combos.

Light Kick

Standing LK (Close): activation range = 63

Damage	12	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	+6
On block	+7
Frame count		2	3	3

Looks and works exactly like Ray's far LK, but with lesser recovery and insane damage for a Light attack. But it's not chainable, so you'll not use this much.

Standing LK (Far):

Damage	12	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	+3
On block	+4
Frame count		4	3	6

Mid-level kick, not chainable but half-decent in terms of range.

Crouching LK:

Damage	7	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	yes
Special cancel	yes
On hit	+6
On block	+7
Frame count		2	3	3

Samchay's THE ONLY CHAINABLE normal. Abuse the hell out of this on the ground, you'll need it!

Jumping LK (Diagonal):

Damage	12	Startup
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	no
Frame count		4	∞

Knee attack. Samchay's best crossup attack.

Jumping LK (Neutral):

Damage	12	Startup
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	no
Frame count		4	∞

A weird kick that sticks out. I never know what to say about these neutral jumping light attacks!

Heavy Kick

Standing HK (Close): activation range = 47

Damage	35 total	Startup				Recovery
Chain cancel	no/no
Special cancel	yes/yes
On hit	-/0
On block	-/-5
Frame count		4	2	1	3	18

Pretty much the same animation as the far version, but when close it hits twice. It's his most damaging normal attack, and best combo starter.

Standing HK (Far):

Damage	30	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	-3
On block	-8
Frame count		4	6	18

High kick, decent anti-air because of great horizontal priority. Hits crouchers, so it's an attack that's actually worth using.

Crouching HK:

Damage	28	Startup			Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes
On hit	kd
On block	-8
Frame count		4	6	(9) 18

Standard-issue sweep, pretty good range.

Jumping HK (Diagonal):

Damage	28	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	no
Frame count		4	6	∞

Samchay's all-around best jumping attack, excellent for starting combos and can even crossup on occasion

Jumping HK (Neutral):

Damage	28	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	no
Frame count		4	6	∞

An odd "hook kick". Has ok horizontal range.

Command Normals

Ma Lan: +

Damage	28	Startup				Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	yes*
On hit	-3
On block	-8
Frame count		4	2	4	(5) (5) 18

*Only 1st hitbox is cancellable

Low blow to the nuts. Not bufferable when fully extended, but if you hit with it when his fist is about halfway extended, it's bufferable. This move has great range so it's worth using even if you can't buffer off it.

Tiip: +

Damage	28	Startup		Recovery
Chain cancel	no
Special cancel	no
On hit	-3
On block	-8
Frame count		6	4	20

Kick to the knees, has even more range than F+HP! Unfortunately it's never bufferable. Still a solid poke, but you're kinda screwed if they jump.

Throws

Damage	First/Tick/Final 6/3/16
	First/Tick/Final 6/3/16
Range (From pushbox)	34

Got Ko Ti-Sok: / +

Samchay grabs his opponent and begins elbowing them in the top of the head. Mash joystick + buttons for more hits, opponent can counter-mash to break out of the grab faster. This grab can do more damage than most character's throws, so be sure to mash those extra hits out. On the last hit Samchay punches his opponent away.

Got Ko Ti-Cau: / +

Samchay knees his opponent in the stomach repeatedly. Mash joystick + buttons for more hits, opponent can counter-mash to break out of the grab faster. Damage-wise it is a bit stronger the Heavy Punch grab and the last hit leaves the opponent fairly close to Samchay. For that reason you'll want to stick with this throw whenever possible.

Special Moves

Matlon Dusalop: +

Damage	16	Startup		Recovery
On hit	+7
On block	+2
Frame count		15	1	26

It's a fireball. It comes out not that quickly, but doesn't have too much recovery. It's actually possible to combo after one of these in the corner if you're quick. The problem with this fireball is that Samchay kind of leans forward when he does it, which makes him more susceptible to getting hit out of it (or trading).

Ti Kau Koon: +

Damage	Light 24 Heavy 36 total						Recovery	Landing
On hit	Light kd/kd Heavy kd*
On block	Light -1* Heavy -3*
Frame count	Light	2	2	3	2	7	4	6
Frame count	Heavy	2	2	3	2	9	4	6

*Frame advantage is measured from the second hit

Samchay's signature move, which looks a lot like Sagat's Tiger Knee. The LK version hits once and knocks down. The HK version hits twice, knocks down on second hit. This move makes up a lot of Samchay's bread 'n butter combos, and it's often great to toss out randomly to see if it hits. Beware of doing it to someone too close though, an opponent who blocks it can throw you when you're recovering if you wind up too close to them.

Ti Kau Loi: +

Damage	Light 24 Heavy 36 total							Heavy version only			Recovery	Landing
On hit	Light kd/kd* Heavy -18/kd*
On block	Light -16/-12* Heavy -23/-19*
Frame count	Light	2	2	2	2	4	2	-		6	10	6
	Heavy	2	2	2	2	4	2	4	2	8	9	6

*Frame advantage is measured from the second hitbox

"Vertical" version of the Ti Kau Koon. Most players do not use this move as much because of the weird motion - note that you MUST end the motion at Down-Forward. If you accidentally continue through to Forward, you'll get the Ti-Kau Koun instead.

The LK version will knock down on the ground. The HK version goes higher up into the air, but beware - it knocks down only on second hit that rarely connects. Both versions are great for going through fireballs unharmed, and unlike the Ti Kau Koon, Samchay has a lot of invincibility when he performs this, which makes it perfect for anti-air or wakeup purposes. The LK version also pushes them back pretty far on block. Try to master the joystick motion for this if you intend on playing Samchay seriously.

Pap So Kau: /

Damage	36 total	Startup, dash frames				Recovery
On hit	+2/+5
On block	-3/0
Frame count	Light	10	2	1	4	12
Frame count	Heavy	12	2	1	4	12

Samchay charges forward and does a elbow + knee attack. This move is great for combos off his standing HK, but unfortunately does not combo off of any light attack. Active frames appears only after dash is over and both hits' hitboxes are identical horizontally. That means that the second hit may not connect if done too far. Heavy version goes farther, light version comes out a bit earlier.

The Basics

The most important thing to learn when playing Samchay is to know the range of his Ti Kau Koons. While it's a great move, if you use it when you're too close to the opponent and they block, you'll end up getting thrown, or even worse, comboed. So don't overuse it.

Pap So Kau, on the other hand, is always safe on block, but of course there's a delay before the attack actually comes out. If you manage to make somebody block one though, they'll usually immediately retaliate with a sweep (or similar move). That is a good time to use a Ti-Kau Koun, to beat whatever move they have sticking out and knock them down. Of course this won't work every time...

Samchay can dizzy a lot of opponents very quickly, thanks to his 2-hit standing HK and special moves that hit twice, usually to the mid-section (which is the most common weak point). Unfortunately, finding those openings can sometimes be tricky. You may instead have to rely on his cr.LK x3, + HK combo. This is an extremely useful combo as it allows you to do half-decent damage off a light attack, and you have plenty of time to hit confirm. If the opponent is blocking, end the chain instead with a crouching HK into a + to push them back.

Samchay's fireball is most excellent, against some characters you can spam it without any fear of instant retaliation. A lot of characters do have moves that let them pass through/under/over fireballs though, it's them you have to watch out for. Against anyone else, fireball trapping them in the corner is always a viable strategy. Throw a few fireballs, try to get them to jump, and if they do you can knock them out of the air every time with a Ti-KauRoi (the vertical one).

Combos

s. HK (2 hits) xx HK Ti Kau Koon
s. HK (2 hits) xx HP+HK Pap So Kau
c. LK, s. HK (2 hits) xx HK Ti Kau Koon
c. LK, Standing HK (2 hits) xx HP+HK Pap So Kau
c. LK, c. LK, c. LK, s. LK xx HK Ti-Kau Koun
s. HP xx HP Matron Jusalop, F+HP xx HK Ti Kau Koon [corner only]

Advanced Strategy

Pap So Kau, Ti-Kau Kou if the character is projectile or not.

Match-ups

Ray

Lee

Zaz

Kar

Jea

Miz

Sam

Yun

Mat

Clo

Fei

Mar

Ryo

Samchay

-

Vs. Clown:

Dead even. You both will have tools to hit each others' weak spots. A key thing to remember is Clown's handplant because he will attempt to punish your fireballs. If you see the hand plant coming, Teakoukoun to safety then Teakoukon him whilst he is recovering. Clown has a strong anti air regiment so don't expect to score many jump ins against him.

Vs. Jean:

You're in for a world of hurt. Jean's damage glitch hits your weak spot, giving a 1.5x bonus to his already spectacular damage. Throwing fireballs is effective, but you have to correctly space them so Jean cannot slide under them. If you catch a sliding Jean off guard, punish him with Teakoukoun.

Vs. Ryoko:

Use your projectile to keepaway her, if she is close to you or evade your projectile Tikakou it

Vs. Karnov:

Balanced matchup, Karnov don't had a good projectile like you so far combat is your option, trade hits of 100 Kick rush with Tikai Rou

Vs. Lee:

VERY bad for Samchay. Lee is so fast. If you can time dp Teakoukoun then you can counter zetsu, but it is risky to predict. Lee will capitalize on the fact that he can hit your weak spot and will abuse his standing and low HP to hit confirm into zestu. If he whiffs, Teakoukon him.

Vs. Feilin:

Good matchup, Feilin can counter you with her overhead projectile ,try to get close to her with Tikakou or Pap Sokap to ruin her meta game

Vs. Yungmie:

Fair Matchup, air projectile spams can be your main problem, try to get close to her with Tikakou or Pap Sokap.

Vs. Marstorius:

This match definitely goes to Samchay. Throw fireballs, and throw out standing light punches. His only choice is to jump over fireballs and get hit by light punches. Poor Marstorius has no way to deal with your standing light punch.