Kawasumi Mai (EFZ)

Introduction

Kawasumi Mai (川澄 舞) is a calm, versatile character who fights with a sword in the "Iai" style, and is able to summon a ghostly apparition to assist her in battle. Her sword gives her excellent attack area and range, but can be relatively slow to recover. Her ghost gives her a reliable partner that can attack without placing her master at risk.

Mai is actually one of the heroines of Kanon, a visual novel produced by Key in 1999. She is close friends with Kurata Sayuri.

Stage: Courtyard of the Full Moon (満月の中庭)

BGM: Girl's Prison (少女の檻)

Character-Specific Notes

• Mai is able to air jump once, and air dash/backstep once. Once Mai has air dashed/backstepped, she cannot perform any more air jumps until she lands or air recovers.
• Mai's ground dash is actually a fast jump forward. She cannot cancel this "dash", and does not have any dash attacks.
• Mai can summon a ghostly bunny-girl to assist her. While Mai's ghost is floating idle, a "Time" gauge will appear underneath her life gauge, displaying the amount of time left before it is automatically recalled. Mai's ghost can also be manually recalled by certain moves, or forcibally recalled by the opponent hitting either Mai or the ghost. After the ghost is recalled, a "Charge" gauge will appear underneath her life gauge, indicating the amount of time left before the ghost can be summoned again.
• If Mai uses her "Awakening" move, a "Time" gauge will appear underneath her life gauge, displaying the amount of time left before she turns back to normal.

Normal Moves

The notation for the movelists can be found under Move List Notation (EFZ).

Move	Hits	Damage	Guard	Move Cancel	Jump Cancel	IC Cancel
5A	?	?	?	?	?	?
2A	?	?	?	?	?	?
j.A	?	?	?	?	?	?
5B(c)	?	?	?	?	?	?
5B(f)	?	?	?	?	?	?
2B	?	?	?	?	?	?
j.B	?	?	?	?	?	?
5C	?	?	?	?	?	?
2C	?	?	?	?	?	?
j.C	?	?	?	?	?	?
Throw	?	?	?	?	?	?
j.Throw	?	?	?	?	?	?
Iron Breaker
4C	?	?	?	?	?	?

Weak Attacks

5A

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2A

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j.A

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Medium Attacks

5B (close)

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5B (far)

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2B

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j.B

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Strong Attacks

5C

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2C

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j.C

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Throws

Throw

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Air Throw

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Command Normals

Iron Breaker (破鉄)

• Mai does a short-ranged shoulder tackle into the opponent. It moves her a bit forward, will knock down the opponent if it hits, and has decent priority.
• When coupled with the high version of "Dispersing", this move is an effective way to extend corner combos against "short" characters. Also, if the "Iron Breaker" is guarded, the long recovery time can be cut by cancelling into quick attacks like "Ground Fold" or "Dispersing".

Special Moves

The notation for the movelists can be found under Move List Notation (EFZ).

Move	Hits	Damage	Guard	IC Cancel
Dispersing
6A	?	?	?	?
6B	?	?	?	?
6C	?	?	?	?
Lonely Moon
j.623A	?	?	?	?
j.623B	?	?	?	?
j.623C	?	?	?	?
Ground Fold
412A	?	?	?	?
412B	?	?	?	?
412C	?	?	?	?
> Ground Fold Followup Kick [During "Ground Fold" A-version]
> Hold A	?	?	?	?
> Ground Fold Followup Beheading [During "Ground Fold" B-version]
> Hold B	?	?	?	?
Using Assist-Combo
236A	?	?	?	?
236B	?	?	?	?
236C	?	?	?	?
Using Assist-Explosion
623A	?	?	?	?
623B	?	?	?	?
623C	?	?	?	?
Using Assist-Tornado
214A	?	?	?	?
214B	?	?	?	?
214C	?	?	?	?
Summon Mai
S	?	?	?	?
> Controlling Assist-Combo [During "Summon Mai"]
> 236S	?	?	?	?
> Controlling Assist-Tornado [During "Summon Mai"]
> 22S	?	?	?	?
> Controlling Assist-Shock [During "Summon Mai"]
> 412S	?	?	?	?
> Controlling Assist-Assault [During "Summon Mai"]
> 214S	?	?	?	?
> Controlling Assist-Destruction [During "Summon Mai", SP Level 1-3]
> 214214A	?	?	?	?
> 214214B	?	?	?	?
> 214214C	?	?	?	?
Using Assist-Destruction [SP Level 1-3]
214214A	?	?	?	?
214214B	?	?	?	?
214214C	?	?	?	?
Wheat Grain Mowing [SP Level 1-3]
236236A	?	?	?	?
236236B	?	?	?	?
236236C	?	?	?	?
Awakening [1/3 HP, SP Level 3]
236236S	?	?	?	?
> Dispersing Zero Type [During "Awakening"]
> 6A	?	?	?	?
> 6B	?	?	?	?
> 6C	?	?	?	?
> Life Scythe Zero Type [During "Awakening"]
> 214A/B/C	?	?	?	?
> Heart that accepted everything [During "Awakening"]
> 236236S	?	?	?	?
> 236236S (close)	?	?	?	?

Specials

Dispersing (霧散)

• A version:
  • Mai performs a quick pinpoint slash angled upwards. This special move is jump cancellable on hit, unlike most special moves.
  • Because of the recovery time and attack area of this move, it is only useful during a combo. This move juggles opponents well, allowing extended IAD loops in/near the corner or an unrecoverable knockdown option from mid screen.
• B version:
  • Mai performs a quick pinpoint slash straight forward.
  • This move is most useful as Mai's primary combo ender/extender against the characters susceptible to it. However, it will miss certain "short" characters. This move also serves a limited use as a mid-screen poke.
    • The following characters can crouch under this move, even while in crouched hitstun: Mayu, Mio, Ayu, Sayuri, Kano, Ikumi, Unknown, Nayuki (sleeping). Be cautious about using this move against them out of habit. All remaing characters can be hit by delaying the attack just before recovering from hitstun.
• C version:
  • Mai performs a quick pinpoint slash at the floor. This move is move cancelable, which is especially rare among special moves.
  • It is pretty useful as a combo finisher that works on all characters, no matter how short they might be. This move also serves a limited use as a mid-screen poke.

Lonely Moon (孤月)

• A version:
  • Mai performs an aerial somersault with her sword extended. Cannot be guarded low. Has a good amount of priority.
  • This move has overhead properties and is very formidable in Mai's high/low game, especially when performed from the ground (using a 6239A motion). When using in this fashion, it becomes one of Mai's most useful attacks. However, if this move is successfully guarded, you become quite vulnerable.
• B version:
  • Mai performs an aerial somersault with her sword extended. It has better startup and recovery than the A version, but does not have the overhead property. Has a good amount of priority.
  • Not too useful in Mai's game. Can be used to punish air techs to some extent.
• C version:
  • Mai performs a faster, more damaging version of her A version "Lonely Moon". Very good priority.
  • Like the A version, this move posesses overhead properties, but due to the height that it launches the opponent, combo followups are not possible. Consumes RF meter.

Ground Fold (縮地)

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Ground Fold Followup Kick (縮地追蹴)

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Ground Fold Followup Beheading (縮地追斬)

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Using Assist-Combo (力の行使・連撃)

• A version:
  • Mai summons her ghost directly in front of her, who performs a short barrage of bunny-ear punches. The ghost is recalled automatically afterwards.
  • [usefulness]
• B version:
  • Mai summons her ghost directly in front of her, who performs a slightly longer barrage of bunny-ear punches. The ghost stays on screen afterwards.
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• C version:
  • Mai summons her ghost directly in front of her, who performs a very long barrage of bunny-ear punches while moving a great distance forward. The ghost stays on screen afterwards.
  • This move is one of Mai's most effective ways to lock down an opponent and push them into the corner.

Using Assist-Explosion (力の行使・爆発)

• Mai summons her ghost somewhere on the screen, who attacks by creating a small energy orb in front of her. The ghost stays on screen afterwards. The button used determines the location of the ghost (A = close, B = midscreen, C = far).
• This move is useful as a ranged attack. It can also be used to place the ghost behind the opponent.

Using Assist-Tornado (力の行使・竜巻)

• Mai's ghost appears from the ground and ascends skyward with a helicopter-like attack. The button used determines the location of the ghost (A = close, B = midscreen, C = far).
• This move is useful as a ranged anti-air attack which can easily interrupt the opponent's offensive rush before they get within striking distance of Mai.

Summon Mai (まい召喚)

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Controlling Assist-Combo (力の操作・連撃)

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Controlling Assist-Tornado (力の操作・竜巻)

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Controlling Assist-Shock (力の操作・電撃)

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Controlling Assist-Assault (力の操作・突撃)

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Eterny Specials

Controlling Assist-Destruction (力の操作・破壊)

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Using Assist-Destruction (力の行使・破壊)

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Wheat Grain Mowing (麦穂薙)

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Final Memory

Awakening (覚醒)

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Dispersing Zero Type (霧散零式)

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Life Scythe Zero Type (暮薙零式)

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Heart that accepted everything (全てを受け入れた心)

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Strategy, Tactics, and Combos

Combos

[insert combos here :(]

More Pressure than a Honey Bear

When Mai has the initiative, you can go for her high-low mixup, which mainly consists of her 2A for low attacks, and her Tiger-kneed-"Lonely Moon" move (6239A) for the high attack. The Lonely Moon has a lot of recovery if blocked, but you can hinder the opponent from taking advantage by either using Mai's ghost to cover you, or with an IC. After an IC, you can continue your mind games by either immediately attacking with j.A a high attack, wait for your character to land before using 2A for a low attack, air-dashing forward for a split-second before using j.A, or land and throw the opponent.

The Stylish Final Technique

Because Mai's pressure increases so much while she has Awakened, the opponent may tend to block a lot more. If you sense the pressure invading the opponent's mind, you can try quickly teleporting in with a normal Ground Fold, then going straight into the "Heart that accepted everything"-grab FM.

Win Quotes

Japanese	English
遅い 当たらない攻撃に 意味は無い…	Too slow. An attack that doesn't hit has no meaning...
単純… それでは勝てない…	Too easy... You can't win by that...
ラスボスと 主人公のタッグに 勝てると思った？ …何の話？	You thought you could beat the tag team of the final boss and the heroine? ...What am I talking about?
(To Rumi) 凄い破壊力… でも受け流せば どうという事は無い	(To Rumi) Amazing brute force... But by letting the force slide past, it does not pose much of a problem.
(To Sayuri) 佐祐理… 危険だから これ以上は 関わらないで… 私が全て 片付けるから	(To Sayuri) Sayuri... Since it's dangerous beyond this point, I can't let you get involved... I will take care of everything.
(To Ayu) 逃げないで どんな力も 授かったことに 意味は有る…	(To Ayu) Don't run (from your powers). All kinds of power have a meaning just by the fact that you have received it...
(To Mai) まだいくつか半身が 残ってるみたいだね 私が撒いた種… 全て 片付ける…	(To Mai) There seems to be some of my copies left around yet. As I sowed... As I will settle.

Colors

In-game References

External References

• The ghost that Mai summons in many of her attacks is a reference to the Stand system in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.
• Mai's "Iron Breaker" move is based on Seth's "Tackle" move, from the King of Fighters series.
• Mai's "Lonely Moon" move is based on Baiken's "Youzansen" move, from the Guilty Gear series.
• Mai's "Dispersing" and "Dispersing Zero Type" moves are based on Johnny's "Mist Finer" move, from the Guilty Gear series.
• Mai's "Using Assist-Combo" and "Controlling Assist-Combo" moves are based on both Jotaro Kujo's Stand's "Ora-Ora" move, and Dio's Stand's "Muda-Muda" move, from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.
• Mai's "Controlling Assist-Assault" move is based on both Jotaro Kujo's Stand's "Oratsu!" move, and Dio's Stand's "Mudaatsu!" move, from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.

Kanon References

• The sword that Mai uses to fight is the same one she uses to hunt demons within the school during the events of Kanon.