Introduction

Katana (Sodom in the English version) is a self-proclaimed student of Japan and its culture. A former henchman of the Mad Gear Gang, Sodom aims to revive the crime ring and is consumed with revenge toward Guy.

Players to watch: shanebadoo, xQj(aka zoo & yw10)

Sodom is a character who has a pretty nice number of options from mid and close range. Using the Jigoku Scrape he can apply pressure at the middle range to get them blocking then go for big damage with his mixup game.

Pros:

Wide variety of normals with unique uses, including jitte (tsai) normals.
Good set of supers
Damaging mixups
Can damage in mid-range and through grappling

Cons:

Lacks reliable anti-airs against many characters
Struggles against fireball zoning
CC damage is unreliable and only average damage.

Move Analysis

Normal Moves

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
8	3	7	-	0	-	mid
Just seems like a normal

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
11	6	10	-	+5	-	mid	-
This is a decent normal, mainly because it gives frame advantage. It doesn't have too many hit frames but, even if you mess the meaty up, you still have enough frame advantage to link cr.Lk.png xx Hp.png slash, meaty or not.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
18	8	16	-	+7	-	mid	-
Stabs high with both weapons, good damage. Whiffs vs. most the cast, very helpful to zone characters that can't duck it. Use vs. Gief and Sagat, good to hit fireballs too.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
7	1	4	-	+2	-	mid
Kick to the shin, can walk up and repeatedly do these, but not too much if they have meter. Seems to give some frame advantage.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
10-12	4	8	-	+3	-	mid
Straight kick, good poke, decent range, cancellable too. Best whiff punisher, xx slash. It is also his best meaty simply because it has a lot of hit frames, and if you mess up, you are safe. If hit super meaty, you can link a cr. into combo finisher of choice. I would do +, cause if you mess up you are safe. Other than that cr. xx + is your best bet.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
12-13	6	12	-	-7	-	mid	-
Decent poke, good range, but slow. You -will- be CC'd if you whiff. Kick straight out while moving forward slightly. It's a meaty, but you get pushed too far away to link anything.

cr.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
8	3	5	-	+3	-	mid
Crouching jab that hits mid.

cr.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
12-14	6	9	-	-3	-	mid	-
This is move is actually really bad. It's only useful for going under tatsu.

cr.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
11-17/9	8/6	6/11	-	-11/-6	-	mid	1st hit
Uppercut. Decent AA, but not the greatest, will get beat by early jump-ins or Chun.

cr.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
7	3	5	-	-2	-
OK range. Can be used to combo after a meaty st.

cr.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
12-14	6	10	-	0	-		-
Slow, can't cancel. Decent meaty because it hits low, but all you can get off is cr. xx slash. The link is relatively difficult.

cr.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
14-17	8	10	-	-19	-		-
Used wrong, this move will get you killed. Straight up free CC, sweep, etc. if not used right. This move is safe when use as anti-air, though a lot of times it gets blocked, but you are safe. Goes under fireballs, which is its best use. Use with caution, is a good move though.

dj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
9	3	9	-	-	-		-
Hitbox is nowhere near as good as the neutral jump version, no real use since and have much better hitboxes on them, while and do better damage. Best to avoid.

dj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
12	6	8	-	-	-		-
Same as but with slightly more damage.

dj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
14	8	6	-	-	-		-
Slashes downward with both weapons, good air-to-air, good to hit fireballers.

dj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
9	3	6	-	-	-		-
I use this a lot, good vertical range and hitbox. Sodom's best crossup.

dj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
11-12	6	6	-	-	-		-
Looks similar to J , but with more damage. The hitbox extends further in front of him compared with j., so it's a better jump-in if you know you won't crossup.

dj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
13	8	6	-	-	-		-
Dropkick. Good air-to-air and good hitbox, overall a good move. If you use it to punish a fireball, you might get hit in the head by the fireball.

nj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
9	3	9	-	-	-		-
Seems to have a good disjointed hitbox on the blade, but there doesn't seem to be a good use for the move.

nj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
11-13	6	9	-	-	-		-
Same as j. but with more damage.

nj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
15-19	8	9	-	-	-		-
Slashes downward with both weapons, big wall of a hitbox. I love this move, good air-to-air. Best Neutral jump combo starter.

nj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
9	3	6	-	-	-		-
Poor hitbox and no real use for the move. Best to avoid.

nj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
11-13	6	7	-	+-	-		-
Same as but with better damage. Best to avoid.

nj.

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
14-18	8	7	-	-	-		-
Dropkick . Good air-to-air and good hitbox, overall a good move.

Normal Throws

/+/ - He tosses you way up and away, follow up with HP slash to get close if not teched.

/+ - He tosses you low. You can juggle with any level super, but stick to level 1. You miss a lot of hits at higher levels and it's a waste of meter. Good to kill off a mofo. Level 1 juggle for two hits, all on some (Bison)

Alpha Counters

+- It's basically his slash. Use only vs. jump-ins and fireballs, good AC.

+- His sweep, good for ground moves.

Special Moves

Jigoku Scrape

+

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
-	-	-	-	-	-	mid	-
Combos from or cr.. Sodom slashes upward with his jitte. Used right, this move will annoy your opponent. No one can crouch under it and it is safe on block at any distance. Hell, if you do this move at point blank and block, they can't punish you with a CC. When spaced right, you can land a sweep afterward if they try anything. Due to this move being safe on block you can try a number of things afterward and test how your opponent reacts. You can make the opponent scared to hit you with another Jigoku Slash, and once they're conditioned to block you can even go for a grab super (if in range), which is only escapable by DP/CC since this game allows you to grab jumps.

Jigoku Scrape

+

Damage	Stun	Startup	Active	Frame Adv	Meter	Block	Properties
-	-	-	-	-	-	mid	-
Combos from or cr.. Sodom slashes upward with his jitte. Use this move when you think they'll jump. It's a rather risky anti-air though because most characters can crouch under it. You should be safe if it's blocked, but if done point blank you can be punished by a CC. Zangief and Sagat can't crouch under this move.

+ - This move is good in far combos because it knocks down. Always follow up with sweep, in case they safe roll. Beware: if blocked, free CC or combo. The move is safe if you only hit with the 2nd hit, but if the opponent blocks both hits the move is punishable.

+ - Yay, I love this move. Cancels and grabs form at any range in corner. Midscreen, point blank , cr. xx + will grab.

+ - "Daikyou Burning" This is what you want to combo into, because it hurts. A lot. Crazy priority, will grab any limb, even Sim's from fullscreen. Combos only off a cr. midscreen, in the corner will work. This is his CC ender. If blocked, you are in trouble.

j., c. CC + is the only combo you should be doing if the opponent is dizzy.

+ - "Counter" Also known as the move you use to get kicked in the face. Don't use it. Just don't.

+ - "Tengu Walk" An alternative to tech rolling. Can be done even when tech rolling can't, like after a throw. Good to use time from time, can be thrown. 3 hits and safe on block.

+ - "Kouten Okiagari" A backwards tech roll. The distance is determined by how far your last normal tech roll was.

Super Moves

+ - Combos at all levels from any cancellable normal. Not the greatest super but I do combo off of a crossup cr. xx + because it gets all hits. Safe if blocked, but comboed from a distance isn't too wise cause the last hit usually misses. During the Lvl 3 version, Sodom does a jumping stab at the end, which can be ducked then punished. Level 3 is typically a poor use of meter.

+ - His grab super. Best bet is j. then super, or then super, but it's escapable by CC/DP. This connects from max range or slash. Vs gief you can start the match with it. Not consistent though, sometimes they can just jump. Weird.

The Basics

The Basics

Sodoms LP Jigoku Scrape is unpunishable from max range, so you can use it as a safe poke from that distance to cover the ground and air. Your opponent is well outside of their attack range from this distance so this will make it very hard to get in. When you perform a max range LP Scrape, you can follow up with another LP Scrape, or a MP Scrape an early jump attempt or hesitate before throwing the 2nd LP Scrape. This allows you to bait reversal attempts and Alpha Counters once your opponent gets used to the timing.

Another solid option is his cr.HK slide, which has amazing range. Its useful for whiff punishing at mid range or catching opponents walking backwards. The catch is, you must do this move from max range as well to prevent punishment on block.

Once you land cr.HK or any Jigoku Scrape lands on an airborne opponent, follow them with a HP Scrape. This will move Sodom into attack range while covering the possibility of a recovery roll from the opponent. Be aware that you will barely recover before they stand so it will be hard to perform some of his slower attack options on your opponents wakeup ( eg. cl st.MP).

Basic Offense

Sodom's Butsumetsu Buster has absolutely massive range, enabling you to grab your opponent from unexpected distances. Also, the slow start up time enables it to be cancelled into from light or medium attacks, in which case it grabs your opponent just as they recover from blockstun. This makes it fairly easy to setup tick Butsumetsus without having to agonize over timing too much.

When the opponent is hesitant to recovery roll after cr.HK (because of the possiblity of the HP Scrape follow-up), go for the cross-up j.LK. Perform the j.LK at different points during the jump-in to dictate whether it hits the enemy from the front or back ( before you pass over the enemies head to hit from the front, or after you pass for behind). If the cross-up hits, link cl st.LK xx HP Jigoku Scrape.

Close st.MP is a strong attack opening if you have enough time to do it against a standing enemy. If it hits it's possible to link cr.LK xx HP Jigoku Scrape afterwards. If it doesn't hit use the frame advantage to follow up.

Defensive Notes

One of Sodom's biggest weaknesses is his lack of a consistent anti-air. Most times you can rely on cr.HP but its slow and unreliable against good jump in attacks. when you are having difficulty dealling with certain jump attacks the only other options are to CC or use his P Alpha Counter.

MEATIES!!!!!

s.mk is his best simply because it has alot of hit frames, and if you mess up, you are safe. If hit super meaty, you can link a c.fp into combo finisher of choice, I would do qcf+lp, cause if you mess up you are safe. Other than that c.lk xx qcf+hp is your best bet.

c.mk is a decent meaty cause it hits low, but all you can get off is c.lk xx hp slash, but the link is so so, have to be sorta precise.

s.mp doesnt have too many hit frames, but if you mess the meaty up, you still have enough frame advantage to link c.lk xx hp slash, meaty or not.

meaty qcf+p, cc setup, safe if blocked or hit, cant combo after, but beats wake up cc blowout attemps.

s.hk is a meaty but you get pushed to far away to link anything, if you even could. But it is a meaty.

360 powerbomb set ups

SETUPS

Corner:

Meaty s.MK, c.LK xx 360+LP

s.LK, s.MK xx 360+LP (gotta CC/DP)
walking s.LKs, cancel into 360+LP
jump up, j.HP xx 360+LP

Midscreen:

Any tick into 360, qcf+HP to get close, grab on wake-up with 360+LP
Any tick into 360, qcf+HP to get close, s.MK xx qcf+LP

You can mix it up however you want, just make sure they don't see the grab coming. Also if meaty s.MK hits, link cr.LK xx qcf+HP.

Lp Scrape

This is his best move, with good priority. The move sets up his ac and supers perfectly. There are alot of things he can do after this is hit or blocked.

1. Wait to see it they jump, then mp scrape AA

2. Slide if expecting a firebal

3. 720 grab super, make sure they have no meter cause this can be ccd

4. Scrape super to punish jumpers for 2-3 hits juggle, and safe on block

5. another lp scrape

6. jump in fp

7. Block then Alpha couter anything they do

Advanced Strategy

-Knock'em down, keep'em down-

Thats the rule of thumb, Sodom has a hard time getting to people, so when you got them down keep'em there. Sodom is good vs a cornered opponent. Several thing you can do after a knockdown:

-Meaty into 360 tick (stated above in 360 section)

- Throw

-Jump up, do nothing, throw

-Go for a meaty combo ex. s.mk, c.lk xx hp slash

-Jump up come down with fp, tick into super/360

-Jump up, come down with hp, 360+lp

-Walking lks into hp throw

-Meaty s.mk, s.mk xx 360+lp

-Walking lks, s.mk xx 360+lp

-meaty s.mk, walk up throw

-block if you think they will cc

You will stay in the corner after a 360 ticks, then mix up again with the above options.

-walking lks, s.mk xx qcf+lp which leads toooooooo:

1. Another qcf+lp

2. If you have opponent hesitant to attack 360/720 (if in distance)

3. qcf+mp if you think they will jump, (knocks down, refer to knockdowns)

4. jump in fp

5. Super if the chip/trade will kill them

6. c.rh if in c.rh sweet spot

7. do nothing to bait cc, AC

Combos

Anytime you get a opening you want to use to get the knockdown and keep up pressure, for big opening use +.

xx +

cr. xx +

meaty , cr. xx +

, cr. xx +

cr. xx +

xx +

Custom Combos

Unfortunately, his good cc is if they are standing, so blow out ccs are great. Crouching opponents suck. gotta be precise.

Standing

Lvl 1 c.mk xx qcf++mp x2, c.hp xx 360+hk

This cc does about 45%, which is awesome for a lvl one. Higher lvls just add more qcf+mps, end with c.hp xx 360+hk for max damage. I think lvl 3 you can get 7 slashes.

Crouching

c.mk, qcf+lp, qcf+lp, 360+hk

Actually i been messing around a bit and for most cases you can just qcf+lp, end with 360+hk. No c.hp though, you will be too far. You CAN combo into his 360+p grab, but it does less than the combos above.

.....but at higher levels (depending on distance) you get pushed away, so you have to trip and juggle with hp slash, which sucks, or you can mash random shit, then 360+hk to end. I usually have them standing, so idk lol.

AA CC

activate, c.hp, then start juggling with qcf+mp or hp.

Ive had limited success with s.lp into mp scrapes

I'll add more as time goes on, this is just basic shit.

Taunt CC

End any CC with qcf+hp, and then hit taunt.

Ex. lvl 1 activate c.mk xxqcf+hp xx taunt

Sodom: any lvl standing or on anyone who cant duck mp scrape: c.mk xx mp scrape xN, c.fp xx 360+hk

On anyone who can duck it use lp scrape but dont use c.fp, go straight into 360+hk

Match-ups

vs. Adon- This match up is mainly footsie and normals. Adon has no safe moves unless perfectly distanced and/or when Sodom has no meter. Any jaguar kick should be punished with custom combo or c.lk xx hp scrape. Any jaguar tooth just jump up and come down with a jump attack, if you have meter it is a free custom from anywhere on the screen. If a Jaguar Tooth does manage to slip by and force you to block you can simply alpha counter. Punish Rising Jaguar as you would any reversal type dp.

vs. Akuma-

vs. Birdie-

vs. Charlie-

vs. Chun-Li- Against jumping chun : chunli can either stick her legs out early or late when she jumps. Sodom can counter in 5 ways :

Jumping back roundhouse - this is just on reaction/prediction. Sodom has an above average air to air roundhouse.
Crouching fierce : against chunli who sticks leg out late
Throw : against chunli for sticks leg out early
Alpha counter : against chunli who sticks leg out early
His air catchy thingie : for fun :slight_smile:
Against crouching forward chun, try sticking out standing short and fierce at max range. You can also throw in a jab 360 every now and then and it WILL hit Chun from that range. If you have a level 2 or above meter jump straight up. From there you get multiple options

If Chun walks forward you do jumping forward.
If Chun tries to crouch forward + roundhouse you can 720 or do rush super.
If Chun jumps you block, then throw her ass when you both land.
Sodom’s effective range IMO is about 1 to 2 characters outside Chun’s crouching forward range. Mainly you have to use standing fierce and jab jitte scrap to keep her there. Build up that meter and AC anything she throws at you. Chunli can’t CC you from that range.

Another important thing to remember about Sodom is that he can recover roll BACKWARDS. Always always roll backwards whenever you hit the floor. This puts you in your ideal range and Chun has to work her way back in.

Sodom has a solid ground game, but Chun’s j.lk is just insane. Although like you said, positioning is paramount. Sodom CAN counter it although you end up using many flimsy anti-airs depending on the situation. I end up just saving meter for the AC and just trying to stay out of the way of her jump.

Sodom’s C.RH is great. It accents his ground game very well, and is his best mid-range move, IMO. Learn the range on it. His Standing strong and standing forward are also good, and you can cancel the forward into a jab Jitte Slash, then possibly follow it up with a Slide. His crouching short is also important, and every so often I buffer it into his 360+P. This is effective but should be done no more than like, twice a match because it is not a tick and you can be jabbed out of it on reaction. Sometimes I’ll use a standing strong after a crouching short, because it will whack people jumping away expecting the 360. More later.

vs. Dan-

vs. Dhalsim- Pretty tough match up if Sim is good. Good thing in this match up is fp scrape and 360+lk score knockdownson his limbs. 360+lk is to be used from full screen when Sim can only slightly punish. Use to grab a limb from fullscreen and score a knockdown, but only as a last resort (the sim is really keeping you out and you desperately need in).

vs. Gen-

vs. Guy-

vs. Ken- Vs. Ken’s zero-counter, he can 720k back even though he gets HIT by the counter (must be on the ground of course). He ticks very well and his c.SP and c.FP has very good range and priority. His counter has very long range and his slide is excellent as well.

vs. M. Bison (dictator)-

vs. Rolento-

vs. Rose-

vs. Ryu-

vs. Sagat-

vs. Sakura-

vs. Sodom- (self)

vs. Zangief- Heavily in Sodom's favor due to the insane range of s.fp and mp scrape. This is the most difficult match up for Zangief and easiest for Sodom when played right. Abuse mp scrape and s.fp. Mp scrape and s.fp beat anything Zangief does except df+rh and df+mk. S.fp will lose to PPP, but mp scrape beats PPP and KKK. If Zangief is spamming df+hk you can get free jump ins. You should save all meter for alpha counters only, when Zangief does get in simply alpha counter (which is mp scrape) and you are back to zoning. If you get knocked down or grabbed with no meter Gief can win the match fairly quick, so don't let Gief get in. Keep in mind that Sodom cannot anti air Gief and cannot contest command throws.

Miscellaneous

Taunt/Select button- Sodom's taunt. Has a hitbox, and is possible to kill with in a CC.

Tengu Walk Glitch

If Sodom does his Tengu Walk (412+K) while falling, it gives him his throwbox back on the way down and he can be air thrown before hitting the ground.
--Veri7as September 2021