Soulcalibur VI/Astaroth/Strategy

Combat Lessons

Fighting Style

Mighty swings of the giant ax used in this powerful and aggressive style smash into foes. and vicious grapples squash them while they are trying to recover from the blow.

The name "Gyulkus" comes from the word "protection" in the language of a certain evil cult, but the fighting methods on offer here are all about offense and destruction. A single blow can do devastating damage; even if an opponent should block, they'll find themselves knocked off balance, giving the fighter a chance to create distance.

Should the fighter wish to go on the attack, they transform into an unstoppable force. Barreling their way forward seemingly without any regard for their own health, they can unleash overpowering attacks that completely incapacitate their opponent.

Style Lesson: Beginner

Destroy with Incomparable Throws

This style's biggest assets are its wide range of throws and their devastating damage. Move in, grab, and crush your foes. Your best bet for obliterating opponents is a combo of Flight of the Wicked (214A+G) into Hades Cannon (22_88B). The runner-up is Titan Bomb (236A+G). How often you can land these two depends on your skill. Both 214A+G and 236A+G have a special property that increases their damage when they land as counter hits, which enables you to deal high amounts of damage by throwing your opponent when they start performing a move or an 8-way run.

Flight of the Wicked
214A+G

214A+G - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	35	LNC	LNC	LNC	-
4 40 damage if fastest input

Hades Cannon
22_88B

(2)_(8)B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
30	60	-12	KND	KND	15%
on opponent who missed a light attack

Titan Bomb
236A+G

236A+G - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	65	KND	KND	KND	-
70 damage if fastest input

Setting Up Throws

In order to throw an opponent, you will need to be close, and they will need to be in a standing guard. Bull Rush (33_66_99K) is a charge that avoids many high attacks, so it is great for getting you through screening moves. If the foe does an 8-way run from a distance, try to get a counter hit with Hades Control (6A) and bring them closer.

Bull Rush
33_66_99K

(3)_(6)_(9)K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	26	-6	12	KND	9%
Tech Crouch[6-RC]

Hades Control
6A

6A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	18	-6	4	14	4%

When you're closer, aim for a counter hit with Hades Knee (6K) and knock them back up with Brutal Grasp (against downed opponent 3A+G) for an additional assault.

Hades Knee
6K

6K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	26	-12	10	KND	9%
Tech Crouch[6-14]. after opponent breaks 4 throws in current round

Brutal Grasp
3A+G

GROUNDED 3A+G - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
-	10	-	10	10	-
unbreakable. hits downed opponent head toward

Move In with Revenge Grabs

Vicious Madness (33_66_99A+G) and Cursed Earth (11_44_77A+G) are grab moves with revenge properties. Both will allow you to move in and grab your foe, even if you are hit by a single high or middle attack.

Vicious Madness
33_66_99A+G

(3)_(6)_(9)A+G - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
46	40	KND	KND	KND	-
Armor [10-46]

Cursed Earth
11_44_77A+G

(1)_(4)_(7)A+G - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
46	60	KND	KND	KND	-
4 Armor [10-46]

Style Lesson: Adept

Striking Back in Close Combat

Most of this style's moves come out slowly, so you're at a disadvantage if the opponent gets in close and aggressive. Fast techniques like Bear Fang (4B) and Decimation (4AA) are indispensable when you're being pressed.

Bear Fang
4B

4B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	20	-8	6	KND	2%

Decimation
4AA

4AA - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
12	10,14	4	14	14	3%

Grabbing Foes at Mid Range

if you are outside of throw range and try to use a charge technique to move in, the opponent can dodge with an 8—way run. You'll need to use an appropriate horizontal attack to counter this. Hades Divide (11_44_77A) is a middle slash attack that is hard to counterattack. Holding the input will turn it into a break attack, allowing you to move first if the opponent blocks. If the opponent is further away, make use of Titan Ax (2A+B) and Flip Titan Ax (8A+B). They leave you open, but a distant opponent won't be able to counter, even if they block.

Hades Divide
11_44_77A/11_44_77[A]

(1)_(4)_(7)A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
26	22	-12	6	KND	9%
+10 dmg and KND on range hit
(1)_(4)_(7)(A) - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
44	36	8	KND	KND	9%
+4 damage on tip range.

Titan Axe/Flip Titan Axe
2A+B/8A+B

2A+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
28	32	-20	-8	-8	9%
KND and 52 damage on ranged hit, counterhit
8A+B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
28	32	-20	-8	-8	9%
KND and 52 damage on ranged hit, counterhit

Style Lesson: Master

Use Hold Inputs to Apply Pressure

Maintaining the offensive will be hard if your foe can meet your throws and attacks with a reversal edge every time. You can prevent this by holding the input on certain moves, turning them into guard breaks.

Decimation (4A[A]) and Bear Fang (4[B]) are both easy break attacks to pull off up close, so use them to move in for throws.

Decimation
4A[A]

4A(A) - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
12	10,24	8	14	14	8%

Bear Fang
4[B]

4(B) - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
42	30	6	KND	KND	10%

Master Low Throws

Throws are great for doing heavy damage against a standing guard, but this style doesn't have many balanced middle attacks that can deal with crouches.

To hit a crouching foe, try Bludgeoning Crush (2A+G against crouching opponent) or Drop of Lava (1A+G against crouching opponent). These moves have small delays, and are excellent as counters after blocking a low attack.

Bludgeoning Crush
2A+G

2A+G - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
12	45	KND	KND	KND	-
. Tech Crouch

Drop of Lava
1A+G

1A+G - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
12	55	KND	KND	KND	-
4 . Tech Crouch

Critical Edge

Final Anguish

Properties

A critical edge throw that does extraordinary damage, the attack cannot be dodged unless your opponent crouches at the right time, and it has no grapple break.

Final Anguish
A+B+K

A+B+K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
24	85	KND	KND	KND	-
Unbreakable

Tips

This attack is effective any time the opponent is standing. and is especially useful after a successful guard impact. Follow up with this technique or a break attack.

Soul Charge

Close Combat Made Easier

The move Cerberus Surge (during soul charge 236A) becomes available. This is a dash toward the foe while making a horizontal swing. so it is an excellent tool for closing in.

Cerberus Surge
SC 236A

SC 236A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
20	68	8	KND	KND	19%
Normal Hit Combo

More Revenge Moves for Better Melee

You have access to additional moves that have revenge properties: Cyclopean Swipe (during soul charge 6BB) and Apocalypse Rush (during soul charge 33_66_99KK). They will let you attack, even if the opponent hits you once.

Cyclopean Swipe
SC 6BB

SC 6BB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
40	24,28	6	24	24	20%
. Normal Hit Combo. +24G on hit (can guard)

Apocalypse Rush
SC 33_66_99KK

SC (3)_(6)_(9)KK - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
18	28,23	-10	KND	KND	12%
Normal Hit Combo. Tech Crouch Armor [6-16]

No Hold Needed for Hold Inputs

Chains that ordinarily need you to hold the button during the first attack like Double Discus (1[A]A) and Discus Breaker (1[A]B) no longer require this during a soul charge.

Double Discus/Bringer of Ruin
1[A]A/SC 1AA

1(A)A - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
56	32,27	-24	KND	KND	5%
Normal Hit Combo. Tech Crouch [11-RC]
SC 1AA - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
36	35,30	-24	KND	KND	5%
Normal Hit Combo. Tech Crouch [11-RC]. Armor [8-32]

Discus Breaker/Ruinous Discus Breaker
1[A]B/SC 1AB

1(A)B - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
56	32,32	8	KND	KND	16%
. Normal Hit Combo. Tech Crouch [11-RC]
SC 1AB - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
36	35,35	8	KND	KND	16%
BA. Normal Hit Combo. Tech Crouch [11-RC]. Armor [8-32]

Fiendish Assault

A middle horizontal soul attack. It has a quick start-up and is easy to land against an 8-way run, making it perfect for close-range combat. Many of Astaroth's middle attacks are horizontal, so use this attack to slow the opponent down and shift to a soul charge. Holding the button will give the attack revenge properties, so take advantage of them if the situation calls for it.

Fiendish Assault
236A+B+K/236[A+B+K]

236A+B+K - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
16	39	-6	4	4	9%
++ 236(A)+(B)+(K) - Attack Level:
Impact	Damage	Block	Hit	Counter	Guard Burst
30	39	2	12	12	9%
Armor [16-22].

Reversal Edge

Following Up with A

An attack the knocks the opponent back whether it hits or is blocked. If used at the edge of a stage, it can cause a ring out or initiate a wall combo, making it a potential key to victory.

Following Up with B

An attack throw that sends the opponent sliding back a great distance on hit. This can be used to slam them against the wall or cause a ring out. On a lethal hit, this will send the foe from one edge of the arena to the other, so using this on a second reversal edge is excellent for ring outs.

Following Up with K

A powerful downward fist slam. If this hits, or is even blocked, you can get a guaranteed grab with Bludgeoning Crush (2A+G against crouching opponent) or Drop of Lava (1A+G against crouching opponent).