Labrys - Tsurugi Setup Compilation

[Serph]

Tsurugi (22A/B/C/D) is a very unique aspect about Labrys and evolves her play to new levels once you achieve an understanding of it. All versions have the same amount of startup but the range in which they appear is different.

• A appears about a characters width in front of Labrys
• B version is 2 characters width
• C version is about 2/4's of the screen
• D version is about 3/4's of the screen

Once activated, the any button can be held down to delay when the Tsurugi will emerge from the ground. For example:

Inputting 22A and holding it will delay the sword activation. But you can also input 22A then hold D so that A is once again free to you. D is the optimal button to be held in most cases as it is the least convenient compared to the other buttons available. This makes setups like Starter > Sweep > 22A~[D] > 214A possible where they wouldn't be otherwise

Notes:

• ~= Holding the corresponding button after inputting the special; [ ] = Holding down said button
• Tsurugi will cancel if Ariadne or Labrys are hit anytime doing it's active frames
• Optimal ways into Tsurugi are from Sweeps. Doing so in any other way is very unsafe
• Most setups can be avoided if the opponent chooses not to tech immediately.
• Tsurugi pressure is NEVER safe. Ever.

In this collection I will lay out the setup, what it wins against (if any), what it loses to, and give a brief explanation about the setup itself. I encourage others to share any set ups they have created themselves or if there are more optimal versions to any I have already laid out in the compilation.

Midscreen Setups

A Tsurugi

Starter > Sweep > 22A > dash in Throw

Wins Against

• Quick Escape

Loses To

• Reversals/Invul Startup Moves
• Chicken Blocking

Spoiler!

This setup is very simple. But it's also one of your best answers to Quick Escapes, which is the answer to many of her other setups. All reversals beat this option, with the exception of Liz's. You'll be able to tech her Reversal Throw after your grab whiffs

Starter > Sweep > 22A~[D] > 214A

Loses To

• Reversals/Invul Startup Moves (214A CH's Teddie and Chie's B+D if it is done as early as possible)
• Chicken Blocking
• Quick Escape

Spoiler!

An extremely risky overhead setup. 214A's animation is very DP'able and alert players will see it coming and react with a Quick Escape, Reversal, or just plain block. This setup is mainly for the player who choose to sit down down-back on wake up. Not a set up to recommend or use frequently

Starter > Sweep > 22A > IAD j.B

Wins Against

• Many B+D's

Loses To

• Yukiko, Kanji, Mitsuru B+D's/Invul Startup Moves
• Chicken Blocking (To an extent)
• Quick Escape

Spoiler!

A very effective setup. It's Reversal Baiting, Crossup, and Overhead all in one. It's only true flaws are that it can be either easily Quick Escaped, the player can simply choose to block it correct, or it will lose to certain wakeup supers. If they choose to Chicken Block, the j.B will still make contact and have you in their face. Allowing you to continue pressure. As for Reversals, this setup shuts down a lot of them.

• Labrys - Her DP will whiff and her super armor will eat the Tsurugi. Results in you being about two characters length away while shes still in recovery.
• Aigis - Unless her B+D is done as early as possible, it will whiff and she'll eat a CH j.B
• Naoto - Counter does not activate and the Tsurugi catches her
• Yu - His B+D will either whiff and he'll be in recovery, or it'll whiff and he will be caught by the Tsurugi
• Liz - B+D whiffs completely and the Tsurugi catches her
• Yosuke - His B+D will activate from the Tsurugi and he'll be in recovery within punish range
• Chie - Her B+D will either recover in time before the j.B so she can block it, or the j.B will CH her
• Teddie - B+D will whiff and he will be caught by the Tsurugi
• Akihiko - B+D will whiff and he will be caught by the Tsurugi
• Shadow Labrys - B+D will catch Ariadne and cause Tsurugi to cancel. Results in you being about two characters length away while shes still in recovery.

Starter > Sweep > 22A > Quick Escape

Wins Against

• Many B+D's

Loses To

• Yukiko and Kanji's B+D/Invul Startup Moves
• Wake Up Throws
• Chicken Blocking*
• Quick Escape

Spoiler!

This set up is pretty similar to the IAD j.B one and is easier to preform. Where most of the cast B+D's react the same way to it. This set up will have Mitsuru's B+D whiff completely and she will be caught by the Tsurugi. Aigis will be caught 100% of the time if you choose to 22C > Quick Escape. Her B+D will whiff and the Tsurugi will catch her as she's floating backwards

Starter > Sweep > 22A~[D] > 236A

Wins Against

• Specific B+D's

Loses Against

• Invul Startup Moves
• Quick Escape
• Chicken Blocking

Spoiler!

Currently the only Tsurugi setup besides blocking that will punish Yukiko's B+D. If they simply tap the button the Tsurugi will catch them. But if they choose to hold down the Dia, dash in 5A's will punish. It also is effective on other characters as well.

• Mitsuru's B+D will clash with 236A and the Tsurugi will catch her
• Yu's B+D will clash with 236A and the Tsurugi will catch him
• Yosuke's B+D will activate and the Tsurugi will catch him
• Chie's B+D will activate and the Tsurugi will catch her
• Akihiko's B+D will clash with 236A and the Tsurugi will catch him

B Tsurugi

Starter > Sweep > 22[B] > dash in 2AxN

Wins Against

• Chicken Blocking
• Quick Escape

Loses to

• Reversals/Invul Startup Moves

Spoiler!

Set up that takes advantage of 2A being a low and it's fast startup. Doing it as early as possible will stop both Quick Escapes and jumping away. But it's very suspectible to being shut down by reversals. If the opponent is too far away one wake up, opt to use Sweep instead. However that loses to Quick Escapes. 22B is used instead of 22A simply because 22A will whiff after the 2A's have connected.

C Tsurugi

[Serph]

Corner Setups

Tsurugi loses much of it's potency when it's used in the corner.

• Only the A version of Tsurugi will be available to you
• Ariadne will be directly in their face, if shes hit then Tsurugi will end

But a new entry point becomes available to you. In the form of Labry's AoA (A+B). An example of this is:

5AAA > AoA , 22A

AoA into 22A is a link, you must finish for Labrys's AoA animation to finish before you can input the special. Going into AoA as opposed to Sweep grants Labrys more frame advantage. If your too close to the corner the Tsurugi may be slightly off screen and will whiff. So be sure to be mindful of positioning.

A Tsurugi

Starter > Sweep/AoA > 22A > Throw

Wins Against

• Quick Escape

Loses To

• Reversals/Invul Startup Moves
• Chicken Blocking

Spoiler!

This is pretty much the same setup as the midscreen one. But with a much larger reward. It also loses to the same options as the other setup does

Starter > Sweep/AoA > 22A~[D] > 214A

Wins Against

• Quick Escape
• Chicken Blocking
• Throws

Loses To

• Reversals/Invul Startup Moves

Spoiler!

This setup is effective to use after you've done the Throw setups once or twice. Even if their mashing throw the 214A will hit them and the Tsurugi will connect. And if they chose to sit and block their given a very meaty overhead if you opt to use AoA instead of a Sweep thanks to the extra advantage. But like the midscreen option, it's very open to be punish by Reversals or other Invul Moves

Starter > Sweep/AoA > 22A~[D] > AoA > 22A/AoA Rush

Wins Against

• Certain B+D's

Loses To

• Quick Escape
• Chicken Blocking
• Invul Startup moves
• Certain B+D's

Spoiler!

An effective offensive setup to stop certain Reversals in the corner, and also serving as another quick overhead. It discoruages the player from wakeup B+D's and conditions them to stay put once the setup begins. For characters that have B+D's that have them airborne (Mitsuru, Yu, Aigis) you can start the setup over by inputting the 22A. For other characters you can just choose to go into the AoA rush and get nice damage in.

Labrys - Her B+D's super armor will eat both Tsurugi and the AoA if you do it as early as possible. If you miss time it, she will CH your recovery
Mitsuru - Her B+D will clip Ariadne cancelling Tsurugi, but the AoA will eat her attack and slam her back down. Allowing you to go for another 22A setup
Aigis - AoA eats her B+D and CH's her
Naoto - Naoto must delay the shooting activation of her B+D to CH. If they do it as early as possible, the AoA will eat it
Yukiko - Her B+D nullifies both attacks, but she can be punished with 5A during her recovery
Yu - If their mashing B+D, the first one will clash with the AoA and his second B+D will CH your recovery. If their not mashing then he will be slammed back down after the first B+D
Liz - Her B+D is beats AoA completely. *But her 2B loses to it
Yosuke - His B+D activates and trips you
Chie - The AoA catches her very small B+D recovery and CH's
Kanji - B+D shuts down the setup completely
Teddie - The AoA catches his B+D recovery and CH's
Akihiko - AoA eats his B+D and CH's him
Shadow Labrys - Her B+D's super armor will eat both Tsurugi and the AoA if you do it as early as possible. If you miss time it, she will CH your recovery

[Shiranui]

I am a big fan of this. A really big fan. This is one of my favorite aspects to the character.

C version only seems to get mileage if you use 2A(x3) > 5B > sweep as your entry into the Tsurugi.

If you hold it down for a moment and do a IAD j.B, it'll cross up and combo and you have some hefty damage set up.
You can also delay the dash slightly and it won't crossup on some characters. Overall not a very great setup and works only after training someone to stay put after a sweep... which is even harder to do.

[7r17r1]

What the fuck is "chicken blocking" ? x)
Never heard of it in any fighting game I played before

Anyway, you forgot to mention the result on a wake up backdash, wake up jump (especially jump straight or ahead since it may punish some of the setup), wake up short hop (invul to low at first frame, so basically rape tsurugi dash 2AxN) and... the wake up mash button :P

Also, Labrys doesn't always win or lose straight to a setup, sometimes the result is just a neutral game or a slight disadvantage (when they quick escape out of Tsurugi 214A or Tsurugi 5B, Labrys doesn't get punished for it, but neither does the opponent)

Anyway, a setup that I like to use :
Works best if Labrys is very close

sweep xx 22B~[D] > 2B xx 214B > ]D[

Wins against :
Jump out
Backdash
Short hop
Mash buttons
Blocking*

Neutral against :
(I don't really know if it's a slight advantage or disadvantage, I still don't own the game... )
Quick escape

Loses to :
Most likely any B+D or invul move


*since since your opponent will most likely not get hit by the 214B overhead, you can hit confirm the 2B. If the 2B hits you release tsurugi right when 214B hits and you get a nice combo. If the 2B is blocked, you can delay the tsurugi release a bit after the 214B so that you keep advantage

[redsilversnake]

What the fuck is "chicken blocking" ? x)

It's where you jump and block to avoid mix-up. It's not that good in this game, since jumps not only have startup, but five frames where you can't block, but once you're in the air (and are in blockstun, which saves you from air unblockables), you're safe from a few things until you land.

[Serph]

Like the title says, it's still a work in progress. I just wanted to get the post out so I can see other users reactions or points before I start correcting it.

wake up backdash

There are a couple frames in this game where once you ukemi, you can't backdash at all. In some setups I mashed backdash on wakeup and it never came out. So I didn't see the point in listing it as an option. Also, short hop is terrible in this game. I don't know why someone would ever do it on their wakeup. But it does win against some setups. Might as well put them in

sweep xx 22B~[D] > 2B xx 214B > ]D[

Thats an interesting setup. But I'd rather do 214A than 214B. The B versions startup is even more noticeable than the A version. And the A version still behaves the same way as the B version

[7r17r1]

Tks for the chic'n blocking explanation

The wake up backdash is really bad in this game, but, since a lot of this tsurugi setup don't meaty Labrys' opponent, they are able to backdash out of some setup.
As for wake up short hop, I also think this option is bad, but when you think about it, it's suppose to be better than wake up quick escape since it's invulnerable at "something" at the very first frame. And in fact, I see a lot of people trying to go for that option


For the previous setup, I don't think going for 214A for "a better mix up" is a good idea... I don't see anygood player falling for it, especially since Labrys can't do 2B > 2A+B. But I think that 2B > 214A is a safe blockstring wherease 2B > 214B can be quick escaped to punish the 214B

[loyaloath]

Thanks for posting this thread, Tsurugi is the thing that has been giving me the biggest problems with Labrys X_x the only other thing that is hurting me real bad right now is my chain knuckle timing.. but that's another story. I have been struggling on my own to figure out some even semi-safe ways to set up Tsurugi so this thread should help me a ton! It's such a great move and can set up some big hits I've mostly whiffed it so far but I guess its time to go to the lab and see how some of these things work!

[Tari]

sweep xx 22B~[D] > 2B xx 214B > ]D[

Wins against :
Jump out
Backdash
Short hop
Mash buttons
Blocking*

Neutral against :
(I don't really know if it's a slight advantage or disadvantage, I still don't own the game... )
Quick escape

Loses to :
Most likely any B+D or invul move

Have to make a correction here.

It also loses to any 5-frame wakeup option (probably 6 frames, actually), so things like most character's throws, a lot of character's 5As, etc.

It will only beat backdash if you don't make it as fast as possible, as well, so if you beat backdash, you start losing to mash. When you do it fast enough to make the gap only 5 or 6 frames, then backdashes are guaranteed to get the opponent out. Even if you release Tsurugi as fast as possible, they'll still be able to block it and jump or backdash a second time to get away.



It is safe against rolls, though. The opponent will either get away for free or begin applying pressure on you.


Also, some trivia here: You're right that 214A is much safer than 214B. It's actually gapless from 2B to 214A. That said, both Guillotines are actually inherently unsafe. If the opponent IBs the first hit, they can just use their reversal before the second hit.

[SteelCoil]

http://www.dustloop.com/forums/showt...=1#post1384937

So Starter > Sweep > 22A/B > Dash > Mini Jump > Air Turn > j.A can be used instead of Quick Escape for the novelty of being able to beat throws.
The Air Turn j.A is optional with Tsurugi oki. Against Teddie, j.A will probably hit even without an Air Turn.
The throw/hop mixup is also really good because they both start with dashes, so it can be hard to tell which is coming.

Of course, you'll have to do something else to beat DPs, jump outs, Evasive Actions, and most standing stuff.

Edit: If you plan on actually hitting with j.A, you have to hold down a button to get it to combo with Tsurugi.
So it'll look like this:
Starter > Sweep > 22A/B~[D] > Dash > Mini Jump > Air Turn > j.A
Or
Starter > Sweep > 22A/B > Dash > Mini Jump