Sakura (SCON4)

Haruno Sakura
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HP	210
Guard Gauge	1640
Jab Speed	Frame 15
Jab Height	High
Backdash Type	Quick

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Summary

Sakura didn't exactly do much during part 1 of the anime. So what did we wind up with in Eighting's Clash of Ninja? Hard-hitting, "Inner Sakura" style normals and a plethora of shuriken projectiles. In Super, she receives a revamped combo game that can put the fear into the eyes of any opponent, and a more well-rounded kit with some very strong tools, defensively and offensively.

Press at Character Select.

Press at Character Select.

Press at Character Select.

Press at Character Select.

Gameplay

Moveset

Basic Moves	Notes
	Basic frame 15 jab.
	A jumping kick that staggers. Good combo filler and super confirm
	Low arm strike that launches. One of the better 2B's in the game. Quick, cancellable, and leads to a strong block string
	Double slap; Extremely fast guard frame attack. Only 7 guard frames so must be pressed immediately before the incoming attack connects.
	An approaching hook-punch that staggers. Relatively fast mid. Delay the string followup on hit for consistency.
	A running punch that starts a combo; very high range.
	Fast overhead kick that bounces the opponent, and can lead to plus frames on block.
Special Moves
	Shuriken throw with an string. dealing lots of chip damage
Double charge	Sakura will throw a group of slower shurikens which home in on the enemy
	An array of shurikens which cover all vertical space in front of her; slower than average anti-air projectiles, but much more coverage and reliably starts a combo.
	A spinning kunai slash that launches and lifts on block; the followup is a safe teleport
	A teleport behind the opponent; has slower recovery and cannot appear in front or mix up the timing.
	A lunging kunai slash. Good for okizeme
	Running shuriken toss
	Jump shuriken. Can throw multiple groups with the string
Throws
	Unique throw animation which leaves the victim standing in front of Sakura and vulnerable to all of Sakura's buttons (20 damage). Not shakeable.
	Another unique throw which deals more damage and causes a hard knockdown (30 damage)
Super Moves
	Inner Sakura takes it to the opponent. Fast startup. 10+60+1 damage
	Inner Sakura REALLY takes it to the opponent. Slower than 5X but has more active frames and does more damage. 10+69 damage.

Strategy

Strengths
Sakura has a flexible toolkit allowing her to be approached as the player best see fit.

• Myriad ninja tools allow her to play the projectile zoner game- , , , and -2C force opponents without a good long-range option to approach Sakura.
• If the opponent commits at the wrong time, Sakura can intercept their run-in with , , , and .
• She can perform and on whiff adding another layer of zoning mix-ups.
• A well timed can leave Sakura in an advantageous position behind a whiffing opponent.
• is perhaps her greatest "cheat" button- being a fast high crush which can convert into a combo with without expending chakra.
• Her is the second fastest guard frame attack in the game and can get her out of many a sticky situation.
  • Beware because both 4B and 4BB are jab punishable.
  • With only 7 frames of auto-guard, 4B should be pressed right before the incoming attack connects with Sakura.
• Sakura's throw is one of the most reliable in the game because it leaves the victim standing in front of her.
  • Convert into a combo with , , , , or .
  • Some of these options have strict timings.
• Between her projectiles, , , and , Sakura inflicts lots of chip damage and can close out rounds without needing an actual neutral win.

Weaknesses

• Sakura does not have an obvious answer to an opponent's jump back aside from basic counterplay such as sidesteps.
  • will cover all vertical space but is slow and potentially leaves Sakura vulnerable. She may be able to combo off of a hit.
  • will teleport Sakura behind the opponent
• Her backturn options are not particularly reliable, causing her to rely on throw which, when predictable, can be broken.
  • is the quickest and most rewarding option, but it can be sidestepped or jumped.
  • or staggers the opponent leading to a strike/throw mix between and .
  • -2C: Backturn situations may give Sakura ample time to charge her homing shuriken.
• Her combos are finnicky at the wall as she may pop her opponent over her head and behind her.
  • -> can be used to catch a combo victim directly above her and reset spacing for the combo.

Combos

Combo	Notes
25% Chakra Opponent
>	Meterless super confirm from ; note that the may need to be delayed slightly to connect with the staggering victim
> > >	159 damage. First can be omitted, in which case does not need to be -cancelled (151 damage).
> >	156 damage.
> >	152 damage. (158 damage; may drop at the wall) or (156 damage; requires a just frame) can replace
> > >	160 damage.
> > > >	169 damage.
> > >	164 damage. > can be omitted (159 damage).
> > >	162 damage.
> > > >	169 damage.
0% Chakra Opponent
> > > >	196 damage- most damage with a throw.
> > > >	186 damage
> > > > >	189 damage
> > > > >	191 damage. 8A can be omitted (-2 damage).
> > > >	185 damage
> > > >	187 damage
> > > >	187 damage
> > > > >	189 damage
> > > >	183 damage
> > >	183 damage

Credits

Extra Combo Notes

• is her highest damage 2-hit loop and can be done 3 times in a row from a 0 combo count.
• is her best 2-hit loop for meterless damage. Can lead into no-y-cancel or even into her supers directly, depending on combo structure.
• functions similarly to . The former does a bit more damage but needs to -cancel in situations where the latter does not.
• is a meterless super confirm to or

Changes from Vanilla

• HP increased from 185 to 210
• Guard increased from 1480 to 1640
• Shuriken throws are grabbable
• and cause spinning launches instead of flying screen.
• string has been adjusted. She now has an adding lunging punch as BBB(B) with both an A and B follow-up, and no longer has the air shuriken at the end of the string
• 5B(B): shoulder hitbox slightly smaller, hitbox appears and disappears one frame later
• 5BB(B): "lands" two frames sooner; ends 9 frames sooner
• launches instead of sweeps
• cannot be continued on whiff
• uppercut replaced with vanilla (lunging punch)
• ends sooner
• and : Final kick has more lift
• is now an untechable bounce and a high for the first two frames; techable and mid after the first two frames; hitbox disappears two frames sooner
• counter replaced with a back teleport
• teleport replaced with running shuriken
• short teleport replaced with vanilla activated counter kunai slash with string follow-ups: , and
• throws an array of shuriken covering all vertical space instead of a packed group
• -double charge now staggers
• strings cannot be continued on whiff
• Added 2A(B)
• 2AA(A) replaced with Vanilla wrA
• one more frame duration on hitbox
• has better super freeze, hitbox appears one frame sooner and disappears two frames later
• GRKnJ: bounce changed to be closer; travels one frame faster
• replaced with an animation from Bloody Roar: Extreme and now does damage
• added as a hard knockdown throw which does more damage (also from Bloody Roar: Extreme)

Resources

Guides and Info

• Meterless 2X super confirms

Gameplay footage

• Hadoking and Jakyi2x's runs at SCON4 Biweekly 24 (1/9/22)
• Clemente vs OMJ, Fall Clash (Nov 2022)
• Clemente vs Netachi, Fall Clash (Nov 2022)
• TAG vs THORFIN, Netplay Casuals (Oct 2023)
• TAG vs Skeet, Netplay Casuals (Oct 2023)