Lion Tactical Guide by Shiwapon

Link to the original article on Shiwapon's blog: https://nantejaakuna.hatenablog.com/entry/2021/03/24/154240

Shiwapon's Youtube/Stream: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLaVUj3C3F48pWD2JozpuiQ

Shiwapon's Twitter: https://twitter.com/shiwaponkun

[This is a rough translation with the help of Google Translate and DeepL, and some edits to match english VF terms, it won't be completely accurate but I wanted to share this since this guide helped me. Additional comments are in brackets]

Lion Tactical Guide

Beginner version

・Try to break your opponent's guard with fast strikes and plenty of low attacks.

This character has plenty of low attacks such as 41236P, 2K+G, and 1K, making it easy to break down the opponent's standing guard. Of course, it's a great disadvantage if it's guarded, but opponents who try to guard these are more likely to be hit by middle attacks like 6P.

At first, try to find an opportunity to make a big blow while forcing them to defend against two choices: low and middle.​

・Let's show throws and uppercuts in two-choice situations.

If 6P hits a crouching opponent or hits a counter hit, you have a chance to make two choices [nitaku] (not strictly speaking [since CH 6P on standing opponents is only +4], but let's make the excuse that there will be two choices at first)

If you think your opponent is going to go wild, use 2_3P to create a combo on counter hit.
The command looks complicated, but you can easily issue it by inputting 33P (second 3 input).

I want to aim for high-power throws such as 41236P+G, 2_6P+G, and 63214P+G, but the commands are a bit difficult.

At first, aim for 4P+G, P+G, 46P+G, etc.
After 4P+G or P+G, you can earn a little damage by aiming for a small 3P down attack.
46P+G will stagger your opponent after the throw, so follow up with 8P+K.

​

・Punishment for crouching opponent

If your opponent starts crouching, it's easy to lose the return on 6P.
That's where P+K comes into play, which can be used for combos even in NH, and has a fast generation rate.

Let's call out the opponent for crouching here.
When hit, you can follow up with P → 6PP etc.

It is also easy to use 33P+KP+G, etc. to earn a large amount of damage against crouchers.
It doesn't matter which one you use, it's up to you.

​

・Let's use the backdash that is synonymous with this character!

This character has a golden combination of inflicting damage with small moves and low attacks, and then backdashing when the opponent gets impatient and hits a move.
. You can aim from a variety of places, but the recommended way to do this is after your 2P is guarded.

By backdashing from 2P and hitting 44K, you can start a combo while bypassing your opponent's short-ranged moves.
Due to the specifications of the back dash, the opponent's middle kick will be returned, but there are not many players who will immediately hit the middle kick.

In fact, the backdash is so powerful that it is sometimes possible to back away from even the middle kick in the first place.

However, since it is not possible to fall far enough to the side, it is easy to be hit by a middle kick if you backdash after 2P.

Basically, if you show this, your opponent will be more likely to use long techniques that reach the backdash
. At that time, if you go wild with 2P to 2_3P or PK, it's easy to crush those attacks.

​

Intermediate edition

・Recommended side attack

After evading the opponent's attack or hitting 6P+K or 41236P, you have a chance to attack from the side.

Let's try hitting 3K on the side first. Unlike other characters, this character's middle attack is slow, but it is a half-circular attack [hits towards Lion's stomach].

Even if you counter-hit [with 3K] on the side, it won't turn into a combo, but you can continue hitting with PKP [this is guaranteed as side CH 3K is +11] and continue attacking on the side.

Also, PKP connects after 3K hits crouching on the side, so don't miss this either.

41236P is recommended if your opponent has a strong guard.
A side hit will give you such an advantage [+8] that 3K won't be able to be interrupted, so it's easy to continue attacking.

Also, this is a half-circular attack, which hits in the opposite direction of 3K [towards Lion's back], so it's attractive that it's difficult for the opponent to choose which side to evade.

​

・Aim to beat your opponent's evades with a circular technique that has a counterpart.

Lion has plenty of circular/half-circular attacks as well as low attacks.
I'll be introducing some that are particularly easy to use, so I hope you'll add them to your offensive strategy.

8P+K

A middle half-circular that crushes evades towards Lion's stomach.

It has excellent start-up speed and reach so that it can be used as a quick middle attack.

Also, since the damage is high, you can aim for a wallsplat or wallslump by hitting it near the wall.

​

41236P

A lower half-circular that crushes the opponent's evade towards Lion's back.

Since it is a low attack, it is attractive because it can break down the opponent's standing guard.
Also, it is difficult to block after seeing it, so it is easy to hit.

When the technique hits, you can force the opponent to turn to the side, so try to attack from the side with an advantage.
When [41236P] counter-hits, P is unable to be blocked standing, so use PKP against a guarding opponent and 3K to call out crouching opponents.

Note that when blocked, it [41236P] is heavy at -16F, so first show your mid attacks to opponents who tend to crouch before aiming for it.

​

8K

A middle half-circular that crushes the opponent's evade towards Lion's stomach.

It also has the ability to attack while dodging low attacks, so it is also effective against opponents who use 2P attacks.

On counter-hit, you can aim for a combo from 6PP or P.

​

6P+K

A half-circular attack that destroys the opponent's evade towards Lion's back.

When it hits, it turns the opponent sideways, allowing for side attacks.

Also, on a counter-hit, 2P is guaranteed.

​

3K

A middle kick that crushes the opponent's evade towards Lion's stomach.

Although it occurs slower than a normal middle kick, the appeal is that it is a half-circular, making it easier to counter-hit on the side.

​

1P+K

A half-circular low attack that crushes the opponent's evade towards Lion's back.

The damage is fairly high and it occurs quickly, so it can also be used as a finishing blow.

However, if it is blocked, you are -15F while in a standing position, so it should not be used against characters with strong counterattacks [14f or 15f launchers] such as Lau.

​

・If your opponent is guarding you, attack from the 6P+K+G stance.

If your opponent is trying to do their best to defend your low attacks and is hardening their guard, attack from a 6P+K+G stance.

From here on, it's a good idea to use 6P+K+GP+K to break down your opponent's guard.
If you remove the guard with P+K, you can gain an advantage that secures 44K.

Aim for 6P+K+GP against an opponent who wants to crouch under 6P+K+GP+K.
If this move hits a crouching opponent, it will cause them to stagger.
Even if they can recover from a stagger, you are almost guaranteed to get a KK or PK, so let's try these.

Aim for a 6P+K+GK or 6P+K+G6P half-circular on opponents who try to evade. [K hits towards Lion's stomach, 6P hits towards Lion's back]
When 6P+K+GK hits a counter hit, it connects to a derived K [6P+K+GKK], and from there you can attack their side.

The appeal of 6P+K+G6P is that it allows you to create distance, which is Lion's specialty, because it allows you to distance yourself from the opponent while taking a large amount of damage.

​

・Take advantage of your opponent with reverse selection

There are many things Lion can do in disadvantageous situations, including backdashing.
I will introduce them here so that you can use them when you read your opponent's habits.

8K

It can be used offensively, but it can also be used defensively. You can attack while dodging your opponent's low attacks.

A counter-hit will start a combo, so use it when your opponent is aiming for a counter-hit with staggered timing. [if they're delaying their moves]

​

214P

It is possible to attack while countering the opponent's kick techniques.

It is useful against Sarah, who has strong foot techniques, and Pai, who uses foot techniques to get up. [etc.]

​

P+K+G or 2P+K+G to [on success] 2 or 8

Turn to the opponent's side while absorbing the opponent's P-type moves [P+K+G deals with mid/high punches, 2P+K+G deals with low punches].

Depending on the technique you withstood, you can aim for PKP after turning to the side, so it is powerful when moving parallel to a wall, for example, to push the opponent into the wall.

​

4PP

It is possible to attack while dodging the opponent's high attack.

It is effective to use when you want to attack while dodging high-level derivatives such as Jacky's 6PK.

​

・Wall approach

●Opponent's back against the wall

The area near the wall is where Lion can shine.
The key for Lion will be whether they can take advantage of the usual low unit prices here.

If your opponent is against the wall, aim for 2_6P+K [input as 336P+K or 3236P+K].
If you induce wall stagger here, aim to stick them to the wall with 9K.

This move [2_6P+K] leaves a little distance after being blocked, so if your opponent uses a short-ranged move, it's a common practice to backdash and use 2_6P+K again.
If the opponent tries to hit a middle kick [against your backdash], Lion's winning pattern is to evade the opponent, then aim for a wall stagger from a PK or PKP, and then land a 9K on the wall.

If your opponent is hardening their guard, use 41236P to break their guard.
From here on, if they want to guard, you can hit 1K+GP continuously and aim for wall stagger from there.

If your opponent is crouching or flailing [after you hit 41236P], hit 3K and then use PKP for a wall combo.

Another method is to aim for P+K from 6P+K+G, which will develop quickly and be difficult for the opponent to respond to.
After removing the guard with P+K, you can also use 9K to stick them to the wall.

If your opponent hates 41236P and evades to Lion's stomach, try aiming for 8P+K.
This is a half-circular attack that hits in the opposite direction of 41236P, so if they evade to Lion's stomach, it will counter-hit and stick them to the wall.

As for other offensive options, Lion's throwing is also quite strong.
Try aiming for a powerful wall throw with 66P+G, or break the guard with 46P+G and aim for a wallslump with 8P+K.
It is also interesting to combine it with other wall attacks such as 46P+G to 6P+K+GP+K.

The opposite throwing direction, 63214P+G, can also increase damage since it is harder to dodge 3P [down attack] near a wall.

​

●Parallel to the wall, Lion's back facing the wall

2KK+G is recommended when your back is facing the wall.
2K will hit the side wall, and from there you can aim to stick them to the wall with derived K+G.

If your opponent also crouches or becomes violent, aim for 8KK.
If this derivative hits, they will be hit into the wall, so let's do a combo.

​

●Parallel to the wall, Lion's stomach facing the wall

When your stomach is facing the wall, use 41236P to break the guard and use it as a bridge to carry the opponent to the wall.

If the opponent crouches or evades towards the wall, use 6K+G to hit them.

​

・Let's harass the opponent by making him aware of derivatives!

Lion has many derivatives, and if they are crouched or blocked, the risk is high.
Since the opponent is aware of this, it is easy for him to wait for derivatives.

If the opponent waits for a derivative, try stopping after a single shot and make a further choice.

The recommended string moves to use as a starting point for a read battle are 6P and 66P+K.
If the opponent blocks the first part of these moves, first break up the opponent waiting for a derivative with a throw or a low attack such as 1K.

When the opponent begins to crouch, you can use the derivatives of the above techniques [6PP or 66P+KP].
In particular, 66P+KP is very powerful because it induces the crouching opponent to stagger.

If the opponent thinks that you will not be able to derive from the above moves and waits a little before striking, aim for 2_3P or 8K after the first step.
The former [2_3P] has a low upper body, making it easy to avoid the opponent's high attacks.
The latter's jump status makes it possible to attack while dodging the opponent's low attacks.

Note that if your opponent hits back without stepping over the derivation, you can cancel the derivation, but depending on the technique, you can also use a back dash.

These readings can be applied to all techniques that have derivatives, so if your favorite technique has a derivative, be sure to mix it up.

​

・Put pressure on your opponent with internal blows

Even if you attack at the fastest speed, you are likely to lose to a player who has good reactions to low attacks.
In such a case, try to break down your opponent with a strike with staggered timing.

Once you gain an advantage, use a slight crouch dash to sneak in and attack with throws and mid-stage strikes.
For mid-strikes, we recommend 2_3P, which is easy to launch from a crouch dash, or 33P+K, which returns from a crouch dash.

​

・Let's take advantage of the ring-out performance.

Lion has very good carry during combos due to 6PP.
When you float your opponent, you can squeeze with it.​

 

I love this. Thank you for the translation @VolcanoShed!

I pinned the thread to the Lion forum.