Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves has finally dropped, marking the return of the series after a lengthy 26-year break. The game introduces numerous systems, yet its fundamental gameplay remains familiar to fans of earlier titles. Character designs are improved, making them more exciting to play.
Take Mai Shiranui, for example. Leveraging her family’s Shiranui-style Ninjutsu, she skillfully gains the upper hand in battles, fully utilizing the unique systems and mechanics in City of the Wolves to unleash impressive and devastating combos!
Overview of Mai Shiranui
Mai Shiranui stands out as a formidable fighter in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. She possesses multiple tactics to control the space around her, enabling her to keep opponents at bay while she prepares her attacks. Although mastering her can be challenging—especially for newcomers—she truly shines once you get used to her play style.
Like all characters in the game, Mai showcases a wealth of player and character expression, evident in the intricate combos she can perform. However, her effectiveness relies on precise timing during those combos, making her a bit tricky for those who are not yet familiar with the game’s Brake and Feint systems.
With various techniques at her disposal, she can set frame traps and consistently place herself in advantageous positions with proper spacing and timing. Additionally, Mai boasts excellent anti-air abilities and can string together combos from counter hits, making her incredibly capable at virtually any range.
In summary, if you seek a character with a high skill ceiling and a plethora of complex combos, Mai is an ideal choice. While she may demand some dedication to understand, the sense of satisfaction and improvement you gain from playing her is well worth it.
Mai Shiranui’s Command List
Now, let’s take a look at Mai’s Command List, which highlights her extensive combat capabilities. She has numerous unique moves that, when used effectively in conjunction with each other, can turn the tide of battle. Learning these techniques beforehand is essential, as they will frequently appear in her combos.
Command Moves
| Command Move | Input |
|---|---|
| Ukihane | [While Airborne] ⬇️ LK |
| Koukaku no Mai | ↘️ HK |
| Yume Kachou | [While Airborne] LP+LK |
| Sankaku Tobi | [Airborne Near Corner] ↗️ |
Command Combo
| Command Combo | Input |
|---|---|
| Mai’s Command Combo | c.HP > ➡️ HK > HK or HP+HK during SPG |
Special Moves
| Special Move | Input |
|---|---|
| Kachousen [FE] | ⬇️↘️➡️ LP/HP |
| Ryuuenbu | ⬇️↙️⬅️ LP/HP |
| Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi [BR] | ⬇️↘️➡️ LK/HK |
| Sayo Chidori [FE] [BR] | ⬇️↙️⬅️ LK/HK |
| Hana Arashi | ➡️⬇️↘️ LK/HK |
| Musasabi no Mai (Move) | ⬇️↖️ or ⬇️⬆️ or ⬇️*↗️ LP/HP |
| Air Musasabi no Mai | [While Airborne] ⬇️↙️⬅️ LP/HP |
REV Blows
| REV Blow | Input |
|---|---|
| Homura Niren | HP+HK during SPG |
| Yumihari no Mai | [While Airborne] HP+HK during SPG |
Mai Shiranui Combos
With Mai’s Command List in mind, let’s delve into the combos she can perform, showing her immense combo potential. Here are some examples that tap into her intricate ability.
Combos for Mai Shiranui
- c.HK > ➡️⬇️↘️ HK (BR) > ⬇️↘️➡️ HK (BR) > ➡️⬇️↘️ LK
- c.HK > ⬇️↙️⬅️ LP+HP > ⬇️↙️⬅️ LP+HP > ⬇️↘️➡️ HK (BR) > ➡️⬇️↘️ HK (BR) > ➡️⬇️↘️ HK
- j.HP > c.HP > ⬇️↘️➡️ LK+HK > ⬇️↙️⬅️ LK+HK > j.⬇️↙️⬅️ LP+HP > ➡️⬇️↘️ HK (BR) > ➡️⬇️↘️ LK+HK (BR) > ➡️⬇️↘️ HK
Tips and Tricks for Playing as Mai
Mai Shiranui’s array of moves and combos may seem daunting but can be incredibly rewarding with dedication. She requires a solid understanding of frame traps, allowing her to trigger massive combos when she strikes an opponent. Her c.HK (FE) > c.HP combination often serves as an ideal frame trap since c.HP is a two-hit attack, giving players a chance to launch a special move to initiate a combo.
Moreover, she has multiple ways to knock opponents into the air, setting them up for further combinations. For instance, landing a Counter Hit with her Light Ryuuenbu will send opponents soaring, providing opportunities for follow-up hits. Similarly, her Heavy Hana Arashi can be utilized effectively against opponents leaping in, enabling her to capitalize on their attacks and execute combos after a successful hit.
In conclusion, Mai Shiranui is not only a complex yet rewarding character in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, but she also presents a host of opportunities for players willing to invest the time to learn her skills!
