Shang Basics Guide
Besides being able to morph into the opponent's character, Shang's character gimmick is that he has two morphs(kind of like 3D MK stances), young and old Shang. You may switch in between them by pressing Down+Stance Switch. Shang's special moves change and some of his normals/strings change. He can also morph into the opponent's character for a short period.
Move List: (Bolded moves indicate that they differ between forms, color means form exclusive)
Universal:
1
12
124
B1
D1
2
B22
B223
D2
3
F3 (This is the only solo normal that changes)
D3
4
F4
B4
D4
(Unlike in game, I'll only list moves that are unique in each form)
Young Form
B12 (Unsafe launcher)
24 (Mid that launches away)
F3 (Overhead)
F434
Old Form
B12 (Safe ender)
24 (Low that launches away)
F3 (Low)
F32
F41
F412
F4121
F41214 (Every hit of this string is special cancellable except the final button)
Air Kombat: (No differences between forms)
J1
J12
J122
J2
J22
J3 or J4
Special Moves
Universal:
Down+StanceSwitch - Age Morph (Can be done in air)
FDB4 - Form Stealer (Change into opponent's character, Lasts about 12 seconds, EX for damage buff)
BF4 - Perfect Form - (Change back into Shang from Form Stealer morph after a few seconds, Lol @ the name)
Young Form:
DF3(Air) - Air Skull (EX)
DF3 - Straight Skull (EX)
DB3 - Double Skull (EX)
DBF3 - Triple Skull (EX)
DF2 - Spinning Strikes (EX has Armor)
DB3 - Bed of Spikes (EX)
Old Form:
DF3 (Air) - Down Skull (This move tracks the opponent, Has EX)
DF3, hold B (Air Close) - Down Skull (This move tracks the opponent, Has EX)
DF3, hold F (Air Far) - Down Skull (This move tracks the opponent, Has EX)
DF3 - Ground Skull (EX)
DB3 - (Close) Ground Skull (EX)
DBF3 - (Far) Ground Skull (EX)
DF2 - Vicinity Slash (EX has Armor, similar to other DF2 but has one hit, less range)
DB3 - Injection (EX version restands and activates EX Form Stealer automatically, but costs 2 bars! It's listed as one bar)
Fatal Blow - Shang turns into Young Form automatically
Morphing:
Switch between old Shang and young Shang by pressing down+Stance Switch. You can't switch morphs while blocking, and doing it in neutral will cause a very very short recovery animation. But you can switch any time you want while jumping or doing basically any attack or string. There's a second or two long cooldown where you can't morph back. If you switch your form in time between strings and specials, the appropriate version will come out. The most immediate difference between the two form's moveset is that young Shang has straight skulls which are nice solid projectiles, and old Shang has ground/down skulls which start combos.
Shang can Form Steal into your character which lasts about 12 seconds, EX gives you a 16.666% damage buff, repeating of course. You won't morph back while blocking even when times up, but you will immediately change back on your next frame of neutral. If you get knocked down as the opponent's character, you can always still wakeup attack as that character. But I believe you will be punishable on wakeup other wise if the morph is incoming. If you play against Shang in the mirror, the normal version of this move does nothing but the animation, it won't cause you to morph back. You will still get the damage buff for the EX version.
The question you should be asking is, 'can you afford not to'?
