Tony at Home
Master
This will be more of a description and breakdown of the character than a guide on how to play him. I'm going to go in extreme detail about every aspect of the character much more than general strategies. The purpose is to give people who want to pick up the character the proper building blocks for doing so. I find this to be more useful than a “you should be doing this” guide, as it allows players to organically get a feel for the character and naturally find what tools are best for each situation- it's easier to build good habits this way, rather than trying to condition them to make seemingly arbitrary button presses before they know why they are pressing that particular button.
So here is Sabrewulf in a Nutshell
INTRO: SABREDOGE
Character Overview
PART 1: SUCH CLAWS
s.MP, cr.MP, cr.HP
PART 2: MANY OVERPOWER
Overpower (Back + s.HP)
Why is it so great Wulf's normals demand respect in footsies range? Overpower. Back + s.HP is Sabrewulf's command-normal, and his best tool of all. It has deceptively long reach, is + on block, and can be charged for more reach and more frame advantage. All Sabrewulf players should become intimately familiar with the maximum range of overpower, because it is VERY deceptive due to the extra forward lunge at the beginning. A level 1 overpower reaches far enough, that at maximum range, Sabrewulf will still be out of medium-normal-move range after it connects sometimes. Be wary of this so your frame traps don't whiff.
Look at the RANGE of overpower shown in this image. It combines the first frame before Sabrewulf executes the overpower, with the final frame of his overpower to reall show you how incredibly far this reaches, especially in as few as 7 frames. Though you are seeing the second active frame of overpower, which technically hits on frame 8, but is +3 instead of two. The two active frames of overpower have slightly different distances, with the second frame reaching the furthest. Therefore, if you hit overpower at maximum distance, you have hit on the last active frame and are +3. You are out of range of 4 frame light attacks, and are therefore free to frame trap this +3 advantage into a second +7 overpower. This is actually what I am doing in the first video of this section. I have Wulf set to record this pattern, while I try to interrupt the next overpower with Jago's punch- but I can't. It frametraps.
Overpower has 2 main benefits. First, it has GREAT range and is + on block. It's a footsie tool for sweep range, and makes that range dominant for Sabrewulf. Second, it reels Sabrewulf in closer, so he can initiate frame traps, block pressure, and possible tick-throws using his above-average throw range. Overpower doesn't just allow Sabrewulf to start frame traps, it also allows him to continue them. After any jump-in attack or any cr.LK, Sabrewulf get's a guaranteed overpower. In particular, cr.LK → Overpower can be chained indefinitely until the opponent DP's out of it, Shadow Counters, or back dashes. Against some character, like Fulgore, this is particularly dangerous because if you corner him without meter, he only has 1 of those 3 options remaining- and it is risky and unsafe. Glacius (with his lack of a backdash) is also particularly vulnerable to this.
The cr.LK chain effect shows how overpower reels Sabrewulf in closer, whereas most frame traps end because characters are pushed out. Sabrewulf is not pushed out so easily thanks to overpower. This not only means the frame traps are longer, but it means there are more opportunity for tick-throws during these block strings- because Sabrewulf remains closer for longer. This next video shows how using overpower gives Sabrewulf more tick throw opportunities than he would otherwise without using it. In a single block string, you can have THREE different times where the opponent has to guess if the next move is going to be a tick-throw, or a normal. This is a very dangerous situation.
I am purposely slowing myself down in the video and not making the cr.LK → overpower frame trap as I should be, just so it's slow enough that you can clearly see what is happening. It's important in a real game you don't miss any frames between cr.LK and overpower because it is a very strict frame trap and does not have a chain input buffer.
Later I will go into how throws combined with dash are an effective way of opening an opponent up. I say this because Sabrewulf players should train themselves to be patient, and go for these block strings to build up meter to keep a Shadow Eclipse ready. Sabrewulf players should not be so eager to go for mixups rather than block strings all the time, if they know their block strings will still leave them plenty of opportunity for opening an opponent up. Don't worry about ALWAYS confirming an Overpower on hit into Ragged Edge for the combo- know sometimes that you need meter, and that you have good chances of getting a combo after a meter-building block string with tick throws anyway.
PART 3: VERY BITING
cr.LK, cr.MK, s.MK
So here is Sabrewulf in a Nutshell
INTRO: SABREDOGE
Character Overview
Sabrewulf is the pure embodiment of the rushdown character archetype. He's a ground pounder; to accentuate this, he has tools to keep the opponent out of the air as well. Sabrewulf has insane pressure when he gets in throw range, with extremely positive-on-block normals. However, he prefers to hang around sweep distance, because that's where he can check you with his long-reaching, fast, safe normal pokes that are currently rivaled only by Orchid. At first glance, he appears to be an unsafe character. All his openers are either unsafe (hamstring/jumping slash) or easily shadow-countered (ragged edge); but in reality, Sabrewulf does not need to resort to these tools often. He gets many mixups from his unique cross-up dash, and he is perfectly fine with making you block lengthy frametraps as opposed to opening you up anyway- this only gives him more access to his Shadow Eclipse by giving him meter.
PART 1: SUCH CLAWS
s.MP, cr.MP, cr.HP
This video illustrates the footsies range/speed for Sabrewulf. All his medium punches are 5 frames. His cr.MP outranges a large portion of the cast. His s.MP is of normal range, however it is often faster than many other characters'. His cr.HP and back + s.HP have particularly long range, and much faster than average, and are better on block then most of the cast. All in all- he has some of the best pokes in the game.
So as you can see in the video, Sabrewulf has the best overall range and speed on these normals. More often then not, Sabrewulf is able to throw the first punch because of this. s.MP and cr.MP both have good range, and are 5 frames on startup. cr.MP has slightly more range than s.MP, so unless you are worried about the opponent throwing out a low-crush move, that is your better option at that range. His medium punches, while faster and longer reaching than most other characters', aren't often BOTH faster and longer reaching. For example: his mediums do not out-range Jago's mediums, but does beat his crouching medium in terms of speed.
But his poke still demands a massive amount of respect, because his sweep (cr.HP) has an extremely fast startup and is relatively safe on block compared to most other sweeps. With a 6 frame startup, and a range that beats virtually every other 6 frame normal, the opponent is always in danger of a hard knockdown if they attempt to out-poke Sabrewulf. It's hard to understate the utility of this move. This is what makes opponents crouch and sit there for you to use overpower on them to start your frame traps. This is what tempts opponents to resort to their negative-on-block advancing low crush moves. At -6, cr.HP is technically unsafe, but with the fast startup, opponents must be focusing almost exclusively on using a far-reaching punisher to successfully do so. It is generally quite safe compared to most other sweeps.
cr.HP is quick enough to punish most other sweeps as well. At the same time, opponents can't do the same against Wulf. He can throw out his sweep more often and more safely than other characters. There aren't many moves outside of shadow moves that can punish a -6 sweep from Wulf at max range. Most other sweeps are -7 or more on block and can be punished by Wulf's 6-frame sweep. It demands a tremendous amount of respect at sweep distance, and it helps Sabrewulf to control the footsies game. Abuse it, and it will let you abuse many of your other tools as well once they are trained to respect it.
So as you can see in the video, Sabrewulf has the best overall range and speed on these normals. More often then not, Sabrewulf is able to throw the first punch because of this. s.MP and cr.MP both have good range, and are 5 frames on startup. cr.MP has slightly more range than s.MP, so unless you are worried about the opponent throwing out a low-crush move, that is your better option at that range. His medium punches, while faster and longer reaching than most other characters', aren't often BOTH faster and longer reaching. For example: his mediums do not out-range Jago's mediums, but does beat his crouching medium in terms of speed.
But his poke still demands a massive amount of respect, because his sweep (cr.HP) has an extremely fast startup and is relatively safe on block compared to most other sweeps. With a 6 frame startup, and a range that beats virtually every other 6 frame normal, the opponent is always in danger of a hard knockdown if they attempt to out-poke Sabrewulf. It's hard to understate the utility of this move. This is what makes opponents crouch and sit there for you to use overpower on them to start your frame traps. This is what tempts opponents to resort to their negative-on-block advancing low crush moves. At -6, cr.HP is technically unsafe, but with the fast startup, opponents must be focusing almost exclusively on using a far-reaching punisher to successfully do so. It is generally quite safe compared to most other sweeps.
cr.HP is quick enough to punish most other sweeps as well. At the same time, opponents can't do the same against Wulf. He can throw out his sweep more often and more safely than other characters. There aren't many moves outside of shadow moves that can punish a -6 sweep from Wulf at max range. Most other sweeps are -7 or more on block and can be punished by Wulf's 6-frame sweep. It demands a tremendous amount of respect at sweep distance, and it helps Sabrewulf to control the footsies game. Abuse it, and it will let you abuse many of your other tools as well once they are trained to respect it.
PART 2: MANY OVERPOWER
Overpower (Back + s.HP)
Why is it so great Wulf's normals demand respect in footsies range? Overpower. Back + s.HP is Sabrewulf's command-normal, and his best tool of all. It has deceptively long reach, is + on block, and can be charged for more reach and more frame advantage. All Sabrewulf players should become intimately familiar with the maximum range of overpower, because it is VERY deceptive due to the extra forward lunge at the beginning. A level 1 overpower reaches far enough, that at maximum range, Sabrewulf will still be out of medium-normal-move range after it connects sometimes. Be wary of this so your frame traps don't whiff.
Look at the RANGE of overpower shown in this image. It combines the first frame before Sabrewulf executes the overpower, with the final frame of his overpower to reall show you how incredibly far this reaches, especially in as few as 7 frames. Though you are seeing the second active frame of overpower, which technically hits on frame 8, but is +3 instead of two. The two active frames of overpower have slightly different distances, with the second frame reaching the furthest. Therefore, if you hit overpower at maximum distance, you have hit on the last active frame and are +3. You are out of range of 4 frame light attacks, and are therefore free to frame trap this +3 advantage into a second +7 overpower. This is actually what I am doing in the first video of this section. I have Wulf set to record this pattern, while I try to interrupt the next overpower with Jago's punch- but I can't. It frametraps.
Overpower has 2 main benefits. First, it has GREAT range and is + on block. It's a footsie tool for sweep range, and makes that range dominant for Sabrewulf. Second, it reels Sabrewulf in closer, so he can initiate frame traps, block pressure, and possible tick-throws using his above-average throw range. Overpower doesn't just allow Sabrewulf to start frame traps, it also allows him to continue them. After any jump-in attack or any cr.LK, Sabrewulf get's a guaranteed overpower. In particular, cr.LK → Overpower can be chained indefinitely until the opponent DP's out of it, Shadow Counters, or back dashes. Against some character, like Fulgore, this is particularly dangerous because if you corner him without meter, he only has 1 of those 3 options remaining- and it is risky and unsafe. Glacius (with his lack of a backdash) is also particularly vulnerable to this.
The cr.LK chain effect shows how overpower reels Sabrewulf in closer, whereas most frame traps end because characters are pushed out. Sabrewulf is not pushed out so easily thanks to overpower. This not only means the frame traps are longer, but it means there are more opportunity for tick-throws during these block strings- because Sabrewulf remains closer for longer. This next video shows how using overpower gives Sabrewulf more tick throw opportunities than he would otherwise without using it. In a single block string, you can have THREE different times where the opponent has to guess if the next move is going to be a tick-throw, or a normal. This is a very dangerous situation.
I am purposely slowing myself down in the video and not making the cr.LK → overpower frame trap as I should be, just so it's slow enough that you can clearly see what is happening. It's important in a real game you don't miss any frames between cr.LK and overpower because it is a very strict frame trap and does not have a chain input buffer.
Later I will go into how throws combined with dash are an effective way of opening an opponent up. I say this because Sabrewulf players should train themselves to be patient, and go for these block strings to build up meter to keep a Shadow Eclipse ready. Sabrewulf players should not be so eager to go for mixups rather than block strings all the time, if they know their block strings will still leave them plenty of opportunity for opening an opponent up. Don't worry about ALWAYS confirming an Overpower on hit into Ragged Edge for the combo- know sometimes that you need meter, and that you have good chances of getting a combo after a meter-building block string with tick throws anyway.
PART 3: VERY BITING
cr.LK, cr.MK, s.MK
Sabrewulf's “kick normals” are really his “bite normals”. These aren't footsie tools as their range is much shorter, they do not chain into themselves, and s.MK is much slower than Wulf's other pokes. cr.LK, cr.MK, s.MK each have one thing in common: good frame advantage on block. These are Wulf's pressure normals, though each plays a unique and distinctly different role.
As previously mentioned, cr.LK is an amazing tool on block. It is +4, which opens up a frame trap with Sabrewulf's 7-frame-startup overpower move. With a 4 frame startup, and 5 frames of hit advantage, it can be linked into itself several times. However, after linking this move a couple times and hit-confirming it a combo, the combo-meter is near-full and you can't get much damage. So often times it may be preferable to opt for just going into overpower and mixing up the opponent with either continued pressure from Sabrewulf's bite normals or a tick throw. The range on cr.LK is quite short, so while it's block-advantage makes it the best for post-overpower pressure, it is sometimes only possible to use cr.MK to continue pressure without whiffing. So while cr.LK is a great block string tool, it lacks some versatility. If you intend to use this for a block string you are committed to that, as you can't gain much from punishing button presses that attempt to interrupt the string. Your only real gain for an opponent not respecting this pressure is you get a free overpower follow-up that can't be shadow countered. Though one should not see this as a small gain given Sabrewulf's excellent pressure, and the opportunities offered by follow-up tick throws.
cr.MK functions somewhat similarly to cr.LK. It has slightly better range, so it is sometimes a go-to pressure normal after an overpower at certain distances- however it is not as + on block or hit. What stands out about this move is the active frames. The number of active frames make this an extremely effective meaty attack. Hitting at the end of the active frames (which overlap with recovery frames) make this more + on hit. Hitting on one of the last several active frames will make this move +5 on block/hit, where it is normally +2 on either: this makes it actually possible to link cr.MK into Sabrewulf's light punch, or safely frame-trap it into overpower (neither of these possible unless you hit on the last active frames of cr.MK). I am not putting this forward so much as a tactic you should definitely do (though you definitely can if you wish)- I am more using this to demonstrate how the superb number of active frames of cr.MK really stand out. If you find you are having trouble making the frame trap from cr.LK into overpower, you may have an easier time doing so on knockdown pressure if you become adept at timing a cr.MK meaty to hit on the last few active frames- this affords an extra frame of leniency on the frame-trap link. In the video above, I use my dashes to time the link (dashes have a 5 frame input buffer towards the end, which helps the timing). All in all, cr.MK tends to be optimal for starting block pressure on knockdown, for using as a meaty attack after a knockdown-crossup dash mixup, and when the reach of cr.LK is not enough in certain situations.
cr.LK and cr.MK are both good tools for pressure, but as previously mentioned- you often commit to pressure with no chance of combos when using them. Your way of opening the opponent up comes with tick-throw opportunities with the side benefit of meter building. s.MK gives a little bit of both. It's good for block pressure on knockdown, and can efficiently hit-confirm into a combo. As a Sabrewulf player, you should be VERY comfortably with linking s.LP after a successfully connected s.MK. While it isn't as efficient for you KV meter as a simple cr.MK into ragged edge as a meaty, it is hit-confirmable so you can choose between pressure and damage more freely than with the other meaty attacks. This move also has a 7 frame startup and 2 active frames, so you do run ore of a risk of accidentally whiffing it as a meaty early than you do with cr.MK, but with practice this should not happen often. You can much more easily confirm into a combo with s.MK than cr.LK, however the pressure options are more limited after s.MK: the +2 on block isn't enough for a guaranteed overpower. Finally, the 7 frame startup means the opponent has slightly more frames to attempt to react if you use s.MK as a meaty after a post-knockdown dash (as opposed to cr.MK which is faster). It's not too much, but may still be significant enough to make a dash-through + meaty long enough to be reactable at times against certain quick-reflexed opponents (given the crossup dash was not ambiguous).
Both cr.MK and s.MK do very well on counter hit. So if your opponent's wakeup was reversed and you get a counter-hit off stuffing it, you will find for example cr.MK can chain into another cr.MK. This means you can use cr.MK to confirm into a combo similar to s.MK even if your original intent ws a block string. The chained cr.MK's on counter hits give you plenty of time to realize your block string can now be confirmed into a combo instead if you wish to do so.
[\spoiler]
As previously mentioned, cr.LK is an amazing tool on block. It is +4, which opens up a frame trap with Sabrewulf's 7-frame-startup overpower move. With a 4 frame startup, and 5 frames of hit advantage, it can be linked into itself several times. However, after linking this move a couple times and hit-confirming it a combo, the combo-meter is near-full and you can't get much damage. So often times it may be preferable to opt for just going into overpower and mixing up the opponent with either continued pressure from Sabrewulf's bite normals or a tick throw. The range on cr.LK is quite short, so while it's block-advantage makes it the best for post-overpower pressure, it is sometimes only possible to use cr.MK to continue pressure without whiffing. So while cr.LK is a great block string tool, it lacks some versatility. If you intend to use this for a block string you are committed to that, as you can't gain much from punishing button presses that attempt to interrupt the string. Your only real gain for an opponent not respecting this pressure is you get a free overpower follow-up that can't be shadow countered. Though one should not see this as a small gain given Sabrewulf's excellent pressure, and the opportunities offered by follow-up tick throws.
cr.MK functions somewhat similarly to cr.LK. It has slightly better range, so it is sometimes a go-to pressure normal after an overpower at certain distances- however it is not as + on block or hit. What stands out about this move is the active frames. The number of active frames make this an extremely effective meaty attack. Hitting at the end of the active frames (which overlap with recovery frames) make this more + on hit. Hitting on one of the last several active frames will make this move +5 on block/hit, where it is normally +2 on either: this makes it actually possible to link cr.MK into Sabrewulf's light punch, or safely frame-trap it into overpower (neither of these possible unless you hit on the last active frames of cr.MK). I am not putting this forward so much as a tactic you should definitely do (though you definitely can if you wish)- I am more using this to demonstrate how the superb number of active frames of cr.MK really stand out. If you find you are having trouble making the frame trap from cr.LK into overpower, you may have an easier time doing so on knockdown pressure if you become adept at timing a cr.MK meaty to hit on the last few active frames- this affords an extra frame of leniency on the frame-trap link. In the video above, I use my dashes to time the link (dashes have a 5 frame input buffer towards the end, which helps the timing). All in all, cr.MK tends to be optimal for starting block pressure on knockdown, for using as a meaty attack after a knockdown-crossup dash mixup, and when the reach of cr.LK is not enough in certain situations.
cr.LK and cr.MK are both good tools for pressure, but as previously mentioned- you often commit to pressure with no chance of combos when using them. Your way of opening the opponent up comes with tick-throw opportunities with the side benefit of meter building. s.MK gives a little bit of both. It's good for block pressure on knockdown, and can efficiently hit-confirm into a combo. As a Sabrewulf player, you should be VERY comfortably with linking s.LP after a successfully connected s.MK. While it isn't as efficient for you KV meter as a simple cr.MK into ragged edge as a meaty, it is hit-confirmable so you can choose between pressure and damage more freely than with the other meaty attacks. This move also has a 7 frame startup and 2 active frames, so you do run ore of a risk of accidentally whiffing it as a meaty early than you do with cr.MK, but with practice this should not happen often. You can much more easily confirm into a combo with s.MK than cr.LK, however the pressure options are more limited after s.MK: the +2 on block isn't enough for a guaranteed overpower. Finally, the 7 frame startup means the opponent has slightly more frames to attempt to react if you use s.MK as a meaty after a post-knockdown dash (as opposed to cr.MK which is faster). It's not too much, but may still be significant enough to make a dash-through + meaty long enough to be reactable at times against certain quick-reflexed opponents (given the crossup dash was not ambiguous).
Both cr.MK and s.MK do very well on counter hit. So if your opponent's wakeup was reversed and you get a counter-hit off stuffing it, you will find for example cr.MK can chain into another cr.MK. This means you can use cr.MK to confirm into a combo similar to s.MK even if your original intent ws a block string. The chained cr.MK's on counter hits give you plenty of time to realize your block string can now be confirmed into a combo instead if you wish to do so.
[\spoiler]
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