BBCF/Naoto Kurogane/Strategy

General Tactics

There are several guides for starting out.

An "FAQ" guide that explains how to do common things. Helpful if you're already familiar with Blazblue's mechanics. If you want a more advanced one, check this one.

Introduction

Naoto is an excellent rushdown character who uses a variety of offensive options to open up his opponent. On offense, his 5A can hit crouchers, and he also has a 2A low. His 5AA is an excellent pairing with his 5A, since its a fast gut punch that moves Naoto forward, allowing him to stay in. In addition, Naoto's 6A is a good standing overhead that he can combo from for great corner carry and damage. 6B is a solid button to his kit that calls out 2A mashing and throw attempts. In neutral, Naoto's goal is to stay close enough to threaten with specials like 214D (Slash Kaid) or chip away at the opponent with fully charged Drive attacks, that cause Guard Break when normal blocked. In defense, Naoto's 2A is a great low profile that can beat out certain attacks. Naoto's 623D, Inferno Crusader, is outright one of the best reversals in the game, with great range, fast startup, and when rapid canceled, allows Naoto to transition right into pressure. Naoto can stay at a midrange until he finds an opening, and then blow up his opponent for making any mistake. Although he lacks the range of other characters, his unique ability, Enhancer, allows him to get access into powered-up versions of his specials, giving him a plethora of new options to overwhelm the opponent and deal massive damage.

FAQ: Is Naoto Hard?

In short, it depends. He has a very easy gameplan and he can combo into decently-damaging easy combos with some reliability. His corner pressure and mixups are also very easy to perform. However, his optimal gameplay is very difficult and requires judicious use of the input buffer, microdashing and dash cancelling to perform at anywhere above base-level effectiveness. Contrast him with Ragna, Jin, or other beginner characters, and one can see how his execution can be very high.

Part of this executional barrier is because Naoto is very strong. His conversions lead into combos that can deal upwards of 4k damage from midscreen with the right starter, and that doesn't include counter hit or burning meter. Similarly, his pressure is very difficult to escape from if you can microdash, with lots of reset opportunities to keep his opponents blocking for long periods of time while he goes for a sneaky and hard-to-see mixup.

That being said, it isn't too difficult to learn him. His dash cancels have more of a buffer to them then you might think, and nailing them down will take less time then you assume if you commit to practicing. In particular, look to practice Naoto's important dash cancel spots, like 214AGuardStartupRecovery39 [37]Advantage- and 5DGuardMidStartup20 [18]Recovery18Advantage-2. Do something basic like dashing>5BGuardMidStartup8Recovery18Advantage-4>EnRekka~BGuardAllStartup14Recovery22Advantage-10>dc>EnCDPGuardMidStartup6Recovery26+11Advantage-28 [-22] or EnKaidGuardAllStartup15 [13]Recovery23Advantage-9 [-7] to get a feel for how the game wants you to be dash cancelling. As well, make sure you don't go down the rabbit hole of Naoto optimization- many of the combos found on the combo page are well optimized but very difficult, so don't feel bad about going for an easier combo that deals 300 less damage, because Naoto already hits so hard that he outdamages most of the cast. In particular, 3CGuardLowStartup11Recovery17Advantage-4>214AGuardStartupRecovery39 [37]Advantage- is used in many midscreen combos to dash cancel into EnCDPGuardMidStartup6Recovery26+11Advantage-28 [-22]. This is a fairly tricky input to do and is mostly used in situations where Naoto has opened with a 5AGuardAllStartup6Recovery12Advantage-1, but it's entirely possible to also combo into his Rekka~BGuardAllStartup14Recovery22Advantage-10 and do good damage while carrying the opponent much farther into the corner. Lastly, Naoto's Overdrive is very strong and can be used to steal huge chunks of life off an opponent through some very easy combos, so don't be afraid to use it.

Overall, Naoto is both more and less difficult then he seems at first glance. You don't need to be performing hard, optimized combos with him in order to perform well in a match. It is still recommended that you become familiar with his dash cancels enough to take advantage of Enhancer, since many of the specials that benefit from it lead to easy combos with exceptional corner carry. All in all, focus on the basics and slowly build up your repertoire of harder mechanics.

Neutral

Anti-Air

Key Anti-Air Normals

input	damage	guard	startup	active	recovery	onBlock	attribute	invuln
5B	550	Mid	8	3	18	-4	B
2A	300	Low/Air	7	2	12	-2	F
2C	850	Mid	11	6	22	-11	B	7~13 H

Naoto has at his disposal a good amount of normals that can work as anti-airs to protect himself for any aerial approarch or any opponent's attempt to reset pressure with an IAD. These normals are:

5B, which has good vertical range paired with a disjoint on the upper part of the kick
2C, which possesses Head invulnerability
2A, thanks to its low profiling hurtbox.

5B is an advancing fast kick aimed high with a disjoint on his leg. 5B's speed and angle allows Naoto to quickly cover his frontal air space with a disjointed hitbox to avoid IADes in pressure or falling air normals. However, 5B lacks any Head invulnerability during its duration, so it's best to use it as a preemptive anti-air normal.

2A is a low hitting kick with low profiling properties. 2A comes in clutch as a way to low profile air normals, so instead to hitting them, it makes the opponent whiff completely. Since its also self cancellable on whiff, 2A gives Naoto the capacity to target landing recoveries.

2C is Naoto's primary anti-air. Boasting great vertical damage, fast start-up and Head attribute invulnerability, 2C is Naoto's main way to make the opponent suffer from reckless air approaches. Although its horitzontal reach is extremely lacking, 2C has strong hitconfirms into damaging combo routes.

Grounded Footsies

The grounded neutral RPS Rock Paper ScissorsA situation wherein an attacker and a defender have options that only beat certain responses from their opponent. For example, on wakeup a defending opponent may use a reversal to stop an attacker from using an attack, but the attacker can also block to defeat the reversal. If the attacker blocks, the defender can use the opportunity to take the offensive.

Take a note that Pain's Hitbox is much more smaller due to its Range check

input	damage	guard	startup	active	recovery	onBlock	attribute	invuln
5C	800	Mid	12	4	18	-3	B
2B	480	Low	8	3	15	-4	F
6B	750	All	17	4	4+12	-1	H	5~24 FT
3C	780	Low	11	4	17	-4	F
214A 8A	0, 1426×2	Unblockable (120)	15 [5]	5	28		T	1~19 HB [1~9 HB]

Naoto is a mobility character. This means that Naoto is best rewarded when he stuffs extended hurtboxes (startup) and whiff punishes retracting hurtboxes (recovery), rather than challenging pokes head on. With that in mind, Naoto's neutral revolves around:

Dashing 2B/3C - ate-waza. Use dashing normals to force your turn.

Waiting 3C/5C - oki-waza. Use your long C buttons to cover space and hit extended hurtboxes.

Reactionary Sway/6B - sashi-kaeshi. Use your attribute invulnerable moves to beat the moves your opponent uses.

Therefore, Naoto's neutral can be broken down into three options: Dash-in and attack, Attack preemptively, and Dodge and counter. This three options create a RPS situation, where Naoto is either forcing his turn with dashing normals, using his biggest normals to hit the opponent trying to get closer, or making the opponent's move to whiff and then Counter Hit them. Knowing how to properly use this options and how to avoid getting predicted increases the possibilty to get in and start Naoto's exhaustive pressure or to get a stray hit and deal great amounts of damage.

Drives and Enhanced Specials

Naoto's Neutral Tools

Quite a handsome disjoint for a move that travels nearly fullscreen

input	damage	guard	startup	active	recovery	onBlock	attribute	invuln
5[D]	1350	Guard Break 24 [34]/Barrier	40 [28]	5	18	-1	B
2[D]	1350	Guard Break 24 [34]/Low Barrier	44 [32]	5	18	-1	F
6[D]	1500	Guard Break 24 [34]/Barrier	48 [36]	6	17	-1	B
214D	1000	All	15 [13]	3	23	-9 [-7]	B
214A					39 [37]			1~30 HBP [1~26 HBP]

Naoto has at his disposal specific tools that he can use to get the most out of a neutral situation. These tools also double sometimes as specific match-up neutral tools, so learning how to use them properly will grant Naoto more opportunities to win the neutral and run his pressure.

EnKaid (En214D): One of Naoto's most used specials in neutral. It's fast, disjointed and travels about 3/4 of the screen. It allows Naoto to move quickly through the screen while covering himself with a large disjointed hitbox. Although the move is unsafe on block, the opponent won't be able to punish it unless Naoto ends point-blank to him. Against characters like Rachel, EnKaid allows Naoto to disable GeorgeGuardStartup25RecoveryTotal: 49Advantage- while closing the gap between him and Rachel, and potentially hitting her trying to set up LobeliasGuardAllStartup11RecoveryTotal: 47Advantage-9.

EnSway (En214A): A strong tool that should not be abused of, since it has its weaknesses and improper use of it can dispose of the round. Loaded with 26 frames of invulnerabilty and travelling about 1/2 of the screen, EnSway is meant to be Naoto's response to opponents who like to zone and keep Naoto away from getting close. However, EnSway doesn't have Foot invulnerabilty, so large low pokes like Kokonoe 3CGuardLow, MidStartup14Recovery15Advantage-1 or large pokes with Foot attribute like Kagura 2CGuardMidStartup16Recovery23Advantage-9 will beat predictable EnSway approaches.

Charged Drives: Not as useful or common like the other listed tools, since all Charged Drives have lengthy startup, but they have their uses.

5[D]: The fastest out of all Charged Drives with 40 frames of startup. Since it's the fastest of all of them, it's the most used one. It's a large disjointed poke that covers 1/2 of the screen that can Guard Break, and if close enough, Naoto can cancel it into 214A > EnRekka~B for a combo.

2[D]: Has less use than 5[D] in neutral since its a little slower (44 frames of startup), but it comes with some differences. First of all, is a large disjointed low attack that can also cause Guard Break. Before throwing out the sword, Naoto will slightly move forward, giving it a little more range than 5[D]. Since Naoto charges the move crounching, it gives him some low profile hurtbox, yet it's not a reliable option.

6[D]: The slowest of the Charged Drives with 48 frames of startup, it's also the most dangerous of them. Naoto throws out a slice of blood in an angle that covers a great amount of air space, but that's not all this move has to offer. 6[D] is a Fatal Dtarter with 1500 of base damage and great proration. Landing it on neutral is practically impossible due to the startup, but if Naoto manages to land it, all routes deal over 5k damage.

Defense

Naoto has a plethora of reversals and half attribute invulnerable moves that can be used on wake-up and in response to your opponent's offense to exploit the gaps in their pressure.

Fully Invulnerable Options

Naoto's Invulnerable Reversals

Projectile Part Hitbox

input	damage	guard	startup	active	recovery	onBlock	attribute	invuln
623D	700×2 [700, 450×4]	Mid, All [Mid]	9	3,10 [3,3,3,2,2]	38+16 [29+16]	-45 [-28]	B	1~17 All
632146B	2000 [2400] {1800 [2160]}	All	5+(50 Flash)+2	10	23	-11	B	1~6 All 7~16 P
632146D	1300, 2719 {1300, 1900, 2200}	All	4+(40 Flash)+9	1	48	-18	B	1~27 All

These f1 full invulnerable reversals that will beat high commit meaties on wake-up are:

623D Inferno Crusader (air OK) - standard meterless option; fantastic startup and hitbox, but can be airdashed over before actives kick in.

632146B Divine Smasher (air OK) - horizontal reversal (startup only; projectile invul travel)

632146D Divine Reaper - 13f startup, most amount of invulnerability frames of the three options and great range. Will stuff backdashes on your wake-up to bait DP.

6A+B in blockstun - Standard CA. Fantastic vertical/horizontal hitbox, hardest to bait and difficult to stuff

Partially Invulnerable Options

Naoto's partially invulnerable moves

input	damage	guard	startup	active	recovery	onBlock	attribute	invuln
6B	750	All	17	4	4+12	-1	H	5~24 FT
214A					39 [37]			1~30 HBP [1~26 HBP]
214A 8A	0, 1426×2	Unblockable (120)	15 [5]	5	28		T	1~19 HB [1~9 HB]

Naoto has access to half attribute invulnerable moves that have situational uses, like:

214A Shift Sway - Loses to throws and foot attribute moves. Has Head, Body and Projectile invulnerability. It is used as a neutral first response to gain frame advantage by making zoning attempts whiff, and potentially dash cancelling into either EnKaid/EnRekka(1) to press further advantage or cancelling into a risky reversal to beat Abare An attack during the opponent's pressure, intended to interrupt it. options.

214A~8A Phantom Pain - Shift Sway's follow-up, Phantom Pain has Head and Body invulnerability but it loses Projectile invulnerability despite Shift Sway having Projectile invulnerability.

Invulnerability on both moves start from frame 1.

6B - The complete opposite of Shift Sway, this carries invulnerability against Foot and Throw attribute, starting from frame 5 instead of frame 1

Offense

Naoto is a pressure oriented character, whose speciality is to stay in and open up the opponent's pressure with a frightening amount of staggers, pressure resets, fast lows and a standing overhead. Staggering pressure using jabs is Naoto's specialty, and consist of 5AGuardAllStartup6Recovery12Advantage-1, 5AAGuardMidStartup8Recovery14Advantage-1, 2AGuardLow/AirStartup7Recovery12Advantage-2, and 6BGuardAllStartup17Recovery4+12Advantage-1.

Frame Trap Pressure

Naoto's Basic Frametraps

BBCF Naoto 5AA.png
BBCF Naoto 5AA Hitbox.png

input	damage	guard	startup	active	recovery	onBlock	attribute
5AA	600	Mid	8	4	14	-1	B
5C	800	Mid	12	4	18	-3	B
5D	900	Mid	20 [18]	5	18	-2	B
2D	900	Low	22 [20]	5	18	-2	F
236B	700	All	13	3	17	-3	B

Naoto's stagger is still stagger pressure, it relies on conditioning the opponent to block Naoto in the first place. Mashy people are an annoyance and need to be dealt first in order to switch to stagger and basic frametraps is the answer to this problems, the frametraps will also help you gauge your opponent's defense without taking too much risk.

Delaying your inputs is the bread and butter of frametraps, Naoto has safe and rewarding buttons with 5AA, 5C, his D buttons and EnRekka. However, you can pretty much use any button, 2A, 5B, 2B or 6B. Of course, making every button a frametrap isn't a very good idea as it makes it almost impossible to hit confirm, as such you will want press buttons in chains (e.g. 5A > dl.5AA > immediate 5B...). If you find out that the opponent still gets blown up by frametraps, it won't be necessary to switch to stagger pressure.

In the heat of the battle, it might be hard or too bothersome to manually delay your buttons, in this case you can use automatic frame traps to worry about other things such as the oven you might not have turned off. Some examples are:

5D/2D > 66EnRekka(1) being a 1-2f gap
5C > 5D being a 2f gap
5C > 2D being a 4f gap
5D > 2D being a 2f gap
Most importantly 2D > 5D being absolutely un-mashable, having a 0f gap

Stagger Pressure

Naoto's Basic Pressure

input	damage	guard	startup	active	recovery	onBlock	attribute	invuln
2A	300	Low/Air	7	2	12	-2	F
6B	750	All	17	4	4+12	-1	H	5~24 FT
j.B	580	High/Air	9	6	13		H
j.C	900	High/Air	10	6	12		H

Now that you've determined that your opponent is actually willing to block a little of pressure, you can now switch to staggers in order to execute longer blockstrings. 5A, 5AA and 2A are your best buttons as they are fairly fast and very safe on block which are perfect to reset pressure with. 5A trades in Naoto's favor, 2A low profiles high hitting 5As, such as Ragna 5AGuardAllStartup5Recovery9Advantage0 or Jin 5AGuardAllStartup6Recovery11Advantage-2 and 5AA beats mashing and has great reward as a Counter Hit starter. Due to being A buttons, they also cancel into throw for Throw Reject Miss setups.

Outside of the A gatling table, 5B and 5C both have jump cancel windows and good frame advantage, allowing Naoto to use air normals like j.B and j.C to force the opponent to block high or to reset pressure with a microdash button albeit riskier due to the higher pushback and hitstop.

All of those mixed in with the aforementioned basic frametraps in between, it can become very scary for the opponent to challenge Naoto's pressure. 6B can also be used to hard punish low as it beats all 2As abare attempts but its longer recovery and limited gatling option despite its good frame advantage (only -1) make it much easier to challenge.

Dash Cancel Reset

Naoto's Drive Pressure

input	damage	guard	startup	active	recovery	onBlock	attribute	invuln
5D	900	Mid	20 [18]	5	18	-2	B
2D	900	Low	22 [20]	5	18	-2	F
214A					39 [37]			1~30 HBP [1~26 HBP]

All of Naoto's Drive normals are dash cancellable from frame 10 onwards, allowing Naoto to go for a pressure reset or to frame trap with Enhanced specials, like En236B. Be aware that Naoto can be hit during the dash cancel of the Drive if done predictably. Shift Sway (214A) can be used with the same purpose, since it's dash cancellable from frame 9 onwards and possesses partial invulnerability.

Rekka RPS Pressure

Naoto's Banishing Fang pressure

input	damage	guard	startup	active	recovery	onBlock	attribute	invuln
236B	700	All	13	3	17	-3	B
236B 236B	800	All	9	6	18	-7	B

236B and its Enhanced version allows Naoto easily frametrap the opponent. A blocked 236B is -3 on normal block, which creates a RPS situation. The options Naoto has are:

Blocking: Low risk/low reward, protects against any kind of abare or DP attempt

Pressure reset: moderate risk/good reward, allows Naoto to keep his pressure up

236B236B frametrap: high risk/high reward, Fatal Counter starter, although 236B236B is -7 on block

Blockstrings

Naoto's blockstrings examplesUnifying all of Naoto's pressure tools

Staggers, Drive dash cancels, Banishing Fang frametraps
Naoto's blockstrings can be varied/altered in response to your opponent's blocking habits, either changing when to go for a pressure reset or modifying the pace of the staggers.

5A > dl.5A > 2A > 2A > 2B > 5C > (5D) > 214D
5A > 5AA > 5B > 6B > 236B > 2A>...
5A > 5A > 2B > 5B/C > IAD j.A > j.C > 2A > 2B > dl.5B > 6B > 214D/236B/Wait
5A > 2A > 5A > 5B > 2B > 3C > 236B/214D
5A > dl.5A > 2B > dl.5B > 5C > 5D > 2D > Wait
2A > 2A > 5A > dl.5A > 5B > 5C > 5D > 214D/(5Ddc > EnRekka(1)
2A > 2A > 2B > 5B > 6B > 236B > 2A > ...
2A > 2A > 2B > 5C > 2D > 236B/214A
2B > 5B > IAD j.A > j.B > 2A > 5C > 5D > 6D > 214A
2A > 5B > 665B > 5C > Jump Barrier > j.A>...
2A > 2B > 2A > 5B > Jump back > j.D/j.[D]
5A > 2A > 2B > 5C > 5/2D > Wait...
5A > dl.5A > 5AA > 5B > (5/2C) > Jump Barrier > falling j.B > j.C
2A > 5A > dl.5A > 5C > IAD j.B > j.C
5A > dl.5A > 5AA > 5C > IAD j.B > j.A > 5A > 2B > 5C > 2D/214A
2A > 5A > 5AA > 5C > 5D > 214Adc > EnRekka(1)
5A > 5A > 5AA > 5C > 5D > 2Ddc > EnRekka(1)>...
5A > 2A > 2A > 5B > 2B > 2D > 5Ddc > EnRekka(1)
5A > 5A > 2A > 5A > 5C > 5D > 6D > j.D/j.[D]
6B > dl.6B > 236B > 2A > 5A>...

Waiting after a Drive is also acceptable due to all his Drives being -2, and -1 on Barrier. This essentially means that Naoto doensn't need to commit to dash cancelling 5D/2D/214A into EnRekka(1).

Okizeme

Basic Meaty Options

Meaty 2A/2B/j.BKeep the pressure up, catch rolls

poster=LazyLoadImageThumbnail.png

2A/2B OR 214A~8A > 9dl.j.B
Naoto Relies on a few options in knockdown situations:

(66)2A

(66)2B

j.B off Pain safejump

These options all cover the basic situations, but the ones notated with (66) are mainly to punish roll attempts into full confirms which makes an already risky option such as rolling, even riskier against Naoto. (66)2A/2B can catch forward roll attempts as they try to pass through him and j.B not only catches rolls but can catch delay tech as well. In an instance 2A/2B whiff Naoto can still be on top of his opponent, thus keeping them within his effective range and can put them back into the same knockdown situation.

Enhanced Slash Kaid Okizeme

Corner EnKaid Negates opponent's wake-up options

Corner combo > Grounded c.EnKaid
The Enhanced version of Slash Kaid (214D) has the property of putting the opponent in a crumple state animation when hitting close. Moreover, it can also OTG The act of hitting the opponent when they are knocked down. Short for "off the ground" or "on the ground." to extend combos. His jab, 5A, has the ability to hit crounchers. Pairing these two moves, Naoto is able to create what's known as a re-stand, a situation where your opponent leaves a combo standing, negating all of his tech and wake-up options. This mix-up is character specific, however.

The video explains how this re-stand works, how to set it up and which characters are susceptible to this mix-up. Remember: Naoto doesn't need to set this re-stand every time, but it's important to note it's another option to add to his gameplan.

Tips and Tricks

Input Shortcuts

Enhanced Specials/Distorsions shortcutsEasier ways to input Enhanced moves

Enhanced Banishing Fang: 2366B
Enhanced Inferno Crusader: 6623C/D

Enhanced Distortions: 6321466B/D
Distortions out of Sway: 63214A66B/D

Enhanced Fang out of 2D: 2[D]366B
Enhanced Inferno out of 6D: 6[D]623C/D
Astral out of Shift Sway: 214A2366C

Tiger Knee'd Air Divine Smasher: Input a full circle + B (6321496B). Used occasionally in double Distortion routes outside of Overdrive.
Enhanced Crusader on wake-up: 63263D

Edgedark's tweet showing off Enhanced Crusader on wake-up inputs: https://twitter.com/Edgedark_/status/1531436875399016448

Oniro (Burst Recap)'s tweet explaining Enhanced Crusader on wake-up: https://twitter.com/BurstRecap/status/1368209743219744770

Sway OS

Shift Sway OS against wake-up reversals

The input is 2A (meaty) > 2B > 214A~8A~C. 2A is done meaty by buffering it. This OS is theoretically safe against an opponent unable to reversal faster than 12 frames.

How does this OS work?

If the opponent does not reversal, the input buffer will cancel 2A into 2B > 5C since the entire Sway > Phantom Pain input is performed before 2B becomes cancellable.
If the opponent reversals, 2A will whiff safely during the reversal's start-up. The 2B will not come out since 2A whiffed. Sway > Phantom Pain comes out and punishes the DP.

For a visual reference, visit this tweet: https://twitter.com/problem_skater/status/805372203445403648

2A
2B
5C

214A
214A~8A

Phantom Pain Fuzzy

Phantom Pain Standing UnblockableSurprise the opponent with Naoto's unblockable attack

Naoto can set up situations where he can "fuzzy" Phantom Pain. If Naoto manages to keep his opponent in stand block for long enough, he can use Phantom Pain to essentially unblockable them. There are several common Phantom Pain fuzzy setups:

Timed on opponent's wakeup > 5D > 66 > EnSway~Pain
Deep j.C, EnSway~Pain
Jailing the opponent in the air > 214A > 66 > EnSway~Pain

By timing a Shift Sway (214A) or 5D on an opponent's wakeup and dash canceling it into Enhanced Phantom Pain (214A~8A), you can fuzzy the opponent as shown in this Twitter video. Fuzzy EnSway~Pain setups will lose to the opponent holding 3 (crounch blocking in the opposite direction), barrier blocking(???) and mashing crouching normals on wakeup.

On any hit with a deep j.C, Naoto can buffer Enhanced Sway to fuzzy them. This is one of the easier ways to set up the fuzzy as j.B > j.C is a relatively common jump-in for Naoto.

Jailing the opponent is also relatively common for Naoto. For clarification, jailing the opponent refers to catching an opponent in the air and keeping them in blockstun until they fall to the ground. If Naoto can successfully jail them, he can use Phantom Pain to catch them out of the air while negating their air options. This will lose to the opponent using Air IBB to push Naoto away. While the oppponent can still use options like air DP, double jump (height dependent), or Overdrive, Naoto recovers quickly enough to react to those options.

5D
j.C
Phantom Pain
6A

Rising j.A Fuzzy

Rising j.A>j.623C out of blocked IAD j.B>j.CF-Shiki aka "fuzzy overhead" setup

poster=LazyLoadImageThumbnail.png

IAD j.B>dlj.C>669>j.A>j.623C
In order to understand how this technique works, consider reading the following article: https://www.dustloop.com/wiki/index.php?title=F-Shiki

Naoto can set-up a fuzzy overhead thanks to j.C blockstun. In order to get the fuzzy j.A, you need to perform an IAD j.B>j.C. Make sure that j.B comes out as fast as you can, and then delay the j.C so it hits as low to the ground as posible. Once the j.C is blocked, Naoto can threat the opponent with his 2A, forcing them to block low, or he can go into a rising j.A, that will catch your opponent if he was expecting the 2A. This rising j.A should be microdashed in order to add consistency to the j.623C. If the rising j.A hits, Naoto can special cancel it into a j.623C to get a combo. Remember that this setup is susceptible to anti-airs, so remember to rotate and mix up all of your pressure options.

The rising j.A>j.623C works on everyone except Carl, Izayoi, Azrael, Kokonoe, Hibiki and Mai. These characters can get hit by the j.A, but the j.623C will whiff. Against this characters, delay a j.C after the rising j.A hits, so you can loop the fuzzy setup, but your opponent can anti-air this falling j.C, so it shouldn't be overused. Doesn't work at all on Jubei and Es.

Fighting Naoto

Fighting Naoto relatively boils down to

Having options that disallow him to function at his full potential/use certain tools that would be a boon in other MU's (i.e: Neutral/controlling air space)

Being able to out neutral him and forcing him to make higher risks to get into a position where he operates best in

Handling and knowing your way around Rekka RPS, Such as Fuzzy Jump against Delay Enrekka strings

Being Arakune, which is the above three options exemplified on top of having a bad Hurtbox, making offense rather difficult--

When Defending against Naoto, your best friend in all honesty is System mechanics. Knowing what and when to Barrier, Utilizing IB against Rekka among other things. Being wary about his options/tools in situations on defense is also essential, mainly against Rekka and his Drive Pressure.

Firstly speaking about defending against him. Instant Block is actually one of if not the best option you have against Rekka more so than anything. Instant Blocking 1st Rekka makes it -6 instead of -3 thus heightening the risk of Rekka follow ups but still being apart of the RPS as a whole. What this does is allow the use of reversals if the Naoto continues the rekka after the first, either going into 2nd Rekka or potentially 2A/6B. If he doesn't continue, it can be your turn if you mash 5/2A against him, but keep in mind the RPS is still there.

In neutral, if a Naoto player Poorly spaces Enhanced Kaid, not only is it -7 but you're guaranteed a punish on instant block.

Against Drives it is a bit riskier due to them being -2. However, if there is a commitment into EnRekka from Sway Dash Cancel there is a 1-2 Frame gap as to where you can mash any invuln reversal or potentially mash, however the latter option carries far more risk.

Naoto Match-Up Chart

A useful chart where it's described each of Naoto's matchups, an important piece of information to improve your gameplan depending on the character your opponent chooses.