DNFD/Ranger/Combos

Ranger

Overview

Starter Guide

Combos

Character Name Abbreviations

7	8	9
4	5	6
1	2	3

Numbers represent direction on a keyboard numpad. For example,

+

becomes 236M.

> = Proceed from the previous move to the following move.

▷/land = Indicate that the player must land at that point in the sequence.

, = the previous move into the following move.

->/~ = the previous special into a follow-up special.

dl./delay = Delay the following move.

whiff/(whiff) = The move must whiff (not hit).

c. = Close

f. = Far

j. = Jumping/Aerial

hj./sj. = High Jump/Super Jump

jc = Jump Cancel

hjc/sjc = High Jump Cancel/Super Jump Cancel

dc/adc = Dash Cancel/Air Dash Cancel

CH = Counter Hit

AA = Anti-Air

IAS = Instant Air Special

[X] = Hold input.

]X[ = Release input.

(move) = Move is optional.

[X] or [Y] = Perform sequence X or Y.

[sequence] xN = Repeat sequence N amount of times.

(N) = Hit N of a move or move must deal N amount of hits.

cc/cv = Conversion Cancel

BAT =

Battle Mage

BRZ =

Berserker

MBR =

Brawler

CRS =

Crusader

DRK =

Dragon Knight

ENC =

Enchantress

GHO =

Ghostblade

GRP =

Grappler

HIT =

Hitman

INQ =

Inquisitor

KNO =

Kunoichi

FLA =

Launcher

LOS =

Lost Warrior

MON =

Monk

RNG =

Ranger

SRK =

Striker

SWI =

Swift Master

TRO =

Troubleshooter

VNG =

Vanguard

SPC =

Spectre

Combo Theory

With Ranger in midrange you can cancel any gunshot into 2S and start a full combo, using either 214M, 236M, 6S or 4S depending on how much meter you want to spend. Canceling into 6S from 2S its advised you delay it so that the rest of the combo is more consistant, often on juggled opponents you wont hit all 3 hits of 6S. In the corner 214M gives you enough time to set-up a j.S that you can use to continue the combo or for oki.

Knockdown

Ranger has 4 main ways to get knockdown:

5M(MM)
6S~S -> immediate j.S (setup grenade)
high hit 6S~S -> j.M -> j.S
j.S 66 4S

Pros:

Method 1: High damage, ender for anywhere, converts into Awakening Skill, sends opponent full screen
Method 2: Sets up grenade oki, makes Ranger very advantageous, does not fully require corner
Method 3: Sets up grenade oki, able to safely meaty* certain reversals, erases white HP
Method 4: Sets up a grenade meaty that is safe against practicaly all reversals and allows you to keep pressure.

Note*: 2A is able to safely meaty if the first hit of j.M whiffs. The less hits of j.M that connect, the more positive Ranger will be on the opponent's wakeup.

Cons:

Method 1: High MP cost, follow-ups inconsistent sometimes, no mix after knockdown
Method 2: Opponent still keeps white HP, opponent may be able to air tech, failing to meaty means opponent can roll out of corner
Method 3: Hard to setup, meaty requires harsh timing on j.M and j.S, does not safely bait all reversals
Method 4: Corner only, costly to setup, (requires 214M) and most of the time, you have to end a combo short to use it.

Basic Combos

Basic combos are simple combos with the fewest requirements and conditions possible. They:

Work against every, or almost every, character in the game
Can be performed from most positions in the play area
Require few adjustments, and if any are required they are simple

Long Range Projectile Combo

Long Range Projectile ComboGet a knockdown from 2B, keep zoning.

Very Easy

5AA > 5B > 2B

84 (103) damage, no MP needed.

Bread and butter A staple combo that is relatively simple and effective. combo for a successful hit with a projectile at long range. Deals light damage, pushes the opponent back, and knocks them down, allowing for more zoning. 5AA cannot be hit confirmed due to how tight this combo's hitstun is so either accept the risk of the opponent ducking under 5AA after blocking 5A and leaving you stuck with no cancel options or only use it when you know it will hit (like punishing a whiffed attack). Note that 5A is a potent anti-air, especially against distant opponents. The entire combo works on an air hit, so no combo adjustments are needed.

5A alone can combo into 5B from about half-screen distance or 2B from about two-thirds of the screen away. Counter-hit 5A combos into 2B from full screen. You can also just use a raw 5B as it combos into 2B from full screen while still catching crouching opponents and dealing more damage, though at the cost of higher start-up.

Long range 5A, 5B, or 2B lack any meaningful follow ups, even when Conversion is available. The only exception is Ranger's Awakening Skill Seventh Flow, which combos from 5A, 5AA, and 5B from about four-fifths of the screen away and from 2B at full screen distance.

Mid to Close Range Projectile Combo

Mid to Close Range Projectile ComboLink 2S into 5S, set up grenade oki.

Easy

5AA or 2A > 5B > 2B > 2S, 5S > 6S~S, j.S

128 (158) damage, no MP needed.

Basic combo for a close range A or B projectile hit. Cancel 2B into 2SGuardLowStartup18RecoveryAdvantage-12~0 as soon as possible (make sure to buffer the input), then use 5SGuardMidStartup10RecoveryAdvantage-3 as soon as 2S's recovery ends. This will result in a side switch if the combo started at close range. Combo into 6SGuardMidStartup14RecoveryAdvantage-8~S so that you can use j.SGuardMidStartup183RecoveryAdvantage- on your way down, placing a grenade near the opponent and putting you at a frame advantage.

Grenade oki is Ranger's strongest mix-up set-up, granting him a full combo off either a throw or a meaty normal (usually 2A or 5S) while granting him enough plus frames after a short block string for another hit/throw mix-up (though with much less reward off a successful throw). Both can lead into another grenade set-up, allowing him to loop his offense.

Of course, there are higher damaging routes than this depending on screen position and available resources but this should help you get acquainted with Ranger's combo theory and Okizeme From Japanese "起き攻め". Attacking an opponent about to wake up after they were knocked down, usually with meaty attacks or mix-ups..

Air Raid Loops

Air Raid LoopsLink into j.B after 6S~S, catch the opponent with 5S before they land.

Easy

(j.B), 5S > 6S~S, j.B, 5S > 6S~S, j.S

224 (296) damage, no MP needed.

Primary meterless route for melee attacks and projectile jump-ins. Slightly delay Air Raid after 6S(3) if the opponent was grounded, immediately use Air Raid after 6S(2) if the opponent is already airborne. Can potentially be looped a third time in the corner, though some hits of 6S may need to be omitted depending on combo scaling. Ends with grenade okizeme.

Grenade Okizeme Corner Throw Combo

Grenade Okizeme Corner Throw ComboThrow opponents into grenade, set up a new one, repeat offense.

Easy

j.S, A+B, (G-14!) 2B > 2S > dl. 6S~S, j.S

208 (257) damage, no MP needed.

The payoff for Ranger's only legitimate mix-up. Don't let the low damage fool you, very few other characters can match this. Those few who can combo after a throw usually require MP, conversion, or specific set-ups-- in most cases all three. Ranger can set this up from essentially any successful hit and he can burn resources to increase the damage to ludicrous degrees (85 MP and his Awakening Skill can net over 500 damage). The best part? It leads straight into more grenade oki so you can go for it again.

Core Combos

Core combos balance potency with consistency. They:

Work against most characters of a selected weight or hurt box type
May require moderate adjustments to account for variables such as screen position, hit count, resources, and opposing character
Are expected to be consistently performable by most intermediate and advanced players who main the character

Grenade Okizeme Meaty Normal

Grenade Okizeme Meaty NormalUse the explosion to combo into another grenade.

Medium

j.S, 5S > 6S(2)~S, (G-14!) j.S, 2B > 2S > dl. 6S~(G-14!)S, 2B > 2S > dl. 6S(1)~S, j.S

318 (403) damage, no MP needed.

Mix-ups are only tricky if there is another option to look out for, so you'll need a combo route for when you choose to do a meaty strike rather than a throw. 5S is the most practical choice as it has a decent amount of active frames, isn't immediately obvious what you're doing (unlike 2S), and true block strings into 6S~S for a pressure reset and potential second hit/throw mix-up.

Time j.S after 6S~S such that grenade comes out just as the explosion occurs. Too soon and the original grenade will disappear. Too late and Ranger will land before the second grenade appears, ending the combo prematurely. The second use of 6S must be timed so that the grenade explodes just as the third hit occurs, allowing a delayed Air Raid to hit the opponent at the peak of the explosion launch.

Spending MP

Spending MPUse MP Skills to increase your damage and remove the opponent's white health.

Medium

(A or B Starter) > 5S > 6S > 4M, 5S, 2B > 2S, 5S > 6S~S, j.S

303 (349) damage, 70 MP spent, 1 MP needed to use.

Basic MP using combo, increases the amount of damage and corner carry while taking the opponent's recoverable health. Can also be started with A or B normals so long you are close enough to use 5S or 2S, though 2S won't work if you are too close. Remove the 5S during 4M and the 5S after 2S when scaling is too high.

Steep Slide Corner Starter

Steep Slide Corner StarterMore than just zoning

Medium

2S > 214M > 66 > 9 > j.S > land 66 > 2S > 5S > 6S->(!G-14)dl.S > land 2B > 6S->S > j.S

!G-14 denotes grenade explosion.
2S > 214M does not combo point-blank.

Steep Slide Corner StarterMore than just zoning

Medium

2S > 214M, 214M, 2S > 6S->(!G-14)dl.S > land 2B > 2S > 4S > 5M~M

!G-14 denotes grenade explosion.
2S > 214M does not combo point-blank.

Specialized Combos

Specialized combos are advanced routes which require more knowledge and awareness, but offer advantages over core routes. They:

Can have any number or combination of requirements and conditions—character, spacing, hit count, resource, or situation specific
Offer some advantage over core routes; be that in damage, corner carry, okizeme, meter gain, etc.
Might not necessarily be harder than core combos, but require more specific circumstances and knowledge to execute

Grenade Setup Guard Break Blockstring

Grenade Setup Guard Break BlockstringForcing a Guard Cancel

Medium

j.S, 2A > 5B > 5S > 6S > !G-14 > 214M, 2A > 66 > 2A > 5B > 5S > 6S > 5M~M(~M)

!G-14 denotes grenade explosion.
Requires 5M~M ender on Inquisitor, Striker, Ranger, Dragon Knight, Kunoichi, Ghostblade, Launcher, Swift Master, and Enchantress.
Requires 5M~M~M ender on Berserker, Vanguard, Hitman, and Troubleshooter.

Leads to 2S starter combos due to the distance after Guard Break.

Grenade Setup Guard Break BlockstringForcing a Guard Cancel

Medium

j.S, 2A > 5B > 2B > 5S > !G-14 > 6S(2) > 214M, 2A > 66 > 2A > 5B > 2B > 5S > 6S > 5M~M(~M)

!G-14 denotes grenade explosion.

Leads to 2S starter combos due to the distance after Guard Break.

Combo List

Midscreen Combos
Combo	Position	Damage	MP Gain	Works on:	Difficulty	Notes
5B 2B 2S 236M 66 5S 4S 5M	Anywhere	249	-100	Everyone	Medium	After 236M delay the 5B a bit to make sure you are on the correct side, you can also chose to not sideswitch by skipping the microdash.
5B 2B 2S 214M 66 5S 4S 5M	Anywhere	301	-110	Everyone	Easy	More damaging version of the combo above for more meter. Can also sideswitch by dashing under during 214M.

Midscreen to Corner Combos
Combo	Position	Damage	MP Gain	Works on:	Difficulty	Notes
5B 2B 2S dl.6S 214M j.S 66 5B 2B 2S j.S	Midscreen	291	-70	Everyone	Hard	Combo into j.S oki.

Corner Combos
Combo	Position	Damage	MP Gain	Works on:	Difficulty	Notes
2A 5B 2B 2S 214M j.S 66 4S	Corner	226	-70	Everyone	Easy	Delay the j.S slightly so that it hits meaty.
5B 2B 2S 214M j.S 2S 4S (Detonation) 66 4S 5M	Corner	338	-110	Everyone	Medium	More damaging version of the above combo utilizing the granade explosion.
5B 2B 2S 214M j.S 2S dl.6S (Detonation) dl.S 4S 5M	Corner	341	-110	Everyone	Hard
5S 6S 214M j.S 2S 4S (Detonation) 66 4S 5M	Corner	327	-110	Everyone	Medium	Same combo but off of a 5S confirm.
5S 6S(1) dl.j.B 5S 6S 214M j.S 66 4S	Corner	333	-110	Everyone	Medium	More damaging 5S combo with a meaty grenade setup. 5M ender does 374 dmg.
(j.S) Throw (Detonation) 2B 2S 4S 5M	Corner	226	-40	Everyone	Medium	Confirm after j.S setup in the corner