Taokaka
General Tactics
TL;DR (For Beginners)
- 6A: Antiair
- 2A: Amazing jab
- 5B: Good button for calling out delay techs
- 6B: Standing overhead
- 5C: Grounded poke
- 3C: Knockdown tool
- j.C: Air poke
- j.B: Air to air poke if they're above.
- j.4D: Resets air options
- j.236B: Air poke/combo extender
Taokaka has immense mobility, solid mixups, and good air pokes. Taokaka's neutral is critical to understand due to her lack of defensive mechanics. In neutral, she plays with a hit and run style. Taokaka has three air options, meaning she can triple jump, air dash twice, or airdash and jump without touching the ground. Triple jumps in particular are useful as a safe option to close the gap for certain matchups. Taokaka's air Drives each take up an air option, so she is unable to use an air drive and triple jump, etc. If her opponent jumps into the air, she has great air normals to contest space. While Taokaka has flexible movement options in the air, it's important to mix in grounded approaches using crawl, 5C, or simply dash barrier.
Taokaka mandates a good neutral game because of her low health and lack of defensive options. She relies on system mechanics like Barrier and Instant Blocking to force people to make risky commitments, or create space so that she can escape back to neutral. Unfortunately, her Counter Assault is lacking because it uses 2C's animation.
On offense, Taokaka's objective is to use frame traps to force the opponent into taking a risk. With her mobility, Taokaka can suddenly back off and bait out reversals or stronger options. Her 2A in particular is great for resetting pressure because it's fast, hits low, and has great range. It's best to avoid C normals in extended pressure strings because they introduce notable gaps. However, they also lead into Tao's best damage. This means that her C normals are used either as an occasional frame trap, or punish tools.
Blockstrings
Taokaka's blockstrings are as freeform as most characters in Blazblue. However, there are many gaps in Taokaka's pressure. This means that Taokaka's pressure, has many natural frame traps, but these gaps lose to fast reversals and Overdrive Raid. As a result, it can be risky to extend pressure for a long time. Depending on the situation, it's best to back off and use the threat of C normals to keep people passive. If these resources are unavailable for the opponent, there are more opportunities for riskier offense. Keep in mind that Taokaka's only jump cancels on block are 6A and 5C. These blockstrings show off some safe ways to pressure opponents:
5A > 5A > 5B
A very basic blockstring. This will push the opponent out so that you can jump cancel, hit 5C, or go into 2A to reset pressure.
5A > 5A > 5B > 2C
A high risk high reward frame trap. 2C on CH is very strong, but its slow startup means that you can eat a reversal.
5A > 5A > 5B > d.6A
Technically this loses to some reversals and ODR, but the threat of stopping pressure on 5B will stop most people. Delaying a 6A is strong because it will jail opponents trying to jump, and if they block it on the ground you can jump cancel.
5A > 5A > 5B > 5C > jc > falling j.C
From 5C, you can jump cancel and check for a response. If they're playing passively, j.C is a solid button to reset pressure. You can also bait out antiairs with triple jump!
Okizeme
Most of Taokaka's Okizeme starts from a 3C knockdown. From 3C, you have various options
5B
5B is extremely useful as an OTG to check rolls.
214D
214D is a solid tool for creating crossups or adjusting position depending on the situation.
Tips and Tricks
- Attacks Tao can Low Profile
- Try using j.4D to regain air options and continue movement
- Crawl is useful for avoiding many projectiles
Fighting Taokaka
- IB + Reversal/Overdrive is a strong option against Taokaka! Many of her strings actually leave gaps long enough to punish with these tools.
- Taokaka's Drives use up her air options, so if she double jumps and then uses drive, she's wide open
Taokaka
