BBTag/Akihiko Sanada

Akihiko

Health: 18,000 Prejump: 4F Backdash Time 23F / Invul: 1-7F All Movement Options Double Jump, 1 Airdash, Dash Type: Run, Ducking Playstyle Aggressive, Short-range, Avalanche Team role Point

Overview

Backstory

After a fire destroyed the orphanage he called home and took the life of his younger sister Miki, Akihiko swore he would become stronger in her memory. He took up boxing and quickly become known for his skills in the ring. Some time afterwards, he awoke to the power of persona and was recruited by Mitsuru Kirijo into the group called SEES. In the year 2009, Akihiko assisted her and the rest of the SEES with fighting the arcana shadows and ending the Dark Hour. After graduating from Gekkoukan High School, Akihiko began traveling the world to hone his boxing skills and seek out worthy opponents.

Playstyle

Akihiko is a rush-down character that utilizes a unique "rekka" system that allows him to chain special moves together for aggressive pressure and mix-ups. As he fights primarily with his fists Akihiko has short range but in exchange has high movement speed and has multiple specials that allow him to bob and weave through enemy attacks. He also has access to a persona like all the other characters from P4A. These spirits have their own hitboxes and hurtboxes, meaning they can fight from different positions than where Akihiko is and can tank hits for him too, though doing so will incur a 5% health loss (but Akihiko cannot be K.O.ed by this penalty). They are also immune to Reject Guards, making them good for pressuring opponents with lots of meter. However, Akihiko is the least reliant on his persona among the P4A cast, only using it for 5 moves; 4AAAA / 5AAAA, 5C, j.C, Maziodyne, and Earth Breaker.

Strengths/Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
Extremely high damage both raw and in combos. Strong mixup game with high reward. High HP. Least Persona-reliant character in the Persona cast, so he doesn't have to worry about losing extra health to bursts or counterpokes. Persona attacks have fantastic range.	Extremely short range on non-persona attacks. Mix-up RPS can be risky if opponent guesses correctly. Only has one low. Persona attacks are slow and very unsafe on whiff or block.

Cyclone

Akihiko's rekka is influenced by a level system that scales from zero to five based on the number of moves he has linked together in a single chain. Before he can use cyclone moves, however, Akihiko must use one of the moves listed below. Once in it, he can cancel any special into any other special move as well as 5C and 2C. These attacks can be used an unlimited amount of times but they cannot be used in succession (i.e. Ducking > Ducking isn't possible but Ducking > Boomerang Hook > Ducking is possible). As Akihiko chains into more specials, the cyclone level increases which grants his attacks more damage, meter, and hitstun, as well as changing their properties on hit. Keep in mind that if the chain is broken in anyway such as by jumping, using supers, getting hit, or switching characters, the cyclone level will return to zero. Also note that Akihiko's assists cannot enter cyclone state and thus aren't affected by this mechanic.

Moves that enter Cyclone state: Throw, 5B, and all special moves except Corkscrew and Double Uppercut.

Moves affected by Cyclone level: Throw, 5C, 2C, all special moves, and Cyclone Uppercut.

Overview

Combos Okizeme Strategy/Counter Strategy

Full Frame Data

Normal Moves

4A

P4AU Classic, but now +1

Isn't this a rabbit punch? P sure that's illegal

What was once a shit auto combo, is now serviceable because of AS

If you use this, get off the character

Version	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
4A	1000	All	5	2	11	+1
Quick jab Good for poking though lacking range Hits crouch, but can whiff at further ranges Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here
4AA	1500	All	9	2	19	-4
Vacuums on hit
4AAA	700*2	All	10	2(10)2 [2(10)2(10)2]	20	-5
Does not cross up, despite appearances Last hit launches Akihiko's old P4A autocombo. Unfortunately this move does not cross up, despite appearances, but it is possible to call an assist while Akihiko is behind the opponent in order to make a sandwich. On hit, the last hit launches and combos into 214C.
4AAAA	500, 0, 300*7, 1500	All	18	4	-	-7
Whiffs on grounded opponent Generic autocombo ender. Basically no reason to ever use this.

5A

Boom Boom

Double Uppercut... but actually

Now off of a better starter

If you use Caesar it better be for AS shenanigans

Version	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
5A	950*2	All	7	3(3)3	20	-6
Extremely short range Akihiko's old 5B. Unfortunately startup was nerfed compared to the old version, but it's still his best starter, assuming you can get close enough to land it. Follow-up hits prorate badly so for maximum damage, go straight into 5B on a good confirm.
5AA	950*2	All	8	5(3)2	19	-4
Second hit vacuums Same as 4AA with one extra hit. Rather long animation and bad proration so skip this if you don't need it.
5AAA	700*2	All	10	2(10)2 [2(10)2(10)2]	20	-5
Identical to 4AAA Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here
5AAAA	500, 0, 300*7, 1500	All	18	4	-	-7
Identical to 4AAAA Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here

5B

The original neutral killer, now contained in one button

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
500*5	All	9~21	2(2)1(2)2(2)1(3)5 [3]	23 [26]	-9
Listed startup is at point-blank range If the first hit connects, performs follow-up hits. Goes into Cyclone follow-ups. Akihiko's old Kill Rush special, with some modifications. Notably, both the startup and forward movement speed are faster, making it a great move for compensating for Akihiko's lack of range. As an added bonus, Akihiko will not perform all the punches unless it actually connects, making it much safer on whiff. Hugely buffed in 1.5 with the travel distance being roughly twice (!) as far, allowing you to punish bad neutral and pushblock attempts easily.

5C

Back in the day, this mid-combo = death. Now it's found a place as a bonafide combo ender.

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
800+	High	22	5	22	-10
Usable in Cyclone Knocks down on air hit. Akihiko's old 5C with considerable start-up buffs making it an actual legitimate mixup and combo tool now. Notably, with the faster startup, it can be used as a knockdown ender for juggle combos, and always gives a safejump. One of his few Persona moves.

2A

Poke

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
1000	All	6	2	11	-1
Chains into itself 3 times. Not a low. Fast jab with the same range and startup as 4A. Mostly interchangeable with 4A but generally has a better hitbox since it doesn't whiff on crouch as easily. Note that 2A > 5A will likely whiff if not point-blank so go into 4A or 5B.

2B

For all the effort he's putting into this uppercut, it's no wonder this is the God AA

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
1500	All	7	5	25	-13
Head invul Standard anti-air with fast startup and surprisingly decent range (longer than 5A) despite appearances.

2C

Imagine getting opened up high by a man with one low

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
1700+150*(C-1)	Low	13 [9]	5	20 [29]	-6 [-15]
Usable in Cyclone, increases in damage as Cyclone level increases Cyclone version hard knocks down. Akihiko's only low so you'll be using it a lot for mixups. Significantly buffed in 1.5 with Cyclone version now comboing into tons of stuff on hit.

j.A

j.A
j.BB

JoJo fans will recognize this as the legendary Zoom Punch!

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
1500	High	7	2	11	-
Good Air to air Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here

j.B

j.B
j.AA

You thought there was going to be one high didn't ya

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
900*2	High	9	3(3)3	15	-
Important points go here First hit can be comboed into j.214A for knockdown and oki setup.

j.C

A tip from ChaoticGamez: Always buffer j.214X. That way on hit you'll always get a convert! On block you still die

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
2000	High	21	4	35+4L	-
Better range than 5C but slower and more unsafe on block. Usable as a surprise overhead or to bait anti-airs, but make sure you have assist available to make it safe and/or pick up the combo.

Universal Moves

Ground Throw

Ground Throw
5B+C

You will never understand how amazing it is that this is now his throw

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
0, 500*4	Throw	7~30	3	23	-
Usable in Cyclone If done in Cyclone, Akihiko will perform a Ducking (66) automatically before grabbing. Goes into Cyclone followups. Somewhat unique throw that acts as a Cyclone move. Akihiko performs the standard run-up throw if done normally, or a Ducking into throw if done in Cyclone, but note that the automatic Ducking is slower than doing 66 manually then throwing. Ducking version adds two Cyclone levels regardless of whether you do it manually or automatically.

Double Uppercut

Double Uppercut
5A+D

What a fall from grace...

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
(1500+200C)2	Air Unblockable	10	3(4)3	43	-27
Usable in Cyclone Not great as a DP due to having a pretty bad hitbox, but conversely makes a decent high damage juggle combo ender as the damage goes up considerably with Cyclone level.

Skills

Corkscrew

Corkscrew
236A/B

PILEBUNK--Oh oh sorry... wrong game

Version	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
A	2000+200xC	All	9	8	31	-13
Wallbounces on hit Now a standalone special. Beware of using this to end a juggle in the corner as it will typically result in the opponent being bounced out of the corner. Yet another move that was buffed in 1.5 with a slightly higher wallbounce, allowing you to combo off it on counterhit or off a high-enough air juggle.
B	2000+200xC	All	16~48	8	31	-13
Can be held. Can cancel into 66 while weaving. Weaving into Corkscrew. Hold B to continue weaving, release to perform Corkscrew. This is the only way for Akihiko to perform Weaving, so use it to bait reversals during Cyclone pressure. Deals the same damage as 236A and still only adds one Cyclone level. In 1.5, you can now cancel weaving into ducking (and back into weaving again) which significantly reduces the commitment required with weaving and gives an indefinitely unbroken period of projectile invul while building Cyclone levels with each input.

Boomerang Hook

Cyclone Follow Ups
During Cyclone > A/B

Congrats, you just died

Fortunately for you it wasn't A-Hook. Unfortunately, you're still dead

Version	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
Boomerang Hook A Cyclone > A	1350+(150*C)	All	13	3	18	-5
First A press in Cyclone or A after Sonic Punch Akihiko's "rekka." Pressing A or B during Cyclone will alternate between Boomerang Hook and Sonic Blow. Starts with A Hook if you press A, B Sonic if you press B.
Boomerang Hook B Cyclone > B	1550+(150*C)	All	21	3	18	-5
Press B after Sonic Punch More startup and hitstun than A version. Now has armor midway through the startup.
Sonic Punch A Boomerang > A	1300+(200*C)	All	13	4	18	-6
Press A after Boomerang Hook Combos into B Hook at level 5 Cyclone (
Sonic Punch B Boomerang > B	1500+(200*C)	All	21	3	18	-5
First B press in Cyclone or B after Boomerang Hook More startup, travel distance, and hitstun than A version. Usually only combos off 214B/C or with an assist. Can be used as a neutral or pressure tool to close distance. Now has body invul midway through the startup.

Ducking

Ducking
66

Whatever you pressed just got you killed

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
-	-	-	-	25	-
Projectile invul and low profiles Usable in Cyclone and goes into Cyclone follow-ups Heavily buffed (yes, again) in 1.5, moving significantly farther (more than twice the distance?) in the same amount of time. Easy zoner punishes! Can be used to punish bursts if timed correctly, leading into Cyclone B starter.

Assault Dive

Assault Dive
214A/B (air OK)

What boxer can and would even attempt to do this

Version	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
Ground A	(900+200C)2	High, All	26	Until L(4)2	22	-5
Usable in Cyclone and goes into Cyclone followups. Akihiko jumps up and does Assault Dive; on hit, it can combo into Cyclone followups for big damage. This move is unique in that it's a special move that builds Cyclone level and can chain directly into more Cyclone followups without resetting the level, allowing you to set up combos into level 5 Cyclone. As of 1.5, all versions now hit overhead; A version can be used as a throw bait/mixup, while B version can be used with Active Switch to set up unblockables.
Ground B	(900+200C)2	High, All	40	Until L(4)2	22	-5
Important points go here Slower but more stun on hit. Combos into B Sonic Punch on air hit.
Air A	1100*2	High, All	10	Until L(4)2	22	-5
Emergency techable on air hit Air combo ender. Unlike ground version, air Assault Dives are emergency techable on air hit, so you can't combo after without assist. Completely unreactable overhead when TK'd, but you can't combo it into anything. Easiest oki setup tool. After j.214A (second hit), 66 > B follows any ground tech direction to catch jump-wakeup or force block string situation. Oki can still be beaten by reversals and wake up supers, however.
Air B	1300*2	High, All	25	Until L(4)2	22	-5
Important points go here Can be comboed into by counter hit j.C that gives a ground bounce for Cyclone B starter or Cyclone 66 > A starter.

Extra Skills

EX Corkscrew

EX Corkscrew
236C

You didn't block it, you'll never block it. Not even the guy who used it blocked it.

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
2200+200*C	All	16	8	31	-18
Crosses up SB Ducking into Corkscrew. Extremely fast grounded crossup that can be covered with assist to make a sandwich even if the opponent manages to block it. In fact, it's so fast that if done off 5B, 2C, etc. it's actually gapless, so if you want it to actually hit crossup, you'll need to delay it slightly.

EX Assault Dive

EX Assault Dive
214C (air OK)

A-Dive but blue and better and convertible and actually not A-Dive at all.

Version	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
Ground	(900+200C)2	High, All	24	Until L(4)2	22	-5
Fast enough to combo off certain moves. Good for doing extended solo combos off 5AAA or Sonic Blow as it retains your Cyclone level and resets the opponent's height. As of 1.5, combos off Cyclone 2C, allowing for easy solo combos for big damage.
Air	1300*2	High, All	10	Until L(4)2	22	-5
Considerably faster than the ground version, to the point that it will combo off of a jump-cancelled 2B on a grounded opponent. Unlike the A/B versions, this version ground bounces so you can use it to continue air combos. Is an overhead as of 1.5, meaning TK j.214C is unreactable like the A version, but you can combo off it like the B version.

Partner Skills

5P

5P
5B

RUSH-DA

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
500*5	All	(18)+13~24	2(2)1(2)2(2)1(3)5 [3]	23 [26]	-9
Important points go here Old B Kill Rush with A version's startup (i.e. fast but more hits). Launches on hit.

6P

6P
Corkscrew

Making every brawler comp viable since 2018

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
2000	All	(18)+24	8	41	-28
Important points go here Ducking to Corkscrew. Goes fullscreen.

4P

4P
Sonic Punch

"TOO WEAK!"

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
1500	All	(18)+10	4	28	-15
Can solo convert with Active Switch > 5A Can be looped in 4P for burst safe routes Akihiko's A-Sonic Upper in assist form with the added bonuses of serviceable launch height and solo combo opportunity with active switch

Distortion Skills

Cyclone Uppercut

Cyclone Uppercut
236B+C

You don't have to ask if it's gonna kill. The answer is always the same.

Version	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
Level 0	3500, 15003 [28002, 3500]	All	6+6 [3+4]	3(6)4,2,6 [3(6)2(??+15)2]	Until L+24	-47 [-36]
Level 1	3500, 10505 [28002, 1500*3]	All	6+1 [3+4]	3(6)23,32 [3(6)2(??+15)6,4,8]	Until L+24L	-50 [-43]
Level 2	3500, 12005 [28002, 1700*3]	All	6+1 [3+4]	3(6)23,32 [3(6)2(??+10)6,4,8]	Until L+24L	-50 [-43]
Level 3	3500, 10007 [25002, 600*10]	All	6+1 [3+4]	3(6)23,13,3 [3(6)2(??+10)6,1*7,3]	Until L+24L	-57 [-48]
Level 4	3500, 11507 [25002, 670*10]	All	6+1 [3+4]	3(6)23,13,3 [3(6)2(??+10)6,1*7,3]	Until L+24L	-57 [-48]
Level 5	3500, 60015 [25002, 5006, 22002]	All	6+1 [3+4]	3(6)27,18 [3(6)2(??+10)6,23,32(??+24)9,12]	Until L+24L	-99 [-105]
Damage and hits increase with Cyclone level. Akihiko's super for ending combos. Acts like Shin Shoryuken with an initial hit and a rising uppercut; for max damage, you will want to try to hit the opponent low enough for the initial hit to connect. Don't use this at low Cyclone levels if it won't kill as it will not give knockdown.

Maziodyne

Maziodyne
214B+C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
(480+48C)16 [(410+41C)24]	All	4+12	{1(1)}15,1 [{1(1)}23,1]	Total: 98 [Total: 113]	-36 [-35]
Hits entire screen Hits literally everywhere but unfortunately is not Touga with long startup and being very unsafe. Best used as a punish for slow/very unsafe moves.

Distortion Skill Duo

Maziodyne
P during Main Character's Distortion Skill

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
12516 [10023, 200]	All	1+1	{1(1)}15,1 [{1(1)}23,1]	Total: 83 [Total: 97]	-35 [-33]
Important points go here Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here

Astral Heat

Earth Breaker
222B+C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Frame Adv.
-	All	1+11	-	Total: 140	-95
Vacuums the opponent from full screen, making it able to punish slow attacks from considerable distance. Can be blocked, unlike in P4A, so don’t try any monkey business.

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