BBTag/Merkava

Merkava
Health: 17,000 Prejump: 6F Backdash Time 37F / Invul: 1-7F All Movement Options Glide, Dash Type: Run Playstyle Tricky, Long range Team role Point

Overview

Backstory

Merkava is a Void, a type of creature that resides within the "world" of the Hollow Night in the Under Night universe. They're typically mindless snake-like beasts that seek out and devour any living thing they can find for their EXS (if you survive a Void mauling, you become an in-birth). Merkava obviously stands out as being a Void who is capable of being able to think and talk like a human, owing to the fact he was an in-birth who gave up his human body in favor of a Void one, and capable of living in the real world, making the strongest and most intelligent Void. However, this is a decision that has caused him some angst, as he now has the animalistic urges and instincts of a Void with the conscious of a human. He is suspected as the Void responsible for killing and eating Orie's parents. He was targeted and trailed by a Ritter Schild member Londrekia Light, who then spare the intelligent Void’s life and now having a neutral friendly terms with him while swore to find a possibility to reverse the transformation from a Void back to human.

Playstyle

Merkava sports some pretty huge limbs that can be used to harass the opponent from a safe distance away, and his unique flight ability gives him a lot of room to move around and position himself. His 5A, 214B, and reversal action are all solid anti-airs that contribute to his dominance of the skies. As an assist, he has very somewhat standard but nonetheless good moves, with a flurry punch for general purpose, a fireball for zoning, and an anti-air that ground slams. On the other hand, his big size can easily lead to him being combo food for most opponents, and he doesn't have many options to get the opponent off of him. In addition, he is big and slow without having any traditional counter-balances, like increased backstep invulnerability or hard-hitting attacks.

Merkava is a character that likes to pressure his opponent from at least midrange, and when he gets a hitconfirm, get his reward through very technical combos.

Strengths/Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
Effective attacks that can reach from footsies range to fullscreen. Unique flight mechanic gives great position and safe jump setups. Glide attack allows for some tricky mix-ups. Strong anti-air game Is able to Reverse Beat attacks like other UNIEL characters.	Tall hurtbox Slow moves Reverse beating blockstrings does not improve frame advantage

FLS of The Basilisk: Jormungandr

Merkava's FLS grantss him the ability to stretch and morph his arms, allowing him to punch and grab from a long distance, turn them into whips to slap opponents, and sprout wings to fly. In gameplay, his FLS grants him the ability to fly whenever he double jumps or air dashes. Merkava can move up, down, forward, or backward and can cancel into his air dash until he starts his third and final wing flap. His air dash is actually a forward glide that lasts for about a second and has a hitbox, thus it can be used as an attack. Both his flight stance and his air dash can be canceled into any air attack at any time.

Overview

Combos Okizeme Strategy/Counter Strategy

Full Frame Data

Normal Moves

5A

5A I, don't use overheads during this attack. I, SHAKE THE BABY!

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 5A 1500 All 10 5 24 -12 Head invul Jump cancelable on block. Merkava does a downward strike with his elbow, this is his primary anti-air and one of his best moves to end combo strings with. 5AA 1500 All 8 4 20 -7 Important points go here Merkava does another strike with his other elbow, has good range and is also good to end combo strings with 5AAA 1500, 500*4 All 8 3 29 -15 Very unsafe on block Merkava grabs the opponent and SPINS THE BABY. throws the opponent full screen. 5AAAA 2400 All 18 6 29 -14 Not able to be done if 5AAA is blocked. After throwing the opponent Merkava hits them while they’re in the air.

5B

5B I, am incredibly sad that this isn't an overhead.

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 5B 1500 All 13 2 22 -7 Good Poke Merkava does a punch, a good mid range poke that is safe if used from a decent distance 5BB 1500 All 15 5 23 -11 Merkava outstretches both of his arms foward. Safe if done from a distance but can be punished by fast characters up close. 5BBB 1700 All 17 2 29 -12 Also safe if done from a distance. Very punishable up close and does not connect out of 2BB on block, someone can reversal after 2BB if 2BBB is done

5C

5C I, hop	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 800+ High 26 3 18 -4 Universal Overhead Merkava jumps forward and does a universal overhead.

2A

2A I, Throw A Tantrum	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 1000 All 7 3(6)2 14 -2 Does not hit low Another one of Merkava’s safest moves on block, crouched Merkava slaps the floor twice. Use to end block strings.

2B

2B I, bite your ankles	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 1500*2 Low 13 2(6)4 16 -3 Merkava reaches forward with his head and bites, it has 2 hitboxes once on the way there and the other on the way back. This hits low and is generally safe.

2C

2C I, chomp	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 1300*2 Low, All 12 7(14)3 24 -8 Launches on second hit Lunges forward then pulls his head up. This knocks up and leads to big combos. This move is not safe if push blocked and can be punished. Use if attack lands or only first hit.

j.A

j.A I, reach out to the bird feeder	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. j.A 1500 High 10 2, 1 27 - j.AA 1500 High 9 2 17 - Merkava punches forward with his arm with huge range. Paired with his flight this is a really good button.

j.B

j.B I, think the wheel of pain is turning.	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 1700 High 15 4 Until L+7L - Can be used for instant overheads, but is a bit finicky with positioning, experiment to find the sweet spot for it.

j.C

j.C I, Divekick

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 1700 High 14 Until landing 22L -7 Advantage based on immediate j.C; Lowest possible j.C hit is -3 This move is actually an overhead, so j.C can be used as an instant overhead. There is a lot of landing recovery, but it can be special cancelled so it's not as unsafe as it seems, and you can actually combo off this solo with j.214C. If the opponent blocks this, your pressure is likely over.

Universal Moves

Ground Throw

Ground Throw 5B+C I, grab and slam you around	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 500*4 Throw 7-30 3 23 - 100% minimum damage Hitstun after the opponent lands from throw is longer than it might seem at first glace, can easily combo off of it with a dash

I, Penetrate the Clear Skies

I, Penetrate the Clear Skies 5A+D (air OK) I, EX Snake Strike	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. Ground 500*10 Air Unblockable 11 2*10 26L -19 Usually at higher disadvantage due to earlier hits pushing back too much for final hit to connect Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here Air 800*5 All 12 2*5 30L - Important points go here Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here

Skills

I, Spring to the Sky

I, Spring to the Sky 88 I, Turn Into A Bird	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. - - - - - - Flaps three times before automatically ending Merkava will do a small midair hop to indicate flight is about to end. Fly that can be executed with any 2 jump motions before landing. A very good option for Merkava and has ton of uses for mixups, pressure, etc

I, Soar the Sky

I, Soar the Sky 44 or 66 44 or 66 after I, Spring to the Sky I, Turn Into Kazunoko

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. Forward 1500 All 20 24 11 - Backward 1500 All 25 16 11 - Can be cancelled to a normal on whiff. Given the size of Merkava's air normals, this can let you take over a lot the screen. Ability to use this with the aerial backdash lets you attack while retreating. Merkava does his airdash while in flight. Travels very far and also has a hitbox. Used in combination with moves to apply pressure. Used both to approach and help zone.

I, Drill Through

I, Drill Through 236A/B I, MUDA MUDA MUDA	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. A 400*8 All 13 2*8 19 -4 A version has very little startup and is safe from a distance, will miss in mid range block strings. B 450*8 All 17 2*8 31 -16 B version has a little bit of startup and lunges forward and best used in combos, very punishable.

I, Capture and Devour

I, Capture and Devour 214A/B I, Touch with noodly appendages

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. A 1000, 0, 500*3 All 15 2-16* 26-31/54* -8 ~ -13 Enters recovery on block; adds a frame of recovery for every 2 frames spent active; additional 23 frames recovery on whiff Merkava extends his arm full screen and latches onto the opponent wherever they were on hit. On block, he does not travel to the opponent, but on hit he will do a lengthy animation that can be followed up with the help of your partner. Opponents cannot ground forward tech through Merkava after the knockdown, so it's useful in the corner to lock them down. B 1000, 0, 500*3 All 15 2-16* 20-25/43* -2 ~ -7 Enters recovery on block; adds a frame of recovery for every 2 frames spent active; additional 18 frames recovery on whiff Similar to the A version but this one hits at a 45 degree angle upward.

I, Breath Out

I, Breath Out j.214A/B I, Skraw!	Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. A 1500 All 19 Until hit Total: 49+8L -8 8f forced landing recovery; Advantage based on lowest possible use Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here B 1500 All 23 Until hit Total: 53+4L -5 4f forced landing recovery; Advantage based on lowest possible use Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here

Extra Skills

EX I, Drill Through

EX I, Drill Through 236C "Shall we compare the speed of our attacks?"	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 350*16 All 13 2*16 25 -10 Important points go here Merkava's EX punch attack does more damage, goes farther faster, and keeps the opponent blocking for a pretty long time which makes it useful to switch to a partner while he does the long animation.

EX I, Capture and Devour

EX I, Capture and Devour 214C pls no or "I, Devour Ass"	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 1000, 0, 500*5 All 15 1-8* 26-31/54* -8 ~ -13 Enters recovery on block; adds a frame of recovery for every 2 frames spent active; additional 23 frames recovery on whiff Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here

EX I, Breath Out

EX I, Breath Out j.214C EX Flame Bait	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 1500*3 All 22 Until hit Total: 42+4L +20 4f forced landing recovery; Advantage based on lowest possible use Detailed description of the usefulness of the move go here

Partner Skills

5P

5P I, Drill Through	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 550*6 All (17+)13 1*6 31 -15 Important points go here Neutral partner skill with a good amount of lockdown. Has a rather short animation and screen presence on whiff though.

6P

6P I, Breath Out	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 1500*3 All (17+)36 Until hit 91T - Merkava jumps into the air and does I, Breath Out, the fireball can mainly be used for helping approach because of it’s slow speed or applying range on zoners

4P

4P 5A	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 1500 All (17+)12 5 24 -12 Hard knockdown on hit While useful for extending combos because of the hard knockdown, it doesn't see much use outside of punishing Cross Bursts.

Distortion Skills

I, Resentfully Rage

I, Resentfully Rage 236B+C I, SKREEEEEEEEEEEE	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 670*20 [640*25] All 1(+60)+11 2[(2)2]*19 56 -37 Minimum damage: 93*20 (1860) Minimum Enhanced damage: 83*25 (2075) Merkava flails his arms around wildly, covering a large area but is super unsafe.

I, Frolic

I, Frolic 214B+C (air OK) I, Kidnap the Princess

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. Ground 1000, 400*5, 1500, 3100 [1000, 400*5, 1000*3, 3200] All 1(+24)+10 2 (25+)25L -32 Air 1000, 400*5, 1500, 3100 [1000, 400*5, 1000*3, 3200] All 1(+24)+10 2 (25+)25L -32 Minimum damage: 200, 80*5, 300, 1054 (1954) Minimum Enhanced damage: 200, 80*5, 200*3, 928 (2128) Merkava jumps into the air, grabs the opponent, jumps into the air and then slams them onto the ground. Can be used in the air. Use to finish off combos from the air.

Distortion Skill Duo

I, Resentfully Rage P during Main Character's Distortion Skill I, am LATE TO THE PARTY SKREEEEEE	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 100*20 [100*25] All 1(+96)+1 2[(2)2]*19 56 -37 Minimum Damage: 2000 / 2500 during Resonance Blaze/Cross Combo Party hard if you think your opponent has less or around 2k (2.5k) HP.

Astral Heat

I, Overrun 222B+C I, Monch	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Frame Adv. 6666, 0*6, 42334 All 1(+76)+10 4 34 -17 Minimum damage 100% (49000) Merkava reaches forward to initiate the attack. After landing the attack he begins to eat the opponent. Can be used in most situations other supers would be used

Navigation

Overview

Combos Okizeme Strategy/Counter Strategy

Full Frame Data

To edit frame data, edit values in BBTag/Merkava/Data. Be sure to update both the move and the move Full sections. One is shown on the character page, while the other is shown on the frame data page.