| Lei (Tekken 7) |
|---|
HaHa Step is a movement technique exclusive to characters with manual Back-Turned(BT) stance, a rare movement option and alternative for Backdash cancel (KBD), with a more simple execution and application than the traditional KBD. But only Lei's is effective enough to be actually competitive with KBD. Covering more ground movement backwards than his normal backdash with KBD and an easier command to do, Lei can escape many pressure situations in neutral with proper Haha Step, although the recovery from the BT stance is slower than traditional backdash, making punishment of whiffs more situational and limited.
How to do
The basic Haha step isn't much of an issue, what you need to do is first enter the back-turn stance (b+3+4), then after/during the transition you cancel the stance into crouch back(FC D/B), then repeat the process (B+3+4,n,D/B) until you're safe enough to breath.
The command screen should be reading as:
| Neutral | |
| Back-Turn transition | |
| Cancel into FC D/B |
While this is the most easy and useful way, Lei, and only Lei, is free to cancel his Back-Turn into standing backdash and vice versa, allowing for a more difficult version, in which you do b+3+4,n,b[L 1]. Sometimes called Silent Step, a faster cancel but with less ground movement than the basic Haha Step. It's also possible to use 3~4 and 4~3 instead of 3+4, they mess with Tekken cancel system, and produce twice the amount of noise compared to just b+3+4. Also on fail b+3+4 will produce the very slow 5 gates parry, which is not ideal, b+3~4 and b+4~3 on fail will produce the respective moves.
The command screen should be reading as:
| Back-Turn transition | |
| Neutral | |
| Cancel into back/backdash |
It's not necessary to release the b input before the next b+3+4, so when done fast the loop can become b~b+3+4,n,b~b+3+4...
Usage
Doing something like 3 or 4 Haha Steps you can probably reach the corner or the other side of the screen, it covers a lot of ground movement but in walled stages you should have more precaution not to corner yourself so easily. It's a movement option for when you want to escape the opponent "danger zone"(e.g. his launcher range or mixup) in neutral[L 2], not recommended when you are already in okizeme situation or in risk of being launched (for example, your back-turn being hit by the opponent). The D/B cancel input allows for you to evade highs during your movement, forcing the opponent to try mids or moves with long reach but slower startup, able to conditioning.
The proper Haha step does not really have a use in Tekken 7, it doesn't travel farther than KBD, and isn't much easier either, considering how failing it results in very slow moves. The proper Haha step is mostly used as a taunt.
Name
The naming comes from the older games, when you did the Haha step, Lei sounded like he says "Ha, Ha, Ha"[L 3], looking like he's laughing during the transitions in your effort to reach him. b+3~4 and b+4~3 versions also produced different sounds for Haha.
Other Characters
All other characters have to do the basic Haha with crouch cancel.
- Lili
- Probably the best non-Lei haha step, but too slow, the moving backwards also happens way too late.
- Lucky Chloe
- Also not terrible, during start up low crushes, and the cancel goes really far back
- Master Raven
- Probably the worst one, since her b+3+4 moves forward
- Xiaoyu
- Also not good, but her b+3+4 sidesteps