Miguel strategy

Key moves

FunctionDegree to which the move is fit for this purpose.
	Core
	Secondary
	Extra

Move	PokeFast and safe, see Poke	CounterStronger against enemy attacks, e.g. has evasive, crush, parry, or counter hit properties.	MixupUseful against a guarding opponent.	KeepoutUseful against an opponent moving in.	ApproachUseful when moving in.	OkiUseful against a grounded opponent, see okizeme.
1

1

Jab is good okay.

Tracks left

• df+1

Tracks both

• d+4
• SAV db+3 (must delay)
• SAV 2 (must delay)

Tracks right

Neutral

Whiff punishers

Use Miguel's superior movement and annoying 50/50s to bait out a whiff.

Up close

• uf+4: i15 launcher, aka hop kick, -13 on block

• df+2, 1: i16 launcher, but risky at -15 on block

• f+1+2: i14 KND with free manual SAV 2, safe on block with pushback (be aware that this move is a high, so it can be ducked)

Farther away

• d/f+2, 1

• df+3, 2: i16. Low damage, very safe and +5 on hit.

• f+4, 2: i17. KND and wall splat. Most recommended option.
  • Miguel's main whiff punish from back dash

• d+2: i18. -7 on block and has decent range. Sadly not used by a lot of Miguel players; feel free to use it more.

• 1+2, 1+2: i19. Not recommended due to its stubby hitbox, but it's there if you wanna use it. -14 on block, but NC and does 40 damage if both hits connect. It also wall splats.

• f, F+3: i20. Everyone sleeps on this move 😔. Screws on normal hit and is safe on block, though it is a high.

• Manual SAV 2: i24. Despite being slow and somewhat tricky to pull off, it is definitely worth doing. KND and wall splats. Chunky damage and safe on block at -9.

Approach

Mix up your approach tools and timing.

• d/f+1[~f SAV] -2 on block, +5 on hit
  • Weak to SSL
  • Combines interrupting their keep outs and approach
  • Can lead into a 50/50 out of nothing
• d/b+3[~f SAV] +4 on hit.
  • Weak to SSR
  • If they don't duck
• u/f+1[~f SAV] +4 on block
  • For if they may duck
  • u/f+1[~f SAV] d/f+2 guaranteed on everyone but Dragunov, Fahkumram, Marduk, and Miguel (tall characters)
• f+4[~f SAV]: homing, +6 on hit, longer range
  • Important tool for tracking, both up close, and far away
• d+4: Long range low, +0 on hit
• d/f+3,2 Safe mid,mid string

Example of approach and 50/50s

d/f+1 can suddenly lead to two big lows in a 50/50 and 25+% of their HP is suddenly gone.

However, there are risks, such as getting counter hit launched by a magic 4, or if they guess correctly.

Example you can do with d/f+1

• Approach opponent with d/f+1. Usually it's blocked, sometimes it hits
• E.g. d/f+1 blocked is -2
  • If you tried to do d/f+1~f SAV mixup, you'd lose to jabs or counter hit attacks such as d/f+2, hopkick, and magic 4
  • Use your superior side step and back dash to make mashers and dick jabbers pay, by making them whiff
  • d/f+1,2: If they mash after d/f+1, then the 2nd hit will CH and KND into free manual SAV 2
    • CH (d/f+1),2 3+4 SAV 2
• Once they stop mashing, you can add a SAV mixup 50/50. Here's some examples:
  • Low and a safe mid, d/f+1~f SAV d/b+3~f SAV b+1 -> run around
  • SAV b+1 is a homing mid, very good for safety. But it has a shorter range and they can backdash in many situations.
  • d/f+1~f SAV 2 high damage, safe mid
  • d/f+1~f delay to see if they guess, or side step, or try to attack
  • d/f+1 into d/f+1 or u/f+1. Don't have to enter SAV
  • d/f+1 into side step, see if you can bait a whiff or an opening for another d/f+1 poke
  • d/f+1~f SAV d+4,3 (i15): In case they are timing their ducks for the slower SAV d/b+3 (i19)

Approach/Keepout Combined

How to approach some who is trying to keep you out

• Back dash or side step if they are being predictable, to try to bait a whiff
• Jab: 1 and 1,2 are important to interrupt the opponent timing.
  • 1,2: Tracking isn't very good, but the 2nd hit tracks some characters and/or situations well.
  • Sometimes do 1,2,4 to interrupt opponent, but risky since they can duck and launch 3rd hit
• d/f+1
• d/b+3+4: i12 generic low kick with superior range
• d+3: i20 low, high crush, +1 on hit
• (d/f+1),2:
  • 2nd hit CH KND into free manual SAV 2
  • Helps stop mashers after d/f+1
• d/f+3,2 safe mid,mid string.
  • Lower hitbox than f+4 and also relatively long range, compared to some of Miguel's tools
• f+4 homing
  • Has a high hitbox for a mid and is evaded by things
  • But has long range and can mess up their timing if they're used to dealing with short range attacks

Keepout

• Jabs: 1 or 1,2
• d/f+1
• d/b+3+4: i12, quick low to crush highs or beat slower attacks and interrupt your opponent
• 4: Magic 4 counter hit launcher. High, longer range hit box
• b+1: high, small hit box
  • Starts a high damage juggle on counter hit
  • Very short range and doesn't track anywhere
  • Can be used to interrupt strings or flow charts
• d+3: high crush low
  • +1 on hit and long range
  • However is slow at i20
• d+1+2: mid, high crush, long range
  • -12 on block
  • Wall splat and wall break
• Manual SAV:
  • At long range, can manually enter SAV with 3+4 and can use SAV attacks
  • E.g. SAV 2 or SAV 4 or SAV 1 as keep out

Mashers

Dealing with mashers is annoying

You can gain frames by slipping in a well timed d/f+1 (+5 on hit), which gives you all the frames you need

If they are mashers after d/f+1 hits:

• d/f+1 -> b+1 or 4
  • Counter hit launch them. CH b+1 combo does almost as much as delayed hopkick u/f,N+4
  • They can high crush or side step these
• d/f+1 -> d/f+1:
  • Maybe they try to high crush or mash jabs. This will most likely shut them down.
• d/f+1,1
  • If you aren't afraid of the opponent ducking the 2nd hit of d/f+1,1, then maybe mash that two or three times in a row until they stop attacking

If they are mashers after d/f+1 blocked:

• (d/f+1),2: 2nd hit will KND for free 3+4 SAV 2
• d/f+1 -> side step: may evade most jab strings, dick jabs, and a lot of other stuff
• d/f+1 -> back dash: may evade shorter range attacks
• d/f+1 -> block:
  • Maybe they do something like hopkick (-13): Block and punish it
  • or maybe something that is safe, but -9 on block: Block and apply a mixup with your frames
• d/f+1 -> jab or b+1: If they try to apply a slow attack, e.g. 15 or more frames, you can slap them out of it.

If they Stop Mashing

If they stop mashing, you can approach with:

• u/f+1 +4 on block
• d/b+3 +4 on hit
• f+4 +6 on hit, if they try to side step the above two

Then at +4 or +5, you can use a SAV mixup, e.g.

• If they won't mash: another 50/50
  • Lows: SAV d/b+3 or SAV d+4,3 or regular d/b+3
  • Mids: SAV 2 or u/f+1
• If they mash: CH b+1 or 4
• Not sure: d/f+1 and try to get into the same situation we are familiar with
• Not sure/safer: SAV b+1 homing mid
  • Optional delay 2nd hit SAV b+1<4, as 2nd hit is a CH launcher
  • If they are sufficiently scared of 2nd hit of SAV b+1,4, you can do SAV b+1~f SAV 50/50

Elbow/Knee

Sometimes you need to counter with a knee or elbow to stop certain types of reversals or parries

All mids:

• d+2: Elbow
• d/f+4: Knee
• SAV 3: Knee
• SAV u/f+3: Knee

NOTE: You can also bait them out to whiff and whiff punish their parry/reversal

Anti Special Stances

E.g. Zafina or Xiaoyu or Eddy

• d+2: Mid
• d/b+2: Mid
• d+4: long range low
• d/b+3+4: generic fast low
• d/f+1: Hits regular AOP, but whiffs on AOP duck

NOTE: d/f+1 has a high hitbox, and whiffs on many special stances

Leroy parry:

• SAV 1<1 will CH launch Leroy's parry into parry attack, if they mash
  • SAV 1<1 means delay 2nd hit, although SAV 1,1 is effective, it may not CH launch