Jin strategy

This page is for Tekken 8. For Tekken 7, see Jin strategy (Tekken 7).

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
1,2
2,1
2,1,4
df+1
df+1,4
d+4
4
db+4
d+2
f,F+3
f,n,d,DF+4,2
f+4
f,F+4
f,n,d,df#2
f,F+2
ZEN 4
ZEN 3+4
1,3
uf+2
b+2,1
b+3,2
df+2
df+4

Overview

Jin is one of the most well rounded characters in Tekken 8. He is especially powerful at controlling the neutral. Once the opponent respects the midrange tools, Jin can approach and mix up his opponent with powerful Mishima-Style staples such as his Crouch Dash, Hellsweep, Electric Wind Hook Fist, Left Split Kicks, etc. or stay and and continue to control the neutral.

Techniques

Electric Wind Hook Fist

Jin has two electric inputs, the Electric Wind Hook Fist, and the Electric Thrusting Uppercut.

The Electric Wind Hook Fist, sometimes shortened to just Electric or EWHF, is Jin's version of the Mishima staple, the Electric Wind God Fist. Generally speaking, all of the potential use cases of the EWHF are the same as the EWGF, although Jin might have specific tools that perform in these cases similarly or better with less of an execution requirement.

Execution

Electrics are generally understood to be demanding to perform, however their benefits are well worth the effort. The input for the EWHF goes as follows:

f,n,d,df#2

Where the # indicates that the 2 must be input on the same exact frame as the df input.

While an i11 attack from Couch Dash, the attack is always preceded by the Crouch Dash, meaning the EWHF is only as fast as the Crouch Dash, the first active frame being as fast as i14.

A unique feature of Electrics is because a Crouch Dash is not quite a stance but a movement, it cannot be buffered out of other states. This means if it is being used as a punish for blocked attacks, in a combo, or after attacks during pressure, you must wait for Jin to completely return to a neutral state before starting the input, or else it might not register the input properly.

Average EWHF:

Frame

Input

State

1

f

2

f

3

n

4

d

5

d

6

d

7

d/f2

Above is shown what might potentially be your average Electric input, lingering on some of the inputs of the crouch dash, leading the Electric to be i17.

Electric Wind Hook Fist:

Frame

Input

State

1

f

2

n

3

d

4

d/f2

Above is the fastest possible Electric input, spending just a single frame on each input of the crouch dash, making the electric come out on frame 14 after starting the input.

Evasive Electric Wind Hook Fist:

Frame

Input

State

1

f

2

n

3

d

...

d

12

d

13

d/f2

The down input can be held for up to 10 frames before the df is needed for the Crouch Dash. Until the df is pressed, Jin is in a crouched position so inputting it like this gives the startup of the Electric some evasive properties, allowing it to be used to punish high attacks from up close or discourage opponents from pressing quick highs to stuff the move.

Pressure

The EWHF is a fast, long range, +5 on block instant tornado launcher. Its primary use in neutral is as a pressure and keep out tool, stuffing dash ins and buttons, and keeping sidestepping opponents locked down with the tracking properties of the wavedash before it. On block, the pushback can vary from being in range of jab strings to catch someone trying to mash out, or just outside of jab range setting the opponent up for a counter-poke or punish. Multiple electrics can be used to keep advantage and push an opponent towards the wall, although how effective this is against counter pokes will depend on your ability to execute Electrics quickly and precisely.

Whiff Punish

The long range and speed of the EWHF makes it a strong option when deciding to whiff punish attacks. You are able to create space and cause whiffs with back dashes and sidesteps, and are able to quickly close the distance with an Electric or wave dash Electric.

Punish

From standing, Electrics are i14, meaning you could use it to punish a -14 move on block, however, it requires the execution of 4 frame perfect inputs on the exact frame your block stun ends, making this an extremely difficult task. Jin has the benefit of i15 standing launchers in uf+4 and d+3+4, or his hop kick and cancans respectively, and an i14 crouching launcher in ws2, so typically players opt for taking a worse punish on standing -14 moves, and a better full launcher as a punish on -15 moves.

Combos

EWHF is a instant tornado launcher unlike the Electric Wind God Fist, which is a full launcher. This means it spends your tornado for the combo immediately, taking away its ability to be used later in the combo, and limiting the kinds of combos that can be done from this starter. However, EWHF does do a good deal of damage, and combos from it can still provide great corner carry and damage.

Mid combo, Electrics are used as a high damage filler to be used after launchers or tornado launchers, although care should be taken to input the Electric properly after Jin returns to neutral, or else the input may come out incorrectly and potential damage may be lost or the combo dropped.

Diagnosing Misinputs

• 2

2 was input during the forward or neutral parts of the crouch dash input.

• d+2

2 had been pressed too quickly, before df+2 was pressed.

• df+2

This misinput is commonly seen during combos and means the f, n, or d portion of the crouch dash was input during the recovery of another action.

• Wind Hook Fist

The 2 was input after df was input, resulting in the non-electric version of the move.

• FC+2

Down was held for too long before the df input.

Special Cases

When cancelling attacks into Breaking Step, or in all crouch dashes with heat, Jin will enter a special Breaking Step with glowing eyes. This will allow Jin to input all of his electric type inputs without the need for a just frame input, although in heat this will spend some duration of his heat.

Wind Hook Fist

A Wind Hook Fist is the result of a failed Electric Wind Hook Fist, resulting in less damage, pushback, and recovery than an electric input. The WHF might seen to have more range than the EWHF due to the crouch dash being active for several frames before the attack comes out, although this can be made up for in an EWHF by either dashing or crouch dashing before the EWHF.

A WHF can still be used to punish attacks and as combo filler without the just frame input as it still maintains its launching and juggling properties, but you may find your combos slightly harder to link together, or dealing less damage than other alternatives.

Wavedash

A wavedash is series of Crouch Dashes chained together, it is input with f,n,d,df,f, where the last forward input can be used as the forward input for the next Crouch Dash.

A wavedash has a wide range of applications and flexibility making this one of the most powerful stances for a Mishima.

While in a crouch dash, Jin is able to approach, high crush, and realign to the opponent all at once. How fast this technique is performed dictates how much distance is traveled by Jin, at which points he is threatening certain attacks, and at which points he can avoid attacks. While Jin cannot block while wavedashing, pressing back after the crouch dash input will allow Jin to block immediately, keeping you safe from quick panic options or keep out options.

If proper respect from the opponent is not established, then the crouch dash is much weaker, and it gives free reign for them to run their own offense.

Below is a list of options you can present from a wavedash:

• CD#2 (Jin's Electric Wind Hook Fist, a plus on block, high, instant tornado launcher)
• CD,ws4 (A safe mid which comes out on the safe frame as EWHF)
• CD#1 (A fast mid launcher, the electric version hits grounded and causes a flip)
• CD.DF+4,2 (Jin's Hellsweep, an unreactable low that knocks down and causes a ground slam)
• CD,f,f+3 (A safe mid launcher, although reactable, can act as a timing mixup alongside Hellsweep)
• CD,throw (adds to the mental stack of someone looking to react and block Jin's strikes)
• CD,f,f+2/CD,f+4 (Powerful long range mids)

This list is by no means exhaustive, and any standing, while standing, or any other move can be performed out of wave dash with enough practice.

Zenshin

Zenshin is Jin's primary stance, providing a mix of potent mixup, tools to extend his offense, chip away at the opponent's health, or provide incredible flexibility in how you pressure your opponent. The stance itself is evasive, ducking under highs with a breadth of evasive followups as well as cancels to make an opponent second guess swinging into it.

Stance Entry

Manual Entry f+3+4

Jin's standard manual input into Zenshin, he steps forwards and enters ZEN.

Manual Entry b+3+4

A special form of Jin's ZEN stance known as Zanshin, he pulls himself backwards instead of stepping forwards. This allows him faster access to his stance followups than would be possible with f+3+4, and allows a much easier method of cancelling the stance with just a forward input. The backwards motion of the entry may make some followups whiff that would otherwise hit with f+3+4.

Transitions

Holding forward after some attacks or strings will transition Jin directly into ZEN. This enables more potent combo routes, extension of pressure on block, or the baiting out of action from the opponent. On all of the transitions into stance from attacks on block tends to leave you vulnerable to counterpoking with fast attacks, and the extension into ZEN is most potent when performed on hit.

Zenshin Cancel

Outside of entering ZEN from b+3+4, ZEN can only be canceled into attacks, or holding DF into the red eyes Breaking Step. This Breaking Step can't be canceled with just a back input, but it can be canceled into a sidestep or a jump. Pressing up during the Breaking Step will quickly cancel the crouch dash into a sidestep, and up+back will start cancel into a jump. Moving from up+back to back will cancel the startup of the jump into stand blocking.

The input for cancelling ZEN stance goes as follows:

f+3+4,DF,ub,b

This can be performed from any method of entering ZEN.

Heat Smash

Jin has powerful options out of his Heat Smash, allowing him to snowball plus frames during pressure, or combo into devastating damage.

By default, Jin's Heat Smash will throw out three hits, and then transition into a cinematic, however, on block, it will cancel the cinematic leaving Jin +3 on block, and transition into Jin's Red-Eyed Breaking Step, which allows Jin to perform electric attacks without the need for just frame inputs. During the first hits, hold back to cancel the breaking step, retain the frame advantage, and leaving yourself with a little more breathing room.

After the first two hits, if 4 is input, then Jin will end his heat smash prematurely with a strong side kick. On hit this move will throw the opponent far across the stage, wallsplating from incredible distances, or interacting with stage elements. On block, this will push the enemy far away, leave Jin +9, and potentially wallsplat, which gives Jin over 21 frames of advantage, allowing him to run almost any pressure he would like.

Combo Theory

The purpose of combos extends to more than just dealing as much damage as possible, and typically prioritizes the situation of both players after the combo as much or more than the damage dealt.

Potential factors to include when choosing a combo route can include the damage, ease of execution, wall carry, wall damage, resources spent, and okizeme. What to prioritize depends on the situation in game and the choices and tradeoffs a player wishes to make.

b+3 Combo Conversion

b+3 is a key move for Jin to pick up combos off of various launchers. It allows for easier conversions off of things such as a low parry, counter hit f+4, EWHF into EWHF, etc.

There is a nuance to comboing opponents on the ground with b+3. You may be trying out combos by landing individual hits and progressing one move at a time, however the stance transition for b+3 into ZEN changes the properties of the move. You may find that some combos will not work if performed with b+3 compared to b+3,F. This is because when cancelling b+3, either into ZEN or less commonly into its b+3,1 follow-up, the speed of the attack will be faster, and the hitbox of the b+3 will extend downwards further allowing the combo to continue.

Combo Structure

An air combo typically consists of a launcher, 3-5 mid air hits, a tornado, and a finisher. The launcher will throw the opponent up in the air, each additional hit will add additional damage and relaunch the opponent slightly lower and further, the tornado will launch an opponent away and they will land in a vulnerable state, allowing you to land your finisher.

An instant tornado will start the combo at the second stage, typically allowing the instant tornado, a few juggling hits, and then the finisher.

A combo launching the opponent towards a wall may allow you to run up and continue the combo for additional damage.

Jin's typical stable bread and butter air combo will consist of:

Launcher > b+3,F+1 b+3,F~ZEN.u+1 T! b+3,F+1,3

Combo Filler and Tornado Launchers

Each additional hit in a combo will add extra damage to your combo, but will further scale the damage of the following hits, and launch the opponent lower and further away. Therefore it is important to understand the effects of each hit in a combo and how it will affect follow-up hits.

Off of regular launchers, CD#1, uf+4, ws2, etc., Jin's most stable combo conversion tool is b+3,F~ZEN.1. This is a quick i15 string with plenty of vertical and horizontal range and allows for transitions into the rest of Jin's combo routing.

Before comboing off of the launch with b+3,F, an additional attack can typically be squeezed in. For optimal damage, typically an EWHF can be input, although this cannot be buffered in the recovery of your launcher, so this can be difficult to perform quickly enough. Otherwise, a b+3 or standing 3 can be used, although all of these options may be inconsistent based on a variety of factors such as if the launch was performed off axis, the distance, which launcher was used, etc.

Juggles can typically be continued with either another b+3,F or a b,f+2,3,F into ZEN.u+1 for a tornado launcher. b,f+2,3,F does contain an additional hit that may make finishers after the tornado launch more difficult or finnicky to perform.

Combo Finishers

After the tornado attack, the opponent will be stuck to the ground in a combo-able state. This allows you to run up and perform a finisher; this finisher will typically determine the situation post combo.

Below is a list of potential combo finishers and their general rewards and tradeoffs:

• b+3,F ZEN.1,3 typically is the highest damage resource-less finisher, although it cannot wallsplat and launches the opponent far away.
• b+3,F ZEN.1,2 deals good damage and launches the oppnent far away. If the wall is particularly close, the recovery of the move may not allow for any wall follow-ups.
• b+3,2 is good for when a wall is somewhat closer than with b+3,f+1,2.
• 3,2,F,DF+1 is a finisher with good damage and okizeme setup if the wall is not close enough for a combo.
• b+2,1 allows for a very high wallsplat provided the wall is close enough, allowing for a potent wall combo.
• df+4/df+3~3/iWS1,3~3 all spike the opponent to the ground with good frame advantage. This allows for strong okizeme, with things such as CD#1 beating all options besides quickstand, toe kick, backroll or f+4 safely launching a toe kick attempt, and b+3 or CD#1 out of df+3~3,DF catching backrolls.

(to do: add stuff about wall combos)

Approach

f,F+2

f,f,F+3

Wavedash

Poking

2,1

1

df+1

b+2,1

b+1,2

df+2

d+4

iWS1

iWS4

4

Pressure

EWHF

df+4

d+2

ZEN

Keepout

EWHF

f+4

f,F+2

Defense and Punishment

2,4

db+1

b+1,2

uf+4/d+1+2

uf+3

f,F+2

f+3,1/1+2

EWHF

ws4,4

ws1

ws2

Parry

Movement

Key Move Descriptions

Neutral

Jin excels in the mid range with threatening mids and his crouch dash.

Jin’s mid range control centers around his f,F+2 and his f+4.

f,F+2

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Demon's Paw	f,F+2	m	i14	-8		Balcony Break Heat Engager

A safe on block mid with excellent range. Easier to use out of wavedash than f+4, and its speed and tracking leaves this move difficult to contest, and its heat engage property ensures Jin still gets good reward from connecting it.

f+4

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Front Thrust Kick	f+4	m	i16	-8	Launch		f+4,F

A safe move to control space at ranges 2-3, the pushback resets you back far enough that being -8 isn't detrimental. The transition to ZEN stance allows an opportunity to get in, and while you are -1 in their face, the options you have out of the ZEN stance allows you to answer whatever response they have.

The counterhit launcher can discourage the opponent from pressing buttons in neutral to try to close the gap.

(add notes on comboing from CH f+4 because it can be difficult sometimes, add a video maybe)

Offense

Jabs

Jin has a simple series of attack to poke with in close range, offering various situations where the opponent has to choose to duck, interrupt, or stand block, and has the tools to catch an enemy trying to duck his attacks.

2

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Right Jab	2	h	i10	0			2,1 | 2,1,4 | 2,4

2,1 is a very spammable jab string; safe, high mid makes it difficult to duck and punish, and gives a third safe hit for cover which allows Jin to combo on the ground for some guaranteed damage on counter hit with CD#1 or d+2.

2,4 is safe on block and is Jin's i10 standing punish. Close to the wall it can wallsplat, and holding F after inputting transitions into ZEN.

1

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Jab	1	l	i10	+1			1,2,3 | 1,2,4 | 1,3,4 | 1,2,1

The starter to Jin's most straight-forward mix. 1 by itself is an i10 high that gives +1 on block.

• 1,2,3 hits h,h,m and will perform an axe kick which leaves Jin at +0, resetting the situation.
• 1,2,4 is a safe h,h,h string which can catch people trying to mash out of 1,2,3.
• 1,3,4 hits h,l,l and can be a good way to catch an unsuspecting opponent with a quick low. Be careful on prepared opponents as Jin's other string options out of 1 don't cover someone low parrying 1,3 and standing for the rest of his strings.
• 1,2,1 gives Jin a quick mid launcher from his jab string which can hit people trying to mash high crushing buttons out of 1,2,3 or 1,2,4. Although it is launch punishable on block, it recovers crouching and some may have trouble punishing it.

Other Pokes

df+1

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Mid Left Punch	df+1	m	i13	-3			df+1,4

Jin's fast mid check, becomes very threatening at the wall as df+1,4 will wallsplat.

b+2,1

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Shun Masatsu	b+2,1	m,m	i15	-9

Mid, jails or frame traps with delay, safe but loses turn.

b+1,2

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Shun Maten	b+1,2	m,h,hm	i12	-10

b+1 is a safe high poke which can combo into b+1,2 with a delay, which allows it to be hit confirmed with some practice. The knockback from the second hit can throw an opponent towards a wall from a good distance, allowing for a follow up wall combo to be performed.

df+2

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Fiendish Rend	df+2	m	i16	-9		Balcony Break	df+2,DF

Usually happens from a messed up EWHF input, safe mid, can input DF to transition to breaking step, if df+2 is blocked, the breaking step can usually be counter poked.

3,1

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Kishin Rekko	3,1	h,h	i14	-1			3,1,4 | 3,1,F

High, high, but good advantage if canceled into ZEN.

b,f+2

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Evil Intent	b,f+1	m	i15	-7			b,f+2,1,2 | b,f+2,1,df+2 | b,f+2,3,F

b,f+2,3 is safe, b,f+2,3,F is +2, mid, and and transitions into ZEN. It also launches on 2nd hit counter hit.

b+3

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Left Knee	b+3	m	i16	-6			b+3,F | b+3,2

Safe mid with some decent follow ups.

df+4

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Right Spinning Axe Kick	df+4	m	i20	0		Floor Break Heat Engager

i22, +0 on block mid, heat engager

Low Pokes

Jin has a straightforward set of low pokes which can encourage opponents to preemptively crouch block which can open up opponents for strong mid options.

d+4

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Right Sweep	d+4	l	i16	-12

An i16, high crushing poke with good range and the potential to hit grounded opponents. Only -12 on block, although -1 on hit means you typically lose your turn after it lands.

db+4

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Right Low Roundhouse	db+4	l	i20	-13	Stagger

An i20 low with good damage and is +3 on hit, meaning you can maintain momentum if you find the room to place this move. Stagger on counter hit means you're plus enough to run more potent offense.

d+2

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Scourge	d+2	l	i22	-14	Tornado

An i22 high crush, tracking, counter hit launching low. On block, only certain characters are able to launch you in return.

It recovers crouching giving you immediate access to Jin's while standing moves.

In matchups against opponents aware of d+2, it loses its utility as a neutral low poke, either through reacting to d+2 or forcing it to whiff with a back dash, however, it can still serve as a powerful defensive tool against high targeting attacks.

Throws

Full throw game

uf+1+2

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Tidal Wave	uf+1+2	h	i12			Floor Break

df+2+3

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Shun Ren Dan	df+2+3	h	i12

Can be input from ZEN.

qcb+1+3

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Complicated Wire	qcb+1+3	h

Zenshin Stance

Jin is able to cancel some of his key attacks into his ZEN stance, providing him access to powerful moves to continue his pressure.

He may also enter the stance manually with either f+3+4 or b+3+4, the latter of which, Zanshin, is identical to his Zenshin stance except for the retreating motion, and his ability to immediately cancel the stance with a forward input. Otherwise, you can cancel his ZEN stance into his Red-Eyed Breaking Step, which is identical to his traditional Breaking Step except with the ability to perform electrics without a just-frame input at the cost of being able to cancel the Breaking Step into a block with a backwards input.

Although his ZEN options are powerful, they are also slow. When canceling his moves on block into ZEN stance, they typically are not plus enough to prevent an opponent from performing a quick jab or crouch jab to interrupt a majority of his attacks. As such, canceling his attacks into ZEN should be done to unsuspecting opponents on block, or on hit to extend your offense.

Additionally, when opponents are knocked down, staggered, or playing respectfully or passively, entering ZEN in a neutral state can be used to mitigate their ability to mash out of or recognize the situation.

You can cancel his Zenshin Stance without commiting to an attack by first canceling into a Breaking Step, and then canceling the subsequent Breaking step into either a sidestep or a jump. Inputting ZEN,df,ub,b can cancel the ZEN without commiting to a sidestep or jump.

ZEN.1

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Brimstone Bite	ZEN.1	m	i16	-3			ZEN.1,2 | ZEN.1,3 | ZEN.1,2~DF

Jin performs a mid jab out of his Zen stance. ZEN.1 serves as your default "fast" option out of Zen, it has good frame advantage alone and has a safe high followup, an unsafe mid followup, or a feint of the mid cancelled into Breaking Step.

ZEN.2

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Fiendish Claw	ZEN.2

Jin turns around and sweeps his hand in a large arc. Jin's second powercrush, it hits high, is homing, and is safe on block. ZEN.2 should largely be used to blow up slower attacks; if an opponent is poking with low commitment jabs then the extra hitlag on the armor frames can give a much easier window for the opponent to duck on reaction and launch you for it.

ZEN.3

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Halberd Heel	ZEN.3	m	i17

Identical to Jin's ws3, he performs a quick homing mid kick. While slower and less advantageous on block than ws4, it is still safe, homes, and has a knockdown with a guaranteed followup so it can be used to catch someone trying to step your moves or mashing against your wavedash/zen stance.

ZEN.4

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Corpse Crusher

Jin's dive kick. In pressure, it can be used to punish opponents mashing out with lows or crouch jabs. In neutral it can be used to close gaps, and the later the move hits, the more advantageous it is. At its worst, it is +2 on block, so it makes your ~i12 options powerful, jabs, throws, etc.

ZEN.1+2

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Low Chop

Jin performs a chop to the opponents legs. ZEN.1+2 serves as a high crush for people trying to mash out of Zen pressure. At i24 it is relatively reactable, and at -14 on block, you must be careful about throwing it out.

ZEN.3+4

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Black Wing Bolt

ZEN.u+1

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Black Wing Rondo

ZEN.2+3

Name	Input	Hit	Startup	Block	CH	Notes	Key Followups
Shun Ren Dan

Defense

Parry

Startup 1f-2f, parry 3f-9f, recovery 10f-31f.