Xiaoyu strategy

Introduction

Ling Xiaoyu is back for the 8th mainline installment of the Tekken franchise! She uses the Chinese martial arts Baguazhang and Piguaquan. Which focuses on speed, evasion, spins, flips, and back turned maneuvers to keep her opponent constantly guessing. She is mostly known for her iconic “Art Of Phoenix” stance that infamously evades all highs and several mids simultaneously, and her okizeme.

Xiaoyu is not the easiest character in the game to learn, but the payoff is well worth it once you get over her steep learning curve since her execution requirements are not high. Once you master her stances and okizeme she is one of the most satisfying characters to play in fighting game history. But, to get the most out of Xiaoyu a lot of matchup knowledge against other characters will be required.

Recommended for:

• Lab monsters
• Want to play with a really flashy style
• Players who want a variety of playstyles available to them
• Players that love stance characters
• Players that like an evasive character
• Players that like okizeme

Stances

Art Of Phoenix (AOP)

Ling’s signature stance Art of Phoenix (AOP) which is entered by pressing d+1+2 infamously evades all highs and several mids simultaneously. While in AOP you can tap down to evade even more mids. If you enter AOP while in full crouch Ling will automatically perform AOP down.

AOP has slight built in side step right properties, so if you side step right before entering AOP you will basically perform 2 side steps while being in AOP. Side step right AOP is abbreviated as SSR AOP.

To get the most out of this stance obviously you will need a lot of matchup knowledge across the Tekken cast so get to practicing and playing!

Hypnotist (HYP)

Hypnotist (HYP) stance has been vastly improved in Tekken 8. The stance now has a new scary low HYP 3 that launches on the third step of HYP. HYP is also the main focus of Ling's Heat System. In Heat Ling gains faster access to her three steps HYP moves. (TLDR: Xiaoyu will perform the knockdown version of HYP 3 much faster)

Entered by pressing u/b+1+2(to go left) or d/b+1+2(to go right). While in HYP stance you can change the direction by pressing 1+2. This stance is primarily used for wall okizeme mixups and mind games. Each step Ling takes(there are three steps maximum) increases the properties of three moves (HYP 2, HYP 3, and HYP 2+3) from HYP.

HYP 2: Heat Engager that is a safe wallsplatting mid (-4 on block) that becomes +5 on block on the second step and +9 on block on the 3rd step with a lot of pushback. Also the 3rd step is powered up to +24 on block at the wall. But, the opponent can still block. HYP 3: Perhaps Ling's most interesting addition in Tekken 8. HYP 3 is a new low from HYP that creates deadly 50/50s with HYP 2. First step is +7 on hit and leaves your opponent in full crouch. Second step knocks the opponent down. The third step is a launcher! All three versions of HYP 3 are only -12 on block. HYP 2+3: HYP 2+3: Ling’s unblockable.Each step Lings takes the damage increases. You can cancel the unblockable by tapping back,back (b,b) HYP 3+4: High launcher that low crushes on frame 12 and is +2 on block HYP 4: High counter hit launcher that is -2 on block

Rain Dance Stance (RDS)

Ling’s unique backturned stance Rain Dance Stance (RDS) which entered by pressing b+3+4 or FC d/b+3+4. This stance is primarily used for mixups and accessing certain pokes. Ling's movement also becomes stronger in RDS. RDS sidestep is better than her normal sidestep. Both RDS b+3+4 and RDS d/b create a lot of space.

She has 1+3 and 2+4 throws from RDS that can be broken with either the 1 or 2 button. If you press forward before inputting 1+3, 2+4, or 2+3 Ling will perform a “hop” before throwing the opponent. Which will make the throws true command throws that must be broken with the correct button.

Ling's Tekken 7 Rage Drive is gone from RDS in Tekken 8. BUT, she does have a Heat Smash in RDS (RDS 2+3) now! All hits from her RDS Heat Smash are mid and leaves her in HYP stance.

Here are some spreadsheets giving an overview on each of Ling’s stances https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/130YRZ_xF7pR0XECQnAkWTsXyekPrp4OkrbLCCDLUAtE/edit