Tatsumaki Senpu-kyaku

A horizontally-long special with knockdown on hit. Has lower-body fireball invincibility, so it ducks under most grounded projectiles. Raw use is heavily punished — its value lives in combos and as a fireball read. The May 2024 patch buffed the non-OD versions across the board.

Strength selection

• L (214LK) — light-starter combos. Front-step into oki
• M (214MK) — combo carry, decent drive-gauge return
• H (214HK) — long travel, lands on the cross-up side. Useful for escaping the corner; oki is weak
• OD — stays in place, used for corner extensions; pulls real damage from light-starter combos

As a combo tool

• Mid-screen ender: 2LP × 2 → LK → 214LK for oki continuation
• Mid-range: 2MK → 236MK is standard, but 214MK works when you want carry
• Corner carry: MP → 2MP → 214MK
• Tip-range hits leave the opponent floating in front — confirm into SA1 or 623P

Fireball escape

Lower-body invincibility ducks Ryu mirrors and most casts' ground fireballs. Don't reach with it — -15 on block is round-changing.

Use it when:

• The opponent has just switched from anti-airing to checking jumps
• Light Hadokens are being thrown on autopilot
• A burned-out opponent is forced to throw a fireball

Corner escape

H Tatsumaki travels far enough to leave the corner. Risky if the opponent's oki is set, but viable when their plan isn't locked in.

Pitfalls

• Never raw. Combos and fireball reads only
• High-level players punish lazy Tatsumakis on sight; reduce frequency vs. stronger opposition
• Air Tatsumaki is a separate move with separate uses

Used as a combo ender. On block, anything punishes it — go for the max damage combo.