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The leader of the Manji clan, Yoshimitsu returns inTekken 8to satiate the hunger of his cursed blade. One of the most equipped fighters in the game with just under 200 unique moves in his kit, Yoshimitsu appeals to manyTekkenplayers as he has simple common combos that can be mastered quickly by new and veteran players alike, along with several fighting stances that change the way Yoshimitsu approaches combat and add a new layer of skill to mastering this fighter.
Appearing in every mainTekkeninstallment and severalSoul Calibertitles, Yoshimitsu has been a longtime fan-favorite of fans from both IPs. Fusing a unique katana sword style with a secret martial arts style known only to his clan, Yoshimitsu uses his sword arts and ninja tactics to decimate fighters inTekken 8.
Yoshimitsu Style Overview
Yoshimitsu is one of the most versatile fighters inTekken 8,excelling in every aspect of the fight. Hisstart-up times are quick. his attacks are powerful, and he has multiple ways to dodge incoming damage(including blink abilities where Yoshimitsu momentarily disappears from the screen, making him entirely invulnerable to damage).
Yoshimitsu combines his Manji clan Ninjutsu with the bloodlust of the cursed blade that shares his name to unleash devastating attacks and clever ninjutsu tactics that keep foes constantly guessing. When stuck learning Yoshimitsu’s combos,toggle to Special Styleto dish out some quick damage.
When first learning Yoshimitsu, here are some strategies to consider:
Yoshimitsu Move List
Yoshimitsu has some pretty easy combos to learn but ultimately has an incredibly complicated kit with multiple types of damage and engagement mechanics that can be altered using any of his many fighting stances. Players will also findYoshimitsu has several simple Heat Moves, such as Kuzuryu or Ganto, that can quickly stun the enemy while activating Heat to follow up with incredible damage.
Unique Heat System
In addition to general Heat bonuses, Yoshimitsu can perform powered-up versions of sword moves from his Manji Dragonfly stance, and can perform powered-up sword moves without using the Mutou no Kiwami stance.
Input
Divine Sword Kagekiyo
Unleash a series of slashing attacks that throw back the enemy
Heat buttonORLK+RP (When Heat activation is available)
Enma’s Flame
A thrust kick followed by an upward strike that transitions to Manji Dragonfly
LK, LP
Kuzuryu
A forward-moving blink attack that slashes the enemy once for powerful mid-damage (blink effect and heal only available during Heat)
A mid-focused jab followed by a high sword thrust
Back + RP, RP
Ganto
Performed from Kincho stance (LP+RP), a spinning mid-sword strike that throws opponents
Forward +RP
A spinning heel kick performed from Manji Dragonfly (Up+LP+RP)
Trailokya Pilgrimage
Unleash a flurry of focused strikes with the cursed blade, Yoshimitsu, decimating enemy health and knocking them to the ground
A quick hilt jab followed by a downward sword strike
LP, LP
Seiken Douharai
A cross punch followed by an upward sword strike that throws enemies back
RP, LP
Mushibami
A spinning punch combo that shifts to Mutou no Kiwami stance
A standard punch-kick combo
A variation of the PK combo that kicks the knees
RP, Down + LK
Enma’s Cleansing Sword
A thrusting kick-punch combo followed by a massive, two-handed downward sword strike
LK, RP, LP + RP
Tobi Ushiwaka
An aerial double kick combo that can transition to Manji Dragonfly with Up
LK, RK [Quickly]
Kangaroo Kick
Roll forward and kick upwards, launching the enemy in the air
RK, LK [Quickly]
Wheel of Arrows > Sword Stab
A four hit combo that ends with a charged thrust from the cursed blade
Three roundhouse kicks in rapid succession that deal significant damage
Enter Kincho stance, readying Yoshimitsu’s blade
Turn and focus energy to regain health
LK + RK
Kamikaze
Shoulder charge the enemy before transitioning to Running Flea stance, stabbing downwards multiple times
A spinning attack that can be input multiple times
Transition to Yoshimitsu’s aerial stance
Up + LP + RP
Guillotine Crow Kick
Blink directly upwards and strike down with a heavy spinning kick
Performed during Kincho, cut across the enemy’s chest three times
Leap forward from Kincho stance, slashing with both swords
LP + RP
Submission Chakram
From Kincho, hold the hilts of both swords together and spin them momentarily
Forward + LP
In total,Yoshimitsu has 193 unique moves in his kit,including variations spawning from each of his stances;Manji Dragonfly, Mutou no Kiwami, Flea, Indian, Kincho, and Meditation- to master Yoshimitsu refer to the move list in the game and get a solid grasp on all the fighting moves from one stance before progressing to the next. To start, players should considermastering the Kincho and Mutou no Kiwami stances.
Yoshimitsu Combos
With one of the most diversified kits in the game, players willing tospend the time to learn Yoshimitsuwill be able to string together his moves into an incredible amount of different combinations, keeping each fight fresh as you slice through opponents.
Basic Combo: Oma Kugiuchi + Heat Burst + Divine Sword Kagekiyo
(While Heat Activation Available) Back + RP, RP, Heat Button
A simple yet powerful combo that can be unleashed at the start of a round to reduce an enemy to about half health - start with a mid-jab followed by a high sword thrust that knocks enemies back. Heat followed by heat dash should activate automatically if available, once the gap to the enemy is closed, unleashing Yoshimitsu’s heat smash before recovery is possible.
Advanced Combo: Naguri Kabuto Wari + Stone Fists + Kincho + Submission Chakram
LP, LP, Down-Back + RP, RP, RP, RP,, LP + RP, Forward + Left Punch
Lock the enemy with a jab-sword strike combo, then unleash a spinning barrage of closed-fist low attacks. Stop the attack before getting dizzy, transition to Kincho stance, and spin both blades to knock foes to the ground.
Perfect Combo: Left Punch + Oma Gehosen + Slap U Silly + Heshikirinagi + Heshikiriseibatsu + Death Slash
LP, Back + RP, LP, Back + LP, LP, LP, LP, Down + RP, RP, Down + LP, Down + RP, RP, RP, Down + LP (Hold)
A massive combo capable of obliterating an opponent’s full health bar. Lock the enemy with a quick jab, then launch them into the air with Oma Gehosen. Time the start-up of Slap U Silly to catch the enemy as they are falling with a series of spinning slaps (be careful not to over-input and become dizzy!), then transition into an upward sword strike combo that ends with a downward stab, followed by another upward sword strike combo that throws enemies back. Begin the charge for Death Slash, holding the input until the moment the enemy begins to stand, then strike for the killing blow.
Tips for Winning As Yoshimitsu
To become a master of Yoshimitsu and his possessed blade, players will need to take the time tolearn each aspect of every fighting stance available in Yoshimitsu’s kit.While players may find a particular stance or two to be more fitting to their playstyle,being able to quickly pull out a charging attack in Flea stance or a combination dodge and heal tactic from Indian stance can provide players the edge needed to climb to high rankswhile playing this fighter.
To rack up more wins while playing online battles, keep these tips in mind:
How To Counter Yoshimitsu
A good Yoshimitsu player can be hard to defeat, especially if they can utilize each of the stances available in Yoshimitsu’s kit. The best fighters for combating Yoshimitsu will be able tooutpace him with fast start-up times or simply out-damage him with grappling attacks.
For players who prefer speed, consider fighters likeRaven, Steve, or Victor,while fighters likeKuma or Kingare go-to picks against Yoshimitsu if a smash, grab, and throw playstyle is preferred.
