VF5FS Lau Start Guide

Hi, I'm Wasakon, I usually play around Kichijoji, Tokyo. I started with VF4Evo and have been playing VF for well over 10 years.

Lau's Characteristics, Strengths and Weaknesses(top)

Lau has abundant string attacks and can rush opponents, and I think this makes him a great choice for beginners. When opponents are against a wall his attacking power is amongst the best in the game. Even on stages without walls he can still be a threat so I guess you could say he's a very balanced, all-round character. As for weaknesses however, Lau doesn't have an upper or knee class (15f~17f) mid launcher and his throw damage is quite low.

Basic Skills(top)

Elbow class(top)

- compared to other characters Lau's standard elbow attack seems to have a slightly longer reach. Gives a large advantage on counterhit or against crouchers (0 on normal hit), and allows you to fuzzy if blocked.

Upper class(top)

- A high (unfortunately).

1. Combo
   Note
2. (CH),
   for all characters

Knee class(top)

Lau doesn't have any techniques that apply. I guess you could say counts, but it's so tricky to implement well I can't recommend it.

Circular attacks(top)

- One the best, if not the very best of Lau's moves. Hitting this is extremely satisfying! It's highly punishable on guard, though...

Throws(top)

- Lau's neutral throw. After this a down attack will connect on all characters except Taka. It's worth mentioning that if the throw is successful or if the opponent escapes you'll switch positions with your opponent. Effective to use when you're cornered.

- Lau's strongest throw. There aren't any special applications for this move.

- A backdrop. You'll switch positions with your opponent if the throw is successful. When your back is against a wall, you'll get a wall throw animation and is a guaranteed follow-up.

- puts the opponent in a side-turned state and gives you an 11f advantage. Usually is a guaranteed follow-up but some characters' unique movement/stance properties (for example Shun's - thanks banok and Krye) can cause the second hit of to whiff. Note both of your positions before executing; this move will throw the opponent 45° degrees in the direction their stomach is facing. When you're used to it, this can be a great positioning tool when you're near a wall or the ring's edge.

- There's no particular merit in using this, if you're going for a throw use instead. I use it simply because it's easy to pull off after a forward dash.

- When you're facing a wall you can do all sorts of combos as long as you're not playing against Taka. When the wall is behind you you'll get a special wall throw animation. There's a good chance of sneaking in a after this throw.

1. Combo
   Note
2. (wall hit),
   for everyone except Taka

Other Useful Moves(top)

- aka 'Sako'. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that this move accounts for as much as 40% of Lau's total attack strength. It's quite slow at 20f but on normal hit will connect, and on counterhit will connect for a midair combo. Also, from you can enter Kokei stance by inputting . Even if your is guarded, Kokei will beat out any strike that your opponent attempts. Vanessa's DS is the only exception. In short, this is an evil move that allows you to say 'It's STILL MY TURN, sucker.'

- A standing guard break. Very effective against opponents who rely too heavily on the Lazy Throw Escape (yutori) defense.

1. Combo
   Note
2. (GB), , ,
   for everyone

- This will connect as a string on a recovery counterhit (RH) or greater (requires fastest input). This is devastating to throw out when you've crouched under a high string attack or throw attempt.

1. Combo
   Note
2. (RH+), ,
   for everyone

- a basic mid attack but does no damage against crouch-guarding opponents. Once you can hitcheck the initial attack, go for . After the string you'll be at a slight disadvantage (-4f to be exact) so use with caution. For hitchecking imagine the input as , . It gets hard when the opponent crouch-guards the initial hit. Use this as move as a round finisher to demonstrate your unparalled strength.

Basic Strategy(top)

Fight three dimensionally as Lau! First, try to put the opponent in nitaku with and a throw. If you notice the opponent starting to fuzzy against your nitaku attempts, use your guard break or a throw from a kick-cancel (- throw). However, with Lau you won't be able to maximise his damage output potential just by playing a straight nitaku game. Here's where you'll have to mix up the timing for certain moves you do.

Here's where 'sako' () comes into play. It'll lose out to your opponent's abare but doing 'sako' from or can really change up your offense.

To me, Lau isn't a straight up nitaku kind of character. I think the real essence of this character is a balance and application of three things: fast strikes, a fast throw game and your ability to mix up your timing when executing moves.

Befriend the Walls(top)

Lau can be a monster on stages with walls. It doesn't matter if you're perpendicular, diagonally facing or parallel to a wall, and there are several ways to approach the wall.

First, when you're perpendicular to the wall try or . Hitting the opponent with will give a wall stagger, during the animation hit (or - Modelah) to wall splat the opponent.

Combo after (wall stagger), (wall splat):

1. Combo
   Note
2. , , ,
   for everyone except Taka
3. , , ,
   for Taka

Hitting the opponent with will cause a wall slump on normal hit, and a wall splat on counter hit.

1. Combo
   Note
2. (wall slump), ,
   for all characters

You can do more damaging combos in some cases but they're either hard to do or aren't very reliable. Get this basic combo down first before trying anything else.

If counter hits, use a (wall splat) combo listed above. I know I said there are several ways to approach a wall but as there's so much to write I'll leave it at that for now. If you'd like to know more on that please check out my old blog (in Japanese- Modelah).

Destroy High-String Happy Opponents(top)

When punishing an opponent's high strings from a crouch, Lau's is without a doubt the most potent weapon in the entire game.

1. Combo
   Note
2. , ,
   for all characters

This is a great general-purpose combo that can really sap your opponent's will to fight. To set this up successfully it's important to know what moves your opponent has that have follow-up strings, so you should really try to learn every character's strings (just by watching real matches is enough).

Good Luck!

Wasakon

Source: Wasakon's VF5FS Beginner's Blog Post
Author: Wasakon
Translator: Modelah