SoulCalibur V is the latest release in the popular fighting series.  It came out in early 2012.  The game can be bit difficult for newcomers since it is a 3D fighting game.  This means that along with moving forward and backward, you can move side to side, strafing your opponent, which allows for a lot of new strategies and things to consider.  For instance, vertical attacks can now be dodged by strafing.  This strafing is called the 8 way run.

So you want to play SoulCalibur V.  However, you don’t know how.  All you know how to do is mash buttons, which never ends up working out well against anyone who has even a basic knowledge of a character.  The following is going to teach you how to effectively play the biggest, strongest, and slowest character in the game, Astaroth.

(Note:  The control schemes are going to assume that you are playing on the Xbox 360.  If you are playing on something else you will need to simply adjust the “X”, “Y”, “B”, or “A” button to match the controller you’re using.)

(Note: To denote directional stick movement, I’m going to use arrows, except for diagonal inputs, which I will use a slash for. /=down and back, =down and forward.  Two arrows will mean to tap it twice or hold it (as in, running attacks). ? is away from the opponent, and ? is towards the opponent.)

Being big and slow, Astaroth doesn’t move all that fast and doesn’t hit all that fast.  However, when he does, you should expect to take a good chunk out of the enemy’s health bar.  The first thing you’re going to need to learn to do with Astaroth is guard.  He is too slow and doesn’t have enough mix ups to attack all the time, which means you will need to defend a lot and wait for an opening.  Just hold “A”, break out of grabs if you can.  The next step is to try to keep the enemy at a distance or extremely close to you.  Astaroth’s mid-range game is terrible.  He has several high damage attacks at long ranges that are usually safe, even on guard. At close range he has several fast moves that can get the opponent into much higher damage moves, along with the most grabs in the game.  If you don’t like using grabs, do not use Astaroth.  Grabs are an integral part of his style, and a necessity.

?? or ??Y is Astaroth’s bread and butter move.  It is safe on block and causes massive damage.  However, you have to know when to use it.  A decent opponent will be able to either block it or worse, strafe it.  This move leaves Astaroth completely open to counterattacks if he misses, so be very sparing.  Only use this move when you know you’ll hit the opponent.  You can use it as a counterattack.  If you strafe an opponent’s vertical attack, hit them with this move, or better yet, use the brave edge version (add RT on the end) and then hit them with ?? Y+X.  This combo should cause at around half their health, if not more.

The second move you need to learn is ??X.  This move is safe as long as you hit the opponent.  It has a lot of range and swings across a wide arc, making it a great counter to strafing.  You can also hold the X button to turn it into a guard break attack.  This will help to whittle down the enemy guard, and, if you hit the enemy with the charged version they will be stunned momentarily.  This sets you up for a combo.  If you’re far away from the opponent or at mid range, use ?Y, which will continue the stun and knock them to the ground, then follow up with ?? or ?? Y.  This will not only get good damage on the enemy, but also put them far away from you, where Astaroth is at his strongest.  If you hit the enemy with the charged version and you’re very close to the opponent, use /Y,Y.  When this move hits on a counter hit (which the stun causes) Astaroth will do some decent damage, lift the opponent onto his axe and carry them a few steps across the stage. (It’s possible to ring-out the enemy this way.  It’s also possible to ring yourself out, so don’t do this when you’re close to the edge.)  When Astaroth drops them, they will fall in a crouch, allowing you to follow up with either ?A+X or ?Y+X.  Both are good grabs.  ?Y+X does more damage, but ?A+X can do more with brave edge.  Also, it can ring out the opponent.  If Astaroth drops them right at the edge and they think they’re safe, use ?A+X to finish the job and ring them out.  Because of all this, you’re going to want to use ??X a lot.

?/?X is another important move.  It takes a moment to start up, but it blocks strafing, and if it connects then Astaroth will hurl the enemy through the air, getting them into long range and causing massive damage.  If the opponent blocks, keep pressing X and Astaroth will keep spinning, which will make the move safe on block.  This is a good move to pressure the opponent as well as whittle down their guard.  It’s also a mid attack, so the opponent can’t duck it.  It has really big payoffs with little risk.  Also, using it can make you duck high attacks.