SoulCalibur V Character Tips: Xiba

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 with Xiba, the new Kilik, who is one of the few characters to have both speed and range.

(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.)

First off, if you have played with Kilik in any of the previous SoulCaliburs, you may be upset by the fact that has has been nerfed somewhat, though this needed to happen.  A good number of his moves are a bit slower and he doesn’t have access to some of the moves available in the previous installments.  However, Xiba is still a good character, with plenty of speed, range, and power.  He is able to keep the opponent at bay with quick X attacks and do some major damage or punish an enemy mistake with his Y moves.

Xiba is most comfortable at mid range, leaning towards long.  His staff gives him a lot of reach, especially with some of his thrust attacks.  However, his options are much more limited at close range and you will find yourself taking damage unnecessarily as your moves become less effective.

One of Xiba’s best moves is \\ X,X. (This move also has a more powerful brave edge variant) This move is fast, has range, is safe on block, hits low, and is tricky to anticipate because he swings his staff over his head, making the opponent block high.  This move also works well when the enemy is slow to get off the ground or tries to roll.  Another good move is ?X+Y.  This move is very fast and strafes vertical attacks.  It also knocks the opponent to the ground and is pretty safe on block.  Use it when the enemy is pressuring you or trying to get into a big combo.  Experiment with these moves and Xiba’s other X moves to figure out which ones work best for you and use them to keep the opponent off balance so that you can hit them with your stronger attacks.

Xiba’s \Y,B,B is a very powerful attack.  It does an incredible amount of damage for its speed and it knocks the opponent on the ground.  However, it is not safe on block and it can be strafed.  Xiba won’t perform the second part of the move if you miss with that first hit.  You have to know when to use this move, just like ?X+Y.  This is another very powerful move that can cause ring outs as well as doing a lot of damage.  However, if strafed, it leaves Xiba wide open to counterattack.  Practice with these moves as well as his thrust attacks like ?Y.  All of these moves do a lot of damage but have the same weakness.  Hence the need to keep the opponent off balance with X attacks.  Make them not want to strafe.  Punish them enough times and they will stop strafing, which will let you use your stronger attacks with ease.

Keep attacking with Xiba.  He is a fast character and can chain attacks together well enough to never stop attacking.  If you don’t lose momentum, Xiba has enough trick attacks and combo set ups to do major damage to an enemy very quickly.  For example his ??Y,Y,Y leads nicely into B+Y (Stance) Y (which stuns the opponent) and then \\X,X (brave edge is a good idea here).  His ??B leads naturally into B+Y (turned around).  Xiba’s moves reward you for advancing on the opponent and not giving them a chance to strike back.  Don’t let up and you should end up victorious.

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