Needs fundamental improvements, “Shingo Yabuki”

Yabuki Shingo has been buffed by a big margin since Season 3. He was focused on as a fighter with a unique concept, a ‘guard breaker’, but his actual performance didn’t change much. Recently, heading towards Season 4, the guard damage was improved much more, which is almost nonsense. However, Shingo was Shingo. It’s practically impossible to connect combos, so playing the game based on skillshots made Shingo’s weaknesses more punishable, and it was hard to use him in actual fights. What was the reason?

Shingo Kick (Q) “Guard gauge damage 88%”

Now, you can break the opponent’s guard with 1 basic attack after using the skill. In the opponent’s shoes, it may seem insanely difficult to face, but if you just successfully guard it, all you need to do is counter right away. Against someone who knows Shingo well or a high-tier opponent, it’s practically useless.

115 Shiki Dokugami Mikansei (W) "Guard gauge damage 88%"

Like Shingo Kick, Dokugami Mikansei’s guard gauge damage has been increased to 88%. You should use Shingo Kick from mid range, use Dokugami from close range, but you have to roll right after you use it to be safe. This is because the opponent’s post-delay ends first even if the attack connects properly.

114 Shiki Aragami Mikansei (E): “Guard gauge damage 100%”

Actually, if you just consider Aragami, it seems like it is OP and that it will break the balance since it breaks the guard with one hit. This is the key skill for Shingo, who cannot connect combos, allowing him to play based on skillshots. You have to break the opponent’s guard with Aragami, mix a few basic attacks, and hit the opponent with Dokugami or Shingo Kick.

Still unable to smile, improvement of the “paralysis effect” is first…

Although he was buffed twice, Shingo still can’t smile. Due to the knockdown effect of Shingo Kick and Aragami, it’s impossible to connect combos while mixing basic attacks. The skills need to have paralysis effects to connect combos, so the knockdown effects should be removed, or at least they need to be changed to airborne.

Also, Shingo has a critical flaw where even if he lands Dokugami (W) properly, his post-delay ends later than the opponent. This was the same in the original KOF versions, so he was countered, but there were ways to overcome it with fundamentals and by controlling the skills through LP/HP or LK/HK. However, in KOF Arena, where three active skills take up most of the attacks, Shingo’s Dokugami is the only skill that has the opponent get out of their post-delay first. This should be adjusted as soon as possible.