SFV: Sakura Tips - Beginner Combos (Definitive Update Edition)

Want to learn how to play Sakura but don't know where to start? Confused by all the combo videos and waffle? Don't know how to STALK RYU good? Well this is the tutorial for you!

In this tutorial I cover what I believe are the core beginner combos to learn before going on to learn the more complex hit-confirm and link combos. I also cover a primer to Intermediate Combos, Punishing, Jump-ins, Anti-Airs and Dealing With Fireballs :)

V-SKILLS & V-TRIGGERS
The interesting thing about Sakura's V-Skills is they compliment certain V-Triggers. V-Skill 1 is a must with V-Trigger 2 (hence you see I only show VS1 combos with VT2) and VS2 works well with VT1 as you can VS cancel VT1 Hadoukens and combo with VS1 attack. Saying that you can only follow up with a L or EX Shou and the combo window is tight so not suitable for beginners. The other problem I have with it is you lose advantage (oki) from H Shou as L Shou has no good oki options so maybe stick with comboing with H Shou anyway unless want to use meter.
VS1 has a little mixup with a throw (vs standing) and overhead (P) options however it is very slow so you can easily be hit out of the air. You can try using randomly to see if your opponent knows how to deal with it.
I would probably recommend beginners using VS1 with VT2 as you get some tasty damage with it. VT2 with buffed Hadouken can be used as a utility tool as well as a combo tool.

SHORTCUTS
The DP (Dragon Punch) motion is used for Shouoken, the standard motion is f d df. There are two shortcuts; df d df and f df f. You will see I use df d df for cancelling from a crouching attack and f df f I use from standing or 2-in-1ing Shouoken into CA.

METER USAGE
You can use meter for EX Shunpukyaku in the corner for combo extensions. EX Shouoken has full invincibility but can be jumped over so not an overally great "get off me!" move, V-Shift may be a better defensive move. Otherwise save meter for CA.

Sakura is my favourite character in Street Fighter, closely followed by R. Mika and Dan. Sadly I think she got the short end of the stick when they translated her from SF4 to SFV. She looks and animates great, I'm not happy that they made her story "stop chasing Ryu and love of street fighting" into Guile's win quote "go home and be a family man". They made her combo extension tool (EX Shunpu) into a VT (unless in corner) and her best anti-fireball tool (EX Sakura Otoshi) was made into a VS and rendered almost useless. I'm also not that happy that her main hit-confirm is s.MP to b+HP as going from b to DP is awkward as hell! You can use c.MK instead of b+HP, which is a little easier. Saying that they have buffed her a little since they first introduced her in SFV.

Any questions about the video, combos, character, game, etc. please leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer :)

This will most likely be my last Definitive Update video before DNF Duel comes out in 10 days time. Sorry wasn't able to get around to Cody, Poison and Lucia :)

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