The Dohatsu Shoten (怒髪衝天 Dohatsu Shoten, "Towering Rage") is Akuma's first V-Trigger in Street Fighter V.
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Description[]
Executed by pressing Heavy Punch and Heavy Kick simultaneously, Akuma envelops his body with ki as he powers up with rage and anger.
In this state, his Gohadoken hits the opponent twice and are able to travel full-screen, rather than fizzling out. He can also unleash two Zanku Hadokens even while jumping upwards or backwards, or whilst performing the Hyakkishu, better known as the demon flip. Additionally, when he lands his Goshoryuken, he follows-up and violently drives his opponents into the ground (making it similar to the Misogi, the ending of Evil Ryu's Messatsu Goshoryu, or Oni's Mu).
While this V-Trigger is active, Akuma also has access to an exclusive Critical Art, the infamous Shun Goku Satsu, by executing the trademark input. Although doing so will deplete his V-Gauge, it is also still possible to use his standard Critical Art, the Sekia Kuretsuha.
Tactics[]
Dohatsu Shoten is an incredibly potent V-Trigger, giving Akuma superior versions of his already potent special moves. Gohadoken launches the opponent for a juggle, Goshoryuken causes a hard knockdown and can potentially switch sides against airborne opponents, and Zanku Hadoken's serves as one of the most low-risk, high-reward options in the game, effectively being a noncommittal jump-in attack and a pressure tool at the same time. Furthermore, the Shun Goku Satsu makes blocking these attacks even riskier, as Akuma can surprise the opponent with a sudden dash or whiffed Rakan into an instant command grab. Though Akuma's below-average health and three-bar cost makes it particularly expensive to activate, Dohatsu Shoten's costs are greatly outclassed by its gains, and makes Akuma an even bigger threat when at a deficit.
Though difficult to pull off, Akuma can cancel the first hit of an V-Trigger enhanced Gohadoken into Sekia Kuretsuha, causing the opponent to be launched high enough that Akuma can recover in time to land a Goshoryuken afterwards.
Gallery[]
Etymology[]
Dohatsu Shoten is a yojijukugo phrase in Japanese; where four significant and relevant kanji are used to poetically become a shorthand name and/or phrase referring to its topic. While transliterated as "towering rage", their kanji literally means "standing hair invigorated heaven". The name itself has Buddhist roots, being inspired by artistic depictions of ashura, the reincarnation of prideful warriors and overly ambitious people into powerful but violent demigods ruled by jealousy and live in a realm of neverending conflict. Ashura within Japanese art tend to be shown with slicked up and spiky hair either held together with a topknot or by sweat and perspiration, making them look rather furious; another modern reference can be the Super Saiyan forms found in the Dragon Ball series.