Sazan

"Got you!"

—Ibuki

The Sazan (砂斬, Sand Slash) is one of Ibuki's unique attacks, introduced in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike.

Input

Street Fighter V	+

Description

Executed by pressing down-forward and Medium Kick, Ibuki slides at the opponent's ankles with one leg out in front.

Tactics

Street Fighter IV

Ibuki using Sazan in Street Fighter IV

Sazan is capable of going under projectiles including Sagat's low Tigershot and Sonic Boom. Sazan's safety similar to most other slides depends at what part of the attack Ibuki made contact with her opponent on hit or block. Even on hit if Ibuki makes contact too early she can be a victim to a Punish but the trade off is that if hit near the end of the attack Ibuki can Link with normals such as her lights and even medium kick at the right timing to ideally combo into a knockdown situation and begin her vortex.

Street Fighter X Tekken

Ibuki hitting Ling Xiaoyu with Sazan in Street Fighter X Tekken.

In Street Fighter X Tekken Sazan returns as part of Ibuki's moveset and is classified as a Unique Attack. In this game it loses a lot of anti projectile potential (but not all of it), still being able to go under projectiles such as Ryu's Hadoken and Alisa's projectile but not being able to go under Guile's Sonic Boom or Chun-Li's Kikoken. A good trade-off is that this attack lowers Ibuki's hit-able hurtbox by a very notable degree, leaving her able to Low Profile many attacks such as Cammy and Ling Xiaoyu's standing light punches. Sazan is able able to go under many character's launchers despite launchers being able to defeat low attacks. This attack has a startup of 8 frames and 11 active frames, while the relatively quick startup and rather high amount of active frames may seem like a blessing the player must be careful to hit as close to the end of the attack as possible, as the attack connecting too early could leave Ibuki able to be punished on block and even on hit. Spaced correctly this attack can be safe on block and lead to combos on hit. While rare this attack can start juggles on aerial opponents due to it's unique attack nature.

This attack can be used after EX Tsumuji to combo for higher damage than the standard Dash-Raida followup, but it requires very strict and specific timing alongside proper spacing to accomplish.

Street Fighter V

This move hits low and covers a short distance. It has 11 active frames, which is quite a bit for an attack. If Ibuki uses this move as a meaty, it can potentially make it safe or even plus on block. Additionally, Ibuki is invincible to most projectiles as she slides on the ground. It can be used to punish her opponent at a distance as they are about to throw a fireball. However, it requires a fast read and proper spacing, so that Ibuki doesn't take any damage. It also tranvels less distance compared to the last two appearances of the attack.

With the changes to her first V-Trigger Sazan has become a popular follow-up to the initial physical bomb hit of the opponent due to extending the sequence and keeping Ibuki in front of her opponent.

Gallery

Sazan

Ibuki utilizing Sazan against Makoto in 3D Battle

Ibuki using Sazan in Street Fighter X Tekken.