Galford Bust
Quick slashes and fast speed is what makes him my favourite character. Speed and agile play when using him is essential to realise his potential, and opponents would be more intimidated by a constantly moving Galford than a cautious one. He is more suitable as an aggressive character - choose someone else to use if you want defensive play.
Plasma Factor (
A or B)
Use Plasma Factor with A button for against jumping opponents, and in a combo after a CD slash. More damage and a bit faster when done without weapon, good for use when disarmed. A dirty trick is to catch someone to the corner using guard crush when disarmed and keep using this move with the B button fast to trap him infinitely, as the opponent will be stunned after each hit to allow the next one to connect.
Lightning Slash (C)
Use in a combo after a CD slash, useful when you need to strike at opponent at a distance when they are open to attack. As a trick, you can use it even when your opponent is expected to block it and use the Striking Heads move after the run ends.
Plasma Break (+ slash repeatedly)
Use against jumping opponents if you are too slow to react in any other way. When POW gauge is full, the move becomes very spectacular and hits for much damage, making the victim look like a piece of sizzled meat. Also a way to drain blood when opponent's life is low.
Replica Attack / Imitate Replica (
+ AC / BD) / (AC / BD when hit)
For both moves the AC button will make the Replica Attack hit the opponent in front and BD behind. When opponents like Haohmaru and Genjuro use their projectile moves, use this to avoid the projectile and attack them at the same time. Use this to kill opponents with low life levels too. Imitate replica is less useful than the parent move as the opponent will not be open to attack when it is executed, though there is the element of surprise.
Shadow Copy (A or B)
A great move, very much a life-saving one sometimes when you cannot think of anything to fight against a very powerful player. With this move you can avoid projectiles, dictate the game, initiate an offense after the move and in the meantime, no attacks can be made against you. See how the player respond and act accordingly.
If opponent stand just next to the position you are going to appear at, use Striking Heads move (D), or a C slash, or guard crush ( or C) him and do whatever you want.
If opponents jump vertically up when you are about to materialise, use 
C slash (and coupled it with a Striking Heads move - see below).
Should you appear at either spot and the opponent is at the other end, choose either to use the Plasma Blade move with the A button or run over for a running slash hit.
Whenever you cannot go on the offensive against someone, using Shadow Copy can give you some time to think ,and opponents often react in a predictable manner for you to strike. If you just win by a small margin of life level and the clock is ticking the dying seconds, use this to stall time for time out in a safe way.
Striking Heads / Dash Strike Heads (+ button) / (The same move used after a run)
Favourite move of mine because it is very fast and totally unblockable. I normally use the D button when executing the move as it might deal more damage and does not seems slower than A. Ways to link it up with attacks:
When the opponent jumps, jump over using C slash to counter him, and you can use Striking Heads to catch him on landing. Theoretically, opponent should land and be able to react first as he is hacked out of the air, and so some characters can counter this. Haohmaru and Genjuro can use their uppercut moves, Ukyo his Swallow Swipe move (with A slash only) and opponent Hanzo and Galford can use their own Striking Heads before you do. A guard crush can also break it.
Use it after you block opponent's jumping slash and the land. Or use a B slash, and do the Striking Heads move after the opponent block that (will catch them if they are in range and try to counter after blocking that slash).
Striking heads can also follow up after opponent block a running slash or kick. For the running B slash - Striking Heads combo to connect perfectly, do the move after hitting the slash button just in case it is blocked - If successful you would not even get see Galford's sword recoil and will instead see him grab the opponent instantly. Also use the move sometimes when running over to opponent instead of running slash as they may just block in anticipation of the slash; besides it will be better because it is unblockable and does more damage.
Opponents can also be grabbed by the move after Galford block their weapon slash or their moves, even when there seem to be a distance between them, for example after blocking Genjuro's Purple Sunset move.
At the beginning of a round, run over and use Striking Heads if you are fast enough - chances are that the cautious player opponent may just block at the start of a round to see what you do. Otherwise, I usually give a B slash at the start of the round; if that is blocked, running over to use Striking Heads usually works too - Speed is what counts.
Computer Opponent List.
First set:
Genjuro
Hanzo
Sogetsu: Jump over and keep giving him C slashes, he will usually get hit. But if he seems to be quite alert or you are low in blood, use the following tactic. At a suitable distance, crouch down and block. Sogetsu will slide over to trip you or use his C slash, and upon blocking it do your 14 slash combo, Striking Heads or just a C slash. Give him a heavy slash if he use the water sprout move, getting into the range between the distance of his A and B watersprout pillar to do this. It is possible to use the Replica Attack only to win the game. With the appropriate use of AC / BD version of the attack, make sure you do not deflect off into a corner to get hacked if he should block it. If he teleport by turning into a puddle when close to you, he will probably appear behind you.
Kyoshiro: Good for Striking Heads practise. Jump over and use that upon landing, or guard crush then use C slash; not many ways to defeat him otherwise.
Gaira: Jump and use (C slash, then sideswitch (AB) to get behind him, and use Striking Heads, Lightning Strike, Super or a C slash followed by a B slash after that. If you are fallen and he start stamping on you, roll behind him and do any of the above. Do not stay in front of him for as long as a split second or he will catch you with his beads and toss you around for terrific damage.
Kazuki: Using running slash B repeatedly does the job. He sometimes like to jump vertically up for several times and time his landing to give him a C slash just when he reach ground. Against him, never jump. He can give jumping C slash or 'explode' himself to counter. He will also do the same if Replica Attack is used. Using funny tricks like the BC flipkick or even moves like Plasma Factor and Break is not advised.
Second set:
Haohmaru
Gaira
Hanzo
Kazuki: same as above.
Genjuro: Crouch and give a kick to bait him into using his projectile; use a C hack if he does so. On the ground, engage in a sword duel with him using B slash, alternately slashing him and blocking in turn; he might try a C slash which you can counter with your faster B slash, or use his uppercut move for you to hack him with a heavy slash.
Nakoruru: Jump over and use Striking Heads or guard crush + C slash to save time.
Amakusa:
Use the method descripted in the General Tips page. If you hack him with a C slash to leave him stunned, you can use either Plasma Factor, Lightning Slash or another C slash to take advantage of it.
Zankuro:
Block his sword / fist rush move and use Striking Heads, and heed the warning at the General Tips page.
Tam Tam:
For a despicable method to win, just use Replica Attack repeatedly, just make sure you can rebound back into space if he block it. Second despicable move: use Shadow Copy and switch to the image near him. Upon materialising, use Striking Heads, and repeat the procedure. He jump very much, sometimes when he use the fire-spitting move, and so be ready to counter with a C slash, coupled with Striking Heads upon landing. Do not try to run over to him as he can use his long reaching heavy slash, light slash or the monkey-swing move to stop your run.
Other tricks
Here's how to know opponent Galford or Hanzo position when they use Shadow Copy: When the move is done by them and they vaporise, do the Shadow Copy move too (A or B nevermind), using the direction which assumes you are at your original position and he is still at the other side i.e If you are on the left before he dematerialise, use the direction as you would do normally. If the move does not work (make sure you do it right!), that means he is now behind you, which explains why the direction you use is wrong. If it work, fine (he confuse you, you confuse him). Knowing that he is behind you if the move fails, you can prepare yourself to attack him before he can do so.
Conversely, if you are using the Shadow Copy and the opponent is able to use the same move also, he will appear at the image opposite you. If you are to appear on the left, he will appear on the right side image.
Haohmaru ¦ Amakusa ¦ Gaira ¦ Ukyo ¦ Hanzo ¦ Genjuro ¦ Sogetsu ¦ Jubei ¦ Kazuki
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