MASHIRO
OVERVIEW
Mashiro is a very good assist that excels at pressure. Whether as oki or through an assist cancel, 6S gives the player multiple opportunities to stagger, bait throws, perform high/low mix-ups and everything in between. The hard knockdown from cats also allows you to set up another oki situation. As a combo extension tool, Mashiro is not the best. Comboing into 6S is not easy to do due to her forward dash before summoning cats and comboing from it can be tricky due to the opponent moving erratically if caught in the middle of the summoning. 5S is the better of the two but requires it to be close in order for the Baumkuchen to hit. As a neutral tool, she struggles. 5S can cover some space allowing you to move a bit forward while 6S requires you to safely get her out to get some use. Despite these downsides, her ability to create oppressive pressure makes Mashiro a good fit for a lot of the cast.
Strengths
Both her moves cause hard knockdown
5S is good at covering the space directly above you that some characters have trouble covering themselves.
Cats are a great pressure tool, especially as Oki, due to the delay of the cats hitting. It can get many mix-ups throughout the duration.
Weaknesses
If Mashiro is hit during 6S, cats stop being summoned
She doesn’t have many tools to help getting in on the opponent since most times the opponent can just jump over the moves
MOVE DESCRIPTION
5S
Appears directly in front and summons Baumkuchen that roll across the screen. Hits total of 5 times. Last hit launches and causes hard knockdown. Can be used for anti-air, combo extension or oki.
6S
Dashes a short distance and summons 4 cats. 1st and 3rd cat go the direction the player is facing. 2nd and 4th go the opposite direction and turn around when they reach the edge of the screen. All cats cause hard knockdown. Mainly used for pressure and oki.