Characters introduced in Samurai Shodown (2019)
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Darli Dagger
I suggest you board the ship to the afterlife with due haste.
Origin: Merina Kingdom (Madagascar) note
Voiced by: note
A shipwright who has mastered the use of various tools. She washed ashore on the island of Madagascar at an early age, where carpenters taught her how to make things and pirates taught her how to protect herself and survive. She is currently building a ship said to be unsinkable with her comrades at the island’s workshop, and finds herself entangled in the events of the game while pursuing a masked man responsible for wrecking one of her ships.
- Affirmative Action Girl: According to game developer Nobuyuki Kuroki, giving her unique weapon to a muscular male character didn’t feel distinct enough, which is why they decided to make the character a powerful and strong-willed female with African roots, a region not usually represented in the series.
- Alliterative Name: Darli Dagger.
- Amazonian Beauty: In contrast with the petite Nakoruru, tall, elegant Charlotte, and lithe, slimly-built Shiki, Darli is broad-framed, physically ripped, and attractive all in one.
- Baritone of Strength: Her voice is very deep and raspy, courtesy of Yuu Kobayashi.
- Battle Intro: In The King of Fighters XV.Announcer: Have you heard of the shipwright that can bust waves with her might? Darli Dagger!
Darli: "Nice, very nice. Let's make this fight a wild one." - Berserk Button:
- Make the mistake of calling her a lowly ship-builder and you'll soon learn that her hands are just as capable of breaking bones.
- Damaging one of her ships, which is what triggered her to get involved in the events of the game.
- BFS: Wields a giant saw with a serrated edge resembling a shark's teeth.
- Bowdlerise: Obviously, given how KOF is nowhere near as violent or bloody as Samurai Shodown, a lot of the attacks that cause her opponent to bleed have been toned down a fair bit in her KOF XV appearance. Notably, when she performs her Riptide Pierce command grab, the blood that violently bursts out of the opponent is replaced by water.
- Breakout Character: Darli managed to prove popular enough that she managed to clinch a spot as the third member of the team representing the series in The King of Fighters XV, managing to beat out other big names from the series such as Genjuro, Shiki, and Iroha.
- Dreadlock Warrior: Sports shoulder-length dreads that are colored pinkish-purple at the tips.
- The Drunken Sailor: Befitting her nautical background, in one of her win-poses she grabs a huge barrel of grog and enthusiastically chugs away.
- Fashionable Asymmetry: Has various holsters for holding tools strapped onto her left leg.
- Foreign Fanservice: She certainly looks the part in her capacity as the series’ sole African character.
- Gone to the Future: Ends up traveling to the future along with Haohmaru to assist Nakoruru in her mission to protect nature's balance by participating in King of Fighters.
- I Call It "Vera": Her sword gets its name from the supposed anarchist, free colony founded by the pirate Captain James Misson in Madagascar in the late 17th century, though historians don't believe it actually existed.
- The Lad-ette: She's physically ripped, fights in a highly aggressive, masculine style, loves a drink, works in construction, speaks in a bluff, boisterous tone and has no time whatsoever for weaklings.
- Lightning Bruiser: Downplayed. Even in KOF XV, where the combat is a whole deal faster than the slower, more methodical system of Samurai Shodown, she's got a fairly average walk and run speed. She still hits like a freighter given how easy it is to rack up the damage with her.
- Long-Range Fighter: Zig-zagged. If we're talking about Samurai Shodown, Darli is actually a Rushdown character first and foremost who wants to look for opportunities to get in your face (more or less being that game's equivalent of Ralf Jones). In KOF XV, however, she and Haohmaru are definitely this by virtue of having some of the longest range hits in the game. Just look at her far standing C in KOF XV (aka, Medium Slash in SamSho) and compare that to Ralf's infamous pre-patch far standing D.
- Making a Splash: Appropriately enough, her attacks are often accompanied by splashes of water in KOF XV. More or less making her the second hydrokinetic user (to an extent) in the series after Shun'ei.
- Martial Arts and Crafts: She developed a fighting style based on her advanced construction skills and her weapon, “Libertalia", is more like a multi-tool than a traditional weapon, but she's no less deadly with it.
- Meaningful Name: "Darli" is an abbreviation of "darling".
- Parts Unknown: Downplayed. Darli is confirmed to have African roots and washed ashore on Madagascar as an infant. Her weapon, “Libertalia”, is named after a semi-mythical pirate state based on the island, which fits her ship-builder/piratey vibe. The game’s accompanying art book confirms that her red/white/green color-scheme is based on Madagascar's national flag, and also that she was originally going to receive her own home-stage, designed around a ship-yard situated on the lush, tropical beaches of the island itself — a locale similar to the one depicted in her ending artworks.
- Pirate Girl: In looks only. She’s specifically described as “the most badass sailor and shipwright to ever sail the seven seas" and her weapon is adorned with a skull and crossbones motif, but according to developers, she's not an actual pirate and was in fact saved by a group of pirates as a child and is now the leader of a group of female ship-builders. She even explains this misunderstanding herself in her epilogue:"A pirate? Yes, many make that mistake about me... I'm merely a shipbuilder that can build pretty much anything. Well? Pretty cool, no?"
- Punched Across the Room: Even if she loses her weapon, she's still a force to be reckoned with and comes equipped with an attack-absorbing, wind-up punch that sends the opponent flying if it connects.
- Purple Is Powerful: She's got purple dreadlocks and a gigantic buzzsaw the size of a Buster Sword that she isn't afraid to eviscerate the opponent with.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Her story mode features her traveling around the world in search of the mysterious masked man who wrecked the ship she was building. She never actually finds him because he isn't one of the fighters. After she goes home (upon defeating Shizuka), she finishes construction of her ship and finally finds the guy, who was on her home island all along.
- Shout-Out:
- Her full name is a nod to the Jimi Hendrix song Dolly Dagger, which describes a dangerous woman note who'll "make you stagger" and "drinks blood from a jagged edge."
- Her unique unarmed special is a haymaker that's unblockable and will probably kill you in one hit, but it's charge up time and predictability make it Awesome, but Impractical in a nod to Ralf Jones' Galactica Phantom super from The King of Fighters.
- Simple, yet Awesome: One of the simpler characters to play both in her native game, and in KOF XV, owing to her straightforward toolkit, long-reaching normals, and easy combos that lead to very big damage.
- Statuesque Stunner: She's a very attractive woman and by far the tallest female character — she's noticeably taller than most of the men, even. Still holds true in KOF XV, where she's almost as tall as characters like Rugal or Maxima, both of whom are massive in their own right.
- Stripperiffic: Wearing a halter-neck bikini and only a sarong to cover up, she sports one of the briefest outfits of all the women in the series.
- Swiss-Army Weapon: While her "Libertalia" starts out as a giant saw, she can switch out the bit at the end with other tools such as a giant hammer, and a drill.
- Token Minority: The sole Black woman in her home series and created specifically to fill that void, according to the producer.
- Too Many Belts: Sports three belts around her waist, some sort of belted holster on her thigh and a further belt around her calf for a grand total of eight individual buckles.
- Tropical Island Adventure: Her sadly canceled stage was set at her shipyard on the tropical beaches of Madagascar.
- Wrench Wench: She's the nautical equivalent of one, sporting various tools you'd expect of a shipwright. Even her main weapon is a giant sized saw.
- You Will Not Evade Me: “High Tide”, where she turns Libertalia into a polearm and pulls the opponent towards her, and then kicks them away.
Wu Ruixiang
Huh? Wait, where are my glasses? Did I drop...ah...they were on my forehead. How embarrassing...
Voiced by: note
A young woman who serves the Qing Dynasty, and the descendant of a venerable fengshui clan. For generations, they have been charged with the defense of the ley linesnote , traveling the world at the behest of the Qing Emperor. Though wise, she is extremely clumsy. Worse yet, she isn't athletically inclined and prefers to stay indoors. Her secret arts manifest the powers of divine beasts and as the best of the Dynasty's fengshui practitioners, she can even call forth a dragon.
- Ancestral Weapon: Her enchanted compass was bestowed upon her by grandfather and she cares for it deeply, expressing concern that it has become scratched after some battles.
- Anime Chinese Girl: The series’ very first version, she sports a prerequisite Qipao in jade green.
- Attack Reflector: Kirin Earthen Rampage — a counter that reflects projectiles and any mid/high attack hitting her luópan.
- Badass Adorable: A very powerful summoner who is endearingly shy, clumsy and polite.
- The Beast Master: She calls forth the elemental powers of divine beasts, and can even summon a dragon for her super.
- Bespectacled Cutie: She exhibits the sweet, intelligent, endearing qualities and becomes adorably befuddled if she loses her glasses.
- Beware the Nice Ones: A seemingly timid, studious girl whose appearance belies her deadly summoning powers.
- Bilingual Bonus: Despite speaking Japanese in all her cutscenes, Ruixiang speaks Mandarin Chinese when performing her special moves. Said Mandarin Chinese is also very dialect-accurate, as her voice actress is half-Chinese.
- Blind Without 'Em: If she loses her weapon, she also drops her glasses, which causes her to walk around unsteadily, muttering “megane...megane” (“my glasses”) as she tries to locate them.
- Blue Blood: As noted below, Wu is an august, aristocratic name dating back to the offspring of the sons of a Zhou Dynasty duke. According to her bio, Ruixiang herself was born within the Imperial Palace (AKA the "Forbidden City") and her family is stated to be a venerable clan who serves the Emperor himself.
- Buxom Beauty Standard: Her voluptuous figure is emphasized in most of her accompanying artworks.
- Combat Stilettos: Wears a pair of jade-green court shoes with built-up heels.
- Cute Clumsy Girl: She’s adorably uncoordinated, often tripping over her feet and unsteadying herself from the momentum of some of her stronger attacks.
- Difficult, but Awesome: On initial inspection, her speed is lethargic, her damage output low and her standard hits have short reach and are quite sluggish. However, she has arguably the best projectile game out of the entire cast, with high, medium and low fireballs that become active very early in their animation. Her shield counter can also reflect projectiles, in addition to being a strong anti-aggression tool, but Ruixiang’s most defining feature is, without doubt, her ground trap — White Tiger Fangs — which makes her a character for players who like crazy setups and stylish juggles.
- Dragons Are Divine: The dragon she summons in her super is listed in the move-list as a Yellow Dragon, which is likely Huanglong. Her rage move invokes the nine-headed dragon Kuzuryu, and her lightning bolt special move is based on Seiryuu.
- Dragons Up the Yin Yang: Ticks both boxes — her luópan features a large yin-yang motif and she can call forth an enormous Oriental dragon to incinerate her opponents.
- Elemental Powers: Ruixiang is able to use elemental-based attacks, thanks to her enchanted compass, via which she can fire a shard of ice, blast the opponent with flame, lay a trap of razor-sharp branches, and summon a lightning bolt.
- The Four Gods: Among her animal-based moves are the Black Tortoise Torrent, Vermilion Bird Blaze, White Tiger Fangs, and Azure Dragon Thunderstrike.
- Genius Ditz: Despite her clumsiness, she's actually quite wise.
- Gorgeous Period Dress: Notwithstanding the large splits up the sides, her beautiful dress and hairstyle are an accurate representation of the court fashions of Qing Dynasty China.
- Imperial China: Taking into account her traditionally elaborate costuming, her role as an Imperial fengshui practitioner, her august Wu heritage, her exotic weapon (complete with yin-yang motif), and the fact she commands an actual dragon, she's Imperial China practically incarnate.
- Impractically Fancy Outfit: Her Qipao dress, ornate hair-style, and high-heels are rather impractical for combat, although she is a bit less physical in her fighting style compared to other characters, relying far more on magic to augment her moves.
- Improbable Weapon User: All of her fellow fighters use real-life weaponry (albeit with a fantasy twist). In contrast, Ruixiang’s luópan (Chinese compass) stands out as being far more magic-based and fantastical as a primary weapon.
- Lady of Black Magic: She's one of the series' purely magic-based fighters, and her special moves rely on summoning the elemental powers of divine beasts to do the fighting for her.
- Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Her compass has a handle in the back and functions just like a shield, with which she is able to defend herself. It also functions as an attacking weapon, and she is able to shield bash her opponents too.
- Magic Compass: Her weapon appears as some form of gong or shield, but it is in fact an enchanted compass, used to summon divine beasts.
- Meaningful Name: "Wu" is a catch-all term commonly used to refer to various Chinese dynasties, rulers, people, and names. Her given name, Ruìxiāng (瑞香), is the Chinese name of the winter daphne, a species of fragrant pink flowers that are also poisonous. Ukyo directly addresses her as "Winter Daphne" in his win-quote after fighting her.
- Ms. Fanservice: Ruixiang is a beautiful young woman, and sports a jade-green Qipao that's slashed to the waist, which draws attention to both her huge breasts and long, shapely legs.
- My God, What Have I Done?: For her super, she trips over and accidentally summons a gigantic golden dragon, who proceeds to incinerate her opponent whilst she looks on in horror, trying to calm it down, apparently feeling she's gone too far.
- Nice Girl: While she may be shy, Ruixiang is a kind and thoughtful woman who abhors violence unless pushed. She apologises to her defeated opponents for any pain that she may have caused.
- Nobody Touches the Hair: Her hairstyle is complicated and elaborate, and in her win-quote to Yashamaru, she recounts a traumatic hair-related incident:"Urgh! Looking at you reminds me of the day when a bunch of crows stole my hair accessory!"
- Reluctant Warrior: As loyal as she is to the Emperor, if she can avoid it, she’d rather not go into battle on his behalf, which is exemplified in her ending where, having defeated Shizuka, she is soon summoned to the Imperial throne room and given orders to head out from the comfort of the palace once again on a new mission — the look on her face is a picture of horrified bewilderment.
- Sexy Slit Dress: Her court dress is split on both sides up to the waist, revealing her shapely legs.
- Shield Bash: All of her standard hits involve walloping the opponent with her shield-like luópan, either as a blunt smash or with its serrated edge. As one of the very few characters who wield a blunt weapon, her attacks aren’t accompanied by the usual slashing/hacking sound effects, but rather a gloriously satisfying metallic *CLANG* upon contact with the opponent.
- Shrinking Violet: She tends to seclude herself indoors and is of a rather shy disposition.
- Signature Headgear: She sports easily the most extravagant hairstyle in the series, with her very long hair piled up on top of her head in an elaborate Qing Dynasty coiffure that's held in place with a large clasp and various ornamental pins. Two large goldfish-shaped pendants swing down from either side.
- Smart People Wear Glasses: She’s an Imperial fengshui practitioner and sports a pair of neat, black spectacles.
Yashamaru Kurama
My mission is to punish criminals who escape the law. People are suffering, so I will not let you stand in my way.
Origin: Otagi District, Yamashiro Province, Japan note
Voiced by: note
A young, fallen samurai. He loathes villains who exploit the weak for financial gain, and stalks the shadows as the phantom thief Karasu-Tengu. Because his father was executed on false charges in the past, he has developed a deep and unparalleled hatred for the Shogunate. Brandishing his heirloom nagamaki, Shanaō, he fights using the ancestral tengu powers he has inherited. When Karasu-Tengu sows the breeze above with his blade, the wicked below shall reap the whirlwind...
- Animal Motifs: He associates himself with crows.
- Code Name: Uses the alias Karasu-Tengu — "the Crow Tengu".
- Cool Mask: Wears a samurai mask designed so as to resemble a crow-tengu's beak.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Wears full-plate samurai armor in deepest black, but is more of a Well-Intentioned Extremist than a straight-up bad guy and cares for the common people.
- Dash Attack: He has a special move where he dashes forward and thrusts his nagamaki. This move can also be done in the air as part of his strong aerial capabilities.
- Double Jump: In keeping with his avian theme, he is capable of jumping twice in the air and is the only character in 2019 to be able to do so.
- Flechette Storm: His weapon-flipping move features him firing a volley of energy-infused feathers at the opponent.
- It's Personal: Having his father executed for a crime he didn't commit shattered his faith in the Tokugawa Shogunate and turned him into one of its most bitter enemies. For this reason, Yoshitora Tokugawa is his rival in his story.
- Katanas Are Just Better: Wields a nagamaki, which is a long-handled katana traditionally used by infantrymen against cavalry.
- Knight in Sour Armor: He's a brooding, despondent ronin who became totally disillusioned with fighting for what he sees as a completely corrupt Shogunate.
- Just a Kid: Hattori Hanzo is surprised to find out how young the Karasu-Tengu really is.
- Just Like Robin Hood: He's a thief who preys on villains who exploit the weak for financial gain.
- Meaningful Name: Mount Kurama
is a mountain associated with tengu legends, and "Yasha" is the Japanese rendition of "Yaksha", a Buddhist nature demon. - Mystical White Hair: Sports a mop of grey-white hair tied up in a samurai top-knot — possibly a side-effect of his tengu bloodline. His hair changes to black when using his tengu powers.
- Perpetual Molt: Many of his movements and attacks are accompanied by a scattering of shedded crow's feathers, befitting his crow-tengu heritage.
- Phantom Thief: Moonlights as the phantom thief Karasu-Tengu.
- Rōnin: He’s a fallen samurai who abandoned the Shogun after his father’s death.
- Spin Attack: Yashamaru has a special move where he leaps into the air before spinning himself and his nagamaki at a vertical angle, slashing at his opponent and ending with a final downward slash.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: Yashamaru's match-winning animation sees him turn his back to the player — a crow then flies on-screen with Yashamaru disappearing off-screen just as it flies away, leaving only feathers in its wake.
- Stepping-Stone Sword: His intro animation and certain moves have him perched on the top of his nagamaki's handle.
- Super Mode: Yashamaru's Rage Explosion functions as this. When activated, he taps into his tengu powers which enhances all of his moves and makes him act more aggressively in battle. He'll even change some of his phrases when using said powers.
- Supernatural Gold Eyes: Yashamaru's eyes shine gold when using his tengu powers.
- Tengu: His long-nosed mask is supposed to evoke the crow-billed variant. Additionally, the power of the tengu has also been passed down to him and his blood-type is listed in his official bio as "not applicable as his bloodline is that of the tengu."
- The Stoic: He's a stern and serious individual who rarely expresses any emotions other than anger in battle.
- Throwing Your Sword Always Works: He can throw his nagamaki like a javelin before it returns to his hand via teleportation.
- Weapon Twirling: Certain animations show him spinning his nagamaki in his palm.
- You Killed My Father: Albeit indirectly, he blames Yoshitora, who was too busy being a playboy and shirking his responsibilities to notice the growing corruption in his family's government, which resulted in Yashamaru’s father being framed and executed.
Shizuka
You shall pay for this... both you and this world itself!
Origin: Iso Aminochō, Tango Province, Japan note
Voiced by: note
Fully titled Shizuka Gozen (Lady Shizuka). Based on the Heian era poet of the same name, she is the source of the mysterious evil manifesting in Japan during 1787. Shizuka died sometime before the game's events, however, her bitterness and grief over her own death and that of her beloved made her soul unable to move to the afterlife. Although initially appearing to be a vengeful spirit, her actions and words seem contradictory, as though she is merely a vessel for a higher, more malevolent power...
- Barbie Doll Anatomy: In her vulnerable state, Shizuka loses her kimono, but is covered in blue light and has no visible genitalia or nipples.
- Begin with a Finisher: She starts her second phase by charging her fans for a humongous energy beam. If you don't block the moment the round starts, you'll take heavy damage.
- Big Bad: She's the last boss of 2019, and following Mizuki, she's also the second female boss in the series, and the third (after Amakusa and Gaoh) to be based on a real person.
- Black Eyes of Crazy: When her veil gets knocked off in Round 2, it's shown she has black irises with yellow pupils.
- Blue Blood: She was the daughter of Imperial court dancer Zenji of Iso, and whilst she is usually ascribed the title “Gozen” (Lady), she was also known as one of the “seven princesses of Tango” (her home province), so in terms of rank, she’s right up there with Yoshitora.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: Her soul was prevented from moving on to the afterlife by an unknown entity and corrupted to serve their ends. The post-ending credits reveal that Ambrosia was the one behind her resurrection, as Amakusa's orb is shown manifesting.
- Break Meter: In her normal state, she tanks all hits and takes only tiny damage. Batter her enough though, and she'll groan with horror and drop (naked) to the floor, stunned. In this vulnerable state, she can be attacked normally, though she'll only take 3-5 hits before reverting to her more powerful state.
- Combat Hand Fan: She fights with multiple hand-fans which are controlled through telekinesis. They can be spun at the opponent, and also shield her from aerial attacks.
- Disappears into Light: After she is defeated, Shizuka regains her consciousness and is finally freed from the demonic possession. She thanks the chosen character for saving her and soon fades into light, ascending to the heavens above.
- Demonic Possession: She isn't actually evil, but the unknown entity controlling her definitely is. The post-credits scene reveals that Ambrosia was behind her summoning.
- "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: The theme of her second phase, "Dance of Evil Spirits -Part II-", is sung by her voice actress.
- Fish out of Temporal Water: Shizuka Gozen lived during the Heian era, at least 600 years before the events of the game.
- Flying Weapon: Her weapons are telekinetically-controlled fans that hover around her.
- Gorgeous Period Dress: Her beautifully voluminous, long-sleeved kimono is Heian-era in style, evidencing her ancient origin.
- Hell Is That Noise: As soon as she starts tapping on her tsuzumi, beware — the ominous taps herald her deadly floating katana attack, and it's, therefore, a sound players will soon come to dread.
- Immune to Flinching: You can't stop her attacks, she'll just tank them (meaning you can't connect with a Rage move like a Weapon Flip Technique or Issen). However do enough hits and she'll revert to her vulnerable form, at which point unload whatever you've got on her.
- Impractically Fancy Outfit: She sports possibly the most elaborate, encumbering outfit seen in the series thus far (even more than Amakusa, which is saying something), with a hemline and sleeves that are both ways beyond floor-length.
- Instrument of Murder: Wields the Hatsune drum in the second round. According to folk tales, Hatsune was a keepsake given to her by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and it carries the souls of two magical foxes that were used to create the drum's skins. The story is featured in the Bunraku / Kabuki plays Yoshitsune Zenbon Sakura and Hatsune no ko.
- Kimono Fanservice: Her elaborate kimono not only shows off her great legs, but it’s also draped low around her shoulders.
- Meaningful Name: “Shizuka” typically translates to “quiet flower”. True to the translation, she is The Stoic. "Gozen" is an archaic Japanese honorific used for noble women analogous to the English title Lady.
- Mind over Matter: In battle, for the most part, she is serenely still and uses telekinesis to control her weapons, which are multiple dart-like fans she can fire at the opponent.
- Musical Assassin: In the second round of the battle against her, she produces a small tsuzumi drum, which she taps ominously to control a deadly floating katana that strikes quickly and causes merciless damage.
- Mysterious Mist: Some form of swirling, eldritch mist flows and roils out beneath her as she glides about.
- Mysterious Veil: Her face is part-covered by drapery from her head-piece. It gets destroyed when you win a round.
- No Historical Figures Were Harmed: She's based on the Heian-era poet, Shizuka Gozen (one of the mistresses of the legendary general Minamoto no Yoshitsune), and much like several other characters in the series including fellow boss Amakusa, she actually existed in ancient times.
- Power Floats: She glides about the arena in a seated pose, her hands folded demurely, whilst her kimono billows out around her.
- Purgatory and Limbo: Her tragic deathnote led her to dwell in a dark area of Rengoku (purgatory), which allowed Ambrosia's evil aura to contact and consume her in order to unleash its terrible power upon Japan.
- SNK Boss: Like you wouldn't believe. She takes inspiration from Bloody Marie and is fought in phases. In her normal state, she tanks your attacks effortlessly, has no hit-stun whatsoever, and spams high-damage fan attacks from across the screen including a command grab that hits on both sides. Oh, and you cannot use Issen against her. Fortunately, attacking her enough times puts her into a vulnerable state that takes more damage.
- Tranquil Fury: Unleashes hell onto her opponents, but remains pretty much motionless, sitting serenely like she's about to take tea.
- Turns Red: Much like Amakusa in the first game and Zankuro in the third, she powers up once you win a round and becomes much harder.
- Undeathly Pallor: Her skin is porcelain pale.
- Unwitting Pawn: She is merely a vessel for a greater evil. As the post-credits scene reveals, the evil in question is Ambrosia, as Amakusa's orb is shown being created.
- When She Smiles: Shizuka gives a beautiful smile of happiness after she is freed from her demonic possession.
- Youkai: She appears to be in the thrall of a Tsukimono (literally "possessing thing") until the player literally beats it out of her.
Guest Characters
Warden
I am proud to be a knight, and on that pride I vow to never lose.
Origin: Westhold, Kingdom of Ashfeld note
Weapon: a nameless longsword
Voiced by: Masaki Terasoma
Crossing over into the world of Samurai Shodown from For Honor, the Warden is the first-ever Guest Fighter in the series. He hails from a parallel universe, one dominated by unending war between rival factions. There are many others like him, all having been trained to embody the pride, loyalty, and chivalry of knighthood. The prowess of this warrior class is said to be legendary. This particular Warden finds himself within 16th century Japan, and is honor-bound to fight for its people upon witnessing the evils that plague its land.
- Cool Versus Awesome: Contrary to what his appearance may imply, this isn't the first time he's had to fight against various Eastern-themed opponents like samurai and ninja, as the For Honor universe has an entire faction of combatants who heavily take after ancient Japanese and Chinese warriors.
- Dash Attack: Carries his signature shoulder charge as a special attack.
- Difficult, but Awesome: The Warden is a simple, well-rounded fighter, but make no mistake: he is not easy. This is because he is so mechanically different from the rest of the cast that he necessitates a different way of looking at and thinking about how to play the game. When used well, however, the Warden can apply deadly pressure on his opponents and make them think twice about attacking due to having the best Counter-Attack in the game.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: The Kingdom of Ashfeld is an analogue of Western Europe, and culturally the knightly inhabitants are a sort of Anglo-Franco-Saxon mélange, with elements of a vestigial Roman Empire and The Knights Templar also thrown in for good measure.
- Fish out of Water: The Warden hails from an Earth with a history far more removed from real-world events then the one seen in Samurai Shodown. That said, his aesthetic very much complements his new surroundings.
- Good Is Not Soft: He's a kind and chivalrous soul who stands up for the defenseless, but, as he tells Earthquake, he does not show mercy to bandits who would harm the innocent that he is sworn to protect.
- Guest Fighter: Warden is a crossover character from Ubisoft’s For Honor series as the first guest character to appear in a Samurai Shodown game (surprisingly from a franchise born outside of Japan, no less).
- Knight in Shining Armor: Easily identifiable by his full suit of plated armor. In his intro trailer, which sees him duel with Haohmaru, the concept of European knightly chivalry is compared to the Japanese principle of bushido.
- Mechanically Unusual Fighter: The Warden not only has a radically different playstyle compared to the rest of the cast, but it's also quite removed from the game's systems themselves. He is the only character in the game who has what are essentially auto-combo strings. The full versions of these strings do not combo normally, not even on a counter hit, but this is where his unique parrying special move comes in. The Warden's parry is the single best Counter-Attack in the game, and will deflect any weapon attack that doesn't hit low, including aerial attacks. This leaves the opponents wide open for retaliation, and it just so happens that the Warden's combo strings and Heavy Slashes hurt like Hell, boasting damage on par with Haohmaru. This fits his origin, considering that parrying is one of the most essential skills to master in For Honor, as it tends to leave an opponent open to devastating counterattacks.
- Mythology Gag: Many elements from For Honor have carried over with the Warden's guest appearance, including: His overall auto-combo gameplay style, his ability to cancel/open up combos, his armor and weapon, his multiple alternate colors and paint patterns, his signature "Shoulder Bash", his "Parry" (a universal counter move in his home game), his Weapon Flipping Technique being his Execution Move "Blackstone Bash", and finally his Super Special Move is his first Feat 4 Ability "Catapult".
- The Paladin: The Wardens are this in their home series, being sworn to protect the innocent and weak as part of their knightly virtues. The playable Warden also holds the distinction of being the closest character to fit this archetype throughout the entirety of Samurai Shodown's expansive roster.
- Siege Engines: Calls upon a catapult to fire directly on his opponent for his Super Special Move.
- Shown Their Work:
- Uses many of the same attacks and skills he possessed in For Honor, adapting well from his home game's third-person arena fighter into the traditional 2D field represented with Samurai Shodown.
- Notably, most of the attacks that the Warden uses are based on actual medieval swordsmanship techniques, adding another layer to this trope.
- Title Drop: One of his intro quotes has him say "For Honor." Ditto in his ending's narration, which ends with the words "For Honor."
Gongsun Li
Did you like my dancing? I gave it my best.
Origin: Chang'an, Tang Empire
Voiced by: Kana Ichinose
One of the playable heroes from Honor of Kings, Gongsun Li is the second Guest Fighter to appear in the series.note
- All There in the Manual: Unless you know Chinese and have been playing Honor of Kings, there's one trait of Gongsun Li not present in this game: She's a horrible cook and gets really violent and punchy if someone ever mentions it.
- Blow You Away: Her main magic element is wind which she can use to throw maple leaves as projectiles or create tornadoes to deal damage.
- Fish out of Water: While Samurai Shodown mixes elements of magic and realism, Gongsun Li hails from a much more fantastical version of ancient China, where magic is commonplace, explaining her Little Bit Beastly leporine features.
- Little Bit Beastly: She has natural rabbit ears and a tail.
- Mind over Matter: Using magic, she can command her umbrella’s free movement, which allows her to use it as a beacon to teleport to, or use the floating umbrella as a setup for her Super Special Move.
- Mythology Gag:
- She comments on winning a Mirror Match that such things happened in her world too. Because in a MOBA genre like her game, for the most part, nothing stops the opposing team to pick the same hero like your team did (unless it's a Ranked Match).
- She also recognized Ukyo and Nakoruru who were Guest Fighters in her home game. She somehow didn't recognize Charlotte, though (considering that her inclusion here was at the price of Charlotte being a guest in her home game).
- Shown Their Work: Her movesets and animations are well-interpreted from her home game.
- Teleportation: This is her main gimmick, as per her home game, where she can use her umbrella as a homing beacon and teleport to it with her special move "Cloud Fall".
- Tornado Move: She does this in both of her super moves. Her Weapon Flipping Move, "Gust Of Illusion", has her launch her opponent into the air before creating a small tornado by spinning her umbrella and hitting them multiple times. Her Super Special Move, "Maple Dance", has her creating an even stronger tornado that lifts and hits the opponent mid-air before she commands her umbrella to deal a final hit.
Hibiki Takane
I've had enough! I fear to go further is to lose my sanity...
Origin: Hekichi, Japan note
Voiced by: Sumire Uesaka
A Guest Fighter from Samurai Shodown's sister series The Last Blade. Hibiki is the daughter of legendary swordsmith Genzō Takane, who tragically died from overwork after being forced to create a sword for a mysterious man, later revealed to be a demon from Makai named Setsuna. Quiet, shy, and terrified by blood and violence, Hibiki's demeanor belies her deadly efficiency in the way of Iaido and a latent love of battle, having held great admiration for a certain warrior (heavily implied to be Ukyo Tachibana). Depending on the circumstances of her journey, Hibiki can either stay a pacifist, or give in to her internal instincts due to embracing all the death that comes with the way of the sword. By the hand of an unknown power, she finds herself transported to the year 1787, 77 years before the events of Last Blade, allowing her to fight against some of the greatest warriors of the age while also trying to find the one who called her to this time.
- Adaptation Personality Change: Hibiki's "insane route" persona. In Last Blade 2, while she becomes desensitized to killing her opponents, it's portrayed in a more ambiguous manner as she merely grows out of her shyness and becomes more determined. In Samurai Shodown, however, her insanity turns her into a full-on Yandere who gets a little too excited when she finds a great warrior to kill.
- All Just a Dream: Basically what her story in Samurai Shodown 2019 boils down to. After she defeats Shizuka, she wakes up back in the Bakumatsu period in the cabin where she had taken shelter. Though a sakura petal that falls on her seems to indicate that it was more than just a dream.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Hibiki is quiet and shy, but can be deadly if someone annoys her.
- Bootstrapped Leitmotif: As her home series has no character-specific musical themes, she is instead associated with a remixed version of the first stage's theme in Last Blade 2's Arcade Mode, in which she was usually faced as the first CPU opponent: The Last Blade ~Determination in the Dawn~/Gekka no Kenshi ~Reimei no Ketsui~. The psychopath version of Hibiki also gets her own theme: a remix of Passion ~Fate~/Gekijou ~Inen~
- Breakout Character: The only character from the series to appear in CVS2, and now the august Samurai Shodown series.
- Break the Cutie: Yep, just like in her original game, YOU can do this to her by continuously getting Weapon Flipping Technique or Super Special Move victories with her in Story Mode.
- Choice-and-Consequence System: In what is a unique occurrence in the game, she presents the player with the option to unlock two different Hibiki personas — essentially a 'good' Hibiki and a 'psychopath' Hibiki — and two correspondingly different endings, with the 'psychopath' version being triggered by more violent gameplay, in other words continuously getting Weapon Flipping Technique or Super Special Move victories with her in Story Mode.
- Creepy Monotone: If you go for the psychopath route, she speaks this way after she goes insane.
- Doesn't Trust Those Guys: Her bio states that she doesn’t like foreigners (an increasingly common sight in Japan during the era she’s from) and the diseases they bring with them.
- Easter Egg: You can hit the Light Slash button while highlighting Hibiki on the select screen to switch between her innocent and psychopath personas.
- Fish out of Temporal Water: Her home-series, Last Blade, is set in the Bakumatsu era (mid-1800s), meaning she's some 70-ish years out of her time-zone, but she arguably fits in perfectly as a Guest Fighter in general, and especially when compared to the other guestsnote .
- Foil: She serves as one to Ukyo, the main Iaijutsu Practitioner of the series. Ukyo is a seasoned samurai who fights to honor the woman he loves but can never be with because of his tuberculosis. Hibiki is a relative newcomer to the way of the samurai who, despite her dislike of violence, has resolved to find the man who worked her father to death and avenge him.
- Ukyo's style focuses on defense and flair. His movements are slow, but he is confident enough to fight with his back turned to the enemy and punishes mistakes effortlessly with elegant attacks. Hibiki's style focuses on power, speed, and practicality. Compared to Ukyo, her quickdraw techniques are very basic, but when she strikes, she strikes fast, and she strikes hard.
- Ukyo is a Warrior Poet. Ever thoughtful, he views the way of Bushido as a beautiful art, with death being a natural end. Hibiki is a Reluctant Warrior who dislikes the idea of shedding blood and killing her opponents, and has to discover for herself the samurai spirit within her, be it through exercising moderation knowing full well the danger a duel can lead to or becoming so desensitized to death that it eventually means nothing.
- Iaijutsu Practitioner: Her fighting style, as Hibiki can draw and attack faster than the eye can perceive, although her disposition is warm and cheerful.
- It Gets Easier: She's initially unnerved by the horrors of dueling but if you continue to use lethal means to finish fights, she becomes more comfortable with it to the point of succumbing to bloodlust.
- Kick the Dog: In her Psychopath ending, instead of taking Shizuka Gozen's cherry blossom petal that fell on her shoulder with her, she coldly steps on it. And you're the one who caused this.
- Laughing Mad: If you choose her psychopath route, she starts letting out small but no less demented and terrifying giggles during her story interactions with Jubei and Shizuka, and even some of her route-exclusive winquotes.
- Martial Pacifist: She dislikes fighting, and is frightened at the sight of blood.
- Modesty Shorts: She wears shorts underneath her long skirt, which is also covered by her tucked in shirt.
- Meaningful Name: “Hibiki” means “echo” and suits her lightning-fast, strike-based fighting style.
- Murder Makes You Crazy: Seemingly unprepared to shoulder the burden of possibly killing someone while engaging them in battle. Compare to fellow Badass Adorable Nakoruru, who's likely accepted that coming to the defense of Mother Nature may necessitate a disemboweling on occasion.
- Psychotic Smirk: Yes, you can turn her into a psychopath again just like in Last Blade 2, and now the consequences of your actions are fully rendered in 3D as she gives off a very unnerving smile in her animations when you meet the conditions to drive her insane.
- Sanity Slippage: You, the player, can turn her into a psychopath just like in her home game, and now that it's fully rendered in 3D with full voice acting you get to witness just how crazy she really becomes.
- Shout-Out: In her winquote against Shizumaru, she states that killing no longer stirs any emotion after killing six people. The same number of killing blows required to turn her into a psychopath in her home game.
- Single-Stroke Battle: A staple of her moveset.
- Textile Work Is Feminine: Her bio notes that she is a skilled seamstress.
- Wham Line: "Guess I'm used to this by now..." If you get this winquote during Story Mode, you're now fully on her alternate psychopath route.
Baiken
You started this fight, not me. You can lament your decision in the afterlife.
Origin: Japanese Colony
Voiced by: Mayumi Asano
A Guest Fighter from Arc System Works' Guilty Gear series. Baiken hails from a future where technology has been almost completely wiped out and magic and sorcery is now considered the norm. In her timeline, Baiken, alongside the rest of the remaining Japanese population, are considered natural treasures because of their natural affinity for Ki manipulation, and after their entire country was reduced to nothing more than a giant hole in the ocean by the Commander Gear known as Justice, kickstarting the century-long war that brought humanity to its knees known as the Crusades. Despite not being born when this first happened, Baiken would experience the horrors of the Crusades firsthand when an army of Gears laid waste to the Colony she and her family were relocated to, killing nearly everyone she loved and leaving her without an arm and an eye. Now driven by nothing but vengeance and hatred, Baiken relentlessly hunts down the person said to be responsible for the Crusades and the murder of her family, the war criminal known only as That Man. She finds herself in the timeline of Samurai Shodown during her travels, seeking more battles before moving on to finish her mission.
See Guilty Gear: The Missing Link for her home series appearance
- Adaptational Nice Guy: Baiken is a lot more cheerful in this game. All of her in-game artwork as well as her official render depicts her smiling, compared to the nasty-looking scowl and berserking fury she's usually depicted with. Justified, as she's been transported to an era she would consider the prime of her country's history.
- Ambidextrous Sprite: Just like in her home series, her missing arm and eye changes depending on which direction she's facing.
- Barehanded Blade Block: Like other SamSho characters, she has the Blade Catch mechanic. Since she's missing an arm, though, unlike the rest, she only needs two fingers to do the same.
- Eyepatch of Power: Something specific to her Xrd design (in earlier Guilty Gear titles her left eye is simply closed with a big scar running over it).
- Fish out of Temporal Water: Despite looking like she'd fit in naturally with the time period, Baiken actually hails from 500+ years in the future.
- Giant Space Flea from Nowhere: The lore makes no excuse to explain why Baiken is suddenly thrown centuries into the past from when Guilty Gear takes place.
- Handicapped Badass: She is missing an eye and only has one arm. She compensates for the missing arm by using a range of weapons outside of her katana, such as a metal claw on a chain.
- The Lad-ette: Much like Darli, Baiken is a rough-n-tumble kind of gal with few social graces and a coarse attitude. That said, she isn't above compassion.
- Ms. Fanservice: Despite her battle scars, she still cuts an attractive figure. Particularly since her design is pulled from Guilty Gear Xrd, which gave her a big Fanservice Pack to the point of barely being able to contain her bust inside her kimono.
