Misogi

The Misogi (禊, Misogi^? "Purifier") is a special attack that first appears as one of Shin Akuma's Super Combos in Capcom vs. SNK 2 and his Exceed in SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos. It returns as one of Akuma's Super Arts in Street Fighter X Tekken.

Input

Appearance	User(s)	Function	Input
Capcom vs. SNK 2 Capcom Fighting Evolution	Shin Akuma	Super Combo	+
SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos	Shin Akuma	Exceed	+
Street Fighter X Tekken	Akuma	Super Art	+
Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition	Kage	Special Attack	+ (During V-Trigger II)
Street Fighter 6	Shin Akuma	Super Art (Level 2)	+ (Classic) ++ (Modern)

Description[]

Capcom vs. SNK 2 / SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos[]

Akuma teleports above the opponent and charges down at them with a devastating knifehand strike. The attack itself uses up the entire power bar, does a massive amount of damage even when blocked, and is also unparryable (and, in SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, unblockable). Due to its extreme power, it can cause a Dramatic/Finest KO (which can only be achieved by using a Super Combo as a counter finish), even against an idle opponent with low enough health.

Once Akuma connects with it, he slowly goes into his signature stance in a waving arm motion. The attack also instantly downs the opponent.

Street Fighter X Tekken[]

The Hyakkishu can be Super Charged into the Misogi, making it the only Super Art with a different motion from its "base" move (due to the Ashura Senku already having said motion). The move is also animated differently, and has several different properties. The screen darkens as he tries to smash the opponent; the move is now blockable, however, and defending or dodging it turns the move into an attack similar to the Kongou Kokuretsuzan. Should the full animation occur, it deals immense damage (about the same as a Shun Goku Satsu).

If Akuma successfully lands the Misogi, the background turns a deep red as he then punches his opponent into the ground, and the massive force of the impact creates several cracks in the ground, which form the familiar '天' (ten, "heaven") kanji. The move finishes with Akuma standing up in a pit of fire, the kanji reappearing on his back. The pit of fire does not deal any damage; it is purely for cinematic effect.

Street Fighter V[]

Kage can use the Misogi during his second V-Trigger. Kage can use two Misogi per activation, and can either do it in neutral or cancel into it from certain normals and special moves, most notably an EX Shoryuken, making it visually resemble Evil Ryu's Messatsu Goshoryu. The attack is blockable, but still safe at -2.

Street Fighter 6[]

If the player triggers the special animation in Akuma's full back Taunt animation and it successfully completes (which requires pressing down and taunt buttons the moment Akuma turns his head away after saying "Attack.. if you dare!"), he will eat a rice ball, rechange all 3 super bars, and gain access to the Misogi, Kongou Kokuretsuzan, and 2 Zanku Hadokens for the entirety of the match from thereon.

Misogi and Kongou Kokuretsuzan, and 2 Zanku Hadokens is frequently used by SiRN Akuma, as a Level 2 Critical Art and air special.

Tactics[]

The Misogi is an extremely powerful cross-up, making blocking somewhat difficult for an unlucky opponent (except in SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, where it is completely unblockable). The best method of avoiding this move is to use a teleport move or any move/super with enough invincibility).

If successfully dodged in time, it can leave Shin Akuma wide open for a counter attack, as he is vulnerable during the descent of the attack. With strict timing, a reversal or counter attack can completely knock Shin Akuma out of the attack; Super Combos used in this scenario have a better chance, due to more active frames and possible invincibility frames beforehand, as opposed to a parry.

In Street Fighter X Tekken, the move can be comboed into via crouching attacks, which count as separate down inputs toward the move. It is also a very solid punish as it is invincible on startup and deals very high damage for a solo Super Art. The move can not be blocked low or blocked in place, as the move is a cross-up; dashing backward, if possible, is the safest bet to avoid the attack by blocking, allowing for an appropriate punish.

In Street Fighter 6, Misogi is an extremely powerful option, due to its tracking, enormous hitbox, and incredibly fast startup, being effectively 9 frames on grounded opponents. It can punish projectiles and jumps from anywhere on screen, making Shin Akuma a threat from any distance.

Etymology[]

The move is named for a general term for Japanese purification rituals that often includes the use of water to cleanse the body and mind.^[1] As misogi is heavily interlinked with harae (often a general term for purification rituals in general), such purification arts are often collectively referred to as Misogiharae (禊祓, Misogiharae^?).^[2]

Trivia[]

• Evil Ryu's end animation of the Messatsu Goshoryu Ultra Combo from Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition is similar to the Misogi.
• As Oni, Akuma possesses the Sekisei Jiraiken, which can be seen as a slightly lesser or alternate version of the Misogi, particularly in terms of visuals.
• In Capcom vs. SNK 2 and SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos, Shin Akuma has two different animations when the Misogi is activated. If it connects, Shin Akuma will make a waving motion with his arm into his usual stance, and if it misses, Shin Akuma will simply stand up after the attack animation ends.
• It is the strongest super move that Shin Akuma has, even stronger than his Shun Goku Satsu, and is somewhat rivaled in power by the similar-looking Kongou Kokuretsuzan introduced in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike.
• Much like the Demon Armageddon and Tenchi Sokaigen, the Misogi in Street Fighter X Tekken is similar to an Exceed Charge-style finisher from Kamen Rider 555. In this case, it is based on Kamen Rider Faiz's Grand Impact.
• Despite being a Level 2 Super Art in Street Fighter 6, Misogi's starting animation camera angle uses the non cinematic Level 1 Super Art camera angle rather than the typical cinematic camera.

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

SNK vs. Capcom: SvC Chaos.

Street Fighter × Tekken - Mid animation with Pandora mode active.

The Misogi-created kanji from Street Fighter × Tekken.

Kage using Misogi.

Gif Animations[]

Akuma's Misogi in Street Fighter × Tekken.

Kage's Misogi in Street Fighter V.

Shin Akuma using Misogi in Street Fighter 6.

Videos[]

Similar moves[]

• Tenma Shurettou

References[]