Mu

Mu (无, Mu^?, "Nothingness") is one of Oni's special attacks introduced in Ultra Street Fighter IV's OMEGA Mode. The attack returns in Street Fighter V, where it replaces Akuma's Goshoryuken while his first V-Trigger is active, and again in Street Fighter 6 as his Overdrive Goshoryuken.

Input

Appearance	User(s)	Function	Input
Ultra Street Fighter IV (OMEGA Mode)	Oni	EX Goshoryuken	+
Street Fighter V	Akuma	Special Attack	+ (During V-Trigger I)
Street Fighter 6 (Classic)	Akuma	OD Goshoryuken	+

Description

Ultra Street Fighter IV (OMEGA Mode)

Executed by performing a Shoryuken motion along with two punch buttons with at least two bars of Super Combo Gauge, Oni punches the target in the midsection, followed by a 6-hit Goshoryuken before finishing with a Sekisei Jiraiken. The attack resembles a Shin Shoryuken much like Oni's close range Goshoryuken outside of OMEGA Mode.

Street Fighter V

While Akuma's first V-Trigger, Dohatsu Shoten, is active, Akuma's Goshoryuken is replaced with Mu. For the duration of the V-Trigger, whenever Akuma lands his Goshoryuken, he follows-up and violently drives his opponents into the ground, dealing additional damage and stun.

Street Fighter 6

Mu appears in Street Fighter 6 as Akuma's Overdrive Goshoryuken. Executed by performing a Shoryuken motion along with two punch buttons, Akuma performs a multi-hitting Goshoryuken, hitting his opponent three times on the upward punch then driving them hard down with a devastating knifehand strike.

Tactics

Ultra Street Fighter IV (OMEGA Mode)

Due to its quick startup and extremely high damage, Mu makes for a potent combo ender, particularly when the opponent is in the corner.

Street Fighter V

Along with being a powerful combo ender and reversal, Akuma's Mu switches sides on hit, making it useful when cornered.

Street Fighter 6

Mu is Akuma's main reversal with full invincibility. It has 3 hits before transitioning to a cinematic hit for most of its damage; if the opponent is too high or too far away, this hit will not occur, making the attack extremely weak. Tbe attack can also be used as a juggle ender for a little extra damage. Although the oki is poor when used midscreen, in the corner Akuma recovers point blank. Following up with an immediate OD Gohadoken is a strong pressure option that beats most reversal level 1 Super Arts and leaves Akuma recovering first on block and juggles into a Heavy Tatsumaki Zankukyaku on hit.

Dealing 1900 damage, Mu is the most damaging invincible reversal in the game that doesn't cost more than 2 bars of Drive Gauge, making it a powerful tool in disadvantage state.

Gallery

Screenshots

Gif Animations

Oni using Mu in Ultra Street Fighter IV (OMEGA Mode).

Akuma using Mu while Dohatsu Shoten is active in Street Fighter V.

Akuma using Mu in Street Fighter 6.

Etymology

无 is the Simplified Chinese or alternate form of the kanji for mu ("nothingness"), being 無. Its usage is abnormal, being considered a hyōgai kanji outside of jōyō kanji charts taught in early education and jinmeiyō kanji charts used for names. It is believed to have been derived from 天, the kanji for ten ("heavens"), referencing Akuma's association with the kanji.

Within Japanese language, the context of the kanji used and its artistic symbolism is also usually accounted for, for formality and inherent meaning. 無 has ancient context within Chinese origins as to showcase a stage featuring a dancer with grace and immense skill under immense applause, while Buddhist and Japanese context interprets the kanji as symbolic of a building or house on fire to show impermanence and detachment from material obstacles. 无 is considered a more informal if rude usage to refer to the concept of nothingness, being interpreted as a clear or wide open sky after a terrible event of annihilation, and has its origins stemming from the warring Three Kingdoms Era, or within Buddhist imagery, is evocative of oppressive and tyrannical heavenly gods or entities like Mara, the Tempter, who sits at the top of the heavens barring passage to enlightenment.