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DNF Duel is a pretty simple fighting game on the surface. As tends to be the case with the genre, though, there’s tremendous hidden depth for players to explore as they get more comfortable with the mechanics, match-ups and so on. There are currently 16 characters in the game, all of which offer unique strengths. One of those characters is the fearsome martial artist, Striker.
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Striker is considered one of the best fighters in the game thanks to her tools, which allow her to close the distance and unleash hugely damaging combos. These tools make her a major threat, either in the hands of a skilled player or one just picking up the character. Here’s everything you need to know about Striker, including how her moves work and some combo routes you can learn for her.
Striker Summary
Striker is a combo-heavy rushdown character.With fast ground movement and attacks that can help close the distance, especially against projectiles, Striker can always be in her opponent’s face.She’ll make her time on the inside last thanks to her moves being fast and having large hitboxes, even for physical attacks. Along with that, she has the ability to cancel all of her basic moves and Skills into each other regardless of the strength, a feat which is called reverse beat. She can also cancel all of her MP moves into others as well, which is a special trait called Muscle Shift. This gives her combo routes and shield pressure that is hard for the cast to compete against.
As is always the case with rushdown characters, though, her key attacks are rather limited in range.If the opponent can keep her at bay (perhaps witha tricky ranged specialist like Street Fighter 6’s Dhalsim), then, she’ll have a tough time.
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Striker’s Normal Moves
Striker’s Standard Attack A is a quick straight punch. It’s a two-part move if you press the button again, with the second punch having more range than the first but dealing a bit less damage. The crouching version is a quick kick to the feet that can combo into itself three times at the closest distance. The aerial version is another quick punch, but angled downwards and dealing the same amount of damage as the standing version.These are all solid basic combo starters at close range.
Her Standard Attack B is a swiping punch that moves her forward a bit and deals decent damage, which can be jump-canceled. The crouching version is a slide that moves her forward even more, deals the same amount of damage as the standing version, and trips the opponent into the air. Due to her getting low to the ground, it can avoid some high attacks. The aerial version has her strike at a downward angle with her foot, dealing a bit more damage than the standing and crouching version inthis anime-inspired fighter.
The standing and crouching versions of Standard Attack B should be used as whiff-punishing options at mid-range.
Striker’s Skills
Due to the endlag, it’s not safe to throw out this move too wildly, but you’re able to cancel it into a safe option thanks to reverse beat.
Striker’s MP Skills
MP Skills are performed with directional inputs along with motion inputs at the cost of MP. The numpad notations for the MP Skills will be given under the assumption that Striker is on the left side, facing her opponent on the right.
Striker is hard to punish after this move is guarded, both due to the move’s low endlag and her Muscle Shift, so it’s good for pressuring her opponent’s guard as well.
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Awakening Effect & Awakening Skill
Striker’s Awakening Effect isPower Fist. Itincreases the minimum amount of damage she deals with one attack, upping her combo damage slightly. She also has aneasier time reducing her opponent’s guard gauge as she lands or blocks attacks. Since she already had great guard breaking potential, her Awakening Effect increases it even more. With all the MP at her disposal, an Awakened Striker can surely break her opponent’s guard with the right string of MP Skills.
Her Awakening Skill, Empress’s Climactic Fist,doesn’t have great vertical range. That being said,the hitbox does surround her body. It’s great for hitting opponents that are in the air because of this, whether it’s at the end of a combo or as an anti-air.
As with all Awakening Skills, Striker isn’t invincible as she uses this, so it’s best to use this move if you’re sure you won’t get hit before it comes out.
Basic Striker Combos
Striker has a great combo tutorial showing the extent of her abilities, including some combos that make use of her reverse beat and Muscle Shift. Thanks to these traits, she can get really creative with some of her combos in ways that no other character can. Here are some simple yet fun combos to try out with her. One is a bit complicated, but can deal massive damage, even ending off with the Awakening Skill. It works from anywhere on the stage, but you may need to delay some of your hits depending on where you are.
Striker is a very fun and easy to use character. With her fast ground movement, combos, and lengthy block strings, any beginner will have a fun time playing her. It’s recommended to spend a lot of time in the Training Room with her. You’ll likely find many innovative ways to deal lots of damage with her. She has the potential to become anothericon of the fighting game genre.
