Naoto Kurogane/Move List

Naoto Kurogane possesses a unique ability called Enhancer (エンハンサー), which changes properties of his special moves and Distortion Drives if he does them while dashing (akin to certain special moves that must be done during a dash in certain fighting games), or a combo after a dash cancel into various normal attacks. All enhanced specials will give Naoto a shadow after-image while he does them.

Naoto is an intermediate level character thanks to his drive, his reliance in dash canceling, because of this he has a high execution level entry skill gap. Though he doesn’t have any projectile-property moves in his command list, He is considered as a classic shoto character, due to his stance, play-style and particularly, Inferno Crusader (インフェルノクルセイダー) anti-air special. His Bloodedge (ブラッドエッジ) moves are good not only as long range pokes with solid coverage, but it works to also crush the opponent’s guard as a means of pressure when fully charged. Naoto also has multiple input specials, particularly on Banishing Fang (バニシングファング) followups.

However, along with his lack of true projectiles, he lacks the range needed to be safe, and is a typical close-quarters character with rushdown and pressure, as well as relying on combos and corner carry for his overall damage output (his damage output is more akin to one such as Ragna’s due to his one-shot damage not being as apparent). However, Naoto still has overall consistent damage output, despite being easily zoned out against projectile-heavy characters.

His HP at 11,500 (500 more than Ragna’s) tends to have him lacking in safe ways to handle punishment, as on a number of his moves, smart opponents can punish Naoto for his reckless usage on attacks with slow startup or heavy recovery such as Inferno Crusader being his only safe offensive reversal, while Shift Sway (シフトスウェー) and Phantom Pain (ファントムペイン) are a solid safe-punishing tandem weak to low attacks).

While Naoto can be compared to being a “somewhat-higher health version of Ragna”; unlike him however, Naoto is more pressure-heavy on his normals, agility and overall tools while due to his higher health amount for overall better offense; thus he lacks the sustain Ragna needs for a good reason. However, Naoto in comparison lacks the range and/or disjointed hitboxes needed to poke most weapon-based fighters safely, as most of the extra range comes from his kicks. Another thing is that due to his aforementioned Enhancer ability, Naoto’s execution barrier is increased due to the need to master both micromanagement of his dashes and dash cancelling in general.

His Overdrive, Blood Repulsor (ブラッドリパルサー), cuts the total charge time of his Drive attacks and enhances the power of his Enhancer-based attacks.