Gordeau: The Harvester of Souls

Gordeau is a powerful character with exceptional reach, high damage output, and strong mix-up potential. His playstyle focuses on controlling space with his scythe, baiting opponents, and punishing them with devastating combos and command grabs.

• Core Strategy: Control mid-range with long-reaching normals and projectiles, bait opponents into making mistakes, and punish with high-damage combos and his powerful command grab.
• Key Strengths:
  • Longest normal attack range in the game with his scythe.
  • High damage output, especially with meter.
  • Strong projectile (Rusty Nail) for zoning and pressure.
  • Powerful command grab (Mortal Slide) for breaking defense.
  • Good mix-up potential with overheads, lows, and throws.
• Key Weaknesses:
  • Can be vulnerable up close if his spacing is broken.
  • Relatively slow movement speed compared to rushdown characters.
  • Some of his longer-reaching attacks can be whiff-punished if not used carefully.
• GRD Management:
  • Offensive GRD: Gordeau excels at gaining GRD by landing his long-reaching normals (5C, 2C) and projectiles (236A/B Rusty Nail). Ending blockstrings with safe specials is crucial.
  • Defensive GRD: Utilize his range to keep opponents out, forcing them to block or whiff. Smart blocking and Guard Thrust are important for escaping pressure.
• Essential Moves & Tactics:
  • 5B, 5C, 2C: Core normals with incredible range. 5C is a fantastic poke and anti-air. 2C is a long-reaching low.
  • j.C: Excellent jump-in with huge hitbox, good for air-to-air and jump-ins.
  • 236A/B/C (Rusty Nail): Projectile. A and B versions are good for zoning and pressure. C version (EX) is a fast, multi-hit projectile that can extend combos.
  • 623A/B/C (Mortal Slide): His command grab. A and B versions are fast, C version (EX) is invincible on startup and deals massive damage. This is a key part of his offense.
  • 214A/B/C (Grim Reaper): A multi-hit spinning scythe attack. Good for combo extensions and pressure. EX version (214C) is a powerful combo ender.
  • Assault (B+C): Gordeau's universal overhead is slow but has good range and can be armored.
  • Chain Shift Usage: Use Chain Shift to extend highly damaging combos, especially after a successful Mortal Slide or a hit from Rusty Nail. It's also useful for gaining EXS for his powerful EX moves or reversals.
  • Veil Off: Typically used as a comeback mechanic or to secure a round with increased damage and access to Infinite Worth EXS. His Infinite Worth (236236C, Grim Reaper) is a full-screen attack.
• Sample Combo Theory:

  Gordeau's combos often start with his long normals and lead into specials or command grabs. A basic example:

  5B > 5C > 236B (Rusty Nail)

  A more damaging combo ending in a command grab:

  5B > 5C > 214B (Grim Reaper) > 623B (Mortal Slide)

  During Vorpal, extending with Chain Shift:

  5B > 5C > 236C (EX Rusty Nail) > Chain Shift > 5C > 214C (EX Grim Reaper) > 236236C (Infinite Worth)

• Common Pitfalls: Over-reliance on long-range pokes can make him predictable. Getting rushed down can be difficult to deal with if you don't have meter for reversals.