Gakuran Combos

Gakuran combos: the M1 four-hit chain, how to open safely, and how to turn a parry or dodge into damage. Works on every fighting style.

Damage in Gakuran comes from one dependable chain plus the discipline to open safely and punish mistakes. This page covers the M1 combo, how to start it, how to use the unblockable M2, and how to convert a parry or dodge into real damage. If you're new, master the M1 chain and a clean punish before worrying about style perks. All community-reported — verify in-game.

The M1 chain

Your bread-and-butter is the M1 four-hit combo. Tap or hold M1 (holding is more reliable) to chain up to four hits; the fourth hit is a knockback finisher. Damage and hitbox scale with your height, so taller fighters get more reach and damage at the cost of speed. The chain resets if you pause, so keep pressure steady.

Working in the M2 heavy

M2 is a single heavy hit (about 1.7x an M1) that can't be blocked. Use it to crack an opponent who turtles behind block, or to threaten a guard break. It's on a cooldown and has recovery, so throw it when they can't punish — off a knockback, or when they're conditioned to block. Don't fish for it raw against someone patient; a whiffed M2 is a free parry for them.

Opening safely

The cleanest openers are off a parry (block on time, they're stunned, then start your M1 chain) or a dodge (Q past their swing, then punish the recovery). Walking straight in and throwing the first hit into a ready opponent is the most common way pressure gets interrupted — see dodging & parrying for the timing.

After a knockdown or guard break

When you land a knockback finisher, an M2 ragdoll, or a guard break (~2s stun), that's your window for the full chain — but reset to neutral rather than blindly mashing into their wake-up. Against multiple enemies, take the damage and reposition instead of committing to a long string.

Style notes

The M1/M2 core is universal, but styles differ through perks (community-reported): things like Guard Pierce (more damage chips through a block), Resilience (grapple/clinch odds), and Heavy Hitter (bigger guard-break damage). Details and the roster are on the fighting styles page.

Common combo mistakes

• Throwing a raw first hit. Into a ready opponent it gets interrupted or parried. Open off a parry or dodge.
• Fishing for M2 on cooldown. A whiffed heavy is a free parry for them. Throw it when they can't punish.
• Greedy re-engage on wake-up. Reset and bait instead of mashing into their get-up swing.

Part of the Gakuran combat guide. Pair this with dodging & parrying.