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The Mantis and Crane styles are a form of assassination arts used by Gen in the Street Fighter series. They are specifically and respectively referred to in the games' storyline as the Assassination Fist: Mourning Style (暗殺拳・喪流, Ansatsuken Sō Ryū) and the Assassination Fist: Abhor Style (暗殺拳・忌流, Ansatsuken Ki Ryū).

History[]

Within the Street Fighter world, the Mourning and Abhor Styles are said to be the result of an amalgamation of many Chinese martial arts that Gen has studied and trained under in his years as a martial artist and an assassin. Along with the aforementioned Mantis and Crane styled martial arts, Gen's styles also incorporate shadowy and secretive styles kept from the public eye. One such style that is believed to make the backbone of his own martial arts is one gained from a master martial artist who had fought and tested his style directly in the Boxer Rebellions of the turn of the 20th Century. Combined in all, the style's intents were made for the purpose of assassination and the death of the opponent.[1]

In-game description[]

Gen's Sou-style special moves include the Hyakurenko (百連勾 Hyakurenkō?, "Hundred Chained Hooks") and the Gekiro (逆瀧 Gekirō?, "Inverted Cascade"). His Super Combos include the Zan'ei (惨影? "Cruel Shadow") and the Shitenshu (死点咒 Shitenshū?, "Death Spot Curse").

Gen's Ki-style special moves includes the Jyasen (蛇穿 Jasen?, "Snake Drill"), and the Ouga (徨牙 Ōga?, "Wandering Fang"). His Super Combos include the Jya-Kou-Ha (蛇咬叭 Jakōha?, "Snake Bite Opening") and the Kouga (狂牙 Kōga?, "Lunatic Fang").

Style Change[]

Input (all appearances)
Mantis Style Also usable in air All 3 punch buttons
Crane Style Also usable in air All 3 kick buttons

In the games, Gen is able to switch between the two styles at any time by pressing all three punch or kick buttons, respectively; the move can be used in the middle of most attacks.

When Gen is played on X-ism mode in Street Fighter Alpha 3, he loses the ability to switch between fighting styles. Instead, he has a blended style which uses techniques from both styles (except the Oga), and uses the Zan'ei as his sole Super Combo.

In the Street Fighter IV series, Gen is the only character to have two Super Combos and four Ultra Combos (one Super and two Ultras for each style) as a result of this mechanic. His Ultra Combos are the Zetsuei and Ryukoha (I), and the Shitenketsu and Teiga (II). In OMEGA Mode of Ultra Street Fighter IV, Gen can use his newly added Setsunasen Special Move to change styles in mid-attack.

Tactics[]

The Mantis style is a defense-oriented style that is the 'easier' to use of the two. Gen's Mantis moves contain a few solid tools for poking at and pressuring foes, and its techniques are mainly ground-based. Gen is one of only two characters to retain the Alpha series' Chain Combo ability from Street Fighter Alpha 2 (the other being Guy), which can be used in this style.

Conversely, the Crane style is designed to be offensive, attacking the foe from various (and mostly air-based) angles. Gen's jump arc becomes wider, and many of his moves gain an altered 'trajectory', e.g. standard normals that can hit overhead and low. In Crane style, Gen can easily punish attacks and create confusing cross-ups, though this leaves him more open to attacks.

Many of Gen's best combos in his appearances require at least one switch between styles mid-attack, usually from Mantis into Crane.

Sprites[]

Manstis style fighting position Crane style fighting position

References[]

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