May controls space incredibly well in Guilty Gear Strive using her dolphins and anchors, which makes getting in with Slayer a challenge. Once you finally bypass her traps, you need a reliable way to convert that hit into solid damage without dropping the combo. A beginner-friendly Slayer rushdown combo against May matters because it lets you secure your damage consistently while keeping your mental focus on the neutral game, rather than worrying about complex execution.

What makes a combo beginner-friendly against May?

When playing against May, your primary goal after getting a hit is to maintain your offensive pressure. May struggles when Slayer is in her face, but she has strong defensive options like Mr. Dolphin and her burst. A beginner-friendly route should be easy to execute, provide good wall carry, and leave you with a safe okizeme setup. You want to avoid overly optimized routes that require perfect plinking, as dropping them gives May the turn and allows her to reset her zoner game.

How do you execute the basic midscreen route?

The most reliable starting point for Slayer is a simple route that converts off a standard hit confirm. A great beginner combo is 2D > 5H > 6H > 214K (Chel's Curse).

This route works well because it uses easy-to-time normal attacks and finishes with a special move that gives you good okizeme. If you want a deeper look at the specific rushdown routes we use in this matchup, the breakdown covers the exact timing and spacing you need to make it consistent.

What should you do after landing a counter hit?

May players often panic when Slayer gets inside their guard and start mashing buttons to get you off them. This is your chance to capitalize. If you catch her pressing out with a low kick, you get a counter hit state. When you catch her pressing with a 2K, you can transition into a heavier punish route that maximizes your damage off that specific counter hit. This usually involves extending the combo with a jump cancel or a special move that would not work on a normal hit.

How do you handle wall situations?

Pushing May to the corner is a massive advantage, but it also changes your combo routing. May is highly likely to use her defensive burst when her back is against the wall. You need to be ready to either confirm into a wall break or stop your combo early to cover her burst. If you push her to the edge of the screen, you should switch to a wall break combo that splats her for maximum damage. This ensures that even if she bursts later, you have already taken a huge chunk of her health.

What are the most common mistakes beginners make here?

  • Going for max damage and dropping: Slayer has high damage output, but trying to memorize every optimized route will lead to dropped combos. Stick to the basic routes until they are muscle memory.
  • Ignoring May's Burst: May will absolutely burst at the wall. If you are going for a wall break, make sure it is worth the risk, or end your combo early to set up a safe meaty attack.
  • Bad okizeme: Some combos leave Slayer too far away or at a frame disadvantage. Always check what your combo allows you to do on wake-up.

How can you improve your neutral to actually land these hits?

None of these combos matter if you cannot get past May's traps. Use Bandit Bringer (236S) to clear her anchors, or use Dandy Step (214K) to quickly close the distance. You can also use your 6P to crush her low-profile attacks. Checking the Dustloop wiki for May can help you understand exactly how her dolphin traps function so you can jump over them safely and start your rushdown.

Next Steps for Your Matchup Practice

  • Go into training mode and practice the 2D > 5H > 6H > 214K route until you can hit it ten times in a row without dropping it.
  • Set the dummy to May and practice jumping over her Mr. Dolphin using your 6P or a well-timed jump.
  • Play ten matches focusing purely on getting in and landing this one basic combo, ignoring the urge to go for harder routes.
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