May thrives on speed and momentum. If you let her dictate the pace of the match, her fast dash and strong okizeme will overwhelm you. When playing as Slayer, going for maximum damage on every hit often results in a hard knockdown. This gives May a chance to reset to neutral, where her mobility makes her incredibly dangerous. A pressure reset combo for Slayer against May focuses on ending your strings early to maintain a positional advantage. This keeps her locked in the corner and forces her to guess your next move instead of using her speed to escape. We break down the exact inputs for this in our detailed look at the Slayer vs May pressure reset combo.

What does a pressure reset actually look like for Slayer?

A pressure reset means intentionally cutting your combo short. Instead of using a long string that ends in a hard knockdown or wall splat, you use a short sequence that leaves you at an advantage on block or results in a soft knockdown.

For Slayer, a common route is starting with 2K, confirming into 5K, and ending with a move like 2H or a special that leaves you plus. This stops the combo early. You then use your fast dash to close the gap and start your low/high mixup again. May is forced to block and guess, completely removing her ability to use her fast dash to run away.

When should you abandon max damage against May?

You should prioritize momentum over damage when May is in the corner, when she has low Tension, or when you suspect she is waiting to use Grand Viper. If you go for a full combo and she bursts or parries your final hit, you lose all your positional advantage.

Resetting pressure limits her options. If you are dealing with a character who relies on fast reversals, you might need to adjust your routes, similar to how you would build punish routes for high-risk matchups. Against May, keeping the pressure active is often more valuable than taking an extra ten percent health.

How do you stop May from using her dash to escape?

May’s dash is her best tool for escaping pressure. When you get a soft knockdown with a reset combo, you must dash up immediately and stay in her face. If you walk up slowly, she will tech the roll and use her dash to create space.

Controlling this space is a core part of Slayer's gameplan. This concept of limiting movement is also heavily used when countering Baiken with footsies, where your main goal is to restrict her Azami options by staying just outside her trap range.

What are the most common mistakes players make with Slayer's okizeme?

The biggest mistake is getting greedy. Players try to extend the combo for extra damage, which slows down their okizeme and gives the opponent time to recover. Another mistake is using the wrong meaty timing after a soft knockdown.

You have to be careful not to get punished when you are trying to close the gap. This requires precise spacing, much like the careful positioning needed when punishing Ky Kiske's zoning, where walking into his traps without a plan will cost you the round.

How does air mobility factor into this matchup?

If your ground pressure is too strong, May will try to jump out of the corner to escape. Slayer has excellent anti-air tools, but you need to be ready to convert them into damage or reset the pressure once she lands.

This is where you apply adaptive air combo strategies to catch her jumpouts. You want to hit her out of the air, land, and immediately start your ground pressure reset all over again.

Where can I check the exact frame data for these resets?

To make sure your reset strings actually leave you plus on block, you need to verify the frame data. Slayer's normals have specific recovery frames that dictate which moves you can use to end a reset string safely.

You can check the exact frame advantage on block for Slayer's moves using the Dustloop wiki for Slayer to confirm your routes.

Next Steps for Training Mode

  • Set the dummy to May and record her blocking.
  • Practice the 2K > 5K > 2H string and immediately dash forward.
  • Time your dash so your first attack meaties her as she stands up from the soft knockdown.
  • Set the dummy to random wakeup and practice covering her backdash, jump, and delayed tech.
  • Focus on keeping your blockstrings short and ending on a plus frame move.
Try It Free