Testament Guilty Gear Strive: A Comprehensive Guide to the Grave Reaper's Return

In the realm of fighting games, few characters evoke as much reverence and awe as Testament, the enigmatic vampire from the Guilty Gear franchise. With their powerful scythe and enigmatic backstory, Testament has captured the hearts of countless players since their debut in Guilty Gear XX. In Guilty Gear Strive, the latest installment of the series, Testament returns with a vengeance, armed with new abilities and a refined playstyle. This comprehensive guide will delve into the intricacies of Testament's gameplay, exploring their strengths, weaknesses, and optimal strategies to dominate the battlefield.

Testament's Overview

Testament, also known as Test, is a playable character in Guilty Gear Strive, introduced as part of the second season pass. As a vampire, Testament possesses a unique blend of dark magic, agile movements, and formidable weapons. Their primary weapon is a massive scythe named Elysian Tail, which they wield with immense precision and finesse. Testament's gameplay revolves around controlling space, manipulating the environment, and unleashing powerful projectiles at strategic moments.

Testament's Strengths

• Exceptional Range and Control: Testament boasts one of the best keep-out games in Guilty Gear Strive, thanks to their long-reaching scythe and versatile projectiles. Elysian Tail grants them an extended reach, allowing them to harass opponents from a safe distance, while their projectiles create zones of pressure, forcing foes to approach carefully.

  

• Strong Zoning Options: Testament's projectile game is unmatched by many other characters in the game. Their Darkness Symphony ability allows them to generate a wall of swords that can block enemy projectiles and deal damage. They also have access to powerful projectiles like the Winger Zephyr and Night Raid, which can be used for chip damage, zoning, and combo extensions.

• Mix-up Potential: Despite their zoning capabilities, Testament is far from a one-dimensional character. They possess a variety of mix-up options, including quick dashes, teleports, and cross-ups. Their Devil's Strike and Mortician's Strike specials can create ambiguous situations, forcing opponents to guess their next move.

Testament's Weaknesses

• Susceptibility to Pressure: While Testament excels at controlling space, they can struggle to deal with opponents who can apply sustained pressure. Testament's defensive options are limited, making them vulnerable to close-range attacks, command grabs, and setups.

• Low Health Pool: Compared to other characters in Guilty Gear Strive, Testament has a relatively low health pool. This means they need to be careful not to overextend or get caught in damaging combos, as they can be quickly eliminated if they make a mistake.

• Slow Startup Frames: Some of Testament's moves have slow startup frames, which can make it difficult to react quickly to changing situations. This is particularly noticeable in their Overdrives, which take time to execute and can be interrupted by faster attacks.

  

Optimal Strategies for Testament

• Control the Pace of the Match: As a zoning character, Testament's primary goal should be to control the pace of the match. Use Elysian Tail and projectiles to keep opponents at a distance, patiently waiting for openings to punish their mistakes or land damaging combos.

• Mix Up Your Attacks: While zoning is Testament's forte, it is essential to mix up your attacks to keep opponents guessing. Incorporate sudden dashes, teleports, and cross-ups to create ambiguous situations and force your opponent to respect your mix-up potential.

• Capitalize on Knockdowns: Testament's Oki game is excellent, thanks to their long-reaching scythe and mix-up options. After knocking an opponent down, use Darkness Symphony to create a wall behind them, limiting their escape options. Follow up with cross-ups, dash attacks, or unblockable setups to maximize your damage output.

Testament's Key Moves

Dustloop Aria:

• Input: 623P

• Description: Testament sweeps Elysian Tail across the ground, creating a low-profile projectile that slides forward. This move is excellent for zoning, as it can pass through gaps in the opponent's defenses and deal chip damage.

Winged Zephyr:

• Input: 236S

• Description: Testament launches a large projectile that travels full-screen. This projectile deals heavy damage and can be used to condition opponents, force them to block, or set up combos.

Night Raid:

• Input: 214K

• Description: Testament summons a swarm of bats that home in on the opponent. This move is great for zoning and punishing opponents who are trying to approach or cross-up.

Devil's Strike:

• Input: 623H

• Description: Testament dashes forward and slashes with Elysian Tail. This move is primarily used as a mix-up tool, as it can be delayed or canceled to create ambiguous situations.

Mortician's Strike:

• Input: 214P

• Description: Testament teleports behind the opponent and slashes with Elysian Tail. This move is a powerful combo ender and can also be used as a cross-up attack.

Testament's Overdrives

Requiem:

• Input: 632146S

• Description: Testament creates a massive coffin that slowly moves forward, dealing multiple hits of damage. This Overdrive is excellent for zoning and punishing opponents who are trying to approach.

Aria of Sorrow:

• Input: 632146H

• Description: Testament launches a giant scythe into the air that deals heavy damage to opponents caught in its path. This Overdrive is a powerful combo ender and can also be used as a form of anti-air.

Funeral Dirge:

• Input: 632146P

• Description: Testament summons a giant version of Elysian Tail that deals massive damage to opponents who come into contact with it. This Overdrive is an excellent combo ender and can also be used as a reversal against incoming attacks.

Testament's Playstyle in Different Matchups

Testament's playstyle can vary slightly depending on the matchup. Against zoners, Testament should focus on keeping them at a distance and controlling the battlefield. Against rushdown characters, Testament needs to be more defensive and rely on their mix-up options to create openings. Against grapplers, Testament should carefully manage their space and use their projectiles to keep the grappler away.

Table 1: Testament's Best Matchups

Table 2: Testament's Worst Matchups

Table 3: Testament's Neutral Game

Conclusion

Testament's unique blend of zoning, mix-up potential, and dark magic makes them a formidable force in Guilty Gear Strive. By understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and optimal strategies, you can master the art of controlling space and dominating the battlefield as Testament. Their return to the series has been met with overwhelming support from the fighting game community, and they are sure to continue to be a popular pick for veterans and newcomers alike.