Testament Guilty Gear Strive: An In-Depth Guide to the Grim Reaper

Testament, the enigmatic grim reaper from the Guilty Gear series, makes a grand return in Guilty Gear Strive, bringing a unique blend of grapples and zoning tools to the battle. This guide will delve into the intricacies of Testament's gameplay, exploring their special moves, combo potential, and effective strategies for both offense and defense.

Special Moves

Testament possesses a versatile arsenal of special moves that can control space, set up combos, and deal significant damage:

• Grave Reaper (214K/214P): Summons a tombstone that explodes on contact, inflicting damage and staggering the opponent. Can be used for zoning, anti-airing, and starting combos.
• Abyssal Raven (623K/623P): Launches a spectral raven that homes in on the opponent, dealing damage. Can be aimed up or forward for aerial or ground pressure.
• Cursed Scythe (236K/236P): A downward scythe attack that can be charged for increased damage. Provides a strong anti-air option and can also be used as a combo ender.
• Spear of Destruction (623K/623P, hold): Summons a giant spear that impales the opponent on hit, inflicting massive damage. Can be used to punish whiffed moves or end combos.
• Spectral Sign (214S): Creates a sigil on the ground that deals chip damage to the opponent when they stand on it. Useful for zoning and forcing them to move.

Combo Potential

Testament's combos are heavily centered around their zoning tools and specials:

Basic Combo (2K > 5K > c.S > 2D)
- A simple but effective bread-and-butter combo that establishes meter and carries into other specials.

Anti-Air Combo (6P > 214K > 236K)
- A jump-in punish that transitions into a damaging ground combo.

Grave Reaper Combo (2K > 5K > c.S > 2D > 214K > 236K)
- A longer combo that utilizes Grave Reaper for damage and knockdown.

Effective Strategies

Offensive Strategies:

• Zoning and Pressure: Testament excels at zoning with their Grave Reaper, Spectral Sign, and Abyssal Raven. Use these tools to control space and force the opponent to approach.
• Combo Setups: Testament's specials, such as Grave Reaper and Cursed Scythe, can be chained into each other to create potent combo starters.
• Meter Management: Testament relies heavily on meter for their specials and Roman Cancels. Manage your meter wisely to maximize damage output.

Defensive Strategies:

• Whiff Punishment: Testament's counter hit properties on Cursed Scythe make them excellent at punishing whiffed attacks.
• Grappling Defense: Testament's grapples have strong break opportunities. Use them wisely to escape pressure and turn the tables on your opponent.
• Evasive Movement: Testament's flight ability allows them to evade attacks and create space. Use it to outmaneuver the opponent and gain an advantage.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Strong zoning tools
• Excellent combo potential
• Powerful anti-air options
• Versatile grapples

Cons:

• Low health and defense
• Resource-dependent gameplay
• Requires precise execution
• Weak against zoning characters

Tables

Table 1: Testament Special Moves

Table 2: Effective Offensive Strategies

Table 3: Effective Defensive Strategies

Table 4: Testament's Pros and Cons

Conclusion

Testament's unique combination of zoning, grapples, and combo potential makes them a formidable force in Guilty Gear Strive. By mastering their special moves, executing precise combos, and employing effective strategies, players can harness the power of the grim reaper and dominate their opponents.