Combos

Low Hit-Checks

COMBO 1

Crouching crouching , then cancel into:

,
191 damage, 273 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

, , (EX Aurora Spin Edge, claw only)
259 damage, 393 stun (requires two stocks of EX Gauge)

(claw only)
175 damage, 293 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

111 damage, 229 stun

This is your standard two-hit low-check starter into a special move sequence. Your follow-ups will depend on which stance Vega is in. Additionally, EX Flying Barcelona Attack will whiff against crouching enemies, so you can use EX Aurora Spin Edge instead (although for less damage).

COMBO 2a

Crouching crouching , then cancel into:

,
221 damage, 303 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

, , (EX Aurora Spin Edge, claw only)
289 damage, 423 stun (requires two stocks of EX Gauge)

205 damage, 323 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

141 damage, 259 stun

COMBO 2b

(Claw only) Crouching crouching ,

This link separates Vega from most of the cast. It’s a linkable low-hit, hit-confirmable combo that deals moderate damage. It’s absurdly effective when you consider that there are no invincible backdash escapes in SFV. You’ll want to use this often, conditioning your opponent into blocking low whenever Vega is within close range. Then, you can start going for throws and command throws.

Combo 2b can be used if you have a full V-Gauge while in claw mode, since you can’t special-cancel his crouching .

COMBO 3

(Hand only) Crouching into:

Standing (hold)
203 damage, 310 stun, builds 70 V-Gauge

Standing ,
292 damage, 374 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

Crouching into either:

Vega has a few more options in hand mode when linking from a crouching attack. It’s +6 on hit, so you can either link into a crouching or crouching canceled into a special attack, or you can simply link into crouching with a possible Bloody Kiss cancel combo. The Matador Blitz target combo ender only works if the opponent is standing, so keep an eye out for the enemy’s stance once you’ve hit them with your initial crouching .

Note that EX Flying Barcelona Attack does not hit crouching opponents, so you’ll have to use either EX Aurora Spin Edge or LK Crimson Terror off of crouching .

Grounded Hit-Checks

COMBO 4

(Hand only) crouching crouching , then cancel into either:

,
231 damage, 303 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

151 damage, 259 stun

It’s difficult to make a case for using crouching over crouching when Vega is in range, but it does start up one frame faster. You can link crouching afterward for a potential Crimson Terror combo.

COMBO 5

(Claw only) standing standing , then cancel into:

, ,
299 damage, 423 stun (requires two stocks of EX Gauge)

Opponent must be hit standing in order for this combo to work. Unfortunately, Vega doesn’t get a special-cancelable combo against crouchers off of standing .

COMBO 6

(Claw only) standing crouching ,

A big-damage combo using all of your resources from a standing attack. You can use standing for tighter frame traps because it’s one frame faster than crouching .

COMBO 7

(Claw only) standing standing , then cancel into:

,
251 damage, 353 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

, ,
319 damage, 473 stun (requires two stocks of EX Gauge)

, , OR
308 damage, 353 stun (requires full V-Gauge and one stock of EX Gauge)

Standing is one of your best frame-trapping attacks with Vega, thanks to its possible follow-up target combo properties. On a single standing hit, you can link into standing since it forces standing on a successful hit.

COMBO 8a

(Hand only) Standing crouching , then cancel into either:

235 damage, 373 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

, ,
319 damage, 473 stun (requires two stocks of EX Gauge)

COMBO 8B

(Claw only) Standing crouching , then cancel into either:

,
278 damage, 380 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

(two hits)
442 damage, 393 stun (requires full EX Gauge)

A two-level hit-check stance switch combo starting from standing into Switching Claw while in either mode. If you’re on offense and you want to switch modes, standing is your safest sequence.

COMBO 9

(Claw broken, hand mode) Standing crouching (two hits)

A sample combo using Switching Claw cancels when Vega’s claw has been permanently broken. Using Switching Claw when his claw is broken doesn’t do anything besides provide more advantage when canceled from certain attacks.

Jump-Ins

COMBO 10a

(Claw only) Forward jump , standing (hold)

COMBO 10b

(Claw only) Forward jump , standing crouching , then cancel into:

,
334 damage, 485 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

, , OR
378 damage, 485 stun (requires full V-Gauge and one stock of EX Gauge)

308 damage, 491 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

COMBO 10c

(Hand only) Forward jump , crouching , then cancel into:

, , OR
363 damage, 425 stun (requires full V-Gauge and one stock of EX Gauge)

Off of a clean jumping attack (for instance, punishing a predictable projectile pattern), you can go for a V-Gauge building combo with Combo 10a or one of the many variants from Combo 10b. Claw mode standing forces standing on hit, so you’re guaranteed an EX Flying Barcelona combo. Use Combo 10c if you’re in hand mode.

COMBO 11

Forward jump , standing crouching , then cancel into:

(one hit)
410 damage, 355 stun (requires full EX Gauge)

, , (EX Aurora Spin Edge, claw only)
366 damage, 561 stun (requires two stocks of EX Gauge)

,
310 damage, 410 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

Like Combo 10, this is best used from a clean jump-in at closer distances. You don’t have to worry about which stance Vega is in, either, since standing is a kick attack. However, it doesn’t force standing on hit, so you’ll need to assess the enemy’s standing state before committing to your finishing special move. Use LK Crimson Terror or EX Aurora Spin Edge (in claw mode only) if you hit the opponent crouching.

COMBO 12a

Forward jump cross-up , standing crouching , then cancel into:

,
242 damage, 336 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

, , (EX Aurora Spin Edge, claw only)
298 damage, 436 stun (requires two stocks of EX Gauge)

230 damage, 356 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

174 damage, 300 stun

COMBO 12b

(Hand only) Forward jump cross-up , crouching crouching , then cancel into either:

,
242 damage, 336 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

174 damage, 300 stun

These are your possible combos off of a cross-up jumping attack. You’ll need to hit deep into Vega’s jump for a low-altitude hit so that the follow-ups will link. Otherwise, you can go for an early jumping into a frame trap or throw setup.

COMBO 13a

(Hand only) OR , , then follow up with either:

crouching crouching
251 damage, 396 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

crouching
194 damage, 302 stun

COMBO 13b

(Claw only) OR , , then follow up with either:

460 damage, 330 stun (requires full EX Gauge)

180 damage, 330 stun

If you’re up against a passive opponent and you can land a cross-up or non-cross-up Flying Barcelona Attack, you can follow up with these combos.

Grounded Counter-Hits

COMBO 14

Counter-hit crouching crouching crouching ,

You can take off up to 40 percent of your opponent’s stamina with a well-timed counter-hit crouching , provided you’re flush with both V-Gauge and EX Gauge. Although crouching doesn’t naturally combo into crouching , it’s still a decent frame trap to go for, so you might incidentally link into this combo on counter-hit. You most likely won’t be able to go for this combo on reaction—just input and commit to both the crouching and the crouching , and if crouching hits, confirm into crouching .

COMBO 15a

(Claw only) Counter-hit standing crouching crouching , then cancel into:

287 damage, 476 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

COMBO 15b

(Hand only) Counter-hit standing crouching crouching ,

COMBO 15c

(Hand only) Counter-hit standing standing crouching , then either:

316 damage, 491 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

, OR
360 damage, 491 stun (requires full V-Gauge and one stock of EX Gauge)

COMBO 15d

(Hand only) Counter-hit standing standing , then finish with either:

, ,
380 damage, 575 stun (requires two stocks of EX Gauge)

264 damage, 443 stun (without Critical Art)468 damage, 363 stun (requires full EX Gauge)

These are rather advanced combos off of a counter-hit standing . If you’re sharp enough to see a counter-hit off of these attacks, you’re at enough frame advantage to link into another standing Switching Claw to go back into Vega’s original stance for a stylish combo.

Otherwise, you can resort to Combos 8a and 8b on non-counter-hits.

COMBO 16

Counter-hit , then:

418 damage, 180 stun (requires full EX Gauge)

crouching
177 damage, 315 stun

,
484 damage, 180 stun (requires full V-Gauge and EX Gauge)

Bloody Rain will link just within max Buster Claw range, but it will whiff if you counter-hit with the very tip of Vega’s claw. You may have to practice your distancing with , as you don’t want to whiff and waste a full EX Gauge.

Otherwise, you can link your sweeping slide at closer distances (around crouching range).

Additionally, with an option select input of into delayed (thanks to the counter-hit hitstop), you can cancel into Bloody Kiss with an optional Bloody Rain juggle afterward.

Anti-Air Combos

COMBO 17

Anti-air , juggle with

While seemingly a simple two-step anti-air sequence, connecting with an anti-air HP Aurora Spin Edge isn’t easy. You must anticipate your opponent’s forward jump and immediately input as soon you see them leave the ground.

Anti-Air Counter-Hits

COMBO 18a

Counter-hit anti-air standing , , then finish with either:

,
340 damage, 480 stun (requires two stocks of EX Gauge)

260 damage, 340 stun (requires one stock of EX Gauge)

COMBO 18b

Counter-hit anti-air standing ,

COMBO 18c

Counter-hit anti-air standing , ,

Vega is a monster when it comes to counter-hit standing combos, potentially dealing up to 50 percent off of a normal-stamina character. Combo 18b requires Vega to be just within max standing range on impact. Otherwise, you can skip the MP Aurora Spin Edge portion and juggle with Bloody Rain instead.

Combo 18c is your optimal damage, provided you have full V-Gauge and EX Gauge to blow.

COMBO 19

(Jumping cornered opponent) Counter-hit anti-air standing , , ,

A truly situational but incredible combo if you happen to hit a cornered opponent with a counter-hit standing while they’re neutral or backward jumping, and you also happen to have both gauges full.