Guilty Gear powerhouse Potemkin returns in Guilty Gear Strive with his iconic monstrous appearance and devastating kit. In the recent Arc System Works title, Potemkin harnesses his genetic mutation to overwhelm enemies with his sheer power and strength. Now, Potemkin once again stands up to protect those he cares about the most.
In combat, Potemkin might seem slow on the uptake. However, he compensates for his lack of speed with devastating attacks. Thanks to his kit as a Power Throw character, Potemkin places huge emphasis on grapples, throws, and disabling enemies in general. What can Strive players do to maximize his powerset?
10 Remember That Body Declares Defense
Due to Potemkin’s massive body, it’s heavily implied that he’s a slow giant with a penchant for melee. This much is true — players need to remember that Potemkin has the highest defensive modifiers in the game. In turn, it’s much harder to deal damage to Potemkin on a regular level.
Since Potemkin already lacks speed, this defensive boost enables Potemkin to soak more damage while preparing some of his setups. However, his larger body does mean he has larger hitboxes, meaning he has more room to get hit.
9 Mind The Movement Limitations
Players who want to dominate using Potemkin will always need to remember his severe limitation: his movement options. Unlike other characters with caveats of their own, Potemkin’s movement requires a lot of adjustments on the players’ part.
Remember, Potemkin’s primary playstyle is to rely on dishing out heavy damage to players that get too close. And for those that get too far, Potemkin needs to use tools to disrupt their escape. Following these two basic guidelines can help players ease into other Potemkin essentials.
8 Play The Mind Game
Due to Potemkin’s infamous role as a grappler, enemies will likely try to poke their way out of his throws as much as possible. Thankfully, Potemkin has more than enough tools to dish out damage without ever having to grapple and throw opponents. Players need to make opponents realize that throwing isn’t always what they’ll do, and make enemies wonder what move players will do and how they could block it.
This mind game, called conditioning, means setting up opponents to do something that Potemkin can easily punish with a throw. A good ol’ fashioned knockdown can become a great setup to his stronger mixups.
7 Command Normals Access Range
Despite his movement limitations, Potemkin does have a means to access various ranges on a basic level. Thanks to his Command Normals, Potemkin should have ways of dishing out punishments to opponents that fail to follow through with their attacks.
6 Find Ways To Close The Gap
For a melee powerhouse with slow speed like Potemkin, it’s easy for enemies to realize that getting further from Potemkin and dishing out range should make for an easy win. Potemkin players shouldn’t fret, though, as Potemkin has just the right tools for the job:
However, players should note that these gap-closers do have weak frames of their own. Keeping that in mind, players should only use these gap-closers whenever necessary.
5 The Signature Potemkin Buster
Similar to other characters with signature moves, Potemkin’s Potemkin Buster remains his bread and butter. In fact, it’s this move that highlights his grab supremacy throughout the game — or the entire franchise. This is his Command Grab, dealing massive damage.
However, Potemkin Buster also possesses flaws. When used by itself, opponents can easily punish Potemkin with a good counter. Given the preparation-heavy nature of Potemkin Buster, its setup is easy to see. Potemkin needs to find ways to stun opponents first to secure this combo.
4 Master The Fatal Feint
Of the moves in Potemkin’s kit, it’s Hammerfall that helps him create the most setups. Aside from the Potemkin Buster, Hammerfall can help Potemkin access a lot of his close-ranged mix-ups. Hammerfall also has the massive advantage of attack cancellation.
For instance, players in the middle of Hammerfall can cancel the move right before Potemkin makes the attack part of the lunge. In turn, Hammerfall becomes a mini-dash, leaving Potemkin close enough to open more devastating moves.
3 Choose The Buster Setup
Players who want to dish out heavy damage with the Potemkin Buster might appreciate other moves that essentially acts as setups. When used in the appropriate situation, Potemkin will easily get access to a handy Potemkin Buster without much worries.
2 Capitalize On Overdrives
Given Potemkin’s grab mastery and melee specialization, anyone who gets into his range will always be in for a world of hurt. In addition to Potemkin Buster, the gargantuan character does offer other neat Overdrives that can change the tide of battle when used properly.
1 Prioritize Protective Skills
Potemkin’s sheer defense already makes him a formidable opponent to face. However, players can further maximize his defense if they capitalize on his protective skillset. In fact, some of Potemkin’s signature skills are specifically designed to protect him from various enemy approaches.
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