𝑳𝒂𝒘'𝒔 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

A guide to Marshall Law's DSS transitions. (Updated 31 Oct 2019)

What is DSS and DFS?

DFS                                                           DSS

DSS means Dragon Sign Stance, an old school term coined by Tekken enthusiasts and mostly accepted by the FGC (in-game name is Dragon Charge). While DFS is Dragon Fake Step, the stance that let you walk backwards, which is not included in the official movelist.

A couple of Law's moves can be transitioned into these stances. Dragon Sign Stance is easily done when you execute it after certain moves that ends with a punch, the DSS will come out directly.

The formula for this is: punch ender > DSS > DSS move

While on kicks, it's a bit tricky.

When you transition it after some moves that ends with a kick, a first animation property will come out. This initial animation is what we call the Dragon Fake Step. After that stance you need to execute the DSS immediately.

So the formula for this transition will be: kick ender > DFS > DSS > DSS move

How to do DSS?

Stances

First of all, Law has 4 stances, the main 3 are:

• Tricky Fake Step (Fake Step)
  
• Dragon Sign Stance (Dragon Charge)
  
• Backturn Stance

The last one is the Dragon Fake Step (same as tricky fake step). This can only be done during move transitions, not manually; same as Backturn Stance.

DSS notations:

Manual
d+1+2

Move transition:
punch move~b, f
kick move~b, f, f
(~f for WS+3 since it does the DFS automatically)

Legend

These are the notations used for this guide:

f - tap forward
b - tap backward
d - tap down
u - tap up
u/f - tap up-forward
u/b - tap up-back
U - hold up
U/F - hold up-forward
U/B - hold up-back

                               PlayStation            XBOX
1 - left punch                  🔲                       X
2 - right punch                🔺                       Y
3 - left kick                      ❌                       A
4 - right kick                    🔵                       B

+ - notations must be input at the same time
~ - moves must be done immediately after the other
< - move after this symbol can be delayed
_ - means "Or" (interchangeable moves)
SS - side step (either left or right)
WS - while standing ; a state from crouch going to standing position) called while rising in-game

Move Transitions and DSS moves

Doing DSS from certain move is the key factor to Law's offense, these combinations will create new string moves which provide frame advantage.

A couple of Law's moves can be transitioned into DSS:

Punches
1, 1, 2~b, f
1, 1, 1, 2~b, f
1, 2~b, f
1, 2<2<2~b, f
2<2<2~b, f
f+2<2<2~b, f
b+1~b, f
b+1<2~b, f
b+2<2~b, f
WS+1~b, f
WS+1<2~b, f

Kicks
b+2<3<4~b, f, f
4, 3~b, f, f
4, 3, 4~b, f, f
4, u+3~b, f, f
WS+3~f
WS+4~b, f, f

Parry
b+(2+4_1+3)~b, f (parry needs to connect for DSS to come out)

Auto DSS
SS+2
SS+2, 1
SS+2, 1, 2
d/b+1+2~u, u


These are the moves can be done during DSS (can also be done during DFS):

1
1, 4
1, f+1
f+1
1+2
2
f+2~1
f+2<2<2~b, f
f+2<b+2<1<2~D
b+1+2 (fake step)
1+3 (throw)
2+4 (throw)
3
f+3
4
f+4
3+4, 4
f+3+4
b+3+4
u_u/f+3+4

Easy input for DSS f+?

A neat trick is to negate the last forward of b,f,f notation and directly input the DSS move (f+1, f+2, f+2~1, f+3, f+4, f+3+4)

Example
Instead of 4,3~b, f, f DSS f+4 we can input it into 4,3~b, f, f+4

The forward command of the DSS move can also be held down, eg. 4,3~b, f, F+4

Execution Timing

A great way to know when to do the DSS perfectly is by turning the recovery animation to display on the Practice Mode menu.

When doing the move transition, the characters will lit blue and you will notice it has a tiny moment where the body is not lit in blue. That small window of frames is the time where to you need to input the DSS command.

For kick transistion, visual timing is the key. Execute the DSS cancel (last forward input) right after the kick hits the opponent, more like a just-frame.

Trivia

• Law can transition his 3 main stances seamlessly, but only works on kick transitions.
  (DFS->DSS->TFS)
  
  
• Dragon Fake Stance actually has 2 animations.
  First one, when Law steps back his left foot first. This animation is faster to transistion into DSS.
  
  Other one, when Law steps back his right foot like he bounces backwards. This happens when DFS execution is late, therefore not recommended.
  
  
• The new 4, u+3 DSS can also be done by just "b, f". Input b, f as soon as the recovery animation ends.

[Pierce Dalton]

The pic you used for the guide is perfect, that's how Law players look when they try dss combos for the first time.

[professorsnack]

Dragon Stoner Stance

["DeKaE"]

good steff & guide ^^

[SizzlaJohnny]

Is that a Bruce Lee reference?

[KrazyKiller👹Topno]

wow XD

[Djlaw56]

very nice! glad to see this!

[nomis]

<3

[MisterReus]

good stuff amigo

[averageliteraturestudent]

Bitch-made stance*

[GoCulo]

DSS is freaking awesome. If done right, and your timing is frame perfect, your damage can go over 90 with no counter hit in a single juggle.