When the dust settled after the latest Guilty Gear Strive update, I knew I had to dive back into lab again. I wrote a GGST tier list and Baiken wasn’t even in my lists. But honestly, I like to play with this pretty, rough girl.
After the 2.02 patch, she continues to deliver that raw, no-nonsense samurai energy that makes her satisfying to play (I know she has some haters though). Devs made some changes to make her fighting system more suitable and they’ve done it well!
I’ll guide you about her updates and parry mechanics. I’m also gonna help you decide whether she is even worth playing or not, and actually how to play with her in the best way.
All About Baiken:
How to Play with Baiken
As we expected, the Ver. 2.02 update targeted a bug fix for Baiken’s tether/connected state (the connected state behavior now can’t occur without the visual cue). This was one of the large system and balance shifts from 2.0 update.
Here’s a practical guide to help you optimize with her. Hope it helps.
Her Core Tools & Updates
Baiken’s gameplay revolves around her unique Kabari and Youzansen for air mobility and pressure. After the 2.0 patch, many of her old dustloop-style oki routes feel tighter due to changes in knockdown momentum and damage scaling (e.g., certain crouching HS follow-ups now scale more heavily).
The 2.02 tether fix helps consistency, but players still report that mistimed tethers or whiffed parries lead to big punishes. Lab her Hiiragi (counter super) for clutch reversals and practice Tsurane Sanzuwatashi as a high-damage closer when you have meter.
Combos & Routes
Against rushdown like Robo-Ky or fast characters, use her parry/guard cancel to flip momentum and follow with tether setups for oki.
She struggles more against strong zoners who can keep her out so you’ll need precise jump-ins and Kabari pokes to close the gap.
She is great at knowledge-checking opponents, but many players find her frustrating to lab. That’s because her optimal routes require clean execution and she lacks easy, autopilot pressure compared to top tiers. If you get stuck in a defensive shell, she can feel limited.
Matchup Tips: Playing with her, rely on mobility and well-timed jumps/specials to close distance. She’s solid defensively but can struggle if you get zoned out or overwhelmed by faster rushdown.
Her Position in Tier List
In a fair rating, Baiken sits one level below mid-tier. She is decent but demanding. Yes, I admit that she’s not a braindead top-tier pick, but she rewards matchup knowledge and defensive awareness.
Many players call her frustrating at first due to her tighter routes post-2.0, but once you adapt her tether game and parry timing, she becomes satisfying.
I actually started playing with her in training mode with the tether fix in mind. Then I jumped into casuals and replays to refine my pressure. She’s worth maining if you enjoy counter-heavy playstyles.
How to Win with Baiken
I told all these to help you win with Baiken. They weren’t enough? Here are many more tips:
- Defense First, Then Explode: Use her parry cancel to bait and punish. Against rushdown (Robo-Ky, Sol, etc.), stay calm, block low and parry predictable strings.
- Tether Pressure: Once you get a knockdown, use tether (Kabari follow-ups) to restrict their movement and set up ambiguous oki. Mix high/low with 2K/5K and air options.
- Damage: When you have meter, go for Tsurane Sanzuwatashi as a finisher. Avoid over-relying on old loops and focus on hard knockdowns.
Fight vs Rushdown, Parry, punish, tether, repeat. Just don’t chase. Vs Zoners, use forward dash with Kabari to close distance, then jump-ins with Youzansen. Vs Grapplers, keep them at mid-range where your pokes and parries shine.
Just practice the loop dear readers and Baiken will be lovelier: Defense, Parry, Tether Knockdown, Mixup. Master that and you’ll start winning more than you lose.
About Baiken: The Unfaltering Samurai
Most of you know her, this section is for lovers of this girl who don’t know her well.
Baiken is a wandering swordswoman of Japanese descent, one of the few survivors of the devastating Crusades that ravaged her homeland. She lost her family, an eye, and her right arm in the chaos.
Baiken is feisty and quick to anger. She jumps into fights before thinking things through and sticks fiercely to her principles.
Baiken Voice Actors
Baiken in Guilty Gear Strive is voiced by Patty Mattson in English and Mayumi Asano in Japanese. They both capture her gruff, passionate delivery perfectly, from sharp battle cries to rare moments of quieter reflection.
What I Really Think About Her
For me, Baiken remains one of those characters that just feels right when everything clicks. She might not be the easiest or most dominant pick in the current meta, but her defensive mastery and undeniable swagger make her fun for dedicated players.
Whether you’re labbing new routes after the 2.02 fix or just enjoying her personality and lore, she’s a fighter who rewards investment. The patch changes made her more consistent anyway and she is more worth trying.
