Summary
So far,MultiVersushas proven to be a platform fighter appealing to the inner kid in every gamer. The way the game lets players fight out some iconic childhood “what if” fights is currently unmatched. Players can pit iconic characters from across tons of franchises in wild match-ups that can include fighters fromShaggy to Superman, and even more in between.
MultiVersushas been delivering on this front with its ever-expanding roster of fighters. And so far none of them have fulfilled more 90s kids' dreams than the recent addition of Samurai Jack. Starring in the Cartoon Network classic (and later Adult Swim revival) of the same name, Samurai Jack represents one of the defining shows of the millennial generation, which is why his inclusion in a fighting game likeMultiVersusjust feels right.
Samurai Jack in MultiVersus Explained
Jack has been out and available for use for a while now, exclusively unlocked bybuying the first tier ofMultiVersus’Season 2 battlepass. Jack is classified as a Bruiser, which essentially makes him a well-rounded multipurpose fighter with a reasonable weight. At least that’s how he’s described on paper. In practice, Jack is a fast, lethal attacker with excellent edge-guarding tools that would make most Assassins in the game blush.
Like every other member of the roster, developers at Player First Games have done an excellent job making the character feel as faithful to his source material as possible, with each of his movesmirroring something Samurai Jack did in canon, or matching his fighting style so well that it very well could’ve made it into the show. Jack’s moveset is heavily inspired by his appearances and feats in his show, incorporating things like time portals, Aku’s beetle robots, and, of course, his magic katana.
Jack does a dashing kick attack
N/A
Neutral Attack
Charges a forward stab. If fully charged, an Aku Beetle will leap toward Jack. Jack will dodge the beetle and slice it in half with a powerful sword slash.
Jack spins his body multiple times, hitting enemies with each spin.
Side Basic
Jack’s jab combo begins with a kick for added range. Sword attacks knock enemies back.
Jack charges a forward slash
Down Basic
Jack charges his sword before slamming it into the ground.
Jack slashes his sword downward. This move has a sweet spot if it connects at the end of the stab
Neutral Special
Jack thrusts his sword’s hilt forward. If his armor breaks, he counters with a sword slash projectile at the enemy. Nearby allies gain armor, triggering Jack’s counter if it breaks. With full focus, the slash becomes a heavy projectile, and Jack grants armor to allies regardless of distance.
Jack grabs and throws enemies/their projectiles, receiving armor mid-throw.
Side Special
Jack aims and dashes forward in a straight line, hitting anyone he passes. With full focus, this move darts back and forth multiple times after the first hit.
Same as ground.
Up Special
Jack charges, then jumps into the air and kicks enemies. With full focus, Jack gets armor during the attack.
Same as ground, without the charging.
Down Special
Charge several rapid sword slashes, sending the opponent back. With full focus, this attack does not need to be charged for the full effect.
Jack jumps down with his sword in front of him. With full focus, this creates a shockwave that counts as a heavy projectile.
Samurai Jack’s Passives Explained
Jack’s passives are a unique blend of moves thathighlight various aspects of Samurai Jack’s character, from helping his allies to getting second winds in fights after some introspection. They’re each titled The Mark of the Samurai, Mental Focus, and Calm Your Mind.
The Mark of the Samurai allows Jack to buff his teammates by letting them applystacks ofMultiVersus' weakened debuff to enemies. Mental Focus allows Jack to build focus after hitting enemies or being hit himself. After the bar builds to completion, Jack’s special attacks will be significantly buffed and apply weakened to enemies. Calm Your Mind allows Jack to meditate and sacrifice some of his focus for gray health for himself and his allies.
Full List of Samurai Jack’s MultiVersus Cosmetics
How to Play Samurai Jack in MultiVersus
Jack may be listed as a Bruiser inMultiVersus, but his most effective playstyle favors very rush-heavy tactics similar to Assassins like Arya, Finn, and Stripe. His melee attacks have very few startup frames, allowing him to put constant pressure on opponents with his powerful jab and side specials. These give him a commanding presence while on the stage and make him threatening even at unsuspecting ranges.
The idealJack gameplayis to force the opponent off-stage and play very aggressively to keep them there as long as possible. His side special, jab, neutral basic, and air grab are all excellent tools to keep the heat on an opponent desperately trying to get back on the stage. This kind of pressure can end in the enemy making a mistake or otherwise risky play, which is prone to punishing.
A common trap to avoid falling into while playing, as Jack is neglecting his other moves. A number of Jack’s most effective moves can become crutches,only really stopped by a well-timed parry. This can cause a problem when attack decay eventually kicks in. While these moves are normally quite powerful, the subtle effect nerfs their kill potential until the player changes their strategy. Players can avoid this problem by mixing up moves mid-match so that attack decay isn’t hindering Jack’s strongest moves when it’s time to go in for the stock.
