BlazBlue - Ragna the Bloodedge

[Mikel]

Since we have no Blazblue character guides, I will start this off with discussions, tactics, and combos for Blazblue's main protagonist.

-Covers Continuum Shift version; balance changes for CS2 and Extend are found in the Balance Changes section- Feel free to correct.

Drive:
Soul Eater - Any direction+D
∟NOTES: Drains opponent's life upon contact, unsafe against barrier guard.
 s.D - Launches opponent on first hit, causes ground bounce on second. Faster startup and bigger hit box during Blood Kain.
 cr.D - Hits low, can relaunch from a s.C, causes ground bounce on counter hit or Blood Kain.
 fwd+D - Ragna becomes airborne, mostly used after Hell's Fang, can combo into j.D, faster startup during Blood Kain.
 j.D - Good for following up after fwd+D, hitbox is larger during Blood Kain.

Special Attacks:
Hell's Fang - qcb+A
∟NOTES: Useful for rest pressure, acts like a clothesline if done very close, unsafe against instant block.
 Additional Blow - qcb+D (during Hell's Fang)
 ∟NOTES: Drains life upon hit or block, causes wall bounce during Blood Kain.
Inferno Divider - dp+C/D (Can also be done in the air)
∟NOTES: D version launches higher and drains life upon hit or block, can hit twice.
 Uppercut - qcf+C (during Inferno Divider)
 ∟NOTES: Depending on Ragna's distance, the move can miss, but not too often.
   Straight Punch - qcf+C (during Uppercut)
   ∟NOTES: Can relaunch from the outside of the corner if combo'd from a C Inferno Divider
   Ax Kick - qcb+D (during Uppercut)
   ∟NOTES: Previously qcb+C in CT, can now drain health due to new command.
Gauntlet Hades - qcb+B (Can also be done in the air)
∟NOTES: Good for combos if followed up the right way. Ground version causes ground bounce, air version launches by a small amount.
 Back Spin Kick - qcb+D (during Gauntlet Hades)
 ∟NOTES: Drains life upon hit or block, steals less health and deals less damage compared to CT.
Dead Spike - qcb+D
∟NOTES: Drains life upon hit or block, hitbox increases and hits up to three times during Blood Kain, faster startup compared to CT.
Belial Edge - jump qcb+C
∟NOTES: Causes ground bounce on last hit (only if move hits midair opponent), safe on block.
Not Over Yet - dd+C (when opponent is down)
∟NOTES: Good for lengthening ground combos and reset pressure.

Distortion Drives:
Carnage Scissors - hcb, f+D
∟NOTES: Can be delayed, ground bounce on first hit, life drain and wall bounce on second hit, increased untech time.
Blood Kain - qcbx2+D
∟NOTES: Enhances Soul Eater moves, loses health while in this mode, lasts for 10 seconds.
 Devoured by Darkness - qcbx2+D (during Blood Kain)
 ∟NOTES: Now steals less health compared to CT.

Astral Heat:
Black Onslaught - qcb, hcf+C
∟NOTES: Invincible startup, slow to hit, first strike hits overhead, fast recovery, unnecessarily drains health.

Balance Changes (+ means buff, - means nerf)
Continuum Shift II (Credit to Angelo D'Argenio from 30ninjas):
- s.D on grounded opponents no longer floats.
+ df+C is techable.
- s.B -> fwd+A gatling is gone.
- Inferno Divider no longer wall bounces.
- Belial Edge doesn’t bounce as high (can combo into a 5D but must be quicker).

Continuum Shift Extend (Credit to Nini Heart from Dustloop):
+ Ground throw is not special cancellable but is airdash cancellable, so throw airdash J.bck+C is possible
+ s.D gives float on normal hit
+ j.D has better proration (no idea p1 or p2 though, I can't tell from the term)
+ All nails give knockdown on hit on the way down, but D nails will cause opponent to rise up if they are also rising up.
- C nails have weakened proration
+ C nail hitsun improved
+ Ground grab gives 1000 damage, has wall bounce.
- Command grab prorates a lot worse
+ s.B -> fwd+A gatling is back

Videos
Basic Ragna Tutorial/Combo Video

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift: Basic Ragna Tutorial / Combo Video