Kiryu Guide: Freeze Setups and Maser Pressure

Kiryu is the most technical character in the remaster. He has a freeze tool, a maser beam, heavyweight normals, and enough armor to survive a trade. He also has the longest setup chains in the cast. A new player will press buttons and wonder why nothing connects; an experienced player will freeze the opponent, close the distance, and make the next three seconds a nightmare.

The character is not for everyone. If you want a simple game plan, pick Godzilla or Mechagodzilla. If you want a character who rewards lab time and matchup knowledge, Kiryu is the best choice in the roster.

The toolkit

Freeze tool. Kiryu's signature utility. It locks the opponent in place for a short window, which lets him close the distance or start a high-damage sequence. The exact duration and input may differ from the 2002 version; check the in-game move list.

Maser beam. His ranged attack. It covers long distance and punishes an opponent who stands still. It is also a setup tool: a beam that forces a block creates a window for the freeze or the approach.

Heavyweight normals. Kiryu's melee tools are slower than a brawler's, but they hit hard and have good reach. His armor lets him absorb a hit on some attacks, which makes him dangerous in a trade.

Grab. His grab is slow but has good reach. Use it after a blocked string or a freeze.

Rage Mode. His Rage state enhances his damage and makes his setups more lethal. Activate it when the opponent is frozen or cornered.

The neutral game

Kiryu wants to be at mid-range, where his maser and freeze are threatening and his heavy normals can punish an approach. At long range, he is a worse zoner than King Ghidorah. At close range, faster characters can run circles around him.

The basic loop:

1. Fire the maser to make the opponent block or sidestep.
2. If they block, step forward and threaten the freeze or the grab.
3. If they sidestep, use a wide normal to cover the angle.
4. If they close, block and look for an armored trade or a grab.
5. If you land a freeze, close the distance and use your heaviest safe string.

The character is about converting a small advantage into a big one. A single freeze can win a round; a whiffed freeze can lose one. Do not throw it out at neutral without a plan.

Using Rage Mode

Activate Rage when:

• The opponent is frozen.
• The opponent is cornered.
• You have just landed a maser or a grab.

Do not activate it at full health in neutral. The opponent will back off, and you will waste the duration. During Rage, use the freeze and the maser to keep the opponent in place, then finish with a heavy string.

Matchups

Vs. Godzilla. Godzilla is slower but more durable. You want to use the maser to make his approach predictable, then punish with a freeze or a heavy normal. Do not let him stand at mid-range and fire back.

Vs. King Ghidorah. Ghidorah's wide normals and beams control the space you want to use. Use the maser to cover your approach, and do not throw out a freeze at max range. This is a difficult matchup.

Vs. Mechagodzilla. Mechagodzilla's armor can absorb your first hit. Use the freeze to bypass his armor, and do not autopilot the same string. If he backs away, close with a sidestep, not a straight dash.

Vs. Gigan. Gigan is faster and wants to mix you up. Use wide normals and the maser to cover his movement. If he gets inside, block and grab.

Vs. Rodan. Rodan attacks from the air. Use the maser to cover his landing and wide normals when he circles. Do not chase him into the air.

Vs. Megalon. Megalon's drill and grabs can punish your slow normals. Keep him at range, and do not let him establish the drill range.

Vs. Destoroyah. Destoroyah hits hard and closes space. Block the first approach, then punish the recovery with a freeze or a heavy normal.

Vs. Orga. Orga is stable at every range. Use the maser to claim space and the freeze to punish his approach. The matchup is close to even.

Vs. Anguirus. Anguirus is short and can make your high attacks whiff. Use low attacks and the freeze, and do not assume your heavy normals will connect.

Vs. Mecha-King Ghidorah. His traps require setup. Stay mobile, avoid the cables, and punish when he commits. Your freeze can interrupt his zoning.

Vs. Godzilla 2000. The faster Godzilla wants to pressure you. Block the first string, then punish the recovery with a freeze or a grab. Do not try to out-speed him.

Beginner mistakes

Throwing raw freezes. A freeze at max range is easy to avoid and leaves you exposed. Use it after a block or a maser.

Ignoring the maser. The maser is your mid-range tool. If you only use melee, a zoner will keep you out.

Overusing armor. Armor is a tool, not a strategy. If you trade every hit, you will lose to a higher-damage character.

Panicking when the opponent gets inside. Block, sidestep, and look for a grab. Do not try to out-mash a faster character.

Using Rage at range. Activate it when the opponent is frozen or cornered.

A simple game plan

• Round start: claim the mid-range, fire a maser to test the opponent's approach.
• If ahead: keep layering maser and freeze, do not get greedy with heavies.
• If behind: use Rage after a freeze or a grab, then pressure with heavies.
• In the corner: block, sidestep, and look for a grab. Do not try to jump out.
• Last hit: use a maser or a freeze into a heavy, not a raw slow normal.

Kiryu is a character who rewards lab time and matchup knowledge. He is not the easiest pick, but he has the highest ceiling in the roster. The tier list places him in the upper tier for that reason.

Official source: Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered Trailer Reveals Full 12-Kaiju Roster

For the next read, compare the tier list and the unlock route.

Sources and verification

• The official Godzilla roster article confirms Kiryu as one of the 12 playable kaiju.
• Steam confirms the Rage Mode and the single-player campaign structure.
• TOHO Kingdom's original specifics provides the 2002 Kiryu context.
• Wikizilla tracks the remaster's roster.

The exact frame data and move inputs may differ from the 2002 release. Check the in-game move list for the final values.