Storyline(top)

When Vanessa learned that J6 was targeting Sarah, she volunteered to protect her and infiltrated the 4th World Fighting Tournament. However, sometime during the tournament she vanished without a trace. Without any leads, the case of Vanessa’s disappearance gradually went cold.

One day during a sweep of the Bryant family home, Vanessa was found unconscious in a room. Regaining consciousness, she found she had absolutely no recollection of anything since the tournament. Recovering her wits, Vanessa was alarmed at her finely chiseled physique. Inexplicably, her body showed signs of progressive physical conditioning.

Anguishing at her memory loss, Vanessa learned of another World Fighting Tournament through clues uncovered from the Bryant’s house and believed someone at the tournament must have the answers. At a complete loss as to how her physical skills had improved so dramatically, Vanessa felt she had no choice but to compete in the 5th World Fighting Tournament.

Original translation

Quotes(top)

Entrance Quotes(top)

Hold the input until the match starts.

1. Input
   Quote
2. 
   "I’ll show you what combat is all about."
3. 
   "Time for a combat seminar!"
4. 
   "Just focus on your enemy."
5. 
   "You know what you’re getting yourself into?"

Win Quotes(top)

Hold the input until the replay finishes.

1. Input
   Quote
2. 
   "You’re no match for me!"
3. 
   "Mission accomplished."
4. 
   "Well, it was ridiculous."
5. 
   "On the battlefield, you’d be dead."

Special Item Win Pose Quotes(top)

Hold the input until the replay finishes.

1. Input
   Item
   Quote
2. 
   Sharpshooter Rifle
   "Stick with me. I’ll teach you some combat drills."
3. 
   Barbell
   "What you need is a drill instructor."
4. 
   Throwing Knives
   "I wouldn’t mind another round."
5. 
   Handcuffs
   "Do you want me to send you a court martial?"
6. 
   Floating Ball
   "Take that! You’re weak, too weak!"
7. 
   Flag
   "You need more than strength!"

Other Quotes(top)

1. Situation
   Quote
2. During Fights
   "Well?"
3. During Fights
   "Take that!"
4. During Fights
   "Ready?"
5. Losing Countdown
   "This can’t be happening!"
6. Losing Countdown
   "Sure thing!"

Costumes(top)

Stages(top)

SEGA US Tutorial(top)

SEGA of America published a series of Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Tutorials. Tutorial #11 is dedicated to Vanessa (and Akira, who occupies the first half of the video, so if the link doesn't take you to the correct timestamp keep watching). Also, if you need to refresh your fundamentals, make sure to check out SEGA Tutorials 1, 2 and 3!

For a list of Vanessa players' youtube channels/twitch streams, additional guides and more Vanessa goodness in general, visit the Ultimate Showdown - Vanessa Resources thread in the Vanessa subforum of the VFdc dojo section.

Defensive Style (DS)(top)

DS Punishment(top)

1. Frame Advantage
   Opponent Standing
   Opponent Crouching
2. 10f
   or throws
   Low throws only
3. 11f
   or throws
   Low throws only
4. 12f
   or throws
   or low throws
5. 13f
   or throws
   while standing or low throws
6. 14f
   or throws
   while standing or low throws
7. 15f
   or throws
   while standing or low throws
8. 16f
   or throws
   or low throws
9. 17f+
   combo
   ► or low throws

Note#1: punish Jacky's flipkick with DS for some guaranteed damage and a knockdown; otherwise you can punish with for less damage and a stagger.
Note#2: if the opponent has their back against the wall then DS will wall splat, making it a better option than and in that situation.

DS Basic Combos(top)

Please note these are easy but sub-optimal combos. Visit Vanessa's combo list for more complex and damaging combos.

Boomerang Hook or BT Face Crush Elbow (requires a Counter Hit vs Taka) or Heavy Hook Combo (on Counter Hit) or Bone Crush Middle (on Side Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. bound►
   +49 DMG vs everyone.

Heavy Impact (on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. 
   +24 DMG + stagger vs everyone (transitions to OS).

Stinger Low Blow (on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ►
   +31 DMG excluding Taka.
3. 
   +22 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Back Charge Kick or (Hold ) / Intrude Hook / Intercept Body Blow (on Recovery Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ►►
   +43 DMG works up to Goh (i.e. excluding Akira, Jacky, Jean, Jeffry, Wolf, Taka).
3. 
   +35 DMG excluding Taka (and Shun).
4. 
   +27 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Note: combos with sober Shun by 1 DP however does not work against him in open stance so (unless you can consistently recognize foot position) it is recommended to go for the more damaging combo instead.

Wind Elbow (on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ()►
   +42 DMG excluding Taka.
3. 
   +16 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Note#1: When hits the opponent with the tip of Vanessa's elbow (a frequent occurrence after pushing them back with one of Vanessa's kicks) or when the opponent is back dashing (another frequent occurrence) then will whiff. Pressing and holding forward () before will cause Vanessa to advance, just enough for the combo to work. There is no downside to inputting a jab as so you might as well always use the modified input.
Note#2: Concerning Taka, similarly means you have to hold down~forward before pressing . Failing to correctly input this will net you a "Soccerball Kick" (an attack used against prone opponents - which will whiff, since Taka is still airborne), instead of a "Bone Crush Middle" sidekick. But, overall, it's better to not use this launcher vs Taka, as the damage output is trivial.

Heel Kick or Leopard Strike (on Sabaki Hit) or Stopping Low Combo (Note: the string combos on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ()►
   +42 DMG excluding Akira, Jeffry, Wolf, Taka.
3. ()►
   +34 DMG excluding Taka.
4. 
   +27 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Note#1: If you don't sufficiently delay/clear the input buffer using between the first two attacks you might get instead of ►. Such a fumbled input typically results in , which still does a decent +29 damage (although it might whiff vs heavier characters).
Note#2: will whiff when connects with the tip of Vanessa's foot (to avoid this use instead).
Note#3: Against Taka only, the last part of must be a counterhit, otherwise he won't get knocked down.


For a demonstration of the above combos (and more) check Ryo's [Vanessa/Very easy COMBO] video.

DS Wall Combos(top)

Wall Splat from the following moves: Spinning Savate or Shadow Slicer (on Counter Hit; depends on distance and axis) or Wind Elbow (on Counter Hit; also works without a wall splat, as long as the jab carries the opponent to the wall)

1. Combo
   Note
2. wall hit►bound►wall slump►
   +49 DMG vs everyone.

Head Crumple vs a cornered opponent from the following moves (frequently after Vanessa wall staggers the opponent): Boomerang Hook or BT Face Crush Elbow (requires a Counter Hit vs Taka) or Heavy Hook Combo (requires Counter Hit or for to wall stagger the opponent)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ►bound►wall slump►
   +61 DMG vs everyone.

Note: If not adjacent to the wall, use instead of a regular jab to carry the opponent closer to the wall.

Offensive Style (OS)(top)

OS Punishment(top)

1. Frame Advantage
   Opponent Standing
   Opponent Crouching
2. 10f
   Throws only
   Nothing guaranteed
3. 11f
   Throws only
   Nothing guaranteed
4. 12f
   or vs Taka
   
5. 13f
   or vs Taka
   
6. 14f
   combo
   
7. 15f
   combo or ► vs Taka
   
8. 16f
   combo or vs heavies
   combo or vs heavies
9. 17f+
   combo
   combo

Note#1: punish jacky's flipkick with OS . See Maki's Vanessa punishing the cast thread for individualized punishment vids against every character!

Note#2: versus Taka, leaves Vanessa at negative frames (-2). Punishing Taka with does slightly less damage but opens the possibility of ending the string with , which will knock down the Taka player on CH, thus negating frame disadvantage. Alternatively, punishing Taka with knocks him down thus granting okizeme, albeit sacrificing even more damage up front. Finally, remember that (just like ) versus Taka guarantees .

Note#3: if the opponent has their back against the wall will stagger them, so you might want to consider it when punishing -15 lows.

Note#4: punishing -16f moves with is very hard, requiring perfect buffering; stick with if you haven't practiced it in the dojo.

OS Basic Combos(top)

OS has more than twice as many combo starters as DS, so we'll be grouping them by category in order to facilitate memorization. Again, please note these are easy but sub-optimal combos. Ryo's [Vanessa/Very easy COMBO] video includes some of them (although they tend to end their combos using which does marginally more damage in exchange for worse oki); visit Vanessa's combo list for a more comprehensive list of more complex and damaging combos

OS Knock Downs(top)

HAWK Strike

1. Combo
   Note
2. bound►
   +59 DMG works up to Goh (up to Jean on CH).
3. ►bound►
   +42 DMG excluding Taka.
4. bound►
   +35 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Bunker Buster

1. Combo
   Note
2. ►bound►
   +42 DMG excluding Taka.
3. bound►
   +35 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Leg Bomber (Note: at a distance combos require you to hold forward while jabbing, and might still whiff if Vanessa hits the opponent with the tip of her boot)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ()►bound►
   +42 DMG vs lightweights.
3. ()►
   +38 DMG excluding Taka.
4. ()
   +28 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Hunting Kick (on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ()►bound►
   +40 DMG vs Girls, Shun, Lion.
3. ()
   +28 DMG excluding Taka.

Landing Knee Combo (on crouch stagger)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ()►
   +38 DMG excluding Taka.
3. ()
   +28 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

OS Crumples(top)

Death Scythe (on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. bound►►
   +75 DMG vs Girls, Lion & Jean.
3. bound►
   +56 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Spinning Savate (on Side Hit) or Stopping Toe (on side Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ►bound►
   +57 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Back Charge Kick or Intruder Step Explosion Hook or (Hold) Stinger Strike (Max Charge) or Feint Body (on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. ►bound►
   +41 DMG excluding Taka.
3. 
   +23 DMG vs Taka.

Tank Buster

1. Combo
   Note
2. 
   +31 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Short Upper (on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. 
   +28 DMG excluding Taka
3. 
   +23 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

OS Slams(top)

Pile Bunker or Heel Kick

1. Combo
   Note
2. ►bound►
   +42 DMG vs lightweighs.
3. 
   +33 DMG excluding Taka.
4. 
   +23 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Uppercut ~ Heel Sword (Note: the initial string combos on any hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. 
   +23 DMG vs excluding Taka.
3. 
   +16 DMG vs everyone including Taka. Recovers in DS.

OS various(top)

Guard Crush Tornado (on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. 
   +40 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

or Stealth Spin Kick (only if the LAST part of the string Counter Hits)

1. Combo
   Note
2. 
   +16 DMG.

Clobbering Straight or High Kick Smash or Stopping Low Smash or Knee Kick Smash

1. Combo
   Note
2. 
   +16 DMG vs Taka ONLY.

OS Wall Combos(top)

Wall Splat from the following moves: Spinning Savate or HAWK Strike or or or Landing Knee (on Counter Hit)

1. Combo
   Note
2. wall hit►bound►wall slump►
   +57 DMG excluding Taka.
3. bound►wall slump►
   +50 DMG vs everyone, including Taka.

Storyline translated by Modelah.