Touhou: Gensokyo Reloaded/Meimu



The non-playable final boss of Touhou: Gensokyo Reloaded, Meimu possesses many qualities of an overpowered boss character in a similar vein to most SNK boss characters, though to a lesser extent. Unlike most other characters, Meimu possesses two phases when encountered in the game's Arcade mode.

Meimu's first phase is predominantly the same as many of the other fights in arcade mode, utilizing her own repetoire of Normals, Specials, and level 1 Hypers. Formless Wave is a Rekkaken-style projectile attack that can not only hit OTG, but fire each projectile at various speeds, making it difficult to dodge. Ascension Cutter is Meimu's reversal Special, but the version possesses substantially more invulnerability frames than other characters' reversals, while the  version deals damage comparable to most character's Level 1 Hypers. Boundary of Shadow and Substance is a mid-range command grab that deals a significant amount of damage. While Formless Movement does not deal any damage on its own, it allows Meimu to move about the stage to create ambiguous cross-up and mix-up opportunities. Another significant advantage over other characters include Meimu's mid-long range Normals with a good amount of hitbox priority, and a 1 frame grab, allowing her to beat out other character's grabs with impunity.

After Meimu is K.O.'ed the first time, she will enter her second phase on the next round, indicated by her use of the Arcade mode exclusive Hyper, End of Fantasy ~ Gensokyo Reloaded. During this time, Meimu will alternate between using her Formless Being "Eldritch Abomination" and Boundary "Molecular Splitter" Hypers free of their normal cost, in addition to two additional Hypers; a close range command grab that deals nearly half of the opponent's health, and a full-screen projectile attack that deals more damage if the opponent is within melee range. With the exception of Meimu's command grab, most of these moves are easily telegraphed. What makes this phase unique is that Meimu will possess perpetual Armor and Throw invincibility, and will not take damage during this time; instead, all damage dealt instead drains her Spell Break meter. Once this meter is drained to 0, Meimu will enter a stagger state, interrupting any action she was previously doing and will lose her armor, and will be unable to perform any action including blocking and will now take damage as normal, rendering her completely vulnerable to attack until her Spell Break meter fully recharges by itself. The Spell Break meter will also display its own timer; should this timer reach 0 before Meimu is defeated, Meimu will automatically execute an unblockable full-screen attack that instantly KOs the opponent. The timer is dependent on the game's difficultly setting, with higher difficulties providing less time to defeat Meimu before she executes her instant kill attack.