I got Kisame relatively early in my server, thanks to a lucky draw. But since I wasn't an experienced player, I had to rely on the forum to find myself a great formation. However, I soon realised that there aren't much information regarding the line-ups of Kisame.

Well, that was a couple of weeks ago. I've played around with Kisame for a while now and so I've realised a few things about him. Hope this can help you guys out!

For those who just want the formation:

Kurenai Main Kisame
x Hinanta x
x x x

Talents:2231(1 or 3)
Summon:Hell Dog

Skip down to Strategy for the explanation on the formation!

---

Profile:

Name: Kisame Hoshigaki
Type: Water
Affiliations: Akatsuki, Hidden Mist, Taitou

Stats:

Health: ✦✦✦✦
Attack: ✦✦✦
Defense: ✦✦✦✦
Ninjutsu: ✦
Resistance: ✦✦

Skills:

(M) - Super Shark Bomb Jutsu : AOE dmg, KNOCKDOWN to target, ABSORB all opponent's chakra (2 rounds CD)
(SA)- Shark Skin Attack : Single target and absorbs 20 Chakra points. Has a chance of causing LOW FLOAT and ACUPUNCTURE.
(C) - Shark Bomb Justsu : chases REPULSE, causes LOW FLOAT. RECOVER certain % of life
(P) - Chakra Swallowing : RECOVER 10% of life when your own team recovers Chakra
(P) - Shark Skin Expansion : Effective when at least 40 Chakra points are available. Higher the Chakra, higher the Taijutsu Attack and Combo Rate

---

Insights:

Strengths.

As you may observe, Kisame's impressive health and defense stats make him a reliable frontline ninja. His stats may not be as impressive as other frontline ninjas known for their sturdiness, but Kisame's unique skill set makes him extremely hard to eliminate. He heals 10% of his HP in the beginning of every round. This passive is also triggered when he recovers chakra using his mystery or landing a standard attack. Moreover, his chase also recovers some HP.

His standard attacks become extremely lethal with higher chakra points. At 100 Chakra points, the standard attacks guarantee 100% low float, acupuncture and extremely high damage (He deals up to 3k dmg in the arena with his standard attack). You may think that ac*ulating chakra points is extremely difficult, and you are right. Therefore you'll need to build a specific line-up for Kisame. If you do, you'll soon realise that reaching 100 Chakra points isn't that difficult at all.

ACUPUNCTURE is the best friend of Kisame. Acupunctured opponents won't be able to spend Chakra points for the next 2 rounds. This provides a perfect opportunity for Kisame to use his mystery and recover a massive amount of chakra.

Kisame becomes more and more powerful as rounds progress, since more chakra are recovered each following round. Opponents won't be able to spend all their chakra before Kisame lands his mystery, and so it is easier to ac*ulate high chakra points.

Weaknesses.

Kisame's mystery doesn't do a crazy amount of damage as you'd expect, due to his ninjutsu stats. Kisame's damage relies more on standard attacks. This means he can be possibly countered by Kimimaro, Hinata, Earth main etc.

He is vulnerable to debuffs, especially ignite and any debuffs that stops him from using standard attack.

A formation that includes Kisame is not flexible, since there are many requirements to be met for him to be properly used. This includes chakra recovery, protecting Kisame from debuffs etc.

I'm a Kisame fan and so I am keeping this list short :)

Strategy

So far, the best formation with lightning main I found is the one above. For the last talent I usually use the clone, but I use roots talent from time to time when I have to face a heavy control team. The basic strategy is this:

The team has a perfect combo cycle. Anyone's mystery or standard attack can unleash an 8 combo barrage. Moreover, Hinata's chase allows me to acupuncture. This means by using mysteries, I can interrupt and acupuncture a targetted ninja.

Notice that both lightning's and Kisame's mysteries have 2 rounds CD. I've positioned Kisame and my main in move 1 and 2 so that by using their mysteries alternatively, I can stop the mystery and acupuncture the targetted enemy ninja every round. Basically, I can unleash an aoe attack every round from round 2.

If the enemy isn't properly prepared, I would also be able to acupuncture the front line ninjas with the clone and Kisame's standard attack. Together with the mysteries, I can inflict an infinite acupuncture control on the enemy team, not allowing them to use a single skill. The unused chakra of the enemy then can be absorbed by Kisame.

Kurenai's passive protects the team from possible mirror genjustsu and other harmful debuffs (I use roots of swordsmen if Kurenai can't handle the debuffs barrage). Moreover, her passive of recovering chakra when the team is attacked by a mystery or receives status effect synergizes well with Kisame's passive. This combination makes Kisame immune to poison to a certain degree (heals when poison is inflicted).

Hinata's and Kurenai's mysteries provide extra defense for the team. Lightning's Anbu Tactics talent synergizes well with Kisame and provides other means of HP recovery for all ninjas.

The weakness of this formation is that it doesn't have ignite, so a tanky team with a good healer/cleanser can withstand the combos pretty well. However, Kisame's monstrous damage usually overwhelms the opponent's healing rate.

Another weakness is that if Hinata's chase is neutralised, the line-up is significantly weakened. But as everyone knows, Hinata is extremely difficult to bring down. And investing in taking down Hinata means that Kisame and Lightning can freely attack the opponent.

Step By Step

Round 1: (20 Chakra)

Clone spawns infront of Hinata. I save Hinata's mystery for later use.
I first take a look at the opponent's team, and make a judgment on whether Kisame (and rarely my main as well) can be nuked in round 1. If so, I shield Kisame with Kurenai. If not, I shield the clone. I use kurenai's shield anyway because if she gets interrupted, that means kisame and my main can't be stopped the next round. shielding the clone gives more protection for the team and increases the chance to acupuncture an opponent.

Round 2: (40 Chakra)

Again I take a look at the opponents and see if they have ready interruptions or acupuncture. I also take note of who is in move 1 and 2. Since it is very likely for the opponent to use up all the chakra in this round, if the situations allow I use Lightning's mystery since it has aoe paralysis. But most of the time I use Kisame's mystery to be safe. I target the ninja that I think is likely to use his mystery this round and acupuncture him.

If I get lucky, Kisame can cause acupuncture on one of the ninjas in the standard attack phase. The same goes for my clone. If the opponent is completely unprepared, in round 2, at most 3 ninjas can be acupunctured.

Round 3: (60 Chakra)

With 60 Chakra points, I c*e either Lightining's or Kisame's mystery (depending on which one I used last round). They both cost 40 Chakra points, which means I c*e Hinata's mystery if I feel the need. I target another ninja trying to use his mystery and acupuncture him with the combo. Then I check on my clone. If it is on low health and is probably going to die in one or two hits, I use Hinata's mystery to protect her. If the clone can take on more hits I save it for later use. Kisame's and the clone's standard attack is a continuing threat.

Round 4: (80 Chakra)

From this point Kisame starts to become unstoppable. I use one of the AOE mysteries and acupuncture the enemy again, and by this time I am able to steal huge amounts of chakra thanks to the infinite acupuncture control. With higher Chakra points, Kisame almost always causes acupuncture with his standard attack. The true infinite acupuncture cycle begins.

Also, Kurenai's mystery will be ready again this round. If they managed to wear down Kisame, Hinata, and sometimes my main, I use it to the one that needs the heal most.

Round 5+: (100 Chakra)

Kisame is a beast. I believe that I never lost a match when I managed to make it to round 5. Continue with the aoe attack and win the game. If the opponent's threat is weakened because one or more of his ninjas are out of battle, I just don't use any skills and let 100 chakra kisame cut down the enemies. If there is still a close game going on, use mysteries after Kisame launchs his standard attack to let him abuse the maxed out chakra.

--

Well that's it guys. It was a long piece of writing and I might've missed a few things. I am open to more suggestions, since I know that there are many players more experienced than I am. If you have any questions just ask!

This post was last edited by max***@gmail.com at 2016-9-19 04:00