Trained in the martial arts of Buddhist monks and amplified by the Sorcery of the Sutra Scroll, Byakuren uses a deadly combination of magic and melee to engage foes. Although each of Byakuren's spells require her to charge beforehand, considering that Byakuren has a spell for all possible scenarios, this should hardly be an issue.
Byakuren Hijiri is technically a six-button character that plays like a standard three-button character, using the buttons for the vast majority of her moveset and the buttons as shortcuts; Ⓐ acts as a shortcut for the character's back and forward dashes when either or (respectively) is being held, Ⓑ is used as a shortcut for the Ⓨ+Ⓩ input that's assigned to the character's throw, while Ⓒ is used as a shortcut for both her Skill Declare and the part of the command input that's used in the Level 3 Hypers. One of Byakuren's mutually exclusive level 3 spellcard Hypers has to be chosen at the beginning of every match, with "Angira's Vedas" being a melee attack that can't be blocked by airborne opponents and has projectile invulnerability, while "Sakra Devanam Indra's Thunderstorm" is a multi-purpose tracking projectile Hyper that, while slow to start up, allows Byakuren to recover early to follow up with another attack.
One of Byakuren's defining features, taken straight from Urban Legend in Limbo, is that she must first declare spell charges with before being able to use her Specials, with holding the input allowing for the character to accumulate up to five charges at once; each use of a Special will consume a single charge, though Dance of Hanuman will only use up a charge for the first stage of the attack, with a charge not being consumed for the second and third stages. Byakuren has a diverse selection of tools at her disposable that allow the character to play either offensively or defensively, depending on when the situation calls for it; additionally, Byakuren's Normals have great utility to compensate for the general lack of flexibility in her Specials, such as +Ⓩ, which is a two hit attack that is great for giving Byakuren an offensive approach due to its great range, forward velocity and usefulness in combos. A key component of Byakuren's playstyle is the use of Relic "Sorcerer's Sutra Scroll", which grants Byakuren an unlimited number of spell charges for a limited time, in addition to increasing the damage done by said Specials by 10%.
Stats[]
Life
1000
Power
3000
Attack
100
Defence
100
Movelist[]
Hovering the mouse cursor over the Command Input icons will display text that refers to the inputs set in M.U.G.E.N's Key Config.
Icons encased in square brackets [ ] require the respective button(s) to be held down. Hovering the mouse cursor over the icon displays the hold duration if applicable.
Specials[]
Guard Cancel Counter
Command Input
Properties
during blockstun
Uses 1000 Power
Dance of Hanuman
Command Input
Properties
** Requires 1 light orb Can be repeated up to 3 times Additional light orbs not required for subsequent hits
Ⓧ
One attack
Two attacks
Three attacks
Ⓨ
One attack
Two attacks
Three attacks
Ⓩ
One attack
Two attacks
Three attacks
Virupaksa's Eye
Command Input
Properties
Requires 1 light orb
Ⓧ
Ⓨ
Ⓩ
Virudhaka's Sword
Command Input
Properties
Projectile launch angle varies with button pressed Recoiled projectiles can trigger Heaven Sign "Brilliance of Mahavairocana" Ⓩ version:
Ⓧ
Ⓨ
Ⓩ
Skanda's Leg
Command Input
Properties
* Requires 1 light orb Crosses up opponent Ⓧ version: * Ⓨ and Ⓩ versions:
Ⓧ
Ⓨ
Ⓩ
Durga's Soul
Command Input
Properties
when struck by an attack Reduces damage from melee attacks by 60% Requires 1 light orb
Hypers[]
Sky Spell "Master of Buddhist Cosmology"
Command Input
Properties
Uses 1000 Power
Heaven Sign "Brilliance of Mahavairocana"
Command Input
Properties
Can also be triggered by recoiled Virudhaka's Sword and Virudhaka's Sword recoil versions: , Uses 1000 Power
"Angiras Knowledge"
Command Input
Properties
/ Ⓒ
Only usable if respective spellcard is selected prior to match Uses 3000 Power
"Sakra Devanam Indra's Thunderstorm"
Command Input
Properties
/ Ⓒ
* Only usable if respective spellcard is selected prior to match Uses 3000 Power
Others[]
Skill Declare
Command Input
Properties
[ / Ⓒ ]
Gradually adds to light orb charge gauge while held Light orb count must be less than 5
Relic "Sorcerer's Sutra Scroll"
Command Input
Properties
Requires 1 light orb Grants permanent 5 skill charges Increases Specials damage by 10% Duration dependent on number of light orbs present when used. Uses 1000 Power
This character uses a Palette Selector that allows for more than 12 palettes to be chosen, and as such, only the first 12 are shown here. For a full list of palettes, see Alternative palettes.
Victory quotes[]
General[]
“
In truth all things are but a dream, shorter than the time it takes to cook millet. Hail the Three Jewels.”
“
Dueling is also upaya!”
“
Because I used magic, I came to recognize youkai and humans as equals and called on others to do the same. Will you support me?”
“
Humans haven't changed since my days in the temple.”
“
Gods and buddhas are no different from youkai. Yet, why are youkai reviled and hunted, while gods are worshipped?”
Character-specific[]
“
You seem familiar. Weren't you in Makai a few years back?”
With the exception of the generic victory quotes and the victory quotes against Mima and Reimu, the majority of Byakuren's victory quotes are derived from various Buddhist proverbs, each one relevant to a certain aspect of the opponent and/or their personality. This ties in with the fact that Byakuren, being a Buddhist monk, would be more than familiar with such proverbs.
The third victory quote against Sakuya can be considered contradictory, as Byakuren uses not only the Sorcerer's Sutra Scroll, which is demonic in nature, but also uses one of Shinki's spellcards in canon, as Shinki is often compared to Lucifer by many fans of the series. The "devil" Byakuren is referring to is most likely Remilia Scarlet.
Although Byakuren has three separate victory quotes against Mima, all three quotes are exactly identical.
Byakuren's 14th palette is based on Flavens Sorori, an original character created by both the author and Midori Margatroid, which was added to Byakuren at the latter's request.
While "Sakra Devanam Indra's Thunderstorm" is not a spellcard that Byakuren has ever used in Touhou Project, the name ties in with the theme of Byakuren's Specials calling upon the power of various Hindu & Buddhist deities.
The execution of the move is also very similar to Tsubaki Yayoi's Macto Maledictis Distortion Drive from BlazBlue, and can be used for a similar purpose. Incidentally, Tsubaki also possesses a charge mechanic similar to Byakuren's.
Byakuren's voice is that of Raine Sage, taken from her appearance in Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World.
buttons for the vast majority of her moveset and the 
buttons as shortcuts; 
acts as a shortcut for the character's back and forward dashes when either 
or 
(respectively) is being held, 
is used as a shortcut for the 
+
input that's assigned to the character's throw, while 
is used as a shortcut for both her Skill Declare and the 
part of the command input that's used in the Level 3 Hypers. One of Byakuren's mutually exclusive level 3 spellcard Hypers has to be chosen at the beginning of every match, with "Angira's Vedas" being a melee attack that can't be blocked by airborne opponents and has projectile invulnerability, while "Sakra Devanam Indra's Thunderstorm" is a multi-purpose tracking projectile Hyper that, while slow to start up, allows Byakuren to recover early to follow up with another attack.
] require the respective button(s) to be held down. Hovering the mouse cursor over the icon displays the hold duration if applicable.
+
