Kuma — Matchups

Toughest

• Xiaoyu — Phoenix stance ducks Kuma's high-heavy stance pokes and her quick `d+4` low-pokes erase Kuma's huge hitbox advantage. Kuma's `df+1` whiffs over crouched Xiaoyu — switch to `db+1` mid pressure.
• Lili — Lili's sway evades Kuma's lumbering `f+2,1` strings and her i12 `b+4` punishes whiffed bear claws hard. Bait `ff+3` with backdash, then `WS+1+2` whiff punish.
• Dragunov — Drag's `df+2` (i15) tracks both sides and his short stature lets him eat Kuma's high attacks on crouch. Block low — his `db+3` low launcher murders Kuma's slow recovery.
• Bryan — Bryan keeps Kuma at his ideal `b+1`/`b+3` range and Kuma's slow approach gets blown up by `ff+2` whiff punish. Don't whiff a stance entry mid-screen.
• Reina — Sentai launcher punishes Kuma's huge stance recovery, and her EWGF beats anything mid-startup. Stay grounded; abuse `Hunting Bear b+1+2` armor on her predictable sweeps.

Easiest

• Asuka — Asuka's i12 fastest mid means Kuma's `Hunting Bear b+1+2` armor eats her offense for free. Bear hug throws shut down her parry baits.
• Steve — No lows from Steve = Kuma stands and blocks. Steve sways at Kuma's torso level, missing entirely — punish with `WS+2`.
• Kazuya — Kazuya's hellsweep loses to Hunting Bear armor frames. Punish whiffed EWGF with `df+1+2` Heat engager.
• Eddy — Eddy's capoeira mix struggles against Kuma's big hitbox confirms — most Negativa strings clip Kuma's `db+1` low. Bear hug grab ends rounds at the wall.
• Claudio — Starburst zoning doesn't matter when Kuma's `f+3+4` armored charge eats projectiles. Close range, Claudio has no answer to bear-hug.

Sidestep: Kuma should sidestep RIGHT against most right-handed strings — his huge hitbox means SSL frequently clips on tracking jabs. Vs Mishimas, just block; Kuma's backdash is too slow to whiff-punish EWGF anyway.