Twin Pistons (ダブルアッパー Daburu Appā?, Double Upper) is an attack used by Kazuya Mishima since his debut in Tekken, and also by Devil Kazuya and Angel since Tekken 2. Angel would later have the d/f+1,2 command replaced with Dark Lit Moon instead, and lost the WS+1,2 command entirely in Tekken Tag Tournament 2. Kazuya would lose the standing command a second time in Tekken 8, though a variant still exists with Slaughter Uppercut.
Description[]
Kazuya performs a left uppercut followed quickly by a right uppercut, the first uppercut animation being shared with Heihachi's Twin Pistons and the second being the generic d/f+2.
In Tekken 5, the animation changed into two full-swing uppercuts first at chin level, then fully-followed-through for both blows as of Tekken 6.
While Devil as of Tekken Tag Tournament reused the classic version now only performed off of Entrails Smash, the second uppercut would see animation changes as of Tekken Tag Tournament 2, via a more crossing-motioned right-hand uppercut.
Usage[]
Similar to Heihachi's variant, Kazuya's Twin Pistons was an incredibly strong and safe 13 frame natural launcher. Due to its quick recovery, the attack was only held back by the second hit's lack of range in comparison to Heihachi.
In Tekken 2, Kazuya received a WS+1,2 variation, which in the Ver.A arcade release had identical properties to the standing version, however the WS version was given a 3-frame nerf in Ver.B and the PlayStation version rendering it unsafe on block. Tekken 2 would also be the last time Kazuya could perform the standing version without transforming into Devil.
When Tekken Tag Tournament readjusted the move to have the second hit be more consistent, Kazuya was nerfed due to losing the move's prior d/f+1,2 in place of Entrails Smash, but Devil predictably became more powerful with the standing command though without Kazuya's WS+1,2 command present. Even then, both versions were still potent, and Kazuya's 3-frame recovery nerf was reverted.
Kazuya's version of this move was nerfed further in Tekken 4 when it was relegated to being only a natural combo on a Counter Hit, but this was reverted in succeeding games. Tekken 5 however with the animation change also made it more punishable, making it more risky to use regardless and not fast at other launchers.
Thanks to the introduction of Devil Transformation in Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Kazuya regained the standing command in the style of the prior Tekken Tag Tournament version done by Devil, but the move was nerfed to be at a much slower 15 frames while also sacrificing all the other follow-ups of Entrails Smash in this state. Both variants of the Twin Pistons between the two forms are also tag bufferable. In Tekken 7, the Devil variant is called Twin Pistons (デビルアッパー Debiruappā?, Devil Upper).
In Tekken (Mobile), Kazuya utilizes this move along with Hell Lancer as the last blow of his basic combo launchers.
In Tekken 8, the second hit will trigger a Tornado.
Trivia[]
- At 13 frames, Kazuya's Twin Pistons is the fastest while rising launcher in the series.
- In the Tekken 2 Ver.A arcade release, Kazuya can cancel a Dragon Uppercut into a WS Twin Pistons by pressing 2 before the move connects, with a unique transition animation solely for this purpose. However, performing the same input with Devil causes the move animation to immediately cancel to his stance as he doesn't have WS Twin Pistons. Heihachi and Armor King have a different version of the Dragon Uppercut and thus do not have this bug. This variation of Twin Pistons was removed in Ver.B, however the transition animation remains unused in the game data.
- It is interesting to note that, in Tekken Tag Tournament, despite being the same entity, the damage and commands for Kazuya's and Devil Kazuya/Angel's Twin Pistons are different.
- In the E3 version of Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Angel had the original Twin Pistons, reusing its original animation from the older games. It is possible that this was replaced with Dark Lit Moon for balance reasons.
- Devil Upper appears as one of Devil Kazuya's attacks in Namco x Capcom.
- In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, this move appears as Kazuya's up tilt.