Alright, let’s talk Sae Itoshi in Blue Lock: Rivals. If you’re playing the game, you know the name. He’s the genius midfielder, the World Class playmaker whispered about (or shouted about after getting nutmegged). Maybe you desperately want him, maybe you face his calculated plays daily, or perhaps luck smiled upon you during a spin session. Sae isn’t just another style; he’s a game-changer, capable of orchestrating victory with breathtaking skill.
But what truly sets him apart? How did his transformation to World Class elevate his game? What’s the secret behind his unique ability to switch moves on the fly? And crucially, how can you harness his power to completely dismantle the opposition?
First, let’s get acquainted with the man himself:
- Name: Sae Itoshi
- Game: Blue Lock: Rivals (Roblox)
- Rarity: World Class (Formerly Mythic)
- Role: Midfielder / Playmaker
- Description: “Genius playmaker with unrivaled skills, precise passes, and unstoppable shots”
- In-Game Vibe: Imagine unparalleled field vision, surgically precise passes, dazzling footwork, and an aura of cool superiority. He’s the internationally renowned older brother of the egoist, Rin Itoshi.
Sae’s game is about control. He dictates the midfield tempo, unlocks defenses with impossible passes, and creates scoring chances seemingly out of nothing. While he can score himself, his true strength lies in elevating his entire team’s play.
His promotion to World Class wasn’t just symbolic; it brought a significant rework that reshaped his entire kit.
The World Class Leap: What Changed in Sae’s Rework?
Understanding this rework is key. Around March 2025, Sae evolved:
- Rarity Upgrade: From Mythic (0.5% chance) to the elite World Class tier (0.25% chance). Exclusivity fitting his talent.
- “Multiple Move-sets” Passive Implemented: This is CORE. Sae gained the unique ability to have different C and V moves depending on ball possession, doubling his tactical options in base form.
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New Base Moves Added:
- Arm Swipe (Off-Ball C): A powerful disruptive/tackling move.
- Metavision (Off-Ball V): Superior field vision and mobility enhancement.
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Moveset Synergies Enhanced:
- Magical Turn (On-Ball V) now inherently flows into Heel Flick: His signature dribble became a seamless two-part maneuver available in his base kit.
- Perfect Pass (On-Ball C): Received improvements to accuracy and curve.
- Revamped Awakening Cutscene: The “You’ll Never Surpass Me” sequence got a major visual and narrative upgrade, making it one of the most iconic ultimates in the game.
This rework transformed Sae from a strong contender into an absolute midfield titan.
Now for the nitty-gritty. Understanding how Sae functions is vital. Let’s start with his defining passive feature.
Sae’s Unique Passive: Multiple Move-sets
- Passive Name: Multiple Move-sets
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What it does: Sae’s abilities assigned to the C and V keys automatically change based on whether he has possession of the ball or not. This passive highlights his dual offensive and defensive nature.
- When ON-Ball: C Key = Perfect Pass | V Key = Magical Turn (leading into Heel Flick)
- When OFF-Ball: C Key = Arm Swipe | V Key = Metavision
- Availability: This crucial passive is active constantly, in both his Base form and during his Awakening.
| Ball Status | C Key Move | V Key Move | B Key Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| ON-Ball | Perfect Pass | Magical Turn → Heel Flick | Beautiful Shot |
| OFF-Ball | Arm Swipe | Metavision |
Off-Ball Dominance (When You DON’T Have the Ball)
When you need to win the ball back or reposition strategically:
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Arm Swipe (C Key)
- Cooldown: 35 Seconds
- Effect: Sae executes a swift swipe. Connecting with an opponent knocks them down or forcefully pushes them, disrupting their play and often causing them to lose possession. A powerful tool for defensive stops and turnovers.
- Use Cases: Tackling ball carriers, intercepting passes by hitting the receiver, creating defensive space.
- Tips: Effective timing beats quick dodges. Great for anticipating plays near the ball. Similar function to Kunigami’s Body Block but with Sae’s unique animation.
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Metavision (V Key)
- Cooldown: 40 Seconds
- Duration: 15 Seconds
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Effect: Transforms your view of the field (darkened, grid lines, numbers) and grants significant buffs:
- Style Vision: Reveals the Style of every other player.
- Speed Boost: Grants a major movement speed increase.
- Infinite Stamina: Your stamina stops draining for the duration.
- Use Cases: Scouting opponent styles for strategy/threat assessment, rapid repositioning, chasing down opponents or loose balls without stamina penalty, making informed tactical decisions.
- Tips: Activate strategically before key moments. The 15-second duration is generous but finite. The vision aspect is invaluable for high-level play.
On-Ball Wizardry (When You HAVE the Ball)
When the ball is at Sae’s feet, the magic happens:
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Perfect Pass (C Key)
- Cooldown: 35 Seconds (Shared cooldown with Arm Swipe)
- Effect: Delivers a fast, accurate, targeted pass with significant range (often half-field). Features a distinct curve towards the teammate, making it incredibly hard to intercept.
- Use Cases: Setting up goals, advancing the ball quickly, breaking pressure, initiating the Sae & Shidou Chemical Reaction.
- Tips: The gold standard for passing. Aim carefully. Essential for coordinating with Shidou. Be mindful of rare ping-related issues.
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Magical Turn (V Key) → Heel Flick (Automatic Follow-up)
- Cooldown: 40 Seconds (Shared cooldown with Metavision)
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Effect: A fluid, two-stage dribbling maneuver:
- Magical Turn: A quick dash/spin around opponents, often stunning them briefly. Leaves afterimages and grants I-frames (invincibility). Faster and covers more distance than Rin’s similar move.
- Heel Flick: Immediately follows (sometimes requires another V press, often automatic), flicking the ball forward with the heel for another burst of speed and I-frames.
- Use Cases: Breaking defenses, dodging tackles safely, creating space, carrying the ball effectively.
- Tips: Sae’s primary tool for beating defenders. Abuse the I-frames. Master the transition for seamless dribbling. Opens up advanced techs (see Strategy section).
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Beautiful Shot (B Key)
- Cooldown: 50 Seconds
- Effect: Sae performs a feint/twirl animation and shoots. Requires an opponent player relatively close and in front to activate. Visually resembles Isagi’s Direct Shot.
- Use Cases: Close-range scoring attempts, potentially faking out a defender directly in front.
- Known Issues & Status: This move remains underwhelming and potentially bugged, especially its very short range. It’s widely considered incomplete and likely pending a rework or replacement (rumors mention “Divine Destruction”).
- Tips: Don’t rely on this as your main scoring threat currently. It can work up close, but it’s inconsistent. Use with caution or primarily as a feint until updated. Keep an eye on patch notes!
Activating Sae’s ultimate, “Beautiful Destruction”, is a statement.
- Activation: Fill the Awakening meter. Requires you to have the ball. Sae becomes encased in a light purple and dark pink aura with numbers and characters floating around him. He declares: “I’m taking this game to the next level, only the fools who can keep up with me will get to see what comes next.”
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Primary Move (B Key): “You’ll Never Surpass Me”
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This is the interactive shot triggered within the Awakening state. It requires an opponent in front:
- A fog-like effect appears. Sae pushes the opponent away, stating: “If you keep acting like my little brother…”
- He then performs a nutmeg on the stunned opponent.
- Runs forward past them, declaring: “…you will never surpass me.”
- Finally, kicks the ball with immense speed and power.
- Grants I-Frames during the animation, making it safe to execute.
- The cutscene itself is visually impressive and was updated with the World Class rework.
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This is the interactive shot triggered within the Awakening state. It requires an opponent in front:
- Effects: Standard Awakening stat boosts. Access to the powerful “You’ll Never Surpass Me” shot. Importantly, Sae’s base moves (Perfect Pass, Magical Turn/Heel Flick, Metavision, Arm Swipe – governed by the Multiple Move-sets passive) remain usable during Awakening, offering continued versatility.
Against an AI Goalkeeper, using the “You’ll Never Surpass Me” shot from near the center of the field is practically a guaranteed goal.
The Sae & Shidou Chemical Reaction: Explosive Synergy
This iconic duo synergy is devastating when executed correctly:
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How it Works:
- Sae uses Perfect Pass targeting a teammate using the Shidou style.
- Upon receiving this specific pass, the Shidou player’s Dragon Drive icon briefly changes color (often green or red – watch for the visual cue!).
- If Shidou activates Dragon Drive while the icon is changed, a special cutscene plays (“Jump all the cells in my body… DRAGON DRIVE!”).
- Shidou then launches an absurdly powerful Dragon Drive, capable of scoring from extreme distances (near half-court).
- Why it Matters: Transforms a good setup into a potential long-range tactical nuke. Requires teamwork but offers immense reward. It holds the distinction of being the first Chemical Reaction in the game.
- Tips for Sae Players: Communicate! Time your Perfect Pass when Shidou is ready and has space.
- Tips for Shidou Players: Stay alert for Sae’s Perfect Pass. React instantly when your Dragon Drive icon changes color.
The Sae-Shidou Chemical Reaction is one of the most powerful offensive combinations in the game, capable of breaking open tight matches with a single well-executed play.
Knowing the tools is half the battle. Wielding them like a genius is the goal.
Optimal Role & Playstyle: The Midfield General
- Position: Center Midfield (CM). Control the heart of the pitch.
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Playstyle: Be the Conductor. Your primary role is to facilitate and create.
- Abuse Metavision: Frequently scan, identify threats/opportunities, track styles. Use the speed/stamina to intercept, position, or make runs.
- Master Perfect Pass: Don’t just pass; deliver decisive, defense-splitting balls. Prioritize your strikers (especially Shidou).
- Maintain Possession: Use Magical Turn → Heel Flick to navigate pressure, draw defenders, and open up space for teammates.
- Opportunistic Scorer: While passing is paramount, use your dribbling to create chances for yourself when appropriate. Awakening provides your most reliable scoring tool. Beautiful Shot is currently a last resort.
- Defend Actively: Use Arm Swipe to break up plays and win the ball back high up the pitch.
Key Techniques & Combos
- Fluid Dribbling: The Magical Turn → Heel Flick combo is your bread and butter for safe, effective ball movement.
- Vision-Led Plays: Activate Metavision before attempting a risky pass or long dribble to maximize information and mobility.
- Anticipatory Defense: Use Arm Swipe on the intended receiver of a pass just as the ball is traveling towards them for maximum disruption.
- Beautiful Shot Feint (Situational): Given its current weakness, consider using the B key animation near a defender purely as a fake to create a passing lane or escape route via Magical Turn. Use sparingly.
Advanced Heel Flick Techniques
The Heel Flick (available after Magical Turn in Base & Awakened states) enables these advanced plays:
- Header Tech: After Heel Flick, quickly stop or walk backwards slightly. As the ball arcs back, jump to perform a header. Looking down while jumping might help chain headers. Requires precise timing.
- Volley Shot Tech: After Heel Flick, aim and hold the shoot button before the ball reaches you. Initiating the shot charge prior to receiving the flicked ball is crucial for triggering the powerful, quick volley.
| Flow | Rarity | Benefits for Sae |
|---|---|---|
| Awakened Genius | Mythical | His signature Flow. Boosts dribbling, shot power, and grants team-wide Flow. |
| Genius | Rare | A solid budget alternative for team Flow support. |
| Dribbler | Mythic | If you intend to play a more scoring-focused Sae. |
| Speed/Stamina Flows | Various | Useful for reducing downtime between Metavision uses. |
Sae vs. The Meta: How Does He Stack Up?
Sae Itoshi reigns supreme in the S-Tier of Blue Lock: Rivals, easily contesting for S+ status depending on the player and team.
- vs. Don Lorenzo: The classic World Class Midfielder debate. Lorenzo might offer more raw defensive stopping power and unique offensive pressure. Sae counters with vastly superior playmaking vision, passing range/accuracy, overall move versatility thanks to his passive, and arguably better pure dribbling. Choice often boils down to direct disruption vs. midfield orchestration.
- vs. Rin Itoshi: Brother vs. Brother. Rin is a dedicated striker/dribbler focused on scoring. Sae excels in passing, utility (Metavision/Arm Swipe), and team enablement. Sae’s Magical Turn is generally considered faster and more effective than Rin’s equivalent base dribble.
- Overall: Sae is undeniably one of the best, if not the best, pure playmakers and midfielders. His ability to elevate his team, control the game’s flow, and contribute both offensively and defensively makes him a highly sought-after asset.
The million-dollar (or Robux) question: Is the grind for Sae worth it?
- Rarity: World Class (0.25%). Extremely rare.
- Effort: Requires immense luck, dedication, or a significant financial investment.
- Verdict: YES, absolutely, IF the playmaker role resonates with you. His impact is undeniable. He offers a depth and style of play unmatched by most. Pulling him, especially if you got him pre-rework, is a massive win. Be prepared for the grind if you’re actively hunting him.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Unrivaled passing & vision (Perfect Pass/Metavision) | Beautiful Shot currently unreliable (pending rework) |
| Elite dribbling with I-frames (Magical Turn/Heel Flick) | Cooldown management is crucial |
| Strong disruption (Arm Swipe) | High skill floor/ceiling |
| Game-defining synergy (Shidou) | Requires team coordination for full potential |
| Exceptional versatility (Multiple Move-sets Passive) |
Common Questions & Known Issues (FAQ)
Is Beautiful Shot good now?
No, it’s still widely considered weak/buggy, particularly its range. A rework/replacement (“Divine Destruction”?) is anticipated.
What is Sae’s Passive?
“Multiple Move-sets” – C and V keys change abilities based on ball possession.
What’s the name of his Awakening?
“Beautiful Destruction”, featuring the “You’ll Never Surpass Me” B-key move.
Does Perfect Pass fail?
Rarely, high ping might cause issues.
FPS Exploit Still Relevant?
Lowering FPS used to buff certain shot ranges. This is an exploit and potentially patched or bannable. Avoid it.
Header/Volley Techs?
Yes, usable after Heel Flick with specific timing/inputs. See Strategy section.
The Final Whistle: Sae Itoshi – A True World Class Talent
Sae Itoshi in Blue Lock: Rivals is more than just a character; he’s a strategic weapon. He embodies the genius playmaker, offering unmatched control, vision, and passing precision. His World Class rework, introducing the brilliant “Multiple Move-sets” passive and refining his already potent kit, cemented his position at the apex of the meta.
While obtaining him requires dedication and his Beautiful Shot eagerly awaits refinement, his core abilities – the omniscient Metavision, the defense-shattering Perfect Pass, the untouchable Magical Turn/Heel Flick, the disruptive Arm Swipe, and the explosive Shidou synergy – combine to create a truly dominant force.
- Master the Multiple Move-sets: Learn to rapidly adapt between offensive and defensive modes.
- Prioritize Team Play: Your greatest strength is elevating your teammates, especially through Perfect Pass.
- Utilize Metavision Strategically: The information and mobility advantages are game-changing.
- Perfect the Heel Flick Techs: The header and volley techniques add scoring dimensions to your game.
- Coordinate for Chemical Reactions: The Shidou synergy can break open tight matches.
Mastering Sae is a journey, but the reward is unparalleled influence over the beautiful game. Go forth, conduct the symphony of the field, and show them the view only a genius can provide.
