The King of Fighters XIII/Daimon

Goro Daimon

In a nutshell

Initially he may be a plain looking character compared to the rest of the KOF cast, Daimon has demonstrated spacial dominance and a frightening mix-ups based around his grappling game. He was a top tier monster in The King of Fighters '98 and he returns as a very competent grappling character. Some fans even regard Daimon's defense/turtling game to be called the "Wall of Goro" with his innate ability to keep out with his quick, long limbs. Up close, his ability to just trap the opponent in the corner is fearsome with his good aerial normals during his hop and his ability to mask tick throw attempts with chunky attack strings. Together with the buffs he received in the console version of The King of Fighters XIII, Daimon is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

Move List

Normal Moves

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Standing Light Punch

kof.lp

30

cancel

Close Light Punch

Close kof.lp

30

chaincancel cancel

Standing Light Kick

kof.lk

40

low cancel

Standing Heavy Punch

kof.sp

80

Close Heavy Punch

Close kof.sp

80

cancel

Standing Heavy Kick

kof.sk

90

Crouching Light Punch

d + kof.lp

25

cancel

Crouching Light Kick

d + kof.lk

30

low

Crouching Heavy Punch

d + kof.sp

80

cancel

Crouching Heavy Kick

d + kof.sk

80

low softknockdown cancel

Blowback Attack

kof.sp + kof.sk

75

softknockdown specialcancel

Jumping Light Punch

Air kof.lp

Jump: 45
Hop: 40

high

Jumping Light Kick

Air kof.lk

Jump: 45
Hop: 40

high

Jumping Heavy Punch

Air kof.sp

Jump: 72
Hop: 70

high

Jumping Heavy Kick

Air kof.sk

Jump: 70
Hop: 68

high

Jumping Blowback Attack

Air kof.sp + kof.sk

Jump: 90
Hop: 80

hardknockdown
counterhit : wallbounce

Unique Attacks

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Zujoubarai

df + kof.sp

60

specialcancel

Throw

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Okuriashiharai

f or b + kof.sp or kof.sk (while close)

100

throw hardknockdown

Special Moves

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Chou Ukemi

qcb + k

0

ex : startupinv specialcancel

Jiraishin

dp + p

kof.lp : 90
kof.sp : 0
ex : 100×2

Pound: low otg softknockdown
ex 1st hit: high
ex 2nd hit: hardknockdown
ex : drivecancel

Chou Oosotogari

dp + k

k : 140
ex : 180

throw hardknockdown startupinv drivecancel

Tenchigaeshi

hcb f + p

p : 30+120
ex : 40+50+100

throw hardknockdown

Kumotsukaminage

hcf + kof.lp

p : 120
ex : 210

hardknockdown drivecancel

Kirikabugaeshi

hcf + kof.sp

80

otg hardknockdown drivecancel

Desperation Moves

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Jigoku-Gokurakuotoshi

hcb hcb + p

p : 20×4+150
ex : 20×8+100+80

throw hardknockdown maxcancel
Super-canceled into: otg

Kyoutendouchi

qcf qcf + kof.lp + kof.sp

500

counter hardknockdown

Console Changes

• Crouching C has faster recovery.
• EX Chou Ukemi (qcb+BD) can be canceled with a special move, so Goro can go straight into a throw from his invincible roll.
• EX Chou Oosotogari (dp+BD) has faster recovery when whiffed.
• Kirikabugaeshi (hcf+C) has faster recovery when whiffed. It does not cause knockback when blocked.
• Kirikabugaeshi (hcf+C) and Kumotsukaminage (hcf+A) can be Drive-canceled.
• Added a Super Cancel version of Jigoku-Gokurakuotoshi (hcb hcb+P).

Strategy

Move Analysis

Normal Moves

• Standing Light Punch () - Daimon's "Stop Sign" returns. This move is one of Daimon's great normal moves to keep hopping opponents out. It may even hit the larger, crouching characters to extend its utility. Of course of all of Daimon's anti-air options, this attack is the quickest and carries the least risk in lieu of higher damage. Still, it makes the opponent second guess when to try to open Daimon up. No easy feat at all.

• Close Light Punch (Close ) - A quick, mid-height punch that chains into itself. A new option to meaty with on okizeme to prevent the opponent from jumping out; but this leaves Goro in a better position to maintain pressure, setup for a tick throw, and hitconfirm into a command throw. It's much better than it was in previous installments.

• Standing Light Kick () - Another classic: this attack is Daimon's best grounded poke to play footsies with the opponent. Although it lacks the range it did in past KOF titles such as King of Fighters 98, it still has about the same speed (start-up and recovery) and hits low from a far enough distance to give other characters trouble trying to poke it back. An interesting property is that Daimon lacks a Close Standing Light Kick now. Meaning, he's able to do his Standing Light Kick from closer distances, could be used in hitconfirms, and be more liberally used to break alternate guard attempts more quickly without committing to Crouching Light Kick that is slower or a Crouching Heavy Kick that has more risk and recovery but less range. This attack still is definitely a terrifying move.

• Standing Heavy Punch () - Daimon's furthest reaching, anti-air, normal move. It doesn't have quite the vertical cover that his other attacks have, this is mainly used against hop attacks and those jumping in from further out. If anything, this is an extended Standing Light Punch with further range and nets higher damage at the expense of having higher risk and recovery speed. Compared to the old games, this move has lost some range as well but it's no move to sleep on because of it.

• Close Heavy Punch (Close ) - Previously, this was Daimon's main meaty attack on okizeme in which Daimon could cancel into (df.C) and hitconfirm into a command throw or a Desperation Move. It more or less hasn't changed and it's still the fast attack it has always been with long active frames. Typically on block, Daimon would be left at neutral advantage so it usually is a safe attack to commit to this attack on okizeme; but with the better Close standing Light Punch, it may not see as much use. On the other hand, this attack would be better for punish and what not with its faster start-up and damage than a Close Standing A hitconfirm combo.

• Standing Heavy Kick () - Look at this bad boy! Although, it too has lost some horizontal range compared to its past iteration as a Far Standing Heavy Kick. This doesn't mean this move is bad, far from it even. It's one of Daimon's greatest anti-air attacks that hits in a nice 45°- 55° angle with his Daimon's feet as his base point. It's fast, has a great hitbox, and takes a good chunk of health out of the opponent with just one button. This along with Close Standing Heavy Punch are great for safe, empty hop/jump option selects and really catches the opponent escaping from a command throw situation.

• Crouching Light Punch ( + ) -

• Crouching Light Kick ( + ) -

• Crouching Heavy Punch ( + ) -

• Crouching Heavy Kick ( + ) -

• Blowback Attack ( + ) -

• Jumping Light Punch (Air ) -

• Jumping Light Kick (Air ) -

• Jumping Heavy Punch (Air ) -

• Jumping Heavy Kick (Air ) -

• Jumping Blowback Attack (Air + ) -

Unique Attacks

• Zujoubarai ( + ) -

Throw

• Okuriashiharai ( or + or [while close]) - Daimon trips the opponent which causes a hard knockdown and keeps the opponent close to Daimon. A safer alternative to Daimon's command grabs which will automatically option selects common throw escape methods.
  • By waiting until the opponent is nearly standing and then super jumping forward with a very late Jumping Light Kick/Heavy Punch, Daimon can cross up the opponent.
  • Sets up for an easy mixup between meaty (safe) jump-in or empty hop command grab mixup.

Special Moves

• Chou Ukemi ( + ) -
  • Chou Ukemi ( + + ) -
• Jiraishin ( + ) -
  • Jiraishin ( + + ) -
• Chou Oosotogari ( + ) -
  • Chou Oosotogari ( + + ) -
• Tenchigaeshi ( + ) -
  • Tenchigaeshi ( + + ) -
• Kumotsukaminage ( + ) -
  • Kumotsukaminage ( + + ) -
• Kirikabugaeshi ( + ) -

Desperation Moves

• Jigoku-Gokurakuotoshi ( + ) -
  • Jigoku-Gokurakuotoshi ( + + ) -
• Kyoutendouchi ( + + ) -

Combos

0% Drive

0 Bar

• cl.A cl.A st.B xx hcb f+P - (215)
• cl.A st.B xx dp+K - (194)
• cl.C df+C xx hcb f+P - (266)
• cl.C df+C xx qcb+B ~ hcb f+P - (266)
• cl.C df+C xx qcb+B ~ hcf+A - (239)
• cr.B, hcb f+P - (166)
• (anti-air + counterhit) df+C xx qcb+B, hcf+A - (183)

1 Bar

• cl.C df+C xx hcb hcb+P - (344)
• cr.B, hcb hcb+P - (248)
• (corner only) hcb f+AC, df+C, df+C, hcf+A - (282)

50% Drive

0 Bar

• (corner only) dp+K (DC) hcf+C - (212)

1 Bar

• cl.C df+C qcb+B xx dp+K (SC) 2xhcb+P

Advanced Strategy

• Keep a photograph of Kano Jigoro in your bedroom.
• Use Kuzushi.