Killer Instinct (2013)/Arbiter

Overview Strategy Matchups Resources

Introduction

An Arbiter is is a ceremonial, religious, and political rank bestowed upon Covenant Elites. Thel ‘Vadam was given this rank by the Covenant leadership, the High Prophets, to atone for past failures. Having survived a mission that was meant to be his death, Arbiter learned of the plans of the High Prophets that would doom all sentient life in the galaxy, and subsequently allied himself with humanity, the Covenants enemies, to stop the High Prophets and save the galaxy.

GAMEPLAY

Arbiter is a character made to dominate the midrange with long range normals and specials, in addition to having specific tools taylor made for both close and long ranges to round out his toolkit. These tools let arbiter swap from a midrange gameplan to an effective setup game once he takes the lead, as well as play a hit and run strategy when the opponent is close to death. As a tradeoff for his varied toolkit, Arbiter struggles defensively, lacking a meterless reversal, as well as lacking solid buttons for abare. With all this in mind, Arbiter is able to effeciently bully his opponent and keep his lead going with setups, while unfortunatley needing to gamble a bit more then others may when put on the backfoot.

Character

Strengths

Weaknesses

Resilient: Arbiter has some of the highest effective health in the game due to his rechargeable Energy Shield which, when active, lets him brute force his way through projectiles. Midrange Menace: Arbiter has a multitude of midrange tools at his disposal. From great buttons such as 2/5MP, 5HP, and fast gap closers like 236P and 214PP, Arbiter can dominate at midrange. Useful Unique Resources: Plasma Grenade and Type-51 Carbine give Arbiter great space control, punish opportunities, and set ups after combos. Effortless Corner Carry: Off of anything that leads into Crouching Type-51 Carbine, Arbiter can force the opponent quite the distance with a full 3 shots. In Progress

Fragile Resources: Energy Shield can be depleted almost instantaneously from a few strikes or a throw, as well as plasma grenade being a on a refilling charge system and his Type-51 Carbine having only 18 shots for the entire match. Arbiter must carefully manage his resouces lest he leave himself missing a key tool. Bad on the Back Foot: Lacking a meterless reversal in combination with most of his buttons being too slow for upclose, Arbiter can struggle against characters that have a more pronounced offence then him in terms of range, speed, or pressure. Lackluster Combo Game: Arbiter can have issues reaching the higher levels of his enders which, when combined with lacking a good Shadow Move for damage cash out, can cause combos to not always reach their full potential. Damaging combos will usually require Meter usage or a recapture setup from a Plasma Grenade. Lacking Lows: Arbiter has only one low in 2MK, which on hit causes a soft knockdown and while it leads into 236P, extending the combo any further will require resources. In Progress

Character Data
Forward Walk Speed	68f to cross two large training mode squares
Backwards Walk Speed	78f to cross two large training mode squares
Forward Dash Duration	24f
Backdash Duration	22f
Pre-Jump Frames	5f
Jump Duration	38f
Landing Recovery	4f
Advantage Post Grounded Combo Breaker	+4

Normal Moves

Standing Moves

Standing Light Punch
Stand LP/5LP

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
8 (2%)	12 (3%)	--	1.6	2.4	Mid	6	2	9	16f	+2	+5	0	Chain
To Do

Standing Medium Punch
Stand MP/5MP

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
18 (5%)	22 (6%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	11	3	18	31f	+4	+7	0	-
To Do

Standing Heavy Punch
Stand HP/5HP

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
28 (7%)	32 (8%)	--	4	4.5	Mid	15	4	17	35f	+4	+8	+4	-
To Do

Standing Light Kick
Stand LK/5LK

(Slayer)

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
10 (2%)	14 (3%)	--	1.6	2.4	Mid	5	4	16	24f	0	+2	-1	Flipout
To Do

Standing Medium Kick
Stand MK/5MK

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
18 (5%)	22 (6%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	9	3	20	31f	+2	+7	0	-
To Do

Standing Heavy Kick
Stand HK/5HK

(Fire Weapon [Standing])

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
28 (7%)	28 (7%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	12	--	41	53f	-12	-12	-22	-
2 bullet combo damage is 37.4 (10%) / 3.1 PD. 3 bullet combo damage is 46 (12%) / 6 PD.

Crouching Moves

Crouching Light Punch
Crouch LP/2LP

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
8 (2%)	12 (3%)	--	1.6	2.4	Mid	6	2	7	13f	+2	+10	0	Chain
To Do

Crouching Medium Punch
Crouch MP / 2MP

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
18 (5%)	22 (6%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	12	3	18	32f	+1	+4	-1	-
To Do

Crouching Heavy Punch
Crouch HP / 2HP

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
28 (7%)	32 (8%)	--	4	4.5	Mid	14	4	17	34f	-3	+1	-3	-
To Do

Crouching Light Kick
Crouch LK / 2LK

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
12 (3%)	16 (4%)	--	1.6	2.4	Mid	7	2	10	18f	+3	+13	+1	-

Crouching Medium Kick
Crouch MK / 2MK

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
24 (6%)	30 (8%)	--	2.4	4	Low	9	3	25	36f	+19	+19	-1	Soft Knockdown
Arbiter's sole low.

Crouching Heavy Kick
Crouch HK / 2HK

(Fire Weapon [Crouching]

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
28 (7%)	28 (7%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	12	--	42	54f	-13	-13	-23	-
To Do

Air Normals

Air Light Punch
Jump LP / 8LP

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
16 (4%)	20 (5%)	--	1.6	2.4	High	7	6	4	16+f	+15	+17	+8	-
To Do

Air Medium Punch
Jump MP / 8MP

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
20 (5%)	24 (6%)	--	2.4	4	High	9	4	4	16+f	+16	+19	+12	-
To Do

Air Heavy Punch
Jump HP / 8HP

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
28 (7%)	32 (8%)	--	4	4.5	High	11	7	4	21+f	+20	+24	+17	-
To Do

Air Light Kick
Jump LK / 8LK

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
16 (4%)	20 (5%)	--	1.6	2.4	High	8	8	4	19+f	+15	+17	+8	-
To Do

Air Medium Kick
Jump MK / 8MK

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
20 (5%)	24 (6%)	--	2.4	4	High	11	10	4	24+f	+16	+19	+12	Crossup
To Do

Air Heavy Kick
Jump HK / 8HK

(Fire Weapon [Jumping])

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
28 (7%)	28 (7%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	7	--	4	11+f	+25	+25	+15	-
To Do

Command Normals

Cloven Kick
6MK

Test Caption

Forward+MK / 6MK

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
36 (10%)	42 (11%)	--	??	??	Mid	19	4	26	48f	-2 / +15	+5 / +15	-14	Wall Splat
To Do

Interrogator
Forward+HK / 6HK

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
22 (6%)	28 (7%)	--	4	4.5	High	17	2	25	43	+1	+3	-3	-
To Do

Particular Justice
Down-Forward+HK / 3HK

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
22 (6%)	28 (7%)	--	4	4.5	Mid	13	6	12	30	+12	+17	+6	-
To Do

No Regret
Jump > Forward +HK / J 6HK

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
28 (7%)	28 (7%)	--	??	??	High	14	7	4	24+f	+25	+29	+14	-
To Do

Plasma Grenade
LMHP

"Cleansing Flame!"

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
16 (4%)	16 (4%)	--	??	??	Mid	13	--	22	35f	+68	+68	+26	Stagger, Recapture
To Do

Self-Detonating Grenade
Crouch LMHP / 2 LMHP

--

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
32 (8%)	32 (8%)	--	??	??	Mid	13	1	59	35f	+68	+68	-42	Invul 1-9f, Stagger
Block advantage with shield up is +15.

Throws

Throw
5LP+LK / 4LP+LK

Test Caption

Version	Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
0 shots	31.5 (8%)	31.5 (8%)	--	??	??	Throw	5	2	29	35f	+75	+75	--	Hard Knockdown
A bit of a stubby grab but the Carbine / Grenade followups are quite powerful.
Version	Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
1 shot	40.9 (11%)	40.9 (11%)	3.1 (0.8%)	??	??	Throw	5	2	29	35f	+30	+30	--	Soft Knockdown
You should probably only spend 1 bullet if it will kill. Press HK at any time on hit to buffer a bullet.
Version	Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
2 shots	50.4 (14%)	50.4 (14%)	6.3 (1.7%)	??	??	Throw	5	2	29	35f	+53	+53	--	Hard Knockdown
The sweetspot of more damage, a hard knockdown, and not spending too many bullets.
Version	Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
3 shots	59.8 (16%)	59.8 (16%)	9.4 (2.6%)	??	??	Throw	5	2	29	35f	+54	+54	--	Hard Knockdown
The most damaging normal throw in KI, if you spend the resources. You should probably only spend 3 bullets if they will kill.
Version	Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
Grenade	31.5 (8%)	31.5 (8%)	--	??	??	Throw	5	2	29	35f	+28	+28	--	Soft Knockdown
Trades HKD and damage to sticky the opponent with a grenade guaranteed.