Garou: Mark of the Wolves/Freeman

Overview

Combos

Matchups

Strategy

Misc.

Introduction

A Criminal in Second South that had a similar look about a fusion of Iori and Benimaru.

Later,in KOF 12 Iori based his new non-flame moveset about him.

Gameplay

Freeman's gameplan is to use his good burst movement and normals to establish pressure with his rekkas and to confirm into his Full Blast super.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Decent far-reaching normals for poking, alongside fast and advantageous normals for pressuring in close range Rekkas are very versatile; used for combos, pressure, defense (guard cancels), and meter building Can convert into his Full Blast super move from a decently far range	Practically no conversions off a hop No invincible reversal A lot of useless or bad special moves, including his break move and counter super Somewhat limited anti-air and air-to-air options

Character Colors

Move List

Frame Data Source: https://w.atwiki.jp/garoumow/pages/28.html and https://w.atwiki.jp/garoumow/pages/75.html

Data Help
Disclaimer: This is meant to teach basic terminology used when describing moves.
Hitbox:	A predefined area (usually a rectangle or rectangles) that tells the game how any given attack can come in contact with a character. Hitboxes are invisible to the player when normally playing.
Hurtbox:	A predefined area (usually a group of rectangles) that tell the game how your character is allowed to get hit by any incoming attack. Specifically, you'll get hit by (or block) an attack if that attack's hitbox ever overlaps your hurtbox.
Throw Box/Range:	Active throw frames and range. Your opponent will be thrown in this field if not in block or hit stun.
Projectile Box:	Hitbox on a projectile attack.
Guard/Counter Box:	The Guard Box or Counter Box. This appears when blocking or using a counter move.
Push Box:	Has no bearing on hit/hurt boxes. Just prevents characters to not pass through each other. (Also known as "Collision Box".)
Startup	The number of frames before an attack can hit the opponent. Does not include the first active frame.
Guard	The way this move must be blocked. High or H or Overhead (especially when from the ground) -- must be blocked standing. High-Low or HL or Mid -- can be blocked either standing or crouching. Low or L -- must be blocked crouching.
Damage	"Basic" damage -- Unmodified damage values "Correct" damage -- Damage values accounting for damage scaling, TOP multiplier, and defense rate
Guard Crush Value	Decreases the defender's guard durability gauge by this value.
+X	Attacker has X number of advantage frames.
-X	Attacker has X number of disadvantage frames.
KD	Short for "knockdown", knocks down opponent on hit.
◯	Cancelable on both hit and block.
∞	Chain cancelable with the same button (renda cancel).
※	Cancelable on the first hit/part only.
《X》OR «X» OR <<X>> OR (X)	X number of inactive frames between hits of multihit moves.
△	Only cancelable on block.
▽	Only cancelable on hit.
× OR X	Not cancelable.

Notes:

• Special/Super moves with "Guard" data in red text are impossible to just defend at 0-pixel health bar.

Standing	Crouching	Dash	Taunt	Jumping	Landing
				37 total frames or 35 for a backwards jump.	Freeman is invincible below the waist when landing from an empty jump.

Close Standing Normals

Close 5A

c.5A

c.5A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	4	Mid	4	4	5	13
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	+6	+6	◯	◯	4
Standing jab. Proxomity normal, so tricky to get in range for but good nonetheless. Last 2F of recovery has full-body invincibility.
c.5A>A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	4, 9	HL	4	4	12	20
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-1	-1	X	X	4, 9
Target combo from cl.5A.
c.5A>A>A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	4, 9, 8	HL	3	3	17	23
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-5	-5	X	X	4, 9, 9
Target combo from cl.5A. Bad damage and you're minus in hit, never do this

Close 5B

c.5B

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
6	Mid	3	4	5	12
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+6	+6	◯ / ∞	◯ / ∞	4
Very fast, advantageous move. Proximity normal, so tricky to get in range for, but useful for pressure and hitconfirms.

Close 5C

c.5C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	Mid	7	3	25	35
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-7	-7	◯	◯	5
Very unsafe, but feint cancelling it makes it very plus and helpful for punishes

Close 5D

c.5D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
6, 6	Mid	4	3, 3	20	30
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-2	-2	※	※	3, 3
Decent proximity normal. Your heavy hitconfirm of choice, as FCing this gives you enough time to link into 2C for optimal punishes. Make sure to cancel before the second hit.

Far Standing Normals

Far 5A

f.5A

f.5A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	5	Mid	4	4	12	20
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-1	-1	◯	◯	4
Average far jab. Decent ground poke, but moreso valuable as a fast anti air, even if mediocre
f.5A>A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	5, 8	Mid	3	3	17	23
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-5	-5	X	X	4, 9
Target combo from f.5A.

Far 5B

f.5B

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
7	Mid	5	4	16	25
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-5	-5	◯	◯	4
Standing poke with speed, cancellable and actually a good hitbox to beat lows. Has a good bunch of recovery and is vrry minus, so be sure to always buffer rekkas, and dont throw this out often

Far 5C

f.5C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
14	Mid	9	3, «2», 4	11	29
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+1	+1	X	X	5
One of Freeman's few anti air options. While it may be a bit slow, its got solid hitboxes and is plus on block, without too much recovery.

Far 5D

f.5D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
14	Mid	8	3	20	31
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-2	-2	X	◯	5

Crouching Normals

2A

2A

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
4	Mid	5	4	6	15
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+5	+5	◯ / ∞	◯ / ∞	4

2B

2B

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
6	Low	4	4	6	14
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+5	+5	◯	◯	4
Your typical crouching B, which means its great for pressure, combos and poking. Doesn't self-chain, but can still link into itself. Combos into rekkas and Full Blast.

2C

2C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	Mid	6	2	15	23
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+4	+4	◯	◯	5
Great normal: very plus on block/hit at +4 (enough for a 2b to be a combo), deals good damage and combos into damaging confirms like Nightmare A. Has decent range and good ground priority.

2D

2D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	Low	10	3	28	41
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
KD	-10	X	X	5

Jumping Normals

jA

j.A

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
6	High	4	10	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	X	X	4
Quick air move with decent hitbox for meeting opponents in the air

jB

j.B

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
6	High	5	9	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	X	X	4
More range but the hurtbox is also extended. Decent quick jump-in and alternative air poke

jC

j.C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	High	9	5	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	X	X	5
Good aggressive air normal, for air-to-ground approaches. Slower, but better hitbox Can beat out upper-body evasion attacks.

jD

j.D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	High	10	6	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	X	X	5

Universal Moves

Lower-body Evasion Attack (5AB)

5A+B
Lower-body evasion attack

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	Overhead	21	3	17	41
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-1	+5	X	X	6
Pretty slow and fairly reactable, ignore this generally.

Upper-body Evasion Attack (2AB)

2A+B
Upper-body evasion attack

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	Mid	8	3	20	31
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-4	+2	◯	X	6
1～6F of upper body invincibility. Last 3F has full-body invincibility.

T.O.P. Attack (CD)

Overkill (T.O.P. Attack)
C+D (T.O.P. Only)

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
17 (base damage)	Mid	16	-	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
KD	-11	-	-	25
Freeman slashes above, from the front to the back. Too slow to serve as an anti air, and ots high guard damage doesnt mean much when its very unsafe on block. You could space it to make it harder to punish but you shouldnt use it for pressure to begin with. Pretty bad TOP move. For what is worth, it's Freeman's best starter on counter hit, putting the opponent on a juggle state afterwards. Meterless, TOP, st.C does more damage than a rekka counterhit starter or Morbid Angel Break (HCF+K), and can even juggle a cr.C into super for a 60%ish combo. The chances of getting this starter are few and far between, but it can be good to punish "filler" blockstrings or to avoid chip scenarios, for example, a Jenet player doing cl.C into Buffrass (QCF+P) or D The Hind Break (QCF+D). Learning what blockstrings you can heavily punish after a JD or just fishing for this in neutral and reacting to the counter hit accordingly can increase your damage tenfold, but even with this, the move remains mediocre.

Throws

Ground Throw

Gorefest
Close 4/6C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
14	-	1	-	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+73	-	-	-	-
Typical throw with no particular characteristics

Feint Cancels

Forward Feint (6AC)

6A+C
Forward Feint

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
-	-	-	-	-	11
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	-	-	-
Mimics the animation of a delayed Full Blast after blackout.

Down Feint (2AC)

2A+C
Down Feint

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
-	-	-	-	-	10
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	-	-	-
Mimics the start of Phobia (and to a less extent Nightmare). Has upper-body invincibility when his body is lowered.

Special Moves

V.O.D. (214P)

V.O.D.
214A/C * 3

A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	8	Mid	9	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	+1	+1	-	-	2
Freeman's rekka series, easily his best special move. He can cancel each part rekka into a followup of whatever strength (For example, Freeman can do 214A > 214A > 214C as a string). Rekkas are often used for pressure and combos, as well as occassionally for poking and meter building in neutral. The first part of Freeman's light rekkas, is +1 on block and starts up rekka offense.
A>A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	8	Low	-	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	0	0	-	-	2
The second hit of Freeman's rekkas. Only 0 on block and with generous cancel timing, its great for pressure and combos. Also Freeman's only low rekka. Can be cancelled into from the rekka starter on whiff as well.
A>A>A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	8	Mid	-	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-24	-	-	3
Third part of Freeman's light rekkas, knocks the opponent far away but is very punishable on block. Mostly used in combos exclusively.
C	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	8	Mid	14	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-5	-5	-	-	3
Freeman's rekka series, easily his best special move. He can cancel each part rekka into a followup of whatever strenght (For example, Freeman can do 214a214a214c as a string). Rekkas are often used for pressure and combos, as well as occassionally for poking and meter building in neutral Slower and more unsafe with no real benefit.
C>C	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	8	Mid	-	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-12	-12	-	-	3
Second hit of Freeman's heavy rekkas. Much more unsafe and not a low. No real benefit, avoid using this.
C>C>C	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	8	Mid	-	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-1	-	-	3
Final hit of Freeman's heavy rekkas. Actually better then the light ender, since it launches opponents into the air for a knockdown, landing closer. Also much more safe, so used to end pressure safely.

Nightmare (236P)

Nightmare
236A/C

A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	17	Mid	18	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-6	-	-	7
Freeman slides back a short distance before dashing with a slash attack. Has 1～12F upper-body invincibility during it's startup, which let it dodge some moves in neutral. Good callout punish and combo tool from heavy normals
C	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	21	Mid	28	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-6	-	-	8
Has 1～20F upper-body invincibility during it's startup, which let it dodge some moves in neutral but now it's way too slow.

Crow (214K)

Crow
214B/D

B	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	9, 9	High	29	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	+1	+1	-	-	4, 4
Leaps to the air to do a slow, overhead attack. The slow startup combined with the low reward makes this move never worth using.
D	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	10, 10	High	41	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	+1	+1	-	-	4, 4

Phobia (623P)

Phobia
623A/C

A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	18	Mid	17	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-9	-9	-	-	7
Anti-air slash, but quite too slow to be reliable, even with upper-body invincibility frames on startup (4～11F). Punishable on ground hit, so awful for ground combos, but knock opponents close if airborne
C	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	22	Mid	20	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-1	-1	-	-	8
More damage and upper-body invincibility frames on startup (4～15F), as well as being safer, but even slower.

Morbid Angel (41236K)

Morbid Angel
41236B/D (Break OK)

B	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	21	-	25	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-	-	-	-
Jumps in the air for a leaping, slow command grab that misses crouchers and fails close to the corner. Pretty shitty move as it's so hard to land and the reward isnt nearly worth. Switches sides
B Break	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	-	-	25	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	+13	-	-	-	-
Probably the worst brake move in the game. The reward is sctually very good but for the aformentioned reasons above you won't be able to rely on landing this move
D	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	21	-	27	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-	-	-	-
D Break	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	-	-	27	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	+13	-	-	-	-

Super Moves

Full Blast (236236P)

Full Blast
236236A/C

A (Can Hold A)	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	33	Mid	11	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-7	-	-	15
1～8F full-body invincibility. Projectile hitbox/hurtbox. Your main super to use in combos, as it adds a good chunk of damage and is very easy to combo into. Surprisingly safe if spaced. When the button is held, startup can be delayed 1～48F max after blackout.
C (Can Hold C)	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	23, 26	Mid	11	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-6	-	-	15×2
1～11F full-body invincibility. Attack guaranteed to go through entire startup and come out. Has a projectile hitbox/hurtbox. One of the better 2 bar supers in this game due to it's respectable damage. More damaging than the above but be aware of the opponent's followup trajectory of used in juggles - it can be inconsistent When the button is held, startup can be delayed 1～48F max after blackout.

Creeping Death (236236K)

Creeping Death
236236B/D

B	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	33	-	7	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-	-	-	-
Freemam's second super series - after a few frames of invulnerability, he advances forward quickly, in a parry stance. Once hit, it guarantees a very damaging punish. Counters highs, mids and lows and is very consistent once triggered, although there's a frame where Freeman is totally defenseless. High-risk high-reward but a bit too slow to really rely on. 1～6F full-body invincibility, 8～39F full-body counter.
D	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	7×5, 25	-	9	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-	-	-	-
1～9F full-body invincibility, 10～36F full-body counter.