Hokuto no Ken/Mr. Heart

Introduction

Mr. Heart is a 'grappler' type character, and he plays similarly to the grappler characters in other ARC games. Specifically, he moves very slowly and has no forward dash. Mr. Heart also has no Boost gauge, but his Banishing Strike still functions identically to other character's in that he is able to do a follow-up wallbounce combo. He is also able to use his Aura to perform a special Guard Cancel that can be followed up with a combo. As you would expect of a grappler character, he has a large amount of grab type moves, including both a grab super move and grab Fatal KO(which is the only FKO in the game that cannot be comboed into). While fairly decent on both the offensive and defensive, his poor maneuverability is what causes Mr. Heart to be considered a weak character. Because of his slow speed Mr. Heart is often unable to get out of disadvantageous situations without taking a risk. That said, he has extremely high potential, and is quite capable of overcoming his bad matchups.

Let's break it down:

Strengths:

• Is able to confirm into kill combos from his unique Guard Cancel (which functions like a Banishing Strike) on almost every character.
• Can gain super armor for free to setup favorable trades.
• Only has a guard bar in the mirror match.
• Doesn't have to manage boost, as he has non.
• Forces your opponent to play in a very different manner, as most conventional tactics will outright lose.

Weaknesses:

• No Boost and slow movement speed means Mr. Heart has trouble going anywhere without taking big risks or fishing for a stray hit.
• Bad matchups against a large amount of the cast, directly related to his inability to move around, some matchups are near unwinnable against a skilled opponent.
• Range is generally quite poor outside of Earthcrush.
• Overhead mostly useless leads to a weak mixup game.
• Because of the lack of Boost, Mr. Heart is overly dependent on Aura both for defense and offense.

Before diving right into the combos be sure to familiarize yourself with Mr. Heart's special/super moves and his unique normals.

Standing

A

One of Mr. Hearts most important anti-air normals, it serves both as combo filler, anti-air and combo starter.

B

Not nearly as good as crouch B, but still occasionally useful. Is used in some combo enders to stuff some extra damage before a Heart's A.
Can combo into Earthcrush.

C

This move should almost never be used. It has an incrediblity long startup time, which is only worth it if you can get the full charge damage wise. It is also neither special or normal cancelable.

D

A launcher that can be chained into from standing A. Is used heavily in combos and as a hit confirm. Not a very good button to press in neutral though.

Crouching

A

A quite fast and good reaching jab. Usually best used in conjuction with crouching B to hit confirm.

B

Mr. Heart's most trusted companion and main poke, this baby not only has alright range, it also combos into Banishing Strike or Earthcrush (depending on range) on hit. Use it often.

C

See Standing C. Also doesn't hit low but launches on charged hit for an Earthcrush style combo. Not worth the risk though.

D

A slow sweep that doesn't hit low and can't be cancelled into anything. Punishable on block and low reward on hit. Try to avoid using this normal.

Air

A

A good air-to-air poke that can be special cancelled into AB air grab.

B

Can occasionally be used as an instant air-dash pressure tool, but is otherwise primarily used to adjust the height in wall bounce combos.

C

Holding this button will make Mr. Heart float in the air, and if he lands without launching the attack, he will gain one hit of super armor that lasts until he gets hit, takes chip damage, or performs another armored move such as 5C or 623C.
In general an alright air button as well just for its range. Hitstuns for a very long time as well.

D

Mr. Heart's crossup tool, also an alright jump-in button, combo extender (in wall bounce combos) and suprisingly often win air-trades.

Other

6A

A medium speed overhead that will knockdown on hit but is not cancelable at all, can be chained into Heart's A on deep corner hit.

Throw

A regular throw that allows for combos when the opponent is thrown into the corner.

BD Throw

A running bear grab that can make for a scary mixup option on non-attentive opponents. Unique to Mr. Heart, this BD throw can grab crouching opponents. Can combo into itself during combos for an infinite

Heavy Strike

A regular Heavy Strike with extremely good range. But like all other Heavy Strikes it's quite risky to go for.

Banishing Strike

One of Mr. Heart's most important moves. Anytime it's possible try to confirm into Banishing Strike as the follow up boost is free. It is also an essential combo starter (just like his Guard Cancel) that can often lead to 50% without meter, or 100% with it.

Special Moves

No Escape

63214A

Mr. Heart vacuums the opponent in, gaining 1 hit of armor. This will pull in the opponent from anywhere, letting you extend wall combos, change their jump arc, pull them in from neutral, etc. Get creative!

Bring it on!

214A -> 6

A special combo starting counter and projectile reflector, Mr. Heart puffs out his chest and sends the opponent away similar to a Banishing Strike. If 6 is held, Mr. Heart will follow the opponent. Cannot counter low attacks, and has a small amount of punishable recovery, making it a bit risky. Takes off 1 star on hit.

If done during blockstun, it functions as a unique Guard Cancel that takes half a bar of Aura, and applies a Banishing Strike effect, allowing for deadly combos. One of your most important tools.

Earthcrush

214B or D

One of your most important moves, Earthcrush functions as Mr. Hearts primary long range tool and Grave Shoot. B version is right in front of Heart, and D version is full screen but has slower startup. Sadly it's hitbox isn't as large as the sprite would make it out to be, but it's still a key part of your neutral and combo game. B version takes 1 star on counter hit, D version takes 1 star on hit and 2 on counter hit.

Earthquake

(Air) 2B

A poor air move with very few uses. Sends out an unblockable shockwave along the ground that knocks down the opponent. Thanks to its long startup and poor recovery, you don't get much out of it even if it does manage to hit. At best, it can be used to stall your momentum on a jump.

Dunk Receive

623A or C

An anti-air grab with extreme range. The A version has quick startup, while the C version has delayed startup, forward movement, and 1 hit of armor. Key part of your defense and combos, leading to an infinite on a few characters. Very strong move. Takes off 1 star on hit.

Kenpou Goroshi

214214A (Uses 1 Bar Aura)

The club super. Completely invincible after the super flash, Mr. Heart sends out 7 spinning clubs, each of which can hit multiple times. About a second after all clubs leave the screen, 3 will fall back down from offscreen, one landing in each corner and one landing midscreen. These falling clubs will hit overhead, and take off 1 star on normal hit and 2 on counter hit. The initial clubs will not take off any stars. If you can force the opponent to block this super point blank, it does an incredible amount of Guard Gauge damage, letting you set up a Guard Break if in the corner.

Heart's A

236236A (Uses 1 Bar Aura)

The #1 command grab. Huge range, catches prejump, will OTG for combo extensions, and can do nearly 50% by itself. Huge use of aura, but if it hits its well worth it. Takes off 1 star on hit.

It hurts!!

Activation

236236C (Uses 1 Bar Aura)

Like Dragon Install, but you've got diabetes.

Itteyo is the most important part of Mr. Heart's combo game, giving him access to a multitude of new options such as a wall jump, full horizontal air control, new special moves, and a constant single hit of armor. Unfortunately, in this state Heart both cannot block and is always running towards the opponent, making using it in neutral basically a death sentence and turning a dropped combo into a horrifying scramble situation, especially when coupled with its long recovery.

Big Hug

236A

Launching command grab. Nothing too special, but can lead to some decent combos, along with being a key part in Typhoon loops.

Meat Cross

(Air) 236B

A wide aerial swing that knocks the opponent to the ground. Useful as part of Typhoon loop enders. Takes 1 star on regular hit, applies a Banishing Strike effect and takes 2 stars on counter hit.

Big Typhoon

(Air) 236C

MAWARI!

By far the best part of Itteyo. As the name implies, Heart becomes a spinning typhoon, bouncing the opponent up and around. Both versions are cancellable into other Itteyo moves, and the grounded version is jump cancellable. Applies a Banishing Strike effect and takes 1 star on counter hit.

Body Throwing

(Air) 236D

Aerial command grab. Relatively large range, and used most often in Typhoon enders. Takes off 1 star on counter hit.

Meat Dunk

(Air) 236E

Another aerial command grab. Has no whiff animation, and can be used as an OTG after jB. Takes off 1 star on hit.

It really hurts!!

236CD (Fatal KO)

FKO command grab, and the only one in the game that cannot be comboed into. Sadly, it has slightly less range than Heart's A and cannot grab prejump, along with a short amount of startup before it goes active. Thankfully, after the super flash appears, the opponent cannot do anything to escape. Best to think of it as an extremely high risk/high reward BD throw.

Basic Combos

High Jump Combos

Since Mr.Heart does not have a Grave Shoot launcer he has to use 214+B (Earthcrush) to start high jump combos. Simply hold up and you'll super jump cancel it on hit. Note that Earthcrush will not launch airborne opponent. While you can cancel into Earthcrush from any lights, cr.B has the most range and is generally the best poke button, it is still worthwhile to simply throw out Earthcrush from mid-range as you will still get the full confirm.

Sidenote: It is not possible to combo from 214+D, but it is still a good poke that can be super jump cancelled and let you approach.

Earthcrush BnB

~214+B > jc > j.A > j.A+B > ((j.A+B) > 236236+A)

5 Hits, 38 damage and alright meter build, but most importantly it puts the opponent full screen and closer to the corner. If you are already at the corner you can hit another j.A+B as your opponent hits the ground against certain characters like Raoh or Shin and follow up with a super grab (236236+A "Heart's A"). Going for the extra air grab is a bit of a risc though, as whiffing it means you cannot hit the super.

Alternate Earthcrush BnB

~214+B > jc > j.C > 5D > (j.C)

Alternate confirm that takes advantage of the jump cancel on 5D to build a hit of armor. In the corner, this can be used for a high/low mixup; early airdash jC to land and then 2B, late airdash jC to hit them overhead and confirm into 2B Earthcrush.

If you have super meter and you're not near the corner, it is possible to do:

Midscreen Heart's A confirm

~214+B > jc > j.C > land > 236236+A ("Heart's A")

As the opponent cannot tech at all if they are hit by j.C.

If you can hit cr.B it is advisable to go for a Banishing Strike combo instead, as they overall deal more damage, though it might not combo at certain ranges.

In short, try and hit Earthcrush (214+B) as much as possible, but keep in mind that the big damage is in Banishing Strike combos.

Banishing Strike Combos

Note that Mr. Heart's 214A Guard Cancel acts as a Banishing Strike, all of these combos can be performed off

Basic Banishing Strike Combo

2B > CD+6 > 5D > j.D > 5D > 623C > 5A(1) > 623A > (214B)

Your basic Banishing Strike confirm. Used from midscreen to the corner, it gives decent damage and takes off 2 stars. The 214B can OTG for extra damage, but you sacrifice positioning.

Basic Metered Banishing Strike Combo

2B > CD+6 > 5D > j.D > 5D > j.D > 5D > 63214A > 236236A

An easy way to cash out meter for big damage. Takes off 2 stars.

Fullscreen Banishing Strike Combo

2B > CD+6 > delay > 5D > 214D > (jC)

Basic fullscreen combo. Sends them to the corner and allows you to set up your super armor. Takes off 2 stars.

Other Basic Combos

214A Counter/Corner Throw Combo

5A > 5D > 623C > 5A(1) > 623A

Same basic ender as your basic Banishing Strike combo.

Metered 214A Counter/Corner Throw Combo

5A > 5D > 214B > jA > jAB > 236236A

Itteyo! Combos

Typhoon Loop Combos

Note that ALL combos in this section are being done on Player 1 side unless specified.

Most Typhoon Loops are very similar, differing mainly in their opener (Depending on screen position) and in their ender (Slight adjustments for a few characters). Mr. Heart effectively has "freestyle" confirms; as long as you can get them bouncing off the wall high enough, you can start and end a Typhoon Loop.

Toki, Juda, Jagi, Souther

2B > CD+6 > 5D > 236236C > 5A(1) > 5D > 236C > j236C(6) > j236B > 5D > {236C > 236A}X8 > 623A > 236C > j236C(4) > j236D > jB > j236E

Standard 1 bar route. Before the 623A ender, you should have about 29-30 hits.

Kenshiro

2B > CD+6 > 5D > 236236C > 5A(1) > 5D > 236C > j236C(6) > j236B > 5D > {236C > 236A}X8 > 623A > 236C > j236C(2) > j236D > jB > j236E > 236C

For Kenshiro, the jump cancel on the ender 236C > j236C requires a slight delay to keep him from bouncing upwards. The final 236C hits OTG.

Mamiya

2B > CD+6 > 5D > 236236C > 5A(1) > 5D > 236C > j236C(6) > j236B > 5D > {236C > 236A}X7 > 623A > 236C > j236C

A rep of 236C > 236A is omitted due to her falling too low to be picked up by 623A.

Corner To Corner Typhoon Loop Combos

Toki, Kenshiro

2B > CD+6 > delay > 5D > sjD > 5D > 236236C > 236C > j236C(6) > j236B > 5D > {236C > 236A}X8 > 623A > 236C > j236C(4) > j236D

Alternate Loops

BD Grab Loops

Basic BD Loop

2B > CD+6 > 5D > 236236C > BDxN

Comedically easy kill combo that works on Rei, Shin, and Raoh. Also works in the corner.

Corner Throw/214A Counter BD Loop

5A > 5D > 236236C > BDxN

623A Loop

On Rei and Jagi, 623A can be looped in the corner. Any corner combo that leads into 623A or 623C can be converted into this loop.

Matchups

Kenshiro

X

Raoh

X

Toki

X

Shin

X

Rei

X

Juda

X

Thouther

X

Jagi

X

Mr. Heart

X

Mamiya

X