The King of Fighters XIII/Robert

Robert Garcia

In a nutshell

Robert's a rich playboy that studied Kyokugen Karate with his best friend and sparring partner, Ryo. Sound familiar? Robert's equipped with a full 'shoto' style arsenal of tools which allow him to play a strong fireball and anti-air (even Street Fighteresque) game much like Andy. Make no mistake though, as Robert can be an offensive monster. He has an instant command grab for opening up the opponent which works in conjunction with his capable normals, and his command normals have unique properties. Robert's combos may not be as initially overwhelming as Andy's, but Robert has more tools for breaking down an opponent's defenses as his nickname of "The Mightiest Tiger" would imply.

Move List

Normal Moves

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Standing Light Punch

kof.lp

25

chaincancel cancel

Standing Light Kick

kof.lk

30

cancel

Standing Heavy Punch

kof.sp

80

cancel

Close Heavy Punch

kof.sp

70

cancel

Standing Heavy Kick

kof.sk

70

Close Heavy Kick

kof.sk

80

cancel

Crouching Light Punch

d + kof.lp

25

chaincancel cancel

Crouching Light Kick

d + kof.lk

30

low chaincancel specialcancel

Crouching Heavy Punch

d + kof.sp

70

1st hitbox: 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 specialcancel

Jumping Light Kick

Air kof.lk

Jump: 45
Hop: 40

high

Jumping Heavy Punch

Air kof.sp

Jump: 72
Hop: 70

high specialcancel

Jumping Heavy Kick

Air kof.sk

Jump: 70
Hop: 68

high

Jumping Blowback Attack

Air kof.sp + kof.sk

Jump: 90
Hop: 80

softknockdown specialcancel

Unique Attacks

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Upper

f + kof.lp

25×2

Cancelable into Low Kick (when not canceled from Low Kick; regardless of hit/whiff)
1st hit: specialcancel
Standalone: softknockdown

Low Kick

f + kof.lk

45

low specialcancel Cancelable into Upper (when not canceled from Upper; regardless of hit/whiff)

Ushirogeri

kof.lk + kof.sk

55

aironly

Triangle Jump (Ushirogeri)

kof.lk + kof.sk near wall

aironly (back jump)

Throw

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Kubikiri Nage

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

100

throw hardknockdown

Special Moves

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Ryuugekiken

qcf + p

p : 65
ex : 60+70

supercancel
ex : softknockdown

Ryuuga

dp + p

kof.lp : 70
kof.lp (aerial): 45
kof.sp : 75+45
ex : 100+70

softknockdown drivecancel

Hien Shippuukyaku

db (charge) f + k

kof.lk : 70
kof.sk : 60×2
ex : 70+80

softknockdown
kof.sk : drivecancel

Hien Ryuujinkyaku

qcb + k

k : 60
ex : 120

aironly softknockdown drivecancel

Gen'eikyaku

f b f + k

k : 0×2+10×13+135
ex : 0×2+15×19+155

hardknockdown drivecancel

Ryuuren: Gen'eikyaku

hcf + k

k : 10×3+130
ex : 10×6+80

throw hardknockdown

Desperation Moves

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Ryuuko Ranbu

qcf hcb + p

p : 0+10×13+30+60
ex : ???

softknockdown maxcancel

Haou Shoukouken

f hcf + p

200

softknockdown

Hien Shippuu Ryuujinkyaku

qcf hcb + kof.lk + kof.sk

0×28+450(125)

airok hardknockdown

Console Changes

• Standing CD has faster startup.
• Upper (f+A) done by itself causes a knockdown and launches the opponent upwards.
• Light Hien Shippuukyaku (db~f+B) has faster startup, such that it can be comboed from light attacks.
• EX Gen'eikyaku (f b f+BD) has faster recovery. In the corner, you can follow up without using a Drive stock.
• EX Ryuuko Ranbu (qcf hcb+AC) has slower recovery on block.
• EX Ryuuko Ranbu (qcf hcb+AC) has had the damage for each of its hits adjusted (previously 0+10×10+8×18+10+50). By itself, the move does the same damage, but its damage in combos has been buffed. The finishing hit now does 100 damage by itself.
• Haoh Shoukouken (f hcf+P) has faster startup and can combo from heavy attacks.
• Hien Shippuu Ryuujinkyaku (qcf hcb+BD) causes a hard knockdown instead of a soft knockdown.

Strategy

Move Analysis

• Standing Light Punch () - Quick jab, good for anti-airing hops or as a quick whiff to bait a reaction. Whiffs against crouching characters.

• Standing Light Kick () - Controls the low hop space similarly to Benimaru's Standing Light Kick. Reaches much further into the air than Standing Light Punch, making this a good hop anti-air. This attack wont hit crouchers, but it recovers fast enough to make whiff punishes somewhat difficult.

• Standing Heavy Punch () - Doesn't reach quite as far as other Standing Heavy Punches, and this one can't hit crouching players. Still functions as a preventive anti-air, though this is easily punished if crouched under.

• Close Heavy Punch (Close ) - Strong meaty and Robert's fastest combo starting option. Easily cancels into his command normals which can then be hit confirmed before deciding which special to cancel into.

• Standing Heavy Kick () - Although Robert's foot is angled high, this kick will hit crouchers. This has a huge vertical that can easily anti-air, especially preemptively from close ranges. The horizontal reach is not as long which leaves Robert open to sweeps and long pokes if whiffed, though the kick has decent recovery.

• Close Heavy Kick (Close ) - Sheer vertical kick that hits twice, but starts slower than Close Heavy Punch; so while it can be confirmed easy, it's not too important as Robert already as his command normals for hitconfirming. A strength of this attack is that the vertical hitbox can be used to anti-air opponents by running under or from a delayed setup to stop an attempt to jump out of a command grab setup.

• Crouching Light Punch ( + ) - Cancelable low jab that is overshadowed by his cancelable Crouching Light Kick.

• Crouching Light Kick ( + ) - Chains into itself can can be canceled into specials. Strong tool in conjuncton with his Ryuuren: Gen'eikyaku ( + ) command grab for offensive pressure, although Robert can't easily convert a hit into big damage.

• Crouching Heavy Punch ( + ) - Crouching uppercut that works as a vertical anti-air and a close frametrap option due to its cancelability. Anti-airs most successfully when deeper into the opponent, where Robert's fist reaches behind the opponent's active hitbox. The startup speed is slower than Close Heavy Punch and can be substituted to create a larger gap in a blockstring to bait an action.

• Crouching Heavy Kick ( + ) - Long sweep that can cancel into Ryuugekiken ([File:qcf.gif]] + ) as a blockstring; whiff canceling the sweep can potentially anti-air if the opponent hops over a sweep, and by mixing up between canceled and uncanceled sweeps the opponent must guess a guard cancel roll to punish the simple 2-in-1.
  • Possibly better as an anti-air since a Crouching Light Kick is difficult to transfer into a combo, and Crouching Heavy Kick has a longer reach.

• Blowback Attack ( + ) - A big, horizontal boot that cancels into specials. The hitbox is large and can work as an anti-air, meaty, or blockstring tool; when a wall of hitbox is needed, this attack provides it.

• Jumping Light Punch (Air ) - Cancelable downward punch that's mainly overshadowed by Jumping Heavy Kick/Punch.

• Jumping Light Kick (Air ) - A Ryu-like downward kick that resembles Robert's old divekick. This attack starts fast and has a decent window of active frames, though it doesn't deal much hitstun. Works as a jump-in or quick air-to-air in certain situations.
• Can cross up.

• Jumping Heavy Punch (Air ) - Close, deep vertical punch. Robert's best air-to-ground approach against a close opponent or when attempting to hit a low to ground opponent. Causes heavy hitstun and is also cancelable into aerial specials and DMs.

• Jumping Heavy Kick (Air ) - Long horizontal kick with a strong vertical hitbox; a very good tool for approaching another player or for when zoning in the air. Difficult to anti-air when spaced from maximum range, and deals heavy hitstun. Good choice as a ground-to-air attack until the opponent is close, at which point Jumping Heavy Punch becomes a better option.
  • Works as a cross up.

• Jumping Blowback Attack (Air + ) - Traditional flying karate kick with a strong horizontal reach; this makes Robert's Jumping Blowback Attack a slow but strong air-to-air for challenging the opponent. Confirmable on Counterhit into a followup.
  • Cancelable into aerial specials/DMs.

Unique Attacks

• Upper ( + ) - Command uppercut that can hit twice, but is only cancelable on the first hit. The second hit will whiff on crouching opponents and is only useful in Hyperdrive Mode where it can be canceled.
  • The first hit can be canceled into specials, DMs, and Robert's Low Kick ( + ). Robert effectively has an easy-to-confirm combo chain off of a Close Heavy Punch. Works best directly off of a Close C canceled into Low Kick into Upper.
  • This can also anti-air although the laggy startup limits its use primarily to anti-airing jumps, not hops.
• Low Kick ( + ) - A low shin kick that actually hits low. Cancels into specials and Upper ( + ) and combos from Heavy normals.
  • Moves Robert forward, which helps to make Upper ( + ) not whiff. Starting a combo as cl.C f.B f.A is the most consistent combo chain for Robert.
• Ushirogeri (+ ) - Functions just like Iori's Gaishiki: Yuriori (Jumping + as a crossup attack, only Robert's input is simpler. Must be done low to the ground to hit crouching players.
  • Does not hit high; can be crouch blocked.
• Triangle Jump (Ushirogeri) (Near edge of screen, + ) - Robert jumps forward off of a wall. Can be used as a corner escape method or as a crazy setup into a Ushirogeri crossup attempt.

Throw

• Kubikiri Nage ( or + or [while close]) -

Special Moves

• Ryuugekiken ( + ) - Fullscreen fireball, much like a standard Hadouken. version travels slower and has better recovery and the version travels faster while leaving the player with more recovery. A solid zoning tool for controlling the short hop space and the ground, as well as a potential anti-air. Safe as a frametrap ender unless the opponent performs a guard cancel roll.
  • This is a non-grounded projectile meaning certain slides, attacks, and DMs can be used to pass underneath of the projectile.
  • Ryuugekiken ( + + ) - Travels faster and causes a soft knockdown; nullifies normal projectiles and will cancel out against other EX projectiles. Nice tool for projectile wars or to catch the opponent off guard with its speed.
• Ryuuga ( + ) - The token rising vertical uppercut. The weak version is stays low to the ground but has a smaller hitbox as opposed the two twice-hitting strong version which moves Robert higher into the air while being more invulnerable on startup.
  • The version functions as a simple combo ender that can be Drive Canceled for combo extensions. The horizontal hitbox is also larger on the ground.
  • Ryuuga ( + + ) - A faster and more invulnerable Ryuuga uppercut.
• Hien Shippuukyaku ( (charge), + ) - Robert travels half-screen with a flying kick that causes a knockdown on hit or bounces him backward on block. The kick recovers faster on block and can be difficult to punish, but it cannot be Drive Canceled. The strong version behaves oppositely, being less safe but more damaging with Drive Cancel possibilities.
  • Hien Shippuukyaku ( (charge), + + ) - Launches the opponent on hit, but heavily punishable on block by a Close normal.
• Hien Ryuujinkyaku (air + ) - Robert's divekick is more punishable than in previous games as he no longer bounces off the opponent on block, instead landing in front of the player with a frame disadvantage. While not as abusable, Robert still has a way to alter his aerial trajectory on command. Still, this is an important tool for its use in Drive Cancel combos as it leaves the opponent in a hittable state afterward.
  • Hien Ryuujinkyaku (air + + ) - Hits multiple times which allows for greater followup times on hit. The normal divekick can be Drived Canceled into its EX version to allow Robert to touch down and follow up further, plus the cancel will only come out on hit if buffered.
• Gen'eikyaku ( + ) - Multi-hitting kick ranbu that sucks the opponent in on hit. Somewhat slow to start up, but this is mainly a combo tool as whiffing the attack leaves the player incredibly vulnerable. Drive Cancelable into followups or simply causes a hard knockdown afterward.
  • Gen'eikyaku ( + + ) - Deals a heftier amount of damage than the standard version.
• Ryuuren: Gen'eikyaku (+ ) - Although this move is typically a proximity unblockable, in KOFXIII it behaves as an instant command grab. This can be linked from a Crouching Light Kick on hit or comboed into from close ranges. Overall, a great tool on the offensive that increases the way Robert can break down the opponent's defense. Like most command grabs, it can be punished by a neutral hop for a full combo if baited.
  • This is also a great defensive option for punishing a variety of moves that are safe against most counterattacks and can even function as a reversal.
  • Ryuuren: Gen'eikyaku ( + + ) - Has an extended range which allows it to connect from Robert's command chain series plus it launches the opponent directly upward on hit for a follow-through.

Desperation Moves

• Ryuuko Ranbu ( + ) - A standard Kyokugen ranbu DM. Decent combo finisher, but not very damaging.
  • Ryuuko Ranbu ( + + ) - High-damaging ranbu that ends with a flying kick that deals unscaled damage. Great for finishing combos.
• Haou Shoukouken ( + ) - Fullscreen projectile DM. Another tool for projectile wars, though not too effective as a combo tool. The projectile can be difficult to jump over so it can be used to cover the screen, though the projectile deals minimal chip damage and can possibly be punished by a roll or invulnerable attack.
• Hien Shippuu Ryuujinkyaku ( + + ) - Robert jumps backward during the superflash and does a divekick that will ride the opponent into the ground. Robert's most damaging finisher inside combos. The attack travels very fast and can be used from the air so it can be used as an abare tool, and the recovery on block is surprisingly neutral.

Combos

0% Drive

0 meter

• cr.B B B > db~f+B

• cl.C f.B f.A(1) > dp+A / dp+C / f,b,f+K
  • dp+A give a long soft knockdown, dp+C does the most damage, and f,b,f+K gives a hard knockdown that sends them flying across the screen.

• cl.C f.B > hcf+P
• cl.D(1) f.B f.A > hcf+P
  • Most damaging meterless combo, also gives hard knockdown and sends them flying across the screen.

• (corner) f.A > qcf+P > dp+C
  • Midscreen just combo into dp+C

• (corner) deep j.qcb+K > dp+A

1 meter

• cl.C f.B f.A(1) > qcf,hcb+P

• (corner) hcf+BD > qcf+A > dp+A > dp+A
  • Comboing into this does less damage than super, but the combo itself gains about 50% meter and 25% drive if done from a full chain of normals.

• (corner) f.A > j.qcb+KK > qcf+A > dp+C

2 meter

• cl.C f.B f.A(1) qcf,hcb+PP

50% Drive

0 meter

• (in or near corner) cl.C f.B f.A(1) > dp+C (DC) qcb+D > qcf+P > dp+C
  • You can still do most of this combo midscreen for some decent corner carry if you drop the dp+C at the end.

1 meter

• (~30-45% screen from corner) cl.C f.B f.A(1) > dp+A (DC) qcf+P > db~f+KK > (optional) qcf+P > dp+C

• (corner) cr.B B B > db~f+B (DC) qcb+KK > qcf+P > dp+C

100% Drive

2 meter

• cl.C f.B HD cl.D(2) f.B > dp+C(2) xx qcf,hcb+KK (619 dmg)
  • Not bad despite not being a loop or anything since Roberts neomax carries to the corner and damage is pretty good from all the normals. Even though the game is still slowed down, you can move as soon as Robert touches the floor.

3 meter

• cl.C f.B HD cl.D(2) f.B > dp+C(1) xx qcf,hcb+P xx qcf,hcb+KK (783 dmg)
  • The ranbu super was basically made for MAX canceling, there's a huge amount of hitstop on the uppercut where you can input the neomax.

Advanced Strategy

• Don't get hit by a ranbu.