Garou: Mark of the Wolves/Hotaru

Overview

Combos

Matchups

Strategy

Misc.

Introduction

Hotaru is the daughter of a family of martial artists, but is not very fond of violence. She never wants to hurt others, which is the probable reason why her father taught her the lighter side of Chinese kenpo; the Juu-kei style, which suits her easygoing personality. However, after her mother's death, both her father and her older brother were missing from her home. She enters the "King of Fighters: Maximum Mayhem" tournament based on rumors that her brother is there.

Gameplay

Hotaru's Main objective is something.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Very good hit & run play Good air-to-air capabilities Good meter build Has an air throw	Poor damage and conversions off of lows Normals are slightly stubby and have mediocre range Lower defense and guard crush gauge than average

Character Colors

Move List

Frame Data Source: https://w.atwiki.jp/garoumow/pages/23.html and https://w.atwiki.jp/garoumow/pages/78.html

Data Help
Disclaimer: This is meant to teach basic terminology used when describing moves.
HitBox:	A predefined area (usually a group of rectangles or circles) that tell 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 or circles) 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:	Hit box 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 hurt/hit boxes. Just allows characters to not pass through each other. (Also known as "Collision Box".)
Command	the input for the attack.
Start Up	The number of frames that initiate at the beginning of an attack after the input. And when the first hitbox is present. The first active frame is after the last startup 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 modified for damage scaling, TOP multiplier, and defense rate
Guard Crush Value	Decrease your guard durability gauge/meter by that value/s
+	signifies how many advantage frames the attacker has.
-	signifies how many disadvantage frames the attacker has.
KD	means the attack will knock the opponent down.
◯	circle means cancelable on both hit/block.
∞	infinity means chain cancelable with the same button (renda cancel).
※	means cancelable on the first hit/part only.
《 》OR « » OR << >> OR ( )	The numbers in the brackets are the startup frames until the next stage (the gap until the next hit's first active frame).
△	up triangle means only cancelable on block.
▽	down triangle means only cancelable on hit.
× OR X	means not cancelable.

Notes:

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

Close Standing Normals

Close 5A

c.5A

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
4	Mid	3	3	7	13
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+5	+5	◯ / ∞	◯ / ∞	4
Hotaru's fastest close normal, with good advantage on block.

Close 5B

c.5B

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
6	Mid	4	3	11	18
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+1	+1	◯	◯	4

Close 5C

c.5C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
9	Mid	7	1	21	29
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-1	-1	◯	◯	5
In case the Throw fails, a 'cl. C' will come out instead. On hit/guard it can combo (via Cancel). However clC doesn't have vertical hitbox, a neutral jump to escape the tick throw will leave Hotaru vulnerable.

Close 5D

c.5D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
9	Mid	6	1	28	35
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-8	-8	◯	◯	5
Hotaru's close D has a decent vertical hitbox, used as a frametrap it can prevent people from jumping out. Feint cancel it to avoid punishes.

Far Standing Normals

Far 5A

f.5A

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
4	Mid	5	3	10	18
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+2	+2	◯ / ∞	◯ / ∞	4
Unlike most characters, Hotaru's far A is quite weak, it extends her hurtbox a lot. Prefer far B to poke on the ground.

Far 5B

f.5B

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
7	Mid	6	2	11	19
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+2	+2	◯	◯	4
Last 3F of attack's recovery has full-body invincibility. Her best ground poke, with decent speed/distance/hitbox. If it whiffs be ready to anti-air. Cancel it into fireball for a frametrap. Or forward feint cancel it to start an offense once they respect the fireball frametrap.

Far 5C

f.5C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
12	Mid	9	1	19	29
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+1	+1	X	◯	5

Far 5D

f.5D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
13	Mid	11	1	22	34
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-2	-2	X	X	5
Hotaru's far D is too slow to be used efficiently in the neutral game. Since it has a good range, it can be used as a frametrap, for example with 2C xx 6AC(feint) > far D; but the risk/reward is not really worth it.

Crouching Normals

2A

2A

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
4	Mid	4	4	9	17
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+2	+2	◯ / ∞	◯ / ∞	4
When used as meaty it prevents jumps as well as low profile attempts with 2AB.

2B

2B

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
5	Low	4	4	9	17
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
+2	+2	X / ∞	X / ∞	4
Hotaru is known for having no decent BNB starting with lows. Use this to remind your opponent that he has to block low, even if it doesn't deal much. Follow up with a frametrap for example. It can be combo'ed from if it hits meaty enough, with 2B(meaty)>2A xx reflect break fireball ... Keep in mind that, in MOTW, a meaty 2B can be escaped via wake-up jump.

2C

2C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
9	Mid	5	1	25	31
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-5	-5	◯	◯	5
Amazing startup and range, allowing certain punishes from ranges other characters have trouble with. far B xx 6AC > 2C is a frametrap that prevents jumping.

2D

2D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
9	Low	7	3	32	42
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
KD	-14	X	X	5

Jumping Normals

jA

j.A

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
6	High	4	8	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	◯	◯	4
Has long active frames, can target combo with jA>B or jA>C (whiff on crouchers). Can beat out upper-body evasion attacks.

jB

j.B

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
6	High	3	5	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	◯	◯	4
Has the best horizontal reach out of all her air moves, however it doesn't stay active for long. Hop B has a startup of 5F, and is active for 8F.

jC

j.C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
9	High	4	4	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	◯	◯	5
This is what comes out if you miss your air throw. It whiffs on crouching opponent. Hop C has a startup of 6F, and is active for 6F.

jD

j.D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
8	High	5	6	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	◯	◯	5
When used deep enough, it can hit people trying to 2AB anti-air. Can beat out upper-body evasion attacks.

Command Normals

Koushuu Da (j2B)

Koushuu Da (Needle Kick)
j2B

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	High	5	∞	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	X	X	9
Stays active for the full duration of the jump. A very annoying tool (unsafe but hard to punish). Can beat out upper-body evasion attacks. Once Hotaru "step" on her opponent, she jumps again, and she is allowed to perform another air attack (or spin with CD before attacking). However she loses the ability to air JD, making her vulnerable to anti-airs.

Kuuchuu Furi Muki (jCD)

Kuuchuu Furi Muki
jC+D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
-	-	-	-	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	-	-	-
The turn-around jump.

Universal Moves

Lower-body Evasion Attack (5AB)

5A+B
Lower-body evasion attack

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	Overhead	23	4	16	43
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-1	+5	X	X	6
Like about any other AB, way too slow to be efficient. It is +5 on guard so you can blockstring or frametrap for it.

Upper-body Evasion Attack (2AB)

2A+B
Upper-body evasion attack

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
10	Mid	8	3	19	30
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-3	+3	◯	X	6
1～6F upper-body invincibility. Not a very good 2AB, can be used to anti-air people landing not too close in front of you. Can be used to low profile frametraps, or as a frametrap to fish for counterhits since it is positive on guard and cancellable on hit.

T.O.P. Attack (CD)

Senkai En (T.O.P. Attack)
C+D (T.O.P. Only)

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
16 (base damage)	Mid	9	-	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
KD	-24	-	-	25
Very unsafe on block, and leads into no combos from a guard crush. Can be used in counter hit juggle combos in the corner.

Throws

Ground Throw

Ten Raku Tou
Close 4/6C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
14	-	0	-	-	9
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	-	-	-
Hotaru's normal throw. 6C side-switches you, unless the opponent is in the corner. 4C lets you stay on the same side, unless you are in the corner and the back throw puts the opponent in the corner.

Air Throw

Han Ten Tou
Air Close 2C

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
14	-	0	-	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	-	-	-
Hotaru's air throw.

Feints

Forward Feint (6AC)

6A+C
Forward 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 Hakki-shou.

Down Feint (2AC)

2A+C
Down Feint

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
-	-	-	-	-	14
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
-	-	-	-	-
Mimics the start of Sou-shou Shin.

Special Moves

Hakki Shou (236P)

Hakki Shou
236A/C

A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	14	Mid	10	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-5	-5	-	-	7
C	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	16	Mid	10	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	-5	-5	-	-	8
Hotaru has a good fireball game, the startup is good and the speed is not bad either. Just don't throw them from full screen, that's a free JD for your opponent. Like any fireball, a jump in can lead to big punish. However Hotaru has her forward feint that does the same motion as her fireball startup, she can mess with her opponent's reflexes. The C version has more damage so use C for combos.

Soushou Shin (214P)

Soushou Shin
214A/C

A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	3×3, 4, 7	Mid	10	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-11	-	-	1×5
Unsafe on block. If you combo into this you can probably combo into reflect>fireball for more damage; making this a pretty useless move.
C	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	5×4, 7	Mid	18	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-1	-	-	2×5
This one is -1 on block, so it is somewhat safe, since only punishable with 0F Supers if you try to block but there is a trick to escape this punish explained here Being multi-hit, it can prevent random guard cancels on wakeup, but the startup is so slow that good players will react to it with a full JD + GC at the end.

Kobi Kyaku (214K)

Kobi Kyaku
Reflect
214B/D

B	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	15	Mid	13	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-19	-	-	7
B Break	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	15	Mid	13	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	+12	-	-	7
Hotaru's breakable move (always break it). Use the B version whenever you are doing a combo or need the hitbox, because the B version has a greater hitbox. It gives a huge +12 frame advantage on block, allowing to reapply pressure after a blocked reflect. 8～13F projectile reflection.
D	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	15	Mid	13	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-19	-	-	8
D Break	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	15	Mid	13	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	+12	-	-	8
This D version is used to reflect fireballs; it has a shorter hitbox, but a greater reflect box. Great meter building tool, use the D version as it gives slightly more meter than the B version. There is a bug with the reflected fireball, if you input a fireball motion it will lose its hurtbox and goes through the opponent (not a very useful bug). 8～17F projectile reflection.

Rengeki Shuu (j214K)

Rengeki Shuu
Divekick
j214B/D

B	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	8, 8	Mid	10	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	>=-8	-	-	3, 4
D	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	8, 8	Mid	13	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	>=-9	-	-	4, 4
Almost always unsafe on block... Can be used as a nige-tatsu (to run away) via jump CD (spin in the air) > divekick in the opposite direction. Used in optimised corner combos, after reflect break. You can use the tigerknee motion 2149B to perform a divekick low to the ground.

Tenshin Shou (623K)

Tenshin Shou
623B/D

DP

B	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	8, 6	Mid	2	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-12	-	-	2, 2
Can be used as an anti-air but is risky against a full air Just Defend. A much safer but harder version of this anti-air would be a 623 4 B/D motion, timed so that if they hit you will JD and guard cancel with your DP, but if they try to air JD, your DP will hits them at an height low enough where the JD won't proc. 1～4F full-body invincibility, so it can be used as a risky "get off me" tool.
D	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	12, 3×5	Mid	2	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-31	-	-	3×5, 2
Similar to DP B with more hits and a better anti-air hitbox. 1～4F full-body invincibility, so it can be used as a risky "get off me" tool.

Shajou Tai (41236D)

Shajou Tai
Command Grab
41236D

Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
8, 8, 8	-	9	-	-	-
Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
KD	-	-	-	-
Doesn't lead to big damage, but it scores a hard knockdown, allowing for mix-ups. Corner setup showcase : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eycf9BhE0xw

Super Moves

Soushou Tenrenge (236236P)

Soushou Tenrenge
236236A/C

A	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	3×16, 7	Mid	6	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-51	-	-	1×17
Last hit is in the air. 1～8F full-body invincibility.
C	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	3×8, 5×7, 20	Mid (Last hit is High)	6	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-14	-	-	2×15, 5
1～10F full-body invincibility. 2 3 4 5 A Ender C Ender

Tenshou Ranki (236236K)

Tenshou Ranki
236236B/D

B	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	6×3, 25	Mid	0	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-33	-	-	3×3, 0
1～2F full-body invincibility.
D	Damage	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total
	6×3, 3×8, 27	Mid	0	-	-	-
	Hit Adv	Block Adv	Cancel on Hit	Cancel on Block	Guard Crush Value
	KD	-32	-	-	5×4
1F full-body invincibility. 2 3 4 5