Killer Instinct (2013)/Spinal

Overview Strategy Matchups Resources

Introduction

Spinal was once a human (duh), a bandit in ancient Babylon. Caught by the King while disrupting the city's supply lines, Spinal's flesh was burned off and his soul locked to the Mask of the Ancients as punishment. In the modern day, Spinal takes up the life of a pirate as he searches endlessly for the Mask, eventually becoming a pawn of Ultratech in the process.

Spinal PLACEHOLDER GAMEPLAY OVERVIEW

Character

Strengths

Weaknesses

Resource Denial: With his Searing Skull projectile, Spinal can stem the flow of shadow for his opponent, and even take away an entire Instinct. Anti-Zoning: Hate spamming? Power Devour forces opponents to come to you, and Heavy Skeleport completely bypasses their zoning wall. Potent rushdown: Spinal is able to keep himself at frame advantage almost constantly thanks to run cancels and M Searing Skull, allowing him to run a barrage of frame traps and mixups. This is further bolstered by his ability to turn the match into a bullet hell while he's in instinct. Vortex McGee: Thanks to skull setups, Spinal has simple and effective okizeme, especially off back throw and the 2MK HKD bug. Through these setups, Spinal gets access to dirty left/right and overhead/low mixups which can put the opponent back into the blender. The Cackle: Spinal lets out a hearty "Ya Ha Haa" with every run, teleport, and taunt. In Progress

Starts out every match at a disadvantage: Spinal needs skulls in order to access his potent rushdown and setplay that make his vortex so strong. Unfortunately, he starts every match at his weakest: with NO SKULLS. Horrible Anti-Airs: Spinal's anti-airs are stubby, awkward, and unreliable. This makes any matchup against characters with strong air mobility very difficult for him. In Progress

Character Data
Forward Walk Speed	65f to cross two large training mode squares Run speed: 22f to cross two large training mode squares
Backwards Walk Speed	97f to cross two large training mode squares
Forward Dash Duration	Has a forward run Cancellable into attacks after 12f
Backdash Duration	24f
Pre-Jump Frames	5f
Jump Duration	37f
Landing Recovery	4f
Advantage Post Grounded Combo Breaker	+1

Universal Mechanics

Instinct

Agent of Chaos: Spinal gets 3 skulls upfront and earns extra skulls off throws, Cr. HP, and Spectral Manuals. Searing Skulls bounce off walls, floors, and blocks. Spinal can recycle these bouncing Skulls with Power Devour. All of Spinal's specials have increased advantage.

Combat Traits

Spectral Manuals: Spinal can follow up any auto-double with a manual of the same strength. These manuals give Spinal a bonus skull and add a fair bit of Potential Damage.

Normal Moves

Far Normals

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	5	2	8	14f	+4	+6	+1	Chain
To Do

Far 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
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	8	3	15	25f	+2	+5	-1	--
To Do

Far 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
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4	4.5	Mid	12	5	14	30f	-2	+2	-6	--
To Do

Standing Light Kick
Stand LK/5LK

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	3	11	20f	+5	+7	+2	--
To Do

Far 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
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	8	4	17	28f	+3	+6	0	--
To Do

Far Heavy Kick
Stand HK/5HK

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
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4	4.5	Mid	11	6	19	35f	-1	+3	-5	Stagger
To Do

Crouching Normals

Crouching 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	5	2	9	15f	+4	+6	+1	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
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	7	3	15	24f	+1	-3	+4	--
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
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4	4.5	Mid	10	4	16	29f	-3	+1	-6	Earns Skull
Spinal's primary anti-air with the best reward on hit (1 skull). Cancel into Shadow Searing Skull for guaranteed Instinct lock; make them really suffer for their poor jump-in!

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
8(2%)	12(3%)	--	1.6	2.4	Low	5	2	10	16f	+2	+4	0	--
To Do

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
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4	4	Low	9	2	25	35f	-5	-2	-8	--
To Do

Crouching Heavy Kick
Crouch HK/5HK

(Slide Kick)

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
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4	4.5	Low	11	10	24	47f	+5	+9	-15	Opener
Spinal slides a short distance forward. This is an opener that goes directly into autos and linkers (and ultras). Death on block, but can be cancelled into any shadow move.

Close Normals

Close 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
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	7	3	10	19f	+3	+6	+1	--
To Do

Close 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
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4	4.5	Mid	9	3	17	28f	-1	+3	-4	--
To Do

Close 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
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	7	4	11	21f	+2	+5	-1	--
To Do

Close Heavy Kick
Stand HK/5HK

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
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4	4.5	Mid	9	4	12	24f	+2	+6	-2	--
To Do

Command Normals

Power Devour
Back LP/4LP

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
--	--	--	--	--	--	6	While button is held	11	16+f	--	--	--	Earns Skulls
On contact, converts all specials, shadow moves, and projectile attacks (like Riptor's flame breath) into skulls. Loses to strikes and throws. Absorbed attacks act as if they whiffed while still doing hitstop, letting Spinal prepare a huge punish on reaction.

Shield Crush
Back HP/4HP

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
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4	4.5	High	18	2	27	16+f	-3	+1	-7	Overhead
Spinal drops his shield on your dome in this rather fast overhead. Run-cancelable.

Air Normals

Jumping 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
20(5%)	24(6%)	--	1.6	2.4	High	7	10	4	20+f	+15	+17	+8	--
To Do

Jumping 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
24(6%)	30(8%)	--	2.4	4	High	8	6	4	17+f	+16	+19	+12	--
To Do

Jumping 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
26(8%)	32(10%)	--	4	4.5	High	12	3	4	18+f	+20	+24	+17	--
To Do

Jumping 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
20(5%)	24(6%)	--	1.6	2.4	High	8	13	4	24+f	+15	+17	+8	--
To Do

Jumping 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
24(6%)	30(8%)	--	2.4	4	Mid	10	Until landing	11	20+f	+12	+22	+3	Ground bounce vs. airborne
Spinal's divekick. Not an overhead, and unsafe if performed high.

Jumping Heavy Kick
Jump HK/8HK

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
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4	4.5	High	11	12	4	26+f	+20	+24	+17	--
To Do

Throws

Throw
5LPLK/4LPLK

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
40.0 (11%)	-	-	-	-	-	5	2	28	34f	+39/+67	-	-	Hard Knockdown, Earns Skull
To Do

Special Moves

Values after the slash are during Instinct.

Searing Skull
QCF+P/236P

[[File:

|175x250px|center|class=move-image]] 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
No Skulls	24(6%)	24(6%)	--	??	??	Mid	15	2	25	41f	+24	+24	-5/-3	Earns Skull, Soft Knockdown
All strengths of the skull-less version act the same. A hit-confirmable way to get a skull.
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
LP	28(7%)	28(7%)	--	??	??	Low	16	--	25	41f	+8	+8	-5/-3	Shadow Curse
At point-blank and during Instinct, this low skull will ricochet inside the opponent 3 times, which is +37 on block.
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
MP	28(7%)	28(7%)	--	??	??	Mid	15	--	23	38f	+8	+8	+3/+5	Shadow Curse
To Do
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
HP	28(7%)	28(7%)	--	??	??	High	25	--	28	53f	--	--	--	Shadow Curse
A skull falls down at the opponent's position, No hitbox on the way up.

Soul Sword
QCB+P/214P

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
LP	24(6%)	36(10%)	--	??	??	Mid	8	3	29	39f	+3/+5	+4/+6	-2/0	High Invul 1-3f
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
MP	32(8%)	44(12%)	--	??	??	Mid	9	3	29	40f	+4/+6	+5/+7	-1/+1	High Invul 1-5f
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
HP	40(11%)	52(14%)	--	??	??	Mid	10	3	29	41f	+24	+26	0/+2	--
Flings the opponent away. Good damage but can't start a juggle without an Instinct cancel.
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
Skull HP	32.1(8%)	32.1(8%)	2.7(0.7%)	??	??	Mid	10	3[15]3	18	48f	+44	+44	+3/+5	High Invul 1-8f, Launcher
Jugglable for 14 frames. Another way to spend a skull for big frame advantage.

Boneshaker
QCF+K/236K

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
LK	20(5%)	32(8%)	--	??	??	Mid	8	9	24	40f	+4/+6	+10/+12	-2/0	--
To Do
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
MK	24(6%)	36(10%)	--	??	??	Mid	9	9	23	40f	+3/+5	+9/+11	-3/-1	--
To Do
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
HK	30(8%)	42(11%)	--	??	??	Mid	10	8	23	40f	+1/+3	+7/+9	-5/-3	--
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
Skull HK	30(8%)	42(11%)	--	??	??	Mid	10	8	23	40f	+4/+6	+10/+12	-2/0	Projectile invul 1-40f
As if Spinal didn't have enough anti-zoning tools, now he's got a meter-free ram attack that's immune to projectiles through recovery!

Skeleport
QCB+K/214K

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
LK	--	--	--	--	--	--	9	12	19	39f	--	--	--	Strike/Proj Invul 1-8f, Full Invul 9-20f
Appears a little bit away from the opponent. Beats jab-mashing.
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
MK	--	--	--	--	--	--	9	12	19	39f	--	--	--	Strike/Proj Invul 1-8f, Full Invul 9-20f
Appears right in front of the opponent.
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
HK	--	--	--	--	--	--	9	12	19	39f	--	--	--	Strike/Proj Invul 1-8f, Full Invul 9-20f
Appears right behind the opponent. For one skull, Spinal can cancel the recovery into any special move, including another Skeleport.

Shadow Moves

Shadow Searing Skull
QCF+PP/236PP

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
S	13.2 (3%)	13.2 (3%)	2.4 (0.6%)	0	0	Mid	5+2 (7)	--	31	37f	+14	+14	-2	Instinct Curse
Spinal launches a golden skull to tickle the opponent and stop them from gaining Instinct. 30 second curse duration if Spinal is not hit. Keeps opponent standing and is a totally unbreakable linker.

Shadow Soul Sword
QCB+PP/214PP

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
S	44.8 (12%)	44.8 (12%)	9.6 (2%)	0	0	Mid	3+2 (5)	3[8]4[7] 4[7]4[7]4	16	72f	+6	+6	+2	Upper invul 1-6f
To Do

Shadow Boneshaker
QCF+KK/236KK

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
S	33.6 (9%)	33.6 (9%)	12 (3%)	0	0	Mid	3+3 (6)	10	27	42f	+5	+5	+2	Throw invul 1-15f, Projectile invul 1-16f
Throw invul, projectile invul, and plus OB? Yeah, it's pretty good.

Shadow Skeleport
QCB+KK/214KK

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
S	56 (15%)	56 (15%)	12 (3%)	0	0	Mid	3+14 (17)	5	35	56f	+39	+39	-20	Invincible 1-21f
Spinal's hard-hitting reversal.

Shadow Skull Summon
DownDown+PP/22PP

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
--	--	--	--	--	--	--	13	--	20	33f	--	--	--	Earns 3 Skulls
To Do

Enders

Searing Skull Ender
QCF+P/236P

Test Caption

Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 1	Resource	+22	Earns 1 Skull
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 2	Resource	+34	Earns 2 Skulls
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 3	Resource	+32	Earns 3 Skulls
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 4	Resource	+33	Earns 4 Skulls

Soul Sword Ender
QCB+HP/214HP

Test Caption

Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 1	Launcher	+44	--
Jugglable for 14 frames.
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 2	Launcher	+50	--
Jugglable for 20 frames.
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 3	Launcher	+51	--
Jugglable for 21 frames.
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 4	Launcher	+61	--
Jugglable for 31 frames.

Boneshaker Ender
QCF+HK/236HK

Test Caption

Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 1	Wall Splat	-6/+14 (Splat)	--
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 2	Wall Splat	-4/+18 (Splat)	--
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 3	Wall Splat	-4/+24 (Splat)	--
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 4	Wall Splat	-4/+29 (Splat)	--

Skeleport Ender
QCB+HK/214HK

Test Caption

Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 1	Damage	+26	--
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 2	Damage	+26	--
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 3	Damage	+26	--
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Level 4	Damage	+26	--
Version	Ender Type	On Hit	Special Properties
Shadow	Damage	+26	Exchange, Launcher

Instinct

Agent of Chaos
HP+HK

Test Caption

Spinal's Instinct gives him a trio of passive buffs.

A) Soul Sword, Searing Skull, and Boneshaker have increased block advantage.

B) Throws, Spectral Manuals, and Crouching Heavy Punch give you 2 skulls.

C) Searing Skull projectiles will bounce off of blocking opponents and stage boundaries.
Projectiles can touch an opponent's block 4 times before disappearing, and can ricochet off floors and walls forever.