The King of Fighters '98/Benimaru

File:Beni98 stance.gif

Benimaru Nikaido

Jean Pierre Polnareff

In later games, Polnareff gets really lazy and uses his stand and has the gall to call it Genei Hurricane. Also appeared in an underrated Capcom fighter that also has rolls and hops. This man is extremely fabulous but ironically invigorated by the poon. He is also known as the Broom Handle. Like Guile from Street Fighter, Polnareff is one of the greatest kings of Sobats. Also much like Guile, Polnareff has really silly spoken English. In addition to being similar to Guile, Polnareff is also fond of doing flipping kicks to anti-air opponents.

In a nutshell

Benimaru is a great poking character that could be played in many different styles such as having a good turtle game, solid neutral game, and a strong offensive game. Generally though, Benimaru plays a better passive-aggressive offensive game due to the fact that his reversals aren't too strong and he should be in control of the match's momentum and force the opponent to make a mistake. Benimaru makes use of his good normals to make the opponent try to circumvent a particular normal and then punish the opponent for it.

• One such example is Benimaru controlling the space with a far Standing D attack in which most characters can't or poke. The opponent could then try to hop over the far Standing D from further spacing but Benimaru could easily stuff the attempt with far Standing B. So while Benimaru controls that frontal space with far Standing B and D. The opponent could try to do a full/super jump over the far Standing D and far Standing B would be out of range to anti-air the trajectory of the jump. In this case, Benimaru could react with an anti-air, Super Inazuma Kick (dp + K) preferably "B" Version, special that is usually safe on whiff.

So essentially, Benimaru creates a good wall with just these parts of his overall moveset while including other various aspects of his game like running, Crouching B pressure that combos into itself and finishes with Super Inazuma Kick "D" Version for knockdown. Benimaru also could more easily tick into his command throw, Benimaru Collider, because the opponent will have difficulty trying to alternate guard when Benimaru's running, Crouching B pressure easily breaks alternate guarding, and Benimaru's anti-airs will easily stuff jumps and hops. Added to this is Benimaru's great chipping damage moves that are safe on block and great to frame trap with. Then Benimaru's Shinku Katategoma is not only good for chip but as well as baiting and beating out Guard Cancel CD moves. Because of all these tools yet having mediocre super moves, Benimaru doesn't necessarily need meter at all to play his game completely but his pokes and pokes become much scarier when he uses MAX mode to increase damage for his singular hits. In addition, Benimaru's cross-up, jump-in attacks and air-to-air attacks are great and are complemented by his unique hop and jump trajectories, especially when Benimaru sets up an ambiguous, cross-up attack after a successful Benimaru Collider (hcb + P) Benimaru is a really strong tier character that is generally simple to play as a beginner player to KOF but requires a good sense of general KOF mechanics and footsies.

Colors

In-depth Analysis

Movelist

	Frames	Advantage	Cancel	Block	Hitbox		Notes
Standing Close
	3/3/9	0/-2	C	HL			Hits mid. Close C/D are better in the sense that these two moves are faster than Close A and are meatier as well as having a larger cancelable window than Close A. Doesn't really have much of a point. Chain: repeatable
	3/5/7	0/-2	C	HL			Similar to far Standing B but it hits mid. It can be canceled. Chain: repeatable
	4/3+3/15	-1/-3	C	HL			Typical fast Close C attack. Activation range and cancel window is shorter than Close D.
	2/6/16	-2/-4	C	HL			Another fast Close strong attack. Due to it's wider activation range than Close C, Close D could anti-air neutral jumps on reaction better and be used in frame traps such as Crouching B > Close D better than Close C could.
Standing Far
	3/4/9	-1/-3	C	HL			Standard far Standing A anti-air. Usually far Standing B is the better anti-air against hops; and angles of jumps that far Standing B can't cover but far Standing A does is covered better by close Standing C/D or Super Inazuma Kick B Version. Chain: repeatable
	3/7/9	-4/-6	-	HL			Great anti-air normal. This move is quick and has little recovery so it's hard to punish with a sweep at times, especially when Benimaru follows up immediately with a far Standing D that goes over a lot of crouching attacks and is fast enough to counter poke the better sweeps before the said sweeps come out. An essential part of Benimaru's game. Chain: ender
	5/6/18	-4/-6	-	HL			In application, this move is a more damaging far Standing B. It's faster than far Standing D and is almost as horizontally long but it whiffs on crouchers. This could reach and punish moves that far Standing D is too slow to punish at times such as Iori's blocked first and second Aoi Hana rekkas (qcb + P x3). A good move to use instead of far Standing B in terms of damage if the player is sure of the opponent going to hop. Due to the recovery compared to far Standing B, it has more risk on whiff.
	11/5/16	-1/-3	-	HL			One of the best grounded pokes in the game. As elaborated previously, this move is relatively fast and it beats a plethora of standing and crouching normals and there are just only a few moves that could actually beat it such as Iori's sweep (risky for Iori though since his sweep is incredibly unsafe on block/whiff and Benimaru could easily respond with his own sweep to punish Iori). This move even goes over slides as illustrated by Chris and Orochi Chris. In a silly sense when timed properly, Benimaru's far Standing D and Chris' slide will completely miss each other, hitting nothing. Sometimes this move acts as a preemptive anti-air from situations such as the opponent blocking two crouching B attacks from Benimaru and the opponent commits to a hop/jump afterwards.
+	17/4/20	KD/-2	S	HL			A slower version of far Standing B but is cancelable on whiff and on hit like all Standing CD moves.
Crouching
	3/4/5	+3/+1	C	HL			A fast cancelable normal. Doesn't have much of a point since Crouching B is about just as fast, and Crouching B has longer range while at the same time hitting low. Chain: repeatable
	2/4/7	+1/-1	C	L			Another one of Benimaru's great normals. Fast, cancelable, and mid ranged crouching attack that's great for pressuring and spacing Benimaru for setting up cross-up attempts. It's threatening because its ability to break alternate guarding attempts and confirms into decent damage with a knockdown. The opponent will rather try to block this most of the time rather than try to alternate guard against tick command throw attempts. A big part of Benimaru pressure. Chain: repeatable
	4/3+3/24	-10/-12	C	HL			A long, low cancelable normal. It's Benimaru's longest normal that could cancel into a special without knocking down the opponent or whiffing on crouchers. Not that good as an anti-air attack. As a crouching punch attack, of course it doesn't have low hitting properties.
	5/6/23	KD/-11	C	L			Nice cancelable sweep. Has relatively moderate range but it's fast and works well.
Jump
	6/10/-	-/-	-	H			Has little to no point. Irrelevant.
	4/11/-	-/-	-	H			A fast jump in with good air-to-air and cross-up properties. Think of M. Bison's (Dictator) Jumping Forward kick from Street Fighter.
	6/3+7/-	-/-	-	H			An air-to-air normal that hits near Benimaru's head. Covers that range above Benimaru that Jumping B/D don't reach.
	6/8/-	-/-	-	H			Jumping D - Great overall jumping attack. It works well as an air-to-ground, cross-up, air-to-air move. Although an air-to-ground, it has huge problems against both Chris' slides.
+	15/5/-	KD/-	S	HL			Benimaru's most downward angled jump-in attack. It's mainly for locking down opponents and preemptively halting grounded anti-air attempts. Although it looks like it would, it can't touch either Chris' slides.
Neutral Jump
	3/10/-	-/-	-	H			air-to-air attack. Priority move
Command Normals
f +	19/3/27	-10/-12	S	HL			Jackknife Kick - f + B Although can be canceled into from ground normal attacks, it doesn't combo from anything. If anything it's used mostly to frame trap opponents and to stack onto block strings to add to towards Guard Break. At certain spacings, Close C and Close D canceled into Shinku Katategoma (qcb + P) will whiff the opponent on block during a string, and if one cancels Close C or Close D into Jackknife Kick during this range, Shinku Katategoma won't whiff. Otherwise, this move is a bit too slow to do anything.
air d +	-/-/-	-/-	-	HL			Flying Drill - air d + D A good pressure tool as well as the only jumping attack that Benimaru has to hit a sliding Chris. It's safe on block and it sets up for more pressure/mix-up. If the opponent gets antsy and wants to mash a crouching attack or some sort of standing normal, Benimaru could just press far Standing D to beat out whatever is done by the opponent. If the opponent tries to jump the far Standing D, Benimaru could just do far Standing B or Super Inazuma Kick Version B. If the opponent rolls forward, the opponent risks a reaction punish by Benimaru. If the opponent rolls backwards, the opponent just pragmatically moves himself back into the corner. The opponent could at best just commit to blocking and find a different opportunity to get around Benimaru. Be careful though as Benimaru's Drill whiff recovery is pretty big and easily punishable and could be Guard Cancel Rolled then punished if spaced unsafely. Benimaru could cancel his back dash into the Drill although it has no point. Otherwise, it's okay in changing trajectory in the air against projectile characters.
Special moves
qcf +	12/19/24			HL			Projectile priority: 3A, not negatable.
qcf +	10/19/25			HL			Projectile priority: 3A, not negatable.
qcb +	14/26/29			HL			May not be touched on the high cd counters.
qcb +	14/62/36			HL
air qcf +	6/19/-			HL			Projectile priority: 3A, not negatable.
qcf +	7/2/32			HL
dp +	6/12/28			HL			Low special anti-air
dp +	6/15/37			HL			More powerful special anti-air
hcb +	17/48/25			HL
hcb +	17/48/37			HL
DM
qcf qcf +	11/41/51			HL			Projectile priority: 3D, not negatable.
qcf qcf +	12/41/54			HL			Projectile priority: 3D, not negatable.
qcf qcf +	9/36/58			HL			Projectile priority: 3D, not negatable.

Normal Throws

• Catch and Shoot - b or f + C - Opponent wakes up front turned

• Front Suplex - b or f + D - Opponent wakes up back turned. Cannot be Roll Teched.

• Spinning Knee Drop - b or f or d + C/D in air - Opponent wakes up front turned

Special Moves

• Raijin Ken - (qcf + A) - A good chip-damage, pressure attack. Could be used as a preemptive anti-air. A common way of chipping/frame-trapping an opponent is by doing one or two Crouching B attacks then canceling the last one into Raijin Ken. If the opponent is in the corner, knocked down, and is on the brink of losing the round, Benimaru could force a checkmate situation by chip-damage killing off the opponent by spacing the outer tangent of the Raijin Ken to touch the opponent. If the Opponent rolls forward on reversal, the opponent will roll into the opposite tangent and will get hit. Since the opponent is in the corner, the opponent will just roll backwards in the same spot and will still lose.

• Taikuu Raijin Ken - (qcf + C) - Could be used as an anti-air but it isn't as good as other options and is really punishable on whiff. If used, it's mainly as a preemptive anti-air as it's too slow to use on reaction.

• Kuuchuu Raijin Ken (air qcf + P) - Can't be done from a hop or dash. It's good for finishing off an opponent with chip-damage and beating out most reversals on okizeme. The recovery on landing isn't too good so this move should be use sparingly. If one tries to do this move late and the opponent isn't knocked down, the opponent could go for an anti-air or air-to-air. If done early to try to hit out anti-air or air-to-air attack preemptively, the opponent could easily react to it and just let Benimaru whiff and punish on Benimaru's descent.

• Shinku Katategoma - (qcb + P) - Another good chip-damage, pressure attack. In comparison to Raijin Ken, this move is slower so there are more chances of the opponent trying to escape it. In exchange, the normal move that Benimaru cancels into Shinku Katategoma becomes Guard Cancel CD'd by the Opponent, Shinku Katategoma goes through the Counter CD and hits the opponent. C version isn't generally safe at all and A version is prepared. This move is difficult to Guard Cancel Roll but the opponent could catch the tail end of the attack with one and punish Benimaru during the recovery of the move. If the opponent does it early, there is a chance that the opponent will be hit by the remaining hits. Word of warning, both versions of Shinku Katategoma could be punished on block by Robert's Far Standing D.

• Iai Geri - (qcf + K) - Benimaru kicks as fast as an Iaido swordsman draws his blade. In actuality, this move isn't as fast as his other moves in terms of trying to anti-air an opponent, although this move causes the cool effect of causing knockdown slide on opponents that do get hit by this move as anti-air. This move could combo from Crouching B or Close D but there are better options in terms of damage output. This move, though, is easier to confirm into and is still safe on block for beginners. Doesn't cause knockdown upon hit on a grounded opponent.

• Super Inazuma Kick - (dp + K) - B Version is a great anti-air while D Version is used for knocking down from a combo. Both moves lose to meaty low attacks and is easily beaten by Chris' slide. Coupled with the lack of ways to hop onto or hit Chris' slide, Benimaru's worst match up is easily Chris.

• Handou Sandan Geri - (hcb + K) - A three hit, kick attack that is greatly unsafe on block. This move does the best, meterless damage-output of the moves that could be canceled from Close D. It depends if the player wants to cancel into this move for the damage or Benimaru Collider for optimal spacing for okizeme mix-ups. Has lower-body invincibility and could go over sweeps, slides and ground projectiles.

• Benimaru Collider - (hcb f + P) - A pretty decent command grab that sets up into ambiguous, cross-ups attacks and typical KOF grappler okizeme. Doesn't have the range or damage like other grapplers have but still serves its purpose well. Difficult for the opponent to alternate guard. It's harder to do empty hop/jump into Benimaru Collider in comparison with other grappler due to the hop and jump arc being so high and it being easy for the opponent to option select Close C/D before Benimaru lands. Could also set up for an ambiguous roll cross-up.

Desperation Moves

• Raikou Ken - (qcf qcf + P) - A giant Raijin Ken. Isn't that fast to anti-air with or punish anything unless it's SDM version. Either version is very unsafe on block or whiff. Normal version can only combo from strong attacks while SDM version can combo from light attacks. Not that easy to confirm into and generally not worth trying to since Benimaru has better post-knockdown positions after his special moves.

• Elec-Trigger - (hcb hcb + P) - A non-instant command grab super with full startup invincibility. Isn't that good since it could be jumped out after the super flash. Just good for reversals against meaties without good recovery.

Fastest Attacks

Ground

• 0F: C throw; D throw; hcb f + P
• 1F: -
• 2F: cl.D; cr.B
• 3F: cl.A; cl.B; st.A; st.B; cr.A;
• 4F: cl.C; cr.C;
• 5F: st.C; cr.D
• 6F: dp + K
• 7F: qcf + K
• 8F: -
• 9F: SDM qcf qcf + P
• 10F: qcf + C

Air

• 0F: air throw
• 1F: -
• 2F: -
• 3F: nj.D
• 4F: j.B
• 5F: -
• 6F: j.A; j.C; j.D; air qcf + P
• 7F: -
• 8F: -
• 9F: -
• 10F: -

Combos

• Best jump-ins:
  • j.D (Can crossup.)
  • j.B

• cr.B x 3 >
  • SDM qcf qcf + P
  • D Super Inazuma Kick (dp + D)

• cr.B x 2 >
  • SDM qcf qcf + P
  • D Super Inazuma Kick (dp + D)
  • D Iai Geri (qcf + D)
  • B Iai Geri (qcf + B)

• cr.B >
  • (S)DM Elec-Trigger (hcb hcb + P) (Point blank.)
  • SDM qcf qcf + P
  • D Super Inazuma Kick (dp + D)
  • D Iai Geri (qcf + D)
  • hcb f + P
  • B Iai Geri (qcf + B)

• (cr.A, cl.D) / cr.C / cl.C / Jackknife Kick (f + B) >
  • (S)DM Elec-Trigger (hcb hcb + P) (Point blank, except from f + B.)
  • (S)DM qcf qcf + P
  • hcb + D
  • qcb + C
  • D Super Inazuma Kick (dp + D)
  • qcb + A
  • qcf + A
  • D Iai Geri (qcf + D)
  • hcb f + P
  • B Iai Geri (qcf + B)

• Simple buffers:

None

Because of the "random" explosions, the SDM qcf qcf + P may not combo on some situations (specially from weak attacks) if you are not close.

The (S)DM hcb hcb + P deals more damage than (S)DM qcf qcf + A, but the combos with (S)DM hcb hcb + P are very limited. Note that f + B > (S)DM hcb hcb + P deals a tiny less damage than j.D, cr.C > (S)DM qcf qcf + A.

Strategy Corner

• MAX: cl.D > + D

deals almost the same damage as

• cl.D > + A

Keep this in mind, when you need to decide whether to trigger MAX or keep meter for a DM.