Billy Kane
In a nutshell
Though he is Geese Howard's loyal henchman, Billy returns to the King of Fighters series of his on volition and with a personal vendetta. He's quite a unique character, and one of the few characters similar to him is Rolento from the Street Fighter series (and not just because he holds a staff). However, Billy's staff does have a hurtbox, so his long range moves should not be used too liberally, or you'll get stuffed and/or 
often. What makes him stand out is his diverse capability of both offense and defense and his uncanny ability to change his momentum of play with such versatility. Those that like ranged pokes and zoning should enjoy this character. Those that are fond of 
and 
pressure and confirming into a few chunky combos should also enjoy playing Billy. Players that would be really effective with Billy will be those that really know how to set the pace of the round, but he's an easy enough character for most players to pick up and play.
Video Walkthrough
Move List
Normal Moves
| Frames | Advantage | Properties | Block | Damage | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standing Close | |||||||
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7/3,(3),3,(2),5/17 | -1/-3 | 
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HL | 30*3 | A bit similar to Standing , but Billy juts the opponent with his stick three times. It's relatively easy to confirm into another attack with this move, but pay heed to the fact that the more hits this attack does, the more that Billy is pushed out. This may affect his longer HD combos and what not so feel free to experiment at which distances certain attacks could connect after one, two, or three of the hits of Close .
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| Standing Far | |||||||
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6/5/6 | +4/+2 |
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HL | 25 | Much like the other characters, this is also another anti-hop anti-air normal attack. Just keep in mind that the actual hitbox extends only up to the tip of Billy's hand, and not the entire stick. Be careful and don't try to try block while doing this move or Billy might accidentally do his Saouchi ( + ) instead.
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6/5/9 | +1/-1 |
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30 | A standard low hitting poke that is cancelable. It has further reach but less frame advantage than Crouching . So this attack has some uses during a hit confirm combo or as a somewhat far reaching low poke similar to King's or Daimon's Standing . It's just running in and doing this move repeatedly as low poking pressure just isn't just as effective as his other normals.
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8/3/20 | -2/-4 |
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HL | 70 | A small jut with his stick. It's not the fastest far nor does it have significant of range. What it could do is be able to poke and punish from distances in which Billy can't run in close enough for a larger punish. If the player has full drive meter, a punish with Standing could confirm and net a full blown HD combo. If the players spaces this attack by the tip, it won't be hit by Guard Cancel Blowback Attacks (+ ). Billy then could attack string Standing into Sansetsu Kon Chuudan Uchi ( +  ) and its follow up to punish the whiffed Guard Cancel Blowback (+). So not too well off as a poke on it's own, it's good mix-up attack strings with this move and try to catch opponent off guard.
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6/5/24 | -8/-10 |
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HL | 70 | Billy leans back a bit and kicks vertically. The horizontal range of this move is a bit deceptive and it's largely preferred to use this anti-air attack against people coming in from full jumps or deeply. It has a tad more horizontal range than Crouching so it has it's purpose as a vertical anti-air; but with anything else that's coming in from further out, Standing and Daikaitengeri ( + ) should cover everything else coming in from the hop space.
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| +
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20/7/29 | KD/-13 |  
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HL | 75 | Billy swings his stick like he's hitting a home run or playing One Outs. What's special to note about this Blowback Attack compared to other characters' is that when Billy makes the opponent block the tip of his Blowback Attack, the opponent will whiff their Guard Cancel blowback attack and waste a meter. Billy could then attack string into Sansetsu Kon Chuudan Uchi ( + ) and its follow up. So, Billy could set up the opponent and bait out and cleanly beat Guard Cancel Blowback Attacks (+). Just note that the spacing for this set up is a bit specific.
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| Crouching | |||||||
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6/5/10 | +4/+2 | HL | 25 | Billy's furthest reaching crouching poke. It has shorter range than it did in past games but that doesn't stop this attack from poking outside of most of the cast's attack ranges. The hitbox is no longer deceptive compared to older games as the tip of the stick does signify the tip of the hitbox of the attack. | ||
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5/4/11 | 0/-2 | 
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30 | It has moderate range, chains into itself, hits low, and cancels and combos into Kyoushuu Hishou Kon ( + ) that has other attacks to follow up after it. It's not the fastest Crouching in the game and may lose to counter poking as he runs back in, but is fast enough to establish pressure during high and low mix-ups.
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4/6/21 | -6/-8 |
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HL | 70 | The standard, strictly vertical anti-air attack. This move is more or less for anti-air only. Still fast and effective though. What's interesting to note is that it's cancelable upon whiff like most other cancelable normals in the game. | |
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9/6/22 | KD/-9 |
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80 | Wow, he actually has a standard, good sweep. Mid-range, standard-speed sweep. Not much to write home about. Can't cancel into other attacks like other characters. | |
| Jump/Hop | |||||||
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5/8/- 5/6/- |
- | - | 
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45/40 | An air-to-air stick poke. Not as versatile as Jumping , but it covers the blank spot where Jumping will typically miss.
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4/10/- 4/8/- |
-/- | - |
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45/40 | A deep, vertical kick. It's a standard jump-in attack for high and lows. The move also functions as an instant overhead and helps close out matches. Pretty much serves only these functions as it has no horizontal range. | |
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8/6/- 7/4/- |
-/- | - |
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72/70 | One of the best air-to-air normals in the game. It can hit crouching opponents, but Billy must time the attack really late and it's a bit minute to execute. Otherwise, Billy can simply just abuse the opponent with attack from ranges in which the opponent mostly could not respond with without committing to something unsafe or that uses meter. The party starter of Billy's spacing game. | |
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9/8/- 9/6/- |
-/- | - |
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70/68 | The standard jump-in attack that has some vertical and horizontal reach. It does cross up and it serves to be Billy's most used jump-in. | |
| +
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12/4/- 11/4/- |
KD/- |
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HL | 90/80 | A wide-reaching swing of Billy's stick. For those that have played older KOF games, this attack feels like a combination of his old Jumping + and his Neutral Jump with its deep, downward range. This attack covers about close to the same range horizontally like Jumping and Jumping but covers a wide downward range. This attack really helps establish Billy's air-to-ground control in the spots that Jumping can't as easily cover.
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| Command Normals | |||||||
 +
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8/2,(10),2/14 | +5/-2 | HL | 40+45 | Daikaitengeri - A double sobat kick in application, this attack is what makes Billy able to apply pressure and greatly limit the opponent's ability to escape or gain footing. Upon a deep hit, this move could be linked with a follow up Crouching that could combo into other attacks. When really deep in, this attack's first hit is prone to whiff since it reaches out so far that the hitbox extends past the opponent's hurtbox. As with Standing , Daikaitengeri really controls the hop space really well while moving forward and controlling the ground space.
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| +
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19/6/13 | KD/-5 | 
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HL | 50 | Boukatobigeri - Billy launches himself using his stick as leverage and kicks at the opponent. This move seems relatively safe on block much unlike older games, but it's prone to characters crouching underneath it and punishing it. So this attack, outside of combos, is good to attack the hop range even further beyond Standing and Daikaitengeri ( + ). It's a good "tricky" move to catch an opponent off guard once a game or set but it's nothing really to rely on often outside of combos.
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| +
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15/5/23 | -7/-9 | HL | 65 | Saouchi' - Billy's new command normal attack. It has less range than and slower than Sansetsu Kon Chuudan Uchi ( + ), so its function as a long range poke is somewhat null in the footsie game. What this attack does is that it helps Billy confirm into HD combos as his other command normals/unique attacks leave Billy in an airborne state. As Billy hits with this attack during HD mode, it gains cancel properties into his special moves and extends his combos. What's neat is that it moves Billy forward after hitting with an attack so it helps him get his corner loops more easily by pushing him closer to the corner. Outside of combos and confirming, this move is pretty much weak or outclassed by other attacks by range, speed, and damage/chip.
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| Throws | |||||||
| (Close)/ + /
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0 | KD | 
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100 | Jigoku Otoshi - A simple standard throw. It being hard knockdown is a plus to allow Billy to get back in on the opponent or to generate space between the player and the opponent. | |
| Special Moves | |||||||
| +
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: 13/3/23
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: -5/-9
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HL | : 50
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Sansetsu Kon Chuudan Uchi - Billy thrusts his stick across the screen very quickly; functions like a "Dhalsim limb." This move has a hurtbox that gets stuffed a lot on startup. It's okay in neutral, but is used pretty often in combos, especially with drive cancels. version pushes away a little, version keeps them in place. The followup flame attack also only works with / versions.
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> or Sansetsu Kon Chuudan Uchi, then  +
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: 5/4/38
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: KD/-24
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HL | : 60
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Kaen Sansetsu Kon Chuudan Uchi- The follow-up to Sansetsu kon Chuudan Uchi, Billy retracts his stick as flames burn the opponent for one more hit. | |
| Press repeatedly
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/: 11/18/16
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: -1/-2
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:
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HL | : 25*N
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Senpuukon- aka stick spin. Normal version is mostly useless. However, this move is very important for combos, as it allows you to cancel certain moves into specials without using drive cancels, drastically helping Billy's damage.
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 +
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: 9/4/40
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: KD/-26
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- | : 60
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Suzume Otoshi - An anti-air move, Billy extends his stick diagonally at a 45 degree angle. Has no invincibility. The version has a special property that allows it to be cancelled into other specials or even supers without having to spend Drive Meter, effectively giving you a free drive cancel.
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+ 
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: 11/2,(12),4,(26),7/19
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: 0/-3
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HL | : 45+25*2
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Kyousyuuhisyoukon- Billy's uppercut. version is comboable and has faster startup. version is slower and does more damage, but is not very good. Not sure how much invincibility either version has.
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| DMs | |||||||
 +
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/: 14/70/45
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/: KD/-14
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HL | /: 30*6+60
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Choukaensenpuukon- Stick spin super (with FIRE). Mostly just used for combos.
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| + +
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10/26,(2),20/17 | KD/-18 |
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- | 30*13+60 | Daigurenrasenkon- Has invincibility and beats crossups. Need to be close to get full damage. Mostly used in combos, but since Billy is often a point character, you probably won't see it too much. | |
Combos
0% Drive
0 Bar
- cr., cr., cr., + = (175) (4 cr. is possible, but 3 is much more consistent)
- cr., +, cr., + = (198)
- j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, + xx + = (273)
- (Corner) j., cr., +, cr. xx +, + xx + = (361)
- (
j.), + xx +, + xx + = (307)
- (Corner) j., cl. (2) xx +, *slight delay* +, + xx + = (353)
1 Bar
- cr., +, cr. xx + xx + = (284)
- j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, + xx + = (329)
- j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, + xx + = (337)
- j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, +, + = (337)
- j., cr., +, cr. xx +, + = (430)
- ( j.) +, +, + xx + = (368)
- (Corner) j., cl. (2) xx +, +, + = (401)
- (Corner) j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, +, +, + xx + = (399)
2 Bar
- j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, + xx + = (388)
- cr. xx + xx + xx + xx += (403)
- (Corner) ( j.) +, +, + = (478)
- (Corner) j., cl. (2) xx +, +, + = (481)
- (Corner) j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, + = (449)
3 Bar
- (Corner) j./cr., cr., cr. xx +, +, +, + = (553)
50% Drive
0 Bar
- j., cl. (2) xx + xx + +, + = 315 dmg
- (Corner) j., cr., +, cr. xx +, +, + +, +, + xx + = 462 dmg
- (Corner) ( j.) +, +, + xx + +, cr. = 407 dmg
- (Corner) j., cl. (2) xx +, +, *slight delay* + xx + +, cr. = 386 dmg
- (Corner) j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, + xx + +, cr. = 364/326 dmg
1 Bar
- j., cl. (2) xx + xx + +, +, + = 412 dmg
- cr., st. xx +, + cancel startup frames of rapid , +, (delay) +, +, +, + xx + = 429
- cr., st. xx +, +, +, + xx + +, (slight delay) +, xx = 428
- (Standing) j., cr., +, + +, +, + = 426 dmg
- (Standing) j., cr., +, + +, +, *cornered* +, + xx + = 481 dmg
- j., cr., +, cr. xx +, + xx + +, *slight delay* +, + = 530 dmg
- ( j.) + + +, +, + = 411 dmg
- ( j.) + + +, +, *cornered* +, + xx + = 456 dmg
- (Corner) ( j.) +, +, + xx + +, *slight delay* +, +, + xx + = 494 dmg
- (Corner) j., cr. xx +, + xx + +, *delay* +, + = 503 dmg
- (Corner) j., cl. (2) xx +, *slight delay* +, +, + +, *slight delay* +, +, + xx + = 445 dmg
- (Corner) j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx *slight delay* +, + xx + +, *slight delay* +, +, + xx + = 442/404 dmg
2 Bar
- j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, +, + + = 403/365 dmg
- (Standing) j., cr., +, + +, +, *cornered* +, + = 548 dmg
- (Standing) j., cr., +, + +, +, *cornered* +, + = 640 dmg
- j., cr., +, cr. xx +, + xx + +, *slight delay* +, + = 634 dmg
- ( j.) + + +, +, + xx += 466 dmg
- ( j.) + + +, +, *cornered* +, + = 526 dmg
- (Corner) ( j.) +, +, + xx + +, +, +, + = 566 dmg
- (Corner) j., cl. (2) xx +, *slight delay* +, + xx + +, *slight delay* +, + = 589 dmg
- (Corner) j./cr., cr., cr. xx +, + xx + +, *slight delay* +, + = 562/524 dmg
- (Corner) j., cl. (2) xx +, *slight delay* +, + xx + +, +, +, + = 543 dmg
- (Corner) j./cr., cr., cr./st. xx +, +, +, + xx + +, *slight delay* +, +, + xx + = 501/463 dmg
3 Bar
- j., cr., +, cr.xx +, + xx + + xx +, *delay* +, + = 683 dmg
- ( j.) + + +, +, *cornered* +, + = 604 dmg
- (Corner) ( j.) +, +, + xx + +, *slight delay* +, +, + = 670 dmg
- (Corner) j./cr., cr., cr./st.xx +, +, + +, *slight delay* +, +, + = 620/582 dmg
100% Drive
0 Bar
- (Corner) (j., cr., +) or (cr., cr., cr.), HD, cl. (1), +, +, (+ xx +) x5, *slight delay* +, + xx + = 599/492 dmg
1 Bar
- j., cr. xx +, HD, st., +, + xx +, +, *cornered*, + xx +, (+ xx +) x 4, *delay* +, + xx + = 655 dmg
- (Corner) (j., cr., +) or (cr., cr., cr.), HD, cl. (1), +, +, (+ xx +) x5, *slight delay* +, + = 673/570 dmg
2 Bar
- (Standing only) (j., cr., +) or (cr., cr., cr.), HD, cl. (1), +, + + = 639/532 dmg
- (Corner) (j., cr., +) or (cr., cr., cr.), HD, cl. (1), +, +, (+ xx +) x4, + + = 799/692 dmg
3 Bar
- j., cr., +, HD, st., +, + xx +, +, *cornered*, + xx +, (+ xx +) x 2 + = 845 dmg
4 Bar
- (Standing only) (j., cr., +) or (cr., cr., cr.), HD, cl. (1), + xx + + = 865/758 dmg
- (Corner) (j., cr., +) or (cr., cr., cr.), HD, cl. (1), +, +, (+ xx +) x3 xx + + = 972/865 dmg
5 Bar
- j., cr., +, HD, st., +, + xx +, +, *cornered*, + xx +, + xx +, *slight delay* E+ + = 1019 dmg
- (Corner) (j., cr., +) or (cr., cr., cr.), HD, cl. (1), +, + xx + xx +, + xx +, + xx +, + xx + + = 1026/919 dmg
Team Order
1st position
Almost certainly Billy's best position. His game plan is more or less matchup-independent, he doesn't require meter for his combos, and he's super annoying. He builds meter pretty well. Also, he has meterless "drive cancels" with QCB+C combos, further making him a good battery.
2nd position
Billy works well here. He can use meter efficiently while still conserving meter for your anchor. Really he should only be here if he has a particularly difficult matchup with the opponent's point character (Ash and Clark come to mind for me).
3rd position
Definitely Billy's weakest position. While he does have strong combos with meter, Billy is not good at opening up opponents in crunch time, as he lacks a command grab and lacks anything above average mixups. Best to put someone else here.
Strategy
Offense
You have to initiate your offense from mid to close range. Billy does not any good options (projectiles) from fullscreen.
- Blockstrings with cr.
/st./cr.
+
is Billy's bread and butter. + is safe on block, and you can easily follow up with another +, or run -> throw.
- Jump
is a -great- jumping normal, and crucially for Billy, pushes the opponent to the corner, which is where Billy is at his most annoying.
- Don't neglect standing /cr., as they're useful for frametraps and pokes.
- Empty hop > throw and empty hop > low are quite important for Billy, as he has no command grabs.
- J. is Billy's best jump-in for combos. Also crosses up.
- J. can instant overhead, which might be useful at round end.
Neutral/Defense
Billy's neutral can be very oppressive due to his staff.
- It may be tempting to use
+/ in neutral, but Billy is -not- Dhalsim, and this move is not difficult to poke out, and if the opponent hops over it, you might be dead.
- Standing is great outside of your opponents poke range, as very few normals outrange this. It is also cancelable into +/.
- Counterhit J. can lead to a combo with +, making this quite the corner carry tool.
- Speaking of +, it goes over lows at the start. It's not that great for going over low normals, but it -is- useful for going over low fireballs like Iori's or Terry's.
- J. is one of, if not the, best air-to-air normals in the game. It has ridiculous range, but it can whiff on crouching characters. Pretty good in neutral.
- Far standing is actually really stubby, so don't use this move in neutral (much).
- Standing is a pretty good far anti-air (and beats lows for some reason), and cr. is a -great- close anti-air, although it does trade with some really good jumpins.
+ is one of the best "DP" or "uppercut" moves in the game, making it useful to stop hop-happy players.
- EX Choukaensenpuukon (
+) has a little invincibility at the start, so it -can- be used as a reversal. Don't do this often against really good players, as they'll probably safe jump you.
Advanced Strategy
Frame Traps
(n) frame gap" = The amount of frames that opponent has to counter a frame trap.
1. st., st. - 4 frame gap between st. and st.
2. st., cr. - 4 frame gap between st. and cr.
3. st., st. - 4 frame gap between st. and st..
4. st., cr. - 3 frame gap between st. and cr..
5. st., cr. - 2 frame gap between st. and cr..
6. st., cl. - 4 frame gap between st. and cl..
Tips and Tricks
Shortcut for Suzume Otoshi (+), Senpuukon (press or really fast)(cancel startup frames), +... is simply: + > *4, which is an example of how rapid canceling is done.
