Benimaru Nikaido is one of the fan favorites from the original roster all the way from KOF94. In this game he is definitely one of the best characters with almost every tool at his disposal. The only important move he lost from previous games was the reversal kick. Despite that loss he can still be played in various different ways ranging from keepaway to rushdown. Due to his good damage and versatility he fits any slot in the team.
Strengths:
+ Awesome set of moves both normal and special
+ Raijinken being probably the most buff version of itself ever, covering jumps and ground approaches at the same time, while building meter
+ j.D is king
+ Versatile gameplay that supports both defense and offense
+ Fits any team composition
+ Fast meter build
+ Command grab
Weaknesses:
- No proper reversal move without meter
- No proper projectile without MAX
- Fast standing pokes (st.A, st.B, st.C) whiff on crouchers
=Normals=
=Normals=
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* st. C: This hard punch is used as a hard hitting poke & stops incoming hops However, this is not as fast as st.A or st.B. Because of this, you will have to do this normal earlier.
* st. C: This hard punch is used as a hard hitting poke & stops incoming hops However, this is not as fast as st.A or st.B. Because of this, you will have to do this normal earlier.
* st. D: This normal is a sobat kick that avoids low, grounded attacks and grounded fireballs. It has a slow startup but is a great long range poke to confirm into quick max combos.
* st. D: It has a slow startup but is a great long range poke to confirm into quick max combos. As of 3.10 it no longer avoids low moves although you may still avoid some grounded projectiles (Iori, Geese) when timed correctly.
'''Close'''
'''Close'''
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* cl. A: A quick cancellable elbow jab. Hits crouching characters and can chain from cr. B and cr. A if needed.
* cl. A: A quick cancellable elbow jab. Hits crouching characters and can chain from cr. B and cr. A if needed.
* cl. B: Benimaru performs a cancel-able side kick aimed at the opponent's face. Can be chained from cr. B, and cr. A.
* cl. B: Benimaru performs a cancel-able side kick aimed at the opponent's face. Can be chained from cr. B, and cr. A. Will hit crouching opponents despite the animation.
* cl. C: Benimaru throws out a cancel-able fierce, quick, swinging elbow. Best used as a punish into a combo, or after a jump-in attack.
* cl. C: Benimaru throws out a cancel-able fierce, quick, swinging elbow. Best used as a punish into a combo, or after a jump-in attack.
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* cr. B: A fast cancel-able crouching light kick that you will be using to confirm into combos. Can chain into itself and cr. A and cl. A. Hits low.
* cr. B: A fast cancel-able crouching light kick that you will be using to confirm into combos. Can chain into itself and cr. A and cl. A. Hits low.
* cr. C: Benimaru throws out an uppercut while remaining crouched. Can be used a grounded anti-air against jumps at a close range and is cancel-able.
* cr. C: Benimaru throws out an uppercut while remaining crouched. Can be used as a grounded anti-air and is cancel-able. It has a generous hitbox even slightly reaching behind Benimaru.
* cr. D: This is a cancel-able good ranged sweep. Hits low.
* cr. D: This is a cancel-able good ranged sweep. Hits low.
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* j. C: This jumping punch has the same downward angle as j. A but has a deeper vertical range. Good for jump-ins. Special cancel-able.
* j. C: This jumping punch has the same downward angle as j. A but has a deeper vertical range. Good for jump-ins. Special cancel-able.
* j. D: This long, horizontal ranged flying kick can be used as an air-to-air, a jump-in attack, and can cross-up easily. Special cancel-able.
* j. D: This long, horizontal ranged flying kick can be used as an air-to-air, a jump-in attack, and can cross-up easily. Special cancel-able. One of the best jumping attacks in the game due to being so versatile.
'''Blowback'''
'''Blowback'''
* st. CD: Benimaru stays in place while delivering a powerful, long ranged horizontal side kick. Great to use as a poke.
* st. CD: Benimaru stays in place while delivering a powerful, long ranged horizontal side kick. Great to use as a poke. Only cancelable on hit (won’t cancel into command normals).
* j. CD: This kick is best used for ground-to-air coverage because it whiffs on crouching characters and has a upward aiming angle.
* j. CD: This kick is best used for ground-to-air coverage because it whiffs on crouching characters and has a upward aiming angle.
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'''Front Suplex''' - (b/f+D) close
'''Front Suplex''' - (b/f+D) close
* Benimaru belly-to-belly suplexes the opponent. The opponent lands a character spaces away from Benimaru, and recovers slightly after him
* Benimaru belly-to-belly suplexes the opponent. The opponent lands a character spaces away from Benimaru, and recovers slightly after him allowing for a meaty.
* Can be broken
* Can be broken
* Hard knockdown
* Hard knockdown
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* Benimaru grabs the opponent mid-air then drops them straight them under his knees. The opponent recovers slightly after Benimaru & lands two characters spaces away from him.
* Benimaru grabs the opponent mid-air then drops them straight them under his knees. The opponent recovers slightly after Benimaru & lands two characters spaces away from him.
* Hard knockdown
* Hard knockdown
* As of 3.10 balance changes he can also combo into this.
=Command Moves=
=Command Moves=
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'''Iai-Geri''' - (qcf + B/D)
'''Iai-Geri''' - (qcf + B/D)
* Benimaru performs a lighting fast knee attack aimed at the opponent's face. Comes out in 6 frames & is best used within combos or to use as a quick close ranged punish. It's hard to punish if blocked, but it is susceptible to being whiff punished by sweeps because of its long whiff recovery.
* Benimaru performs a lighting fast kick attack aimed at the opponent's face. Comes out in 6 frames & is best used within combos or to use as a quick close ranged punish. It's hard to punish if blocked, but it is susceptible to being whiff punished by sweeps because of its long whiff recovery.
* Can be cancelled from crouching & standing light & heavy normals attacks
* Can be cancelled from crouching & standing light & heavy normals attacks
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'''EX:''' Has 3 frames of start-up & much harder to punish by itself.
'''EX:''' Has 3 frames of start-up & much harder to punish by itself.
::'''Inazuna Sandan-Geri''' - (down, up + K)
::'''Inazuma Sandan-Geri''' - (down, up + K)
::* This is the follow-up of '''Iai-Geri''', 2 kicks (the animation of Far D, then his old dp+K). Always best used when '''Iai-Geri''' is hit-confirmed; punishable is whiffed or blocked.
::* This is the follow-up of '''Iai-Geri''', 2 kicks (the animation of Far D, then his old dp+K). Always best used when '''Iai-Geri''' is hit-confirmed; punishable is whiffed or blocked.
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* Benimaru throws out a lightning ball punch. The opponent is stunned momentarily if hit grounded, while soft knockdowns jumping opponents.
* Benimaru throws out a lightning ball punch. The opponent is stunned momentarily if hit grounded, while soft knockdowns jumping opponents.
* Light punch version is aimed in-front of Benimaru horizontally. The range surrounding the lightning ball is deceptively large which can catch opponents jumping towards you pre-emptively or stopping opponents dashing towards you at a mid-range. Can combo from Benimaru's standing heavy normals. Can be evaded by some characters sweeps & command normal slides.
* Light punch version is aimed in-front of Benimaru horizontally. The range surrounding the lightning ball is deceptively large which can catch opponents jumping towards you pre-emptively or stopping opponents dashing towards you at a mid-range. Can combo from Benimaru's standing heavy normals. Can be evaded by some characters sweeps & command normal slides. Generally this is the version to go for instead of the heavy one as it covers better angles and faster too.
* Heavy punch version is aimed diagonally above his head. Whiffs on crouching opponents. Has slower start-up than the light punch version & can be knocked out of if used as a last second reaction anti-air.
* Heavy punch version is aimed diagonally above his head. Whiffs on crouching opponents. Has slower start-up than the light punch version & can be knocked out of if used as a last second reaction anti-air.
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'''Benimaru Rising Shot''' - (qcf, qcf + B/D)
'''Benimaru Rising Shot''' - (qcf, qcf + B/D)
* Benimaru quickly rushes towards the opponent with a lightning kick that travels a bit over half-screen distance towards the opponent. On hit, Benimaru hit the opponent with a fierce lightning axe kick. Best utilized at the end of combos or to use as a quick far range punish
* Benimaru quickly rushes towards the opponent with a lightning kick that travels a bit over half-screen distance towards the opponent. On hit, Benimaru hit the opponent with a fierce lightning axe kick. Best utilized at the end of combos because of the knockdown or to use as a quick far range punish.
* Punish-able on block and if whiffed
* Punish-able on block and if whiffed
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===Rush Auto Combo===
===Rush Auto Combo===
'''Meterless:''' description here
'''Meterless:''' 3 hits that ends in his Iai-Geri and Inazuna Sandan-Geri. 177 DMG.
'''1 Meter:''' description here
'''1 Meter:''' 3 hits that ends in his Rai-Kou Ken. 233 DMG
'''EX:''' description here
'''EX:''' 3 hits that ends in his MAX Rai-Kou Ken. 335 DMG.
(Lower the amount of cr.B's depending on how far you are from the opponent. You can super cancel the first hit of the qcf+B/D > d,u+B/D follow-up for more damage)
(Lower the amount of cr.B's depending on how far you are from the opponent. You can super cancel the first hit of the qcf+B/D > d,u+B/D follow-up for more damage)
(Combo 1) = (damage number here) dmg
(Combo 2) = (damage number here) dmg
(Combo 3) = (damage number here) = 231 dmg
1 Meter
Corner
Anywhere
Low, Anywhere
(Combo 1) = (damage number here) dmg
(Combo 2) = (damage number here) dmg
(Combo 3) = (damage number here) dmg
2 Meters
Anywhere
(Combo 1) = (damage number here) dmg
Gameplay Overview
Benimaru Nikaido is one of the fan favorites from the original roster all the way from KOF94. In this game he is definitely one of the best characters with almost every tool at his disposal. The only important move he lost from previous games was the reversal kick. Despite that loss he can still be played in various different ways ranging from keepaway to rushdown. Due to his good damage and versatility he fits any slot in the team.
Strengths:
+ Awesome set of moves both normal and special
+ Raijinken being probably the most buff version of itself ever, covering jumps and ground approaches at the same time, while building meter
+ j.D is king
+ Versatile gameplay that supports both defense and offense
+ Fits any team composition
+ Fast meter build
+ Command grab
Weaknesses:
- No proper reversal move without meter
- No proper projectile without MAX
- Fast standing pokes (st.A, st.B, st.C) whiff on crouchers
Normals
Standing
st. A: This is a quick, long ranged jab mostly used to stop incoming/forward hops. When the opponent is blocking, it will whiff on most crouching characters and can be chained into from cr.B and cr.A.
st. B: This fast kick has a decent upward arc that is typically used to stop incoming/forward hops. .. This normal whiffs on most crouching characters and can be chained into from cr.B or cr.A.
st. C: This hard punch is used as a hard hitting poke & stops incoming hops However, this is not as fast as st.A or st.B. Because of this, you will have to do this normal earlier.
st. D: It has a slow startup but is a great long range poke to confirm into quick max combos. As of 3.10 it no longer avoids low moves although you may still avoid some grounded projectiles (Iori, Geese) when timed correctly.
Close
cl. A: A quick cancellable elbow jab. Hits crouching characters and can chain from cr. B and cr. A if needed.
cl. B: Benimaru performs a cancel-able side kick aimed at the opponent's face. Can be chained from cr. B, and cr. A. Will hit crouching opponents despite the animation.
cl. C: Benimaru throws out a cancel-able fierce, quick, swinging elbow. Best used as a punish into a combo, or after a jump-in attack.
cl. D: Benimaru knees the opponent. Similar in use & damage to cl. C, but less negative frames on block and has more pushback on block.
Crouching
cr. A: A fast cancel-able jab that can be used to maintain pressure and can chain from cr. B, and cl. A.
cr. B: A fast cancel-able crouching light kick that you will be using to confirm into combos. Can chain into itself and cr. A and cl. A. Hits low.
cr. C: Benimaru throws out an uppercut while remaining crouched. Can be used as a grounded anti-air and is cancel-able. It has a generous hitbox even slightly reaching behind Benimaru.
cr. D: This is a cancel-able good ranged sweep. Hits low.
Jumping
j. A: This jumping elbow attack has a downward angle aimed at 4 o'clock (on 1p side). Can be used for air-to-air situations. Special cancel-able.
j. B: Benimaru performs a short ranged jumping knee attack can cross-up. Special cancel-able.
j. C: This jumping punch has the same downward angle as j. A but has a deeper vertical range. Good for jump-ins. Special cancel-able.
j. D: This long, horizontal ranged flying kick can be used as an air-to-air, a jump-in attack, and can cross-up easily. Special cancel-able. One of the best jumping attacks in the game due to being so versatile.
Blowback
st. CD: Benimaru stays in place while delivering a powerful, long ranged horizontal side kick. Great to use as a poke. Only cancelable on hit (won’t cancel into command normals).
j. CD: This kick is best used for ground-to-air coverage because it whiffs on crouching characters and has a upward aiming angle.
Throws
Catch & Shoot - (b/f+C) close
Benimaru grabs the opponent, then knees them in the face. The opponent lands near the corner of the screen
Can be broken
Soft knockdown
Front Suplex - (b/f+D) close
Benimaru belly-to-belly suplexes the opponent. The opponent lands a character spaces away from Benimaru, and recovers slightly after him allowing for a meaty.
Can be broken
Hard knockdown
Spinning Knee Drop - in air (b/f+C) close
Benimaru grabs the opponent mid-air then drops them straight them under his knees. The opponent recovers slightly after Benimaru & lands two characters spaces away from him.
Hard knockdown
As of 3.10 balance changes he can also combo into this.
Command Moves
Jackknife Kick - (f+B)
Benimaru soccer kicks the opponent. Crushes lows (lower body invulnerability) & is cancel-able into special moves on hit
Flying Drill - (down + D) (if in air)
Benimaru brakes his jump to drill down diagonally towards the opponent. Doesn't combo into anything.
3 hits if performed from a jump (-3F on block), 2 hits if performed from a hop (-2F on block).
Doesn't knockdown
Special Moves
Iai-Geri - (qcf + B/D)
Benimaru performs a lighting fast kick attack aimed at the opponent's face. Comes out in 6 frames & is best used within combos or to use as a quick close ranged punish. It's hard to punish if blocked, but it is susceptible to being whiff punished by sweeps because of its long whiff recovery.
Can be cancelled from crouching & standing light & heavy normals attacks
EX: Has 3 frames of start-up & much harder to punish by itself.
Inazuma Sandan-Geri - (down, up + K)
This is the follow-up of Iai-Geri, 2 kicks (the animation of Far D, then his old dp+K). Always best used when Iai-Geri is hit-confirmed; punishable is whiffed or blocked.
Soft knockdown
First hit is super cancel-able
EX:Last hit of his follow-up does 2 extra hits. Best used at the end of combos for extra damage.
Raimeitou - (qcb + A/C)
Benimaru throws out a lightning crescent slash towards the opponent. Best used as a pre-emptive poke (because of its slow start-up) or to be used as a combo extender during max mode.
Light punch version travels a short distance & is hard to punish midscreen.
Heavy punch version travels farther & juggles the opponent. But has very slow start-up (susceptible to being knocked out of before it hits), and has very bad recovery if whiffed. The upside is that it is safe on block.
Soft knockdown
EX: The slash attack turns into a tall projectile that travels full screen.
Raijinken - (qcf+A/C)
Benimaru throws out a lightning ball punch. The opponent is stunned momentarily if hit grounded, while soft knockdowns jumping opponents.
Light punch version is aimed in-front of Benimaru horizontally. The range surrounding the lightning ball is deceptively large which can catch opponents jumping towards you pre-emptively or stopping opponents dashing towards you at a mid-range. Can combo from Benimaru's standing heavy normals. Can be evaded by some characters sweeps & command normal slides. Generally this is the version to go for instead of the heavy one as it covers better angles and faster too.
Heavy punch version is aimed diagonally above his head. Whiffs on crouching opponents. Has slower start-up than the light punch version & can be knocked out of if used as a last second reaction anti-air.
Super Cancel-able
EX: This is the light punch version animation but has less start-up with the same amount of range. When hit, the opponent is stunned, placed mid-air in a juggle-able state.
Air Raijinken - (qcf+A/C)
Benimaru performs an aerial haymaker surrounded by electricity. This move very briefly keeps Benimaru airborne. When hit, the opponent is briefly stunned similar to the grounded Raijinken. This move might whiff on crouching opponents if performed too really during the jumping.
Light punch version (A) moves Benimaru slightly towards the opponent
Heavy punch version (C) moves Benimaru slightly away from the opponent
Can be cancelled from all Benimaru's jumping normal attacks
EX: The opponent is stunned momentarily in the air then falls to the ground causing a soft knockdown, while Benimaru briefly pauses then lands straight down.
Benimaru Collider - close (hcb,f + A/C)
Benimaru grabs then shocks the opponent. The opponent drops to their knees.
1-Frame command grab. Can combo from Benimaru's special cancel-able ground normals (except cr. D)
Hard knockdown
EX: More damage & can follow up with any attack while the opponent is slumping to the ground.
Super Special Moves
Rai-Kou Ken - (qcf, qcf + A/C)
The super version of Raijinken, with more damage & much larger surrounding attack area. Lands 5 hits.
Can combo from Benimaru's special cancel-able ground heavy normals.
Light punch version points in-front of Benimaru. The heavy punch version follows the diagonal direction of the normal heavy punch Raijinken which can whiff on crouching opponents.
Hard knockdown
Max: Fully invincible, faster start-up, more damage with a larger attack area. Best used as an anti-air or at the end of certain combos.
Benimaru Rising Shot - (qcf, qcf + B/D)
Benimaru quickly rushes towards the opponent with a lightning kick that travels a bit over half-screen distance towards the opponent. On hit, Benimaru hit the opponent with a fierce lightning axe kick. Best utilized at the end of combos because of the knockdown or to use as a quick far range punish.
Punish-able on block and if whiffed
Can be knocked out of while traveling towards the opponent
Can combo from Benimaru's light and heavy ground normals
Max:Travels a bit farther than the normal super version, more damaging but has the same start-up time.
Climax Super Special Moves
Raiha Jin-Ou Ken - (qcb, hcf + A+C)
Benimaru zaps the opponent with a full-screen horizontal lightning snake strike. Benimaru is fully invincible throughout this move but is stuck in recovery for a while.
The lightning strike is active for a short amount of time, which can be evaded easily by the opponent by a roll on reaction
Combos
(any special information about the character combos if needed)
Meterless: 3 hits that ends in his Iai-Geri and Inazuna Sandan-Geri. 177 DMG.
1 Meter: 3 hits that ends in his Rai-Kou Ken. 233 DMG
EX: 3 hits that ends in his MAX Rai-Kou Ken. 335 DMG.
0 meter
Anywhere
cr.B, Rush Combo = (197 DMG)
cr.B, cr.B, hcb,f+A/C = (148 DMG)
cl.D, qcf+B/D > d,u+K = (200 DMG)
cr.A, cl.D, qcf+B/D > d,u+K = (215 DMG)
Mid-Screen/Corner
st. CD, qcb+C = 141/180 DMG
Corner only
st.CD, f+B, qcb+C, qcf+B/D > d,u+K (279 DMG)
cl. D xx qcb A > qcf D - d~u K = (251 DMG)
(doesn't work on small characters)
1 meter
Anywhere
cr.B, cr.B, cr.B, qcf+B/D, SC, qcfx2+K (262 DMG)
(Lower the amount of cr.B's depending on how far you are from the opponent. You can super cancel the first hit of the qcf+B/D > d,u+B/D follow-up for more damage)
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