| '''2B>cl.A>2C>4/6B''' || || Optimized low light confirm. Substantially harder due to very strict link window between cl.A and 2C, but strongly recommended low starter.
| '''2B , cl.A , 2C''' || 126 || Optimized low light confirm. Substantially harder due to very strict link window between cl.A and 2C, but strongly recommended low starter.
|-
|-
| '''2B>cl.B''' || || EX Heart Attack-exclusive low/light starter, avoid using this starter outside of EX HA combos!
| '''2B , cl.B > 214AC ''' || 43 || EX Heart Attack-exclusive low/light starter, avoid using this starter outside of EX HA combos!
|}
|}
('''Note: The light starter that will be referenced in every combo will be the optimized one, that being "2B , cl.A , 2C". Also, "L>214AC" will be the reference for the Ex Heart Attack-exclusive light starter.''')
===Heavy Starters===
===Heavy Starters===
Line 53:
Line 54:
! Combo !! Damage !! Notes
! Combo !! Damage !! Notes
|-
|-
| '''j.X > ?''' || || Standard jump-in starter.
| '''(j.C ,) cl.D''' || (146) 80 || Standard jump-in starter. Without the jump-in cl.D is still your best heavy starter.
|-
| '''(j.C ,) cl.D (1) > 214CD''' || (108) 40 || EX Heart Attack-exclusive heavy starter. Very important to cancel after the first hit of cl.D into 214AC otherwise the pushback will make your followup whiff. Again, you can omit the jump in as cl.D is still your best heavy starter. Also don't worry about the damage here, the reward is great.
|}
|}
('''Note: EX Heart Attack-exclusive heavy starter will be shortened down to "H>214AC" for every combo its in''')
===Other Starters===
===Other Starters===
Line 60:
Line 64:
! Combo !! Damage !! Notes
! Combo !! Damage !! Notes
|-
|-
| CD || 75 ||
| CD || 75 || Fortunately, you'll be using CD a lot in neutral, and there's a good combo off of it.
|}
|}
('''Note:''' 'Other Starters' won't be referenced in the 'Combos' section.)
('''Note:''' 'Other Starters' won't be referenced in the 'Combos' section.)
Line 82:
Line 86:
! Combo!! Damage !! Stun !! Meter Gain !! Location !! notes
! Combo!! Damage !! Stun !! Meter Gain !! Location !! notes
| 2B, 2B, 2A > [2]8A || 148 || 180 || 20% || Anywhere || The all-time classic Leona combo. Unfortunately, it's not good in KOF XV as there are way better options now. Avoid doing this.
|-
| 2B, 2B, 2A > 4/6B > 214C, [2]8A || 213 || 250 || 40% || Anywhere || Non-optimized low starter using a much better combo route increasing damage, meter gain and stun. Should you be inconsistent with the optimized low starter then you can compromise with this combo instead.
|-
| '''Light Starter''' > [4]6B || 148 || 175 || >20% || Anywhere || Sometimes you are out of range for 2A to connect, in that case you should be going for 5a, which can't be cancelled into 4B making this the your only real meterless combo afterwards.
|-
|-
| (2B > 2B > 2A)/(cl.D) > 6B > 214C > [2]8A || 213/230 || 250 || 35% || Anywhere || Optimal light confirm. Can also be done from heavies.
| CD > [4]6B (whiff), [4]6D ~ 6D || 174 || 220 || 30% || Midscreen || CD confirm. Safe on block.
| CD > [4]6B (whiff), [4]6D ~ 6D || 174 || 220 || 30% || Midscreen || CD confirm. Safe on block.
Line 95:
Line 103:
! Combo!! Damage !! Stun !! Meter Gain !! Location !! notes
! Combo!! Damage !! Stun !! Meter Gain !! Location !! notes
|-
|-
| cl.A, cl.D (1) > 214AC, 2C > 4/6B > j.214C, [2]8A, (explosion) [4]6D || 341 || 355 || 55% || Anywhere || In the corner, you can add a [2]8C at the end for 383 damage.
| '''L>214AC''', 2C > 4/6B > j.214C, [2]8A, (explosion) [4]6D , ([2]8A) || 336 (365) || 335 (415) || 50 (60)% || Anywhere || Leona's Staple midscreen L>214AC combo. The [2]8A in parenthesis is only if you make it to the corner in the end.
|-
|-
| 2B > 2B > 2B > 5A > [4]6BD, [2]8A || 225 || 180 || 20% || Anywhere || In corner, you can end with [2]8C for just a bit more stun. Only combo that works when pushed out too far for 2A to connect.
| 2B > 2B > 2B > 5A > [4]6BD, [2]8A || 225 || 180 || 20% || Anywhere || In corner, you can end with [2]8C for just a bit more stun. Only combo that works when pushed out too far for 2A to connect.
| '''L>214AC''', 2C > 214P, [4]6D~6D || 253 || 235 || 30% || Anywhere || Utilizing the explosion special. Not recommended as it gives you less reward than going for the extended ones.
| '''H>214AC''', cl.A, cl.D (2) > 6B > j.214C, (explosion) CD (whiff) > [4]6C, [4]6B, 2D || (402) 355 || (535) 465 || (75) 70% || Anywhere || Max damage midscreen H>214AC combo. Very difficult combo that adds a lot of meter and stun than the normal BNB. If it's too hard then replace '''[4]6B, 2D''' to '''[2]8A''' which sacrifices damage for more consistency.
|-
| '''H>214AC''', 2C > 4/6B > j.214C, [2]8A, (explosion) [4]6C, [4]6B, [2]8A || 437 || 595 || 95% || Corner || H>214AC staple corner combo. Amazing damage, great stun and you almost gain double of the meter you spent.
|-
|-
| cl.A, cl.D (1) > 214AC, cl.A, cl.D (2) > 6B > j.214C, (explosion) CD (whiff) > [4]6C, [4]6B, [2]8A || 353 || 485 || 75% || Anywhere || Very difficult combo that adds a little bit more damage and a lot more meter and stun than the normal BNB.
| CD > [4]6B (whiff), [4]6BD, [2]8A || 202 || 220 || 25% || Midscreen || CD combo with meter burn. Decent, but not really optimal compared to your 1-bar combos.
Use the corresponding starter(s) from the 'Starters' section of this page.
>
Cancel the previous move into the following move. If preceded by a move in brackets, must cancel the start of the preceding move (AKA a 'Kara Cancel').
,
Link the previous move into the following move.
(X)
A move in brackets must whiff (not hit). Can also mean the move must be Kara Canceled.
~
Cancel the previous special into the following special.
cl.
Close to opponent.
f.
Far from opponent.
j.
Jumping move.
AA
Anti-air. Hit the opponent while they're mid-air.
[X]
Hold input briefly.
P & K
P and K each denote "Any Punch (A or C)" and "Any Kick (B or D)" respectively.
X/Y
Do either X move or Y move in a combo (Both final damage & stun values will be shown).
X * N {X} * N
Repeat 'X' input 'N' amount of times. Multiple inputs will be bundled into "{}".
Starters
Keep in mind: The combos in the "Combos" section have been tested using the first starter in each category (the combos in Bold).
The other starters in each table should also work in each case, but may not.
Light Starters
Combo
Damage
Notes
(2B ,) 2B , 2A
(76) 65
Standard low light confirm.
2B , cl.A , 2C
126
Optimized low light confirm. Substantially harder due to very strict link window between cl.A and 2C, but strongly recommended low starter.
2B , cl.B > 214AC
43
EX Heart Attack-exclusive low/light starter, avoid using this starter outside of EX HA combos!
(Note: The light starter that will be referenced in every combo will be the optimized one, that being "2B , cl.A , 2C". Also, "L>214AC" will be the reference for the Ex Heart Attack-exclusive light starter.)
Heavy Starters
Combo
Damage
Notes
(j.C ,) cl.D
(146) 80
Standard jump-in starter. Without the jump-in cl.D is still your best heavy starter.
(j.C ,) cl.D (1) > 214CD
(108) 40
EX Heart Attack-exclusive heavy starter. Very important to cancel after the first hit of cl.D into 214AC otherwise the pushback will make your followup whiff. Again, you can omit the jump in as cl.D is still your best heavy starter. Also don't worry about the damage here, the reward is great.
(Note: EX Heart Attack-exclusive heavy starter will be shortened down to "H>214AC" for every combo its in)
Other Starters
Combo
Damage
Notes
CD
75
Fortunately, you'll be using CD a lot in neutral, and there's a good combo off of it.
(Note: 'Other Starters' won't be referenced in the 'Combos' section.)
Combos
Rush Auto Combo
Combo
Damage
Meter cost
notes
cl.A > A > A > B
121
0
Rush combo ending in a special move.
cl.A > A > A > C
223
1
Rush combo ending in a super.
cl.A > A > A > D
342
2
Rush combo ending in a Max super.
cl.A > A > A > A
436
3
Rush combo ending in a Climax super.
Meterless
Combo
Damage
Stun
Meter Gain
Location
notes
2B, 2B, 2A > [2]8A
148
180
20%
Anywhere
The all-time classic Leona combo. Unfortunately, it's not good in KOF XV as there are way better options now. Avoid doing this.
2B, 2B, 2A > 4/6B > 214C, [2]8A
213
250
40%
Anywhere
Non-optimized low starter using a much better combo route increasing damage, meter gain and stun. Should you be inconsistent with the optimized low starter then you can compromise with this combo instead.
Light Starter > [4]6B
148
175
>20%
Anywhere
Sometimes you are out of range for 2A to connect, in that case you should be going for 5a, which can't be cancelled into 4B making this the your only real meterless combo afterwards.
Light Starter/Heavy Starter > 4/6B > 214C, [2]8A
234/(288)230
275/(300)230
40/(45)35%
Anywhere
Optimal meterless light/heavy confirm.
CD > [4]6B (whiff), [4]6D ~ 6D
174
220
30%
Midscreen
CD confirm. Safe on block.
CD > [4]6B, [2]8C
198
240
35%
Corner
You can also cancel the CD into [4]6A for the same combo, though that cancel has its own flaws on block.
Max damage midscreen H>214AC combo. Very difficult combo that adds a lot of meter and stun than the normal BNB. If it's too hard then replace [4]6B, 2D to [2]8A which sacrifices damage for more consistency.
