The King of Fighters 2002 UM/Sie Kensou

Movelist

Normals

Close

• cl.A/B/C/D are all cancellable
• cl.A/B chain into themselves and each other

Standing

• s.A is cancellable
• s.B is Kensou's furthest reaching normal and a decent hop killer
• s.C hits twice and is cancellable on the 2nd hit. It will connect both hits from a pretty far distance
• s.D is slow, but a decent anticipatory anti-air

Crouching

• cr.A/C are cancellable
• cr,A/B chain into themselves and each other.

Jump

• j.A/D are very solid jump in/combo starters
• j.B crosses up on standing opponents, but misses frequently on crouching ones
• Kensou lacks a solid crossup normal, but j.D acts as a fake crossup til the opponent understand there is nearly no risk of being crossed up.
• poor jump normals are mildly augmented by Dragon Tear special

Blowback

• s.CD is whiff cancellable
• j.CD has an interesting downward hitbox for jump ins.

Overall a pretty mediocre set of normals with some upsides.

Throws

Power Blast - (f/b + C)

• Soft knockdown

Psychic Slam - (b/f + D)

• Soft knockdown

Command Moves

Tiger Takedown Punch - (f + A)

• Kensou slams both fist into the opponent. Hits overhead
• can be comboed into, then becomes cancellable, but moves Kensou pretty far back so usually can't connect afterwards.
• can cancel into BC mode

Reverse Mass Kick - (f + B)

• Kensou hop forward with a short flying kick. Hits mid.
• can be comboed into and then becomes cancellable
• good spacing tool
• slightly negative on block

Special Moves

Super Bullet Attack - (qcb + A/C)

• Kensou's fireball move.
• A version is much slower to move across the screen allowing time to position
• A version is even on block point blank, C version is pretty negative on block

Earth Dragon Fang Nibble - (hcf + A)

• Kensou dashes in with an elbow then a two kick combo.
• causes soft knockdown
• good combo ender
• very unsafe on block

Heaven Dragon Fang Nibble - (hcf + C)

• Kensou kicks the opponent into the air with an ascending kick combo
• whiffs on crouching opponents
• can be comboed into
• with correct spacing can be used as an anti-air

Dragon Talon Tear - in air, (qcb + A/C)

• Kensou strike diagonally downward with his fists.
• hit mid
• can be comboed into
• A version is faster
• C version has a longer pause before descending and hit for 1 more hit than A version
• both versions be tiger kneed (qcb+ub)
• both versions a relatively safe on block

Dragon Uppercut - (rdp + B/D)

• Kensou spins upward in a cyclone of kicks
• can combo into them
• B version is faster and covers less vertical space
• C version moves Kensou forward a bit more and covers more vertical space
• both versions are unsafe on block
• B version is Kensou's go to reversal

Arrow Kick - (qcf + B/D)

• Kensou flips on his hand and send the opponent flying with a double kick
• both versions allow a juggle state on hit that you can combo into lots of specials, supers or reset
• cancellable into, but not comboable.
  • the first part of the active frames of both versions will negate fireballs and continue to the upward kick

Desperation Moves

Dragon God Kick - (qcf hcb + B)

• super version of Kensou's hcf+A move, ends with his dp kick.
• can combo into it as a decent ender
• causes soft knockdown

Dragon God Drubbing - (qcf hcb + D)

• super version of Kensou's hcf+C move, ends in dp kick
• can combo into it as an ender or for aerial punishes
• causes soft knockdown

RESPECT Meat Dumplings - (qcb x 2 + A/C)

• Kensou pulls a giant dumpling out to snack on

Super Desperation Move

Hermit Power Blast - close (qcf x 2 + AC)

• Kensou grabs the opponent and fills them with fireballs.
• Causes 34% damage to the opponent
• unblockable command grab, but also can combo into
• causes soft knockdown

HSDM

Dragon Awakening - (qcf x 2 +BD)

• Kensou throws out a fireball the causes soft knockdown on hit.
• a follow up energy ball floats back on screen from the opposite direction which if Kensou hits he goes into a powered up mode.
• Kensou does about 50% more damage when he is in his powered up state.
• powered up state lasts until the next round or Kensou dies.

Combos

0 stock

• (j.D) cl.D, hcf+A
• cl.C/cl.D, f+B/f+A
• cr. B/cr.A, cr. Ax2, far B
• crossup j.B, cl. B, rdp+D
• hop B/C/D, cl. B, rdp+D

2 stocks

• rdp+D(on 2nd hit), (SC) qcf,hcb+D
• cl.D, BC run, cl.A/cr.A, rdp+D(2), qcf+K, run, rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+D
• cl.D, BC run, cl.D, [ hcf+A(2), qcb+A(1) ]x2, (SC) qcf,hcb+K (approaching corner)
• cl.D, BC run, cl.A/cr.A, rdp+D(2), [ hcf+A(2), qcb+A(1) ]x2, (SC) qcf,hcb+K (approaching corner)

3 stocks

• In corner 2 stocks combo, replace qcf,hcb+K by qcfx2+AC SDM

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Kensou Master Class