The King of Fighters 2002/Kusanagi

Movelist

Normal Throws

1. Hatsugane - b/f+C

2. Issetsu Seoi Nage - b/f+D

• Kusanagi grabs the opponent and slams them down behind him
• hard knockdown, giving you enough time to set up a mixup before the opponent gets up
• opponent will get up with their back turned

Command Normals

1. Geshiki: Naraku Otoshi - d+C(in air)

• Kusanagi does an overhead smash with both hands
• hard knockdown if it hits an airborne opponent
• has a crossup hitbox, but not as big as kof98's hitbox
• can be used during a backdash to make him backdash further
• has a lot of stun on hit and can therefore hit really early during a jump and be comboed after

2. Geshiki: Goufu You - f+B

• Kusanagi performs a forward axe kick that does two hits, coming out very quickly
• cancellable on the second hit if cancelled into
• overhead on the second hit if not cancelled into
• does much more damage if not cancelled into than if it was
• does a large amount of guardcrush (3 blocked f+B's will guardcrush the opponent)

3. 88 Shiki - df+D

• a kneeling two kick attack, both kicks hitting low and dealing decent damage
• comes out very fast and easy to combo into
• not cancellable
• the hitbox is not identical to Kyo's - KUsanagi's hits further horizontally than Kyo's, so that the second hit will rarely whiff

Special Moves

1. 108 Shiki: Yami Barai - qcf+P

• projectile that travels along the ground
• C version travels faster than the A version but has more recovery

2. 100 Shiki: Oniyaki - dp+P

• Kusanagi does a vertical anti-air attack that comes out very fast
• C version goes much higher than the A version - both are very punishable if blocked, especially C version
• A version knocks down on the first hit, but the C version's first hit does not knock down - the second hit does not hit many crouching opponents, so it's risky to try to use it on a grounded opponent even though it has more invincibility than the A version
• both dps have autoguard until Kusanagi leaves the ground
• free cancellable into
• free cancellable out of on the first hit

3. 101 Shiki: Oboroguruma - rdp+K

• Kusanagi flies diagonally upwards with a few kicks
• B version does one kick and the opponent is put into a jugglable state afterwards
• D version comes out slower and does 3 kicks
• third kick of the D version is a hard knockdown
• free cancellable into
• if blocked, both versions are very punishable, especially the D version

4. 75 Shiki Kai - qcf+KK

• Kusanagi jumps into the air with a kick. If K is pressed again, he will do a second kick
• the second kick can be delayed such that you get a frame advantage on block. The opponent can crouch block the second hit unless Kusanagi delays it
• if the opponent stand blocks this move, it doesn't push Kusanagi back, allowing him to have a frame advantage and do a close C. If they are crouching, Kusanagi gets pushed back, out of close C range
• qcf+DD allows you to juggle with anything after, but only very few things juggle if qcf+BB is used
• free cancellable into

5. 212 Shiki: Kototsuki You - hcb+K

• Kusanagi runs forward - if he gets into range, he will attempt a blockable attack(very low damage) followed by a grab(decent damage)
• after a juggle (from qcf+DD), if the move isn't timed right, it is possible for the first hit to connect and the followup grab to miss
• the move has a lot of recovery frames, but the opponent must run forward to punish. Some characters might have trouble punishing this move well
• even if opponent was initially with their back turned when this move hits, they will be facing the forward if the grab part connects - therefore, ending combos with this move isn't advisable if their back is turned

6. 910 Shiki: Nue Tsumi - qcb+P

• Kusanagi begins punching upwards. If he is hit before this punch actually occurs, he will execute a counter, either Ryuu Iri or Tora Fuse, mentioned below
• if the counter does not activate, the punch he does can still hit the opponent. This punch is very difficult to punish on block
• the counters activate against any normal attack that isn't a jump attack. The punch itself has some invincibility
• free cancellable out of

6a. Geshiki: Ryuu Iri - as a high counter

• Kusanagi does an elbow attack that knocks the opponent over but doesn't do a hard knockdown

6b. Geshiki: Tora Fuse - as a low counter

• Kusanagi does an overhead punch pounding the opponent to the floor
• hard knockdown

DMs

1. Ura 108 Shiki: Orochi Nagi - qcb hcf+P (can be held)

SDMs

1. Ura 108 Shiki: Orochi Nagi - qcb hcf+P (can be held)

• Kusanagi's body becomes surrounded by fire and the flames will remain surrounding Kyo while he is holding P
• flames surrounding Kusanagi absorb projectiles
• the flames that are thrown, can do three hits. It is possible to juggle the opponent if only first and second hits connect
• good recovery if the thrown flames are blocked

HSDM

1. Saishuu Kessen Ougi Reishiki - qcfx2+AC

• Kusanagi creates a huge pillar of flame in front of him, then does a combo on the opponent ending in an anti-air uppercut
• does more damage than any other move in the game aside from Daimon's HSDM
• if blocked, the move is very punishable but does good chip damage if opponent has no stock and is close to dying
• comes out very fast, easy to combo from weak attacks