The King of Fighters 2002 UM/EX Kensou

Movelist

Normals

Close

• cl.A/B/C/D are all cancellable
• cl.A/B chain into themselves
• cl.A chains into cl.B

Standing

• s.A/C are cancellable
• s.B is EX Kensou's furthest poke
• s.C is a two hit move that is cancellable on the 2nd hit. Has very decent range and usually connects both hits.

Crouching

• cr.A/B chain into themselves
• cr.A chains into cr.B
• cr.A/C are cancellable

Jumping

• j.B remains EX Kensou's best crossup tool
• j.C is also a good crossup on crouching opponents and can be quite ambiguous.
• j.D has a better hitbox than normal Kensou and is yet another crossup tool

Blowback

• standing and jumping CD both cause soft knockdown
• s.CD is whiff cancellable
• j.CD has a nice downward angle and can be effective as preemptive air-to-air or jump in attack.

Throws

Inch Blast - (b/f + C)

• causes hard knockdown

Psychic Slam - (b/f + D)

• causes soft knockdown

Command Moves

Tiger Takedown Punch - (f + A)

• EX Kensou slams his fists downward on the opponent. Hits overhead.
• can combo into it and it becomes special cancellable, but loses the overhead property
• could be used in a frame trap like: cl.C, f+A, pause hcb+p

Reverse Mass Kick - (f + B)

• EX Kensou performs a hop-like flying kick. Hits mid.
• can combo into it and it special cancellable on hit even when not comboed into
• can use it as an advancing move with anti-hop properties.
• lacks low body armor enough to be super effective at beating out lows.

Special Moves

Arrow Dash Blast - (qcb + A/C)

• EX Kensou dashes forward with a fist, hitting twice and causing soft knockdown.
• hits mid
• can be combo into
• A version goes half the screen to hit. C version goes full screen so could be used as a punisher from many distances
• both versions are negative on block, but C version is extremely negative
• Super cancellable

Dragon Drubbing - (dp + A/C) (C rapidly)

• EX Kensou flings fist after fist at the opponent ending in an upward double strike causing soft knockdown
• hits mid
• can be combo into
• C version can be rapidly pressed to achieve two extra hits
• both versions are pretty negative on block
• Super cancellable

Dragon Scale Tackle - (rdp + A/C)

• EX Kensou throws out a damaging back hand to the opponent
• both versions cause soft knockdown
• A version is stationary and 1 hit whereas C version EX Kensou dashes forward a bit and is two hits.
• cannot be comboed into
• both versions have upper body armor able to absorb a hit and continue the attack
• use can use the frame of armor to absorb a mid fireball like Athena's
• no armor to lows so can be hit out of it if opponent guesses right

Earth Dragon Fang Nibble - (hcf + A)

• EX Kensou launches himself at the opponent in a flurry of punches & kicks
• it is a grounded horizontal attack that hits mid
• causes soft knockdown
• can be comboed into
• pretty negative on block

Heaven Dragon Fang Nibble - (hcf + C)

• an upward diagonal kick hitting multiple times
• hits high so will whiff on crouching opponents
• can be comboed into
• situational anti-air

Arrow Kick - (qcf + B/D)

• EX Kensou plants his palm and smashes the opponent upward with a vertical kick
• hits twice and causes a soft knockdown
• on hit creates a juggle state where EX Kensou can follow up with lots of options or a reset
• unlike normal Kensou, can combo into this move. In the corner you can get more combo options into it
• the first part of the active frames of both versions will negate fireballs and continue to the upward kick
• not a very effective reversal or anti-air

Dragon Uppercut - (rpd + B/D)

• Kensou spins upward in a cyclone of kicks
• unlike normal Kensou you can't 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 EX Kensou's go to reversal
• Super cancellable

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

• Kensou strike diagonally downward with his fists.
• hits mid
• unlike normal Kensou can't be comboed into
• A version is faster
• C version has a longer pause before descending and hits for 1 more hit than A version
• both versions be tiger kneed (qcb,ub+p)
• both versions are negative on block another difference from normal Kensou

Desperation Moves

Dragon God Kick - (qcf, hcb + B)

• super version of his (hcf+A) move ending with an upward kick
• Hits mid
• soft knockdown
• can combo into it
• first hit of the super hits from 1/3 the screen away for punishing purposes
• great way to end a combo if you have stock

Dragon God Drubbing - (qcf, hcb + D)

• super version of his (hcf+C) move
• Hits pretty high, completely whiffs on low crouchers
• can combo into it
• connects from about 1/3 screen for punishing purposes

Super Dragon Fist - (qcf x 2 + A/C)

• EX Kensou clobbers his opponents with a super version of his (dp+A/C) moves
• unlike the special there is no difference between the two moves.
• hits mid
• causes hard knockdown
• can combo into it

Super Desperation Moves

Dragon God Drubbing - (qcf, hcb + BD)

• EX version of his qcf,hcb+D
• Hits pretty high, completely whiffs on low crouchers
• causes soft knockdown
• for punishing purposes it has the same range as his (qcf,hcb+D) super
• can combo into it
• great way to add damage to finish a match

HSDM

Arrow Dash Dragon Crunch - (qcf, b, f + AC)

• EX Kensou dashes fist first into the opponent and upon hitting unleashes a wave of energy through them
• causes hard knockdown
• will connect from full screen as a punish
• combos from most of his cancelable normals

Combos

• You can often replace cr.A by other buttons but note that cr.A is your fastest and safest button.

0 stock

Anywhere

• cr.B/j.X, cr.Ax1~2, st.B

( A safe 4 hits string useful for some chip. )

• cr.B, cr.A, qcb+A/dp+C(6)

( The main low bnb you can default to. qcb+A does more damage but dp+C is slightly safer and mostly better to confirm into a Super Cancel and for extra damage close to corner. )

• j.X, cl.D, hcf+A

( Good jump-in conversion. cl.D is a bit slow so make sure your jump-in is deep enough, hcf+A is bad on block. )

• j.X, cr.A, qcb+A/rdp+D

( Forfeits some damage for an easier air-to-ground link. rdp+D does more than qcb+A but lacks horizontal range so you want a deep jump-in. )

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, run, rdp+D/hcf+C

( Best midscreen meterless damage without jump-in. )

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, qcb+C

( Easier but less damaging version of the previous. )

Corner

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, TK j.qcb+A, rdp+D/hcf+C

( More damaging corner version of the previous route. The TK isn't tight. )

• j.X, cl.D/cr.Ax1~2, dp+C(6), rdp+D/hcf+C

( Most damaging meterless combo. )

• cr.B, cr.A, dp+C(6), rdp+D/hcf+C

( Low version of the previous combo. )

1 stock

Anywhere

• cr.B, cr.A, cr.A/st.A, qcfx2+P

( Good low 3 hit confirm into super. Input it as cr.B, cr.A, qcf+A/qcf,d+A -comes out as st.A/cr.A with the right timing- then qcf+P triggers super. )

• j.X, cr.Ax1~2, st.A, qcfx2+P

( Jump-in version of the previous. )

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, qcf,hcb+D

( Not much damage but nice and easy. )

2 stocks

Anywhere

• cl.D or (cr.B, cr.A), qcb+A(1)/dp+C(6), (SC) DM

( Main grounded SC conversion. Only qcf,hcb+D will connect after dp+C(6) but it won't fully connect off qcb+A(1) if not close to corner. )

• j.X, cr.A, qcb+A(1)/rdp+D(2), (SC) any DM

( Main jump-in SC conversion. )

• rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+D

( SC conversion from rdp+D anti-air. Super can miss even if rdp+D properly did two hits. )

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, run, rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+D

( Best midscreen 2 bars non-max damage without jump-in. )

• j.X, cl.D, BC run, cl.D/st.A/cr.A, dp+C(3~5), (C) rdp+D(2), dp+C(3~4), (C) rdp+D(2), (C) qcb+C(1), (SC) any DM

( Highest 2 bar damage with qcfx2+P as ender. If you add a jump-in and it's not in corner, the BC run into cl.D becomes very tight, use cr.A/st.A in that case. )

• j.X, cl.D, BC run, cl.D/st.A/cr.A, (dp+C(3), (C) rdp+D(2))x2, (C) dp+C(3~4), (SC) any DM

( Slightly less damaging but easier version of the previous route. )

• j.X, cl.D, BC run, st.A/cr.A, rdp+D(2), (C) dp+C(3~5), rdp+D(2), (C) dp+C(3), (C) rdp+D(2), (SC) any DM

( Easier max run for still good damage. A nice and easy one to default to. )

Corner

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, TK j.qcb+A, rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+D

( More damaging corner version of the previous non-max combo. )

• j.X, (cr.A, cr.A/st.A) or cl.D, dp+C(6), rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+D

( Most damaging 2 stocks non-max combo. )

• j.X, cl.D, BC run, st.A/cr.A, rdp+D(2), (C) dp+C(3~5), (C) rdp+D(2), (C) dp+C(6), (link) rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+D

( Easy max route you can default to in corner. )

3 stocks

Anywhere

• j.X, (cr.A, st.A/cr.A) or cl.D, qcf,b,f+AC

( Simple jump-in confirm into HDSM )

• (cr.B, cr.A, st.A/cr.A) or (cl.D,f+A), qcf,b,f+AC

( Grounded version. )

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, qcf,b,f+AC

• In 2 stocks max combo listed under Anywhere, replace the DM ender by qcf,hcb+BD

• In 2 stocks max combo listed under Anywhere, replace the last two moves by (C) qcf+B, qcf,b,f+AC

Corner

• cl.D, f+A, qcf,hcb+BD

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, TK j.qcb+A, qcf,b,f+AC

( In the corner, you need to time the HDSM so that it starts right as the falling opponent is at your height. )

• In 2 stocks max combo listed under Corner, replace the DM ender by qcf,hcb+BD

4 stocks

Anywhere

• (cr.B, cr.A) or cl.D, dp+C(6), (SC) qcf,hcb+BD

( Must Super Cancel as soon as possible after the hit or super doesn't fully connect midscreen. )

• j.X, st.A/cr.A, qcb+A(1)/rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+BD

( Main jump-in SC conversion. )

• rdp+D(1), (SC) qcf,hcb+BD

( SC conversion from rdp+D anti-air. On top of being stupidly hard, this one whiffs rather easily, to avoid. )

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, run, rdp+D(1), (SC) qcf,hcb+BD

( Again, too hard despite the odds of the super not fully connecting, to avoid. )

• In 2 stocks max combo listed under Anywhere, replace the last two moves by (C) qcf+B, run, rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+D

Corner

• j.X, (cr.A, cr.A/st.A) or cl.D, dp+C(6), rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+BD

( Most damaging 4 stocks combo. )

• cl.D, (delay) qcf+B, TK j.qcb+A, (delay) rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+BD

( If the first hit of the super doesn't connect, it'll whiff altogether so you need to delay rdp+D so that the opponent is low enough for the 1st hit to connect. )

• In 2 stocks max combo listed under Anywhere, replace the last two moves by (C) qcf+B, TK j.qcb+A, rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+D

5 stocks

Corner

• j.X, cl.D, BC run, st.A/cr.A, rdp+D(2), (C) dp+C(3~5), rdp+D(2), (C) dp+C(3), (C) rdp+D(2), (C) dp+C(6), rdp+D(2), (SC) qcf,hcb+BD

• j.X, cl.D, BC run, cl.D/st.A/cr.A, (dp+C(3), (C) rdp+D(2))x2, (C) dp+C(3~4), (C) qcf+B, TK j.qcb+A, qcf,b,f+AC

( Most damaging combo. )

Videos

Ex Kensou combos by Franck Frost
Ex Kensou Master Class

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