The King of Fighters '98 UMFE/Orochi Shermie

Introduction

Orochi Shermie is an interesting character that mainly plays a poking and zoning game. The main attraction to Orochi Shermie is her static projectiles that she can place at 4 distances on the screen. These last for a while, and can make the opponent think twice before going in. She can even combo after them when they hit, if the spacing is correct. In addition to these, she has a good set of normals, alongside a more direct close-range fireball that helps her control space and stop the opponent from getting in. She also has an aerial stomp move that she can use to change up her aerial trajectory, which also causes a hard knockdown. Her main weaknesses include a lack of a invincible reversal, and that a lot of her stuff doesn't connect well on short crouchers.

Changes from Previous Versions

98 to 98UM

Normals:

• cl.C now hits further below

• st.C now has 5 frames less startup and 8 frames less recovery

• st.D now recovers 2 frames faster

• cr.B now recovers 4 frames faster

• cr.D now recovers 5 frames faster

• j.D's active frames are now 3 frames shorter

• nj.D's active frames are now 2 frames shorter

Specials:

• hcf+X's projectiles now all come out at the same speed; the recovery has increased 2f, 4f, and 6f for the B, C, and D versions respectively, but overall the move is faster

• qcb+P's first hitbox has been increased in size, so it can now hit all crouchers; both hits will connect on hit, but the second one can still whiff on block against small crouchers

• qcb+A now has 7 frames less startup, so you can connect it from lights, but the recovery has increased so the move is 5 frames longer in total

• qcb+C now has 2 frames less startup

Supers:

• qcfx2+C now has 15 frames more recovery

• qcfx2+K now has 3 frames more startup and 3 frames less recovery; it can destroy regular projectiles but will lose out against some super projectiles

98UM to 98UMFE

Normals:

• cr.B is now easier to chain into itself

• cl.C no longer whiffs on short characters

• j.D now has faster startup

Specials:

• qcb+K now deals more damage

• hcf+X's B, C, and D versions now have the same recovery as the A version (shorter)

Normal Moves

Close

• cl.A: Same as st.A.

• cl.B: Same as st.B.

• cl.C: Combo filler. Same damage as cr.C. Your main heavy normal for combos. Cancelable.

• cl.D: Same as st.D.

Standing

• st.A: Basic anti-hop button. Whiffs on most crouchers and doesn't have much range. Chainable and cancelable.

• st.B: 2-hitting kick. First hit is cancelable into specials, second one is not cancelable but is safe on block. However, the second hit whiffs on a lot of crouchers, which leaves Shermie open for a punish.

• st.C: Covers an arc in front of Shermie. Very good range, speed, and active frames. Amazing poke in general.

• st.D: A little more range than cr.C, but slower. Good anti-air, but only if used early enough. Whiffs on crouchers.

Crouching

• cr.A: Fast, but not much range. Chainable and cancelable.

• cr.B: Very fast and good range. Nice low poke and combo starter. Chainable.

• cr.C: Very reliable anti-air! Same damage as cl.C. Cancelable.

• cr.D: Good range, a little more than cr.B. A bit slow, but active for longer than a typical sweep.

Jumping

• j.A: Nice air-to-air. Hits a bit above Orochi Shermie.

• j.B: Also a great air-to-air, and still viable as a jump-in.

• j.C: Fantastic jump-in. Easy to hit on all crouchers, and just as easy to crossup.

• j.D: Another great jump-in. Deals a little more damage than j.C, and has more horizontal range. A little harder to crossup with.

• nj.D: Most horizontal range of her jump normals together with j.CD. Okay as a defensive air-to-air.

CD Normals

• st.CD: Has a lot of low invincibility. Cancel window is not generous, so it is hard to confirm a counter hit. Cancelable on hit, block, and whiff.

• j.CD: Same great horizontal range as nj.D. A bit harder to hit crouchers with compared to j.C and j.D. Good for jump-in pressure.

Throws

Bakurai: b/f+C (close)

• Regular throw, techable. Orochi Shermie suplexes the opponent, causing them to slide forwards and causing a hard knockdown.

Enrai: b/f+D (close)

• Regular throw., techable. Orochi Shermie throws the opponent behind her fullscreen, causing a soft knockdown.

Command Moves

Kourai: f+B

• A two-hitting command normal.

• Second hit is an overhead.

• When canceled into, the second hit loses the overhead property but becomes cancelable (unless late-canceled, in which case it behaves like the raw version).

• Good as a longer-range poke, as it's fairly safe on block.

• First hit will whiff on short crouchers.

Special Moves

Yatanagi no Muchi: qcb+A/C

• Orochi Shermie throws out a lightning disc in front of her.

• A short-ranged projectile with 2 hits.

• Both hits will connect properly in a combo, but the first hit can whiff on short crouchers when done in neutral.

• A good move to poke at midrange with.

• Can also be used to destroy the opponent's projectiles.

Syajitsu no Odori: qcb+B/D

• Orochi Shermie does a twirling kick into the air and covers her feet in lightning.

• Mostly good if you need to chip someone out, as the move is not very safe to just throw out in neutral.

• Fairly safe on block.

Mugetu no Raiun: hcf+A/B/C/D

• Orochi Shermie blows a kiss and creates an electric ball at one of 4 distances from her.

• The balls linger for a while on screen, so she can use them as defensive walls to keep the opponent from approaching.

• The balls rely on prediction, as you need to choose the distance where you think the opponent will be by the time the ball comes out.

• If the balls hit the opponent, Orochi Shermie can have time to combo afterwards, depending on the distance and timing of the hit.

• All the versions of the balls have standardized frame data.

Raijin no Tue: qcf+B/D (in air)

• Orochi Shermie does a vault kick in the air.

• D version vaults higher in the air than the B version.

• Hits overhead.

• Good for changing up her aerial trajectory to make it harder for the opponent to anti-air her.

• Causes hard knockdown on hit.

• Can be done during a backdash or step dash as well.

• Pretty safe on block if it connects closer to the ground.

Desperation Moves

Syukumei - Genei - Shinshi: qcfx2+B/D

• Orochi Shermie does a flying electric dropkick move forwards.

• Will destroy regular projectiles, but loses to super projectiles. Can be used as an anti-zoning move.

• Only combos from heavies.

• MAX version does more damage and will destroy super projectiles.

Ankoku Raikouken: qcfx2+A/C

• Orochi Shermie creates a big ball of lightning in front of her.

• Good startup speed, so it works as an excellent punishing move.

• Will combo from lights and heavies.

• MAX version creates a bigger electric ball that does more damage.

Combos

General Notes:

• In any metered combo, you can replace qcfx2+P with qcfx2+AC or qcfx2+B with qcfx2+BD for more damage if you have the resources.

Meterless

Low

cr.B, cr.A, qcb+A

Mid/Jump-In

(j.X), cl.C, (f+B), qcb+C

f+B can only be added at very close range, otherwise the combo will drop.

With Meter

Low

cr.B, cr.A/st.A, qcfx2+P

You can do this as cr.B, qcf+A, qcf+P for an easier cancel.

Mid/Jump-In

(j.X), cl.C/cr.C, qcfx2+B

With Quick MAX

Low

cr.B, cr.A, ABC, cl.C, qcfx2+P

Hold forward during Quick MAX activation to ensure you're close enough for cl.C.