The King of Fighters XV/Maxima/Combos

Combo Notation Guide

Notation	Meaning
X Starter	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).

Light Starters

Combo	Damage	Notes
2A/5A/f.5A > 3C	82	Standard light into 3C, leads into 214A/214AC/236A/236AC.
cl.5B > 3C	87	Standing low light confirm.
2B > 2A > 3C	92	Standard low light confirm.
j.B/j.A > cl.5B > 3C	127	Light jump in into a low standing light into 3C, leads to the same stuff as other starters.

Heavy Starters

Combo	Damage	Notes
cl.5D > 3C	137	Highest damage ground starter.
j.C > cl.5D > 3C	200	Highest damage jump in starter.
j.C > cl.5C > 3C	162/200	Most reliable jump in, make sure to do 3C after the first hit of cl.5C when not a crossup, otherwise it will whiff.
2C	70	Poke that links into 3C when close and 214A/AC and 236A/AC, add armor to the mix and this is one mighty starter

Other Starters

Combo	Damage	Notes
CD > 3C	132	Can be done in the corner or after using 236C to get close enough anywhere else.
236CD > 3C	135	Standard Shatter Strike starter.
3C	60	Can be used as an anti air to link into 214C, 63214BD and 623D, or as a grounded hit to link into 214A/AC, 236A/AC and 63214BD (also 63214B if close enough).

(Note: 'Other Starters' won't be referenced in the 'Combos' section.)

Combos

Please note, any combo that starts with 2A 3C can also be started with cl.5B 3C, 2B 2A 3C (when close enough), or j.C cl.C 3C.

Rush Auto Combo

Combo	Damage	Meter cost	notes
cl.A > A > A > B	172	0	Rush combo ending in a special move (214A), can be linked into supers.
cl.A > A > A > C	257	1	Rush combo ending in a super (236236A).
cl.A > A > A > D	393	2	Rush combo ending in a Max super (236236AC).
cl.A > A > A > A	467	3	Rush combo ending in a Climax super.

Meterless

Combo	Damage	Stun	Meter cost	Meter Gain	Location	notes
Light Starter > 214A	190	170	0	.25	Anywhere	Basic combo, safe on block but can be punished with guard cancel roll. HKD on hit.
2A > 236A	120	90	0	.10	Anywhere	Basic light confirm if too far away for 3C, unsafe on block and can be too unsafe.
2B > 2A > 2A > 236A	145	135	0	.20	Anywhere	Close low light confirm.
Heavy Starter > 214A	245	210	0	.30	Anywhere	Plus on block and safe to guard cancel roll.
2C > 214A	184	150	0	.20	Anywhere	Poke confirm, 236236A will whiff at far ranges.
5C > 3C > 63214B , 214P	205	100	0	.25	Anywhere	Cancel after first hit of 5C, can be done without the followup for a setup.

EX

Combo	Damage	Stun	Meter cost	Meter Gain	Location	notes
Light Starter > 214AC > 66 > 3C > 214C	340	270	.5	.35	Anywhere	His most reliable BNB, leads into HKD.
Light Starter > 214AC > 66 > 3C > 623D	355	150	.5	.40	Anywhere	Alternate ender, does more damage but not as plus as 214C
Light Starter > 214AC > 3C > 236C > 623D	437	210	.5	.55	Corner	Corner only juggle, requires timing between 3C > 236C however you can either delay the 3C or delay the 236C afterwards to make it easier.
2A > 2A > 2A > 6321BD > 214P	227	90	.5	.10	Anywhere	Confirm that leads straight into the corner.
Heavy Starter > 214AC > 66 > 3C > 214C	395	310	.5	.40	Anywhere	Same as light variant but more damage, stun and a bit more meter gain.
Heavy Starter > 214AC > 66 > 3C > 623D	410	190	.5	.45	Anywhere	Same as light variant but more damage, stun and a bit more meter gain.
Heavy Starter > 214AC > 3C > 236C > 623D	492	250	.5	.60	Corner	Same as light variant but more damage, stun and a bit more meter gain.
j.A > j.214AC	197	30	.5	.05	Anywhere	Light confirm into j.214AC, HKD on hit, death sentence on block.

1 Bar

Combo	Damage	Stun	Meter cost	Meter Gain	Location	notes
2A > 2A > 2B > 236236B			1		Anywhere	Super confirm from fairly far out, the cancel has to be done very fast
2A > 3C > 214A > 236236A			1		Anywhere	Basic super confirm, usually not worth using over the ex vapor cannon combos but has its place if you confirmed badly and already did vapor cannon.
2A > 3C > 214AC, 66 3C, 624BD			1		midscreen	Instant corner carry and decent damage. Not much more damage than the 3C 214C ender though, so consider whether the corner carry is important or not.
2A > 3C > 214AC, dl.3C > dl.236C, 624BD			1		Corner	Tricky timing to get down, but gives good damage and a good knockdown unlike the 623K ender.

2 Bars

Combo	Damage	Stun	Meter cost	Meter Gain	Location	notes
2A > 3C > 214AC, 66 3C > 214C >236236A			1.5		Anywhere	Very good damage, in the corner omit the microdash before 3C and just delay it slightly. If you are unsure about timing/spacing you can always cancel into beam super instead for slightly less damage.
3C > quick max > 214C > 236236A			2		Anti Air	Anti air combo off of 3C, probably your best way of getting decent damage off of it as an anti air option. Also possible off of 5A counterhit 3C.

3 Bars

Combo	Damage	Stun	Meter cost	Meter Gain	Location	notes
2A > 3C > quick max, cl.C (1) > 3C > 214A > 236236A > climax			3		Anywhere	Basic quick max into level 1 -> level 3, does tons of damage. You can do two hits of cl.C however it will not work on 2nd position Maxima, and it may have too much pushback.
2A > 3C > quick max, cl.C(1) > 3C > 214AC, 66 3C > 214C > climax			3		Anywhere	Quickmax combo for point Maxima.
3C > quick max > 214C > 236236A > climax			3		Anti Air	Anti Air confirm into level 1 -> level 3, make them think twice for jumping in at you. Obviously doesn't work for point maxima.

4 Bars

Combo	Damage	Stun	Meter cost	Meter Gain	Location	notes
2A > 3C > 214AC, 66 3C > quick max > 214C > 236236A > climax			3.5		Anywhere	Big damage, doesn't do too much less than the below combo and saves you a half a bar so consider using this instead
2A > 3C > quick max > cl.C(1) > 3C > 214A >236236AC > climax			4		Anywhere	Basic level 2 into level 3 confirm

5 Bars

Combo	Damage	Stun	Meter cost	Meter Gain	Location	notes
2A > 3C > 214AC, 66 3C > Quick Max > 214C > 236236AC > climax			4.5		Anywhere	For when you feel like blowing almost your full load. Can do about 90% when done off of a jumpin.

External Links

Maxima Combos by Meno