The King of Fighters '98/Joe

Introduction

<GINGA_JOE> joes just boring ol joe he doesnt have a story

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Gameplay Overview

Joe is a high-mid tier character based on zoning/poking with some decent combo damage and mixup/pressure options. He requires a bit of execution for hit-confirming into super, but he is still a good solid character for a beginner to use.

In-depth analysis

Movelist

	Frames	Advantage	Cancel	Block	Hitbox		Notes
Standing Close
	3/3/9	-/-	C	HL			Hits crouchers, cancelable. Can be used as combo filler. Chain: ender
	7/3/7	-/-	C	HL			Maybe Joe's best close poke. Cancelable (can combo with dp.K). Chain: -
	2/2/20	-/-	C	HL			Fast and cancelable, one of the main hard hit combo starters.
	6/3/28	-/-	-	HL			Joe's best long range poke. Good priority.
Standing Far
	3/2/8	-/-	S	HL			Not a bad standing A. Not the best range but hits most characters crouching and is cancelable. Can be anti-air vs short hop. Chain: ender
	7/3/7	-/-	C	HL			Nice front poke. A little slow, but good reach/hitbox and cancelable. Chain: -
	7/2/16	-/-	-	HL			Decent range/speed mid poke that hits all characters crouching other than Chin/Choi, but standing D is usually almost always better.
	6/3/28	-/-	-	HL			Longer range, bigger hitbox, and slightly faster than standing C. Great long range poke.
+	20/2/25	-/-	S	HL
Crouching
	3/3/6	-/-	C	HL			Standard low A, cancelable. Chain: repeatable
	3/3/7	-/-	-	L			Good range for a low B, main combo starter in-close. Great meaty as well. Chain: repeatable
	4/3/19	-/-	C	HL			Fast and cancelable, good for when you are too far for cl.C.
	8/4/9+14	-/-	C	L			Nice range cancelable sweep. Good as a meaty.
Jump
	3/7/-	-/-	-	H
	6/12/-	-/-	-	H			Good air-to-air since it does stay out for a moment.
	4/9/-	-/-	-	H
	4/12/-	-/-	-	H			Your main jump-in and also good air-to-air from range, jumping back. Has a nice big hitbox and can be used as an instant overhead effectively. Can cross-up if done very close to their head as well.
+	11/5/-	KD/-	-	HL			Good air-to-air.
Command Normals
f +	13/2/25	-/-	S	HL			Always the same speed and cancelable. not only your combo filler from hard hits, but it's actually a really good long-range poke. It has the longest range of any of his normals, and his entire lower leg up to the knee is invincible.
df +	13/4/24	KD/-	-	L			Low slide kick. Crappy recovery, but you can use it to go under all non-ground fireballs.
df + (cancel)	13/4/24	KD/-	-	HL
Special Moves
hcf +	13/-/36	-4/-6		HL			Hurricane Upper - hcf + P Joe releases one or two hurricane projectiles (depending on the button used) hcf + A sends out one projectile, while hcf + C sends out two the projectiles are tall and cannot be jumped by most characters. It's difficult to punish hcf + A but hcf + C is easy to punish by rolling the second projectile hcf + A fireball stays active for 19 frames. both hcf + C fireballs stay active for 11 frames.
hcf +	19/-(22)-/36	KD/-6		HL
hcf +	14/4/4+22	KD/-12		HL			Slash Kick - hcf + K Joe performs a horizontal kick moving across the screen, which does good damage hcf + B version goes about 1/3 screen length while hcf + D goes 3/4 length has some recovery time if blocked, though if done from far away it's usually difficult to punish on block Depending on the distance, the startup of the D version is longer. The longer the startup, the shorter the recovery.
hcf +	14+0~5/7/4~9+24	KD/-22		HL
dp +	5/3*18/17+13	KD/-30		HL			Tiger Kick - dp + K Joe does a very fast rising kick attack that does two hits Invincible: B: Complete startup, D: Complete startup and first active period. Upper body invincible: First active period fo B version.
dp +	5/3*22/21+13	KD/-38		HL
qcb +	9+3/3*3*2*2/5+14	-1/-3		HL			Ougon no Kakato - qcb + K Joe executes a jumping spinning kick that does two hits and has very good recovery, usually being unpunishable the move takes some time to come out but has a large hitbox that will almost always catch the opponent out of the air it's possible to juggle the opponent if this move hits them airborne
qcb +	11+5/3*2*2*2/5+16	-3/-5		HL
rapidly	9/2(7)2(9)2(10)1(11)2(6)1(16)2(7)2(8)2(10)1(11)2(5)1/28	variable	> qcf + A, > qcf + C	HL			Bakuretsu Ken - P rapidly Joe performs a series of punches while moving forward slightly during the move he'll do about 10 punches, though after about 5 hits, Joe will be out of range and the next hits will not combo each of those punches have a large hitbox, making it difficult to counter, though can be easily guard rolled and punished from behind it's possible to juggle the opponent if this move hits them airborne can be followed up by qcf + A or qcf + C after any punch, whether that punch connected or whiffed
rapidly	11/2(7)2(9)1(10)1(11)2(6)1(18)2(7)2(9)1(10)1(11)2(6)1/30	variable	> qcf + A, > qcf + C	HL	entire sequence repeats once
> qcf +	20/3/28	-11/-13		H			Bakuretsu Finish (A) - qcf + A Joe performs an overhead elbow attack that deals good damage and is safe on block overhead
> qcf +	14/12/24	KD/-18		HL			Bakuretsu Finish (C) - qcf + C Joe slides forward and does a high knockdown kick. the recovery on this move isn't good, it's riskier to do it as opposed to the qcf + A followup
DMs
qcf hcb +	2/2(5)2(5)2(9)2(7)2(3)2(14)-(19)-(16)4*8(12)3/17+18	KD/-40		HL	etc.		Bakuretsu Hurricane Tiger Kakato - qcf hcb + P Joe dashes forward with a series of punches and tornados, followed with a rising attack this DM comes out very fast, so it can be comboed into easily and used to punish things like blocked cd counters Joe will perform the entire move regardless of whether it hits, gets blocked or whiffs. This makes it extremely punishable if it doesn't hit the final hit does a hard knockdown Fireballs stay active for 18 frames. Invincible: Complete startup.
qcf hcb +	2/2(5)2(5)2(9)2(7)2(3)2(14)-(19)-(16)4*8(12)3/17+20	KD/-42		HL
qcf qcf +	8/-(24)-/67	KD/+9		HL			Screw Upper - qcf qcf + P Joe creates a vertical wall of tornados that moves forward a slight bit, maybe 1/3 screen can be rolled easily and punished Invincible: A: Frame 1-7, C: Frame: 9-14. First fireball is active for 24 frames. Second fireball is active for 48 frames and hits multiple times.
qcf qcf +	15/-(24)-/71	KD/+5		HL
SDM
MAX: qcf hcb +		KD/??		HL	etc.		Bakuretsu Hurricane Tiger Kakato - MAX: qcf hcb + P
MAX: qcf qcf +	8/-(24)-/88	KD/-39		HL			Screw Upper - MAX: qcf qcf + P Joe sends out a vertical wall of tornados similar to the DM version, except doing much more damage and traveling all the way across the screen Invincibility: Frame 1-18.

Normal Throws

• b or f + C - Unbreakable (mashable), front knockdown, face forward, rollable.

• b or f + D - Breakable, reverse knockdown, back turned, un-rollable.

C throw preferred of course because it's unbreakable!

Special Moves

• Hurricane Upper (hcf + P) - A version is best most of the time, since it covers a lot of space quickly and has great recovery. The C version can hit angles where someone would try to get past an A version and get tagged by the 2nd one. Of course a great thing to cancel into this when your hits get blocked.

• Exploding Fist (P rapidly > qcf + P) - You can only cancel it by performing qcf + P after it starts. The qcf + A is an overhead, and the qcf + C can be blocked either way but knocks down and combos more easily. You can get a lot of hits from this on a back-turned opponent. Generally I would stay away from it because of guard cancel roll.

• Slash Kick aka Slushy Kick (hcf + K) - B version preferred and safe from most things, D version is slower/more damage/goes further/whiffs on smaller crouchers. Still, don't cancel into it if your hits get blocked, that's silly. Can be used as a whiff punisher.

• Golden Heel (qcb + K) - B version preferred, though the D version goes longer if you need it (and has longer recovery). You can also only juggle off the B version if it hits your opponent in the air (doesn't require a counter-hit). I listed the best damage combos above. If done close against a crouching opponent, it will cross up and give some advantage on hit (though nothing combos). The B version goes far enough to crossup after even 2 crouching As done at point blank range. This is a pretty good pressure/preventative anti-air move (like Terry's crack shoot but better on block), and it's a good move to cancel into, along with hcf + A.

• Tiger Knee (dp+K) - D version preferred because it has full invincibility on startup. One of the better dp style anti-airs in terms of priority, but beware of hitting grounded opponents from long range (especially crouching), as the 2nd hit can whiff and not knock down.

Desperation Moves

• Screw Upper (qcf qcf + P) - Projectile-like super that is safe on block (beware of guard cancel roll). MAX version does more damage, travels full-screen, and has control-able speed using A or C. It's also punishable.

• Exploding Hurricane Tiger Heel (qcf hcb + P) - Rush super that has invincibility on startup. Ridiculously unsafe, good for combos. Also, if you roll/guard cancel roll past it and run toward Joe's back, the Tiger Knee part will hit you from behind! Cool!

Fastest Attacks

• 0F: C throw; D throw
• 1F: -
• 2F: cl.C; (S)DM qcf hcb + P
• 3F: cl.A; st.A; cr.A; cr.B
• 4F: cr.C
• 5F: dp + K
• 6F: cl.D; st.D
• 7F: cl.B; st.B; st.C
• 8F: cr.D; DM qcf qcf + A; SDM qcf qcf + P
• 9F: A rapidly
• 10F: -

Combos

• Best jump-ins:
  • j.D (Can crossup.)

• cl.C / cr.C >
  • f + B >
    • (S)DM Hurricane Tiger (qcf hcb + P)
    • D Slash Kick (hcf + D) (Whiffs on some crouchers.)
    • B Slash Kick (hcf + B)
  • (S)DM Hurricane Tiger (qcf hcb + C)
  • (S)DM qcf qcf + C
  • D Slash Kick (hcf + D) (Whiffs on some crouchers.)
  • B Slash Kick (hcf + B)

• cr.B x 2, cr.A / st.A >
  • (S)DM Exploding Hurricane Tiger Heel (qcf hcb + P)
  • dp + D
  • dp + B (If not too far.)

• cr.B, cr.A >
  • (S)DM Exploding Hurricane Tiger Heel (qcf hcb + P)
  • DM qcf qcf + A
  • dp + D
  • dp + B (If not too far.)

• st.B >
  • (S)DM Exploding Hurricane Tiger Heel (qcf hcb + P)
  • dp + D
  • dp + B (If not too far.)

• Anti-air: B Golden Heel (qcb + B),
  • hcf + D
  • D Tiger Knee (dp + D) (Corner)
  • st.D (Corner)

• cr.A / cl.A / cr.C / cl.C > Exploding Fist (P rapidly > qcf + C)

Not recommended, doesn't work properly on some crouchers.

• cr.A / cr.B (meaty), cl.C > f + B >
  • (S)DM Hurricane Tiger (qcf hcb + P)
  • D Slash Kick (hcf + D) (Whiffs on some crouchers.)
  • B Slash Kick (hcf + B)

• Simple buffers:
  • f + B > (S)DM qcf hcb + P
    • qcf + B > hcb + P
  • st.A / cl.A / cl.C > (S)DM qcf hcb + P
    • qcf + A/C > hcb + P
  • cl.A > DM qcf qcf + A
    • qcf + A > qcf + A
  • cl.C > (S)DM qcf qcf + C
    • qcf + C > qcf + C

Strategy Corner

• MAX: cl.C > + B > + D

deals considerable less damage (~ cl.C + cl.A) than

• cl.C > + B > + P

Keep this in mind, when you need to decide whether to trigger MAX or keep meter for a DM.

Attack Info and Frame Data

Command	Hits	Damage Scaling	Startup	Active	Recovery	Damage	Counter Damage	Dizzy	Guard Damage	Meter Increase (Whiff / Hit)
Standing A	1	-	3	2	8	5	7	3	7	0/3
Standing B	1	-	7	3	7	7	8	4	8	0/3
Standing C	1	-	7	2	16	11	21	17	24	0/6
Standing D	1	-	6	3	28	13	16	14	29	0/6
Close A	1	-	3	3	9	4	6	3	7	0/3
Close B	1	-	7	3	7	7	8	4	8	0/3
Close C	1	-	2	2	20	10	15	14	18	0/6
Close D	1	-	6	3	28	11	16	13	20	0/6
Crouching A	1	-	3	3	6	4	6	3	6	0/3
Crouching B	1	-	3	3	7	6	7	3	7	0/3
Crouching C	1	-	4	3	19	10	15	13	16	0/6
Crouching D	1	-	8	4	9 + 14	15	17	13	18	0/6
Neutral Jumping A	1	-	3	7	-	7	9	5	8	0/3
Forward Jumping A	1	-	3	7	-	6	8	4	8	0/3
Backwards Jumping A	1	-	3	7	-	6	7	3	7	0/3
Neutral Jumping B	1	-	6	12	-	8	9	6	9	0/3
Forward Jumping B	1	-	6	12	-	9	10	5	9	0/3
Backwards Jumping B	1	-	6	12	-	6	7	4	8	0/3
Neutral Jumping C	1	-	4	9	-	14	18	18	17	0/6
Forward Jumping C	1	-	4	9	-	11	15	16	17	0/6
Backwards Jumping C	1	-	4	9	-	11	15	15	16	0/6
Neutral Jumping D	1	-	4	12	-	15	18	15	18	0/6
Forward Jumping D	1	-	4	12	-	13	17	13	18	0/6
Backwards Jumping D	1	-	4	12	-	15	17	13	18	0/6
CD	1	-	20	2	25	16	20	18	24	0/8
Jumping CD	1	-	11	5	-	16	20	16	21	0/8
f + B	1	-	13	2	25	10	16	22	24	0/7
df + B	1	-	13	4	24	12	16	18	24	0/5
df + B (in a combo)	1	-	13	4	24	9	9	8	-	0/5

Links

< Andy Bogard | Joe Higashi (KoF '94-Era) | Ryo Sakazaki >

The King of Fighters '98: The Slugfest