The King of Fighters XIII/King

King

In a nutshell

King is one of the more zoning-oriented characters in XIII due to her strong normals, but she has the tools to press the advantage on a knockdown. Her jump-ins are now more relevant from a hop compared to previous games, her hit-confirms are easy, and with meter she has multiple strong anti-air options. Overall King requires a good knowledge of controlling space with normals, the caution to apply passive-aggressive rushdown, and solid blocking fundamentals to find a way out of enemy rushdown.

Move List

Normal Moves

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Standing Light Punch

kof.lp

30

chaincancel cancel

Standing Light Kick

kof.lk

30

low cancel

Standing Heavy Punch

kof.sp

80

Close Heavy Punch

kof.sp

70

cancel

Standing Heavy Kick

kof.sk

80

Close Heavy Kick

kof.sk

40+45

cancel

Crouching Light Punch

d + kof.lp

25

chaincancel cancel

Crouching Light Kick

d + kof.lk

30

low chaincancel

Crouching Heavy Punch

d + kof.sp

70

1st hitbox: cancel

Crouching Heavy Kick

d + kof.sk

80

low softknockdown cancel

Blowback Attack

kof.sp + kof.sk

75

softknockdown specialcancel

Jumping Light Punch

Air kof.lp

Jump: 45
Hop: 40

high cancel

Jumping Light Kick

Air kof.lk

Jump: 45
Hop: 40

high

Jumping Heavy Punch

Air kof.sp

Jump: 72
Hop: 70

high cancel

Jumping Heavy Kick

Air kof.sk

Jump: 70
Hop: 68

high

Jumping Blowback Attack

Air kof.sp + kof.sk

Jump: 90
Hop: 80

softknockdown

Unique Attacks

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Slide Kick

df + kof.sk

40

low specialcancel

Throw

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Hook Buster

f or b + kof.sp or kof.sk (while close)

100

throw hardknockdown

Special Moves

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Trap Shot

dp + k

k : 0+20×3+80
ex : 0+20×6+80

softknockdown drivecancel
 : ex: startupinv

Venom Strike

qcf + k

k : 65
ex : 75×2
Air k : 60
Air ex : 120

airok supercancel
ex : softknockdown

Tornado Kick '95

hcb + k

kof.lk : 30×2
kof.sk : 60×2
ex : 55×3

softknockdown drivecancel
 : ex: startupinv

Desperation Moves

Name

Command

Damage

Special Properties (glossary)

Double Strike

qcf qcf + k

105×2

softknockdown

Surprise Rose

qcf qcf + p

p : 10×2+0+12×11+48
ex : 10×2+0+(10×3+30)×3+10×3+100

startupinv softknockdown maxcancel

Venom Shot

qcb qcb + kof.lk + kof.sk

30×17

airok softknockdown

Console Changes

• Close C has faster startup.
• Far standing D has faster recovery.
• Jump D has increased active frames.
• Slide Kick (df+D) can be canceled without being canceled into. (It no longer has different properties when canceled into.)
• Heavy Air Venom Strike (Air qcf+D) has less recoil.

Strategy

Move Analysis

Normal Moves

• Standing Light Punch - () - Standard anti-air jab against a hop. Will not hit crouching opponents other than Raiden and Daimon. Worth occasionally canceling into a Venom Strike ( + ) upon a successful hit.

• Standing Light Kick - () - A standing kick to the shin that reaches further than her crouching light kick while being cancelable at that. Having this normal without needing close proximity ups King's offense and defense. It serves as her fastest and longest-ranged poke that hits crouchers, while also being good on the attack due to its speed, range, cancelability, and low-hitting property. Adds another hit into her low hit-confirm series and helps against crouching opponents outside the range of her crouching normals. A fine addition.
  • Whiff cancelable.

• Standing Heavy Punch - () - A beefy horizontal punch with good range and speed. Infamous for being superb in King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match, this move has the same application as always. A great preventive anti-air, as well as a great anti-air if spaced so that you hit the opponent with King's fist. Also a strong part of her ground game being a quick, long poke. However, it isn't a normal to throw out haplessly due to its long recovery, and most importantly, it can be crouched and punished with lows. Essentially a slower but stronger standing light punch.

• Close Heavy Punch - (Close ) - A standing uppercut that's good to mix up your blockstrings with occasionally instead of going with the two hit Close Heavy Kick. More notable its application as an anti-air by running under an opponent as they're jumping and tagging them from below. While King has a good Crouching Heavy Punch, the close version is faster and has a taller hitbox. Another application you may want to use this move is for throw pressure. If your throw connects, you toss the opponent toward the corner, if they block or the throw doesn't come out, King should perform a Close Heavy Punch which is safe and would also catch a jump attempt. If too far for a throw, Standing Heavy Punch would come out which could still hit the opponent.
  • Close Heavy Punch comes out much faster than Close Heavy Kick, and so King can combo into this attack from earlier jump-ins.

• Standing Heavy Kick - () - A high kick that comes out a little slower than Standing Heavy Punch, but covers a higher horizontal angle as well as a longer range. This hits crouching opponents, making it a good poke when spaced far: another preventive anti-air, and an anti-air for situations that other normals can't reach. Requires some space to work with to avoid being hit out of startup, but King's recovery is good on block or whiff.

• Close Heavy Kick - (Close ) - A two-hitting high kick and King's most common heavy combo starter as it gives you enough time to hit confirm into a combo or blockstring. The hitbox is large enough to be a good anti-air if it comes out instead of Standing Heavy Kick. However, its throw application isn't always as strong as Close Heavy Punch. The player risks throwing the opponent out of the corner, or if the opponent jumps and get anti-aired, the opponent could potentially land and punish King's second kick for whiffing.

• Crouching Light Punch - ( + ) - Pretty basic Crouching Light Punch. While it won't be used in combos anymore due to Standing Light Kick taking its place as a cancelable normal (as well as hitting low), it serves as a cancelable normal for up close, whereas crouching light kick is uncancelable. Not that noteworthy at first, but good to keep in mind for frame traps or guard crushes.

• Crouching Light Kick - ( + ) - Standard Crouching Light Kick that can't be canceled but has a normal reach. Its main use is for chaining into hit-confirms or pressuring the opponent with lows.

• Crouching Heavy Punch - ( + ) - A strong 'Mexican Upper' crouching anti-air uppercut. It has a big vertical hitbox making it great to anti-air jumps, but the horizontal range is poor which will lead to it losing if used against hops or jump-ins spaced so that the tip if their hitbox touches you. Don't whiff it, and know when a horizontal anti-air is needed.

• Crouching Heavy Kick - ( + ) - King's traditionally bad sweep, although this time around it's actually cancelable. Works as the occasional tripguard anti-air, and can be used occasionally in blockstrings now. However, Crouching Light Kick has the same range with better risk/reward anyway, so don't expect to use this often.

• Blowback Attack - ( + ) - King does a sobat that kicks straight out at waist level but doesn't go over lows too well. Has a lot of startup as all blowback attacks do, but carries with it a good range and beefy hitbox. Serves as a "big" meaty that should stuff all moves that aren't actually invulnerable at startup, and can be canceled on hit or whiff. Not the best move in the poking game since it can be jumped over or beaten by a faster move, but good on the passive offense and works well as a frame trap.
  • It's a move that traditionally works well as a meaty on okizeme to blockstring into Venom Strike ( + ).
  • It typically is able to beat out most reversal attacks from a safe distance, but due to the introduction of EX Desperation Moves that have better invulnerability compared to normal Desperation Moves, and that King is now able to do better jump-ins and hit-confirm combos; King has better options to perform on okizeme such as a safe-jump/hop and set up for an empty hop mix-up.

• Jumping Light Punch - (Air ) - A jumping punch that hits less deep than Jumping Heavy Punch, lacks range as an air-to-air, and should only be used if looking for less hit-stun from a jump-in.

• Jumping Light Kick - (Air ) - A high side kick that appears to aim diagonally upward but really only goes horizontally. Nevertheless, it's her best air-to-air that comes out fast and beats many aerial moves cleanly.

• Jumping Heavy Punch - (Air ) - A downward-angled punch with about average hitstun, making it a viable jump-in. The horizontal range is shorter than Jumping Heavy Kick, but it covers an area closer in to her body, is cancelable, and extends her vulnerable hitbox out less further than Jumping Heavy Kick.

• Jumping Heavy Kick - (Air ) - A downward-angled kick with some reach to it. In previous games, the startup was so fast that it could be used as an instant overhead but it made for a poor jump-in. Now it handles more like a standard jumping heavy normal and can even cross up opponents. King's go-to vertical jumping normal, it carries poor horizontal range so don't use it to keep opponents from coming closer to you. For that King has...

• Jumping Blowback Attack - (Air + ) - A wheeling kick that arcs from her head then downward. This move traditionally has two hitboxes; the initial higher hitbox that works as a beefy air-to-air, and then the lower hitbox that works as a jump-in while also commanding a horizontal range that can hit approaching opponents. Simply hopping forward or neutrally and using this move both anti-airs opponents should they approach you aerially, then controls the lower space with the downward arc.
  • Timing is important with this move, as using it early from a jump or hyper hop controls the air space well with both hitboxes, but the active frame will run out leaving you vulnerable if the opponent reads this and crouches. Using it late gives you a large frame advantage on block, but gives more time for the opponent to meet you with a faster air-to-air, so be aware which areas you want to control.

Unique Attacks

• Slide Kick - ( + ) - King slides about 1/4 the screen's distance. This is a swiss army knife of command normals, where to start? First let's note that the player can always combo into this move from any of King's cancelable normals and end the combo with any special move or Desperation Move of choice. Easy combo filler and works in blockstrings. Like any slide in a 2D Fighting Game if spaced properly, the slide becomes a real annoying move to deal with being safe on block.
  • King's slide is always cancelable into specials and DMs. She can annoy the opponent by sliding into Venom Strike as a blockstring, but the opponent could Guard Cancel Roll her slide and punish a 2-in-1 into her projectile. Being cancelable allows King to slide as an anti-air, projectile escape method, or as a long low poke and then score a combo off of it.
  • The slide has a long cancelable window and so by delaying a cancel the player may be able to bait early Guard Cancel Rolls and then react by not canceling her slide in order to allow King to recover and avoid being punished by a Guard Roll. Delaying when to cancel into her slide comes with combo benefits, as it puts King deeper in toward the opponent which allows Trap Shot to connect, as well as permitting more followups after Tornado Kick.
  • Another great use is to take advantage of King's small hitbox during the duration of the slide. A few non-grounded projectiles can be slid under with proper timing, and the player can even anti-air opponent's air-to-ground attempts by sliding under the opponent's jumping normal attacks and meaty the opponent upon landing. There is no trip guard in KOF, meaning if you see an aerial normal that doesn't hit deep and low enough to hit her out of the slide, the player can anti-air.
    • King's slide can go under the following projectile attacks:
      • Ash's [b],f+C (only the fast version)
      • Benimaru qcf+P
      • Andy's qcb+A (only the slow version)
      • Saiki's qcf+A
      • Leona's [b], f+P
    • King cannot slide under:
      • Kensou's qcb+P
      • Robert's qcf+P
      • King's qcf+K
      • Mai's qcf+P
      • K's qcf+P, f+B
      • Athena's qcb+P
      • Takuma's qcf+P
  • There are a few main weaknesses to watch out for when using this move. First, the startup is slow and you can be hit out of this period easily. Second, the deeper you hit the opponent with an uncanceled slide, the worse your frame advantage afterward will be. Finally remember that strong, downward reaching jumping normals can hit you out of the slide which will lead to eating a full combo.

Throw

• Hook Buster - ( / + / [while close]) - A cool looking throw where King tosses the opponent about 1/2 the screen's length for a hard knockdown.
• Can push the opponent fullscreen and be used to further zone and out-space the opponent.
  • By delaying until the opponent hits the ground and then super jumping forward, King can perform a safe jump.
  • By running forward and then super jumping with a late Jumping Heavy Kick, King can cross up the opponent from midscreen.

Special Moves

• Trap Shot - ( + ) - King performs a backflip and kicks forward. On hit, the opponent is trapped in a multi-hitting auto-combo (commonly referred to as "Ranbu"). On block or whiff, she recoils from her flip, which can be punished.
  • Despite having a big hitbox and being a DP motion, this move is a terrible anti-air due to the slow startup and lack of invulnerability and because it deals no damage from trading. However, it's good in her combos, most notably in her corner loops and Drive Cancel/Hyper Drive combos as otherwise use Tornado Kick ( + ) as an ender.
  • Trap Shot - ( + + ) - Here we go! Improved startup speed, invulnerability, a big hitbox, and solid damage. Connects against a midscreen opponent after Tornado Kick ( + ), but is otherwise only slightly more damaging than the normal versions.
  • It's a great reversal and superb anti-air. With one meter, King actually has the threat of a reversal, and a really good one at that. The hitbox reaches out far in front of her and stretches out tall. The only possible gap right above her head can be covered by her Surprise Rose DM (×2 + ).

• Venom Strike - ( + ) - King's signature fireball from The Art of Fighting series. The version moves slower (and therefore stays on screen longer) and has better recovery, where the version is faster.
  • The projectile travels above the ground, which means that certain characters have ways to lower their hitbox to pass below it (such as Iori's Ya Otome ( + ) Desperation Move, or half of Chin's move set). With that in mind, also note that the projectile isn't too big, and the startup gives the opponent time to easily jump over the Venom Strike and punish King, especially when telegraphed from fullscreen. Sounds pretty cool right?
  • Actually, the King player wants the opponent to jump in order to counter the approach with the appropriate anti-air and start King's offense. Once the opponent thinks twice about jumping in, Venom Strikes become more threatening as they inhibit many grounded approaches.
  • While not too menacing from fullscreen's length, the player can use it as a jump bait and go from there.
  • At mid range, the threat of the opponent eating a poke such as Standing Heavy Punch increases, which opens more leeway to toss projectiles.
  • Up close, the player can mix in Venom Strike into blockstrings and frame traps, leaving room for punish only if the opponent does a reversal or performs a Guard Cancel Roll at the right time.
  • Venom Strike - ( + + ) - Moves faster than the version and is able to destroy and pass through normal projectiles and will nullify other EX projectiles. On hit, the opponent is put into a juggable stage, which can be followed up depending on spacing. On block, deals more guard damage.

• Air Venom Strike - ( + ) - King's aerial momentum is halted, and she throws out a Venom Strike identical to the grounded version. The startup requires more time to become airborne; even a 'Tiger Knee' Air Venom Strike carries extra startup. What's more is that the recovery is significantly different on this aerial version:
  • The version drops King straight down from where she was hovering; the version sends King flying backwards until she reaches the ground and it causes a soft knockdown on hit. Both recovery 'air times' add further vulnerability to this move.
  • While this may seem like an abusable move, the risk isn't often worthwhile. The 'Tiger Knee' height version is thrown at about most characters' head height, which still can limit forward movement, but from this height, the projectile can be crouched or worse, as it opens more room for ways to escape underneath the hitbox. While it could be used to anti-air, the startup doesn't warrant it being reliable and King already has numerous good options to cover anti-airs. If King uses an Air Venom Strike too high up, the opponent can freely run forward and punish King as she lands.
  • If the player is to be cautious throwing grounded Venom Strikes, then the aerial version should be used much more sparingly. Making good use of this move requires keeping it inside of combos, or a strong setup.
  • Air Venom Strike - ( + + ) - Moves faster than the version and is able to destroy and pass through normal projectiles and will nullify other EX projectiles. On hit, the opponent is put into a juggle state that can be followed up depending on spacing. On block, it deals more guard damage.
  • King quickly flies backward in recoil, moreso than with the version.

• Tornado Kick '95 - ( + ) - King flies forward while performing two spinning kicks. The '95 notates that this Tornado Kick is styled from its appearance in The King of Fighters '95.
  • The version of this move travels roughly one 1/4 the screen and allows for more followups in combos, but when used on its own, the second hit will whiff on crouching characters (except for characters with large hitboxes). This makes it difficult for King to ever safely use this move outside combos unless the opponent doesn't crouch or know how to punish it on block.
  • The version travels about one character length past 1/2 screen and when used alone will hit crouching opponents. King can only juggle after this version by Drive Canceling a hit into aerial Venom Strike or by linking an EX Surprise Rose or Venom Shot afterward, so it's typically a finisher. Gives King enough frame advantage on hit to time a hyper hop/super jump to be a safe jump if the opponent quickrises.
  • Taking into account both properties, it is possible for the player to control a large segment of the screen and the hop space with a Tornado Kick. The key to using it in this fashion is to space is so that if the opponent blocks the tip of the second kick, otherwise the opponent can punish the move on block.
  • The player will most often combo into the version from King's Slide Kick both mid-screen and in the corner in order to take advantage of the extra frame advantage on hit, which sets up for more juggles or reset opportunities.
  • Tornado Kick '95 - ( + + ) - The EX Tornado Kick starts up faster while having a window of invulnerability, hits 3 times and covers a further distance than the version.
  • While not as strong of a reversal option as her + + , the forward movement allows King to blow forward through moves such as projectiles and can still anti-air opponents.
  • The combo opportunities afterward are more restricted than the version.
  • If blocked, offers less chance of being safe on block due to traveling a further distance and worse recovery.

Desperation Moves

• Double Strike - ( + ) - King's old Art of Fighting DM where she kicks not one, but two pink projectiles out. They travel about as fast as her EX Venom Strike, only dealing more damage and having DM projectile priority.
  • When activated with , the two projectiles are spaced closer together than in the version, though both projectile speeds are identical. This difference is important in certain combo instances.
  • While it may seem a little redundant to have both EX Venom Strike and Double Strike which cost the same amount of meter, EX Venom Strike is more of a combo extending tool where Double Strike typically ends a combo.
  • Works as a fullscreen punish or to plow through opponent's projectiles. Also notable for tagging aerial opponents in a counterhit state.

• Surprise Rose - (×2 + ) - King jumps straight upward then descends downward at a 45° angle. On hit, she goes into an aerial auto-combo/ranbu where she rides an invisible bike on the opponent's face and ends with a kick that sends the enemy flying away into a soft knockdown.
  • Works as a reversal and anti-air DM on wakeup, but remember that King flys up with absolutely no forward movement, meaning for it to connect the opponent has to be right on top of King. If too far away or if the Desperation Move is blocked, prepare for the opponent to land free damage.
  • Surprise Rose - (×2 + + ) - King jumps upward with more forward movement and on hit King lands one more rep of kick loops which buffs the damage. Works as King's strongest combo finisher.
  • The forward movement and faster startup makes this move an even more reliable reversal.
  • The startup is noticeably faster, which allows it to combo in situations where no other move of hers would.

• Venom Shot - (×2 + + ) - King kicks a spray of projectiles that fly forth and burst like champagne bubbles. The startup of this Neomax isn't much to brag about, but even if it was fast there are other problems with it: The projectiles scatter fast, covering a 90° area from below her knee to in front of her leg. In a combo, all of the projectiles don't always all hit, which wastes damage and meter. Even as a fullscreen punish, few would hit and using Double Strike would be much more damage and meter-efficient. In short there isn't anything good about this Neomax from utility to damage to efficiency. At least it looks pretty damn sexy. Frothy even.
  • The most consistent way to get damage from this Neomax comes from Max-canceling Surprise Rose (×2 + ) on the last hit, an action that will take four bars of meter as well as requiring Hyperdrive Mode.
  • In a few mid-screen situations such as after Tornado Kick ( + ), Venom Shot can be linked for a little more damage. This should only be done if the extra damage would result in the KO of an opponent.

Combos

All of King's combos can be started with cr.B cr.B st.B df.D or with a jump-in or from a raw df.D.

Her damage output is fairly low, but by using one super stock or one Drive Cancel she can push around 30% and net a nice knockdown anywhere on the screen.

0% Drive

0 Bar

• cl.D df+D xx hcb+B, st.B/st.C
  • Basic meterless combo. Cancel the slide late in order to add on either normal. Far C deals more damage while st.B gives better frame advantage.
• (corner only) cl.D df.D xx hcb+B, dp+K
  • Simple corner combo that leaves the opponent high enough for Trap Shot to link afterward. The player could instead end the combo with a normal for a hitreset.
• (counter hit) j.CD hcb+D - (211)
  • Basic j.CD counterhit combo that works anywhere. The hcb+D must be timed late which is nice as it gives the player more time to confirm the counter hit message. Strong knockdown.

1 Bar

• cl.D df+D xx qcf+BD, hcb+D - (320)
  • An important midscreen BnB. Low resource, decently-damaging, pushes toward the corner, and gives King time to super jump in on the opponent. Becomes a little better in the corner:
• (corner only) cl.D df+D xx qcf+BD, qcf+B, hcb+D
  • An extra qcf+B can be added on the preceding combo in the corner.
• (corner only) (counter hit) j.CD, qcb+B, qcf,qcf+D - (349)
  • More damaging corner counterhit combo. Slightly harder to confirm in time, but qcf+B must be a little delayed anyway for the DM to fully connect so it's still realistic to confirm into. More damage and range and arguably better followup than ending with qcf,qcf+P.

2 Bar

• cl.D df+D xx qcf+BD, qcf qcf+K - (389)
  • Not ever really worth doing unless it would kill.
• (corner only) cl.D df.D xx hcb+D, qcf qcf+AC - (481)
  • Straightforward way into EX Surprise Rose without using Drive Meter.

3 Bar

• (corner only) cl.D df+D xx qcf+BD, qcf+B, hcb+D, qcf qcf+AC - (600)
  • Higher damage option available without spending any Drive stocks.

50% Drive

0 Bar

• (corner only) cl.D df+D xx hcb+B, dp+K (DC) hcb+B, hcb+D - (323)
  • King's basic corner DC; the opponent is launched higher from the dp+K which allows for two Tornado Kicks to connect afterward. The last hcb+D could be omitted for a different ender, like dp+K or a hitreset, though hcb+D leaves the player with a large frame advantage afterward.
• cl.D df.D xx dp+K (DC) hcb+B, hcb+D- (306)
  • A midscreen alteration, and a good alternative to King's standard one bar qcf+BD midscreen combo. The df.D must be canceled late in order for King's dp+K to connect. This combo carries the opponent into the corner while dealing decent damage for a conservative cost.
• (corner) (counter hit) j.CD dp+K (DC) hcb+B, hcb+D - (300)
  • Concise DC counterhit combo and alternative to the 1 bar version listed above.

1 Bar

• (corner only) cl.D df+D xx hcb+B, dp+K (DC) hcb+B qcf+B qcf qcf+P
  • By omitting a hcb+D from the above meterless combo, the player can instead follow a DC'd hcb+B into a Surprise Rose DM for more damage.

2 Bar

• (corner only) cl.D df+D xx hcb+B, dp+K (DC) hcb+B, hcb+D, qcf qcf+AC
  • Similar corner combo with EX Surprise Rose being linked after a hcb+D.

100% Drive

0-3 Bar

• (corner only) cl.D df+D BC cl.D df+D xx [dp+K (HDC) hcb+B] x 4 ...
  • hcb+D - (466)
    • The meterless ender, strongest frame advantage.
  • qcf+K, qcf qcf+P - (526)
    • Uses 1 bar for a normal Surprise Rose for most damaging 1-bar finisher.
  • hcb+D, qcf qcf+AC - (658)
    • Standard EX DM finisher.
  • (HDC) qcf+B, qcf qcf+K, qcf qcf+AC - (719)
    • 3 bar finish, linking DM into EX DM for maximum damage once HD mode has ended.
      • King can really throw away meter and not see much of a return in terms of damage since her loops inflict so much scaling. These are easy HD combos but with one stock she can net better damage overall and better knockdowns, so look into the following combo;
• (corner only) cl.D df+D BC cl.D df+D xx hcb+D (HDC) qcf+BD, run forward (dp+K (HDC) hcb+B) x2...
  • dp+K (HDC) hcb+B, hcb+D - (546)
    • Getting in an early EX Venom Strike buffs up King's HD combo damage and lets her end with better moves or go for a hitreset since she doesn't have to end with a DM. Overall a better option that could additionally be ended with DMs, but stick with the basic meterless loop if King's out of meter.

3 Bar

Corner carry:

• cl.D df+D BC cl.D df+D xx hcb+B, dp+BD (HDC) hcb+BD, dp+BD (HDC) hcb+B, dp+K (HDC) hcb+B, hcb+D - (417, 28 / 446, 34)
  • Pretty terrible damage, more of a novelty than a practical use of 3 stocks and a full HD gauge.

Team Order

1st position

Pros

Cons

2nd position

Pros

Cons

3rd position

Pros

Cons

Basic Strategy

Offense

• King plays more of a passive aggressive offense in that she doesn't have a really threatening high/low mixup like Kyo or K', but she makes up for that in blockstring pressure and keeping the opponent cornered where her combos hurt the most.
  • Her basic blockstring of cr.B, cr.B, st.B df.D xx Venom Strike works well against opponents with no meter, but Slide Kick (df.D) can be Guard Cancel Rolled and punished if canceled into Venom Strike. If Slide Kick is not canceled, the attack will be punished because the player will stop too close to the opponent. The solution is to use this series just enough to be able to condition the opponent to anticipate it, then the player may mix-up and vary blockstrings to bait out Guard Cancel Rolls.
  • Once cornered, King has the threat of her Hyper Drive combo, extra damage from all of her combos, less room for the opponent to space their hop/jump making it easier to anti-air, and easier setups for guardbreaks.
  • King's Jumping Heavy Kick now has more startup and hitstun, allowing you to use it earlier in a jump while still having time to combo afterward. Note that it can't be used as an instant overhead anymore.

Neutral/Defense

• King has the normals to control the hop space in front of her, tools to anti-air full jumps, good air-to-airs, and then Venom Strike (qcf+K) to control the ground.
  • Venom Strike is easy to jump over if throw out predictably - however, because of this it is easy to bait the opponent into jumping, and that's where you use the appropriate anti-air to hit them. Once they respect your air control and become cautious of jumping, you can use Venom Strike to control the ground space and force them to deal with it another way. Remember to be cautious for opponents willing to roll forward, and watch the opponent's meter in order to avoid an invincible DM or EX special.
  • Standing Heavy Punch serves as an anti-air, preventive jump check, and long poke against standing opponents. A flustered opponent moving forward could easily be made run or hop in to King's arm. However it will completely whiff on crouching opponents and loses to lows; the same running opponent could wise up and run into a sweep. The next counter or 'yomi layer' would be to toss a Venom Strike ( + ) or to read the sweep and hop over it for a full punish.
  • Crouching Heavy Punch is King's best normal against full jumps. If the opponent out-spaces King or uses a jump-in from a well-spaced angle, adjust to a different move. Standing Heavy Kick's tip covers a unique angle that Standing Heavy Punch may miss, and it's worth noting that her Slide Kick ( + ) can completely go under and meaty many jumping normals. Meeting the opponent in the air from below Jumping Light Kick usually wins, and Jumping Blowback Attack can serve this purpose when under less offensive pressure as it starts up slow. When in doubt, EX Trap Shot ( + + ) will beat everything clean.
  • Other than getting hopped on, King has a 'weak spot' just outside her Standing Light Kick range. Her sweep is slow and short while Slide Kick ( + ) is too slow and would be unsafe from this range. Standing Heavy Punch or Kick could whiff if the opponent is crouching from this range. Using her Blowback Attack or Venom Strike ( + ) will cover this range but poses a large risk from the delayed startup. King's safest option would be to walk forward and use Standing Light Kick, but always beware of long-ranged sweeps which can out-space King from the proper positioning. A player's safest option would be to block and react to the opponent's next action or commit to a hop in anticipation of the sweep. Be aware of this range.