Hokuto no Ken/Mr. Heart

From SuperCombo Wiki

Introduction

Mr. Heart is a 'grappler' type character, and he plays similarly to the grappler characters in other ARC games. Specifically, he moves very slowly and has no forward dash. Mr. Heart also has no Boost gauge, but his Banishing Strike still functions identically to other character's in that he is able to do a follow-up wallbounce combo. He is also able to use his Aura to perform a special Guard Cancel that can be followed up with a combo. As you would expect of a grappler character, he has a large amount of grab type moves, including both a grab super move and grab Fatal KO(which is the only FKO in the game that cannot be comboed into).

While fairly decent on both the offensive and defensive, his poor maneuverability is what causes Mr. Heart to be considered a weak character. Because of his slow speed Mr. Heart is often unable to get out of disadvantageous situations without taking a risk. That said, he has extremely high potential, and is quite capable of overcoming his bad matchups.

Pros Cons
  • Is able to confirm into kill combos from his unique Guard Cancel (which functions like a Banishing Strike) on every character.
  • Can gain super armor for free to setup favorable trades.
  • Only has a guard bar in the mirror match.
  • Doesn't have to manage boost, as he has none.
  • Forces your opponent to play in a very different manner, as most conventional tactics will outright lose.
  • No Boost and slow movement speed means Mr. Heart has trouble going anywhere without taking big risks or fishing for a stray hit.
  • Bad matchups against a large amount of the cast, directly related to his inability to move around, some matchups are near unwinnable against a skilled opponent.
  • Range is generally quite poor outside of Earthcrush.
  • Overhead mostly useless leads to a weak mixup game.
  • Because of the lack of Boost, Mr. Heart is overly dependent on Aura both for defense and offense.


Mr._Heart
HNK Mr. Heart portrait.jpg
Character Data

Before diving right into the combos be sure to familiarize yourself with Mr. Heart's special/super moves and his unique normals.

Normal Moves

Standing

5A
5A
Mr. Heart-A.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid 5 4,4 - - +3

One of Mr. Hearts most important normals, it serves as a combo filler, anti-air and combo starter.

5B
5B
Mr. Heart-B.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid 9 4 - - -5

Not nearly as good as crouch B, but still occasionally useful. Is used in some combo enders to stuff some extra damage before a Heart's A.

5C
5C
Mr. Heart-C.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid 29 (Uncharged) 4 - - -4
  • Has one hit of armor

This move should almost never be used. It has an incrediblity long startup time, which is only worth it if you can get the full charge damage wise. It is also neither special or normal cancelable, although it can be used in a gimmicky blockstring due to its range and hit of armor.

5D
5D
Mr. Heart-D.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid 10 4 - - -24

A launcher that can be chained into from standing A. Is used heavily in combos and as a hit confirm. Can be jump cancelled allowing IAD pressure from strings such as 2B 5D/5A 5D. Not a very good button to press in neutral though.

Crouching

2A
2A
Mr. Heart-2A.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid 7 4 - - +7

A quite fast and good reaching jab. Usually best used in conjunction with 2B to hit confirm.

2B
2B
Mr. Heart-2B.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Low 7 4 - - +6

Mr. Heart's most trusted companion and main poke, this baby not only has alright range, it also combos into Banishing Strike or Earthcrush (depending on range) on hit. Use it often.

2C
2C
Mr. Heart-2C.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid 17 (Uncharged) 4 - - -4
  • Has one hit of armor

See Standing C. Also doesn't hit low but launches on charged hit for an Earthcrush style combo. Not worth the risk though.

2D
2D
Mr. Heart-2D.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- High 35 4 - - -22

A slow, overhead sweep that can't be cancelled into anything and doesn't lead into anything except seeing your opponents cool combo when they punish it. Try to avoid this normal, unless you like seeing cool combos.


Air

j.A
j.A
Mr. Heart-j.A.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- High 10 6 - - -

A good air-to-air poke that can be special cancelled into AC air grab.

j.B
j.B
Mr. Heart-j.B.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- High 13 6 - - -

Can occasionally be used as an instant air-dash pressure tool, but is otherwise primarily used to adjust the height in wall bounce combos.

j.C
j.C
Mr. Heart-j.C.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- High 13 (Uncharged) 40 - - -
  • Has one hit of armor

Holding this button will make Mr. Heart float in the air, and if he lands without launching the attack, he will gain one hit of super armor that lasts until he gets hit, takes chip damage, or performs another armored move such as 5C or 623C.

In general an alright air button as well just for its range. Hitstuns for a very long time as well.

j.D
j.D
Mr. Heart-j.D.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- High 9 40 - - -

Mr. Heart's crossup tool, also an alright jump-in button, combo extender (in wall bounce combos) and suprisingly often win air-trades.


Other

6A
6A
Mr. Heart-6A.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- High 23 4 - - -20

A relatively fast overhead that shares its animation with 5D, but cannot be canceled. Unfortunately its poor reward on hit and bad frame advantage stop it from being very useful. On a deep corner hit, you can OTG with Heart's A

Throw
Throw
Mr. Heart-Throw.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - 4 4 - - -

A sideswitching throw that allows for combos when the opponent is thrown into the corner. A great mixup option that leads to huge damage or even death vs some characters. Has an incredibly short whiff animation that can let you 623A or 5A an opponent that jumps out.

BD Throw
BD Throw
Mr. Heart-BD.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - 17 (Without movement) 9 - - -
  • Has one hit of armor

Probably the best BD Throw in the game. Unique to Mr. Heart, this BD Throw can grab crouching opponents and combo into itself during Itteyo!! When performed far away from the opponent, Mr. Heart will wait for a bit and then begin to run at the opponent, and throw them when he reaches them.

Heavy Strike
Heavy Strike
Mr. Heart-Heavy.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - 34 4 - - -

A regular Heavy Strike with great range, but like all other Heavy Strikes it's quite risky to use.

Banishing Strike
Banishing Strike
Mr. Heart-Bani.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid 18-33 4 - - -8

One of Mr. Heart's most important moves. Anytime it's possible try to confirm into Banishing Strike as the follow up boost is free. It is also an essential combo starter (just like his Guard Cancel) that can often lead to 50% without meter, or 100% with it.

Special Moves

No Escape!
No Escape!
63214A
Mr.Heart-NoEscape.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - - - - - -
  • Has one hit of armor

Mr. Heart vacuums the opponent in with his powerful lungs. This will pull in the opponent from anywhere, letting you extend wall combos, change their jump arc, pull them in from neutral, etc. Get creative!

Bring it on!
Bring it on!
214A -> 6
Mr.Heart-Bring.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid - - - - -

A special combo starting counter and projectile reflector, Mr. Heart puffs out his chest and sends the opponent away similar to a Banishing Strike. If 6 is held, Mr. Heart will follow the opponent. Cannot counter low attacks, and has a small amount of punishable recovery, making it a bit risky. Takes off 1 star on hit.

If done during blockstun, it functions as a unique Guard Cancel that takes half a bar of Aura, and applies a Banishing Strike effect, allowing for deadly combos. One of your most important tools.

Earthcrush
Earthcrush
214B/D
Mr.Heart-EarthCrush.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid - - - - -

One of your most important moves, Earthcrush functions as Mr. Hearts primary long range tool and Grave Shoot. B version is right in front of Heart, and D version is full screen but has slower startup. Sadly it's hitbox isn't as large as the sprite would make it out to be, but it's still a key part of your neutral and combo game. B version takes 1 star on counter hit, D version takes 1 star on hit and 2 on counter hit.

Earthquake
Earthquake
j.2B
Mr.Heart-Earthquake.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- High (First hit) - - - - -

A unique aerial slam. Sends out an unblockable shockwave along the ground that knocks down the opponent. Stalls your air momentum, allowing you to mix up opponents trying to anti air or tech chase. Due to its long recovery, you don't get much advantage on hit.

Dunk Receive
Dunk Receive
623A/C
Mr.Heart-DunkReceive.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - - - - - -
  • C version has one hit of armor

An anti-air grab with extreme range. The A version has quick startup, while the C version has delayed startup, forward movement, and 1 hit of armor. Key part of your defense and combos, leading to an infinite on a few characters. Very strong move. 623A has slightly less recovery than 623C, allowing you to link a D Earthcrush for an extra star. 1 star on hit.

Kenpou Goroshi
Kenpou Goroshi
214214A
Mr.Heart-Kenpogoroshi.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - Mid (Initial clubs), High (Falling clubs) - - - -

The club super. Completely invincible after the super flash, Mr. Heart sends out 7 spinning clubs, each of which can hit multiple times. About a second after all clubs leave the screen, 3 will fall back down from offscreen, one landing in each corner and one landing midscreen. These falling clubs will hit overhead, and take off 1 star on normal hit and 2 on counter hit. The initial clubs will not take off any stars. If you can force the opponent to block this super point blank, it does an incredible amount of Guard Gauge damage, letting you set up a Guard Break if in the corner.

With two bars of aura, you can force an unblockable setup via the falling clubs. Use the first Kenpou Goroshi, force the opponent to block low, and then immediately perform another Kenpou Goroshi. While the opponent is stuck blocking low, the long screen freeze will let the overhead clubs come back down on the opponent and will combo them into the 2nd set of clubs.

Hearts A
Hearts A
236236A
Mr.Heart-HeartsA.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - - - - - -

The #1 command grab. Huge range, catches prejump, will OTG for combo extensions, and can do nearly 50% by itself. Huge use of aura, but if it hits its well worth it. Takes off 1 star on hit. Interestingly, this move is able to grab the opponent out of normally invincible moves such as DPs or supers.

Itteyo!!

Activation
236236C
Mr.Heart-ItHurts.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - - - - - -

Like Dragon Install, but you've got diabetes.

Itteyo is the most important part of Mr. Heart's combo game, giving him access to a multitude of new options such as a wall jump, full horizontal air control, new special moves, altering the properties of BD throw and FKO allowing them to be combo'd into, and a constant single hit of armor. Unfortunately, in this state Heart both cannot block and is always running towards the opponent, making using it in neutral basically a death sentence and turning a dropped combo into a horrifying scramble situation, especially when coupled with its long recovery.


Big Hug
236A
Mr.Heart-BigHug.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - - - - - -

Launching command grab. Nothing too special, but can lead to some decent combos, along with being a key part in Typhoon loops.


Meat Cross
j.236B
Mr.Heart-Cross.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- High - - - - -

A wide aerial swing that knocks the opponent to the ground. Useful as part of Typhoon loop enders. Takes 1 star on regular hit, applies a Banishing Strike effect and takes 2 stars on counter hit.


Big Typhoon
236C/j.236C
Mr.Heart-Typhoon.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- Mid - - - - -
  • MAWARI!!

By far the best part of Itteyo. As the name implies, Heart becomes a spinning typhoon, bouncing the opponent up and around. Both versions are cancellable into other Itteyo moves on hit, and the grounded version is jump cancellable. Applies a Banishing Strike effect and takes 1 star on counter hit.


Body Throwing
j.236D
Mr.Heart-Body.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - - - - - -

Aerial command grab. Relatively large range, and used most often in Typhoon enders. Takes off 1 star on counter hit.


Meat Dunk
j.236E
Mr.Heart-MeatDunk.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
- - - - - - -

Another aerial command grab. Has no whiff animation, and can be used as an OTG after jB. Takes off 1 star on hit.


It really hurts!!
236CD (Fatal KO)
Mr.Heart-FKO.png
Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Hit Adv Block Adv
FATAL KO - 8F startup (pre flash), 0F post flash - - - -

FKO command grab with almost nonexistent combo options. Sadly, it has slightly less range than Heart's A and cannot grab prejump, along with a short amount of startup before it goes active. Thankfully, after the super flash appears, the opponent cannot do anything to escape. Best to think of it as an extremely high risk/high reward BD throw.


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Characters
Jagi
Juda
Kenshiro
Mamiya
Mr. Heart
Raoh
Rei
Shin
Thouther
Toki