Ura 108 Shiki Ya Sakazuki

Ura 108 Shiki Ya Sakazuki (Reverse Method 108: Eight Sake Cups) is one of Iori Yagami's Super Special Moves in the King of Fighters series, first appearing in The King of Fighters '97.

Description
Being one of the stronger variations of the 108 Shiki Yami Barai, Iori throws a projectile that skims the ground and ends with a pillar of fire with a big splash at the bottom which upon hitting someone with it, puts them in a flame-stasis effect before they get knocked down upon it wearing off. Button version depends on how far the Yami Barai projectile goes before it explodes into the fire pillar without any direct contact with the foe. The flame pillar can even emerge if the foe jumps over the attack at a certain low-enough height, even freezing them in midair.

The version creates several pillars spouting up in rapid succession, where if the move hits, the opponent is frozen in place for longer than usual. Starting with The King of Fighters '98, it can be held to delay the attack but with no effect on its damage. The version also nudges Iori a bit forward upon throwing out the projectile.

Strategy
While slow, the Ya Sakazuki once it connects can easily freeze the foe in place offer yet another chance to start one of Iori's powerful bread-and-butter combos to loop the foe into his infamous vortexes, especially when in some games, the frozen foe takes gradual minor damage while frozen to add to the offensive presence.

Even then, the main issues with Ya Sakazaki stem from if the foe is frozen in midair, it forces Iori to hit them with an airborne hit to trigger a possible trip-guard or run-under for a less optimal offensive start (given it might not lead into a true free combo and only into pressure again). And depending on the game, another Ya Sakazuki or even the Yami Barai cannot be used if the victim is put into stasis, while Kuzukaze is programmed to whiff even up-close.

In its SDM and versions, it can negate some projectiles with the row of flame pillars, though it should be noted that the foe can only get hit once by any of the row's hitboxes and none of the rest afterwards if it properly connects on hit. Returning in  '03, it is still able to temporarily paralyze the opponent, but can no longer be held.

Trivia

 * Ura 108 Shiki Ya Sakazuki acts as a more-direct parallel to Kyo's Ura 108 Shiki Orochinagi.


 * While Ura 108 Shiki Ya Sakazuki was removed from Iori's moveset starting in The King of Fighters '99, it became Iori's Striker move in  '99~'01 instead.