Genocide Cutter

Genocide Cutter is Rugal Bernstein's signature Special Move in The King of Fighters series.

Description
Rugal kicks in an outward circular crescent motion with his following leg as he jumps into the air, along with a sharp outline of energy following behind it.

Across its appearances, the animation often varies with how Rugal's landing animation looks, as well as if he either turns his whole body for the initial kick or not. The jump arc also varies in being either straight upward after a brief forward nudge, or a lasting forward jump that covers little distance.

The version is fairly fast and can recover quickly. The version hits twice and goes higher but can be punished easily if whiffed. In '98 (UM), Genocide Cutter used by normal Rugal has the same animation for both &  like its previous ones while one used by Omega Rugal (dubbed as Dark Genocide) has second launching kick from his other leg along with notably higher damage. In 2002 (UM as well), the of Genocide Cutter had more hits with a front flip kick. In XV, &  versions are respectively normal version & version with second launching kick while the version with a front flip kick become  special move.

Strategy
In player hands, Genocide Cutter is more of a combo extender than an anti-air move. Due to being toned down especially in KOF '98, he can be hit out of it if timed correctly. Up-close however, it is Rugal's equivalent to the Shoryuken in terms of anti-air and even frame priority.

Prior to KOF '98, Genocide Cutter is a virtual death sentence if hit by it cleanly. As of KOF '98 onwards, it hurts far less, but without frame advantage or dodging, it can be extremely difficult to defend against.

Trivia

 * Genocide Cutter is infamous in the Fighting Game genre due to its damage. In The King of Fighters '94, not only has absolute priority (literally no other move in the game can beat it, not even Super Special Moves) but can also easily shave off up to 75% of the player's health or even instantly kim him/her if Rugal fully charges his DM bar.
 * In The King of Fighters '98 & its upgraded version, his Genocide Cutter has its power being toned down. Though Genocide Cutter used by Omega Rugal (dubbed Dark Genocide) still has notably higher damage than that of normal Rugal.
 * However, [[File:Neo Geo D Button.gif]] version of Dark Genocide leaves Rugal exposed to counterattack if his opponent isn't hit, which is one of many tricks that players use despite this incarnation of Omega Rugal isn't so overpowered.
 * Orochi also uses this motion initially as its standard kick animations, before being spun off as its own stationary anti-air special move in KOF98 UM. Mizuchi instead has it as a unique EX move followup of sorts.


 * In Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001, the word "Genocide" was censored out of his Move List, so his trademark Genocide Cutter was renamed "Destroyer Cutter". In the Japanese version, the word "Genocide" wasn't actually censored out, thus when Genocide Cutter is used, he'll yell out the attack's name, while he remains silent when using it in the international versions.


 * Genocide Cutter has been referenced in many other fighting games:
 * Sayuri Kurata's (from Kanon) Magical☆Cutter in the doujin fighting game Eternal Fighter Zero, resembles Genocide Cutter, even down to its damage output when hit on start-up.
 * Charlie Nash's Heavy Sonic Scythe in Street Fighter V heavily resembles Genocide Cutter.
 * Claudio Serafino's Sky Slash Nova is also based on Genocide Cutter, having become as memetic in Tekken 7 as its progenitor.
 * Maroon's Genocide Susser in Among Us Arena is a spoof of Genocide Cutter.