List of Special Teams in The King of Fighters

In almost every game in The King of Fighters series, characters are grouped in teams. Each team consists of three characters (four during the NESTS Chronicles saga).

Starting with The King of Fighters '96, there are also "Special Edit Teams", unique combinations of characters that have a special ending picture if the player chooses them together.

Team Goenitz
Team Goenitz is a Special Team that appears only in The King of Fighters '96. This team is only formed if Goenitz is on the player's team. In the Team's ending, Goenitz is killed by himself. Chizuru Kagura appears and explains to him and the other two teammates that the Goenitz on their team was an illusion, and by destroying the illusion, Goenitz himself was destroyed in the process.

Team Classic Women's Fighters
Team Classic Women's Fighters, or the 94 Women's Team, is a reoccurring Special Team. As the name implies, the team composes of King, Mai Shiranui, and Yuri Sakazaki, who were all on the Women's Team in The King of Fighters '94.

This Special Team only appears in '97, '98, 2003.

Team SNK Heroes
Team SNK Heroes, or the SNK All Stars Team, is a reoccurring Special Team. This Team composes of Terry Bogard, Ryo Sakazaki, and Kyo Kusanagi; the star protagonists of SNK's 3 biggest fighting game series; Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and The King of Fighters respectively.

This Special Team only appears in '97, '98, 2003, XIII.

Team Classic Heroes
Team Classic Heroes is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '97. This Team composes of Ralf Jones, Clark Still, and Athena Asamiya; the star protagonists of SNK's classic non-fighting games Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier. In the Team's ending, Ralf, Clark and Athena transform into their classic designs, with Athena taking on Goddess Athena's design. Sie Kensou also appears during this ending, wearing his classic Psycho Soldier design.

Team Ego
Team Ego is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '97. As the name implies, this Team composes of Benimaru Nikaido, Joe Higashi, and Kim Kaphwan; characters who are noticeable for their large egos. In the Team's ending, Benimaru, Joe, and Kim battle it out to see who is the best among the three.

Team Kyo & Shingo
Team Classic SNK Heroes is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '97. As the name implies, this Team composes of Kyo Kusanagi and Shingo Yabuki. In the Team's ending, Kyo gives Shingo his iconic gloves for working hard.

Although this ending is not canon, Shingo wears these gloves starting with The King of Fighters '98.

Team Neo Geo Freak
Team Neo Geo Freak is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '97. This Team is unique as it only appears in the Japanese version. This Team consists of Kyo Kusanagi, Mai Shiranui, and Billy Kane.

This team was created by Neo Geo Freak magazine.

Team Gamest
Team Gamest is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '97. This Team is unique as it only appears in the Japanese version. This Team consists of Terry Bogard, Blue Mary, and Joe Higashi.

This team was created by the Gamest magazine, and the Special Team Image was drawn by Tsukasa Kotobuki.

Team Famitsu
Team Famitsu is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '97. This Team is unique as it only appears in the Japanese version. This Team consists of Ryuji Yamazaki, Chang Koehan, and Choi Bounge.

This team was created by the Famitsu magazine.

Team Shingo


Team Shingo is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. This Team consists of Shingo Yabuki, Kyo Kusanagi, and Iori Yagami.

This team would later appear as an Official Team in The King of Fighters XI as Team Kyo & Iori.

Team Rugal


Team Rugal is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. As the name implies, this Team consists of characters who have aligned with Rugal Bernstein; being him, Mature, and Vice.

Team No. 2


Team No. 2 is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. This Team composes of Andy Bogard, Robert Garcia, and Benimaru Nikaido; the deuteragonists of SNK's 3 biggest fighting game series; Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and The King of Fighters respectively.

Team No. 3


Team No. 3 is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. This Team composes of Joe Higashi, Yuri Sakazaki, and Goro Daimon; the tritagonists of SNK's 3 biggest fighting game series; Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, and The King of Fighters respectively.

Team Baseball
Team Baseball is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. As the name implies, this Team composes of Ralf Jones, Blue Mary, and Lucky Glauber; all of whom see baseball as their favorite sport.

Team Father
Team Father is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. As the name implies, this Team composes of Kim Kaphwan, Takuma Sakazaki, and Saisyu Kusanagi; all of whom are fathers whose children are also fighters.

Team Rapid-Punch
Team Rapid-Punch is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. This Team consists of Billy Kane, Joe Higashi, and Chang Koehan. Despite the team name, they have non-traditional rapid punch specials.

Team Severely Burned
Team Severely Burned (also known as Team Orochinagi) is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. As the name implies, this Team composes of Kyo Kusanagi, Saisyu Kusanagi, and Orochi Chris; all of whom can perform the Ura 108 Shiki: Orochinagi, with Orochi Chris' version being the Ankoku Orochinagi.

Team Sakazaki
Team Sakazaki is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. As its name implies, this team consists of three members of the Sakazaki family: Ryo, Yuri, and Takuma.

Team Teen
Team Teen is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. As its name implies, this team consists of three teenage boys: Sie Kensou (age 19), Shingo Yabuki (age 18), and Chris (age 14).

Team Orochi Ladies


Team Orochi Ladies is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. As its name implies, this team consists of three Hakkesshu females: Shermie, Mature, and Vice.

Team Orochi Men
Team Orochi Men is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. As its name implies, this team consists of three Hakkesshu males: Yashiro Nanakase, Chris, and Ryuji Yamazaki.

Team Kusanagi Style
Team Kusanagi Style is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. As the name implies, this Team composes of Kyo Kusanagi, Saisyu Kusanagi, and Shingo Yabuki; all of whom practice the Kusanagi style of ancient martial arts, with Shingo having learned it from Kyo.

Team Comedy
Team Comedy is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. As the name implies, this Team composes of Sie Kensou, Robert Garcia, and Choi Bounge; all of whom serve as the series' comic reliefs.

Team "Cute"
Team Cute is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. As the name implies, this Team composes of Choi Bounge, Chin Gentsai, and Chang Koehan; all of whom to be 'cute'.

Team Cap
Team Cap is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. As the name implies, this Team composes of Clark Still, Terry Bogard, and Lucky Glauber; all of whom wear caps.

Team Other Hero
Team Other Hero is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. This Team is essentially Team Hero but with Shingo Yabuki replacing Kyo Kusanagi. The team would later be official as Team Japan in The King of Fighters 2003.

Team Other Ikari
Team Other Ikari is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. This Team composes of Leona, Ralf Jones, and Heidern.

Team Other Heroine
Team Other Heroine is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. This Team composes of Athena Asamiya, Mai Shiranui, and Yuri Sakazaki.

This team appears in King of Fighters R-1, and then later appears as an official team in The King of Fighters XV.

Team Destructors
Team Destructors is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98. This team composes of Ralf Jones, Brian Battler, and Chang Koehan.

Team April 8th Birthday
Team April 8th Birthday is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98. As its name implies, this team consists of three members whose birthday falls on April 8: King, Mature, and Shingo Yabuki.

Team KOF '98 UM
Team KOF '98 UM is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. As its name implies, this team composes of Orochi, Rugal Bernstein, and Goenitz; all of whom are bosses of the game.

Team Ninja
Team Ninja is a Special Team that appears in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. As its name implies, this team composes of Andy Bogard, Mai Shiranui, and Eiji Kisaragi; all of whom are ninjas.

This edit team later appears in The King of Fighters XIV, but with Banderas Hattori replacing Eiji.

Team Young Teenage Girls
Team Young Teenage Girls is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. As its name implies, this team composes of three teenage girls: Athena Asamiya (age 18), Kasumi Todoh (age 16), and Leona (age 18).

Team Skin Head
Team Skin Head is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. As its name implies, this team composes of Mr. Big, Chang Koehan, and Choi Bounge; all of whom are bald.

Team Shingo Detests
Team Shingo Detests is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. As its name implies, this team composes of Iori Yagami, Yashiro Nanakase, and Ryuji Yamazaki; all of whom shown to dislike Shingo Yabuki.

Team Awakened
Team Awakened is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. This team composes of Orochi, Orochi Iori, and Orochi Leona.

Team Grown Arms
Team Grown Arms is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. As its name implies, this team composes of Ryuji Yamazaki, Mature, and Vice; all of whom have long arms.

Team Orochi Heavenly Kings
Team Orochi Heavenly Kings is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. As its name implies, this team composes of Goenitz, Orochi Yashiro, Orochi Shermie, and Orochi Chris; all of whom are The Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi.

Although this team has four members, it must compose of Goenitz and two other members of The Four Heavenly Kings.

Team Hard Punch
Team Hard Punch is a Special Team that only appears in The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match. As its name implies, this team composes of Yashiro Nanakase, Ryo Sakazaki, and Heavy-D!; all of whom have moves that deal with a hard punch.