114 Shiki Aragami (
This, along with its followup attacks, is primarily used by Kyo Kusanagi. This along with the similarly named 115 Shiki Dokugami, being one of the many new techniques he personally developed for a more offensive-varied focus to make up for his first defeat by Goenitz's hands before the events of The King of Fighters '96.
Through the events of KOF: Chronicle, this attack was first presented as a prototype by the name of Agata 114 Shiki: Tane Hozuki (
| 114 Shiki Aragami |  + 
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| ├► | 128 Shiki Konokizu | + or  during 114 Shiki Aragami
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| ├► | 125 Shiki Nanase |  or  during 128 Shiki Konokizu
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| └► | 127 Shiki Yanosabi ➀ | or during 128 Shiki Konokizu
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| ├► | 127 Shiki Yanosabi ➁ |  + or during 114 Shiki Aragami
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| ├► | Ge Shiki Migari Ugachi | or during 127 Shiki Yanosabi ➁
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| └► | 212 Shiki Kototsuki You | + or during 127 Shiki Yanosabi ➁
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| └► | 124 Shiki Munotsuchi | + or during 114 Shiki Aragami
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| ├► | 427 Shiki Hikigane | or during 124 Shiki Munotsuchi
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| └► | Ge Shiki Tsurube Otoshi | or during 124 Shiki Munotsuchi
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Description[]
Kyo punches forward with his following arm for a fire-laced body-blow hook. This sets itself up for many of Kyo's several followup moves that have normally stayed the same in this specific setup across games:
  128 Shiki Konokizu ( |
+ or during 114 Shiki Aragami |
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  127 Shiki Yanosabi ( |
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When done after the Konokizu, Kyo needs to be within close enough range due to the knockback of Konokizu possibly sending the victim too far away outside the corner. When done after Aragami via the HCB motion variant, it comes out a bit slower and normally would not combo from said Aragami, even off of a counter hit; it works more like an overhead frame trap in that regard. |
  125 Shiki Nanase ( |
or during 128 Shiki Konokizu or 127 Yanosabi ➁ (either one from 114 Aragami) |
animation). While it normally knocks away with a spin-out knockdown, the variant done after Aragami-to-Yanosabi is normally meant to enforce blockstrings than anything else, since the Aragami-bridge Yanosabi has already floored the opponent which causes the Aragami-Yanosabi-Nanase sequence to whiff on hit. Likely due to niche if not barely any practicality however, the Aragami-to-Yanosabi-to-Nanase route has been removed as of KOF XIV. |
  Ge-Shiki Migiri Ugachi ( |
or during 127 Shiki Yanosabi ➁ |
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 212 Shiki Kototsuki You ( |
+ or during 127 Shiki Yanosabi ➁ |
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  124 Shiki Munotsuchi ( |
+ or during 114 Shiki Aragami |
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  427 Shiki Hikigane ( |
or during 124 Shiki Munotsuchi |
version) or Konokizu (uses the version). In XIV and XV, it instead is changed to being a followup after Munotsuchi without a half-circle-back motion needed, and only the version is performed regardless of button version used. The solo input version is removed as a result, including the prior variant. |
  Ge-Shiki Tsurube Otoshi ( |
or during 124 Shiki Munotsuchi |
Strategy[]
Kyo's Aragami multi-inputs can go into a couple different chains and a couple different enders, all with different uses. While they are listed separately here as they all require detail, it may become confusing to follow along. To save you a bit of trouble, here is a table of the chains and a brief description of each, and you can scroll down and continue reading for more in-depth explanations of the specifics and usages for each rekka part.
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As this move acts as a startup of Kyo's light multi-input/rekka chains, the move can branch off into a few different input routes as depicted above. Due to that, this is a swiss army knife of a move and the lifeblood of Kyo's game, flipping between a mid-range harassment tool, pressure and mix-up tool, and core combo piece. You can use Aragami as a poke, or as a relatively safe blockstring ender (while unsafe on block, but has quite a bit of pushback, actually making you somewhat safe). It's also useful for destroying projectiles, though this won't work on 
projectiles or super projectiles (such as Haoh Shoukou Ken). As for the rekka followups, here are the useful strategies as explained below:
- 128 Shiki Konokizu is mostly acts as a filler follow-up, not much special other than adding combo damage and making Kyo's rekka enders consistent. Leads to a soft knockdown if done without the other two followups. Immensely unsafe on block, though it can be used as a (very) risky frame trap if the opponent tries to press a button after blocking Aragami with careless abare breakouts.
- While 125 Shiki Nanase ends the Aragami chain by sending the opponent flying with a side-kick to cause a soft knockdown, the move is best used to end combos midscreen for corner carry in exchange for not being a hard knockdown. Unsafe on block however, and mainly for the Yanosabi-bridge-version only works to connect on block as a blockstring extender in some games where it does even exist.
- Normally, 127 Shiki Yanosabi can be used to end the Aragami chain by slamming the opponent down onto the ground with an elbow strike. Like Konokizu, this move is unsafe on block. It grants a hard knockdown, allowing for okizeme afterward. Despite the animation, the finisher version does not hit high and can be blocked crouching. The bridge version however, is an overhead attack and can be used to frame-trap and mix up an opponent at the same time, but still unsafe on block. Due to pushback, this move can be very difficult to punish without supers at midscreen. You can actually use this to end certain midscreen juggle combos instead of using a chain ender to grant safejump okizeme afterward with an immediate hyper-hop jumping
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- The rekka/multi-input-sequence version of his 212 Shiki Kototsuki You is a hit-grab similar to his old standalone variation of the move, but is able to hit a downed opponent this time right after the Aragami-to-Yanosabi sequence to make itself an ender to his rekkas (which of course, also foregoes the initial elbow thrust). Knocks the opponent very far away and serves to allow Kyo some corner carry off of the overhead if it lands, but gives him no okizeme opportunity. Unsurprisingly unsafe on block.
- While Ge Shiki Migiri Ugachi doesn't do as much damage as the Kototsuki You ender, but instead it leaves better positioning for okizeme. Unsafe on block similar to the Kototsuki You ender.
- Only in Maximum Impact 2 and Regulation 'A' for base Kyo, an alternate version of Migiri Ugachi can be performed from the version R.E.D. Kick as + . Both versions of Migiri Ugachi in the MI games launch the foe on hit to make it work as a great OTG pick-up launcher.
- Only in Maximum Impact 2 and Regulation 'A' for base Kyo, an alternate version of Migiri Ugachi can be performed from the
- While originally predated only by the rekka-version of the 88 Shiki for base Kyo only in KOF XI (which can only be done with from the Aragami>Yanosabi bridge), the newly added 124 Shiki Munotsuchi as of XIV being a direct Aragami-followup works arguably better. Both of these moves however still fill in the purpose of covering up the Aragami sequence's prior major weakness in lacking lows.
- The Munotsuchi in particular however, while usable as either a frame trap (3 frames to prevent most mash-outs) or a backdash punisher to still keep the defender in relative range of the Aragami sequence onslaught, has a more beneficial knockdown effect on top of its own 2 followups unlike the 88 Shiki. The animation is also somewhat shorter along with more overall difficulty in punishing it without specific reads. Even then, there is so far only one spot to use the Munotsuchi in while there are still currently 2 possible overhead routes across the entirety of the Aragami sequence.
- The Aragami version of 427 Shiki Hikigane was first added in XI for base Kyo which acted only as an Aragami or Konokizu finisher only with frame-trapping utility for attribute crushing; the Aragami-version used the version (avoids highs) while the Konokizu-version used the version (avoids lows) which was made slower. Only EX Kyo could perform it standalone as before while normal Kyo had it only as an Aragami sequencer.
- Though as of KOF XIV which only uses the version and only comes after the Munotsuchi, it nonetheless is a great launcher for corner damage, since this goes right into Orochinagi loops very easily. The long airtime after launch is great for priming an 75 Shiki Kai > Aragami > Orochinagi to start the loop. But at a cost, the original solo version of Hikigane can no longer be accessed as it is replaced with the return of his classic Kototsuki You.
- Can also be followed up into Aragami > Konokizu midscreen with a well timed Nanase as midscreen ender, the Yanosabi ➀ follow up can be done in the corner for a bit of meterless damage and oki, he can also super cancel the second sequence input for meter cash-out.
- Can be combo'ed into Shiki Kai in the corner for longer combos or can go directly into Oniyaki for Orochinagi ender.
- Can also use Aragami > Yanosabi ➁ > Kototsuki You follow up in the corner for his hitgrab ender.
- Though as of KOF XIV which only uses the
- Ge Shiki Tsurube Otoshi is a midscreen option for when the low connects. The hard knockdown allows Kyo to leap forward with what is essentially the Ge Shiki Naraku Otoshi (akin to older versions of him being able to perform this move mid-step-dash) and resume pressure with a safejump. Also has good corner carry, and supplements the low hit from the prior Munotsuchi.
- In the Maximum Impact games, all of these move sequences can be super-cancel-able if Kyo has spare meter, making them strong combo options that can easily be worth the meter to spend on and provided the player's execution is deft enough depending on the super they want to use.
Gallery[]
The King of Fighters '99[]
The King of Fighters 2003[]
The King of Fighters XV[]
Trivia[]
- Kyo's quote when using 114 Shiki Aragami, "Body ga..." (ボディが...) is often misheard as "Bodega". This slowly became a meme within the SNK community.
- Quite obviously, these sets of followups are inspired from Fei-Long's Rekkaken (and later, Karin Kanzuki's Guren Ken) from the Street Fighter series, but greatly expanded upon. This later inspired other branching rekka-type attacks, most notably with Ragna the Bloodedge.
- So far only in KOF XI, normal Kyo has altered sequences of the Aragami that don't follow the usual scheme as per the norm for Kyo's other playable versions with this attack.
- From this sequence, Kyo's Aragami-version of Kototsuki You since KOF 2001 predates the version of Iori's Kototsuki In (since XIII) as a Kototsuki variation that can pick-up downed opponents.
- As per Kyo's personal "taste" in poetry, the Tsurube Otoshi in particular is also named after the Japanese phrase for "sinking quickly", and is also named after a Japanese creature in folklore that tends hide up in trees to drop a well-bucket for scooping up its prey.