Genocide Cutter (ジェノサイドカッター) is Rugal Bernstein's signature Special Move in The King of Fighters series.
| KOF '94 Re-Bout |  +  or 
|
| All other appearances |  + or ( OK, KOF XIII onwards)
|
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 startup.
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 as it's a wide anti-air regardless.
Gallery[]
version)
version)
version)
version)Quotes[]
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 and its re-release, Genocide Cutter has its power be toned down ever since. Though the Genocide Cutter used by Omega Rugal (dubbed Dark Genocide) still has notably higher damage than that of normal Rugal's.
- However,
version of Dark Genocide leaves Rugal exposed to counterattack if his opponent isn't hit, which is one of many tricks that players use against his AI boss version despite this incarnation of Omega Rugal being overpowered.
- However,
- 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 both his far standing and a unique EX move followup of sorts.
- In The King of Fighters '98 and its re-release, Genocide Cutter has its power be toned down ever since. Though the Genocide Cutter used by Omega Rugal (dubbed Dark Genocide) still has notably higher damage than that of normal Rugal's.
- In Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001, the word "Genocide" was censored out of this attack in international versions, so his trademark Genocide Cutter was renamed "Destroyer Cutter" along with Rugal merely grunting instead of yelling out the attack's name as per usual (Genocide Heaven was also redubbed as "Total Annihilation" by proxy).
- 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 Kick version 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 direct spoof of Genocide Cutter.
- Jam Kuradoberi's followup to Hochifu in Guilty Gear Xrd -Revelator- & Rev 2, Dowanga, resembles the Genocide Cutter. Jam does not rise into the air.
- Ronove's (from Umineko When They Cry) Elegant Cutter from Ougon Musou Kyoku, but done as a guard-cancel-only move and he does not leave the ground.
- Enkidu from Under Night In-Birth with his EX version Tenritsu no Kamae counter, via the kick that is performed right when it triggers.
- Genocide Cutter is performed very briefly by the Blu Heavy during a scene in the animation Pootis Engage // EXTREME[1].