| Orochi | Story | Move List | Gallery | Quotes | Trivia |
Orochi (オロチ) is a character from The King of Fighters series. It was first alluded to in the ending of The King of Fighters '95, before making its physical appearance as the main antagonist and final boss of The King of Fighters '97, as well as the reoccurring overarching antagonist of the entire series.
Personality[]
Orochi is a deity whose purpose is to protect Gaia, considering itself an extension of the earth itself. Unlike a typical antagonist, its actions are driven by philosophy rather than malice—it believes humanity’s destruction is a necessary step to restore natural balance, not an end in itself.
Although Orochi condemns humans for their selfish, destructive tendencies and transgressions against nature, it recognizes their potential for good. This is particularly evident in its interactions with Kula Diamond, where it expresses fascination with humanity’s ability to create something pure and benevolent despite their flaws. This suggests Orochi’s misanthropy is not absolute but conditional, shaped by humanity’s choices. It also gathers like-minded followers, known as the Hakkesshu, who share its ideals.
Despite its destructive agenda, Orochi carries itself with wisdom and dignity, speaking of inevitability rather than resorting to immediate violence. It often references sleep and awakening, hinting at a perspective far removed from mortal time—seeing human civilization’s rise and fall as mere moments in the earth’s greater cycle. This patience and eternal outlook make Orochi less of a conventional villain and more of a force of nature.
Powers[]
As a force of nature, Orochi has a vast and incredible set of powers. It can give powers to the Eight Heads of Orochi.
- Telepathy - Orochi can project thoughts and talk to people mentally. It can freely read minds, especially its enemies, with no hindrances.
- Telekinesis - Orochi can move objects with its mind.
- Translocation - Orochi can translocate itself.
- Possession - Orochi can possess the mind of any of its followers.
- Ergokinesis - Orochi can manipulate raw energy.
- Energy Projectile - Orochi can release a projectile of energy from its hands.
- Energy Pillar - Orochi can create a pillar of energy from the ground.
- Energy Redirection - Orochi can create a rift in front of it which absorbs and redirects energy attack back to the opponent.
- Luminokinesis - Orochi can create a powerful light that damages the enemy.
- Regeneration - Orochi can regenerate and heal itself.
- Destroy Souls - Orochi can penetrate the enemy's soul and destroy it.
- Nihilokinesis - Orochi's main power. As it is a God of Nothingness, Orochi has power over nothingness or voids.
- Power Bestowal - Orochi can give any of the powers below to its followers. Alternatively, it can also grant power via a pact, often by blood.
- Pyrokinesis - Orochi can give full control over purple fire. The fire has also tapping ability.
- Electrokinesis - Orochi can give full control over electricity and thunder.
- Geokinesis - Orochi can give full control over the earth.
- Aerokinesis - Orochi can give full control over air or wind.
- Necrokinesis - Orochi can give some control over death or death energy.
- Superhuman Strength - Orochi has superhuman strength and also it can grant strength to its followers or others via pact.
- Cutting Powers - Orochi can give cutting powers (slashing hands, cutting aura, slashing projectile).
- Snake Arms - Orochi can give the power Snake Arms to anyone.
- Incarnation - Orochi can incarnate in any of its followers, particularly with any of its Heavenly Kings.
Fighting Style[]
Orochi's fighting style is a manifestation of its divine nature, employing supernatural powers rather than conventional martial arts. Its moves are deeply rooted in Shinto religious terminology and concepts, with each technique bearing significant ritual and spiritual meaning. The unique aspect of its moveset lies in the dual readings of the kanji used for its moves, suggesting layers of meaning that reflect its complex nature as a deity.
Coincidentally, it also shares animation for some of its kick attacks with Rugal (his Genocide Cutter & Double Tomahawk). Orochi's version of Genocide Cutter, however, is a normal standing D button, which is mostly exploited by players by continuously spamming the button while moving forward to quickly deplete opponents' health bars. Orochi is also one of the few characters who has a move that only inflicts damage upon its opponent falling to the ground from a normal knockdown.
The aforementioned tomahawk kick was inherited by Mizuchi while he retires it completely in 98UM in favor of a new set of kick moves. His Genocide Cutter (now called Ukei) imitation becomes a full-fledged land-based anti-air special attack, thus making Orochi somewhat more balanced than his '97 version.
Music[]
- The Origin of Mind - The King of Fighters '97, The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match, King of Fighters R-1, KOF Sky Stage, The King of Fighters All Star
Voice Actors[]
Japanese[]
| Rio Ogata | Shiki Aoki | Rui Yamasaki | |||
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List of Roles:
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List of Roles:
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List of Roles:
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| Motoko Kumai | |
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List of Roles:
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English[]
| Miwa Gardner | |
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List of Roles:
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Game Appearances[]
- The King of Fighters '97 - Final Boss
- King of Fighters R-1
- The King of Fighters 2000 - As a PS2 Maniac Striker for Leona
- The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match - Potential Final Boss
- The King of Fighters: Kyo
- The King of Fighters (pachinko) - Hidden Boss
- KOF Sky Stage
- Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting
- CR The King of Fighters
Mobile Appearances[]
- The King of Millionaire
- SNK Dream Battle
- Cos大乱斗
- The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Online
- Tian Tian Xuan Dou - Opening Cutscene.
- Tower Of Saviours
- Kimi wa Hero
- The King of Fighters Destiny
- The King of Fighters: World
- The King of Fighters All Star
- The King of Fighters: Orochi Go
- Fighting Awakening (拳魂觉醒)
- Brave Frontier
Cameo Appearances[]
- The King of Fighters '99 - mentioned by Krizalid
- SNK Gals' Fighters - mentioned in Shermie's ending
- The King of Fighters 2003 - passing mention
- The King of Fighters 2002 & The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match - during Orochi Chris's Hidden Super Desperation Move
- The King of Fighters XI - passing mention
- The King of Fighters XII - passing mention
- The King of Fighters XIII - passing mention; also mentioned in some win quotes
- The King of Fighters XIV - In the Yagami Team ending; in Verse's win quote against Kyo, in Zarina's win quote against Vice, in and in Yamazaki and Leona's win quotes against Mature
- The King of Fighters XV - mentioned in Sacred Treasures and Orochi Teams' Stories; in Iori's voice during his Climax Super Special Move, and by Leona in the Ikari Warriors Team ending
- The King of Fighters '94 Re-Bout - background cameo in the Japan Team stage
- The King of Fighters Neowave - during Orochi Chris's Hidden Super Desperation Move
- SVC Chaos: SNK vs. Capcom - in Iori's ending; in-text cameo in pre-fight dialogues
- Days of Memories (first, fourth, and fifth) - mentioned in various ways in all titles
- SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy - in Shermie's ending; also mentioned in Nakoruru's win quote vs. Shermie and by Leona in Story Mode
Similar Characters[]
Cards[]
Sprites[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Orochi and its followers are an interpretation of the mythical eight headed serpent, Yamata no Orochi.
- Orochi is well known for its glowing effect (rendered by hardware) since introduction in KOF'97. This effect is lost in KOF '98 UM, and is rendered via sprite palette in Mizuchi. This is probably due to the later games being dream matches, as Orochi seemingly doesn't use Chris as host (his intro also shows him already in humanoid form instead of transforming from Chris).
- Orochi is the first supernatural antagonist in the KOF series, though later revealed to have no true malice for mankind. True to the Yamata no Orochi origins, Orochi's true form is that of a giant serpent (with eight heads) as seen in Iori's ending in SVC Chaos.
- Orochi has no actual gender. It first used a female body as illustrated in the "battle of 1800 years ago", seen in The King of Fighters: Kyo. As of recent, due to using Chris as a host, Orochi is often identified as a male, and this design lingers even in KOF XIV.
- Most of its seiyū are, however, female. Shiki Aoki, who is Orochi's seiyū in The King of Fighters: World and The King of Fighters: All Star, is a transgender male.
- When first introduced in KOF '97, Orochi cannot crouch, but has attacks that must be blocked low, while being visually identical to its standing attacks. Crouching stances and attacks were first implemented in the PlayStation version of KOF '97, but in a very incomplete form with severe frame cuts. These were redone when Orochi was added in KOF '98 UM, using newly-drawn sprites. Mizuchi, on the other hand, uses a combination of Orochi's arcade and PlayStation KOF '97 sprites with improvised animation frames.
