KOF' 2001 ATHENA ASAMIYA

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KOF' 2001 ATHENA ASAMIYA
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Changes from kof'2000 to kof'2001

1. Her Psycho Shoot (qcf + P) is now gone for good.
[Hey, no big loss for Athena]

2. Her crouching D has more horizontal range and less vertical range.
[This is the 1st time her down + D frame has changed in the kof series]

3. Her Spinning Crystal (hcb x 2 + P) has juggling property.
[This means it doesn't need to be a counter like kof'2000 and you may
follow-up with the Crystal Shot under most circumstances]

4. She gained the SDM Psychic 9 (qcb, f + AC)
[Wow, a mad-dog style SDM for Athena, and it's interactive too, check out
the follow-ups below]

5. She changed her clothes and her hair style again.
[She IS a celebrity, can't blame her keeping up with the trend]

6. Like all characters, she can super cancel special.
[Known super cancel moves are stated below]

7. Athena only critical wire attack can be done by a Psychic 9 follow up

8. No more unblockable fireball bug this year.

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Impression
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She is the 1st character I used in kof'2001 and boy does she rocks.
Thank goodness they didn't shrink her Psycho Ball like what they did
to Bao but I was quite disappointed that her throw version of Psycho
Shoot didn't come back.

Some guy tried a cross over on Athena and got hit 5 combo registered
times by her Spinning Crystal! Miraculously, my opponent survived the 5
hits because of the damage reduction after the 1st hit. He never tried
that stance again for the rest of the round. You won't too, if you saw
your character bounce up and down 5 times on Athena's DM.

Oh, and if you didn't notice, normal throws does less damage, and her
WONDERBUTT aka Pheonix Bomb (air d + B) does more damage than in kof'2000.

She is a dear against Igniz (last boss). Her SDM Crystal Shot completely
neutralises Igniz's bullet style fireball. Her SDM Shining Crystal Bit
draws with Igniz's Wave DM, both come out none the better from it. And
suprisingly, her SDM Psychic 9 WINS Igniz's Rush DM when done at the same
time!

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Profiles
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Fighting Style : Psychic Power and Chinese Kung Fu
Birthdate : March 14th
Age : 18
Nationality : Japan
Blood Type : B
Height : 163cm
Weight : 49kg
Vital Stats (cm) : 83/57/82
Likes : Astrology
Favorite Food : Maple leaf-shaped bean past buns
Strong Sport : Lacrosse
Important Things : A Peter Rabbit tea set, letters from her fans
Dislikes : Grasshoppers
Voice
Actor/Actress : Haruna Ikezawa [KOF98- Athena Asamiya]

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[ Joystick Layout ] -----------------------------------------------------

ub u uf Jump Backward Jump Up Jump Forward
\ | / (up-back) (up) (up-forward)
b -- n -- f Retreat / Block Neutral Approach
/ | \ (back) (forward)
db d df Crouch Block Crouch Offensive Crouch
(down-back) (down) (down forward)

[ Button Layout ] -------------------------------------------------------

A B C D Light Punch Light Kick Heavy Punch Heavy Kick

QCF = quarter circle forward

HCB = half circle back

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Special Moves
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Bit Throw When close, b / f + C
(throws forward)

Psychic Throw When close, b / f + D
(throws to the other side)

Psychic Shoot When close, a-u + C / D in air
(somersault and throws opponent in air)

Phoenix Bomb In air, d + B
(knock down and high piority move)
- cancellable into special moves
- can be cancelled from CD, C and A in the air
- can be done during the quick retreat, b+b.

Chained Kick f + B
(2 hits high angle kick)
- cancellable 2nd hit into air special

Psycho Ball Attack qcb + P
(typical full screen air projectile)
- C fast, A slow

Psycho Sword f,d,df + P (ground/air)
(multiple hit anti-air move, can be done in air)
- very low piority
- super cancel special into DM

Phoenix Arrow In air, qcb + K
(roll down in a ball of psycho energy, multiple hits. D version ends with a kick)
- the kick has pretty long range and will be directed at your opponent
- super cancel special into DM

Psychic Teleport qcf + K
(teleport, D version is further)
- very little invulnerability
- serve little purpose other than to confuse or escape

Psycho Reflector hcb + B
(reflects all projectiles)
- reflected projectiles have diminished damage

Neo Psycho Reflector hcb + D
(reflects all projectiles)
- reflected projectiles have diminished damage
- longer startup but last longer
- tick damage

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DM
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Shining Crystal Bit hcb x 2 + P (ground/air)
(Athena is protected by orbiting crystal bits, can be done in air)
- invulnerable during startup
- can neutralise projectiles and non-physical attacks unless it is a SDM.
- ABCD to cancel
- juggles

Crystal Shot qcb + P from Shining Crystal Bit
(Athena gathers the crystal bits above her)
- can be held by holding the P button
- A version projectile shoots straight
- C version projectile will curve
- can negate other projectiles

Pheonix Fang Arrow qcf x 2 + K (in air)
(Multiple Pheonix Arrow)
- does a lot of tick damage on large character
- unable to combo in corner after her chained kick, opponent will
be able to block after the first volley

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SDM
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Shining Crystal Bit hcb x 2 + AC (ground/air)
(Athena is protected by orbiting crystal bits, can be done in air)
- invulnerable during startup
- can neutralise projectiles and non-physical attacks unless it is a SDM.
- has a psychic shield around her body for additional protection
- ABCD to cancel
- opponent is knocked flying across the screen

Crystal Shot qcb + P from Shining Crystal Bit
(Athena gathers the crystal bits above her)
- can be held by holding the P button
- A version projectile shoots straight
- C version projectile will curve
- hit 3 times

Pyschic 9 hcb, f + AC
(Athena does a pose and rushes forward, and changes her costume with every
hit of the button, from kof'2000, back to kof'95. You may choose her to
perform any 3 of the finishing moves stated below after pressing the sequence)

- need to press buttons in sequence A.B.C.A.B.C.D
- if you miss the sequence or whiff, she sits on her bum
- Finishing
hcb + K = Another Athena (kof'2000 striker flame attack)
qcf + P = School Uniform (does kof'94/95 stand CD, critical wire)
f,d,df + P = Swim Suit Athena (does psycho sword)

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Useful Combos
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(1) standing C/D -> f + B (1hit) -> pyscho sword (air) ->> (super cancel) SCB

(2) crouch B -> stand A/B -> pyscho sword (air) ->> (super cancel) SCB

(3) standing C/D -> f + B (1 or 2 hits) -> phoenix arrow/SCB (corner)

(4) jump A/C/CD -> Pheonix Bomb

<3 Power>

(5) down/stand C -> P9 -> School Uniform follow up -> SCB (2 hits)
-> Crystal Shot (hold) (1 hit) -> Crystal Shot (release) (1 hit)

<4 Power>

(6) crouch B -> crouch/stand A -> P9 -> Swimsuit follow up -> SCB (Max)

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Striker
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Athena does her kof'94 version of pheonix arrow, and if she hits, she ends
it with a kick which sends her opponent flying upwards. If not, she shakes
her head in despair and leaves.

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Playing with Athena
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A lot of people seem to have difficult with her SDM Pyschic 9 so this part will
mostly cover the SDM and it's uses.

(1) Pyschic 9 start up

- You can download a video clip on her SDM P9 to get a feel of her timing,
but that would be unnecessary

- By default, she does 2 hits alone from her p9

- Keep your hands OFF the buttons until she gets her 2nd hit from P9.

- On her 2nd hit, she starts counting, that is when you start pressing
the buttons at the same time

- You do have to familarize the sequence as the 7 button sequence will
be completed in 2 seconds

(2) Choose a follow-up

- The Another Athena (hcb + K) should be used when you have no power bar
left as it deals the most damage

- The School Uniform (qcf + P) deals the least damage but the critical
wire property gives you ample time for a jump CD. You must choose this
follow up carefully as if you are too far away when your opponent
bounces off the wall, you may not be able to juggle
<note>
If you use the School Uniform follow-up, you can start your SCB
earlier and it will have juggling properties (read below on SCB)

- The Swim Suit Athena (dp + P) is my all time favourite. If you have
no power bar, you can easily juggle with a Psycho sword and it deals
about the same damage as the Another Athena. If you do have power, let
her rip with a SCB anywhere but remember to cancel immediately as it
will not juggle

(3) Pyschic 9 in general

- It is really pointless to use P9 when your ratio is 3 players or more.
Well, it is impossible for you to use P9 on a ratio 4. I draw my
conclusions on the reasons below for ratio 3

- You can do the same damage with a well placed single bar SCB and if you
use the Max SCB, it does more damage than P9 and much more if you follow
up with Crystal Shot

- Having a power bar is a good mind game as your opponent will fear your
devastating SCB and it is a waste to use 2 of them and start the next
round with no power

- Unless that is your last opponent in the match then go ahead kill him
off with a impressive combo

- The possiblities starts to snowball when she is ratio 1 or 2. Because, that
is when you can juggle one SDM to another or call a striker to set up
your P9 combos

- On a ratio 1, Athena can juggle with a Max SCB. Unfortunately, it will
not be registered as a counter and the opponent will be flung far away
after 2 hits. If the opponent fails to block the Crystal Shot on waking,
it can easily be a whole life combo (this is based on the same ratio)

- Always start your P9 with a set up attack, (eg. jump D -> standing D -> P9)
because P9 has no invulnerabilty. Do not expect her to fly through fire ball
or attack a opponent who has left the ground

- If you hit the opponent who is in the air with P9, try to get as many hits as
possible to make it your worth as she will finally whiff

(4) Her crouching D

- Since '94 , I have been wishing her sweep to have longer range. But not at the
expense of her start up and recovery time!

- Look on the bright side. At least now she has a way to deal with opponent landing
a distance away from her and it is a good way to attack a waking opponent safely.

(5) Her SCB (1power) this year

- If you hit during the start up before the crystals are fully in orbit (1 hit)

- If you hit when the crystals are fully in orbit (Max 2 hits)

- If you hit when the crystals are in orbit and it is a counter (Max 6 hits)

- If you hold the Crystal Shot during any of the above and the opponent falls
on it (1 hit)

- If you shoot with Crystal Shot (1 hit)

- All the above applies to SCB (1power) being done in the air too

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Team Ending (in a nutshell)
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??? : 'Can you do it?'

??? : 'Yes. I believe so...'

<They found themsleves on a cliff overlooking the ocean where the spaceship crashed and
were saved by some mysterious people>

Kensou : 'Hey! Everyone OK?'

Athena : 'Yeah, we're all right.'

Kensou : 'Whew! What a tough fight. Glad we're okay.'

Athena : 'Hey! I thought Bao transferred his power to Kensou. But Kensou doesn't
seem any different...'

Chin : 'Hmmm... surely a flow of power must've taken place.'

Kensou : 'Yeah, it's gradual. But I sense new power.'

Bao : 'No, no. I didn't transfer my power to brother Kensou. He absorbed my power.
What courses in his veins... is the Dragon's Spirit...'

<Ron is standing on a cliff, with the lady in white who was beside the old man in the
spaceship>

Ron : 'Hard to believe such a massive spirit still exists. Compared to the Dragon
Spirit, NEST's power is nothing.'

'If the Dragon Spirit is truly awakened...'

'Heh, heh, heh...'

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Copyrights (?)
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Well, there's not much to steal from here anyway. Most of the stuff here can be gotten
just about anywhere and can be learnt through experiences. This faq can ONLY be found on
www.gamefaqs.com so please visit it to get the latest up-date.
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Credits
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Eolith and SNK, the people who took the pain to create kof'2001.

www.gamefaqs.com for hosting my faq

homepage2.nifty.com/max-kubocchi for her profiles (Japanese)

My e-mail [email protected]
Homepage (never up-dated) home.pacific.net.sg/~weis

Version 1.6

You guys read all that? You guys rock, man!