Iori Faq v.1.2 (c)1-2-2000
Game: King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle
Platform: Neo-Geo
Author: Minh Chi
Email: [email protected]

Note: This is a revised version, so anyone who had read this before,
read it again because there is new information.

Hi there! Once again I write another faq for one of my favorite
characters (the 1st one is my Shin Kyo faq which can be found at
www.gamefaqs.com). I plan this faq for players who has basic
understanding of the game such as blocking, sliding, different jumps,
etc. What this faq is to help you have a better understanding of using
Iori's move effectively, when to use a move, and some combos that will
help you. Hope you like it!

One important note is that if you find anything wrong or feel that
there is something missing in this faq! Please tell me! The only way I
know if this faq helps is if there is feedback from players. If you
also like partial credit to this faq, just send me hints and tips not
listed in this faq. Really appreciate it!

Disclaimer: Please do not and I repeat do not sell or plagiarize this
faq. This is only for your personal benefit to get better with using
Iori. If you want to use part of this faq or if you want to post this
faq on your site, please consult me first.

OK, on with the faq! Here's a short outline of this faq.

I. How to access Iori
II. Basic & Special Moves
III. Striker
IV. Strategy
V. Combos
VI. Conclusion & Reference

=================================================================
I. How to access Iori

Okay, if on the bottom of the title screen, it does not have <I> there,
that means Iori is not selectable yet. To get him selectable, start the
game using a random team. The team must consist at least 3 of the
following characters: Athena, Kensou, Mary, Kasumi, King, Kim, Jhun,
and others. It's going to be random select anyway so this information
is useless! Just for your information. Once you beat a team (human or
CPU) with the required characters, there will be a code on the top of
the victory screen. Now there should be an <I> on the bottom of the
title indicating you can select Iori.

Now start the game and go to the ?. Hold start and press right, left,
up, right, down, left and Iori will appear where the crescent symbol
was (under Kyo-2).

==================================================================
II. Basic & Special Moves

Here's the legend:

qcf-quarter circle forward
qcb-quarter circle back
dp-dragon punch motion
rdp-reverse dragon punch motion
hcf-half circle forward
hcb-half circle back
x2-do motion twice
b-back
db-down back
d-down
df-down forward
f-forward
s-standing
c-crouching
^-corner combo
!-crossover
*-super move or preferably called desperation move (DMs for short).
jump-jump forward
/-or
K-any kick button
P-any punch button
>-can be canceled in counter mode

Far Standing:

A-A far jab. Weak in damage and not comboable. Definitely useless!
B-A short low kick. Weak in damage.
C-A slash. Has a nice range and is comboable. Better to use this than A
or B.
D-A far roundhouse. Definitely the best range but too slow for my
liking. Use this for pokes only!

Close Standing:

A-A jab. Weak in damage and comboable. It's okay to use this but there
are better buttons to use!
B-A shin kick. This hits low (kind of obvious) so you can use it for
mind games. Too bad nothing can combo after this.
C-An upward slash. Comboable and high damage. Use this in your combos.
Even if you don't get close enough, you will still do the far C which
can then be buffered into a special move.
D-A high kick. Uncomboable and high damage. I feel C is much better
though.

Low:

A-A low jab. Comboable but weak in damage.
B-A low swift sweep. Hits low and low A/B will chain after it. Not bad!
C-I don't know how to describe this move but it has great priority as
an anti-air move and is comboable.
D-A high sweep. This can actually trip someone in the air if timed
right. Just make sure you are using the tip of the sweep (just make
sure you have sufficient distance from your opponent). One note of
advice, this sweep has horrible recovery. If your opponent blocks, you
can be countered with a sweep or some other move that is quick. So
don't use this excessively.

Vertical Jump:

A-A weak punch. Don't even use this! Its weak and has extreme short
range.
B-A far kick. Has great air priority and range, but the damage it
inflicts is too weak! Useless!
C-An air hammer. High damage but short range. I find the hit detection
very hard. Not preferred!
D-A far kick. Now this is what I'm talking about! Use this as your jump
all the time. It also misses quite often if your opponent is ducking,
especially a character like Whip or Bao.

Horizontal jump:

A-same as vertical jump. Useless!
B-similar as vertical jump. Useless!
C-similar as vertical jump. OK but not preferred.
D-same as above. The best!

Others:

Knockdown (CD)-The ground version has priority in range and quickness.
It's also comboable but not preferred. The air version is useful in
causing guard crush. Since Iori has quite a low jump, this is well
suited and hard to counter.
Slide attack (AB, then any button)-The range is horrible but what can
you do about it.

Special+Super Moves:

Yumebiki (f+A,A)-Not useful by itself but when chained after a normal
move, will do more damage for your combos. Only use this in a combo.

Goufu In "Shinigame" (f+B)-A very slow overhead. Use this for high-low
mind games. Note that if you chain this after something like standing
A/B/C, it won't be an overhead but you can combo special or super
moves.

Yuri Ori (in air, b+B)-This is the one move I rarely see anyone use in
the arcade. Its actually a move used for crossing over. One use I find
for it is when you are hopping back (tap b,b), you can use this hop
back a farther distance. But its best use for confusion! When you mix
this up with regular jump ins, you'll find yourself getting some easy
hits. Note that you must hold foward and B and not press back and B
when attempting to cross-over! Further information can be found in the
strategy section.

>Yami Barai (qcf+P)-This is one of the advantages in using Iori, the
ability to shoot a far screen projectile. This will also hit your
opponent when they are down though I can never find the proper time to
use it. Also great to use on an opponent waking up! Be careful not to
over-abuse this move because it is easily jumped over and the recover
is quite slow.

Aoi Hana (qcb+Px3)-This is definitely the meat to Iori's combos.
Remember to stop at the 2nd qcb+P if blocked. The 3rd is an overhead,
in case your opponent blocks low. My only criticism for this move is
that it is extremely weak to low attacks such as sweeps.

>Oniyaki (dp+P)-Iori's best anti-air move. Its recovery though is not
super fast. You can get sweep or supered! My greatest advice is never
use this when your opponent is dashing or sliding. Your opponent may
trick you into doing it and they will safely slide over, and in most
scenario, kill you. Remember never to use the C version!

Tsumagushi (dp+K)-This is similar to Orochi Chris's qcb+P except that
it is hella better. This will go over most sweeps (except for Iori)
giving you invulnerability to low attacks. It can also be buffered into
Aoi Hana (qcb+Px3) for extra tick damage and ensured safety. Note that
you can easily get hit out of this move though with an uppercut or kick
so don't use this excessively. One criticism is that it is not
comboable (except after Shingo's striker).

Kototsuki In (hcb+K)-This move looks great and is fast but has
extremely horrible recovery. Never, and I repeat, never use this move,
except in combos. Even in a combo, this move has a high chance to miss
or becomes blockable which means you are going to get hit back with
some massive, painful combos.

Kuzukaze (when close, hcb,f+P)-Iori's throw which causes no damage but
leaves your opponent open for a *Ya Otome (qcf,hcb+P) or a sweep. Its
not as useful as it was in '97 where it can be used in a combo where
now it isn't. I also find it hard to lay this on an opponent regardless
in how good you are with using Iori.

*Ya Otome (qcf,hcb+P)-Iori's only good DM in my opinion. It is the only
DM that can be used in a combo and has anti-air priority. I still
prefer the SDM in '98 rather than what it looks like now. Note of
advice, use this only in the right time because it has horrible
recovery. If you miss, you dead! Doesn't get any simpler than that.

*Saku Tsumagushi (qcfx2+K)-I still prefer the old DM Iori had in '97-
98. This has the same opening animation as Tsumagushi (dp+K) so use it
the same way. The only time I find this better to use than *Ya Otome is
after a striker such as Maxima or Benimaru because it will "completely"
hit unlike *Ya Otome. The damage for this move is very weak though,
making it not appreciable to use.

=================================================================
III. Striker

Iori was definitely not made to be a striker. He will run in and do his
ground freeze from '98. Very hard to combo after considering the
limited time your opponent is frozen. It will also hit an opponent when
they are down. In my opinion, its too slow and easily blocked or
avoided like the many other strikers. The Striker system is so
disappointing! Anyways, if you want a good striker, use Shin Kyo,
Robert, Kim, Athena, or Bao. Iori is at his best as one of your
fighters, not a striker.

================================================================
IV. Strategy

Take note that the strategy here may not be useful or you may see that
the information here is useless or not your playing style. This is very
general so some of these strategies will not work on some opponents.

Anyway, here they are:

-Remember the biggest advantage is the ability to shoot projectiles.
With Iori's projectile Yami Barai (qcf+P), you can zone opponents. If
they jump late, just use his Oniyaki (dp+P) if close and his low D if
kind of far. If they slide, they are still open to *Ya Otome or Aoi
Hana. Also use this on opponent waking up! Most players tend to try and
wake up with supers or uppercuts. This will stop them dead in their
tracks. Be careful though not to use this predictably. If your opponent
is able to predict when you use your projectile. They can easily jump
over and kill you!

-What are Iori's anti-air moves? Well, there is the faithful Oniyaki
(dp+P), low C, and for maximum damage, *Ya Otome (qcf,hcb+P). If you
have super, just go for *Ya Otome. For any other situation where your
opponent jumps or is airborne, just use Oniyaki. It has about a 80%
success rate! Use low C whenever you can't dish out Oniyaki (due to
reaction time and time to do the motion on the controller) in time. If
you want extra tick damage, after the low C, use Yami Barai (qcf+P) or
Tsumagushi (dp+K).

-Now onto the safety moves. Iori's projectile if blocked is definitely
safe. Tsumagushi (dp+K), buffered into Aoi Hana (qcb+Cx2) is best for
safety. Anytime you are doing a blocked combo, end it with Tsumagushi
buffered into Aoi Hana. You'll not only build super, you can also cause
blocking damage. Use this technique at every opportunity. After a
knockdown attack (CD), blocked C into f+A, and others. There is a
slight chance there will be guard crush or your opponent might slip and
you will make contact. End the Aoi Hana if everything connects!

-Kuzukaze (close, hcb,f+P) maybe kind of hard to hit but it should at
least be learned how to be used. The trick to use this is to force your
opponent to just defend. There are multiple ways to do this. One way is
to dash and when close enough, use Kuzukaze. Mix it up by sometimes
just going for Kuzukaze and sometimes slide then attack, or slide into
Kuzukaze. Be alert that when sliding, a lot of players like to throw.
Use the throw cancel (pressing C or D when in throw frames). Another
alternative is jumping! By jumping in and doing nothing, when you land,
use the Kuzukaze. Mix it up with jump D and you'll get some results.
Now what can you combo after Kuzukaze? The only move I know that works
really well is *Ya Otome (qcf,hcb+P). Aoi Hana C version will also hit
but that's all the move that will connect afterwards. Yes, it's quite
pathetic that all this hard work to dish out Kuzukaze just to chain
these moves afterwards. But the only purpose of Kuzukaze is to open
your opponent for an attack.

-Iori's extreme low jump maybe disadvantage to projectile characters
such as Bao, but it also has a huge advantage if used correctly. Here
I'll explain a simple technique that will help you win most battles.
Use Iori's short or far low jump D continuously. It is very difficult
to counter, even with an uppercut. Mix it up with low jump CD, standing
C into f+A, Tsumagushi into Aoi Hana, or throw and you'll find yourself
with some easy victories. The trick here is the use of aggression and
random attacking. Your opponent not only can't attack and counter, they
also can't block. Once in a while you'll also get a guard crush which
will open your opponent to immediate punishment. Just continue using
offense. If they use a CD counter on you, that's OK! It didn't cause
you any damage and they wasted a super for nothing except to just get
pummeled with more offense. Note that this strategy is definitely not
preferred. It is only a form of "winning" tactic. This not only takes
the fun out of the game, it also is a show of unskilled fighting.

-Here's some tip that was mailed to me that should help you! Iori's
crossover move Yuri Ori is great for confusion. When any chance you
knockdown an opponent, immediately dash in and use this move. Chances
are that your opponent will block the wrong side. Once it hits, nail
them with some combos. When you mix this with a regular jump D, you'll
get some surprising results. Your opponent will eventually make a
mistake and end of blocking the wrong way. Now, here's my 2 cents! It
is extremely difficult to crossover! Due to Iori's low jumping
abilities, there is usually no way to jump over your opponent. Every
knockdown move Iori has can be safe land so don't even dream of ever
crossing over. Of course I'm referring this to good opponents. But
whenever you can crossover due to your opponent's mistake, go for it,
it will prove useful.
So there you have it the strategy section. Hope this was useful to you!

=================================================================
V. Combos

Now we reach the final part of the faq, the combos! Everything here is
self-explanatory so I'm not going to give too much in depth
information.

The combos will be split into 5 sections: 1) beginners-anyone can do
these combos, 2) intermediate-anyone after a couple games can do these
combos, 3) advance-requires a very clear understanding and experience
to do these combos, 4) counter-requires a very clear understanding of
counter mode and abilities. Range from intermediate to advance, and 5)
striker combos-combos using your striker. The least combos you will use
will be the advance and counter combos listed here because of the
impossibility to dish them out at the right condition. Anyway here they
are:

Beginners:
1. jump D, s/cC, Yami Barai (qcf+P)/Aoi Hana (qcb+Cx3)/Kototsuki In
(hcb+K)/Yumebiki (f+A)

Intermediate:
1. jump D, sC, Yumebiki (f+A), Aoi Hana (qcb+Cx3) (this is Iori's
strongest combo without using super and strikers!)
2. Tsumagushi (dp+K), Aoi Hana (qcb+Cx3)
3. jump D, s/cC, *Ya Otome (qcf,hcb+P)

Advance:
1. jump D, sC, Yumebiki (f+A), *Ya Otome (qcf,hcb+P)
2. !Yuri Ori (air b+B), sC, Yumebiki (f+A), Aoi Hana (qcb+Cx3)/*Ya
Otome (qcf,hcb+P)
3. !Yuri Ori (air b+B), sB, Yumebiki (f+A,A), *Ya Otome (qcf,hcb+P)

Counter:
1. jump D, sC, Yami Barai (qcf+C), *Saku Tsumagushi (qcfx2+K)

Striker:
1. !Yuri Ori (air b+B), Terry striker (BC), *Ya Otome (qcf,hcb+C), *Ya
Otome (qcf,hcb+C)/*Saku Tsumagushi (qcfx2+K) (note: you must have 2
stocks and have Terry as your striker. Basically what happens is that
you will perform your *Ya Otome but Terry will stop it with his
overhead geyser. Now that they are juggled, either perform *Ya Otome
again or *Saku Tsumagushi)

There are of course many other combos that I have not listed here!
These are just the ones I use more generally.
==================================================================
VI. Conclusion & Reference

Well that concludes the Iori faq. I would have to say that this is not
as good as my Shin Kyo faq (the truth is that I'm not really good with
Iori), but hopefully this faq will prove useful for any player who is
interested in improving their skills with Iori.

I like to thank my friends for giving me some good advice and pointers
to improve my faqs. They give me a lot of positive and negative
feedback which is great. If anyone reading this faq give me some
feedback that would also be great. I like to also thank all the
opponents I have fought because without them, I would not know what
strategies to write about.

Reference: Kao Megura
Faq: KoF '99 General Faq (can be found at www.gamefaqs.com or
members.zoom.com/megura)
Comment: Once again I borrowed his movelist names. Read his faq first
for general info on KoF '99! If Kao you are reading this, sorry for not
asking for your permission first!

Reference: Kyoji
Comment: Thanks for the feedback! Though I am still kind of bias of the
use for Yuri Ori, I included the tips and some combos you gave me in
this faq. The reason is because I use the strategy you said but it
turned out very bleek. Players could easily prevent being confused.

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