The King of Fighters XIII/Hwa Jai

File:Hwa sprite.gif

Quick Combo Reference

0 Stock, No Drive Gauge

Low Drunk, Anywhere Crossup, Anywhere Anywhere Anywhere Corner

cr.B, cr.B, st.B, df.B, dp+D = 227 dmg j.CD (counter), qcb+D, qcb+Bx3, qcf+A, dp+B = 522 dmg j.D, st.C, df.B, dp+D = 285 dmg j.D, (air) qcb+B, st.C, df.B, dp+D = 334 dmg qcb+D, st.C, df.B, dp+D = 312 dmg j.D, (air) dp+B, qcf+A, dp+B = 239 dmg

Changes From Arcade Version

Console changes:

• All frames on Drink super have been changed (apparently, its recovery is faster)
• Ground CD has changed. Moves forward and has invincibility to low attacks
• Fierce Dragon Tail has faster recovery; can be connected to a normal move after it hits
• Weak Dragon Backbreaker is now a 1F throw instead of a leaping throw
• Weak Dragon Tail comes out faster and connects from a fierce
• EX Air Dragon Kick now hits 3 times like its ground version and does 154 damage.
• EX Dragon Tail chips less guard meter

Producer Yamamoto says: Hwa has a lot of changes, like for example, his Weak Backbreaker is a 1F hit now. The recovery on his drink is different so it might be usable in a combo.

Gameplay Overview

Hwa Jai is an extremely offensively oriented character. If played properly he should cause opponents to be constantly alert and afraid, since he has a tool to punish every single option in the game. Essentially Hwa is one of the scariest characters in the game when it comes to cracking defenses and landing hits against turtles, if not the single scariest. He is also one of the harder characters to use well, but the rewards are very obvious to those willing to practice with him for a long time. Unfortunately, he has to power up several times per round. His true strength lies in his Drink Pink state, which gives him several new tools as well as forcing the enemy to be extremely cautious, as basically any hit that Hwa lands can be turned into an extremely powerful combo. You will want to make a mental note while time is temporarily stopped when Hwa uses his drink DM of how many seconds are left on the round timer. Just remember that in 15 seconds, whatever combo you may be doing will have to be cut short. For example, if the there are 60 seconds left on the clock when you use Hwa's drink DM, then you should be ready to lose your powerup when there are only 45 seconds left in the round. Luckily Hwa can stop his combos at any point and do a DM finisher. Take a quick look at the timer when your combo is starting and just make sure that you have at least 3 or 4 seconds left before the drink wears off, or else cut your combo short and do qcfx2+B/D if you can afford the meter.

Pros

- Very high cost-effectiveness with single drive combos that deal nearly full-life damage.

- Highest damage non-HD combos in the entire game.

- Likely the single highest abare (ability to combo after a random hit or trade) in the game.

- Strong meterless combos.

- Very quick meter building.

- Can kill with just a 2 meter HD combo.

- Incredible offensive rush down game.

- Can juggle/punish extremely well.

- Very strong poke game both ground-based and air-to-air.

- Invulnerable 3/4 screen clearing shoryu which can lead to over 800 damage from anywhere at the cost of only 1 drive.

- Has an extremely high damage 0 frame grab DM.

- Cannot be zoned when drunk or has 1 meter.

- Every combo can easily carry the opponent all the way to the corner from anywhere, even the opposite corner.

- Very strong anywhere in the stage, but even stronger in the corner.

- Can start extremely high damage combos from jump-ins, lows, frametraps, crossups, mid-range pokes and even trades.

Cons

- Needs to drink every 15 seconds, often two or more times per round.

- Can be zoned effectively when he has 0 meter and is not drunk.

- Jump-in normals have extremely low hitstun, meaning that they have to be done very late to combo after them, meaning Hwa is very susceptible to anti-air normals.

- Without at least 1 Drive Cancel his damage becomes merely average.

- Requires meter to power up with Drink Pink.

Normals

Standing

st. A: 25 damage, cancellable/chain-able, hits mid.

st. B: 30 damage, cancellable, hits mid.

st. C: 80 damage, cancellable, hits mid.

st. D: 80 damage, cannot be canceled, hits mid.

cl. C: 70 damage, cancellable, hits mid.

cl. D: 70 damage, cancellable, hits mid.

Crouching

cr. A: 25 damage, cancellable/chain-able, hits mid.

cr. B: 30 damage, chain-able, hits low.

cr. C: 70 damage, cancellable, hits mid.

cr. D: 80 damage, cancellable, hits low.

Jumping

j. A: 45 (40) damage, cancellable, hits overhead.

j. B: 45 (40) damage, hits overhead. Can cross-up.

j. C: 72 (70) damage, cancellable, hits overhead.

j. D: 70 (68) damage, cancellable, hits overhead. Can cross-up well.

Blowback Attack

CD: 75 damage, lower-body invulnerable, cancellable, hits mid.

j. CD: 90 (80) damage, cancellable, hits mid. Can cross-up well.

GCCD: 10 damage, cannot be canceled, hits mid.

Throw

Sou Hiza Jigoku = (b/f+C/D)

• Can be broken
• Hit Detection: Throw
• Damage: 30 x 2, 48

Command Moves

Sliding = (df+B)

• Cancellable
• Hit Detection: Low
• Damage: 40

Special Moves

TNT Punch = (qcf+P)

(EX) = qcf+AC

• Drive- / Super-Cancellable
• Hit Detection: High
• A Damage: 20 x 3; C Damage: 20 x 6; EX Damage: 20 x 3, 30, 50 (Finishing Blow is automatic)

∟Finish (qcf+P)

• Drive- / Super-Cancellable
• Hit Detection: High
• Damage: 20, 40

Dragon Tail = (qcb+K) ground/air. Drink Pink state adds 1 hit to aerial opponents, allowing it to be looped 3 or 4 times anywhere.

(EX) = qcb+BD ground/air. Ground version invulnerable to projectiles and gives hard knockdown.

• Drive-Cancellable
• Hit Detection: High
• (Ground) B Damage: 50; D Damage: 50 x 4 (50 x 3); EX Damage: 50 x 4
• (Air) B Damage: 50; D Damage: 70; EX Damage: 90 x 2

Dragon Kick = (dp+K) - B goes up, D goes straight. B version has invulnerability during startup always. D version has invulnerability during startup during Drink Pink state.

(EX) = dp+BD - Can be cancelled into itself 2 extra times at no additional cost by pressing any direction with B or D. Has ultimate juggle. Has no invulnerability, even during Drink Pink state.

• Drive-Cancellable
• Hit Detection: High
• B damage: 70; D Damage: 70 x 2; EX Damage: 90, 35 x 2

Air Dragon Kick = (dp+K) in air - B goes down, D goes straight. Never has any invulnerability.

(EX) = dp+BD in air

• Drive-Cancellable
• Hit Detection: High
• Damage: 70; EX Damage: 35 x 3

Desperation Moves

Drink Pink = (qcbx2+P) - 10% Damage increase, and extra hit during Dragon Backbreaker DM. Adds an extra hit to both B and D Dragon Tail against aerial opponents. 15 second duration. Invulnerability at startup of drink animation.

• No Damage

Dragon Dance = (qcfx2+K)

(EX) = qcfx2+BD - final hit is 90 damage no matter what, ignoring all damage scaling.

• Hit Detection: High
• Damage: 0, 10 x 9, 20 x 2, 40 x 2; EX Damage: 0, 10 x 9, 20 x 6, 90

Dragon Backbreaker = (qcf hcb+P) - A version is 0 frames, C version is slower but invulnerable and travels halfscreen.

• MAX Cancellable
• Hit Detection: Throw
• Damage: 50, 200 (50, 230, 63 during Drink Pink status)

Neomax

Final Dragon Kick = (qcf hcb+BD)

• Hit Detection: High
• Damage: 450 (40, 40 x 8)

Sober Combos

No Stock, No Drive Gauge -

cr.B, cr.B, st.B, d/f+B, qcb+B - 171 damage, anywhere

cr.B, cr.B, st.B, d/f+B, dp+D - 227 damage, anywhere

st.C, d/f+B, dp+D - 230 damage, anywhere

j.D, j.qcb+B, st.C, d/f+B, dp+D - 334 damage, anywhere

No Stock, 1+ Drive Gauge -

cr.B, cr.B, st.B, d/f+B, dp+D, (DC) j.qcb+B, dp+B - 317 damage, anywhere

st.C, d/f+B, dp+D, (DC) j.qcb+B, dp+B - 334 damage, anywhere

j.C, j.qcb+B, st.C, d/f+B, dp+D (DC) j.qcb+B, dp+B - 426 damage, anywhere

j.D, j.qcb+B, st.C, d/f+B, dp+D (DC) j.qcb+D, qcb+D, dp+B - 509 damage, corner only

1 Stock, No Drive Gauge -

cr.B, cr.B, st.B, d/f+B, qcf,hcb+A - 319 damage, anywhere

st.C, d/f+B, qcf,hcb+A - 333 damage, anywhere

j.CD, dp+BD, f+D, f+D - 235 damage, anywhere

• does not require counter-hit

j.CD, qcfx2+B/D - 311 damage, anywhere

• requires counter-hit

j.CD, qcb+D, qcf+A, qcfx2+B/D - 451 damage, corner-only

• requires counter-hit

st.CD, qcb+D, qcfx2+B/D - 411 damage, corner-only

• requires counter-hit

j.D, (air) qcb+B, st.C, df.B, qcf,hcb+A - 428 damage, anywhere

j.C, j.qcb+B, st.C, df.B, qcf+AC, qcb+B, qcf+A, dp+B - 410 damage, corner-only

2 Stock, 0 Drive Gauge -

cr.B, cr.B, st.B, d/f+B, qcf+AC, qcfx2+B/D - 367 damage, anywhere

j.D, st.C, d/f+B, qcf+AC, qcfx2+B/D - 486 damage, anywhere

j.C, j.qcb+B, st.C, d/f+B, qcfx2+BD - 501 damage, anywhere

j.D, j.qcb+B, st.C, d/f+B, qcf+AC, qcb+B, qcf+A, qcfx2+B/D - 516 damage, corner-only

1 Stock, 1+ Drive Gauge -

cr.B, cr.B, st.B, d/f+B, dp+D, (DC) qcb+B, qcfx2+B/D - 432 damage, anywhere

st.C, d/f+B, dp+D, (DC) qcb+B, qcfx2+B/D - 455 damage, anywhere

j.D, (air)dp+B, dp+B (DC) qcb+D, *delay* dp+D, qcfx2+K = 537 damage [1]

• corner only, damage with EX super = 603

j.D, (air)qcb+B, st.C, dp+B (DC) qcb+d, *delay* dp+D, qcfx2+K = 570 damage [2]

• corner only, damage with EX super = 632

j.D, st.C, dp+D, (DC) qcb+B, qcfx2+K = 483 damage [3]

• Good Cross-Up Combo, works anywhere, pushes to the corner (or very close depending on where done), damage with Ex Super = 553 damage

j.D, j.qcb+B, cr.C, d/f+B, dp+D (DC) j.qcb+D, qcb+B, qcfx2+B/D = 583 damage

• Corner Only

Drunk Combos

0 stock, 1+ Drive Gauge -

j.C, j.qcb+B, st.C, df+B, dp+D, (DC) j.qcb+D, qcb+D, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcfx2+B/D - 792 damage

• corner only and Hwa builds over 1 meter back during the combo. Can swap qcfx2+B/D at the end for EXDM if desired [4]

j. C, j.qcb+B, cl. C, df+B, dp+D, (DC) j.qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcfx2+B/D - 726 damage

• works anywhere and Hwa builds over 1 meter back during the combo. Can swap qcfx2+B/D at the end for EXDM if desired. [5]

j. C, j.qcb+B, cl. C, d/f+B, dp+D (DC) j.qcb+D, qcb+D, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, dp+B (DC) j.qcb+D, (wait) qcb+D, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, dp+B (stun), qcbx2+A/C, j. C, j.qcb+B, cl. C, df+B, qcf+AC, qcb+D, qcb+B, qcfx2+BD - 1030 damage

• note: meter and drive gets built up in the combo [6]

dp+D, [DC] qcb+D, qcb+D, qcb+Bx3, dp+B, [DC] qcb+D, qcb+D, qcb+Bx3, qcfx2+BD - 855 damage

• works near the corner, starts from invulnerable shoryu, builds 2.2 meter during combo.

2 Stock, No Drive Gauge -

j.C, j.qcb+B, c.C, d/f+B, qcf+AC, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcfx2+B/D - 629 damage

• works anywhere, Hwa builds over 1 meter back during combo. Can swap qcfx2+B/D at the end for EXDM if desired. [7]

2 Stock, 1+ Drive Gauge -

cr.B, cr.B, s.B, df+B, dp+D, (DC) qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcfx2+BD - 664 damage

• starts low, easy to confirm, works anywhere

[8]

dp+D, [DC] qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcf+A, qcfx2+BD - 665 damage

• works anywhere, starts from invulnerable shoryu.

j. C, j.qcb+B, cl. C, df+B, dp+D, (DC) qcb+B, dp+D, link qcfx2+BD - 669 damage

• works anywhere. [9]

cr.B, cr.B, s.B, d/f+B, dp+D, [DC] qcb+D, qcb+D, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcb+B, qcf+A, qcfx2+BD - 706 damage

• starts low, also super easy to confirm, corner only [10]

HD Combos

(1) st. C, df+B, [HD] st. C, df+B, dp+D (2), [HDC in air] dp+D, (corner) [HDC] qcb+D, [dp+D (1), (HDC in air) dp+K, (HDC) qcb+D]×2, qcfx2+BD

(2) st. D, df+B, [HD] st. C, df+B, dp+D (2), [HDC in air] dp+D, (corner) [HDC] qcb+D, [dp+D (1), (HDC in air) dp+K, (HDC) qcb+D]×2, qcfx2+BD

(3) cr. B, st. B, df+B, [HD] st. C, df+B, dp+D (2), [HDC in air] dp+D, (corner) [HDC] qcb+D, [dp+D (1), (HDC in air) dp+K, (HDC) qcb+D]×2, qcfx2+BD

(4) st. C, df+B, [HD] st. C, df+B, qcf hcb+P, (MC) qcf hcb+BD

(5) st. D, df+B, [HD] st. C, df+B, qcf hcb+P, (MC) qcf hcb+BD

(6) cr. B, st. B, df+B, [HD] st. C, df+B, qcf hcb+P, (MC) qcf hcb+BD

(7) j.D, j.qcb+B, st.C, d/f+B [HD], st.C, d/f+B, dp+D [HDC] j.qcb+D, qcb+B, dp+B [HDC] j.qcb+D, qcb+D, dp+B [HDC] j.qcb+D, qcb+D, qcf,hcb+BD - 888 damage

(8) (drunk) j.C, j.qcb+B, st.C, df+B, [HD] st.C, df+B, dp+D [HDC] j.qcb+D, qcb+D, dp+B [HDC] j.qcb+D, qcb+D, dp+B [HDC] j.qcb+D, qcb+D, qcf,hcb+BD - 1017 damage

Strategies

Far Range

• Drink!

Mid Range

• If drunk, then dp+D beats basically everything and gives you a very scary combo with just 1 drive.

• Far D is an extremely fast, good range poke which deals good damage and has great blockstun. Abuse it.

• Standing B has great reach and can be cancelled into d/f+B for a combo or for pressure. It's very safe and abusable.

• d/f+B covers great distance and can go under some pokes, as well as being safe on block and cancellable even if it was not cancelled into.

• cr.D hits very far, comes out very quickly, is completely safe and best of all puts Hwa very close to the ground. This means that many pokes will go straight over him while he's attacking!

• qcf,hcb+C has full invulnerability and deals tons of damage. It can be used to beat anything that telegraphs too much, such as a fireball.

• qcb+BD is invulnerable to fireballs and grants a hard knockdown+crossup, as well as being completely safe on block.

Close Range

• st.A and st.B hit crouching opponents and cause low hitstun while remaining safe. These can be used for pressure or to mix up into a throw with qcf,hcb+A.

• qcf,hcb+A is 0 frames, so if anyone is ever too close... feel free to grab them and then cross them up with forward jumping j.D immediately after.

• cr.B, cr.B, st.B can lead to some serious damage and allows for very easy confirmation.

• qcb+B is -1 on block, so it's punishable by characters with instant grabs (Shen, Goro, Clark, etc.)

• qcb+D gives advantage on block, but can be interrupted in the startup if predicted. It can be combod after with either qcf,hcb+A instantly or a tight link with close C.

Cornered Opponent

• j.C/D, j.qcb+B, is far easier to connect reliably in the corner than midscreen, making Hwa's hyperhop pressure much stronger when the opponent is cornered.

• get ready to deal absurd damage if you connect anything at all!

Cornered

• if you're sober, you have grab DM to get you out of most situations. Use C version to beat projectiles, if the enemy gets too close use A version.

• if you're sober and have 0 meter, you can still get out of hyperhop pressure with dp+B which has some very minor invulnerability.

• C+D guard cancel gives you plenty of time to drink if you have meter to spare and really need to have your invulnerable D shoryu available to you. Turn the fight to your favor at the cost of 2 meter!

• cr.D puts Hwa very low to the ground and can beat many pokes or even jump-ins

• if you're drunk, then D shoryu is absolutely your best tool for getting yourself out of the corner. Just wait for something telegraphed (most safe specials have some startup time) and then dp+D and drive cancel to a j.qcb+B, and then qcb+Bx3 into qcfx2+B/D if you have the drive for it. The meter will build itself from the combo!

Crossup Setups

• cr.Bx2, forward hop j.D

• cr.B, close C/D, hyperhop forward j.D

• cr.Bx2, s.B, hyperhop forward j.D

• far D at max range, superjump forward j.D

• far D at min range (or close D at max range), hyperhop forward j.D

• qcf,hcb+A, wait briefly then superjump j.D (meaty)

• (drunk) anything into d/f+B (from close range), qcb+D will cross up crouching opponents and allows for you to link qcf,hcb+A very easily afterward, or close C sometimes.

Playing Against Hwa Jai

• stay in close range as much as possible while Hwa is sober, since it's risky for Hwa to drink with an opponent in range to punish.

• stay as far away as possible while Hwa is drunk, since any random hit can be turned into an absurdly high damage combo, but Hwa is on a timer.

• be aware that Hwa's drink DM has invulnerability until Hwa throws his bottle away, at which point he can be punished briefly.

• DO NOT FORGET that Hwa has an extremely high damage instant grab DM which gives him a mixup afterwards. Try not to get too close.

• DO NOT FORGET that Hwa can grab you from halfscreen for over 300 damage at the cost of just 1 meter. Don't do anything terribly slow, or you're inviting a huge punish.

• Hwa's D shoryu gives him massive damage, but it's also completely punishable. Try to bait it out with quick attacks, since it has a slight startup time on it.

Links & References

50% Character Thread (list of high damage non-HD combos)

Videos

Hwa Jai Master Class:

Hwa Jai Drunk Mode 1238 Damage 1 meter+80% Drive Combo:

Contributors

Matt Alder

shiningnegro [11]

Discussion Threads

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