Kiko Kai (気功塊 Qigong Cluster?) is one of Akira's special attacks, formerly a Burning Vigor in her home series, introduced in Street Fighter V.
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Description[]
Executed by performing a quarter-circle forward motion and pressing punch, Akira performs a double palm thrust, creating a short-ranged purple projectile that erupts from her palms. If no input is made afterwards, Akira moves her arms back and performs a brief baoquan li salute before returning to her stance. The light punch version does one hit, while the heavy punch version does three hits, similar to the Bushin Sho. The EX version alters the attack to become a single palm thrust with a massive eruption of energy that reaches roughly half the screen's length.
When performed in the air, Akira does a downward single palm thrust at an angle.
Tactics[]
Unlike most projectiles, Kiko Kai is not designed for zoning, but rather as a close-ranged option for pressure, frame traps, and safety. The strength of the punch button pressed determines the move's startup and frame advantage. The Light version has the fastest startup at 14 frames, but is -3 on block, making it difficult to apply further pressure afterward. The Heavy version has the slowest startup at 25 frames, but is +1 on block and +3 on hit, letting Akira link her Crouching Light Punch afterwards. Kiko Kai can also be used defensively to negate one-hit projectiles.
The EX version is a better tool against zoning characters. It has a faster startup and longer reach. With good anticipation, Akira can stuff her opponent's projectiles and knock them to the ground at the same time. Both the EX grounded and aerial version result in a knockdown.
The aerial Kiko Kai has different properties. Though all versions have the same startup and active frames, their primary difference is how they are used in an Air Burst, with the light version maintaining the opponent's position vertically while the heavy version sending the opponent downward. The EX Aerial Kiko Kai also can be used as a finisher following the opponent being sent in a spinning state, dealing a minimum of 30% of its damage, complete with a unique screen freeze.
When Akira activates her first V-Skill, Kiko Kai becomes enhanced. While the startup and damage remain unchanged, Akira gains better frame advantage if she hits her opponent with an amplified Kiko Kai. The Light version becomes +5 on hit, while the Medium version is +7 on hit. Landing an enhanced Heavy Kiko Kai puts Akira at +9. This allows her to link into one of her normals or another special move for additional damage. If Akira hits her opponent with the amplified EX Kiko Kai, it results in a wall bounce. Akira can follow up with Hotenshu or Heavy Senshubu for more damaging combos. Hitting the opponent with the enhanced EX Airborne Kiko Kai puts them in a crumple state.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The meterless Kiko Kai is modeled after Akira's standard Kiko Kai, a multi-hitting fireball, while the EX Kiko Kai is modeled after Powered Akira's Go Kiko Kai, a single burst of energy.