The King of Fighters series has been a popular fighting game franchise for decades. Its latest entry, KOF XV, is no exception. While it is an exciting game that is worth your time and money, we also understand that, for new players, it can be daunting to choose a character to start with, especially considering there are more than 50 of them in KOF XV. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss the five best characters in KOF XV for beginners.
Terry
Terry Bogard was a part of the first King of Fighters game in 1994. Many fans love his kind and friendly persona that shines through all life difficulties. Another interesting thing about Terry is that his fighting style is unique. You can’t say it is based on one martial art; instead, you get a great mixture of karate, kung fu, and kickboxing. Terry would also greatly appeal to sports fans since his signature moves, Power Dunk and Crack Shoot, are greatly inspired by basketball.
Terry is a well-rounded character with a balanced mix of offense and defense. His moves are easy to execute, making him an ideal choice for new players. He is also excellent for players who like to play aggressively and rush down their opponents.
Haohmaru
The wandering fencer, Haohmaru, is a guest character in King of Fighters XV and is available in DLC. He is the protagonist of the Samurai Shodown series who came to the fellow SNK franchise to fight against the best of the best.
Haohmaru is your typical samurai, so this is your choice if you like strong guys with swords. In terms of game balance, he is also great. He has one of the best pokes in the game, and his damage is outstanding. That is compensated by his lack of agility. Yet, this would be more than enough for beginners to learn game fundamentals.
Orochi Yashiro
One of the Four Heavenly Kings, Yashiro is not only an important person to the King of Fighters lore but also a fun character to play. It is an ultimate pressure machine. You can bring fear to an opponent when that grappling technique of Yashiro dominates their character.
Yashiro greatly rewards players who can react and push buttons really fast. You don’t need to be a masterful tactician to excel in combat, and that is what makes Yashiro great for beginner players.
Iori
The last heir of the Yagami clan is one of the most important characters in the franchise. This guy is a live incarnation of the phrase “ruthless aggression,” and his rivalry with Kyo Kusanagi is one of the fiercest among all KOF characters. They have a long storyline dating back to King of Fighters ’95.
Just like his personality is entertaining, so is the play style. For those of you, who love button-meshing, Iori is an excellent choice. Going out in all-attack mode can bring lots of joy. Just be careful since he is not that invincible. A more skilled opponent may punish Iori, but that doesn’t make him less fun, especially during the first dozens of hours.
Kula
Don’t let her appearance fool you. Kula may have the body of a little girl, but she is a dangerous killer. Yet her path deserves your attention. Kula was a silent assassin, a weapon, who would murder those unlucky who became the target of an order.
Yet with time, she began to grow as a person. Her childish behavior began to break the cold ice of an emotionless killer, and now two different sides of her personality are battling each other. That may result in an uncontrollable burst of different emotions, especially anger.
Regarding her playstyle, Kula is a great all-around fighter who excels in defense. Not all beginners love the all-attack rage, so Kula might bring a pretty refreshing experience. She has strong normal attacks in close range, decent range attacks, and great speed for sudden distance breaks. It is also worth noting that she can control ice, which can be used for significantly slowing opponents. Fans of Mortal Kombat’s Sub-Zero should give her a chance.
Getting into the new fighting game might not be an easy task: such games have a pretty high learning curve, so it is important to find the right characters. We believe our choices would greatly help you to have a pleasant time while getting familiar with KOF XV.
These characters are easy to execute and versatile, making them the best option for players new to fighting games. With these characters, beginners can quickly learn the game’s mechanics, execute various combos, and have fun playing the game. As you grow more comfortable with the game, you might want to explore other characters and find the ones that suit your playstyle. But that would be another story…