Kain R. Heinlein overview & gameplay guide
Character specification
Character story
A young idealist burning with ambition. Having torn through numerous hostile organizations around South Town, Kain makes an unsettling discovery: his older sister, Marie, is being held captive by one of them. Knowing that his will alone cannot right this wrong, he joins forces with Rock Howard to secure her release. A twist of fate, a dream for the future—with unwavering resolve Kain directs his attention to the upcoming KOF tournament, hoping to return Marie to safety at last.
Difficulty
ADVANCED
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Fighting Style
Dark Void Arts
Kain R. Heinlein Gameplay Trailer
PDF Command List
Gameplay Overview
A wholly unique character by CotW’s standards, Kain is one of the most defensive characters in the game, controlling space with his unique fireball, flashkick, normals, remarkable projectile super, and various other oddities. Essentially, he’s a setplay character with a zoner feel to him.
Kain’s defining move is Schwarze Flamme (236P), a very good fireball that moves Kain backwards on startup and can be angled upward. The rest of Kain’s moveset revolves around it; his flashkick ([2]8K) nullifies jumps over the projectile, while opponents who are too patient give Kain a chance to set up Schwarzes Rondo (214P), which rounds out Kain’s setplay with a timed explosion. Schwarze Panzer (236K) gives Kain a nice combo ender, or he can approach behind it if the opponent will block the Rondo. Combined with the REV system, these moves, along with Kain’s other oddities like a command combo from High Dodge Attack, not only command the neutral, but give him unmatched momentum once he’s knocked down his opponent with a throw or REV special.
Kain’s oddities work against him as well. The big one is that his reversal/anti-air special requires charge, which not only limits its usage on reaction, but can potentially give away the player’s intention of waiting on a mistake. There are lots of other things for opponents to exploit here and there, like a lack of momentum without Rondo set up, the singular speed of his fireball making it easy to Just Defend at any range, and the lack of safety on his advancing moves.
All in all, Kain is the kind of character for players who like to think multiple steps ahead and play the slow, psychological game. When he successfully conditions the opponent and reads them correctly, Kain is rewarded like no other character in the game.
Pros & Cons
thumb_up PROS
- Amazing Neutral: Kain's neutral is some of the most versatile in the game: he has amazing pokes with the ability to confirm any of them with 236236B, his orbs and fireball are great for controlling space, and many of his moves give him fantastic movement, with 236BD and his Rev Blow letting him occasionally skip neutral entirely.
- Looping Setplay: Kain can use hard knockdowns to place Schwarzes Rondo on top of the opponent, giving him terrific setplay that can loop. Even if the opponent successfully blocks the mixup, Kain stays at an advantage.
- Rev Damage: Kain's looping setplay, combined with Himmmlische Seele, gives him some of the highest guard and Rev damage in the game, easily leading the opponent to overheat and guard break faster than usual.
- Flashkick: Kain's Schwarze Lanze being the only flashkick in the game means Kain has an advantage when anti-airing with charge, as it is easier to react with a flashkick.
thumb_down CONS
- Flashkick: Having the only flashkick in the game means that Kain will end up losing his most powerful anti-air and combo extender if he moves in neutral, which can lock him out of one of his best tools at times he might need it the most.
- Setup—Reliant Pressure: Without Schwarze Rondo set up, Kain has very few moves that are plus on block, and those that are plus have such high pushback that Kain is forced to spend more of his valuable resources if he wants to stay on the offensive.