The official discord link if you wish to join the discord: https://discord.gg/j5RKwCvAFu

The background art comes from Cherylann1960.

Support the wiki on our official Ko-Fi page or Patreon page!

User:Sharaku Jr./Sandbox 2

From The Codex

Come at me if you really want to get burned! I'll take you on anytime!
~ Kyo Kusanagi

Background

Kyo Kusanagi (草薙京, Kusanagi Kyo), often referred as just Kyo (京, Kyo), is the first main protagonist of The King of Fighters series published by SNK. He took the role of the main character of the series from the original game, The King of Fighters '94 all the way to The King of Fighters '97. Despite leaving the role of the main character to the succeeding protagonists, Kyo continues to play a major role in the story of the series to this day, appearing in every single game in the franchise. Kyo is considered by many to be one of the most iconic fighting game characters of all time, as well as being commonly listed as one of the mascots of SNK, alongside Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, Nakoruru and Iori Yagami.

Kyo is a young man who bears the responsibility of being the heir to the ancient Kusanagi Clan, which, alongside the Yata Clan and Yasakani Clan (later the Yagami Clan) was one of the three clans that sealed away the malevolent Snake God of the Planet, Orochi, over 1800 years ago. Select members of the Kusanagi clan are capable of wielding incredible pyrokinetic abilities passed down from generations to generation due to the family's Sacred Treasure, the Kusanagi Sword (草薙剣, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi), and Kyo is no exception. Despite his age, Kyo is an extraordinary martial artist, having been trained by his father, Saisyu Kusanagi (草薙 柴舟, Kusanagi Saishū), since he was a boy. These skills would be further refined thanks to his various battles in the frequent King of Fighters tournaments, going on to win several of them along with his teammates. While a bit cocky and incredibly lazy when it comes to school, Kyo is ultimately a good natured individual who will lay down his own life to save the planet on multiple occasions. At a first glance, he can come off as harsh or arrogant, but he truly treasures his friends and family. Formerly a high school student, as of The King of Fighters XV, Kyo ultimately dropped out of school due having to constantly fight against various threats to the world, which has been subject to many jokes in the series itself. His hobby is writing poetry, which he seems to enjoy, though it too similarly is a point of comedy within the series. His lifelong rival is Iori Yagami (八神 庵, Yagami Iori), a member of the rival Yagami clan, possessor of the second Sacred Treasure, the Yasakani Jewel (八尺瓊勾玉, Yasakani no Magatama) and fellow flame user, who he has a blood feud with. However, they have worked together on several occasions out of need alongside Chizuru Kagura (神楽 ちづる, Kagura Chizuru), another powerful fighter who possessed the third Sacred Treasure, the Yata Mirror (八咫鏡, Yata no Kagami), and have helped save the Earth on several occasions while making sure that Orochi stayed sealed.

Overall, Kyo is an incredible, headstrong fighter who has honed his skills through fighting a wide variety of opponents. While he may appear to be arrogant and harsh, he legitimately cares for his friends, humanity and the Earth, and will continuously risk his own life and well-being for the greater good. He has worked alongside many teams of fighters with similar goals. Some of these fighters include Benimaru Nikaido (二階堂 紅丸, Nikaidō Benimaru), Goro Daimon (大門 五郎, Daimon Gorō), Shingo Yabuki (矢吹 真吾, Yabuki Shingo), whom he has formed under the name of Team Japan, and the aforementioned Iori Yagami and Chizuru Kagura, whom he formed under the name of Team Sacred Treasures in reference to the fact that all three are descendants of the three clans who helped seal Orochi away.

This dropdown contains the synopsis of Kyo Kusanagi’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!

(Full Credit to the SNK Wiki)

Background of the Kusanagi Clan
660 years ago, the Kusanagi and Yasakani clans were once allies. However, due to a horrible misunderstanding, the Yasakani struck a blood pact with Orochi for more power. They renamed their family name to Yagami, and their flames, previously red like their former allies, changed to violet from Orochi's taint. Since then, the clans have waged a generation long grudge with casualties made from both sides. It continues in The King of Fighters series with Kyo and Iori Yagami.

The King of Fighters '94
The Orochi saga takes place between The King of Fighters '94 and '97. Kyo surpassed his father at the age of fifteen and was designated as the clan's leader. Shortly after the completion of his training, Kyo competes in a preliminary held in Japan to determine the members of the country's representative team in the King of Fighters tournament. He bests Goro Daimon]] and Benimaru Nikaido to become the leader of the team, the two becoming his teammates and eventual friends.[1] They reach the finals, where they met the host of the tournament, a powerful fighter named Rugal Bernstein. Rugal boasts his desire to fight powerful opponents and challenges them. After his defeat, he self-destructs his ship in attempt to bring them with him, but the team escapes unharmed. Afterwards, Kyo decides to travel abroad in order to train.

The King of Fighters '95
In the following, Daimon and Benimaru were waiting for Kyo's ship to dock, when they were attacked by a masked assailant. Kyo returns and throws a fireball at the mysterious person, only to destroy her mask and reveal her to be Rugal's secretary, Mature. She hands over an invitation letter to another King of Fighters tournament, organized once again by Rugal, who survived his craft's self-destruction.[2] This time, Rugal also brainwashed Kyo's missing father, Saisyu, into attacking his son. Kyo's father regains his senses after he was subdued by the team. To counter the team's strength, Rugal challenges them with power sapped from Orochi. However, Rugal's body was overwhelmed by the power's immensity and he was vaporized after his defeat. Pleased with his son's prowess, Saisyu leaves unnoticed, insinuating that he entrusts the clan's duty to Kyo.

The King of Fighters '96
Prior to the events of The King of Fighters '96, a mysterious man -later revealed to be one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Orochi, Goenitz- challenges Kyo to a fight. Kyo arrives, powered by his overwhelming confidence in his fists, only to be defeated soundly by his challenger and sent to the hospital. In spite of his injuries, his anger and spirit from his loss drove him to invent powerful new techniques (this is the canon explanation for Kyo trading his projectile attack-based technique set for his now trademark flame-laced melee attack strings). He enters the year's tournament to prove his strength to his unknown attacker.[3] In the tournament's finals, he meets the host of the tournament and the younger heiress of the Yata clan, Chizuru Kagura. At the tournament's end, he vanquishes Goenitz with Iori and Chizuru's help. Though he is warned by Chizuru of his clan's destiny with Orochi, Kyo ignores her and promptly departs.

The King of Fighters '97
Before The King of Fighters '97 takes place, he is pestered by fellow high school student, Shingo Yabuki, to teach him how to create his flames. Though annoyed and flustered by his persistence, Kyo partially agrees to mentor him as a means of gaining free meals.[4] He also experiences nightmares of a strange man defeating him at the King of Fighters tournament, but continues to participate.[5] Before the tournament, his girlfriend, Yuki was kidnapped by the Hakkesshu, in order to be used as the last of the sacrificial maidens for Orochi's revival. Though it's ambiguous as to which team he enters during the tournament, it is canonly accepted that Kyo joins with Iori and Chizuru for its conclusion.

He advances into the finals, where he confronts the remaining "Four Heavenly Kings" of Orochi, Yashiro Nanakase, Shermie, and Chris. The Hakkesshu also mention the plan to sacrifice Yuki in order to revive Orochi. Fueled by these turn of events, Kyo fights an emotional and heroic battle. When they are beaten, Orochi possesses Chris' body and attempts to destroy the three clans at once. As was done in the legends of their clans, the trio successfully defeat him. In a last-ditch effort, Orochi (manifested in Chris' body) causes Iori to enter the berserk Riot of the Blood state, expecting him to turn on Kyo and Chizuru. Instead, Iori snares Orochi by the neck, and Kyo obliged his rival by crippling the great demon with one last deathblow, allowing Chizuru to reseal Orochi. Exhausted, Kyo passes out. The last thing he sees is Yuki, saying that she will wait for him.

The King of Fighters '99
The King of Fighters '99 took place immediately after the events of The King of Fighters '97. Still knocked out from his previous battle with the godlike Orochi, Kyo was taken by the NESTS syndicate and his DNA was used to make various beings for their purposes. He awoke one day to find himself surrounded by bizarre gadgets and needles. Deciding to search for answers, Kyo broke out of captivity and managed to escape the hidden fortress despite the sedatives. While escaping, he constantly heard references to the NESTS cartel. He tries to personally gain answers from his captors, but is forced to retreat when the base around him begins to collapse, as his reunion with Shingo and Benimaru, who teamed up with Maxima, and K' (a fighter who is implanted with Kyo's DNA) is very short.[6]

The King of Fighters 2000
Kyo decides not to come back home before NESTS is taken down and attempts to investigate privately again the following year but learns very little during his travels. As the fiasco of South Town's destruction ensued, Iori confronts him and they fight to an unknown outcome.

The King of Fighters 2001
In The King of Fighters 2001, Kyo reunites with his old teammates and Shingo to make a comeback in the Japan Team. They join the now NESTS-sponsored KoF tournament to relive their time together as a team and to fight NESTS.[7][8] They disband as soon as the tournament is over, leaving Shingo to muse about life. In the official novel, Japan Team makes it to the semi-finals, however he and Iori separate from their teammates and fight elsewhere. Like the fight in 2000, the outcome is unknown.[9]

The King of Fighters 2003
In The King of Fighters 2003, Chizuru appeared to both Kyo and Iori, requesting that they form a team and investigate suspicious activities concerning the Orochi. Kyo initially protested allying with Iori (though Iori apparently did not do likewise), but relented to form the Sacred Treasures team.[10] After the defeat of Mukai, the team then investigated the weakening Orochi seal that they had been transported to after Mukai's defeat, but were ambushed by Ash Crimson, who stole the Yata Mirror from Chizuru, promising to go after Iori next. Ash escaped, and Kyo swore vengeance.

The King of Fighters XI
In The King of Fighters XI, Shingo has volunteered to join Kyo and Iori, in Chizuru's name. After several attempts, Kyo abides to Shingo's requests and joins forces with his groupie and his rival, in order to stop Ash. However, after he and his team defeat Magaki, the growing presence of the Orochi, caused Iori to snap and enter the Riot of the Blood state, and he landed a surprise attack and trashed Kyo and Shingo in a berserk fit.[11] Ash appeared thereafter and stole the Yasakani no Magatama within Iori's body, along with his flames. The Rival Team (Benimaru, Duo Lon, and Elisabeth Blanctorche) arrived after the incident, to whom Ash tells them that Kyo will be next.

The King of Fighters XIII
The incident had Kyo hospitalized, but he escapes rather than wait for his recovery.[12] As he wanders the city, he encounters a mysterious boyy named Shroom and his female partner, who try to attack him. Showing them his flames, they hand him the "R" invitation before taking their leave. Soon after the encounter, Benimaru and Daimon find him. Seeing no need to visit the hospitalized Shingo or Chizuru, he reunites with his old team members to relive his past glory days together with them.[13] After Ash disappears and Kyo's team won another tournament, Iori appears and challenges Kyo to a fight. Kyo accepts and the rivals fight to an undecided outcome.

The King of Fighters XIV
When the tournament was announced, Saisyu summons Kyo and his friends, then informs them about a new threat which will cause untold chaos. He and Tung Fu Rue also requests the team to help his new students, Shun'ei and Meitenkun. Benimaru mentions the 'first generation' KOF champion, Antonov, that appeared while they were away and asks Kyo what he'll do about it. At his father's request, Kyo enters the tournament once again with his old teammates to deal with the self proclaimed champion and newcomers all at once.[14]

After the tournament's conclusion, Kyo advices Shun'ei to keep training to control his power. At the airport, after sending his teammates off, he heads to Hungary. Chizuru had called him there for his assistance in dealing with a revived, yet weakened Orochi, whom Iori found earlier.

The King of Fighters XV
Kyo once again reluctantly teams up with Iori at Chizuru's request, with the condition that she won't interfere with what happens after. At the tournament's conclusion, Kyo and Iori fight unsupervised, however, Chizuru is confident that the fight is a necessary action and won't go far like how it did before. However, the outcome of the fight is not revealed.

Kyo then visits Yuki after the tournament and after his brawl with Iori, indicating that the two walked away after the fight, with the outcome yet unknown.

Statistics

Key: Orochi Saga | NESTS Saga | Tales of Ash Saga | New Age Saga

Tier: 6-C, Higher with MAX Mode | 6-C, Higher with Counter Mode | 6-B | 6-B, Higher with MAX Mode

Name: Kyo Kusanagi

Origin: The King of Fighters

Sex: Male

Age: 20

Classification: Human, Scion of the Flame, former high school student, Heir of the Kusanagi Clan

Status: Alive

Alignment: Chaotic Good (Kyo)

Dimensionality: 3-D

Attack Potency: Island level (in bold; add any explanations using brackets, not in bold). Higher with MAX Mode ()

Durability: The amount of attack power the character can withstand before being overwhelmed (in bold).

Striking Strength: The attack power of the character's physical attacks/blows (in bold).

Lifting Strength: The weight the character can lift/move, usually expressed in tons. However it is optional since lifting strength generally doesn't matter in most fights (in bold).

Travel Speed: How fast the character can move. (in bold)

Combat Speed: How fast the character goes in combat. (in bold)

Reaction Speed: How fast the character can react. (in bold)

Stamina: Self-explanatory (in bold)

Range: The distance the character's attacks/abilities can cover. (in bold)

Intelligence: Self-explanatory (in bold)


Powers and Abilities

A list of the character's general abilities (Please add links to the "Powers and Abilities" pages, if it is possible).


Standard Equipment

Things the character usually uses, or carries with him.


Notable Techniques

A list of some abilities the character generally uses.


Other

Standard Tactics: The usual behavior exhibited by a character during battles. For example, which actions a character will first perform when fighting an unknown opponent or which abilities they will use frequently, rarely, or never. If the character's behavior is too inconsistent to identify, they fall under "wildcard".

Weaknesses: Self-explanatory

Note: Self-explanatory

Explanations (Optional): This section can be used to explain the reasons for the assigned power level of a certain character more in-depth, as well as how the powers and nature of the character fundamentally work. This is particularly useful for more high-tiered characters.

Feats (Optional): List all of the character's amazing feats. strength feats, speed feats, durability feats, etc. You can judge a person's power by their feats.

Trivia

An optional addition where you can add numerous facts about a character.

References

Any feats listed that gives a quote from a novel or episode/manga chapter number should go in this section with a "<References/>

Gallery

Put other pictures of the character here.

Battle Records

Put the character's versus thread results here.

When wanting to put in a thread result it should be done in the following way:

  • [[Character's Name in bold]] [[Verse Page|(Specific Origin of the Character)]] - [A link to the thread Thread]
    • Keys: Used to denote which tiers are being used for the characters or the specific keys, if no key is mentioned the assumption is the keys used under SBA.
    • Conditions: Conditions added to the match such as speed equalization or unequalization. If a character was allowed to have optional equipment or not, etcetera.
    • Location: Note the location mentioned in the thread, if no location is mentioned the assumption is the location used under SBA.
    • Restrictions: Any restrictions added such as a character not being allowed to use certain abilities, having protections disabled, etcetera.

Put some notable/good matches that result in the character's victory.

Put some notable/good matches that result in the character's loss.

Put some notable/good matches with the results still inconclusive.

Categories

For character profiles, always insert the category "Characters", as well as one with the name of the related franchise here.

You should also always add the tier for the character. These go from "Tier 11" to "Tier 0", and also include "Unknown Tier".

For example, the most important categories in Son Goku's page are "Characters", "Dragon Ball", and "Tier 3".

Discussions

This should be where the discussions template is placed in order to link to relevant topics regarding a character. {{Discussions}}

  1. The King of Fighters '94: Hero Team Story from KOF anniversary website.
  2. The King of Fighters '95: Hero Team Story from KOF anniversary website.
  3. The King of Fighters '96: Hero Team Story from KOF anniversary website.
  4. The King of Fighters '97: Shingo Yabuki Story from KOF anniversary website.
  5. The King of Fighters '97: Hero Team Story from KOF anniversary website.
  6. The King of Fighters '99: Kyo Kusanagi Story from KOF anniversary website.
  7. The King of Fighters 2001: Japan Team Story from KOF anniversary website.
  8. The King of Fighters 2001 ~MORE THAN HUMAN~. SNK, Akihiko Ureshino. 2002/2. ISBN 4-7577-0753-3.
  9. The King of Fighters 2001 ~THE GODS THEMSELVES~. SNK, Akihiko Ureshino. 2002/2. ISBN 4-7577-0754-1.
  10. The King of Fighters 2001: 3 Sacred Treasures Team Story from KOF anniversary website.
  11. The King of Fighters XIII: Ash Crimson Archived from Atlus.com
  12. The King of Fighters XIII: Ash Archived from Atlus.com
  13. The King of Fighters XIII: Japan Team Archived from Atlus.com
  14. Japan Team Prologue from THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV website.