Ryuuko Ranbu

Ryuuko Ranbu (龍虎乱舞（りゅうこらんぶ）; lit. Dragon & Tiger Wild Dance), sometimes styled as Ryuko Ranbu, is a Super Special Move in the Art of Fighting, Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series, first used by Ryo Sakazaki all the way back in Art of Fighting.

Input

Most appearances	+ or ( OK)
MOTW	+

Description

The user dashes forwards via leaping at the opponent in a long stride, just after striking a pose (normally from bracing themselves with their forearms as if to block an attack).

If they make contact with the opponent, they'll attack with high-speed kata (form) of punches and kicks, before ending with a Kohou, as per standard. The ending attack for the stronger variants (especially in later games) varies between users; such as Ryo doing a small upper and backhanding the foe before throwing out his Haoh Shoukou Ken, Robert striking with a Gen'ei Kyaku before launching a flying kick, Takuma hopping back before launching multiple Haoh Shikou Ken, to name a few examples.

Marco's variant in Mark of the Wolves takes a different approach, with the attack coming out immediately and requiring you to rapidly tap the button during the super pause to get the best variant. The best variant in question involves him firing a barrage of close-range Ko-ou Kens before the Kohou which now ends with an axe kick. In City of the Wolves it becomes a more traditional ranbu incorporating elements of the super in MOTW and ending with the Biruto Appar.

Strategy

Originally, in its debut, the user and its victim before the finisher occurs, normally remain still during the barrage of attacks. Though in most games in The King of Fighters series as of KOF '96, the attacker often pushes the victim back during the said barrage (this stop being a trend in KOF XII onwards).

Though notably before KOF '99, akin to other ranbus of its time, the user will continuously attack with their sequence even if the initial dash is blocked. This often results in the ranbu unlike others such as the Illusion Dance or Kin 1211 Shiki Yaotome which get cut short at the start if they're blocked, to either deal a decent amount of chip damage to the defender, or if said defender gets careless and drops their guard, continue with the ranbu either way to still lock them in the sequence (akin to how the Zanretsuken and Gen'ei Kyaku tend to function). Even then, this often can result in the attacker getting punished easily should the blows all be blocked and/or escaped via Guard Cancel Evading.

Gallery

Ryo

Robert

Takuma

Marco

Mr. Karate

Mr. Karate II