 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 KOF' 2001                       ATHENA ASAMIYA   
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Changes from kof'2000 to kof'2001
 
 1. Her Psycho Shoot (qcf + P) is now gone for good.
 [Hey, no big loss for Athena]

 2. Her crouching D has more horizontal range and less vertical range.
 [This is the 1st time her down + D frame has changed in the kof series]

 3. Her Spinning Crystal (hcb x 2 + P) has juggling property.
 [This means it doesn't need to be a counter like kof'2000 and you may 
  follow-up with the Crystal Shot under most circumstances]

 4. She gained the SDM Psychic 9 (qcb, f + AC)
 [Wow, a mad-dog style SDM for Athena, and it's interactive too, check out
  the follow-ups below]

 5. She changed her clothes and her hair style again.
 [She IS a celebrity, can't blame her keeping up with the trend]
 
 6. Like all characters, she can super cancel special.
 [Known super cancel moves are stated below] 

 7. Athena only wire attack can be done by a Psychic 9 follow up

 8. No more unblockable fireball bug this year.
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Impression
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
   She is the 1st character I used in kof'2001 and boy does she rocks.
 Thank goodness they didn't shrink her Psycho Ball like what they did
 to Bao but I was quite disappointed that her throw version of Psycho
 Shoot didn't come back.

   Some guy tried a cross over on Athena and got hit 5 combo registered
 times by her Spinning Crystal! Miraculously, my opponent survived the 5 
 hits because of the damage reduction after the 1st hit. He never tried 
 that stance again for the rest of the round. You won't too, if you saw
 your character bounce up and down 5 times on Athena's DM.         

   Oh, and if you didn't notice, normal throws does less damage, and her
 WONDERBUTT aka Pheonix Bomb (air d + B) does more damage than in kof'2000.
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Profiles
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Fighting Style   :    Psychic Power and Chinese Kung Fu
 Birthdate        :    March 14th
 Age              :    18
 Nationality      :    Japan
 Blood Type       :    B
 Height           :    163cm
 Weight           :    49kg
 Vital Stats (cm) :    83/57/82
 Likes            :    Astrology
 Favorite Food    :    Maple leaf-shaped bean past buns
 Strong Sport     :    Lacrosse
 Important Things :    A Peter Rabbit tea set, letters from her fans
 Dislikes         :    Grasshoppers
 Voice
 Actor/Actress    :    Haruna Ikezawa  [KOF98- Athena Asamiya] 
 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
      
 [ Joystick Layout ]  -----------------------------------------------------

   ub   u   uf    Jump Backward         Jump Up      Jump Forward
     \  |  /        (up-back)             (up)         (up-forward)
   b -- n -- f    Retreat / Block       Neutral      Approach
     /  |  \        (back)                             (forward)
   db   d   df    Crouch Block          Crouch       Offensive Crouch
                    (down-back)           (down)       (down forward)

 [ Button Layout ]  -------------------------------------------------------
                        
   A   B  C  D     Light Punch   Light Kick    Heavy Punch    Heavy Kick
                  
   QCF = quarter circle forward
    
   HCB = half circle back

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Special Moves
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Bit Throw                      When close, b / f + C
 (throws forward)
  
 Psychic Throw                  When close, b / f + D
 (throws to the other side) 

 Psychic Shoot                  When close, a-u + C / D in air
 (somersault and throws opponent in air)

 Phoenix Bomb                   In air, d + B
 (knock down and high piority move)
 - cancellable into special moves
 - can be cancelled from CD, C and A in the air
 - can be done during the quick retreat, b+b.

 Chained Kick                     f + B
 (2 hits high angle kick)
 - cancellable 2nd hit into air special

 Psycho Ball Attack             qcb + P
 (typical full screen air projectile)
 - C fast, A slow

 Psycho Sword                   f,d,df + P  (air)
 (multiple hit anti-air move, can be done in air)
 - very low piority
 - super cancel special into DM

 Phoenix Arrow                  In air, qcb + K
 (ball of psycho energy, multiple hits. D version ends with a kick)
 - the kick has pretty long range and will be automatically directed at your opponent 
 - super cancel special into DM

 Psychic Teleport               qcf + K
 (teleport, D version is further)
 - very little invulnerability 
 
 Psycho Reflector               hcb + B
 (reflects all projectiles)

 Neo Psycho Reflector           hcb + D
 (reflects all projectiles)
 - longer startup but last longer
 - tick damage

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 DM
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Shining Crystal Bit            hcb x 2 + P  (ground/air)
 (Athena is protected by orbiting crystal bits, can be done in air)
 - invulnerable during startup
 - can neutralise projectiles and non-physical attacks unless it is a SDM. 
 - ABCD to cancel
 - juggles

 Crystal Shoot                  qcb + P from Shining Crystal Bit
 (Athena gathers the crystal bits above her)
 - can be held by holding the P button
 - A version projectile shoots straight
 - C version projectile will curve
 - can negate other projectiles

 Pheonix Fang Arrow             qcf x 2 + K (in air)
 (Multiple Pheonix Arrow)
 - does a lot of tick damage on large character
 - unable to combo in corner, opponent will be able to block
  
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 SDM
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Shining Crystal Bit            hcb x 2 + AC  (ground/air)
 (Athena is protected by orbiting crystal bits, can be done in air)
 - invulnerable during startup
 - can neutralise projectiles and non-physical attacks unless it is a SDM. 
 - has a psychic shield around her body for additional protection
 - ABCD to cancel
 - opponent is knocked flying across the screen

 Crystal Shoot                  qcb + P from Shining Crystal Bit
 (Athena gathers the crystal bits above her)
 - can be held by holding the P button
 - A version projectile shoots straight
 - C version projectile will curve
 - hit 3 times

 Pyschic 9                      hcb, f + AC
 (Athena does a pose and rushes forward, and changes her costume with every
  hit of the button, from kof'2000, back to kof'95. You may choose her to
  perform any 3 of the finishing moves stated below after pressing the sequence)

 - need to press buttons in sequence A.B.C.A.B.C.D 
 - if you miss the sequence or whiff, she sits on her bum
 - Finishing
   hcb + K    = Another Athena (kof'2000 striker flame attack)
   qcf + P    = School Uniform (does kof'94/95 stand CD, wire)
   f,d,df + P = Swim Suit Athena (does psycho sword, juggles) 

    
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Basic Combos
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1)standing C/D -> f + B (1hit) -> pyscho sword (air) ->> (super cancel) SCB

 (2)crouch B -> standing A/B -> pyscho sword (air) ->> (super cancel) SCB

 (3)standing C/D -> f + B (1 or 2 hits) -> phoenix arrow, SCB (corner)

 (4)jump A/C/CD -> d + B -> pyscho sword, phoenix arrow, SCB
  - opponent has to block twice standing, the follow up will register only if
    it's a counter

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Striker
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Athena does her kof'94 version of pheonix arrow, and if she hits, she ends
 it with a kick. If not, she shakes her head in despair and leaves.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Playing with Athena
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 A lot of people seem to have difficult with her SDM Pyschic 9 so this part will
 mostly cover the SDM and it's uses.

 (1) Pyschic 9 start up

  -  You can download a video clip on her SDM P9 to get a feel of her timing,
     but that would be unnecessary

  -  By default, she does 2 hits alone from her p9

  -  Keep your hands OFF the buttons until she gets her 2nd hit from P9.

  -  On her 2nd hit, she starts counting, that is when you start pressing 
     the buttons at the same time shen she counts

  -  You do have to familarize the sequence as the 7 button sequence will
     be completed in 2 seconds 

  -  If you are desperate and just want to see some action, just keep hitting
     A > B > C quickly, the computer will register the buttons and you will
     get some extra hits up to the point you will need a D button

 (2) Choose a finisher

  -  The Another Athena (hcb + K) should be used when you have no power bar
     left as it deals the most damage

  -  The Sailor/School Uniform (qcf + P) must be chosen carefully for your
     wire attack. The A button version rebound the opponent less and should 
     be done when you are facing closer to the wall

  -  The Swim Suit Athena (dp + P) is my all time favourite. If you have
     no power bar, you can easily juggle with a Psycho sword and it deals
     about the same damage as the Another Athena. If you do have power, let
     her rip with a SCB

 (3) Pyschic 9 in general

  -  It is really pointless to use P9 when your ratio is 3 players or more.
     Well, it is impossible for you to use P9 on a ratio 4. I draw my
     conclusions on the reasons below for ratio 3

  -  You can do the same damage with a well placed single bar SCB and if you
     use the Max SCB, it does more damage than P9 and much more if you follow
     up with Crystal Shot

  -  Having a power bar is a good mind game as your opponent will fear your
     devastating SCB and it is a waste to use 2 of them

  -  The possiblities starts to snowball when she is ratio 1 or 2. Because, that
     is when you can juggle one SDM to another or call a striker to set up
     your P9 combos

  -  On a ratio 1, Athena can juggle with a Max SCB. Unfortunately, it will 
     not be registered as a counter and the opponent will be flung far away
     after 3 hits. If the opponent fails to block the Crystal Shot, it can
     easily be a whole life combo (this is based on the same ratio)  

  -  Always start your P9 with a set up attack, (eg. jump D -> standing D -> P9)
     because P9 has no invulnerabilty. Do not expect her to fly through fire ball
     or attack a opponent who has left the ground 

  -  If you hit the opponent who is in the air with P9, try to get as many hits as
     possible to make it your worth as she will finally whiff

 (4) Her crouching D

  -  Since '94 , I have been wishing her sweep to have longer range. But not at the
     expense of her start up and recovery time!

  -  Look on the bright side. At least now she has a way to deal with opponent landing
     a distance away from her and it is a good way to attack a waking opponent safely.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Team Ending (in a nutshell)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ???    : "Can you do it?"

 ???    : "Yes. I believe so..."

 <They found themsleves on a cliff overlooking the ocean where the spaceship crashed> 

 Kensou : "Hey! Everyone OK?"

 Athena : "Yeah, we're all right."

 Kensou : "Whew! What a tough fight. Glad we're okay."

 Athena : "Hey! I thought Bao transferred his power to Kensou. But Kensou doesn't
           seem any different..."

 Chin   : "Hmmm... surely a flow of power must've taken place."

 Kensou : "Yeah, it's gradual. But I sense new power."

 Bao    : "No, no. I didn't transfer my power to brother Kensou. He absorbed my power.
          What courses in his veins... is the Dragon's Spirit..."

 <Ron is standing on a cliff, with the lady in white who was beside the old man in the
  spaceship>

 Ron    : "Hard to believe such a massive spirit still exists. Compared to the Dragon
           Spirit, NEST's power is nothing."

	  "If the Dragon Spirit is truly awakened..."

 	  "Heh, heh, heh..."


 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Copyrights (?)
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Well, there's not much to steal from here anyway. Most of the stuff here can be gotten 
 just about anywhere and can be learnt through experiences. This faq can ONLY be found on
 www.gamefaqs.com so please visit it to get the latest up-date.
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Credits
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Eolith and SNK, the people who took the pain to create kof'2001.

 www.gamefaqs.com for hosting my faq
 
 homepage2.nifty.com/max-kubocchi for her profiles (Japanese)
 
 My e-mail weis@pacific.net.sg
 Homepage (never up-dated) home.pacific.net.sg/~weis

 Version 1.5

 You guys read all that? You guys rock, man!
 
