Rock is Terry's Echo Fighter and is classified as Fighter #74ε. He was revealed in a Twitter announcement on November 1st, 20XX. Rock shares many similarities with his adoptive father Terry, but differs from him in attack properties, in addition to possessing a couple new attacks of his own, similarly to Ken.
Yuma Uchida reprises his role as voice provider of Rock, a role he has taken up since The King of Fighters XIV, in all versions of the game.
Rock is lighter and faster than Terry. In addition, he has different effects to several of his attacks, as well as entirely new attacks of his own.
His Dash Attack is replaced with Elbow Spike, it has the same hitbox, but Rock does an elbow attack instead of a charging lunge.
Instead of Backspin Kick, his Forward Smash is Parabola Kick, a 360 inner crescent kick.
Rock's Down Throw will be Shinkuu Nage which involves him tossing the opponent high into the air. If the player holds a special button during this, Rock will follow up with Rasetsu, where he then blasts them away with a blue fiery blast from his hand.
All Rock's Special Moves have different names than Terry's, though most of them share the same attributes.
Power Wave is replaced with Reppuken, which is pretty much the same move in function, being more of an aesthetic change (like most moves in Rock's movelist). The "strong" version is Double Reppuken, and in the air, is a close-ranged burst of wind similar to Terry's Round Wave.
Burning Knuckle will be replaced with Hard Edge. Again, the move is pretty much the same, the input version would also deal the second hit that it has in the games. Also, like Terry, it would have the reversed input being QCF + Attack, instead of the original QCB.
Crack Shoot will be replaced with Overhead Kick. It covers a more vertical range that horizontal, so it is a better recovery and also carries the meteor effect that Terry's Power Dunk has. The input of Overhead Kick is QCB, different to the one given in The King of Fighters XV, but that it makes sense considering the context.
Rising Tackle is maintained, and is the only move that they both have exactly.
Power Dunk will be replaced with Crack Counter. A counter move, where Rock retaliates with a Crack Shoot if an opponent connects a melee attack. Crack Counter's input is a DP (Dragon Punch). While Rock never used this input for the move, it resembles the input that it has, his father, Geese Howard from where the moves originates (since it is a combination of Geese's Atemi Nage technique and Terry's Crack Shoot).
Rock maintains the same Super Special Moves mechanic than Terry (including the 100% damage requirement), but what moves he can do are different, even if they have a very similar usage.
Instead of Power Geyser, Rock uses his father's signature super move, Raging Storm. Instead of attacking at the front, Rock's attack is AoE around him and goes vertically.
Instead of Buster Wolf, Rock uses Shine Knuckle. If the player is fast enough, he can connect a Rising Tackle in the end of the move, that it would have an enhanced effect.
Rock's Final Smash is NEO Deadly Rave where he starts using a move similar to Rage Run. If he connects, Rock will start a cinematic where he spreads a pair of ki wings and prepares to do an auto-combo of punches and kicks to the opponent that ends with a burst of energy.
Moveset[]
Rock’sSpecial Moves
Standard Special
Reppuken
The "strong" version is Double Repukken and in the air is a close-ranged burst of wind similar to Terry's Round Wave.
Forward Special
Hard Edge
The input version would also deal with the second hit that it has in the games. Also like Terry, it would have the reversed input being QCF + Attack instead of the original QCB.
Back Special
Overheard Kick
It covers a more vertical range than horizontal so is a better recovery and it also carries the meteor effect that it has Terry's Power Dunk. The input of the Overhead Kick is QCB, different to the one given in KOF XV but it makes sense considering the context.
Up Special
Rising Tackle
Down Special
Crack Counter
Rock's counter move where the counterattacks with a Crack Shoot connect. Crack Counter's input is a DP, while he never used this input for Crack Counter it resembles the input that it has his father Geese Howard from where the moves originate (since is a combination of Geese's Atemi Nage technique and Terry's Crack Shoot).
Super Special Move 1
Raging Storm
Rock's counter move where the counterattacks with a Crack Shoot connect. Crack Counter's input is a DP, while he never used this input for Crack Counter it resembles the input that it has his father Geese Howard from where the moves originate (since is a combination of Geese's Atemi Nage technique and Terry's Crack Shoot).
Super Special Move 2
Shine Nuckle
Rock's counter move where the counterattacks with a Crack Shoot connect. Crack Counter's input is a DP, while he never used this input for Crack Counter it resembles the input that it has his father Geese Howard from where the moves originate (since is a combination of Geese's Atemi Nage technique and Terry's Crack Shoot).
Rock starts using a move similar to Rage Run (considering that we wouldn't use the move in his regular moveset), if connects he will start a cinematic where he spreads a pair of ki wings and prepares to do an autocombo to the opponent that ends with a burst of energy.
Taunts[]
Up Taunt: Rock stretches his hand towards the opponent, saying "Shan toshi na!" ("Do it properly!"). Based on his normal taunt in Garou: Mark of the Wolves.
Right Taunt: Rock clenches his fist in-front of him and then swings it down to his side. References the intro animation where he faces off his father, Geese Howard, in Capcom vs. SNK 2.
Left Taunt: Rock turns away and then runs his hand through his hair. Based on one of his hidden taunts in Garou: Mark of the Wolves.
On-Screen Appearance[]
Rock slowly walks on-stage as he pulls his gloves on, then slicks back his hair while saying "Genkai made... tobasu ze!" ("Until my limit... I'll fly on!") and entering a fighting stance. This is the same intro animation as his appearance in The King of Fighters XV.
Idle Poses[]
Rock quickly fixes his hair by flicking it, referencing his animation which plays each time he performs a heavy attack/special move. It can also be done while crouching.
Rock snaps his wrist forward.
Victory Poses[]
Rock engulfs his hand in blue ki energy and then turns his back to the screen, releasing his ki by slashing it to form angelic wings behind him, saying "Doko mademo... agaiteyaru." ("It doesn't matter where... I'll fight."). Based on his regular Round 2 win animation.
Rock takes off his jacket and tosses it to the background in a similar way to Terry with his hat, saying "...abayo." ("...later."). This victory pose will always be used if the fight ends with a Shine Knuckle.
Rock grabs his arm in pain as it starts to flow with blue ki while his eyes turn bright red. He then gets exhausted and slumps over, saying "Chi ga... uzukuno ka!" ("My blood... is boiling!"). This victory pose will always be used if the fight ends with Raging Storm or NEO Deadly Rave.
Classic Mode Route: Profitable Gains[]
All opponents are against characters who have some sort of currency in their home franchise. All matches are Coin Battles with the requirements for a win increasing as players climb up the Classic Mode ladder.
