Utilizing half of a Power Gauge bar, Advance Strike is good against throws and physical strikes, serving as an alternative to Shatter Strikes.

SNK has announced a new update for The King of Fighters 15, going live on January 30th. Dubbed Advance Strike, it’s a system for countering throws and physical strikes. Check out the trailer below to see it in action.

Advance Strike require half of a Power Gauge bar, which refills if you successfully land it (even if the opponent is blocking). It causes a hard knockdown, allowing for follow-up attacks and combos. Though slower than Shatter Strikes, opponents that try to throw you while it’s active will fall to the ground vulnerable.

It’s an interesting system with a response akin to Tekken 8’s Power Crush but more aggressive and effective against throws. Stay tuned for more details on the update, including potential balance changes, when it arrives next week.

The King of Fighters 15 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.