New Age Saga

Orochi Saga

Team Stories

Stories

Interviews

Move List

Gallery

Soundtrack

Achievements

Credits

Trivia

DLC

The New Age Saga (新章編（しんふみへん）), or simply known as The New Age, known formerly as Verse Saga or Shun'ei Saga, is the fourth and currently ongoing mainline story arc in The King of Fighters series. It covers the events found in The King of Fighters XIV and The King of Fighters XV, as well as SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy (a canonical spin-off game).

Past Events[]

Verse[]

After Ash Crimson sacrificed himself to erase his ancestor Saiki from existence during the the thirteenth tournament, an entity called Verse emerged. It consisted of fallen souls from The King of Fighters series and other SNK series. Sensing a profound malevolence emanating from a spacetime rift, Nakoruru, a young priestess from Feudal Japan in the late 18th century, embarked on a journey to the present day. She joined forces with Mui Mui, a Dragon clan member, and Love Heart, a pirate and captain of the Peace Air Pirates, to participate in the 14th KOF tournament.

The King of Fighters XIV[]

The "First" Champion[]

Several years after the events of the thirteenth tournament, a confident billionaire named Antonov buys the rights to The King of Fighters tournament, over the strong objections of the board members of his company, the Antonov Corporation. Proclaiming himself as the “first champion”, he eagerly hosts a new tournament and sends out invites across the world, challenging the teams to take his title.

Teams[]

	The legendary martial arts master Tung Fu Rue enters to the tournament to help his last students, Shun'ei and Meitenkun, to better understand their powers. The three forms a new version of the China Team.
	Kyo Kusanagi continues to unite with his personal friends and teammates, Benimaru Nikaido and Goro Daimon, reforming the Japan Team.
	Iori Yagami continues to summon his victims in The King of Fighters '96 and Orochi Hakkesshu's servants, Mature and Vice, forming the Yagami Team once more.
	Yuri Sakazaki returns to the Art of Fighting Team after 6 years to help her elder brother Ryo Sakazaki, who is now master of the family's dojo, and Robert Garcia, the family's friend. Takuma Sakazaki, Ryo and Yuri's father and Robert's master, retires and takes care of the family's steakhouse.
	Desiring to bring his rebellious students back to his side, Kim Kaphwan joins, against his will, with his master Gang-il and his girlfriend Luong, forming again the team that bears his first name.
	Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge joins with Xanadu, in order to return to their former criminal life, forming the Villains Team, led by the legendary criminal. As a result, Chang returns to the series after 13 years and Choi, after 15 years.
	Antonov, the sponsor of the tournament, invites three underground fighters to match him in the finals, the NESTS reject Sylvie Paula Paula, the mysterious Kukri and the Sichuan opera dancer Mian, forming the Official Invitation Team.
	A new team formed during the South American qualifiers is composed by the Brazilian boxer Nelson, the Colombian-Brazilian young girl Zarina and the Brazilian ninja Bandeiras Hattori. It is the South America Team.
	The mercenary and luchador Ramón and the former NESTS agent Ángel returns to the series (he after 11 years and she, after 15 years [7 if counting her last participation], forming, along with King of Dinosaurs, the Mexico Team, led by the freelancer agent.
	The crimelord Geese Howard also returns to the series (in his second canonical participation) and, along with his bodyguard Billy Kane and his newcomer butler Hein, form the South Town Team. The team is led by the criminal businessman.
	The Ikari Warriors Team continues with its second classic formation (Leona Heidern, Ralf Jones and Clark Still), remade in KOF XIII.
	In order to stop Verse, Nakoruru, the traveler Mui Mui and the Peace Air Pirates leader Love Heart form the Another World Team, led by the Ainu priestess.
	The K' Team continues with the entry formed in KOF XI.
	King and Mai Shiranui remains in the Women Fighters Team, and receives a new teammate: Alice Garnet Nakata.
	The Fatal Fury and Psycho Soldier Teams continues with its classic formation from the first KOF games.

Follow Me[]

Once again, all of the teams fought with all their strength, culminating with the Japan Team reaching the finals, which was a final confrontation with the "first" champion, Antonov. Team Japan easily beats him, making them winners of The King of Fighters XIV, the first time since their last victory in the '97 tournament.

However, mere moments after beating Antonov, a mysterious entity appears, destroying the stadium and causing the death of many people.

This Verse's manifestation has already caused time anomalies. A fragment of Verse is inside, and its presence compelled Nakoruru (who refers to him as Wei Kamui) to traverse through spacetime to defeat it. Shun'ei defeated Verse, but upon the defeat, it exploded and released ominous mist across the world. With Verse's defeat, The King of Fighters tournament ends.

Burning On[]

36 hours after the tournament's conclusion, Heidern receives information from Maxima about the creature that appeared during the finals of the tournament. The Ikari squad leader dubs the entity as Verse, due to it only yelling "Veeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrse" when it spoke. Heidern then confirms that there are several bodies that were resurrected and has already commenced a 24-hour surveillance. After the meeting, he tells Leona that her father Gaidel is likely among the resurrected souls but could not be confirmed. Leona responds that she's not concerned about it.

Several characters were revived after the tournament:

	Orochi lands in Hungary, but cannot maintain itself without a catalyst as Chris was resurrected in a new body elsewhere. It is found and sealed once again by Kyo, Iori and Chizuru, the three Sacred Treasures. Orochi also had three empty craters near it, already revived.
	Elisabeth Blanctorche is informed by Kukri that he found Ash Crimson in the Ukraine Carpathian Mountains, and reveals that Ash was among the many people whose souls were trapped inside of Verse's body.
	Verse itself seems to not be completely destroyed, as its remains lands in the Australian Ayers Rock.
	Besides that, other evil souls are trapped and released (some of them belonging to bosses from previous games and sagas).

SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy[]

Note: Due to this game's events being treated as a self-contained dream sequence they do not affect the future mainline KOF titles directly, with only a few minor tidbits like Shermie's presence being followed up upon.

Several months prior to the events of the fifteenth torunament, Kukri's obsession for women caused him to create a pocket dimension where women fighters must survive in his universe and join forces and slug it out with other women.

Kukri transports and kidnaps most of SNK female fighters, including few of them who aren't present in the previous tournament (such as Jeanne D'Arc and the recently revived Shermie) to this pocket dimension, and they suddenly fall unconscious. Upon waking, they find themselves in a strange mansion, along some male fighters who have been changed into women.

Kukri's main objective is to transform the female fighters into sand sculptures. For this, he has the help of an evil statue whose energy comes from the battles between the fighters, in addition to the fear and despair of each of them.

The fighters attempt to battle their way out, but are confronted by the mastermind, Kukri, who reveals he has trapped them in his castle in a pocket dimension and they must defeat him to return home. The heroines all defeat Kukri, which causes the pocket dimension to collapse all together, sending the heroines back to reality (indicated as the events being revealed to be a bad dream), while Kukri is left in an unknown status.

The King of Fighters XV[]

Prologue[]

Only the world's toughest fighters can duke it out in the largest martial arts tournament in the world.

Though a mysterious being called Verse destroyed the KOF arena, its threat was quelled thanks to the brave efforts of the winning challengers.

Time has passed since the closing of that tumultuous tournament, and the next KOF begins, backed by a new sponsor.

Meanwhile, Chizuru Kagura senses something interfering with the seal of Orochi, otherwise known as Gaia's Will.

She teams up with Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami to join the KOF and investigate.

Amidst these myriad motives, fighters resurrected after Verse's defeat also join the fray.

Once again, a storm is on the horizon...

Shatter All Exceptations[]

.

Following Antonov's early retirement, the new tournament commissioner Anastasia sends out invitations to fighters to join the tournament; the mayhem caused by Verse's powers resurrects various long-thought deceased fighters from past tournaments as well.

Chizuru Kagura gathers Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami in order to look after the seal of the snake demon Orochi. Shun'ei, a teenager with mysterious powers resembling Verse's, enters the tournament again alongside Meitenkun and Benimaru Nikaido to better understand his powers.

During the tournament, they encounter a rival team led by a girl with similar powers to his own, Isla. Isla is being mentored by a woman named Dolores who wishes for her and Shun'ei to stop the appearance of more creatures like Verse, believing Ash Crimson's timetravelling in a previous tournament to have caused their appearance.

However, a new creature labeled as Re Verse appears as the tournament progresses and targets the fighters, pulling them into another world. Following Re Verse's defeat, the mysterious goddess Otoma=Raga appears and attacks the teams.

Upon Otoma=Raga's defeat, the fighters escape back to their world and are crowned the new King of Fighters champions, whereas Isla finally warms up with Shun'ei at the same time their respective Amps are fully under control, such as Shun'ei can finally take off his headphones safely. As confirmed by Kukri earlier, defeating Otoma=Raga and Re Verse does not erase the revived fighters’ existences once they survive the two entities’ rampages.

Teams (Mainline & DLC)[]

The team formations present in the game are as the follows:

	At the request of his old friend and rival Kyo Kusanagi, Benimaru Nikaido is tasked to watch over the series' new protagonists Shun'ei and Meitenkun. As a result, he leaves the Japan Team after 12 years and replaces the old master Tung Fu Rue, who has retired from the fighting scene. The three form the Fourth Saga's Hero Team, renaming the China Team into a team named after Shun'ei, due to the Benimaru's nationality and thus indirectly representing the team members' East Asian nationalities.
	The Sacred Treasures Team (which was once a special edit-based team in their three previous canonical appearances (four if counting the Dream Match KOF '98/UM)) is now an official and regular team. As a result, Kyo Kusanagi undoes the Japan Team, Chizuru Kagura comes back to the series after a 19-year-long absence, and Iori Yagami disbands his namesake team after 12 years. This is also the second time that the clan rivals, Kyo and Iori, have joined together in an official team, the first time being The King of Fighters XI.
	The Orochi Team (formerly called New Faces Team in their normal versions) make their official canonical return 25 years after their last appearances in a canonical game (and 13 years since their last appearance in a mainline game of the series). The team appears after being revived at the end of KOF XIV (with their resurrections being confirmed with Shermie's presence in SNK Heroines, as their awakened versions).
	After receiving an invitation from Ryo Sakazaki, King leaves the Women Fighters Team after 12 years, and replaces Yuri Sakazaki in the Art of Fighting Team. This is the third time that the French bartender joins with the classic team (the other times being 2000 and XI), and the second time accompanying both Ryo and Robert Garcia (the first being 2000, along with Takuma Sakazaki, Ryo's father and Robert's master, who now has retired from the fighting scene to take care of a steakhouse).
	After leaving the Kim Team due to both her lover Gang-il and his disciple Kim Kaphwan being too busy with training in the mountains, Luong went to join the Secret Agents Team with the freelancer agents Vanessa and Blue Mary. As a result, the veteran agents enters in a canonical team after 17 years (and in a mainline team after 13 years).
	Although first appearing in non-canonical team combinations under other names, a new variant of the Women Fighters Team, known as the Super Heroines Team, makes its debut in this game. As a result, Athena Asamiya leaves the Psycho Soldier Team after 17 years, and joins with Mai Shiranui and Yuri Sakazaki (who leaves the Art of Fighting Team after the expulsion from her brother, Ryo, and being replaced by King for the second time). This is the second game where Athena appears in another team beyond the Psycho Soldier Team, the first being The King of Fighters 2003, where she was the leader of the High School Girls Team.
	A brand-new team formation that makes its first debut in this game, with the sub-boss of the previous game, Antonov, taking command over the original Mexican Wrestling Team, and forming a second Team Wrestling, known as the Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team (better known as the G.A.W. Team). As a result, the Mexico Team is officially undone, and Ángel leaves the team, getting Ramón and King of Dinosaurs to join alongside the ex-billionaire.
	A new formation of the classic Rivals Team is composed by the newcomers Isla and Dolores and the veteran fighter, Ikari Warriors leader/chief and mecernary Heidern. As a result, the Commander enters in a canonical team after 21 years (and in a mainline team after 13 years).
	The K' Team goes back to the classic trio formation after 19 years (and 20 years if counting the first mainline appearance of the team). As a result, Kula Diamond leaves the team after 17 years, being replaced by Whip, who enters in a canonical team after this same period.
	To differentiate themselves from being called the NESTS Team since the downfall of the cartel 21 years ago (and 20 years ago, prior to the game's remake, 13 years ago) and their statuses no longer being active operatives, a new team formation is composed by its leader, the newcomer Krohnen McDougall, accompanied by other ex-NESTS agents, Ángel and Kula Diamond, with the latter leaving the K' Team, due to a recent grudge between her and the leader of her old team. Ángel also leaves and consequently undoes the Mexico Team, being replaced by Antonov.
	The Ash Team is reformed 17 years after its last formation, and occurs after the resurrection of the story arc's protagonist (due to the fact that he erased himself from existence in KOF XIII). The new entry of this team is composed of Ash, the mysterious Kukri and the noblewoman Elisabeth Blanctorche. As a result, Ash and Elisabeth return to the series after 12 years, while Kukri leaves the Official Invitation Team (a team created by Antonov that included the underground fighters Sylvie Paula Paula and Mian) after the previous tournament.
	Both the Fatal Fury and Ikari Warriors Teams remain unchanged from their formations in the previous tournament (with their classic team formations since '94 and '96, respectively).
	The Garou Team is reformed 17 years after its last formation. This new entry of the team is composed of two former members: the pirate and leader of Lilien Knights B. Jenet and the wanderer Gato, now joined by Geese Howard's illegitimate and biological son, Rock Howard, who replaces Tizoc (who became King of Dinosaurs and is part of the G.A.W. Team, alongside Ramón and Antonov). Like the first formation, its happens after Jenet's invitation to both of her team members. Rock leads this entry, and enters in a official team in the mainline series for the first time in the series.
	Much like Blue Mary and Gato before him, Hein left the South Town Team after one tournament (in the butler's case, after the previous tournament and in an alternative formation of Team Outlaw). As a callback to the team's '97 ending (occurred 25 years ago), the bodyguard Billy Kane and the team's leader, his boss and criminal businessman Geese Howard, are joined by another classic member, the criminal and Hakkesshu Ryuji Yamazaki. As a result, Yamazaki enters in a mainline team after 19 years.
	Like its normal formation, the Awakened Orochi Team returns to the series canonically after 25 years (and 13 years after its mainline appearance). But, unlike in their debut game, the trio appear as DLC entries (in a separate slot) and with their Heavenly King costumes (seen in the team's ending in KOF '98UM (and its remake). It is revealed that the Orochi Team splits into two halves after being resurrected in the end of previous tournament, which explains why both variants of the team's slots are separate and can be teamed-up via Team Edit. Despite this, both variants of the team retains their memories and carries their clan's pride and missions, as shown in their pre-battle dialogues.
	A new formation known as Team Samurai appears for the first time in the series, which includes the protagonist of the Samurai Shodown series, the ronin Haohmaru, the Ainu priestess Nakoruru (who appears in the series for the third time) and the African shipbuilder Darli Dagger. This marks the first time that such a team from the classic SNK franchise is included after 27 years of various attempts. It presumably acts as a successor to Nakoruru's previous team in the previous tournament, the Another World Team, due to copyright issues surrounding Sky Love, Love Heart's home series.

Solo Characters (All DLC)[]

The solo characters present in the game are as the follows:

	After 18 years since his last participation (when he was brutally attacked by Iori Yagami under the effects of the Riot of the Blood), Shingo Yabuki returns to the tournament. Like his first canonical entry in the series (KOF '97), he acts as a solo character. He returns to show the results of his years of training.
	For the first time in the KOF series, Kim Kaphwan appears as a solo character. Until then, he would appear always in team entries, most of which are led by the Tae Kwon Do master. This is also the first time in the series that he changes his gi uniform. He goes back to the tournament after to be submitted to a harsh training of his master, Gang-il.
	After the disbanding of the team sponsored by Antonov in the past tournament, the NESTS reject and underground fighter, Sylvie Paula Paula, appears as another solo character. She enters in the tournament after to be rudely dismissed by Kukri.
	The college student and vigilante Najd appears for the second time as a solo character once more. She made her debut in the past game, as the winner of a character design contest promoted between SNK and Manga Productions. She enters in the tournament at the request of his master to discover more about the two entities that roam the place.
	The Hizoku ninja and Ron's son Duo Lon returns to the tournament after 13 years, with Ash's erasing and resurrection. It is shown that he remembers his former teammate, during a meeting in Shanghai, alongside their other teammate, Shen Woo.
	The sumo student Hinako Shijo returns to the tournament 20 years after her latest canonical participation (and 14 years after her latest mainline participation. He acts as a solo character for the first time.
File:TBA	For the first time, Hakkesshu clan members Mature and Vice appears as solo characters, without forming team with Iori Yagami. Their presence in the game makes the first apperance of all members of the clan in a canonical game.
	One of the many souls resurrected by Verse’s defeat in the previous tournament, Rugal Bernstein returns to the series in his Omega form. This marks his return to the mainline series 20 years after his latest appearance (13 if counting the remake), and his first canonical appearance since his death 27 years ago. Unlike the other DLC characters released in the first season of this game (and instead similarly to the Season 2 DLC entries), he enters as a single entry fighter.
	Another one of the many souls resurrected by Verse’s defeat in the previous tournament, Goenitz returns to the series after 27 years since his canonical entry (and 14 years after his mainline participation). Like with Omega Rugal and his fellow Season 2 DLC entrants, he appears as solo character.

Characters[]

Debutant Characters[]

Characters who made their canonical debut in The King of Fighters series, ordered by their first appearance in the series.

KOF XIV[]

Original Characters[]

Shun'ei (Playable in XIV and XV)	Meitenkun (Playable in XIV and XV)	Gang-il (Playable in XIV)	Luong (Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV)
Xanadu (Playable in XIV)	Sylvie Paula Paula (Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV; only DLC in XV)	Kukri (Playable in XIV and XV; Non-playable Boss in SNKH)	Mian (Playable in XIV and SNKH)
Nelson (Playable in XIV)	Zarina (Playable in XIV and SNKH)	Bandeiras Hattori (Playable in XIV)	King of Dinosaurs (Playable in XIV and XV)
Hein (Playable in XIV)	Antonov (Playable in XIV and XV; Sub-Boss in XIV)	Verse (Final Boss; Playable only in XIV)	Najd (Playable in XIV and XV, only as DLC)

Samurai Shodown series[]

Nakoruru (Samurai Shodown I; Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV; only DLC in XV)

Dragon Gal series[]

Mui Mui (Dragon Gal; Playable in XIV and SNKH)

Sky Love series[]

Love Heart (Sky Love; Playable in XIV and SNKH; removed due to copyright issues)

Fatal Fury/MOTW series[]

Alice Garnet Nakata (Garou Densetsu: The Legend of Wild Wolf; Playable in XIV)

Rock Howard (Garou: Mark of the Wolves; Playable in XIV and XV, as DLC)

SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy[]

SNK Original Characters[]

SNK Gals' Fighters[]

Miss X (Playable in SNKH, as DLC, in both genders)

World Heroes series[]

Jeanne D'Arc (World Heroes I; Playable in SNKH, as DLC)

Crossover Guest Characters[]

Square Enix[]

Thief Arthur (Million Arthur series; Playable in SNKH, as a Crossover DLC)

ARIKA[]

Skullomania (Fighting EX Layer series; Playable in SNKH, as a Crossover DLC)

KOF XV[]

Original Characters[]

Isla (Playable in XV)	Dolores (Playable in XV)	Krohnen McDougall (Playable in XV; K9999's new identity and updated version)
Re Verse (Sub-Boss; Unplayable in XV)	Otoma=Raga (Final Boss; Unplayable in XV)

Samurai Shodown series[]

Haohmaru (Samurai Shodown I; Playable in XV, as DLC)

Darli Dagger (Samurai Shodown (2019); Playable in XV, as DLC)

Returning Characters[]

Characters who are returning from previous installments in The King of Fighters series, ordered by their first appearance in the series.

KOF '94[]

Original Characters[]

Kyo Kusanagi (Playable in XIV and XV)	Benimaru Nikaido (Playable in XIV and XV)	Goro Daimon (Playable in XIV)	Heidern (Playable in XIV and XV; only DLC in XIV)
Chin Gentsai (Playable in XIV)	Chang Koehan (Playable in XIV)	Choi Bounge (Playable in XIV)

Fatal Fury series[]

Terry Bogard (Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV)	Andy Bogard (Playable in XIV and XV)	Joe Higashi (Playable in XIV and XV)
Mai Shiranui (Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV)	Kim Kaphwan (Playable in XIV and XV; only DLC in XV)

Art of Fighting series[]

Ryo Sakazaki (Playable in XIV and XV)	Robert Garcia (Playable in XIV and XV)
Yuri Sakazaki (Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV)	King (Playable in XIV and XV)

Ikari Warriors series[]

Ralf Jones (Playable in XIV and XV)

Clark Still (Playable in XIV and XV)

Psycho Soldier[]

Athena Asamiya (Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV)

Sie Kensou (Playable in XIV)

KOF '95[]

Original Characters[]

Iori Yagami (Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV; Appears as Miss X in SNKH)

Omega Rugal (Playable in XV, as DLC Free Boss; also available in Boss Challenge)

Fatal Fury series[]

Billy Kane (Playable in XIV and XV; only DLC in XV)

KOF '96[]

Original Characters[]

Leona Heidern (Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV)	Chizuru Kagura (Playable in XV)	Mature (Playable in XIV and XV; only DLC in XV)
Vice (Playable in XIV)	Goenitz (Playable in XV, as DLC Free Boss; also available in Boss Challenge)

Fatal Fury series[]

Geese Howard (Playable in XIV and XV; only DLC in XV)

KOF '97[]

Original Characters[]

Yashiro Nanakase (Playable in XV)	Shermie (Playable in SNKH and XV)	Chris (Playable in XV)
Orochi Yashiro (Playable in XV, as DLC)	Orochi Shermie (Playable in XV, as DLC)	Orochi Chris (Playable in XV, as DLC)
	Shingo Yabuki (Playable in XV, as DLC)

Fatal Fury series[]

Ryuji Yamazaki (Playable in XIV and XV, as DLC)

Blue Mary (Playable in XIV and XV; only DLC in XIV)

KOF '99[]

Original Characters[]

K' (Playable in XIV and XV)

Maxima (Playable in XIV and XV)

Whip (Playable in XIV and XV; only DLC in XIV)

KOF '99 Evolution[]

Original Character[]

Vanessa (Playable in XIV and XV; only DLC in XIV)

KOF 2000[]

Original Characters[]

Kula Diamond (Playable in XIV, SNKH and XV)

Ramón (Playable in XIV and XV)

Hinako Shijo (Playable in XV, as DLC)

KOF 2001[]

Original Character[]

Ángel (Playable in XIV and XV)

KOF 2003[]

Original Characters[]

Ash Crimson (Playable in XV)

Duo Lon (Playable in XV, as DLC)

Garou: Mark of the Wolves[]

Gato (Playable in XV, as DLC)

KOF XI[]

Original Characters[]

Elisabeth Blanctorche (Playable in XV)

Oswald (Playable in XIV, as DLC)

Fatal Fury/MOTW series[]

B. Jenet (Playable in XV, as DLC)

Tung Fu Rue (Playable in XIV)

NPC Characters[]

Non-playable characters who appear during the saga's lore.

Yakov (Antonov's assistant; seen in XIV and XV)

Clemence Bellamy (KOF Tournament journalist; seen in XIV as reporter and in XV as anchorman and announcer)

Anastasia (KOF XV Tournament host)

Characters & Teams' Participations[]

Teams and/or participations in which the characters who participate in the saga are inserted.

Note 1: As there the system of the game is 2-vs-2 (Tag-Battle System), all participations in SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy are solo.

Note 2: The order of the tables are based on the appearances on the first mainline game of the series.

Note 3: The list below shows what each colour of the table represents:

• Yellow: for table titles, to be announced entries (TBA) and undefined/dual status.
• Green: Appears in the game.
• Red: Does not appear in the game.
• Forest Green: indicates the characters who participated in all games in the story arc/saga.
• Fire Brick Red: indicates the characters who were absent from at least one game in the story arc/saga.

Mainline Games[]

SNK Characters[]

Character	KOF XIV	KOF XV
Shun'ei	China Team (Hero Team, Protagonist Team or Shun'ei Team)	Hero Team or Protagonist Team (Shun'ei Team)
Meitenkun	China Team (Hero Team, Protagonist or Shun'ei Team)	Hero Team or Protagonist Team (Shun'ei Team)
Tung Fu Rue	China Team (Hero Team, Protagonist Team or Shun'ei Team)	Absent
Kyo Kusanagi	Japan Team (Kyo Team)	Sacred Treasures Team (Kyo Team)
Benimaru Nikaido	Japan Team (Kyo Team)	Hero Team or Protagonist Team (Shun'ei Team)
Goro Daimon	Japan Team (Kyo Team)	Absent
Iori Yagami	Yagami Team	Sacred Treasures Team (Kyo Team)
Mature	Yagami Team	Special DLC Character
Vice	Yagami Team	Special DLC Character
Terry Bogard	Fatal Fury Team (Garou Densetsu Team)	Fatal Fury Team (Garou Densetsu Team)
Andy Bogard	Fatal Fury Team (Garou Densetsu Team)	Fatal Fury Team (Garou Densetsu Team)
Joe Higashi	Fatal Fury Team (Garou Densetsu Team)	Fatal Fury Team (Garou Densetsu Team)
Ryo Sakazaki	Art of Fighting Team (Kyokugenryu Team)	Art of Fighting Team (Ryuko no Ken Team)
Robert Garcia	Art of Fighting Team (Kyokugenryu Team)	Art of Fighting Team (Ryuko no Ken Team)
Yuri Sakazaki	Art of Fighting Team (Kyokugenryu Team)	Super Heroines Team (Women Fighters Team or Athena Team)
Kim Kaphwan	Kim Team	DLC Character (Season 2)
Gang-il	Kim Team	Absent
Luong	Kim Team	Secret Agents Team (Agents Team)
Xanadu	Villains Team	Absent
Chang Koehan	Villains Team	Absent
Choi Bounge	Villains Team	Absent
Sylvie Paula Paula	Official Invitation Team	DLC Character (Season 2)
Kukri	Official Invitation Team	Ash Team
Mian	Official Invitation Team	Absent
Nelson	South America Team	Absent
Zarina	South America Team	Absent
Bandeiras Hattori	South America Team	Absent
Ramón	Mexico Team (Wrestling Team)	Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team (G.A.W. Team or Wrestling Team)
Ángel	Mexico Team (Wrestling Team)	Krohnen Team (Former KOF 2002 NESTS Team)
King of Dinosaurs	Mexico Team (Wrestling Team)	Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team (G.A.W. Team or Wrestling Team)
Geese Howard	South Town Team (Geese Team)	South Town Team or Geese Team (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 1)
Billy Kane	South Town Team (Geese Team)	South Town Team or Geese Team (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 1)
Hein	South Town Team (Geese Team)	Absent
Athena Asamiya	Psycho Soldier Team (Athena Team)	Super Heroines Team (Women Fighters Team or Athena Team)
Sie Kensou	Psycho Soldier Team (Athena Team)	Absent
Chin Gentsai	Psycho Soldier Team (Athena Team)	Absent
Leona Heidern	Ikari Warriors Team (Ikari Team)	Ikari Warriors Team (Ikari Team)
Ralf Jones	Ikari Warriors Team (Ikari Team)	Ikari Warriors Team (Ikari Team)
Clark Still	Ikari Warriors Team (Ikari Team)	Ikari Warriors Team (Ikari Team)
Nakoruru	Another World Team	Samurai Team (Samurai Shodown Team) (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 2)
Mui Mui	Another World Team	Absent
Love Heart	Another World Team	Absent due to copyright issues
K'	K' Team	K' Team
Kula Diamond	K' Team	Krohnen Team (Former KOF 2002 NESTS Team)
Maxima	K' Team	K' Team
King	Women Fighters Team	Art of Fighting Team (Ryuko no Ken Team)
Mai Shiranui	Women Fighters Team	Super Heroines Team (Women Fighters Team or Athena Team)
Alice Garnet Nakata	Women Fighters Team	Absent
Whip	DLC Character (Season 1)	K' Team
Ryuji Yamazaki	DLC Character (Season 1)	South Town Team or Geese Team (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 1)
Vanessa	DLC Character (Season 1)	Secret Agents Team (Agents Team)
Rock Howard	DLC Character (Season 1)	Garou Team or Mark of the Wolves Team (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 1)
Oswald	DLC Character (Season 2)	Absent
Heidern	DLC Character (Season 2)	Rivals Team (Isla Team or Deuteragonist Team)
Najd	DLC Character (Season 2)	DLC Character (Season 2)
Blue Mary	DLC Character (Season 2)	Secret Agents Team (Agents Team)
Chizuru Kagura	Absent	Sacred Treasures Team (Kyo Team)
Yashiro Nanakase	Absent	Orochi Team (Former '97 New Faces Team)
Shermie	Absent	Orochi Team (Former '97 New Faces Team)
Chris	Absent	Orochi Team (Former '97 New Faces Team)
Isla	Absent	Rivals Team (Isla Team or Deuteragonist Team)
Dolores	Absent	Rivals Team (Isla Team or Deuteragonist Team)
Krohnen McDougall	Absent	Krohnen Team (Former KOF 2002 NESTS Team)
Ash Crimson	Absent	Ash Team
Elisabeth Blanctorche	Absent	Ash Team
B. Jenet	Absent	Garou Team or Mark of the Wolves Team (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 1)
Gato	Absent	Garou Team or Mark of the Wolves Team (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 1)
Orochi Yashiro	Absent	Awakened Orochi Team (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 2)
Orochi Shermie	Absent	Awakened Orochi Team (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 2)
Orochi Chris	Absent	Awakened Orochi Team (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 2)
Haohmaru	Absent	Samurai Team (Samurai Shodown Team) (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 2)
Darli Dagger	Absent	Samurai Team (Samurai Shodown Team) (DLC Team) (Season 1) (Team Pass 2)
Shingo Yabuki	Absent	DLC Character (Season 2)
Duo Lon	Absent	DLC Character (Season 2)
Hinako Shijo	Absent	DLC Character (Season 2)
Miss X	Absent	Absent
Jeanne D'Arc	Absent	Absent
Omega Rugal	Absent	Free DLC Boss (Season 1)
Goenitz	Absent	Free DLC Boss (Season 2)
Antonov	Sub-Boss	Galaxy Anton Wrestling Team (G.A.W. Team or Wrestling Team)
Verse	Final Boss	Absent
Re Verse	Absent	Sub-Boss
Otoma=Raga	Absent	Final Boss

Crossover Characters[]

Character	KOF XIV	KOF XV
Thief Arthur	Absent	Absent
Skullomania	Absent	Absent

Spin-Off Participations[]

SNK Characters[]

Character	SNK Heroines
Shun'ei	Absent
Meitenkun	Absent
Tung Fu Rue	Absent
Kyo Kusanagi	Absent
Benimaru Nikaido	Absent
Goro Daimon	Absent
Iori Yagami	Absent
Mature	Absent
Vice	Absent
Terry Bogard	Solo Participation (Female Version)
Andy Bogard	Absent
Joe Higashi	Absent
Ryo Sakazaki	Absent
Robert Garcia	Absent
Yuri Sakazaki	Solo Participation
Kim Kaphwan	Absent
Gang-il	Absent
Luong	Solo Participation
Xanadu	Absent
Chang Koehan	Absent
Choi Bounge	Absent
Sylvie Paula Paula	Solo Participation
Kukri	Final Boss
Mian	Solo Participation
Nelson	Absent
Zarina	Solo Participation
Bandeiras Hattori	Absent
Ramón	Absent
Ángel	Absent
King of Dinosaurs	Absent
Geese Howard	Absent
Billy Kane	Absent
Hein	Absent
Athena Asamiya	Solo Participation
Sie Kensou	Absent
Chin Gentsai	Absent
Leona Heidern	Solo Participation
Ralf Jones	Absent
Clark Still	Absent
Nakoruru	Solo Participation
Mui Mui	Solo Participation
Love Heart	Solo Participation
K'	Absent
Kula Diamond	Solo Participation
Maxima	Absent
King	Absent
Mai Shiranui	Solo Participation
Alice Garnet Nakata	Absent
Whip	Absent
Ryuji Yamazaki	Absent
Vanessa	Absent
Rock Howard	Absent
Oswald	Absent
Heidern	Absent
Najd	Absent
Blue Mary	Absent
Chizuru Kagura	Absent
Yashiro Nanakase	Absent
Shermie	Solo Participation
Chris	Absent
Isla	Absent
Dolores	Absent
Krohnen McDougall	Absent
Ash Crimson	Absent
Elisabeth Blanctorche	Absent
B. Jenet	Absent
Gato	Absent
Orochi Yashiro	Absent
Orochi Shermie	Absent
Orochi Chris	Absent
Haohmaru	Absent
Darli Dagger	Absent
Shingo Yabuki	Absent
Duo Lon	Absent
Hinako Shijo	Absent
Miss X	DLC Character (Both Genders)
Jeanne D'Arc	DLC Character
Omega Rugal	Absent
Goenitz	Absent
Antonov	Absent
Verse	Absent
Re Verse	Absent
Otoma=Raga	Absent

Crossover Characters[]

Character	SNK Heroines
Thief Arthur	Crossover Guest DLC Character
Skullomania	Crossover Guest DLC Character

Characters' Number Participations in the Mainline Series[]

Number of participations in each game of the saga. The participations can be by source game of the series, source series or source saga/story arc. This list considers only the characters inserted in the mainline series.

By Source Game of the Series[]

Orochi Saga				NESTS Chronicles				Tales of Ash			New Age Saga
KOF '94	KOF '95	KOF '96	KOF '97	KOF '99	KOF '99 Evolution	KOF 2000	KOF 2001	KOF 2003	KOF XI	KOF XIII	KOF XIV	KOF XV
20	3	6	9	3	1	3	1	3	4	0	21	7

By Source Series[]

Original Characters	Fatal Fury/MOTW series	Art of Fighting series	Ikari Warriors series	Psycho Soldier	Samurai Shodown series	Dragon Gal series	Sky Love series
54	14	4	2	2	3	1	1

By Source Saga/Story Arc[]

Orochi Saga	NESTS Chronicles	Tales of Ash	New Age Saga
38	8	7	28

Characters' Number Participations in the Spin-off Games[]

Number of participations in the spin-off games. The participations can be by source game of the series, source series or source saga/story arc.

By Source Game of the Series/Spin-offs[]

Orochi Saga				NESTS Chronicles				Tales of Ash			New Age Saga	Spin-offs
KOF '94	KOF '95	KOF '96	KOF '97	KOF '99	KOF '99 Evolution	KOF 2000	KOF 2001	KOF 2003	KOF XI	KOF XIII	KOF XIV	SNK Heroines	SNK Gals' Fighters
4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	3	1

By Source Series[]

KOF series	Fatal Fury/MOTW series	Art of Fighting series	Psycho Soldier	Samurai Shodown series	Dragon Gal series	Sky Love series	SNK Gals' Fighters	World Heroes series	Square Enix	Arika
7	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

By Source Saga/Story Arc[]

Orochi Saga	NESTS Chronicles	Tales of Ash	New Age Saga	Other Game series/Spin-Offs
6	1	0	8	4