JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R/Ermes Costello

Overview

Strategy

Combos

Matchups

Resources

Introduction

A major ally in Stone Ocean, the sixth part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Ermes Costello is a powerful rushdown character with short range in exchange for high damage. Ermes has access to a unique mechanic in her Kiss Stickers: she applies these to herself in order to add a second hit to either her punches or kicks, changing how much damage she does and the properties of certain moves. While she does not excel with mixups, she makes up for it with explosive damage and oppressive pressure with safe enders to her blockstrings. On defense, Ermes has access to an invincible reversal in Stand Off and a counter with HHA, giving her some options to try to turn the tables back on the opponent.

• Kiss Stickers: Ermes can apply Stickers to herself in order to add a second hit to either her punches, kicks, or both.
• Feint Cancels: Ermes has access to a feint attack, allowing her to cancel the recovery of her moves for either offensive or defensive purposes.

Playstyle

Ermes Costello is a Stand character who utilizes her Stickers and Feint Cancels to keep up pressure or increase the damage and length of her combos.
Pros	Cons
Kiss Stickers: Ermes' kit gets significantly better while she has both Stickers applied, making it easier for her to keep momentum and pressure up. High Damage: Ermes' combos can lead to large amounts of damage, leading to rounds where Ermes doesn't need to interact with the opponent many times before winning. Strong, Safe Pressure: Ermes can make her Stand Off Heavy normals safe on block with feint cancels via "It's quite useful..." (Heavy), allowing her to use them with lower risk than other characters. She also has easy access to stagger pressure with it, as she can either stagger with Light normals into a feint cancel or cancel into the actual attack instead. High Health: Ermes has the highest health in the game, allowing her to live through more combos than other characters. This, combined with her possession of the rare Resolve Mode, allows her to turn the tide of the match when she starts to get low on health.	Loose Stickers: Ermes' Stickers can be hard to maintain as they will fall off of her as soon as she is knocked down, taking away a lot of her momentum and forcing her to shift her gameplan. Self-Damage: While it is not a significant amount of health lost, Ermes damages herself whenever she is knocked down and loses a Sticker or uses her HHA. Inconsistent Combos: Due to Ermes moving a lot with her attacks, the wall will often mess up the combo she is performing and force the opponent out of the way of her attack. Zoning Troubles: Ermes does not have any long-ranged moves, making it hard for her to fight against characters who have a tool that allows them to zone efficiently.

Kiss Stickers

Ermes can use "Here's where ya stick it!" in order to apply Kiss Stickers to herself, represented by the Sticker Icons above her HH Gauge (which can also be seen on her character model). These add a second hit to either her punches or kicks, depending on the Sticker applied; this second hit manifests as a spectral copy of the respective limb. She can apply both Stickers at the same time, whether they are both applied with the H version of the special move or done individually. The Stickers will fall off when Ermes is knocked down, leaving some White Damage.

Stats

Style	Health	Low Health Mode	Hashtag(s)
Stand	1050	Resolve	#ASBR_HER

Move List

Stand Off

• Data in [] is for Kiss Stickers.

Normal Moves

5L

5L	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 10 [14 (7*2)] Mid 4 - - -2 [0] +2 [+4] Ermes performs a backhanded attack. A standard jab, good for stopping dash-jumps.

5M

5M	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 18 [24 (12*2)] Mid 6 - - -6 [-4] -2 [0] Ermes performs a right hook. Moves Ermes forward. Otherwise fairly stubby.

5H

5H	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 31 [36 (18*2)] Mid 10 - - -10 [-8] -4 [-2] Ermes summons Kiss, who performs a left hook. Good range for a poke.

2L

2L	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 9 [12 (6*2)] Low 6 - - -2 [0] +2 [+4] Ermes performs a stationary crouching kick. Good range for a poke.

2M

2M	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 15 [22 (11*2)] Low 6 - - -8 [-6] -4 [-2] Ermes performs a sliding kick. Good range for a poke.

2H

2H	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 30 (5*2, 10*2) [32 (2.5*4, 5.5*4)] Low, Mid 12(15)1 - - -24 [-22] HKD Ermes and Kiss slide forward and perform a sweeping kick followed by a kick upwards. Launches on hit and causes hard knockdown. Unlike other sweeps, this can be combo'd out of.

3H

3H Outta my way!	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 25 [48 (24*2)] Mid 6 - - -36 [-34] Launch Ermes performs a punt kick. Launches the opponent upwards. Can be combo'd after if cancelled into 214H.

JL

j.L	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 13 [16 (8*2)] Overhead 8 - - - - Ermes performs an attack with the tip of her knee. Stubby aerial, but can cross up. Good for air-to-airs.

JM

j.M	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 21 [26 (13*2)] Overhead 10 - - - - Ermes performs a kick outwards. Good for air-to-airs. Good combo filler with Kiss Stickers applied.

JH

j.H	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 33 [38 (19*2)] Overhead 14 - - - - Ermes summons Kiss, who performs a kick downwards. Good button for jump-ins.

Special Moves

236X

USHAAAA! 236L/M/H

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light 45 (30, 15) [59 (20, 15, 12*2)] Mid 14 - - -22 [-20] -16 [-14] Medium 66 (18, 10, 8, 30) [85 (9.5*4, 6*2, 15, 20)] Mid 16 - - -24 [-22] -18 [-16] Heavy 95 (16.5*2, 10*2, 12, 30) [119 (10*4, 7*4, 8*2, 15, 20)] Mid 21 - - -48 [-46] KD Ermes summons Kiss, who punches the opponent. Different variations change the amount of attacks performed by Kiss. Ermes' own initial arm swing has hitboxes. L Version: Kiss punches upwards once. Mainly used for combo filler, although it cannot be combo'd out of without a Flash Cancel. M Version: After the initial punches, Kiss performs more punches. H Version: Kiss punches more and then finishes with an uppercut. Launches the opponent away.

623X

Uryaaaaa! 623L/M/H Shun'ei's Rising Efreet, refined Shun'ei's Rising Efreet, refined

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light 60 [70 (35*2)] Mid 16 - - -22 [-20] KD Medium 70 [90 (45*2)] Mid 22 - - -28 [-26] KD Heavy 80 [110 (55*2)] Mid 26 - - -36 [-34] KD Ermes summons Kiss and orders it to perform an uppercut. Different variations change the distance covered by Ermes. Launches on hit. The uppercut itself reaches very high, but has very narrow horizontal range. L Version: Ermes stays in place. Launches the least high on hit. Good for anti-airs. M Version: Ermes slides forward slightly. Launches higher on hit. Has invul on startup. Cannot be Flash Canceled. H Version: Ermes slides forward. Launches the highest on hit. Has invul on startup. Cannot be Flash Canceled.

214X

It's quite useful... 214L/M/H Start Start End End Feint Feint

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light 30 (20, 10) Mid 20(11)1 - - 0 KD Medium 35 (25, 10) Mid 24(11)1 - - -2 KD Heavy - - - - Total XX - - Ermes takes out a broom, moving towards a second broom created by a Kiss Sticker before they combine and destroy each other. Different variations change the distance Ermes moves forward. Unaffected by Kiss Stickers. L Version: Travels the shortest distance. Launches the opponent away on hit. M Version: Travels further than the L version. Launches the opponent further away on hit. H Version: Ermes takes out the broom, but immediately puts it away. Ermes' feint attack, useful for both offensive and defensive purposes. Can cancel into any option (including jump) on Frame 21.

421X

Peel it off and it merges back into one! 421L/M/H

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light 95 (65, 30) Mid 14 - - -20 HKD Medium 110 (80, 30) Mid 16 - - -28 HKD Heavy 125 (95, 30) Mid 20 - - -38 HKD Ermes summons Kiss, who uppercuts the opponent, applying a Kiss Sticker before Ermes removes it. Different variations change the distance Kiss moves forward. This is a hitgrab. Causes hard knockdown. Unaffected by Kiss Stickers. Performing Dodge > Stand On > 2M auto-times a meaty attack.

22X

Here's where ya stick it! 22L/M/H Arms Arms Legs Legs

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light - - - - Total 52 - - Medium - - - - Total 52 - - Heavy - - - - Total 82 - - Ermes applies Kiss Stickers to herself. All versions can be special-cancelled after the Sticker is applied. L Version: Applies Kiss Stickers to her arms. Can special cancel on Frame 31. M Version: Applies Kiss Stickers to her legs. Can special cancel on Frame 31. H Version: Applies Kiss Stickers to both her arms and legs. Can special cancel on Frame 51.

Stand On

• Data in [] is for Kiss Stickers.

Normal Moves

Stand 5L

5L	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 10 [14 (7*2)] Mid 4 - - -2 [0] +2 [+4] Kiss performs a backhand attack. A standard jab, good for stopping dash-jumps.

Stand 5M

5M	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 14 [24 (12*2)] Mid 6 - - -2 [0] +2 [+4] Kiss performs a cross punch. Good range for a poke.

Stand 5H

5H	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 27 (12, 15) [38 (8*2, 11*2)] Mid 12(9)1 - - -8 [-6] -2 [0] Kiss performs a hook before following up with a spinning backfist. Good range for a poke. Harder to use in juggle combos.

Stand 2L

2L	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 9 [12 (6*2)] Low 6 - - -6 [-4] -2 [0] Kiss performs a stationary crouching kick. Good range for a poke.

Stand 2M

2M	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 13 [22 (11*2)] Low 8 - - -2 [0] +4 [+6] Kiss performs a crouching kick while laying down. Very good range. One of Ermes' best buttons for pressure. Can be made plus if timed to be meaty.

Stand 2H

2H	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 31 (5.5*2, 10*2) [34 (3*4, 5.5*4)] Low, Mid 16(15)1 - - -26 [-24] HKD Ermes and Kiss slide forward and perform a sweeping kick followed by a kick upwards. Launches on hit and causes hard knockdown. Does not launch as far as the Stand Off variant, but is otherwise identical. Does not lead to combos without Leg Stickers.

Stand JL

j.L	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 14 [18 (9*2)] Overhead 8 - - - - Kiss performs an attack with the tip of its knee. Stubby aerial, though good for air-to-airs.

Stand JM

j.M	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 22 [28 (14*2)] Overhead 10 - - - - Kiss performs a kick at a steep angle downwards. Good for jump-ins.

Stand JH

j.H	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 34 [40 (20*2)] Overhead 14 - - - - Kiss performs an aerial kick upwards. Good for combo filler.

Special Moves

Stand 236X

Uryaaaaaaaaaaa! 236L/M/H

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light 32 (8*4) [40 (5*8)] Mid 14 - - -12 [-10] -6 [-4] Medium 58 (8*6, 10) Mid 20 - - - KD Heavy 93 (8*6, 10, 35) Mid 24 - - - KD Kiss performs a barrage of punches. Different variations change the amount of attacks performed by Kiss. Stand Rush-compatible. Currently bugged for the M/H versions to play the entire sequence on block, meaning those versions are incredibly unsafe as a result. L Version: Kiss performs a barrage of punches. Does not gain extra damage from Leg Stickers. M Version: On hit, Kiss adds more punches and a few kicks, the last of which is aimed upwards. Launches the opponent straight up on the final hit(s). Affected by Kiss Stickers. With Arm Stickers: 61 (5*7, 8*2, 10) With Leg Stickers: 68 (8*4, 5*4, 8*2) With both Stickers: 71 (5*11, 8*2) H Version: On hit (and continuing from the M version), Kiss adds a final spinning backfist. Launches the opponent straight up on the second-last hit(s), and launches them away on the final hit(s) while also causing hard knockdown. Affected by Kiss Stickers. With Arm Stickers: 137 (5*7, 8*2, 10, 38*2) With Leg Stickers: 103 (8*4, 5*4, 8*2, 35) With both Stickers: 147 (5*11, 8*2, 38*2) Chaining into a Stand Rush from this version will prevent the final hit from coming out. The final hit is NOT Stand Rush-compatible and CANNOT be Flash Canceled.

Stand 623X

On his face! Just above the middle! 623L/M/H

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light 50 (25*2) [80 (15*2, 25*2)] Overhead 26 - - -6 [-4] Crumple Medium 60 (30*2) [90 (15*2, 30*2)] Overhead 30 - - -8 [-6] Crumple Heavy 70 (35*2) [100 (15*2, 35*2)] Overhead 38 - - -10 [-8] Crumple Ermes and Kiss perform an overhead kick in unison. Different variations change the distance both Ermes and Kiss move forward. Causes crumple on hit. L version: Moves forward slightly. M version: Moves forward more. H version: Moves forward the most.

Stand 214X

It's quite useful... 214L/M/H

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light 75 (30, 35, 10) Mid 14(9)1(1)1 - - -4 KD Medium 95 (35, 50, 10) Mid 16(9)1(1)1 - - -6 KD Heavy 115 (40, 65, 10) Mid 20(9)1(1)1 - - -10 KD Ermes takes out a broom and, alongside Kiss, moves towards a second broom created by a Kiss Sticker before they combine and destroy each other. Different variations change the distance both Ermes and Kiss move forward. Launches on hit. Unaffected by Kiss Stickers. L Version: Travels the shortest distance. M Version: Travels further than the L version. H Version: Travels the furthest. Not a feint attack, unlike the Stand Off variant.

Stand 421X

Peel it off and it merges back into one! 421L/M/H

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light 95 (65, 30) Mid 14 - - -20 HKD Medium 110 (80, 30) Mid 16 - - -28 HKD Heavy 125 (95, 30) Mid 20 - - -38 HKD Kiss uppercuts the opponent, applying a Kiss Sticker that Ermes removes. Mostly identical to the Stand Off version, but covers a longer range. Different variations change the distance Kiss moves forward. This is a hitgrab. Causes hard knockdown. Unaffected by Kiss Stickers. Performing Dodge > whiff s.5L > s.2M auto-times a meaty attack.

Stand 22X

Here's where ya stick it! 22L/M/H Arms Arms Legs Legs

Version Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. Light - - - - Total 52 - - Medium - - - - Total 52 - - Heavy - - - - Total 82 - - Ermes applies Kiss Stickers to herself. Completely identical to the Stand Off version. All versions can be special-cancelled after the Sticker is applied. L Version: Applies Kiss Stickers to her arms. Can special cancel on Frame 31. M Version: Applies Kiss Stickers to her legs. Can special cancel on Frame 31. H Version: Applies Kiss Stickers to both her arms and legs. Can special cancel on Frame 51.

System Mechanics

Throw

Throw Asshole! 5/4 + Any Two Attack Buttons	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 130 Throw 6 - - - - Ermes takes a Kiss Sticker off of a broom, squishing the opponent between the two versions and destroying them. Unaffected by Kiss Stickers. Forward Throw leaves the opponent far away, allowing Ermes to use (s.)22H to apply both Kiss Stickers to herself. Back Throw leaves the opponent closer to Ermes.

Assist

Assist It's quite useful...	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 75 (30, 35, 10) Mid - - - - - Ermes takes out a broom and, alongside Kiss, moves towards a second broom created by a Kiss Sticker before they combine and destroy each other. Assault Assist Stocks: 3 Reversal Assist Stocks: 1 Based on s.214L Launches on hit.

Stand On

Stand On/Off 5S Stand On Stand On Stand Off Stand Off	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. - - - - - - - (Un)Summons Kiss, altering Ermes' moveset and abilities.

Heart Heat Attack

I know what you're after! 236 + Any Two Attack Buttons

Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 200 (40, 10*10, 60) - - - - - - Ermes puts a Kiss Sticker on her head, entering a counter stance. Upon activation, Ermes kicks the opponent before Kiss barrages them with attacks. Ermes takes White Damage regardless of success or failure. On a successful activation, Ermes is forced into Stand On. On failure, Ermes is forced into Stand Off instead. Affected by Kiss Stickers. With Arm Stickers: 250 (40, 15*10, 60) With Leg Stickers: 220 (60, 15*10, 60) With both Stickers: 310 (40, 45, 15*9, 10, 80)

Great Heat Attack

Eat this! And this! And this! 236L+M+H The kiss of love and revenge! The kiss of love and revenge!	Damage Guard Startup Active Recovery Block Adv. Hit Adv. 336 (60+12*8+16+12*4+18*5+26) Mid - - - - - Ermes places a Kiss Sticker on the opponent's head. Kiss will then follow up with a barrage of attacks alongside Ermes before she removes the Sticker. Unaffected by Kiss Stickers.

Costumes

Normal

Normal (Color 1)

Normal (Color 2)

Normal (Color 3)

Normal (Color 4)

Special

Special A (Color 1)

Special A (Color 2)

Stand

Kiss (Color 1)

Kiss (Color 2)