The Tactical Order System is a new addition to the King of Fighters series. After selecting your four characters, you will have to choose your order and the tactical order of your characters. You can position your four characters as either strikers or fighters. As a fighter, they will fight the battle itself, like regular King of Fighters battles.

As a striker, they will come in when called upon and assist your fighting character in battle. You must have a minimum of one fighting character and a maximum of four fighting characters. You can have a minimum of one strikers to a maximum of three strikers.
However, there are different advantages and disadvantages with some of the Tactical Orders .

Advanced Order:

Four Fighters/No Strikers
Guard Level: 1
Gauge Size: 4
Stock Number: 1
+ You have the most fighting characters
- You are without any strikers
- You are unable to do SDMs

KOF99 Order:

Three Fighters/One Striker
Guard Level: 2
Gauge Size: 3
Stock Number: 2
+ You have a decent amount of fighters
+ You are can perform SDMs
- You are have one striker

Balanced Order:

Two Fighters/Two Strikers
Guard Level: 3
Gauge Size: 2
Stock Number: 3
+ You have equal characters and strikers
+ You can perform SDMs

New Age Order:

One Fighter/Three Strikers
Guard Level: 4
Gauge Size: 1
Stock Number: 4
+ You have the most strikers
+ You can perform SDMs
- Once you lose a round, the battle is lost


Guard Level being the rank of how much damage you take in battle. A higher Guard Level means taking in less damage.

Gauge Size means the size of your gauge. A higher Gauge Size means longer for the gauge to fill up.