All-Star Battle ★ Joseph Joestar
Joseph Joestar was one of the first confirmed characters to be in the game (along with Jotaro, Wamuu and Gyro).
As a "Ripple"-user character (along with Jonathan, Will, Caesar, Lisa Lisa, and his Part 3 self), Joseph can recharge his Heart Heat Gauge through "Ripple Breath" by holding down the Style button, performing a famous JoJo pose, as well as deliver enhanced versions of skills if Style is inputted in place of normal attack buttons. Joseph has 1000 HP.
Costumes
Joseph Joestar Normal
(Volume 11)
Joseph Costume A
(Volume 7)
Joseph Costume B
(Chapter 57 Cover A)
Joseph Costume C
(Volume 6)
Joseph Costume D
(Chapter 58 Cover)
Joseph Costume E
(Volume 9)
Command List
During a fight, Joseph can use several different attacks that were featured in Battle Tendency.
Every level he gains will passively increase the damage of all Ripple-based and Ripple-enhanced skills. Levels gained are permanent; They will remain for the rest of the match, and will not reset in-between rounds. The damage multipliers are as follows:
- Level 1: Ripple-based damage is increased by 1.1×.
- Level 2: Ripple-based damage is increased by 1.4×.
- Level MAX: Ripple-based damage is increased by 1.7×.
ON GROUND
(hold to charge)
x2 ON GROUND (hold to extend duration) ON GROUND CHARGEABLE 
+ ON GROUND 
+ 
ON GROUND 
+ 
/
// ON GROUND If Ripple-enhanced, Joseph instead uses a tequila bottle, launching the cork. This knocks the opponent higher into the air and into a hard knockdown. Once they hit the ground, a coconut will then fall out of nowhere from above onto the opponent as a middle attack. The coconut will fall earlier and strike the opponent in mid-air if this skill is Flash-Cancelled. (Ripple-enhanced Comboable through Flash Cancel)
+ /// (hold button to return Clackers) ON GROUND If Ripple-enhanced, Joseph will throw two at high speeds that travel very far, both of which can also be made to return. (Comboable)
+ /// ON GROUND If Ripple-enhanced, the attack inflicts more damage and hitstun. This skill has three different possible follow-up skills. (Flash Cancel comboable)
/// ON GROUND If Ripple-enhanced, the attack deals more damage and sends the opponent flying.
+ /// ON GROUND If Ripple-enhanced, the attack deals more damage and knocks the opponent off their feet and into a ground-bounce.
+ /// ON GROUND If Ripple-enhanced, the attack deals more damage.
x2 + /// ON GROUND WHEN DOWNED CHARGEABLE If Ripple-enhanced, the attack deals more damage.
+ ON GROUND + 
ON GROUND The line Joseph predicts will usually be taken from one of his opponent's taunts (even going so far as to imitate DIO's "WRYYYYY!", Funny Valentine's "DOJYAAA~N!", Iggy's loud gum chewing sounds, etc), with the opponent replying with the same "taunting eyes" pop-up also used by Josuke Higashikata's "Watch your mouth!", followed by the opponent gasping with the "taunted" pop-up.
Notably, in a mirror match against himself, Joseph's prediction against the other uses the quote "I'm going to wipe that smirk off your face!". The same line that Esidisi predicted Joseph himself to say in canon, though is one of Joseph's default taunt lines regardless.
+ / ON GROUND - Forward: Joseph holds the opponent in a reverse headlock, and reverse-kicks them in the face three times before spinning around and kicking them once more to send them off.
- Backward: Joseph swings around to the opponent's other side to catch them in a side headlock, and proceeds to give them a rough noogie before throwing them to the ground.
+ 2 ATK Buttons ON GROUND + // ON GROUND This attack deals more damage depending on Joseph's current Trick level, and can correct Joseph's orientation should the opponent have Sidestepped the initial bullet volley for a surprise attack.
+ 3 ATK Buttons, or 
ON GROUND WHEN DOWNED This GHA deals more damage depending on Joseph's current Trick level.
This attack is a reference to his brief yet unsuccessful attack on Wamuu, showing the complete assault.
Gameplay Overview
True to his status as a cunning tactician, Joseph is an incredibly well-rounded character possessing a massive arsenal of different abilities and tools that serve him in any situation. He has everything he needs to successfully fill any playstyle the player sees fit to use, making him extremely versatile. With multiple anti-air attacks, reversals, counters, projectiles, and melee attacks, as well as a special command guard, Joseph's set of skills is nothing short of excellent; most of anything he does can also lead into strong conversions. More intelligent players can seek to increase Joseph's damage output via the Trick System, where successful counters permanently enhance his Ripple-based damage and thus improving the potency of his combos.
Joseph's weaknesses are few but notable. Most of his specials are fairly linear and thus easily Dodged or jumped over, making his attacks easy to exploit if thrown out haphazardly. As unsuccessful counters leave him highly vulnerable to punishment, his Trick Level can be difficult to raise against unpredictable or cautious opponents. Lastly, his combos are high-execution; Even for a Ripple Style character, Joseph's damage output is only average at a base level due to the presence of his Trick mechanic. Those who do not wish to rely on his counters must develop more advanced combos to unleash effective damage.
As a whole, Joseph is a highly complex fighter offering amateur players a wide set of abilities to work with while allowing experienced players full expression of damage, playstyles, and combo routes. Able to constantly outmaneuver and pulverize his foes, he is widely considered one of the best characters in the game.
Trivia
- In the English localization, if Joseph defeats Lisa Lisa, his victory screen quote has him say, "Why did it have to come to this?! You are tearing me APART, Lisa Lisa!".[1] This quote is a joke-translation and a reference to the 2003 American drama film The Room, in which Tommy Wiseau's character, Johnny, shouts "You are tearing me APART, Lisa!"[2]
References
