Exploder, called Drop Kick (ドロップキック Doroppu Kikku?) in Japan, is an attack used by the Kings since the first game. Since Tekken 2, Roger and Alex can also use the move, while Ogre and True Ogre can use this move only in Tekken 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament. Since Tekken 5, Roger Jr. can also use the move.
In the PlayStation version of Tekken, Armor King received an updated animation with different properties, differentiating the move from King's. Ogre and True Ogre have the same variation as Armor King.
From Tekken 2 onwards, King, Armor King, Roger and Alex can also perform a delayed version by inputting 3+4, where the user will automatically dash forward before jumping into the kick. Armor King can only perform the delayed version in Tekken 2 however, since in Tekken Tag Tournament he received the Neck Cutter Kick in place of the delayed Exploder. From Tekken 4 onwards, King's delayed Exploder input became f+3+4 as he too would receive the Neck Cutter Kick.
Roger, Alex and Roger Jr. also have an alternate version with a b+3+4 input known as the Animal Drop Kick, which can chain to Animal Kick Rush or a quick reverse roll.
As of Tekken 5, King will automatically tech roll if the move connects, only ending on the ground if it whiffs. Roger Jr.'s Exploder also has a unique animation, but like King, will only land on the ground if the move whiffs.
Bugs[]
In Tekken, if the move is blocked, a guaranteed unblockable rising kick (either high or low) can be performed immediately after due to the block stun effect and the fact the user can attack immediately upon landing on the ground, much like the Kneel Kick used by Nina Williams. This bug cannot be performed with Armor King in the PlayStation version, as Armor King received a new animation with different properties and a slower recovery (in the arcade version, Armor King has King's Exploder). This bug was fixed in Tekken 2 by making the user remain on the ground for longer.
In Tekken 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament, the Armor King/Ogre variation almost always whiffs as the kick is off-center towards the opponent's right hand side, making it only usable against large characters such as True Ogre. Despite being a mid hit, it can also be ducked by most opponents except for the aforementioned large characters.