El Fuerte (SFIV)

Introduction

Street Fighter's first luchadore's has appeared!

At glance and background at first glance seem to imply a grappler or hybrid type character, like Zangief or E. Honda. However, El Fuerte's low vitality, long range splash attacks, and high mobility make him ideally suited for a primarily long ranged game, with emphasis on spacing/ambiguous mixups rather than footsies/whiff punishment. At closer distances, El's game changes dramatically. Although he doesn't gain a traditional tick/command grab mixup game in close quarters like his wrestler counterparts, his ability to deal damage raises dramatically (and uniquely), when in range for his punch loop.

El Fuerte's winning potential is maximized from an offensive position is primarily an offensive character. His speed, high-stun combo, and dramatic ability to mixup and confuse and opponent are his obvious strengths.

El fuerte's defensive options are comparitively lacking. With no fail-safe invincibile reversal options, maintaining momemtum and controlling the flow of a match are crucial to this success with this character.

Successful Fuerte practictioners will use his high mobility to avoid dangerous situations, and minimize damage taken. They will utilize his ambiguous mixups not only for damage, but also for positioning to lead to deeper okizeme. When in close quarters, they'll apply pressure and bait out counterable and punishable attacks. They will consistently utilize his high damaging RSF hard punch loop to deal major damage and high stun, and efficiently use his mixups to dizzy often.

Move Analysis

Command Normals

Rolling Senton F+MK (Overhead)

El Fuerte performs a rolling front flip to land back first on the opponent.

This move has a variety of applications in El fuerte's game, among them:

-Mixed in with Okizeme tricks, provides a fast overhead which can be linked to stand jabs.

-Closes small gaps to allow Fuerte to begin close-range mixups

-Can be used to corpse hop after certain attacks (Picadillo) - Very Useful

Special Moves

Habanero Dash	QCF P	EX has 2 hits Focus Armor
----Sudden Stop	LP*/**	Has minor recovery time.
----Tostada Press	MP*//**	Can be aimed left/neutral/right
----Fajita Buster	HP	Can be aimed/Grab/whiffs on crouching opponents
----Backstep	LK*	Travels far but significant recovery.
----Gordita Sobat	MK**	Mid-hitting kick that is super-cancellable. Safe on hit/block
----Caramale Sliding	HK**	Knockdown.
Habanero Backdash	QCB P	EX has 2 hits focus armor
----Propeller Tortilla	HP**	Can be aimed/Grab/Grabs crouching opponent
----Picadillo Jump	K**	Backwards jump towards/off wall
Guacamole Leg Throw	DP K	Jumps from the ground, grabs an airborne opponent. EX version has large invincibility.
Quesadilla Bomb	Charge K , Release	Lv 1: 120F (2 sec charge)/Lv 2: 210F Knockdown, travels medium distance/Lv 3: 300F Knockdown, travels far
EX Quesadilla Bomb	Charge KK , Release	390F Knockdown, travels very far

_{* Performed during Habanero Dash or Backdash}

_{** Performed during Habanero Backdash}

Super Move

El Fuerte Flying Dynamite

QCF, QCF + K

Kick determines super. LK version has the most invincibility. El Fuerte attacks his opponent with a series of flips.

Ultra Move

El Fuerte Flying Giga Buster QCF, QCF + KKK

El Fuerte flips through the air and lands on the opponents shoulder, performing an elaborate huricanarana.

This move can be aimed in 3 positions similarly to Tostada Press and other moves:

Hold back - Very close (almost point blank)

Neutral - Middle Range (about sweep range)

Hold forward - Far (about 75% of the screen width).

Note that farther versions grab on later frames because of travel time.

This move is considered a grab, and as such will totally whiff on airborne and throw-invincible opponents.

Combos

cl.LP x n -> s.LK/f.LP

-Basically, as many overhead chops as distance permits, than a standing LK/far swipe.

f+MK, cl.LP x n -> s.LK/f.LP

-Same as above. Note the useful link from overhead.

(c.hit) c.MP / cl.FP xx Quesadilla Bomb xx El Fuerte Flying Dynamite

-note level 1 Q. Bomb does not knockdown. Any level Q. Bomb can be easily cancelled to super.

cl.HK xx HK Guacamole Leg Throw

- Not much of a complicated combo, however note this is the only way to combo a Guacamole.

cl.HK xx Habanero Dash -> Sudden Stop -> LK Guacamole Leg throw

Verifiable version of above combo. Sacrifices damage.

cl.FP xx Habanero Dash -> Caramale Sliding / Gordita Sobat

-Slide is preferred because of knockdown. Sobat is useful to super cancel, but more difficult.

(cl .FP xx Habanero Dash -> Sudden Stop) x n -> cl. FP xx Habanero Dash -> Caramale Sliding

- aka RSF aka Punch Loop, Repeated run/stop cancelled fierce punches. Finish with slide for knockdown. - very difficult.

Matchups

vs Blanka

Blanka can present problems for Fuerte. His natural strengths fair well against typical Fuerte gameplay.

Typical Okizeme Tostada crossups are difficult due to blanka's awkward crouching hitbox. Tostada must be placed directly on top of blanka rather than aiming for his back like most chararacters.

Wake up electricity thwarts almost all okizeme Tostada Presses. It is possible to beat electricity with the Tostada, but exceedingly difficult particularly because blanka's position shifts slightly when electricity is performed. Regular normal attacks will stuff a wake up electricity, but blanka this is generally a poor choice as blanka can backhop, ex electricity, or blanka ball which all defeat the normal move. A good choice is to committ to no attack, bait electricity, punish with Picadillo.

Picadillo consistently grabs Blanka out of electricity, any strength (barring perhaps opening frames of ex version).

Wake-up blanka ball thwarts almost all okizeme splash tricks pretty consistently.

Any blocked horizontal rolling attack (blanka ball) can be punished with well timed qcf+p, slide

A blocked horizontal roll can also be punished with ultra. Ultra MUST be reversal, and blankaball MUST be blocked standing.

At certain ranges, close FP whiffs on crouching Blanka.

Blanka's long-range, high-priority (this means they have good hitboxes) jumping attacks can be difficult to anti-air in a pinch. Fuerte also lacks a great counter to tick throws, which often follow blanka jump in attacks. Be vigilant when in blanka's jump-in range, losing momemtum here can cost Fuerte the match. Remember: don't use not just c.fierce for anti air, as it will can be easily countered once scouted. Use Guacamole Leg throw when suitable. Take advantage of Blanka's high jump arc - jump with him and air throw whenever possible.

Because Blanka has no invincible move that can be pulled off in a pinch, and one of his better invincible moves loses cleanly to Picadillo, Backwards Habanero Dash and then a quick Picadillo to evade a jump-in and grab him as he lands is quite useful.

Rolling Senton corpse hops are useful. Use them to disrupt blanka's back charge, and limit his wake-up options. The goal is to force a panic option which can be easily dealt countered/punished, or to force a block to initiate pressure/mixups.

Matchup Videos

Find a great collection of matchup specific videos from top players at streetfighterdojo.com
Contributor: zaspacer

Frame Data

Street Fighter IV

				frame	frame	frames of	frames of			super meter		cancel
move Name	startup	active	recovery	adv.blk	adv.hit	blockstun	hitstun	damage	stun	gain	block	ability	comments
close LP	4	2	7	+2	+5	10	13	30	50	20	HL	SpS	-
close MP	7	2	11	+1	+4	13	16	70	100	40	HL	SpS	-
close HP	8	2	17	-1	+3	17	21	90	200	60	HL	SpS	-
close LK	5	1	7	+3	+6	10	13	30	50	20	HL	SpS	-
close MK	14	2	5+??	-1	+2	13	16	70	100	40	HL	-	-
close HK	12	2	16	0	-	17	-	80	150	60	HL	SpS	-
far LP	5	2	6	+3	+6	10	13	30	50	20	HL	SpS	-
far MP	7	3	10	+2	+5	13	16	80	100	40	HL	SpS	-
far HP	17	2	11	+5	+9	17	21	120	200	60	HL	Sp	-
far LK	5	1	8	+2	+5	10	13	30	50	20	HL	SpS	-
far MK	11	3	15	-4	-1	13	16	70	100	40	HL	SpS	-
far HK	19	2(6)3	12	-5	-1	17	21	110*100	200	60	HL*H	-	-
crouch LP	5	2	7	+2	+5	10	13	30	50	20	HL	SpS	-
crouch MP	9	2	12	0	+3	13	16	70	100	40	HL	SpS	-
crouch HP	8	4	15	-1	+4	17	22	100	200	60	HL	-	-
crouch LK	5	2	6	+3	+6	10	13	20	50	20	L	SpS	-
crouch MK	6	2	13	-1	+2	13	16	70	100	40	L	SpS	-
crouch HK	17	10	9	-1	-	17	-	80	150	60	L	-	-
jump up LP	5	8	-	-	-	8	11	50	50	20	H	-	-
jump up MP	8	4	-	-	-	11	15	80	100	40	H	-	-
jump up HP	9	6	-	-	-	15	18	100	200	60	H	-	-
jump up LK	5	9	-	-	-	8	11	40	50	20	H	-	-
jump up MK	6	9	-	-	-	11	15	80	100	40	H	-	-
jump up HK	7	10	-	-	-	15	18	100	200	60	H	-	-
jump forward LP	5	8	-	-	-	8	11	50	50	20	H	-	-
jump forward MP	8	4	-	-	-	11	15	80	100	40	H	-	-
jump forward HP	9	6	-	-	-	15	18	100	200	60	H	-	-
jump forward LK	5	9	-	-	-	8	11	40	50	20	H	-	-
jump forward MK	6	9	-	-	-	11	15	80	100	40	H	-	-
jump forward HK	7	10	-	-	-	15	18	100	200	60	H	-	-
triangle jump	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
F+MK	16	2	11	+1	+5	13	17	50	100	40	H	-	-
target combo 1	18	2	5+10	-3	0	13	16	70	100	40	HL	-	-
level1 FA	21	3	34	-21	-21	15	15	60	100	20	HL	-	-
level2 FA	17+12	3	34	-15	-	21	-	80	150	40	HL	-	-
level3 FA	65	3	34	-	-	-	-	140	200	60	-	-	-
F+LP+LK	3	2	20	-	-	-	-	120	120	40	0.9	-	-
B+LP+LK	3	2	20	-	-	-	-	120	120	40	0.9	-	-
LP+LK (air)	3	2	-	-	-	-	-	140	150	40	1.15	-	-
Habanero Dash F	-	-	71	-	-	-	-	-	-	0/0	-	-	-
Habanero Dash F EX	-	-	49	-	-	-	-	-	-	0/0	-	-	-
Habanero Dash B	-	-	???	-	-	-	-	-	-	0/0	-	-	-
Habanero Dash B EX	-	-	???	-	-	-	-	-	-	0/0	-	-	-
Sudden Stop	-	-	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	0/0	-	-	-
Tostada Press ???	6+20	7	34	-16	-	20	-	100	100	20/30	H	-	-
Tostada Press ???	6+20	7	30	-12	-	20	-	100	100	20/30	H	-	-
Tostada Press ???	2+12	???	35	-17	-	20	-	100	100	20/30	H	-	-
Fajita Buster ???	6+23	6	2+34	-	-	-	-	150	150	20/60	1.3	-	-
Fajita Buster ???	2+12	???	36	-	-	-	-	150	150	20/60	1.3	-	-
Back Step	-	-	17	-	-	-	-	-	-	0/0	-	-	-
Gordita Sobat	6+15	2	18	+1	+5	20	24	80	100	20/30	HL	S	-
Caramale Sliding	6+12	6	24	-9	-	20	24	100	200	20/30	L	-	-
Propeller Tortilla	6+22	5	3+16	-	-	-	-	150	150	20/60	1.3	-	-
Picadillo Jump	-	-	40	-	-	-	-	-	-	0/0	-	-	-
Quesadilla Bomb Lv1	17	11	18	-17	-13	20	24	50	100	30/40	HL	S	-
Quesadilla Bomb Lv2	17	11	18	-17	-	20	-	100	150	30/40	HL	S	-
Quesadilla Bomb Lv3	17	11	18	-17	-	20	-	150	200	30/40	HL	S	-
Quesadilla Bomb EX	17	11	18	-17	-	20	-	200	300	0/0	HL	S	-
Guacamole Leg Throw LK	7	6	17+8	-	-	-	-	0*100	100	20/0*60	-	-	-
Guacamole Leg Throw MK	9	6	20+8	-	-	-	-	0*110	100	20/0*60	-	-	-
Guacamole Leg Throw HK	11	9	16+8	-	-	-	-	0*120	100	20/0*60	-	-	-
Guacamole Leg Throw EX	11	9	12+8	-	-	-	-	0*160	200	0/0	-	-	-
Super Combo LK	1+3	4(8)5(14)5(13)4	32	-15	-	20	-	35x4*190	0	0/0	HL	-	-
Super Combo MK	1+4	5(8)5(14)5(13)4	32	-15	-	20	-	35x4*190	0	0/0	HL	-	-
Super Combo HK	1+5	6(8)5(14)5(13)4	32	-15	-	20	-	35x4*190	0	0/0	HL	-	-
Ultra Combo	1+4	12	54	-	-	-	-	345	0	0/0	1.8	-	-
move name	startup	active	recovery	frame	frame	frames of	frames of	damage	stun	super meter	block	cancel	comments
				adv.blk	adv.hit	blockstun	hitstun			gain		ability