Street Fighter Alpha 3/Balrog/Introduction

From SuperCombo Wiki

Introduction

Balrog is first introduced here as a former heavyweight boxing champion now affiliated as an "executive" enforcer for Shadaloo, having worked up the ranks. He is sent to investigate Gen after the latter had a confrontation with Shadaloo's dealers, and to also apprehend Birdie for his treachery.

Pros Cons
  • Oppressive neutral. Other characters have difficulty playing footsies due to him controlling a lot of horizontal space
  • Dash specials start up fast
  • Very high priority on his most of his buttons
  • s. FP is a great poke in some match-ups
  • Low jump arc
  • Amazing air normals with deceptively large hitboxes and good priority
  • Big meterless damage off crouch cancel juggles
  • One of the best alpha counters
  • Level 3 punch super can punish a ton of stuff on block and is also safe on block. Easily one of the best supers in the game
  • Has a V-ISM infinite on P1 side if he catches you with an air counter hit
  • Headbutt is reversal-only
  • Many of his punch and kick normals are identical, limiting his options
  • s. fierce can be ducked by many characters
  • Dash straight can be ducked by many characters
  • Struggles hard in match-ups where both s. FP and dash straight are no longer viable against crouchers
  • Lacks any real V-ISM juggles on the ground
  • Rush punches become fodder for reaction activates at high level, making many of his main tools risky to use
  • TAP is incredibly slow and unsafe on block from many ranges even though the damage is good. Has awful i-frames and can't even make it through a fireball.