Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo/O. T. Hawk

Introduction

T. Hawk is a grappler character added in Super Street Fighter II: They New Challengers (SSF2), and returns in Super Street Fighter II Turbo. The differences from CPS-2 Zangief are that his special throw, the typhoon, does not have a whiff animation or a grab window; he was given a special anti-air move that is similar to the shotos' Shoryuken and and air dash attack like E. Honda's headbutt or Blanka's rolling attack. Also, his arsenal of normal moves is different from Zangief's, making both very different characters which are often weak where the other is strong. Say, Zangief has no dash-like special and his sweep is fast but does not reach very far; T. Hawk has a dash-like attack and his sweep is very slow, but with long reach. The most important difference in high-level play, however, is the lack of a whiff animation. While it is harder to do a tight tick into special throw with T. Hawk, they can be made safe with the use of negative-edge.

Old Hawk is the version from SSF2: he has no super nor he can soften throws. On the other hand, he has better normals across the board.

Color Selection

Normal	Alternative

--Born2SPD
To select Old T. Hawk, place the cursor over T.Hawk, press any button, then input "right, right, left, left." Press Jab to use the original color from SSF2 and either Jab + Short or Fierce + Short to use an alternate color.

Move Analysis

Only the differences from the N. version will be commented, for info about them check the N.T.Hawk page. Note that at most standing moves, N.T.Hawk's middle vulnerable body hitbox is a bit bigger, this probably is a consequence of the new standing hitbox that CAPCOM put in N.Hawk, but that does not seen to affect the efficiency of these moves at all.

Normal Moves

Ground Normals

• Close/Far Standing Jab:

Damage	3	File:OTHawk stjab1.png	File:OTHawk stjab2.png	File:OTHawk stjab3.png
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Count		3	4	4

Has the vulnerable part in the back a bit smaller than the N.T.Hawk version.

• Crouching Jab:

Damage	3
Chain Cancel	Yes
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Count		2	1	4	4
Simplified		3		4	4

The hitbox is much fatter and slightly longer which makes it a better anti aerial and allows it to beat some low normals which N.T.Hawk's cr.Jab can not.

• Close Standing Strong:

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Count		3	3	6	5
Simplified		3	9		5

The hitbox in the back is a bit bigger, like some other standing normals, but thats meaningless.

• Far Standing Strong:

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		3	2	7	7
Simplified		5		7	7

The active hitbox is a bit bigger upwards and downwards, the last is the most important; it will not miss crouching Blanka, Guile, Chun Li, Cammy and M.Bison(Dictator).

• Crouching Strong:

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		6	8	7

Does not has the stray hitbox in the recovery animation, which makes this move a lot better.

• Close Standing Fierce:

Damage	12+12
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		4	4	6	6	9
Simplified		8		6	6	9

Exactly the same as the N.T.Hawk version of this move.

• Far Standing Fierce:

Damage	17
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		5	5	8	4	4	5
Simplified		10		8	13

The size of the active hitbox is the same, but its positioned some pixels forward, giving it better priority and range. The vulnerable hitbox is a bit bigger in the back, like some other normals, but it will hardly affect anything.

• Crouching Fierce:

Damage	18+12
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		4	4	6	8	3	7
Simplified		8		6	8	10

The second active hitbox is a lot more bigger than the N.T.Hawk's version, but it has less horizontal range. Probably the only normal that N. version has better.

• Close Standing Short:

Damage	11
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Count		3	4	4

The active hitbox is bigger and the vulnerable hitbox is bigger in the back, changes that don't affect the usage of this move at all.

• Far Standing Short:

Damage	11
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		2	2	5	4
Simplified		4		5	4

The active hitbox is a bit bigger downwards, but its no big deal.

• Crouching Short:

Damage	3
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Count		2	1	4	5
Simplified		3		4	5

Exactly the same as the N.T.Hawk version of this move.

• Close Standing Forward:

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Count		3	8	7

Again, just bigger vulnerable hitbox.

• Far Standing Forward:

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		4	4	4	3	4
Simplified		8		4	7

Smaller middle body vulnerable hitbox and bigger active hitbox to upwards, which makes it a better anti aerial, but thats not the purpose of this move.

• Crouching Forward:

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		3	3	6	5
Simplified		6		6	5

Bigger active hitbox which gives this moves a lot better priority and range. Helps against Guile.

• Close Standing Roundhouse:

Damage	17
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		2	2	2	2	8	5	6
Simplified		8				8	11

Smaller middle body hitbox in some animation frames and fatter active hitbox: it will not miss crouching Blanka and Cammy.

• Far Standing Roundhouse:

Damage	17
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		3	3	5	8	4	6	7
Simplified		11			8	17

O.T.Hawk's version has a bit less range, but it will not miss crouching Blanka, Cammy and M.Bison(Dictator), which do helps in these matches (all hard ones).

• Crouching Roundhouse:

Damage	17/12
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		6	7	6	8	6	7
Simplified		6	7	6	8	13

The only normal which different frame count. It is a lot more faster than N.T.Hawk's version.

Aerial Normals

• Neutral Jumping Jab:

Damage	12
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Count		3	∞

Unchanged in the N. version.

• Diagonal Jumping Jab:

Damage	12
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Count		3	∞

The same.

• Neutral/Diagonal Jumping Strong:

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		5	14	∞

The N. Version of this move was completely nerfed. Fortunately, this was not very used in the first place.

• Neutral Jumping Fierce:

Damage	17
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		2	5	12	5	∞
Simplified		7		12	∞

The hitbox in bigger, which do makes it a bit better, but the vertical priority is the same.

• Diagonal Jumping Fierce:

Damage	17
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		5	2	11	∞
Simplified		5	13		∞

A lot better than the N. version. The first active animation has a godo air to air hotbo while the N.T.Hawks version got completely nerfed. But the most important part is in the second active part: it can crossup and htis very low, which allows you to beat Dhalsim's slide, which most characters can not.

• Neutral Jumping Short:

Damage	12
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		2	3	∞
Simplified		5		∞

The active hitbox is considerably bigger upwards, but this move does not has much use.

• Diagonal Jumping Short:

Damage	12
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		2	2	∞
Simplified		4		∞

Exactly the same.

• Neutral Jumping Forward:

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		2	3	13	3	∞
Simplified		5		13	∞

Liek the Short version, the hitbox is smaller, but that move is not used much in the first place.

• Diagonal Jumping Forward:

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		3	2	16	6	∞
Simplified		5		16	∞

The same.

• Neutral Jumping Roundhouse:

Damage	17
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		2	5	12	4	∞
Simplified		7		12	∞

Bigger hitbox which covers T.Hawk's entire legs that do makes it better, but that normal is not used much.

• Diagonal Jumping Roundhouse:

Damage	17
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		2	4	8	6	∞
Simplified		6		8	∞

The hitbox is considerably bigger: allows T.Hawk's to crossup with it. It also has better priority by 1 or 2 pixels.

--Born2SPD

Command Normals

• Downward Jab: (On ground, ←/→ + Jab)

Damage	3
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Count		3	4	4

Yet again, just smaller vulnerable hitboxes in the back.

• Elbow Drop: (Jump diagonally, ↙/↓/↘ + Strong)

Damage	15
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		5	30	4	∞
Simplified		5	30	∞

The active hitbox is fatter, but its not used much in the first place.

• Body Slam: (Jump diagonally, ↙/↓/↘ + Fierce)

Damage	18
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Count		3	4	∞
Simplified		7		∞

Stays out until Hawk lands. Unlike N.Hawk's version, this one can crossup, leaving opponents in line for some great dizzy/damage combos. One of the main reasons why O.Hawk is better.

--Born2SPD

Special Moves

• Mexican Typhoon: (360 + P)

Damage (Jab)	27
Damage (Strng)	30
Damage (Frc)	32

The same as N.T.Hawk's.

• Tomahawk Buster a.k.a. Rising Hawk: (→↓↘ + P)
• Jab/Strong Version:

Damage	20
Frame Count (Jab)		?	?	?	?
Simplified (Jab)		?	?
Frame Count (Strng)		?	?	?	?
Simplified (Strng)		?	?

• Fierce Version:

Damage	20+9
Frame Count		?	?	?	?
Simplified		?	?	?

• Recovery:

	File:OTHawk tb5.png
Frame Count (Jab)	?	?	?	?	?	?
Simplified (Jab)	?
Frame Count (Strng)	?	?	?	?	?	?
Simplified (Strng)	?
Frame Count (Frc)	?	?	?	?	?	?
Simplified (Frc)	?

Unlike N.T.Hawk's, all versions can pass though projectiles.

• Condor Dive: (In Air, Jab + Strong + Fierce)

Damage	20			File:OTHawk dive3.png
Frame Count		?	?	∞	?	?	?	?
Simplified		?		∞	?

• Bounce:

Frame Count	?	?	?	?	∞	?
Simplified	∞					?

The same as N.T.Hawk's.

--Born2SPD

The Basics

O.Hawk has significantly better normals than N.Hawk. This allows him to use more of his normals in footsies, creating more openings for either punishing with normals or walking in for the Typhoon. After Hawk uses a Typhoon, he can close the gap with a Condor Dive relatively close to the ground. After a knockdown, Hawk usually wants to apply great pressure on the enemy's wake-up with wither a jumping Forward or Fierce aerial cross-up, safe jump then tick into Typhoons or a ground normal as a tick move. Other than O.Hawks ground game, he can use jumping Jab, as it has very good priority; diagonal jumping Fierce, which hits very low, beating moves most characters can't; and Condor Dive, which punishes anti-air sweep attempts and long recovery moves in general, such as a Hadouken.

Advanced Strategy

Option-Select ticks

T. Hawk's main weapon is his Mexican Typhoon throw. Most other tools O.T. Hawk has often find use due to the enemy's (justified) fear of the Mexican Typhoon. Anyway, his strongest strategy is related to the Mexican Typhoon itself, using negative edge so as to avoid whiffed normals.

Say you tick your opponent with any attack, then input a 360 motion and press a punch button for the Typhoon at the exact time he recovers from blockstun. This is a strong strategy, as it forces the enemy to use a reversal attack to avoid the throw. Not any reversal attack, in fact: it must be either a reversal throw, a reversal invulnerable special move or a reversal instantly-airbone move. With the exception of Zangief's Spinning Pile Driver, reversal throws can be dealt with by ticking so as to be outside their throw range. However, if the enemy reversals with an invulnerable move that also attacks, such as a Shoryuken or a Flash Kick, a punch will come out and Hawk will be hit while performing it. If the enemy becomes airbone, he will surely evade the throw and may also evade or even hit Hawk as he punches. Fortunately for T. Hawk, he has a way of not whiffing normals when attempting Typhoons, causing reversal special to whiff or get blocked. As a number of such attacks are unsafe on block, Hawk can throw them afterward and reset the situation.

Negative-edge typhoon

Hawk's most simple option select consists of using a cr.Jab as a tick attack, then quickly pressing the other punch buttons and buffering a 360 motion, ending in defensive crouch. As the enemy recovers from the Jab, release the buttons one-by-one in a quick succession, giving you three chances of obtaining a Typhoon. As you are releasing buttons, no attacks will come out, and eventual reversal attacks will either whiff or get blocked. For instance, Flash Kicks and Shoryukens are unsafe on block, and you can simply do a typhoon or Tomahawk Buster as they recover. Coupling this strategy with safe jumps, it may be very hard or impossible to avoid taking damage for most characters. Even though this is very hard to apply consistently, that's what makes T. Hawk a viable character in high level play.

Walk-up button-release typhoon

Whiff a normal just outside your enemy poke range, and buffer ↑←↓→ (hold) + punches (hold). Continue to hold → and release the punch buttons one by one in a quick succession as you enter the Typhoon range. This allows you to obtain a Typhoon quicker while advancing. Would one try a normal walk-up Typhoon, you could get hit before completing the motion.

Buster-Typhoon option select

Do a negative edge Typhoon, but after reaching down back, move the stick to down towards, and release the buttons. If done right, you will either obtain a Typhoon or a Tomahawk Buster. This is good when dealing with safe-on-block reversal attacks, such as Cammy's Cannon Spike, and moves that may allow the enemy to escape from a corner, such as Ryu's tatsus.

Hit-Confirm cross-up

If T. Hawk scores a knockdown at mid-screen and stays close to his opponent, he has a chance of ending the round right there. In order to do that, he use jumping Forward of Fierce splash to hit the enemy as a cross-up. After that, he can use cr.Jab into st.Jab, which give enough time to check if the combo was blocked or not. If the combo is not blocked, Hawk can cancel the st.Jab into the Tomahawk Buster, for another knockdown and, possibly, a dizzy, leading to another damaging combo. Else, he can use the option-select Typhoon.

Match-ups