Super Street Fighter IV/Rufus

Rufus

Despite his appearances, Rufus's speed and mastery of his self-taught martial arts have managed to help Rufus make a name for himself in the Street Fighting circuit. Though he has yet to truly prove himself, Rufus has declared himself America's best warrior. However, he knows the only way to truly prove this is a match with Ken Masters, the true champion of America's Street Fighting circuit. But, as he is willing to tell anyone (in many, many, many, many words), there is no way he will lose that fight.

In a nutshell

The epitome of the Dive Kick character, Rufus's strength lies almost entirely in his Dive Kick game. Also aiding in Rufus's strategy is his myriad of ways to combo his Ultra I for big damage and big comebacks. Rufus is perhaps one of the easiest characters to pick up in the game, but it turns out at the highest levels RUfus may be one of the trickiest characters to use. Defeating opponents is not simple with his weak set of Normal Moves, but if you can get into your opponent's head properly with his Dive Kick mix-up game and extremely powerful EX Messiah Kick, you can go very far with Rufus.

Moves

Unique Attacks

Name

Command

Notes

Vulture Kick

+

Glory Kick

+

Fragrance Palm

+

Falcon Kick

(in air) +

Target Combo

(near opponent)

Throws

Name

Command

Notes

Head Bazooka

or + +

Hand Machinegun

+ +

Special Moves

Name

Command

Notes

Messiah Kick

+

   High Attack

Perform after Messiah Kick;

   Low Attack

Perform after Messiah Kick;

   Mid Attack

Perform after Messiah Kick;

Galactic Tornado

+

Only for and versions, or controls distance;

Snake Strike

+

Super Combo

Name

Command

Notes

Spectacle Romance

+

Ultra Combos

Name

Command

Notes

Space Opera Symphony

+

Big Bang Typhoon

+

Frame Data

		Move Values				Frame Count			Frame Advantage
Move Name	Block (HL)	Damage	Stun	Super Meter Gain	Cancel Ability	Startup	Active	Recovery	On Guard	On Hit	Block Stun	Hit Stun	Notes
Standing Close Attacks
	HL	30	50	20	ch/sp/su	4	2	7	+2	+5	-	-
	HL	80	100	40	sp/su	5	2	10	+2	+5	-	-
	HL	100	200	60	sp/su	6	2	23	-7	-2	-	-	Forces stand
	HL	30	50	20	-	4	2	6	+3	+6	-	-
	HL	30*50	50*50	40*20	sp/su	7	2(4)3	11	0	+3	-	-	1st hit cancellable
	HL	110	200	60	su	8	2	21	-5	0	-	-	Forces stand
Standing Far Attacks
	HL	20	50	20	ch/sp/su	5	2	5	+4	+7	-	-
	HL	90	100	40	-	7	2	12	0	+3	-	-
	HL	120	200	60	-	9	3	16	-1	+3	-	-
	HL	40	50	20	-	6	2	7	+2	+5	-	-
	HL	70	100	40	-	10	1	17	-4	-1	-	-
	HL	90	150	60	-	17	2	14	+2	-	-	-
Crouching Attacks
	HL	30	50	20	ch/sp/su	4	2	8	+1	+4	-	-
	HL	80	100	40	sp/su	7	3	10	+1	+4	-	-
	HL	100	200	60	-	14	2	30	-14	-10	-	-
	L	20	50	20	ch/sp/su	4	2	9	0	+3	-	-
	L	70	100	40	sp/su	6	1	16	-3	0	-	-
	L	110	200	60	-	12	2	22	-6	-	-	-	cannot fast recover
Straight Up Jump Attacks
	H	50	50	20	-	5	7	-	-	-	-	-
	H	80	100	40	-	6	5	-	-	-	-	-
	H	100	200	60	-	5	7	-	-	-	-	-
	H	50	50	20	-	5	6	-	-	-	-	-
	H	90	100	40	-	4	6	-	-	-	-	-
	H	110	200	60	-	6	4	-	-	-	-	-
Angled Jump Attacks
	H	50	50	20	-	6	6	-	-	-	-	-
	H	80	100	40	-	6	9	-	-	-	-	-
	H	100	200	60	-	7	5	-	-	-	-	-
	H	50	50	20	-	6	7	-	-	-	-	-
	H	80	100	40	-	7	5	-	-	-	-	-
	H	50*40	50*100	60*20	-	7	3(4)3	-	-	-	-	-
Unique Attacks
+	L	60	50	40	-	21	2	16	-4	-1	-	-
+	HL	50	50	40	-	21	2	12	0	+3	-	-
+	HL	100	150	60	-	19	5	18	-5	-	-	-
+ (air)	HL	70	100	40	-	11	Until ground	-	+7	-	-	-	Pursuit property
Target Combo 1	HL	70	100	30	-	8	2	21	-5	-	-	-
Focus Attacks
Focus Attack LVL 1	HL	80	100	20	-	21	2	35	-21	-21	-	-
Focus attack LVL 2	HL	100	150	40	-	17+12	2	35	-15	-	-	-
Focus attack LVL 3	-	160	200	60	-	58	2	35	-	-	-	-
Throws
Forward Throw	0.9	150	120	40	-	3	2	20	-	-	-	-
Back	0.9	130	160	40	-	3	2	20	-	-	-	-
Special Moves
Messiah Kick	HL	80	100	20/30	-	24	2	8+20	-9	-5	-	-
Messiah Kick	HL	80	100	20/30	-	26	2	11+20	-12	-8	-	-
Messiah Kick	HL	80	100	20/30	-	35	2	5+20	-6	-2	-	-
Messiah Kick	HL	20x5	10x4*50	-250/0	-	11	3(1)2(1)2(1)2(8)2	6+27	-14	-10	-	-	1~16f invincible
Messiah Kick followup	HL	60	100	20/30	su	12	4	14+21	-18	-	-	-	1~11f invincible, Pursuit property
Messiah Kick followup	L	80	100	20/30	-	19	2	19	0	-	-	-	Low attack, cannot fast recover
Messiah Kick followup	H	90	150	20/30	-	26	5	17	-1	-	-	-	Mid attack, cannot fast recover
Galactic Tornado	HL	40*50	50*50	20/10*20	su	10	8(6)2	20	-1	-	-	-	1st hit pursuit property, Armor break, 1st hit cancellable
Galactic Tornado	HL	50*20*40	50x3	20/10*10*20	su	14	10*11(5)2	20	-1	-	-	-	1st hit pursuit property, Armor break, 1st hit cancellable
Galactic Tornado	HL	50*20*50	50x3	20/10*10*20	su	15	10*11(5)2	20	-1	-	-	-	1st hit pursuit property, Armor break, 1st hit cancellable
Galactic Tornado	HL	0*130	0*100	-250/0	su	11	19(3)1	22	-2	-	-	-	(translate), 2nd hit pursuit property, armor break
Snake Strike	HL	40x5	40	20/16	-	8	1x5	1+17	+2	+6	-	-	Pursuit property
Snake Strike	HL	40x7	40	20/16	-	7	1*1*2*1x3*2	2+17	0	+2	-	-	Pursuit property
Snake Strike	HL	40x7	40	20/16	-	6	1x3*2*1x3	4+17	-1	+1	-	-	Pursuit property
Snake Strike	HL	30*7	30	-250/0	-	7	1*2*1*2*1x3	15+17	-	-	-	-	1~10f invincible, Pursuit property
Super Combo
Super Combo	HL	100*80*150	0	-1000/0	-	1+6	1(14)1	29	-9	-	-	-	1~6f invincible, Pursuit property, 2nd hit armor break
Super Combo	HL	100*80*150	0	-1000/0	-	1+13	2(14)1	29	-9	-	-	-
Super Combo	HL	100*80*150	0	-1000/0	-	1+15	3(14)1	29	-9	-	-	-	1~2f invincible, Pursuit property, 2nd hit armor break
Ultra Combos
Ultra Combo 1	HL	30*30*38x7*134	0	0/0	-	1+8	3(6)3(10)3(22)3(17)2(6)3(9)3(2)3(14)2	32	-13	-	-	-	1~9f invincible, Pursuit property, 9th hit armor breaks
Ultra Combo 2	HL	47*403	0	0/0	-	1+10	88	87	-74	-	-	-	1~13f invincible
Move Name	Block (HL)	Damage	Stun	Super Meter Gain	Cancel Ability	Startup	Active	Recovery	On Guard	On Hit	Block Stun	Hit Stun	Notes
		Move Values				Frame Count			Frame Advantage

Move Analysis

Normal Moves

Crouching Normals

Crouch LP is a fast poke with a very good hitbox, but can be difficult to turn into a combo and real damage due to its minimal frame advantage.

Crouch MP is a reliable anti-air but is vulnerable to crossups or high jump-ins.

Crouch LK is a fast low poke with a good hitbox, but less damage and range. Useful, for example, against Blanka's Electricity. Combo into LP Galactic Tornado to quickly punish a standing opponent.

Crouch MK is a medium-speed low poke that is frame neutral on block and has the same basic range as Crouch LP. It moves Rufus' hitbox back as it starts up so it can be useful against Focus Attacks. Combo into HP or EX Galactic Tornado to strongly punish a standing opponent.

Crouch HP is a very slow but very long range poke. Even if your opponent blocks, you build about as much meter as whiffing three LP Snake Strikes, so it can be useful to gain some advantage against a zoning opponent. It is quite unsafe on block and vulnerable to focus absorb dashes, so use it carefully!

Crouch HK is a slow but long range sweep; it moves Rufus' hitbox forward significantly, so be wary of counter hits.

Far Normals

Far LP is a fast poke which gives great frame advantage on block (+4). With good reactions and spacing, you can hitconfirm and combo into Far MP afterwards for an additional 90 damage and +3 frame advantage on hit. An altogether great normal.

Far MP is a medium-speed poke which controls horizontal space well with a moderately good hitbox.

Far HP is a great anti-air which does good damage but controls a limited jump arc which it shares with Jump Forward HK and EX Snake Strike.

The second frame of Far HP extends the powerful anti-air hitbox even further.

Far LK is a medium-speed poke which has a fantastic hitbox for shutting down an opponent's low pokes, especially Shoto Crouch MK.

Far MK is Rufus' longest range standing poke; it has the same range as Crouch HK, but is slightly faster, has a somewhat better hitbox, does less damage, and doesn't knock down.

Far HK is a slow medium-range poke with several special characteristics. For example, it can combo into either Ultra (though under limited circumstances for U2). It can step over some low pokes and punish harder than Far LK, but with more risk. It can combo into EX Snake Strike for full or near-full hits on some characters anywhere, or on most characters if it catches them out of the air or hits them into the corner. It can combo into Crouch HK for an untechable knockdown.

Close Normals

Close LP is a fast normal which covers Rufus' face with a good hitbox. It can safely hit mistimed crossups, though in some situations a turnaround Close HP does the same job better. It can miss on crouching opponents, so beware.

Close MP is a fast normal, useful for baiting counter hits and frame trapping, since Close HP and Crouch MK can be linked from it afterwards. Against some characters such as Blanka, it is a vital part of bread and butter combos.

Close HP is a tried and true element of Rufus' bread and butter combos, whether hitconfirmed from a Close LK or directly linked from a divekick as a punish, Close HP is the go-to close normal for good damage.

Close HP's second active frame is an often neglected tool which serves as anti-air directly above Rufus' head. Used skillfully in tandem with Crouch MP, Rufus can control his airspace effectively.

Close LK is a fast, close poke with great frame advantage, used in frame trapping, tick throws, and bread and butter combos.

Close MK is a rarely used move, as it is essentially a sub-optimal version of other normals, such as Close MP.

The second part of Close MK, its second hit, which can be used to go through an opponent's one-hit armor up close, though other options are generally better.

Close HK is almost never seen outside of Rufus' Target Combo, though it does have one legitimate use - Close HK canceled to Super is the most effective way to use Rufus' super, or in other words, the most likely to do enough damage to finish your opponent and win the game.

Angled Jumping Normals

Neutral Jumping Normals

Unique Attacks

N/A

Normal Throws

N/A

Focus Attack

N/A

Special Moves

N/A

Super Combos

N/A

Ultra Combos

N/A

The Basics

N/A

Advanced Strategy

N/A

Combos

Bread and Butters

• N/A

Hit Confirm Combos

• N/A

Dizzy / Focus Crumple Combos

• N/A

FADC Combos

• N/A

Advanced Combos

• N/A

Combos Into Supers

• N/A

Combos Into Ultras

• N/A

Matchups

• Vs. Abel

To Be Written (TBW)

• Vs. Adon

TBW

• Vs. Akuma

TBW

• Vs. Balrog

TBW

• Vs. Blanka

TBW

• Vs. C. Viper

TBW

• Vs. Cammy

TBW

• Vs. Chun Li

TBW

• Vs. Cody

TBW

• Vs. Dan

TBW

• Vs. Dee Jay

TBW

• Vs. Dhalsim

TBW

• Vs. Dudley

TBW

• Vs. E. Honda

TBW

• Vs. El Fuerte

TBW

• Vs. Fei Long

TBW

• Vs. Gen

TBW

• Vs. Gouken

TBW

• Vs. Guile

TBW

• Vs. Guy

TBW

• Vs. Hakan

TBW

• Vs. Ibuki

TBW

• Vs. Juri

TBW

• Vs. Ken

TBW

• Vs. M. Bison

TBW

• Vs. Makoto

TBW

• Vs. Rose

TBW

• Vs. Rufus

TBW

• Vs. Ryu

TBW

• Vs. Sagat

TBW

• Vs. Sakura

TBW

• Vs. Seth

TBW

• Vs. T. Hawk

TBW

• Vs. Vega

TBW

• Vs. Zangief

TBW