Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo/O. Balrog

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The Characters

Introduction

Picking Old Balrog

To select O.Balrog, choose Balrog and then press → ← ← → Jab or Fierce, pressing Short simultaneously with the punch button for the alternate color.

Normal	Secondary

--Born2SPD

New & Old Versions Comparison

Here is the list of differences:

• Obvious stuff: O.Balrog can not tech throws, does not have the Low Straight Rush, Low Upper Rush and Super;
• O.Balrog's Head Bomber (his grab) usually does more hits, but if the opponent actually mashes to escape it will not make much difference;
• O.Balrog's Neutral Jumping Fierce can not be controlled;
• O.Balrog's Straight Rush hits crouching opponents, and the Jab version knocks down, but the Fierce version doesn't;
• O.Balrog's Upper Rush requires 2 frames of additional charging to come out;

O.Balrog is a very well balanced character that can compete with pretty much everyone on the cast (excluding maybe Zangief). But since N.Balrog is straight better you should favor using him instead.

Moves Analysis

Disclaimer: To better understand the diagrams, read this.

Normal Moves

Ground Normals

• Close/Far Standing Jab:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	Yes
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		3	4	5
Simplified		1 + 3	4	5

Useful to cancel into super / rushes. Also good to stop some stuff (Honda's headbutts for example).

• Crouching Jab:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	Yes
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		2	4	4
Simplified		1 + 2	4	4

It's very fast and has the repeating property (something low short doesn't), but it has a different hit box. I really dont use low short much, only low jab for cheating and combos.

• Close Standing Strong:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		5	4	7
Simplified		1 + 5	4	7

• Far Standing Strong:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		3	3	4	3	4
Simplified		1 + 6		4	7

Second best anti-air move. Has more range than cr.HP.

• Crouching Strong:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		2	2	4	3	4
Simplified		1 + 4		4	7

This is his best ground attack, despite not hitting low. The entire arm is safe and cannot be hit, but can hit the enemy (it's a completely red hitbox, no blue). Can cancel into rushes and link into Super.

• Close Standing Fierce:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		5	3	6	9	6
Simplified		1 + 8		6	15

• Far Standing Fierce:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		5	3	6	9	6
Simplified		1 + 8		6	15

Great poke to use at max range. It _CAN'T_ hit the following opponents when they're crouching: Ryu, Blanka, Guile, Ken, Chun Li, Cammy and Dictator.

• Crouching Fierce:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		5	2	4	11	6
Simplified		1 + 5	6		17

Best anti-air non-special. Hits early and late, unlike most moves in game.

• Close/Far Standing Short:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		3	4	5
Simplified		1 + 3	4	5

• Crouching Short:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		2	4	4
Simplified		1 + 2	4	4

• Close Standing Forward:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	Yes
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		4	4	7
Simplified		1 + 4	4	7

• Far Standing Forward:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		5	4	7
Simplified		1 + 5	4	7

• Crouching Forward:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		2	3	6	4
Simplified		1 + 5		6	4

Catches some moves that go under Crouching Strong (like Vega's slide). Links into cr.Strong and the Super. Your move of choice to tick / combo in throw mixups. Quick recovery and great for hitting limbs in footsies (like Guile's d. Forward).

• Close Standing Roundhouse:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		6	6	15
Simplified		1 + 6	6	15

• Far Standing Roundhouse:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		5	3	6	9	6
Simplified		1 + 8		6	15

• Crouching Roundhouse:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Chain Cancel	No
Special Cancel	No
Frame Advantage	?
Frame Count		4	4	6	5	13
Simplified		1 + 8		6	18

Best horizontal range out of his ducking moves and knocks down. Useful for footsies when a crouching Forward won't reach. Long recovery so be careful.

Aerial Normals

• Neutral Jumping Jab:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		2	32	6	∞
Simplified		2	32	∞

Same as Neutral Jumping Short.

• Diagonal Jumping Jab:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		1	2	30	3	3	∞
Simplified		3		30	∞

Lasts long with a slightly higher hitbox than the Jumping Strong but shitty priority.

• Neutral Jumping Strong:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		2	4	14	4	6	∞
Simplified		6		14	∞

• Diagonal Jumping Strong:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		1	3	15	3	3	∞
Simplified		4		15	∞

Good horizontal range on this makes it useful for hitting fireballers when a jumping Roundhouse/Fierce won't reach.

• Neutral Jumping Fierce:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		3	5	10	5	6	∞
Simplified		8		10	∞

Only N.Balrog can control this move in air.

• Diagonal Jumping Fierce:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		5	4	12	6	∞
Simplified		9		12	∞

Best air to ground priority available. Can crossup some characters.

• Neutral/Diagonal Jumping Short:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		2	32	6	∞
Simplified		2	32	∞

Good jump-in for getting in close to start Boxer's combos and mixup strings since it doesn't push the opponent back too far. Also can be used as an instant overhead.

• Neutral/Diagonal Jumping Forward:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		4	14	6	∞
Simplified		4	14	∞

• Neutral Jumping Roundhouse:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		4	4	11	5	∞
Simplified		8		11	∞

Slightly better priority as air to air than the Diagonal version.

• Diagonal Jumping Roundhouse:

Damage	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		5	4	12	6	∞
Simplified		9		12	∞

Same as Diagonal Jumping Fierce.

--Graham, Shag, Tataki and Janus Gemini

Throws

To grab your opponent, hold towards or back and press Strong or Fierce punch. Boxer will hold the opponent in place for a few seconds and repeatedly headbutt them.

The first hit of the grab deals about 19.5% damage. Subsequent hits add almost 3% more each. If Boxer wiggles the joystick and/or mashes buttons while the grab is taking place, it will extend the duration. Similarly, his opponent may do the same to reduce the grab's duration. Sometimes people playing charge characters will elect to do this only for a moment before opting to charge during the grab's animation instead.

Weirdly, the Strong grab has more range than the Fierce grab even though they seem identical. You should favor using the Strong grab in situations where range is an issue.

Its known that O.Balrog have a higher default quantity of hits, which sounds great on paper but unless that the opponent does not mashes it will not be of much difference.

• Head Bomber: (←/→ + Strong/Fierce)

Damage	28 + 4*n
Set amount of hits	12
Holds do no stun
Range (from axis)	64
(from throwable box)	37

NOTE: Balrog's grab is the only throw/grab in the game that actually has range restriction (i.e like the close normals). That throw range values/image represent how his throw range actually is (but it has variable range restriction, depending on which character you're facing, so you cant activate it from that max range, well, you can, but only against E.Honda).
See the chart below for his exact throw range against all characters. The Range Advantage field is in comparison with the character Normal throw, not his Command throw, if he have any.

Strong / Fierce

RY

KE

EH

CH

BL

ZA

GU

DH

TH

CA

FE

DJ

BX

CL

SG

DI

Range (from axis)

51 / 41

51 / 41

64 / 58¹

51 / 41

63 / 53

41 / 31

50 / 40

40 / 30

51 / 41

51 / 41

51 / 41

52 / 42

53 / 43

52 / 42

52 / 42

52 / 42

(from throwable box)

24 / 14

24 / 14

37 / 31¹

24 / 14

36 / 26

14 / 4

23 / 13

13 / 3

24 / 14

24 / 14

24 / 14

25 / 15

26 / 16

24 / 14

24 / 14

25 / 15

Range Advantage

+5 / -5

+5 / -5

+1 / -5¹

+1 / -9

+2 / -8

-10 / -20

+5 / -5

-11 / -21

+11 / +1

+7 / -3

+13 / +3

+7 / -3

--

+5 / -5

+9 / -1

+1 / -9

Max dist. between axes

80 / 70

80 / 70

93² / 86¹

76 / 66

93 / 83

86 / 76

80 / 70

80 / 70

86 / 76

76 / 66

80 / 70

82 / 72

80 / 70

80 / 70

84 / 74

80 / 70

¹ Fierce has 10 pixels less range than Strong, minus against E.Honda where its only 6 pixels less.
² His throwbox is activated out of range, but its only possible by 1 pixel.

--Born2SPD

Special Moves

• Straight Rush: (Charge ←, →, P)

Detailed Input: (Charge ← for at least 70f, [0~7f] → [0~11/9/7f] Jab/Strong/Fierce. It is needed to wait at least 1 frame after leaving the charge direction to enter with the P button)

Damage (Jab)	?					Jab & Fierce	Strong
Damage (Strong)	?
Damage (Fierce)	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count (Jab)		2~8	3	8	6	4
Simplified (Jab)		5~11		8	10
Frame Count (Strong)		2~16	3	8	6	4
Simplified (Strong)		5~19		8	10
Frame Count (Fierce)		2~25	3	8	6	4
Simplified (Fierce)		5~28		8	10

Comes out fast. Unlike N.Balrog's version of this move, it does not whiff against crouching characters. On the other hand the Fierce version does not knocks down but Jab does.

LP version is useful as a mid-range poke/punisher and has better priority than the st. FP, good for stuffing or trading with fireballs. Use the MP version from full screen to trade with fireballs. FP version is usually only used for going the distance on a retreating opponent.

Due to its range, the LP version is a good punisher for whiffed Shoryukens and such.

If you hold DF you can keep your down-charge for the Buffalo Headbutt.

• Upper Rush: (Charge ←, →, K)

Detailed Input: (Charge ← for at least 62f, [0~7f] → [0~11/9/7f] Short/Forward/Roundhouse. It is needed to wait at least 1 frame after leaving the charge direction to enter with the K button)

Damage (Short)	?
Damage (Forward)	?
Damage (Rh)	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count (Short)		3	1~5	3	8	6
Simplified (Short)		7~11			8	6
Frame Count (Forward)		3	1~13	3	8	6
Simplified (Forward)		7~19			8	6
Frame Count (Rh)		3	1~21	3	8	6
Simplified (Rh)		7~27			8	6

Good anti-air. Whiffs on crouching characters. HK version is good for hitting people jumping backwards, especially at the beginning of the round.

• Turn Around Punch a.k.a. TAP: (Charge PPP or KKK for at least a half second, then release)

Detailed Input: (Charge requirements: One = 30f, Two = 120f, Three = 240f, Four = 480f, Five = 960f, Six = 1440f, Seven = 1920f and Final = 2400f)

Damage

One

?

Two

?

Three

?

Four

?

Five

?

Six

?

Seven

?

Final

?

Frame Count

4

4

4

7

2

2

2

2

12

Simplified

27

12

• Recovery:

Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count		6	4
Simplified		10

Attacks that increase in strength and speed over time, making them hard to predict. They also have great hit properties able to hit nicely and on crouching opponents like his straight rush. Lastly, they can be used without being 'charged' like a rush punch or headbutt. --Graham

There is no difference move wise but you want to use the 3K version so you have access to his punch moves: st.FP, cr.MP, throw, rush punches and buffalo headbutt. --Shag

The Turn-Around Punch has eight levels, 1~7 and Final. The longer you hold the buttons, the higher the level you'll get. You can combo a cr.Strong into a rush punch after a 4+ meaty TAP.

It's possible to charge two TAP's at once, one with the PPP and the other with KKK. -- Janus Gemini

• Buffalo Headbutt: (Charge ↓, ↑, P)

Detailed Input: (Charge ↓ for at least 66f, [0~7f] ↑ [0~11/9/7/2f] Jab/Strong/Fierce/any P if you are at a jumpable state. It is needed to wait at least 1 frame after leaving the charge direction to enter with the P button)

Damage (Jab)	?				Jab	Strong	Fierce				Strong Only
Damage (Strong)	?
Damage (Fierce)	?
Stun	?~?
Stun Timer	?
Frame Count (Jab)		6	5	4	7			4	12	5	X
Simplified (Jab)		11		11				21
Frame Count (Strong)		7	6	4	5			4	11	4	1
Simplified (Strong)		13		9				20
Frame Count (Fierce)		8	7	5	6			4	12	5	X
Simplified (Fierce)		15		11				21

Anti-air special. Its active frames come in quite late for a reversal, making safe-jumps easier to do against Balrog. Useful to avoid some fireballs (don't use against Sim since he can Standing Roundhouse you on reaction), set up grabs (whiff it so you land just in front of your opponent), get out of Vega's walldive shenanigans, stuff things after a blocked rush / etc.

You can keep your charge (to do rushes as you land) if you do it with up/back instead of up or up/forward.

Jab: This version comes out the quickest (11 startup frames), travels the least, and has the best priority. It cleanly beats N. Ryu's and N. Ken's Shoryukens, and even Claw's Flipkicks if timed right, so it can be very deadly in throw mixups. Probably his most abusable move.

Strong: This version has the worst priority and will not reliably go through fireballs. I only use it when trying to stuff pokes and things from the appropriate distance.

Fierce: This version travels the farthest but comes out the slowest (15 startup frames). Slightly worse priority than the LP version. You can use this in conjunction with the Knockdown Rush Uppercut to travel across the screen while keeping charge. For example, an advanced tactic against fireballers is to do a LK Knockdown Rushdown Punch just before they release their projectile, and then use the FP Headbutt to travel through the projectile and hit them during their recovery.

--Janus Gemini