Street Fighter X Tekken/Hwoarang

Hwoarang

Ideal Team Position: TBW

TBW

Strengths	Weaknesses
{{{5}}}	{{{6}}}

Moves

Normal Attacks

Name

Command

Notes

Standing Light Punch

lp

low
speccancel

Standing Medium Punch

mp

Standing Hard Punch

hp

Standing Light Kick

lk

speccancel

Standing Medium Kick

mk

speccancel

Standing Hard Kick

hk

speccancel

Crouching Light Punch

d + lp

low
speccancel

Crouching Medium Punch

d + mp

low
speccancel

Crouching Hard Punch

d + hp

knockdown

Crouching Light Kick

d + lk

low
speccancel

Crouching Medium Kick

d + mk

speccancel

Crouching Hard Kick

d + hk

low
hardknockdown
speccancel

Jump Light Punch

ub / u / uf + lp

high

Jump Medium Punch

ub / u / uf + mp

high
crossup

Jump Hard Punch

ub / u / uf + hp

high

Jump Light Kick

ub / u / uf + lk

high

Jump Medium Kick

ub / u / uf + mk

high

Jump Hard Kick

ub / u / uf + hk

high
crossup

Unique Attacks

Name

Command

Notes

Spinning Trip Kick

db + lk

low
speccancel
knockdown vs airborne

Tsunami Kick

f + mk

high
knockdown vs airborne

    Flamingo Stance

Tsunami Kick --- f

Iron Heel

f + hk

high
groundbounce
knockdown vs airborne

Fade-Away Kick

b + mk

speccancel
knockdown vs airborne

Reverse Kick

mp --- mp

speccancel on 2nd hit
knockdown vs airborne on 2nd hit

Chainsaw Kick

mp --- lp

high on 2nd hit
groundbounce on 2nd hit
knockdown vs airborne on 2nd hit

Flashing Trident

air lp --- mp

knockdown vs airborne on 2nd hit

Middle Kick Combo

mk --- mk --- mk

knockdown vs airborne on 3rd hit

    Flamingo Stance

Middle Trident Kick --- f

High Kick Combo

mk --- mk --- hk

speccancel on 3rd hit
knockdown vs airborne on 3rd hit

    Flamingo Stance

 High Kick Combo --- f

Low Kick Combo

mk --- mk ---
d + lk

knockdown vs airborne on 3rd hit

Low & High
Kick Combo

mk --- mk ---
d + lk --- hk

spec cancel on 4th hit
knockdown vs airborne on
3rd and 4th hit

    Flamingo Stance

 Low & High Kick
Combo --- f

Low & High
Smash Kick Combo

lk --- mk

knockdown vs airborne on 2nd hit

Quick Kick Combo

(Flamingo Stance)
mp --- mp

knockdown on 3rd hit

Flamingo Kick Combo

(Flamingo Stance)
lk --- mk

speccancel on 2nd hit
knockdown vs airborne on 2nd hit

Fire Storm

(Flamingo Stance)
mk --- lk

speccancel on 2nd hit
knockdown vs airborne on 2nd hit

Motion Switch

3k

enters / exits
Flamingo stance

Throws

Name

Command

Notes

Falcon Dice Kick

f or n + lp + lk

throw

Bring It On

b + lp + lk

throw

Special Moves

Name

Command

Notes

Special Step

dp + p

ex

   Sky Rocket

Special Step --- k

ex
knockdown

Sky Rocket

dp + k

ex
knockdown

Hunting Hawk

qcb + k

ex
knockdown vs airborne
wallbounce on ex

Air Raid

hcf + k

ex
knockdown vs airborne
knockdown on ex

Air Raid Special

air hcf + k

ex
knockdown vs airborne

Dynamite Heel

hcb + p

ex chrg
knockdown vs airborne
groundbounce on ex 2nd hit

Super Combo

Name

Command

Notes

Heel Explosion Combo

hcb + 3p

Move Analysis

Normal Moves

• Standing LP
  • Has slow startup and fast recovery, making it useful as a meaty attack. It also hits low, so it can be used for mix-ups.
• Standing MP
  • Very strong ground poke. It also works as an anti-air.
• Standing HP
  • Has about the same range as standing MP. It is mainly useful in cross rush combos.
• Standing LK
  • Mainly useful for pressure. It does not hit low and starts up slightly slower than crouching LK, but it stuffs low crush moves such as launcher. It also starts his Low & High Smash Kick Combo (st.LK > MK).
• Standing MK
  • Frequently used in boost combos and for starting some very useful strings.
• Standing HK
  • Useful for certain juggles and as a starter for basic punish combos.
• Crouching LP
  • Good attack to use for close range footsies and can be confirmed into combos or pressure.
• Crouching MP
  • Mainly useful in combos. It can be used as a poke, but cr.LP is generally preferred.
• Crouching HP
  • Can be used in cross rush combos from Flamingo MP.
• Crouching LK
  • Hwoarang's fastest attack outside of Flamingo stance. Unfortunately, it is difficult to use defensively because he has a db+LK command normal, but it is useful in frame traps.
• Crouching MK
  • Situational anti-air. It is special-cancelable, so it can be followed up with Special Step for mix-up/pressure.
• Crouching HK
  • Nice long-reaching sweep to use occasionally as a poke. It can be canceled into specials such as LK Hunting Hawk to make it safer on block.
• Flamingo LP
  • Hwoarang's only 3f normal. It can be used to make frame traps tighter, but unlike his other light attacks, it does not lead to safe chains on block.
• Flamingo MP
  • Two-hit attack that does twice the damage of a normal medium attack. Using this in combos generally always increases damage.
• Flamingo HP
  • Can be used to anti-air, but its main use is in combos.
• Flamingo LK
  • The animation is the same as standing LK, but the move properties are altered. FLA LK has shorter range than st.LK, but it starts up in only 4f and hits low.
• Flamingo MK
  • Can be used as a poke and combo starter.
• Flamingo HK
  • Has good range, but it whiffs crouchers and has long startup and recovery. Its main use is in combos.
• Jumping LP
  • Hwoarang's go-to air-to-air attack. It also starts his Flashing Trident (j.LP > MP) string.
• Jumping MP
  • Good cross-up attack.
• Jumping HP
• Jumping LK
• Jumping MK
• Jumping HK

Unique Attacks

• Spinning Trip Kick (db+LK)
  • Because of the input, this move tends to get in the way more often than it's useful. Its main use is as a feint to catch opponents who are looking to block Hwoarang's overheads.
• Tsunami Kick (f+MK)
  • This is one of the best overhead attacks in the game overall. The startup is 19f with the beginning of the animation being somewhat subtle, making it difficult to react to consistently. On hit, it can be followed up with a combo. On block, it is very safe at +2 advantage. The hitstun/blockstun of the attack is quite long, so it is practical to hit-confirm the attack to decide how to follow up.
  • Flamingo Stance (f+MK > f)
    • Unlike Hwoarang's other Flamingo transitions, this does not cause him to recover faster at all. However, he still has frame advantage on block, making this a useful option for pressure. FLA LP and LK make good frame traps here.
• Iron Heel (f+HK)
  • This overhead is somewhat slow, and it leaves Hwoarang at a disadvantage if blocked. However, it can be useful because it has good range and can easily be followed up at any range. The startup also looks very similar to the low-hitting Spinning Trip Kick (db+LK).
• Fade-Away Kick (b+MK)
  • This attack crushes crouching attacks during its startup. Its recovery is somewhat slow, but it is fairly safe because of its backward movement. It can also be canceled into special moves such as Special Step (dp+P).
• Reverse Kick (st.MP > MP)
  • This string can be started from a boost combo and can be followed with a boost combo.
  • Flamingo Stance (st.MP > MP > f)
    • Recovers 8f faster than normal (+2 on block, +7 on hit), but it has too much pushback to be used for pressure or combos.
    • You can input st.MP > st.HP~MP > df at mid-range to option-select this string on whiff while also buffering a st.MP-st.HP boost combo.
    • This is a relatively good way of building meter on whiff, building about 2.5% of a bar in 30 frames.
• Chainsaw Kick (st.MP > LP)
  • This string has some use for specific combos and setups. It can be difficult to make use of because of its short range.
• Flashing Trident (j.LP > MP)
  • Both hits of this string must be blocked high. This allows Hwoarang to mix it up with things such as empty jump low/throw, making it difficult to defend against consistently. This string also works on whiff, so an opponent cannot crouch under it to avoid it.
• st.MK > MK
  • This string can be started from a boost combo and can be followed with a boost combo.
  • Flamingo Stance (st.MK > MK > f)
    • Recovers 8f faster than normal.
    • On block, this ends at +1 advantage and can be followed with FLA LK for pressure.
    • On hit, this can link into FLA LK or MP for a combo.
    • Can be used in certain juggle combos to connect cr.MP or st.HK afterwards.
  • Middle Kick Combo (st.MK > MK > MK)
    • This string can be followed with a boost combo.
    • Flamingo Stance (st.MK > MK > MK > f)
      • Recovers 6f faster than normal.
      • This can be used to make the Middle Kick Combo safe on block. Generally, it is preferable to hit-confirm with High Kick Combo (st.MK > MK > HK) and end the string with Dynamite Heel (hcb+LP) for frame advantage.
  • High Kick Combo (st.MK > MK > HK)
    • This string is very useful for easy hit-confirms because it can be started from a boost combo and is special-cancelable.
    • Flamingo Stance (st.MK > MK > HK > f)
      • This does not give Hwoarang good frame advantage on block, nor does it lead to any combos on hit. Generally, it is preferable to end the string with Dynamite Heel (hcb+P).
  • Low Kick Combo (st.MK > MK > d+LK)
    • Low & High Kick Combo (st.MK > MK > d+LK > HK)
      • Identical to the last hit of High Kick Combo (st.MK > MK > HK)
      • Flamingo Stance (st.MK > MK > d+LK > HK > f)
• Low & High Smash Kick Combo (st.LK > MK)
  • This string can be canceled into specials, but it is generally preferable to transition to Flamingo stance.
  • Flamingo Stance (st.LK > MK > f)
    • Recovers 8f faster than normal.
    • On block, this ends at +2 advantage. This makes it useful for creating tighter frame traps than usual.
    • On hit, this ends at +7 advantage. If the string was started close enough, this can be linked into Fire Storm (FLA MK > LK) on standing opponents.
• Quick Kick Combo (FLA MP > MP)
  • This string has short range but leads to good damage, making it mostly useful for combos.
  • Flamingo Stance (FLA MP > MP > f)
    • Recovers 5f faster than normal.
• Flamingo Kick Combo (FLA LK > MK)
  • Animation is the same as Low & High Smash Kick Combo (st.LK > MK)
  • This string is difficult to hit-confirm, but it can be canceled into Special Step/Dynamite Heel to make it safe and keep pressuring the opponent while having the threat of Hwoarang's 3f FLA LP available.
  • Flamingo Stance (FLA LK > MK > f)
    • This does not give Hwoarang good frame advantage on block, nor does it lead to any combos on hit. Generally, it is preferable to end the string with Dynamite Heel (hcb+P).
• Fire Storm (FLA MK > LK)
  • This string can be followed with boost combos and counts as a medium attack.
  • This string whiffs most characters crouching, but it has good forward movement, is very safe on block, and can be canceled into specials.
  • Flamingo Stance (FLA MK > LK > f)
    • Recovers 4f faster than normal.
    • On block, this ends at +4 advantage. This is good for starting pressure or mix-ups.
    • On hit, this ends at +6 advantage. It is possible to link FLA LK or st.LK afterwards.
    • On whiff, this causes the string to recover fairly quickly, making it possible to catch opponents off-guard with a quick light attack or throw. This is somewhat of a gimmick, so try not to rely on it often.
• Motion Switch (KKK)
  • This causes Hwoarang to enter or exit his Flamingo Stance. It starts up in only 1f, making additional normal moves instantly accessible.
  • Hwoarang's walk speed becomes very slow during this stance, so it should be canceled when not attacking. The Motion Switch command can be used to cancel the stance, but it causes a recovery animation. Because of this, it is better to cancel the stance by tapping down (crouching).

Normal Throws

• Falcon Dice Kick (LP+LK)
  • The knockdown time of this throw is very short, limiting Hwoarang's options afterwards.
• Bring It On (b+LP+LK)

Special Moves

• Special Step (dp+P)
  • This move has upper-body projectile invincibility and can be canceled into other specials. It is useful for getting past projectiles as well as moving forward during blockstrings.
  • EX
    • This version has full upper-body invincibility. However, because of the recovery, it is hard to make use of without a good read.
• Sky Rocket (dp+K)
  • LK/MK
    • These versions have invincibility on startup, making them useful as anti-airs or reversals.
  • HK
    • This version has the most range. It can be used to punish an opponent jumping out of the range of the lighter versions.
  • EX
    • This version starts up slightly slower, but it has more invincibility and damage.
• Hunting Hawk (qcb+K)
  • This move hops off the ground and has a small amount of lower body projectile invincibility.
  • LK
    • This move can be used at neutral to hop over fireballs as well as low attacks. It is -4 at worst on block, making it fairly safe.
  • MK
    • This version is average in terms of startup, recovery, and damage.
  • HK
    • This is the slowest and most unsafe version, but it is very good if switch-canceled on block. The 3rd hit is an overhead and causes a ground bounce (techable by grounded opponents). Hwoarang cannot follow it up by himself if it was comboed into, but the long knockdown time is useful.
  • EX
    • Causes a wall bounce. This is useful for high damage combos.
• Air Raid (hcf+K)
  • This attack has slow startup, but it has high frame advantage (+6) on block. It travels different distances depending on the version.
  • HK
    • This move can be useful to escape from the corner against an unsuspecting opponent.
  • EX
• Air Raid Special (air hcf+K)
  • EX
    • This version has invincibility at the beginning of its startup, so it can be used to bait anti-airs.
• Dynamite Heel (hcb+P)
  • This move is very useful in blockstrings as it is +1 on block and hit. This makes many of Hwoarang's blockstrings safe and can allow him to continue pressure. It is also safe to switch-cancel on block. Heavier versions start up slower but move forward more.
  • EX
    • This hits overhead and can sometimes cross up. On hit, it causes a ground bounce that can be comboed from. However, it is very unsafe on block, making its usefulness questionable.

Super Combos

• Heel Explosion Combo (hcb+PPP)
  • This is generally not a useful move. However, if an opponent does an unsafe switch cancel, allowing you to catch two characters in a combo together, it is good to combo into this. This is because of a glitch where hitting two characters with this super art causes one of the characters to be randomly chosen to enter the cinematic, while the other character gets stuck in an extended hitstun state. If the cinematic occurs with the inactive character, this lets you follow up with any combo on the opposing active character.

The Basics

• Flamingo Stance can be exited by using crouch, any jump, or any dash, as well as using the {{#motion: 3k }} motion.

Advanced Strategy

Defense

Traditional crouch tech (db+LP+LK) doesn't work well with Hwoarang because he has a db+LK command normal which is very slow and easily frame-trapped. You can avoid this by inputting db+LP+KKK, which will cause Hwoarang to enter Flamingo stance and immediately cancel it. (Hwoarang's default LP+HK quick combo does not activate because it cannot be used while crouching.) He is vulnerable for the 1f of startup but can block again immediately afterwards. This technique, nicknamed the "Teabag OS", makes it nearly impossible to punish Hwoarang for teching. It is a bit difficult to press all 4 buttons on the same frame, but it's worth learning. Alternatively, if you have an 8 button stick, you can map your two extra buttons to LP and KKK to make this very easy.

Pressure

• For basic pressure, use a light attack chained into st.MK > MK > HK. If it hits, cancel into Heavy or EX Hunting Hawk (qcb+K). On block, cancel to Special Step (dp+HP) quickly canceled into Dynamite Heel (hcb+LP) to move forward and end at +1 advantage.
• st.MK > MK can also be confirmed into FLA (f), MP-HK xx qcb+KK for extra damage. This requires a 1-frame link.
• On block, st.MK > MK can transition into FLA (f) for +1 advantage. Frame trap with FLA LK > MK xx dp+HP xx hcb+LP to end at +1 advantage in FLA stance. (This sequence also works on hit, for 227 damage.) This makes FLA LP, a 3f normal, available for frame traps. FLA LP is 0 on block and has no safe chains out of it (except BC xx dp+PP xx hcb+LP). FLA LK > MK > etc. pressure can be looped just like cr.LK-st.MK > etc. pressure.
• f+MK doubles as a mix-up and pressure tool. If it hits, it can be linked into cr.LK for a combo. If it is blocked, it has +2 advantage regardless of whether you choose to transition to FLA (f), allowing you to follow up with a variety of frame traps.

Anti-backdash option-select

Every time you initiate one of Hwoarang's safe blockstrings, you can use an OS to punish most characters' backdashes with cr.HK.

How to use the OS

1. {{#motion: d + lk or d + lp or n + lk}}
2. {{#motion: n + mk }}
   • If st.LK was used in step 1, this must be inputted almost immediately afterwards. This is to make the game only register the input for a boost combo into st.MK and not Hwoarang's st.LK > MK string, which can come out on whiff.
3. {{#motion: d + mk + hk }} when the whiffed light attack would recover, which is just before the st.MK would hit.
   • This can be plinked with {{#motion: lp or mp }} to help with timing.

If this OS is used starting at +1 frame advantage:

• Does not work on: Kazuya, Ogre, Steve
• 1f timing on: Cammy, Chun-Li, Poison, Vega
• 2f timing on: Zangief, King
• Corner only: Chun-Li, Dhalsim, Ibuki, Nina, Xiaoyu, Asuka, Hwoarang, Law, Julia, Marduk

Okizeme Setups

After HK Hunting Hawk (qcb+HK) in the corner: Jump forward into the corner, and upon landing, immediately jump again and input Air Raid Special (hcf+K) to dive back to the ground. You can mix up the direction of the second jump and the version of Air Raid Special to control which side Hwoarang lands on. (On average-sized characters, Hwoarang can still cross up if his second jump is towards the corner. However, on larger characters, he cannot.) The only way for the opponent to avoid this mix-up is by rolling into the corner, forcing Hwoarang outside of the corner. In any case, you will always be right in front of the opponent with enough frame advantage to pressure as usual.

After HK Hunting Hawk (qcb+HK) mid-screen: Jump forward, whiffing an air attack and buffering st.MK as you land. As the st.MK recovers, input a dash forward, then immediately hold back and either input b+HK or a delayed df+LK > hcf+LP. If the opponent doesn't roll, Hwoarang will simply dash forward. If the opponent does roll, either an overhead (f+HK) or a low (db+LK) will come out, depending on what was inputted. f+HK doesn't quite hit as a meaty attack, so it is vulnerable to being stuffed. However, it catches reversal backdashes. db+LK cannot be stuffed but can be escaped with a reversal backdash.

Air Reset Glitch

There is a glitch where hitting with Hwoarang's st.MK > MK string when the opponent is in a ground bounce state causes an air reset. (See Advanced Combos for setups.) This is very easy for Hwoarang to utilize because after hitting with his two main ground bounce moves (f+HK, st.MP > LP), executing the string immediately causes the first hit to whiff and the second hit to connect, causing the reset. At the end of the combo, hold any forward direction to use the Flamingo transition to recover as fast as possible. Holding up-forward allows a cross-up with j.MP, but beware of anti-airs because it is not a safe jump. Holding down-forward cancels the stance, allowing you to do any meaty attack, such as st.LP, db+LK, f+MK, or f+HK.

Combos

Note: cr.LK is used as an example starter for confirms, but other light attacks work as well.

Bread and Butters

• (air-to-air counterhit), cr.MP xx qcb+HK
• (tag in), st.HK xx qcb+HK

Hit Confirm Combos

• cr.LK-st.MK > MK > HK xx qcb+HK (252)
• cr.LK-st.MK > MK > MK-st.HP-HP+HK (218) - hits can be omitted depending on damage output of incoming character
• cr.LK-st.MK > MK > HK xx qcb+KK, j.HK, cr.MP xx qcb+HK (377; 1 bar)
• f+MK, cr.LK-st.MK > MK > HK xx qcb+HK (277)
• f+MK, cr.LK-st.MP > MP xx qcb+KK, j.HK, cr.MP xx qcb+HK (388; 1 bar)

Advanced Combos

• cr.LK-st.MK > MK > f, FLA MP-HK-HP+HK (267) - HK can be omitted
• cr.LK-st.MK > MK > df, cr.LP-st.MP > LP, st.MK (whiff) > MK > f (215, reset)
• cr.LK-st.MK > MK > f, FLA MP-HK xx qcb+KK, j.HK, cr.MP xx qcb+HK (410; 1 bar)
• st.LK > MK > f, FLA MK > LK > df, cr.LP-st.MK > MK > HK xx qcb+HK (308)
• f+HK, st.MK (whiff) > MK > f (130, reset)
• FLA MK > LK > f, FLA MP > MP > f, FLA HK xx qcb+HK (390)
• FLA MP-HK xx qcb+KK, j.HK, cr.MP xx qcb+HK (492; 1 bar)
• FLA MK > LK > df, cr.LP-st.MP > LP, st.MK (whiff) > MK > f (243, reset)
• (tag in), st.MK > MK > df, st.HK xx qcb+HK
• (tag in), st.MP > MP xx hcb+[P] > dash, cr.MP xx qcb+HK
• (tag in), FLA MP > MP > f, dp+HP xx dp+HK
• (tag in), FLA MK > LK > df, st.HK xx qcb+HK

Combos Into Supers

• N/A