Dhalsim's gameplan is about zoning with his standing normals and projectiles,he isn't good with anti air and close combat but his crouching slides are useful for auto-crossup opponents traps and holds traps.
Sim's air game is tuned up now with his Drill and Mummy as command moves that can be used every active jumping frame and not along at the top of the jump anymore,however use carefully because he had the slowest jump in the game,but can use Drill for overheads and pressure at the shortest active jump frame.
At close combat his throws are useful to Yoga Fire traps and also his hold isn't damaging but are standing normal poke safe,also his Close Fierce its great and mades seirous stun damage if hits,Close Jab is best for keep away at short range and with safe block.
Yoga Fire always knocks down an opponent and mades great damage but had a bad recovery and startup,be careful to use it and if your opponents jump in to you and its far ,use Far Short or Forward for medium range trap and Roundhouse for a long range one,but if its close be sure to throw it. Yoga Fire its your option for medium range and wake up games,if it blocked its safe ,but its not,you make the most stun damage with this move.
Anti air options can be your Far Roundhouse and Forward for any situation of long and medium combat,also Far Fierce if your opponents jump in on your Yoga Fire.
Dhalsim's match-ups according the "official" SF2CE Tier List:
- against Ryu: 6
- against Ken: 7
- against Chun Li: 4
- against E. Honda: 7
- against Zangief: 6
- against Blanka: 3
- against Dhalsim: 5
- against Guile: 5
- against Balrog: 9
- against Vega: 1
- against Sagat: 4
- against M. Bison: 4
Vs. Ryu
The best distance for you to maintain in this fight is about three body
widths from Ryu. This will allow you to 1- be able to slide under any
spiritballs he may throw. 2- leave you at a good distance to throw your
fireballs and still be able to kick them when they jump over. If and when your
opponent jumps over your fireball it is best to use the standing forward kick
(for this kick is much faster and harder to hit than a roundhouse.) If he is to
close to you to risk a forward kick the best attack is the ducking fierce punch
(this will bend your body down and out of attack range) execute it just as he
starts to come down. If your opponent is good at timing his attacks just as he
lands and is hitting you try to anticipate this and hold your attack until
after he executes his. Then it is easy enough to use the ducking fierce punch
to hit him as he recovers. Lastly if he uses lots of helicopter kicks block
them in a standing position and then throw him. (you will almost always win
this move).
Vs. Ken
Handle much like Ryu, but as usual watch his massive dragonpunch but don't
worry to much about his helicopter kick. One key point is do not jump unless
you must. A good attack against Ryu is to jump back and forward kick him as he
tries to approach. This is dangers against Ken for obvious reasons. Overall if
you can work Ryu you can work Ken also.
Vs. E.Honda
Your fireball and forward kick when he jumps pattern is most effective
here. Another good technique is to use lots of jab punches. (this attack goes
nowhere and you recover from it fast. O.K. you may ask why. The reason is that
some players listen for button noises to que their attacks, and this attack
will usually draw them off and then as they recoil fierce punch them.) Another
excellent defense is your slide attack. Most characters (all but Dhalsim ) can
jump over Honda's fast torpedo and throw. Dhalsim can't do this but he can
slide under both the fierce and strong headbutts and throw him (medium slid is
best or you may slide to far away).
Vs. Chun Li
Chun's speed make her a very formidable opponent. Her jump in jab kick
attack hits almost everything including your ducking fierce punch. You can
slide her out of it but she can easily head stomp you out of the slide. If she
uses lots of head stomps the best thing to use is a forward kick after she has
bounced away (not advisable in corners). It is best to use a forward kick
because punches will probably get stomped and the roundhouse is to slow to
always be effective. One excellent attack against Chun is to jump straight up
or back and use the roundhouse kick . This leg almost always gets above her
unless she is bouncing off the wall and does good damage considering your
Dhalsim. Your screwdriver attack (head first) is also good in the air if your
opponent likes to kick early.Ôconquer.
Vs. Blanka
His forward kick or fierce punch hits almost everything and his ducking
fierce punch also is a pain. Due to his angled leg attacks your slide is also
not very effective. You do however have one chance. Like Chun there is very
little he can do against a jumping fierce kick. Throw a fireball and then use
the jumping fierce kick when he jumps over (an almost guaranteed hit). Another
key point is that you can easily kick him out of the ball if you block and he
bounces back. Lastly one thing you may try but it is difficult is when Blanka
jumps in walk as close to him as possible and use the forward sweep. With good
timing and a little luck this will allow you to slide under him and then throw.
Vs. Zangief
Dhalsim is perfectly suited for destroying Zangief. Your fireball kick
pattern is nearly unbreakable. The best way to keep him back is lots of
standing forward kicks (these are fast and hard for him to stop esp. if he was
walking in), break these up with a few ducking fierce punches for these will
cause better damage and accelerate the stun. If your opponent just sits back
and punches your kicks your legs and arms try using a few jab punches as you
would against Honda. this may draw him off long enough to hit him. If he does
happen to get in close and gets a 360 the best thing to do is to either slide
under him when he presses his advantage or if you can't time this jump up into
his attack (try to hit him but if you can't anything is better than a 360).
Lastly another good way to escape is the screwdriver attack.
Vs. Guile
Lots of fireball attacks and air kicks are the key here.
Most Guile players can't handle a constant barrage of projectiles (since the have to charge
them while you do not) and will either sit helplessly is the corner or try to
jump them. If he jumps your forward kick is best or your ducking fierce punch if
he is close. If he is good offensively and seems to be out projectiling you, you
can use your ducking strong punch to knock him out of his sonic boom if you hit
him just as he starts the motion. Another good attack is the simple jump up
forward kick or strong punch. These are well angled and will usually hit home as
he tries to walk in so he can get close. Lastly don't be to scared at his rate
of recover after he throws a sonic boom if you time it right (just as his hands
cross each other) you can slide under and hit him as you would Ken. A good method
for stopping him from throwing a sonic boom and then walking in behind it and
try stating his footsweep pattern is to jump up and us the corkscrew attack.
(head first), this will allow you to fly over the sonic boom and most likely hit
Guile in the face as he charges in behind his projectile.
Vs. Dhalsim
The best way to beat another Dhalsim is to force him into the air with
lots of fireballs. When he does jump a forward kick is best. If your the one
jumping try to do it a little early than usual so that you can use your punch
attacks to hit his feet from above. If instead of jumping your opponent slides
under the fireballs you can simply use the ducking fierce punch to hit him.
(don't rely on this tactic at to close a range for you will not have time to
execute the second part. At close range the best move is the flame attack, for
this can not be slide under. Lastly if your opponent uses lots of the spin
attacks try taking the hit and throwing, he has no real combos to worry about.
If you are the one using the spin attacks try aiming them so that your head or
feet hit your opponent as low to the ground as possible (this will allow you to
recover quickly and hit them with a second attack before they recover from
getting hit by the first.) this technique will work against any opponent (very
good against Sagat and his low tigers) and is covered more fully under combo
- 2.Ô
Vs. Boxer
Handle much as you would Zangief. Do not use to many jump up kick or punch
attacks for his charging uppercut punch will work great against you. When he
uses a charge attack the best thing to do is to duck it and then throw him. The
biggest thing to change here is try using more ducking fierce punches than
forward kicks for his jump in punches usually take more off of you than you take
off of him. For the most part you have two different levels of attack when
Balrog jumps the fireballs. You can either standing forward kick him, this hits
him early in the jump, or you can fierce punch him before he lands, this will
hit him late. By breaking up these two types of attacks you will be able to
throw your opponent off somewhat and make it harder for him to guess which attack
is coming.
Vs. Claw
Another major problem for Dhalsim, Vega's speed and heavy throw damage
make him a very tough opponent. Use lots of fireballs to keep him back and make
him jump and then hit him out of the air. If he holds his attack until he is
close to the ground it is best to use the forward kick, if he commits early it
is better to use the ducking fierce punch. When he eventually starts coming of
the wall you can either 1- jump back and roundhouse him out of the air (good
only at a distance) 2- simply stand your ground and use the jab punch (best if
he is going for the slam) 3- if you have little time slide, you can still be
sliced but most likely not slammed.
Vs. Sagat
His low tigers are the largest threat here. When fighting Sagat try to
stay one step ahead of him in the projectile war. If you get behind you can
react differently depending on the type of tigers he is throwing. For high
tigers it is best to use the ducking fierce punch, or jump up and forward kick.
For low tigers the best thing to do is jump up and try to execute combo#2.
Vs. Dictador
Once again lots of fireballs to both keep him back and from using his
torpedo body. When he jumps fireballs your forward kick is best, or ducking
fierce punch if he is close. If he gets you in his torpedo pattern remember you
can slide under it with a roundhouse slide. When you are in the air the best
attacks are either a fierce punch or forward kick. Beware his standing
roundhouse kick for it has a very good range. If he uses the head stomp
technique your headbutt is best.
I will meditate and then destroy you.
