Super Street Fighter IV/Balrog

Balrog

There is nothing Balrog loves more than money and women. Banned from the professional boxing circuit for being too ruthless in his matches (many opponents ended up hospitalized), Balrog's attempts to become rich through boxing came to a crashing halt. However, his pure strength and unadulterated power did not go unnoticed by one important individual: the leader of Shadaloo, M. Bison. Promised riches beyond all dreams, Balrog now does much of the dirty work for M. Bison as one of his top henchmen with gleeful pleasure.

In a nutshell

Balrog is the character of extremes. Balrog has a killer defense if he sacrifices his offense and has a killer offense if he sacrifices his defense. Between Dash Straights that are difficult to punish by opponents and awesome pressure from his Standing Jabs and Standing Roundhouse, Balrog can rush down an opponent effectively. Yet at a moment's notice, thanks to the defensive Crouching Jab and defensive Crouch Roundhouse and an array of effentive anti-air options, Balrog can turtle you to death at the same time. Learning how to carefully weave back and forth between mind sets will be key to victory with Balrog.

Moves

Throws

Name

Command

Notes

Head Bomber

or

+

Lever Break

+

Special Moves

Name

Command

Notes

Dash Straight

(charge)

+

version gains armor;

Dash Upper

(charge)

+

version gains armor;

Dash Low Straight

(charge)

+

version gains armor;

Dash Low Smash

(charge)

+

version gains armor;

Dash Swing Blow

(charge)

+

(hold p)

version gains armor;

Buffalo Headbutt

(charge)

+

Turn Punch

hold

or

and release

The longer buttons are held (charge) the more damage move will do;

Super Combo

Name

Command

Notes

Crazy Buffalo

(charge)

+

Ultra Combos

Name

Command

Notes

Violent Buffalo

(charge)

+

Dirty Bull

+

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	20	50	20	ch/sp/su	4	2	7	+2	+5	-	-
	HL	80	100	40	su	6	4	12	-2	+1	-	-
	HL	120	200	60	su	5	5	16	-3	+2	-	-	Forces stand
	HL	40	50	20	ch/sp/su	3	2	7	+2	+5	-	-
	HL	90	100	40	sp/su	5	4	13	-3	0	-	-
	HL	100	200	60	su	7	2	13	+3	+7	-	-

Standing Far Attacks
	HL	20	50	20	ch/sp/su	4	2	4	+5	+8	-	-
	HL	90	100	40	su	7	2	16	-4	+1	-	-
	HL	100	200	60	-	9	4	21	-7	-3	-	-
	HL	40	50	20	ch/su	4	2	10	-1	+2	-	-
	HL	90	100	40	su	9	3	12	-1	+2	-	-
	HL	110	200	60	-	8	2	20	-4	0	-	-

Crouching Attacks
	HL	20	50	20	ch/sp/su	3	2	5	+4	+7	-	-
	HL	70	100	40	sp/su	7	4	12	-2	+1	-	-
	HL	110	200	60	su	7	5	21	-8	-3	-	-	Forces stand
	L	30	50	20	sp/su	4	2	9	0	+3	-	-
	L	70	100	40	su	8	2	8	+4	+7	-	-
	L	90	120	60	su	8	2	22	-6	-	-	-	cannot fast recover

Straight Up Jump Attacks
	H	50	50	20	-	5	2	-	-	-	-	-
	H	90	100	40	-	5	4	-	-	-	-	-
	H	110	200	60	-	5	9	-	-	-	-	-
	H	50	50	20	-	5	3	-	-	-	-	-
	H	80	100	40	-	6	2	-	-	-	-	-
	H	110	200	60	-	5	2	-	-	-	-	-

Angled Jump Attacks
	H	50	50	20	-	4	3	-	-	-	-	-
	H	80	100	40	-	7	3	-	-	-	-	-
	H	110	200	60	-	6	7	-	-	-	-	-
	H	50	50	20	-	5	6	-	-	-	-	-
	H	80	100	40	-	7	2	-	-	-	-	-
	H	110	200	60	-	8	6	-	-	-	-	-

Focus Attacks
Focus Attack LVL 1	HL	90	100	20	-	21	2	35	-21	-21	-	-
Focus attack LVL 2	HL	120	150	40	-	17+12	2	35	-15	-	-	-
Focus attack LVL 3	-	170	200	60	-	65	2	35	-	-	-	-

Throws
Forward Throw	0.9	130	160	40	-	3	2	20	-	-	-	-
Back	0.9	130	100	40	-	3	2	20	-	-	-	-

Special Moves
Dash Straight	HL	100	100	20/30	su	13[4]	7	17	-3	-2	-	-	Forces stand, charge 55f
Dash Straight	HL	110	150	20/30	su	22[7]	6	19	-6	-1	-	-	Forces stand, charge 55f
Dash Straight	HL	120	200	20/30	su	35[7]	6	20	-8	-1	-	-	Forces stand, charge 55f
Dash Straight	HL	120	200	-250/0	su	35[7]	6	17	-2	+2	-	-	Forces stand, charge 55f
Dash Upper	HL	100	100	20/30	su	14[5]	4	20	-3	-1	-	-	Forces stand, charge 55f
Dash Upper	HL	110	150	20/30	su	22[7]	4	20	-5	+1	-	-	Forces stand, charge 55f
Dash Upper	HL	120	200	20/30	su	35[7]	4	21	-7	-1	-	-	Forces stand, charge 55f
Dash Upper	HL	120	200	-250/0	su	35[7]	4	18	-1	+4	-	-	charge 55f
Dash Ground Straight	L	90	100	20/30	su	22[13]	8	21	-8	-	-	-	cannot fast recover, charge 55f
Dash Ground Straight	L	100	150	20/30	su	29[14]	8	21	-9	-	-	-	cannot fast recover, charge 55f
Dash Ground Straight	L	110	200	20/30	su	42[14]	8	21	-11	-	-	-	cannot fast recover, charge 55f
Dash Ground Straight	L	110	200	-250/0	su	42[14]	8	17	-3	-	-	-	charge 55f
Dash Swing Blow	H	80	100	20/30	su	31[22]	5	21	-5	+7	-	-	Armor break, charge 55f
Dash Swing Blow	H	90	150	20/30	su	38[23]	5	21	-7	+7	-	-	Armor break, charge 55f
Dash Swing Blow	H	100	200	20/30	su	51[23]	5	21	-8	+7	-	-	Armor break, charge 55f
Dash Swing Blow	H	100	200	-250/0	su	51[23]	5	21	-5	+7	-	-	Armor break, charge 55f
Dash Ground Smash	HL	100	100	20/30	su	21[12]	8	20	-5	-	-	-	Armor break, charge 55f
Dash Ground Smash	HL	110	150	20/30	su	28[13]	8	20	-7	-	-	-	Armor break, charge 55f
Dash Ground Smash	HL	120	200	20/30	su	41[13]	8	20	-9	-	-	-	Armor break, charge 55f
Dash Ground Smash	HL	120	200	-250/0	su	41[13]	8	16	-1	-	-	-	Armor break, charge 55f
Buffalo Headbutt	HL	100	200	30/40	-	8	11	10+13	-13	-	-	-	charge 55f
Buffalo Headbutt	HL	120	200	30/40	-	10	11	10+13	-13	-	-	-
Buffalo Headbutt	HL	140	200	30/40	-	12	11	9+13	-12	-	-	-	charge 55f
Buffalo Headbutt	HL	150	200	-250/0	-	12	11	9+13	-12	-	-	-	1~15f invincible, charge 55f
Turn Punch LVL 1	HL	130	200	30/40	su	30	7	13	-2	+2	-	-	Armor break, charge 32f (0.5s)
Turn Punch LVL 2	HL	150	210	30/40	su	30	7	16	-5	-1	-	-	Armor break, charge 121f (2s)
Turn Punch LVL 3	HL	180	220	30/40	su	30	8	18	-8	-4	-	-	Armor break, charge 241f (4s)
Turn Punch LVL 4	HL	210	230	30/40	su	30	9	21	-12	-8	-	-	Armor break, charge 481f (8s)
Turn Punch LVL 5	HL	250	240	30/40	su	30	10	22	-14	-10	-	-	Armor break, charge 961f (16s)
Turn Punch LVL 6	HL	280	250	30/40	su	30	11	24	-17	-13	-	-	Armor break, charge 1441f (24s)
Turn Punch LVL 7	HL	410	260	30/40	su	30	12	26	-20	-16	-	-	Armor break, charge 1921f (32s)
Turn Punch LVL 8	HL	460	270	30/40	su	30	13	29	-24	-20	-	-	Armor break, charge 2401f (40s)
Turn Punch LVL 9	HL	510	280	30/40	su	30	15	32	-29	-25	-	-	Armor break, charge 2881f (48s)
Turn Punch Final	HL	560	290	30/40	su	30	16	36	-34	-30	-	-	Armor break, charge 3380f (56s)

Super Combo
Super Combo (Punch)	HL	60x4*105	0	-1000/0	-	1+9	6(8)6(7)6(8)6(15)3	31	-14	-	-	-	1~11f invincible, Armor break
Super Combo (Kick)		60x4*105	0	-1000/0	-	1+8	6(8)6(8)6(8)6(16)3	31	-	-

Ultra Combos
Ultra Combo 1 (Punch)	HL	45x238x245x238x253x3	0	0/0	-	1+10	33(8)33(7)33(8)33(15)x3	39	-26	-	-	-	1~10f invincible
Ultra Combo 1 (Kick)		45x238x245x238x253x3	0	0/0	-	1+9	33(8)33(7)33(8)33(16)x3	39	-26	-	-
Ultra Combo 2		300	700	0/0	-	1+1	3	58	-	-	-	-	1f 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

St.: Quick and difficult to punish. Far version is good for blockstrings.

St.

C.: Just as useful as standing Jab and an integral part of many of his combos. Good for blockstrings.

C.: Good for blockstrings.

C.: Great general anti-air.

C.: Good for blockstrings.

C.: Balrog's sweep. The knockdown is untechable, but it leaves you open on block. Use as a poke at max range, but look out for focus attacks.

nj. lets you 'wiggle' forward or backward by holding that direction - excellent for dodging fireballs.

j. is your go-to jump-in for combos, blockstrings and air-to-air.

j. has a very 'downwards' hitbox, good for hitting crouchers and the like. A decent meaty.

Unique Attacks

N/A

Normal Throws

N/A

Focus Attack

The range on this is very short, but it has a decent vertical hitbox. It's okay for AA.

Special Moves

Note: All of Balrog's EX moves have one hit of super armour, except for EX Headbutt which instead has invincibility.

Rush Punch

The and EX versions are safe on block at max range (if the tip of the glove hits the opponent).
Hits crouching opponents.
EX rush punch is good for going through fireballs (via the super armour). Most useful if you start the Rush Punch just as they are throwing out the fireball (or before!), otherwise they can block.

Rush Upper

Whiffs on crouching opponents.
After landing the EX version, there is enough hit stun to link either c. or c..

Ground / Lower Rush Punch

Hits low, must be blocked low.
Like Rush Punch, it's safe on block if the tip of the glove hits.
This move is one of the only untechable knockdown specials in the game.

Overhead Rush Punch

Must be blocked high.
Armour-breaking.
The move has a very heavy startup and the normal versions are not comboable.
After landing EX, there is enough hit stun to link either c, c. or c.. Can lead to big damage.

Torpedo Punch

Hits crouching opponents.
Armour-breaking.
Knocks down and sends opponent flying to the other end of the screen - useful for when you want to force opponents to into the corner.
Can be combo'd off a normal at point blank range.

Headbutt

Lots of invincibility frames on startup, so it can be used to go through fireballs. It's easy to punish if you do this too close, though.
The version goes a very long way forward.
Get into the habit of executing the move using Down+Back, Up+Back rather than just Down, Up. This way you keep your back charge, which is essential for...
You can juggle with your ultra afterwards if you maintain back charge.

Turn Around Punch (TAP)

Invincibility frames on startup, again useful for blowing through fireballs.
Armour-breaking.
Does more damage the longer you hold PPP (or KKK), going through 10 seperate stages. At maximum charge (requiring 56 seconds worth of charging), it deals 560 (!) damage! However, the frame disadvantage steadily increases at higher levels so be sure to land it.
Can hit crouching opponents.
You can link a cr jab afterwards if TAP was a counter hit.
Great way to escape wakeup pressure and crossups, using the invincibility frames to end up on the other side of the screen.

Super Combos

N/A

Ultra Combos

Ultra I - Violent Buffalo

Balrog's best Ultra. You should be using this almost all the time.
You can hold or during each hit in order to change the hitbox. is horizontal whilst is vertical and can juggle. It's best to use the latter if you're doing Headbutt > Ultra combos.
Starting the Ultra with actually has a very slightly (1f) faster startup.

Ultra II - Dirty Bull

This move does a truckload of stun to the opponent, far more than the damage it inflicts. You need to capitalise on landing this move and keep rushing them down in order to take advantage of this.
This is a grab that has 1f startup, which means the opponent can jump out of it on reaction. Not very useful.
The motion was changed to two HCB's in AE. Still not very useful.

The Basics

N/A

Advanced Strategy

N/A

Combos

Bread and Butters

All of these combos can be started off a Focus crumple or j./j..

c., c. ~ c. xx Headbutt - 176 Dmg, 280 Stun c. xx Headbutt - 230 Dmg, 300 Stun or EX Overhead Rush ~ c. xx Headbutt - 258 Dmg, 410 Stun or EX Overhead Rush ~ c. xx Headbutt - 298 Dmg, 460 Stun

Note: HP Headbutt can whiff on some characters in certain circumstances and will always whiff on a crouching Blanka. You can replace the Headbutt with a HP Straight Rush in these circumstances.

Hit Confirm Combos

N/A

Dizzy / Focus Crumple Combos

N/A

FADC Combos

N/A

Advanced Combos

N/A

Combos Into Supers

C. xx Straight Rush xx Super - 466 Dmg, 300 Stun
CS. xx Super - 465 Dmg, 200 Stun
Lvl 1 TAP xx Super - 475 Dmg, 200 Stun

Combos Into Ultras

c., c. ~ c. xx Headbutt ~ Ultra I
c. xx Headbutt ~ Ultra I
or EX Overhead Rush ~ c. xx Headbutt ~ Ultra I
or EX Overhead Rush ~ c. xx Headbutt ~ Ultra I

You want to start the ultra just as they are roughly at your head or torso level. Generally you will want to hold down for the first hit, then for the second, then for the last three (so it looks like KPKKK) to maximise damage, especially in the corner.

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