The second episode of my tool-assisted combo video series features SF4’s dedicated grappler duo: Zangief and El Fuerte. While neither is particularly gifted in the combo versatility department, both have a few surprising tricks up their sleeves.

0:11 Since only the fifth hit of Dhalsim’s ultra knocks down, trading hits with it is a good way to keep combos going. All of El Fuerte’s Focus Attacks were charged up to lvl2 so they all caused crumple stun. Since there isn’t enough time to connect any of El Fuerte’s knockdown attacks after that last lvl2 Focus Attack, the only thing he can do is juggle with a normal move or use his super move. It’s easier to time the super so i went with s.MP – the slowest normal move that would juggle.

0:22 Due to the quickness of both his forward dash and Focus Attack startup, El Fuerte is one of the few characters who can dash-cancel his lvl3 Focus Attack then connect a lvl2 Focus Attack before the opponent falls over. After the ultra, El Fuerte’s counterhit j.HP causes his F+MK to pass through Rufus and connect from the other side. Then he links into c.LK, c.MK xx run-stop, c.MK xx LK Flying Dynamite super, which misses one hit at the beginning. The LK version is the only one that’ll combo because it has the shortest startup period.

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