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El Fuerte: Street Fighter 4 Character Guide

Last updated on Aug. 31, 2008

3 Comments

Character Overview

El Fuerte is a lightning quick grappler who's somewhat like Alex from SF3 and Guy from the Alpha series.

His game revolves around landing his Infinite Combo Loop, getting in the Mix Up scenario (see below), playing keep away and using his pokes and anti air attacks.

Without his Infinite Combo Loop, he has a lot of trouble dealing consistent damage, but with it, he's one of the best characters in the game.

When the game is patched/upgraded, most players are assuming they will remove his loop, but they may also beef up El Fuerte a bit because without this, he's not a great character.

• Strengths •
+ Ridiculous Infinite Combo Loop.
+ Very, very fast, insane mobility.
+ Really good Ultra move.
+ Good mix up game after scoring a knock down.
+ Wall Jump is effective against projectile throwers.
+ Great at running away.
+ Pretty good zoning game.

• Weaknesses •
- Very low damage output.
- Takes a lot of damage when he's hit.
- You have to keep your opponent guessing to win consistently.

Infinite Combo Loop

                   (Repeat)

Fuerte is the only character in the game to have a combo that can be looped repeatedly for massive damage and frustration of your opponent.

It's done by pressing Hard Punch when close, Canceling into his Habanero Dash, press Light Punch to stop the run and then starting the whole process over from the beginning, starting with the Hard Punch when close.

This results in El Fuerte continually running up to his opponent hitting them with Hard Punches which will soon dizzy or kill them.

It's unknown how many times this can be done in a row, but most assume it is unlimited.

Many players are setting up this loop with a Level 3 Focus Attack, Dash Canceling and then going into the first Hard Punch up close.

Even though this is a devastating combo loop — some would say unfair — it is NOT easy to pull off the string of attacks consistently.

And this will probably be eliminated when the console versions of Street Fighter 4 roll around.

Mix Up Game

Fuerte's mix up game starts when your opponent is getting up from being knocked down. The first step is to begin the Habanero Dash, and then either go for the Body Splash (Medium Punch) or Flying Throw (Hard Punch).

Body Splash: This move has high priority and will beat out most of the games wake up moves, or at least trade hits with them. Beware of some Ultras and Supers though. You can also cross them up with the Body Splash forcing them to block in the other direction. This move must be blocked high.

Flying Throw: If your opponent gets in the habit of blocking high, this move will grab them and slam them to the ground. They can duck under this attack, but when used in conjunction with the Body Splash, it's a pretty good loop.

Landing any one of these attacks will knock down your opponent, letting you start the trap all over again.

Even though this is a good trap, the problem is that Fuerte doesn't do enough damage and even if hit your opponent several times, it still takes a good bit more to finish them off.

Special Moves

• Habanero Dash (Running Forward) •
This move will make El Fuerte dash towards the other fighter and pressing another punch or kick button will result in the following...

— Stops the dash.

— Body Splash, can go over projectiles. You can control the range of this move by pressing the joystick either left or right, and if you get the range down you can use it to cross up.

— Flying Throw, also can go over projectiles. You can control the range of this move by pressing the joystick either left or right. Fuerte will throw a standing opponent when he gets close to them.

— Stops your run and does a quick dash backwards.

— Quick Jumping Kick, may hit overhead.

— Sliding Kick.

Note that you can do a Habanero Back Dash to run away while doing this move.

• Habanero Back Dash (Running Backward) •
This makes El Fuerte run backwards until he hits the edge of the screen and then run forwards.

You can also do the Habanero Dash move to stop running backwards and run forwards.

Pressing a button will result in the following:

— Stops the dash.

— Body Splash towards your opponent, opposite of your run. You can control the range of this move by pressing the joystick either left or right.

— Flying Throw towards your opponent, again opposite of the direction you're running. You can control the range of this move by pressing the joystick either left or right.

— Hops towards the far wall setting up a Wall Jump, but this won't come out if you're too close to the edge of the screen.

(Hold for 2 seconds)
• Quesadilla Bomb (Chest Buster) •
The longer you hold down a kick button, the more damage and stun this move will do when you release it.

• Guacamole Slew (Air Throw) •
Anti air move. You jump up feet first and attempt to grab the other fighter, much like Alex's anti air grab in SF3.

(In the air)
• Wall Jump •
This move actually makes Fuerte gain speed, unlike other character's wall hops. If you press Hard Punch right after you jump off the wall you'll go about 3/4th's of the screen in the Flying Throw animation, which works well against projectile happy opponents.

EX Moves

• EX-Habanero Dash •
Like the normal version of this move, but you can absorb one attack and keep going, but you still take damage if you're hit.

Doing an EX run at someone throwing a fireball and hitting them with a Body Splash can be a great way to score a knock down and set people up for Fuerte's mix up game.

• EX-Habanero Back Dash •
Like the normal version of this move, but you can absorb one attack and keep going, but you still take damage if you're hit.

• EX-Guacamole Slew (Air Throw) •

Super and Ultra Moves

• El Fuerte Dynamite (Super) •
Good damage and it comes out quickly, but it's only effective in very close ranges.

• El Fuerte Flying Gigabuster (Ultra) •
This comes out very quickly, and it's a grapple so it's not blockable.

If you can get your opponent to do some stupid things when you have your meter built up, or keep them off balance enough you can land this somewhat consistently. You can also control the range you fly by pressing the joystick in either direction.

Fuerte hops up and lands on the other fighter's head. If they don't escape this in time, Fuerte launches into a series of grabs resulting in pretty good damage.

If you're familiar with Alex's Stun Gun Headbutt super art in SF3, this works much the same way. You can hit with this by baiting a jumping in enemy and then starting the Ultra before they land. You'll jump on their shoulders just as they hit the ground. If you do this while they are on the ground, it can be easily avoided/punished with a anti-air or jump attack. Timing is the key.

Combos

• Standing Hard Punch (close), cancel into Habanero Dash, Stop (Light Punch), Standing Hard Punch (close), Repeat •
This is El Fuerte's infinite combo loop. See the section above for more details.

Most players are starting this combo out with a Level 3 Focus attack, Dash Canceling into a close Hard Punch and going from there. Dirty.

• Jumping Hard Punch, Hard Kick (close), cancel into Habanero Dash, Medium or Hard Punch while in Dash •
Decent damage.

• Jumping Hard Kick, Hard Kick (close), cancel into EX-Guacamole Slew (Air Throw) •

• Jumping Hard Punch, Hard Punch (close), cancel into Habanero Dash, Medium Kick while in Dash, cancel into Super •
A tricky combo to pull off at first, but you can execute the first part of the Super motion by doing a quarter-circle forward and pressing Medium Kick and then doing that again to execute a Super right after the Jumping Kick hits.

It's also possible to use some of Fuerte's other Habanero Dash attacks in this combo in place of the Medium Kick.

• Level 2 Focus Attack, Dash Cancel, Hard Kick (close), EX-Guacamole Slew (Air Throw) •

Normal Moves

Note this is not a complete list of all of El Fuerte's normal moves, just the ones we think are noteworthy.

• Overhead Kick •
Decent range on this overhead attack, and you can sometimes follow it up with a Universal Throw (Light Punch + Light Kick).

• Anti Air Punch •
Word on the street is this is one Fuerte's best anti air attacks.

(In the air)
• Jumping Hard Punch •
A high priority and good damage jump in. This can beat out a lot of character's anti air attacks.

Contributions to this guide by Rush Down, Reno, n0thingman, Keits, FuguTabetai, MOD and Dentron.