Street Fighter 3: 3rd Strike/Alex (2024)

• Cancel options: ch sp su

A fairly decent close jab. Only whiffs on the shortest crouchers, like Chun and Oro, making it solid for tick throws and starting offense. Extremely small activation range holds it back however, as Alex essentially has to be point blank for this. He also gets extremely low reward on hit, outside of an awkward and difficult SAII confirm.

• Cancel options: ch sp su

A more standard jab. Decent reach, but whiffs almost every croucher, and leads to no real reward. Not bad to check air parry at times, but Alex has better tools in most situations.

• Cancel options: sp su
• 8 kara range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 10, Block: 5.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

The elbow, a standout Alex button. Disjoint around the tip of the hitbox makes it great to use as an anti-air, and even as a counterpoke vs extended hurtboxes. This also combos to LP/EX Chop, making it a decent punish normal, aided more by the 4 frame startup. If the opponent gets hit airborne by this, you can still combo into 623KK, which is useful in specific combos and as an air parry counter. 5MP also acts as your primary whiff meter build normal.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 17, Block: 9.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

A fast overhead. No knockdown and limited pressure potential due to immense pushback, but very safe if blocked in exchange. This does a chunk of damage and stun, so if your opponent is close to being stunned, you can use this as a surprise option to hit them overhead. It also slams down on air hits, but it isn't the greatest of anti-airs even with this in mind. This does make it decent at catching people jumping out of the corner however.

• Cancel options: sp su
• 8 kara range

A fast kick. The main use of 5LK is that it's your longest range confirm into SAII, and will almost always secure a full connect, assuming it doesn't hit an extended hurtbox. Other than that, it's an alright check vs forward movement, but isn't really used much.

• Cancel options: sp su
• 8 kara range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 10, Block: 5.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

Your primary cancel normal for combos. This normal is one of the two Alex has that combo into LP/EX Chop, and unlike 5MP, it can't be crouched. It's also an alright brawling normal, as it starts up fast and has medium priority. You'll usually use this as your primary meaty as well, cancelled into Chop for a combo. Unfortunately, large pushback and being 0 on block means it's hard to run continued offense after this is blocked. Alex usually has to risk a dash or go for a longer range normal like 2MK afterwards, but generally his turn is over.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 17, Block: 9.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

A long range kick. Decent midrange poke, and is one of Alex's longest range buttons. Not very rewarding or damaging, but nice to use to keep the opponent sitting still at times.

• -16 kara range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 17, Block: 9.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

A huge kick that shrinks Alex backwards on startup. Massively risky, -13 on block and almost a full second of total duration for the opponent to punish. You'll mainly use this as a way to dodge backwards out of the way of mashing, and punish whatever button they pressed, but should still be used extremely sparingly here as it's very high risk for low reward. On air hit, you can follow up with juggles, 6HP and [4]6KK being the most consistent ones.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 10, Block: 5.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

High Chop acts as one of your premier pokes in neutral, thanks to the long range and wide hitbox with disjoint at the tip. It hits above and in front of Alex with great range, catching tons of extended hurtboxes or bad movement. It even functions as an anti-air with the highest hit going active quite fast. All around solid normal that you'll be using often.

• 16 kara range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 17, Block: 9.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

Lariat is a niche but strong normal. The forward movement and high hitbox gives it a huge strength in chasing jumps down, as people will often jump backwards to escape strike/throw setups. You can also use it often in juggles as a reset, which is incredibly useful for Alex as it leaves them point blank for a strike/throw mixup.

• 72 throw range
• Whiffs on crouching opponents
  • Against crouching Dudley and Oro, it can combo after a deep jump normal
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 11, Block: 9.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

Headbutt is a hitgrab, which means it functions similar to a grab but can be blocked like a hit. It has great throw range, and can be used as a meaty to beat reversals that aren't throw invuln, though it whiffs on crouchers and leaves Alex unsafe if blocked. If it hits, it does a decent amount of damage and great stun.

• Same input as Headbutt, but on back turned opponents

One of Alex's options after a MP/HP Chop backturn. Has great reach, letting it combo even after the farthest Chop backturns, and it does solid damage and stun as a reward. It also leaves Alex quite plus on hit, technically plus enough to link an SAII, though it only secures one hit if done this way. The far pushback makes it hard to run much offense, even with the +4 on hit value, so don't get too greedy after using it.

• Cancel options: ch sp su
• 16 kara range

A solid 2LP with decent range, aided by a forward slide on startup that ties with 6HP in terms of kara-cancels. It pays for this by being a frame slower than the faster jabs, giving Alex a hard time on defense with mashing. You can use negative edge to kara-cancel this into LP Power Bomb, giving Alex a scary long range command grab, but it's harder to do kara-cancel normal throws with this compared to Lariat.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 10, Block: 5.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

Another amazing poke, 2MP has great range and priority, catching tons of extended hurtboxes and keeping them at the range Alex wants them. You'll use this all the time to keep the opponent from moving around, allowing you to approach with a dash instead. Doesn't cancel into anything, leaving it fairly low reward, but this is the only weakness of an otherwise great button.

• 2nd hit whiffs on crouch blocking opponents; number of required parries depends on opponent height
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 18, Block: 10.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

Alex rises with a shoulder. Strong normal for anti-airs, and has some low/throw invuln from frame 16 onward. Two hits make it a more difficult parry than his other anti-airs, and the timing of the parries can change depending on height. Unsafe on block, so be careful using it in neutral or randomly on offense.

A neat trait of this move is single hit 2HP. If only the second hit connects, whether as an anti-air or as a well spaced grounded hit, you can juggle afterward into a variety of different things. 623HK and 5MP > 623KK are possible in the corner, and 6HP works anywhere, making it much more rewarding as a jump callout.

• Cancel options: sp su

Your main low and pressure normal in general. +2 on block leaves this as Alex's most plus normal overall, though tick throws from it are somewhat difficult due to pushback. It has built in frametraps with his Target Combos, 2LK > 2MK being the primary one for this, both being low hits and safe on block. This is also a decent low risk poke in neutral thanks to the long range. You can combo this into SAII, making a strong low threat that gives Alex more reward on block than cl.MK.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 10, Block: 5.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

Another great low kick. Has great range and hits low, giving it similar use to a standard 2MK, though it can't cancel. A great poke regardless, as it can catch many things that 2MP or 6MP don't have the range for, and the low hit helps to discourage walking forward/backward.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 17, Block: 9.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

A long range sweep. Good for whiff punishes to secure knockdowns, though the oki afterwards isn't great if they tech. You can still usually dash in however, which pushes them farther into the corner, making it rewarding nonetheless. One of Alex's longest range normals, letting it snipe stuff from farther than usual, though it is unsafe on block.

Alex reaches down with a palm. Low hitstun and blockstun make for a decent jump-in tick throw normal.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 10, Block: 5.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

A long reaching chop. Strong air-to-air with a decent hitbox, and like all of Alex's MP buttons, it's slightly disjointed. Using up-back j.MP as an anti-air is surprisingly useful at times, as many of Alex's anti-airs have a blind spot right above him, which this can cover.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 17, Block: 9.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

A big chop with a solid hitbox. A fairly useful jumping heavy, though it's usually outshined by j.HK since that does more damage and has the same startup. This does knock down on air hit however, and it has some disjoint at the start on top of the hitbox, giving it great use as a jump callout.

Another jump light, with much of the same use as j.LP. Doesn't extend his hurtbox as far downward, meaning it will beat some weaker anti-airs, but relying on it to do this isn't consisnent.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 10, Block: 5.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

A long range j.MK that more works as an air poke. The first frame of the hitbox is massive, making it hard to contest, and it remains large throughout the active frames. You can use this to harrass opponents from far with a jump, where they may not expect something to hit them.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 17, Block: 9.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

Alex's dropkick. Great heavy jump normal, does solid damage and has good range. Your primary normal for punishing fireballs or laggy pokes that you jumped over, and you can use this as an alternate starter for stun combos over 236HP.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 15, Block: 6.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 3, Block: 0.

Cross Chop is an infamously weak button. It functions similar to a divekick, but has one huge issue: Alex goes through a roll animation at the end. On hit, this roll is fairly short, though it still ensures he is always negative after even the most perfect hits. On block or whiff however, he rolls for a much longer time, making it extremely punishable. You can still use it from time to time, as a divekick is still a divekick, but be careful of it being blocked. It starts juggles on air hit, which is great for stun juggles as well, leading to great damage as an air-to-air with much less risk involved as well.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 10, Block: 5.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

A fast double low TC. Combos on hit and is safe on block. Not really rewarding in any way, but a useful option to keep the opponent from mashing or jumping after 2LK.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 17, Block: 9.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

A strange TC that doesn't actually combo on hit. Instead, it's supposed to be a higher risk but higher reward frametrap over the 2LK > 2MK TC, as 2HK will secure a knockdown here. Oddly, this has an extremely tight window to input, with only 2 franes to press 2HK and have it be accepted near the end of the 2LK animation.

• 30 throw range

Body slam is a decent normal throw, acting as your faster but lower damage throw compared to Power Bomb. Midscreen oki afterwards depends on quick rise timings, on some characters you get a dash that leaves you +1, but on others dashing will leave you punishable, meaning you get no oki. In the corner, this always gives strong okizeme with just a slight walk forward.

Alex's UOH isn't too common in his mixup, but it is quite strong. It's fast, can link into SAII or even cl.MK if done meaty, beats throws and lows which makes it great vs people who tech or mash your throws a lot, and is plus if done meaty. If not done meaty, it's not rewarding on hit and can be punished on block, but is still an alright harrassment tool.

• Unheld taunt - Increases damage for the next hit/combo by 9.4% for the first taunt and 6.3% for each additional taunt. Maximum: 6 taunts, 37.5% bonus.
• Held taunt - Increases damage for the next hit/combo or throw by 6.3% per extra arm turn. Maximum: 8 turns, 50% bonus.

A useful taunt, though it's quite slow which limits where you can use it. Usually, you'll taunt after a stun to increase your stun combo damage, but depending on what hit stunned them you may not have time to use this, or you may have to sacrficie a 236HP starter to avoid them mashing out.

• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 16, Block: 10.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 3, Block: 0.

• Cancel options: su
• Backturns opponent
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 16, Block: 10.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 3, Block: 0.

• Cancel options: su
• Backturns opponent
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 16, Block: 10.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 3, Block: 0.

• Cancel options: su
• Self meter gain: Whiff: -40, Hit: -40, Block: -40.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 0, Block: 0.

Flash Chop acts as Alex's primary combo special, whether for starting them or finishing them. LP Chop is his meterless ender, but it only combos from his cancellable mediums, limiting where you can use it. It also doesn't secure a knockdown, instead leaving Alex 0 on hit and fairly spaced, generally making offense afterwards hard or impossible. MP and HP Chop serve a similar purpose to eachother, as both cause backturn, allowing further combos and unique followups. MP Chop is better for punishing after a parry, as it's slightly faster, where HP Chop will be best to start stun combos or punish extremely negative moves.

EX Chop is a stellar combo ender that nets a strong knockdown, does great damage, and is safe on block. You want to end any combo with EX Chop whenever you can.

• 48 throw range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 20, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

• 44 throw range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 20, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

• 40 throw range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 20, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

Power Bomb is Alex's command grab. LP has the longest range and closest knockdown, but the least damage. HP has the highest damage, but the worst knockdown and range. MP strikes a middle ground. Generally, you'll only use these in the corner, and only the LP version which grants okizeme when in the corner. Midscreen, no version gives oki if they quick rise, limiting their use and weakening Alex's throw mixups.

• 48 throw range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 20, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

• 44 throw range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 20, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

• 40 throw range
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 20, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

If you land Power Bomb during a backturn, you get Back Drop instead. This is a higher damage version of Power Bomb that forces a sideswap. Strong option after any MP/HP Chop for good damage, but oki afterwards isn't good.

• 43 throw range
• If Alex holds down when landing, he will be in a crouching recovery state
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 18, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 3, Block: 0.

• 43 throw range
• If Alex holds down when landing, he will be in a crouching recovery state
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 18, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 3, Block: 0.

• 43 throw range
• If Alex holds down when landing, he will be in a crouching recovery state
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 18, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 3, Block: 0.

• 43 throw range
• Cannot hit crouching characters, except for Dudley and Oro during crouching hitstun
• If Alex holds down when landing, he will be in a crouching recovery state
• Self meter gain: Whiff: -40, Hit: -24, Block: -40 (gains 16 meter on hit due to a bug)
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 3, Block: 0.

Knee Smash is an occasionally good anti-air tool. The normal versions don't hit standing characters and can be parried in the air, so they are fairly risky to anti-air with. The HK version does reliably juggle after a single hit 2HP (even if it switches sides). It will generally lose to most buttons, so using it like a normal DP anti-air isn't possible. No version gives very good okizeme.

623KK is extremely fast in comparison to the meterless versions. It will beat certain things on speed alone, and is fast enough to combo from cancellable mediums even on air hit. If the opponent air parries a 5MP, this is fast enough to beat any button they press. It can also still be parried in the air, so be aware of the risk you're taking.

• 1f grounded throw/lower body invulnerable, 5f airborne
• Opponent cannot quick rise after knockdown
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 12, Block: 4.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

• 1f grounded throw/lower body invulnerable, 5f airborne
• Opponent cannot quick rise after knockdown
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 12, Block: 4.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

• 1f grounded throw/lower body invulnerable, 5f airborne
• Opponent cannot quick rise after knockdown
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 12, Block: 4.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

• 1f grounded throw/lower body invulnerable, 5f airborne
• Auto-tracks to opponent's location at the moment the move is input
• Opponent cannot quick rise after knockdown
• Self meter gain: Whiff: -40, Hit: -40, Block: -40.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 0, Block: 0.

Stampede, usually just called Stomp, is a situationally strong special. Frame 1 low and throw invuln lets it hop over a ton of things in neutral, and it immediately knocks down with great oki afterwards. They can also cross up at certain spacings, allowing you to create a mixup where MK Stomp wouldn't cross up, but HK Stomp will. This loses to tap back parry OS however.

EX Stomp is a great special. It comes with all the same strengths, but will track to the opponents location when input, making it a stellar option to punish things from fullscreen with a knockdown or just surprise the opponent with a fast option they weren't expecting. If blocked, it's fairly safe as well. It is vulnerable to the same parry OS however, and it even glows yellow to warn the opponent that it's coming. Don't get predictable with this, and it'll serve you very well.

• Cancel options: su
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 12, Block: 4.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

• Cancel options: su
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 12, Block: 4.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

• Cancel options: su
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 3, Hit: 12, Block: 4.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 2, Block: 0.

• Cancel options: su
• Self meter gain: Whiff: -40, Hit: -40, Block: -40.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 0, Block: 0.

Slash Elbox is a strong midrange harrassment special and punish tool. LK Elbow acts as a poke and pressure option, since it's much faster and safer than the other versions. MK and HK more act as long range punish tools when the opponent whiffs something. Every version can super cancel, and combo into SAII, making them much scarier.

EX Elbow is one of Alex's best moves. It travels forward extremely fast, is hard for most characters to punish, and even secures a knockdown on hit. It catches extended hurtboxes, dodges under some high hitting moves, and punishes things at far ranges extremely consistently. The first hit can cancel into supers, giving an expensive but rewarding combo to SAII.

• 12 throw range + short hop
• Can only hit standing opponents
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 20, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

• 12 throw range + medium hop
• Can only hit standing opponents
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 20, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

• 12 throw range + long hop
• Can only hit standing opponents
• Self meter gain: Whiff: 2, Hit: 20, Block: 0.
• Opponent meter gain: Whiff: 0, Hit: 4, Block: 0.

An odd looking command grab that has Alex hop forward. It dodges over lows and beats throws, but will whiff over crouching opponents. LK version hops the shortest range, HK hops the farthest. Okizeme afterwards is generally bad, with the best possible oki being 0 after wakeup. On some characters, Alex can actually be punished for landing this move, such as Chun-Li with a reversal SAII. Use very rarely, if at all.

• 68 throw range
• 1-4f fully invulnerable (until end of active frames)
• Opponent can jump out after super freeze if they have not committed to another action

Hyper Bomb is a sadly flawed super, but it still has uses. SAI is a command grab super that does strong damage and has great range. It's a single 360, unlike Hugo's 720, making it much easier to input. It works as a reversal, and can be used after MP or HP Chop in combos. However, it has only one bar, limiting how much EX Alex can use. It also is not instant startup, which means that if they were blocking, they can react to the super freeze and hold up to avoid the throw. These factors heavily limit the super, making it a niche pick, usually for the strong reversal capabilities.

• 68 throw range
• Higher damage/stun version of SA1 against backturned opponents
• Can combo after MP or HP Flash Chop

If you use Hyper Bomb after a MP or HP Chop, you get this. Stellar command grab, does amazing damage and gives strong okizeme afterwards. One of the biggest positives of SAI is this being an option, so if you want to run SAI, make sure you learn where you can punish with Chops.

• 68 throw range
• 1-4f fully invulnerable (up to its 3rd active frame)
• Frame advantage on block varies drastically based on which hits connect; large amount of pushback on each blocked hit
• Even if the first 4 hits don't connect, the Power Bomb at the end can still throw the opponent if they are in range
  • This is especially common if the opponent crouch blocks in the corner

The super of choice for Alex. Simple and strong, decent in combos, and most importantly, stocks a ton of EX for Alex to work with. The final hit is a command grab, which can catch opponents who are unaware if they block the first hits. It also works as a reversal, and while it doesn't fully connect, can work as an anti-air and secures a knockdown. It won't fully connect at long range, leaving Alex punishable on hit, so make sure the opponent is in range before using it.

• 61 throw range
• Will grab airborne opponents that try to jump away after Elbow xx SA3 blockstring
• Button strength determines range (LP = close, HP = far)
• Will always stun, except in rare re-stun combo attempts against high stun characters

Stun Gun Headbutt is a high reward super, but mostly falls into the wayside as a gimmick. It's a unique command grab that will actually grab opponents rising midair, and if it grabs the opponent, they'll be instantly stunned. It also has a fairly short bar, meaning you'll have it often. This short bar is also a major weakness however, as it also only stocks 1 super, meaning Alex has barely any EX moves to use. Mixed with the fact that Alex can't combo into it, and has to rely on knowledge check style traps, it's hard to see much success with SAIII.