Hwoarang
Overwhelming offensive pressure with his multiple stances, rapid attacks, and plus on block transitions
Heavy-hitting rush down
Hwoarang is a heavy-hitting rush down character, using strong plus frames and multitude of stances to force opponents into a torrent of snap defensive decisions - many of them granting Hwoarang huge damage potential. With the buffs and new tools he got in Season 2 (such as RFF df3, a long range, plus on block, homing, wallsplatting, mid heat engager) countering a good Hwoarang player requires many hours of labbing. At lower levels of play he's infamous for being an absolute blender of stance attacks and plus frames, but starting from blue ranks, Hwoarang requires higher levels of execution and a more measured approach to pressure due to his best sources of plus frames often requiring highs or lows.
Overwhelming offensive pressure with his multiple stances, rapid attacks, and plus on block transitions
Learning the ins and outs of his four stances can be challenging
Stances
- LFF (Left Foot Forward)
- RFF (Right Foot Forward) – 3+4
- LFS (Left Flamingo Stance) – f+3
- RFS (Right Flamingo Stance) – f,n,4
- BT (Backturn Stance) – 1+2
Heat Smash
Mid – i17~18 – +11 – Possible in LFF/RFF/LFS – Shifts to RFS
- RFS.f+4,4, RFS 4,3, and RFS.d+4,3,4 become natural combos.
Strengths
Overwhelming offensive pressure with his multiple stances, rapid attacks, and plus on block transitions
Can armor through pressure with an assortment of armor moves and strings
Can approach the opponent while armored with his df3 cancel
Multiple tricky and effective strings to stack chip damage
Not a grappler, yet has full throw game, an 11 frame throw and even an air-throw, arguably the best throw game for any non-grappler in the game
One of the best 11 frame punishers in the game in his 43, the 3 also being cancellable into stance
Plasma Blade is one of the best whiff punishers in the game
Has arguably the best mid launcher in the game in Just Frame Skyrocket (JFSR), safe on block and 16 frame startup
The only character in the game whose weak sidestep direction changes throughout the match
Weaknesses
Learning the ins and outs of his four stances can be challenging
Almost all of his attacks are punches or kicks, making him weak to parries and reversals
Loses his throw game almost completely in stances (all stance throws are 1+2 breaks)
Cannot block during Flamingo stance
Must use unsafe lows to condition opponents to crouch to make mids effective
Requires above average execution on tools like the Just Frame Skyrocket (JFSR) and his wavedash
Moves to learn first
Signature and situational picks come from the guide; the fastest launcher and best unpunishable poke are derived from this character's own frame data.
- Parry←□✕/←△○
b+1+3/b+2+4 (high or mid punches)
- SignatureRFS↓○✕○
RFS.d+4,3,4
Predator Bardiche
- Launcher↘△
i15 · 13 dmg · -7 on block
Right Uppercut
- Launcher←✕
i16 · 17 dmg · -19 on block
Left Plasma Blade
- LauncherJFSR
standing
- Launcher↑✕
i20 · 25 dmg · +5 on block
Jump Kick
- Wall splat↑△
i13 · 18 dmg · -9 on block
Knife Hand Strike
- Wall splat↘△
i15 · 13 dmg · -7 on block
Right Uppercut
- Counter-hit launcher←○
i13 · 17 dmg · -10 on block
Nose Bleeder
- Counter-hit launcherRFF←✕
i13 · 17 dmg · -10 on block
Nose Bleeder
- Heat engager↘✕○
i24 · 7 dmg · -14 on block
Ignition Barrage
- Heat engager→R1○
i17 · 22 dmg · -7 on block
Peacekeeper
- Heat engagerRFF↘✕
i22 · 21 dmg · +1 on block
Black Kite
- Fastest launcher✕○
i7 · 11 dmg · -3 on block
Flying Eagle
- Safe on block→→R1✕
i22 · 30 dmg · +6 on block
Flying Nerichagi
Missing generics: {{Dotlist| * d+4
Watch the guide
Video guides for this character, linked to the sections that matter most. Notation on this site comes from the frame data; these show the technique.
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