Stance Dance
Azucena is a stance heavy characters and it's important to know which of Azucena's stance options are effective in which scenarios. This can be very complicated depending on factors like frame data, special parry states, armour moves (rage and normal), evasion etc.
For reference, here are some tables detailing which of Azucena's options work and don't work under various common scenarios. You don't have to memorise every option straightaway but you can gradually develop an intuitive from checking replays and going back to these tables.
Punch Sabaki
Incomplete
| Character | True Option Select? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alisa | Chainsaws :( | |
| Asuka | 2/3 | 1,1 & 1,2. (She can also follow up with a low kick, but the low kick is not scary) |
| Azucena | You can attempt to uf1 out of some stance mixups, but it is usually not worth it considering the various other options she has | |
| Bryan | True | 1+2: both follow-ups 1 & 2. Df1 string: can uf1 the very delayable follow-up punches. Does not parry if not delayed, but you remain safe |
| Claudio | All 100% true option selects | Useful on: 2,1,2 (2nd & 3rd hit), 1+2,1+2 (parry second hit when delayed), f1+2,1+2, d1,2 (not on ws1,2), fF2,2 and fF2,1 (even when delayed) |
| Clive | ||
| Devil Jin | ||
| Dragunov | ||
| Eddy | ||
| Feng | Beat safe mid. (db2,2),2: if first db2 is blocked you can uf4 the second hit to launch | |
| Heihachi | ||
| Hwoarang | ||
| Jack-8 | ||
| Jin | ||
| Jun | ||
| Kazuya | Basically true | df1,2 and df1,df1. (high 4 kick also available but rarely used due to being high and -11), 2,2 (safe high mid) |
| King | Parry safe mid | (1,2),1. Backswing blow both 1+2 follow-ups; 1 and 3. |
| Kuma | ||
| Lars | ||
| Law | ||
| Leo | ||
| Leroy | ||
| Lidia | Interesting minigames — see special table below | |
| Lili | True | 3,1 & 3,2. D2,2: parries when delayed, otherwise stays blocked |
| Nina | ||
| Panda | ||
| Paul | ||
| Raven | ||
| Reina | After +6 into WRA, uf1 beats 3 punch options and hits 3,4(hunting hawk). Other options (kicks/lows/throw) fail. But in heat, WRA becomes auto parry and she can bait uf1. | |
| Shaheen | ||
| Steve | ||
| Victor | ||
| Xiaoyu | against Heat Engager: B4,1
Option Select: fF2,1 & fF2,1b Sabaki safe mid: (f3),1 | |
| Yoshimitsu | ||
| Zafina | Not true, but good option | After fF3 (forces crouch, +9): you can uf1 Scr21 and scr1+2. In other cases, use backswing blow to escape scarecrow mixes |
| Option | uf1 | db3+4 |
|---|---|---|
| HAE.1 | yes | yes |
| Delayed HAE.1 | no, and you get launched | no, gives her a knockdown with guaranteed follow-up |
| HAE.2 | yes | no |
| Delayed HAE.2 | hits or trades | yes |
| HAE.1+2 | no | yes |
| Delayed HAE.1+2 | hits | no, and you get launched |
Crouch throw punish
| Character | Moves |
|---|---|
| Alisa | db3
SBT.3/DBT.3 ws3,d3 |
| Asuka | db4,4,4 (interruptible with d1+3) |
| Azucena | FC df3 |
| Bryan | db3 |
| Claudio | d2,2 |
| Devil Jin | db2 |
| Dragunov | d2 |
| Eddy |
1,2,4~3 1,3 d3 u4~3 |
| Feng |
d2 FC df1 db+1+2,2 bt d1 KNP.1 |
| Heihachi | Nothing |
| Hwoarang | db3
bt d3 |
| Jack | db4
FC d1,1 |
| Jin | d2
ZEN.1+2 |
| Jun | db2
db4,4,4 (interruptible with d1+3) |
| Kazuya | d1+2
db3 |
| King | db3
FC df1 |
| Kuma/Panda | FDFA 1+2
uf+3,4,1+2D |
| Lars | LEN.1
SEN.2 db1 |
| Law | df3 |
| Lee | FC df4
HMS.4 |
| Leo | qcf1
df2+3 |
| Leroy |
d2 d2,4 (non-delayable string) FC df3 |
| Lidia | d2 |
| Lili | RAB.3
bt2 |
| Nina | Nothing |
| Paul | 2,d3
DPD.df+4 |
| Raven |
db3 2,3 d4 |
| Reina | Nothing |
| Shaheen | D3
SS.2 |
| Steve | d1
PAB.d+2 |
| Victor | PRF.1 |
| Xiaoyu |
d3 ss4 AOP.d1 ub3 |
| Yoshi |
2,d2 bt.d1 KIN.d+1 |
| Zafina |
d3d (d3 is −15 but to be safe it is best to crouch-throw if you are unsure Zafina transitions to mantis with d3d) fF3+4d SCR.df4 df3,d4 |