Overchain

Overchain is Alex's second V-Skill in Street Fighter V.

Description
Executed by pressing Medium Punch and Medium Kick simultaneously, Alex briefly squats down and stretches to give him the ability to cancel one of his special moves into another one.

Tactics
This move has a total of 50 frames. Alex cannot cancel Overchain from any of his normals or special moves. Once the entire animation of his V-Skill is finished, he can cancel his special moves into a different one. For example, Alex cannot cancel his Flash Chop into a second Flash Chop. However, any of his charged special moves, such as Slash Elbow and Air Knee Smash, doesn't require a charge to perform. This power up gives Alex more combo and damage potential, as well as good okizeme. His special moves can also combo into each other, even on block. This makes certain unsafe special attacks safer to use. While ending combos with Flash Chop has Alex at least -4, by canceling into Light Slash Elbow puts him at -2 instead.

The most optimal time to use this move is right after the opponent is stunned or when they are spaced apart. Alex does not gain V-Meter while performing his second V-Skill. However, when he cancels special moves into anther, he builds a respectable amount, depending if the attacks hit the opponent or if blocked. Only Alex's Power Bomb and Head Crush are excluded from his cancellable special moves. If Alex gets hit by any of his opponent's attacks, he loses this ability. Even if he decides not to cancel the special attack into a different one, he also loses his second V-Skill. The only exception is if he whiffs his special moves or if he connects with his command grabs.

He can also use the EX version of his special moves as a way to end the chained combos. If Alex uses an EX special attack, he must cancel into another EX special move for the chain to work. This requires him to sacrifice two bars of meter. While this may be expensive during some match-ups, some combos make it very useful. One prime example is canceling EX Slash Elbow into EX Flash Chop for a true blockstring.

Alex's first V-Skill gives him more damage after his opponent is stunned. It is also more reliable for it builds meter on activation. It turns his next normal, unique attack, special attack into a Counter Hit or a "Hard Hit" Crush Counter. However, Overchain allows Alex to use his special moves more recklessly since he can cancel them into a safer special attack to make the combo safe on block. He gets more combo routes and damage potential with the usage of two different special attacks.