Stinger

The Stinger (スティンガー, Sutingaa^?) is one of Rolento's special attacks, introduced in the Street Fighter Alpha series.

Input

All appearances	+> or

Description

Rolento's Stinger as it appears in Ultra Street Fighter IV.

Executed by performing a "Shoryuken" motion (forward, downward then down-forward) and pressing kick, Rolento leaps vertically upwards, knives in hand. The jump height is determined by the kick button pressed. If another button is pressed anytime while he is airborne, he performs a quick backwards somersault and tosses a single knife before landing ("Attack!").

The travelling speed of the knife is determined by the kind of attack button pressed: punch buttons launch slow knives while kick buttons launch fast knives. The throw angle of the knife is determined by the strength of the button pressed: light button version throws the knife at an almost perfect square angle; medium button version throws at around a 45° angle downwards; and the heavy button version throws the furthest, usually stretching across the screen (though falling gradually while doing so).

The EX Special version introduced in Street Fighter X Tekken has Rolento leap even higher than the heavy kick version, with increased jumping and landing speed; pressing any button during the EX leap executes an even faster somersault followed by throwing a much faster knife at each of the three angles simultaneously ("You're dead!").

In the OMEGA Mode of Ultra Street Fighter IV, the move's jumping arc can be freely controlled by the player, and the knife usage has been expanded: pressing two punch buttons causes Rolento to throw the knife straight across the screen, while pressing two kick buttons causes Rolento to stab the opponent at short range with them.

Tactics

Due to the speed and angle of the projectile(s), the move can be used as a way to stop foes from approaching from the air or countering Rolento while below him, though the technique itself can be awkward in close situations. In Ultra Street Fighter IV, hitting the opponent with two EX Stinger knives instead of three will juggle them, allowing Rolento to combo into his first Ultra Combo.

Trivia

• In Pocket Fighter, when Ibuki performs her Kunai move, her costume changes to that of Rolento's, referencing the similarity between her move and his Stinger. Perhaps coincidentally, Ibuki and Rolento would go on to become official tag team partners in Street Fighter X Tekken.
  • As some characters actually borrow attacks from others (Eg Felicia having Blanka's Electric Thunder), it is not known if she is using her own Kunai or his Stinger.

Bugs

In Street Fighter X Tekken version 1.04, collision between a Stinger knife and any other projectile may occasionally cause the game to freeze; this was fixed in later versions.

Similar moves

• Kunai

Gallery

Screenshots

Rolento throwing a super sharp Stinger at Ling Xiaoyu in Street Fighter X Tekken.

Rolento leaping up during EX Stinger in Ultra Street Fighter IV, about to throw knives at Ryu.

Sprites