Necro's Secret Weapon in 3rd Strike: SA3 into SA3 Pseudo-Invincible Reversal

Unlocking Necro's Pseudo-Invincible Reversal: SA3 into SA3 in 3rd Strike

Necro players in Street Fighter 3rd Strike are always looking for an edge, and a particularly interesting, albeit situational, piece of tech is the ability to combo his Super Art 3 (SA3), Electric Snake, into itself. This isn't just any SA3 into SA3; it's a specific sequence that can function as a surprisingly effective pseudo-invincible reversal under the right conditions, even for a character often described as "cursed" by his lack of truly invincible options on his key Super Arts.

The Crucial Conditions: Reversal Trade with Light Attacks

Based on extensive testing, this SA3 into SA3 combo appears to work universally against all characters in Third Strike, but only when specific criteria are met. The setup hinges on Necro's SA3 being used as a reversal – that is, timed to execute immediately as Necro is getting up or escaping pressure.

Crucially, due to Necro's SA3 (Electric Snake) lacking significant invincibility frames, it will often trade with an incoming attack rather than beat it cleanly. The magic of this specific tech happens when this trade occurs with an opponent's light move (light punch or light kick). It is exclusively against these light attacks that the phenomenon occurs.

Why Does It Work? The Frame Advantage Anomaly

When Necro's reversal SA3 trades with a light attack, Necro recovers from the trade interaction more quickly than the opponent. This brief window of advantage is just enough to allow him to input and connect a second SA3. This results in a true 4-hit combo (2 hits from the first traded SA3, and 2 hits from the follow-up SA3).

The benefits are notable: against Ken, for example, this sequence inflicts approximately 30 points of stun and around 54 damage points. More importantly, if Necro has two full bars of SA3 meter, this technique effectively grants him a pseudo-invincible reversal, something highly valuable in a game like 3S where strong wakeup options can dictate the flow of a match.

Visual Proof and Strategic Implications

This exact scenario can be observed in action at the 1:15 mark in the following video, demonstrating its practical application:

While requiring two stocks of SA3 meter is a significant cost, having a reliable way to escape pressure and punish an opponent's light meaty attacks can be a game-changer for Necro. It adds a layer of defensive capability that opponents must respect, especially if they are not aware of this specific interaction in Street Fighter 3rd Strike.

Understanding and practicing such character-specific nuances is key to mastering the complexities of Third Strike and can turn seemingly desperate situations into opportunities for Necro.