Why Urien's EX Fireball Sometimes Whiffs on Crouching Necro

In the high-stakes chess match that is Street Fighter 3: Third Strike, understanding the nuances of character interactions can be the key to victory. One such peculiar interaction involves Necro and Urien's notorious EX Metallic Sphere (fireball). While seemingly straightforward, there's a layer of cyclical chance that determines whether this powerful projectile connects with a crouching Necro.

The Curious Case of Urien's EX Fireball vs. Crouching Necro

It's a known, sometimes frustrating, phenomenon for Urien players: his EX Metallic Sphere will occasionally, and seemingly randomly, pass clean over a crouching Necro. This isn't unique to Necro; characters like Makoto can also experience this, but our focus here is on our elastic friend. This fascinating detail is just one example of the hidden depth in Necro's animations; indeed, even the seemingly simple act of Necro transitioning from a crouching to a standing position has its own set of easily missed, yet crucial, mechanics.

The reason behind this isn't a bug, but rather a subtle aspect of Necro's crouching animation. When Necro is holding down-back or down, he doesn't just stay in a single static pose. Instead, he has a continuous 60-frame crouching animation cycle. Within this cycle:

• For approximately 39 frames (around 65% of the cycle), Necro is in a very low position, his hurtbox compressed maximally.
• For the remaining 21 frames (around 35% of the cycle), he bobs up slightly, adopting a marginally higher crouching position.

This slight elevation during those 21 frames is just enough for Urien's EX fireball, which travels at a specific height, to make contact with Necro's hurtbox. Conversely, during the 39 frames where Necro is at his lowest, the EX fireball will sail harmlessly overhead. 💥

What This Means in a Real Match

So, what are the practical implications of this cyclical dodge? More often than not, a crouching Necro will avoid Urien's EX fireball. Statistically, there's roughly a 65% chance the fireball will whiff if Necro is simply holding crouch, and a 35% chance it will connect.

This introduces an element of unpredictability to a common zoning tool for Urien.

• For the Necro Player: While you can't precisely time your crouch to always be in the "low phase" during a fast-moving match, knowing this mechanic exists can explain why some EX fireballs hit and others don't. It’s a passive, luck-based advantage in this specific interaction. You're not actively "dodging" with skill in this instance, but benefiting from Necro's inherent animation.
• For the Urien Player: This can be infuriating. An EX fireball, often used for its speed and multi-hit properties to control space or chip away, might simply vanish through a crouching Necro for no apparent reason other than "bad timing" on Necro's animation cycle. It makes relying on EX fireball against a passive, crouching Necro somewhat of a gamble.

Beyond a Simple "Good to Know"

While this interaction might seem like a minor piece of trivia – "good to know, I guess" – it highlights the depth of character-specific details in 3rd Strike. In a game where every hit and every pixel can matter, understanding these subtle mechanics can inform your strategy, even if it's just to mentally prepare for a bit of "RNG" (Random Number Generation) in certain situations.

It also emphasizes how unique character animations and hurtbox variations can create unexpected matchup dynamics. Necro's constantly shifting crouch, designed to give him an elastic and unpredictable feel, has this unintended (or perhaps cleverly intended?) side effect against one of Urien's key tools.

Have you, as Necro, ever felt lucky when an EX Urien fireball went through you? Or as Urien, have you shaken your fist at the screen for the same reason? This 60-frame cycle is likely the culprit!