Soda Popinski

## Fighter Data

* **Guaranteed Stars**: 1st unstunned punch, every 2nd punch after.
* **Lucky Stars**: 50% chance.
* **Star Punch Dodging**: 3rd Star Punch, then 4th Star Punch once reset.
* **Special Move(s)**: N/A.
* **Refills Of Note:** N/A.
* **KO Conditions**: Get a 5th knockdown (random).
* **Win By Decision**: 10,000 points.

## Fighter Behavior

Soda Popinski is the first fighter in the so-called "Red Zone" of a Single Segment Run where RNG starts to factor more heavily into the outcomes. He will open each phase with two left hooks after which there is a 25% chance he will throw two more hooks, or a 75% chance he will throw two uppercuts. This will then repeat. Uppercuts are what the speedrunner hopes to see from Soda.

When Soda kneels down, that means he is going to throw an uppercut. There are four possible delays before Soda kneels down; No delay (instantly kneels down), short delay (small pause), medium delay (longer pause), and long delay (long pause). If down is held while Soda is in the kneeling position, he will 'freeze' allowing you to land a gut punch. If his next uppercut is then canceled, you can buffer a star punch and instantly send Soda to the mat.

Soda will also throw uppercuts when Little Mac gets up from a knock-down. This is the basis for the "Select Strat" below.

## Single Segment

### **Basic Strat:**

#### Phase 1

* Cancel Soda's first hook with a right gut-punch.
* Cancel his second hook with another right gut-punch.
* Hold right until Mac gets to the end of his dodge and then release.
* Press and hold down to put Mac in a blocking stance and hope that Soda goes into an uppercut. (75% likely). If Soda throws a hook, block or dodge the hook and return to holding down until Soda throws an uppercut.
* Hold down to "freeze" Soda.
* Let go of down and throw a left gut-punch to earn a star.
* Hesitate a bit and then throw a left gut-punch to cancel his second uppercut.
* Buffer a star punch to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 2

* Wait for Soda to throw his first hook to open Phase 2 and counter him with a right face-punch.
* Cancel Soda's second hook with a right gut-punch.
* Hold right until Mac gets to the end of his dodge and then release.
* Press and hold down to put Mac in a blocking stance and hope for an uppercut just as you did in Phase 1.
* Hold down to "freeze" Soda.
* Let go of down and throw a left gut-punch.
* Hesitate a bit and then cancel Soda's second uppercut with a left gut-punch.
* Buffer a star punch to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 3

* Wait for Soda to throw his first hook to open Phase 3 and counter him with a right face-punch.
* Cancel Soda's second hook with a right gut-punch.
* Hold right until Mac gets to the end of his dodge and then release.
* Press and hold down to put Mac in a blocking stance and hope for an uppercut just as you did in Phase 1.
* Hold down to "freeze" Soda.
* Let go of down and throw a left gut-punch.
* Hesitate a bit and then cancel Soda's second uppercut with a left gut-punch.
* Buffer a star punch to TKO Soda.

### **Select Strat:**

#### Phase 1

* Press Select on the pre-fight screen.
* Hold onto the Down button.
* Block the first hook from Soda.
* Cancel his second hook with a right gut-punch.
* Hold right and continue to hold right until Soda hits you with an uppercut. If he throws a hook, you won't have the right damage into P2, there's no real good backup here.
* Hold down to "freeze" Soda. (Option: While Mac is getting hit by Soda's uppercut, roll from right-to-down and continue holding down. Mac will freeze Soda in place without blocking allowing you to punch Soda slightly earlier).
* Throw a left gut-punch to earn a star.
* Buffer a star punch to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 2

* Wait until Soda taps his gloves together, then hit him with a right face-punch.
* Take the next hook to get knocked down.
* Hold down when you get up from the knockdown to freeze Soda in the crouching position. (Option: After Mario says "Fight", roll from right-to-down and continue holding down. Mac will freeze Soda in place without blocking allowing you to punch Soda slightly earlier).
* Throw a left gut-punch to earn a star.
* Quick dodge his next uppercut.
* Buffer a star punch to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 3

For Phase 3, you can use any of the strategies listed on this page to conclude the fight. The safest method is shown here, but one can also use the Screwdriver method if they want to be risky, or the Advanced Strategy involving the right-to-down motion on the D-Pad if they want to be a bit less risky.

* Wait until Soda taps his gloves together, then hit him with a right face-punch.
* Cancel Soda's next hook with a right gut-punch.
* Hold right until Mac gets to the end of his dodge and then release.
* Press and hold down to put Mac in a blocking stance and hope for an uppercut (75% likely).
* Hold down to "freeze" Soda.
* Let go of down and throw a left gut-punch.
* Hesitate a bit and then cancel Soda's second uppercut with a left gut-punch.
* Buffer a star punch to TKO Soda.

### **Advanced Strat:**

With the advanced strat if Soda Popinski throws additional hooks instead of uppercuts you will likely get tagged unless you are very quick to react and can let go of, and re-press, the down button to block his hook. In most cases, when using the Advanced Strategy on Soda Popinski you are willing to risk having to reset in order to get the potential for a upper 40-second Soda Popinski time.

#### **Phase 1**

* Cancel the first two hooks Soda throws with right gut-shots.
* Hold right and continue to hold right until Mac has reached all the way to the right hand side.
* Keep holding right and the moment you see Soda start crouching down for an uppercut, roll your thumb from the right direction to the down direction in one smooth motion and hold onto down. If done right, Mac will return to center but will not be in the blocking animation.
* Continue to hold onto the Down button to ensure Soda is frozen, and while holding down press the B button to throw a left gut into Soda and earn a star.
* Cancel Soda's subsequent uppercut with a left gut-punch.
* Buffer start to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 2

* Cancel Soda's first hook with a right gut shot.
* Counter Soda's second hook with a right face punch.
* Hold right and continue to hold right until Mac has reached all the way to the right hand side.
* Keep holding right until Soda goes down for an uppercut, then roll your thumb from right to down and hold down just as you did in phase 1.
* Continue to hold down to ensure Soda is frozen, then press B to deliver a gut-punch.
* Cancel Soda's second uppercut with a left gut-punch.
* Buffer start to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 3

* Cancel Soda's first hook with a right gut shot.
* Counter Soda's second hook with a right face punch.
* Hold right and continue to hold right until Mac has reached all the way to the right hand side.
* Keep holding right until Soda goes down for an uppercut, then roll your thumb from right to down and hold down just as you did in phase 1.
* Continue to hold down to ensure Soda is frozen, then press B to deliver a gut-punch.
* Cancel Soda's second uppercut with a left gut-punch.
* Buffer start to TKO Soda Popinski.

### **Backup Strategies:**

Reset. With the amount of time losses that exist when Soda throws hooks, if he gives you poor RNG the only recourse is to reset the console and try again.

## Individual Level

### "Screwdriver" Strat (~0:46.00)

In order for the Strat to work, Soda MUST give you an instant uppercut after his opening two hooks. If he gives you a hook (25% chance) or any delay on his uppercut, the strat fails. The Screwdriver was invented by JackimusWedge

#### Phase 1

* Cancel Soda's first hook with a right gut-shot.
* Buffer another right gut-shot to cancel his second hook. (You can do a left hook to save 1 frame but then it's random)
* Slow Right Dodge while holding right throughout the dodge.
* Buffer a left gut shot as Mac is coming back to center.
* Tap Down on the D-Pad as Mac returns to center to land a gut shot on Soda and earn a star. (A misdirected gut punch of sorts).
* Cancel Soda's 2nd Uppercut with a left gut shot.
* Buffer a star punch to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 2

* Counter Soda's 1st hook with a right jab.
* Cancel Soda's 2nd hook with a right gut-punch.
* Slow Right Dodge while holding right throughout the dodge.
* Buffer a left gut shot as Mac is coming back to center.
* Tap Down on the D-Pad as Mac returns to center to land a gut shot on Soda.
* Cancel Soda's 2nd Uppercut with a left gut shot.
* Buffer a star punch to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 3

* Counter Soda's 1st hook with a right jab.
* Cancel Soda's 2nd hook with a right gut-punch.
* Slow Right Dodge while holding right throughout the dodge.
* Buffer a left gut shot as Mac is coming back to center.
* Tap Down on the D-Pad as Mac returns to center to land a gut shot on Soda.
* Cancel Soda's 2nd Uppercut with a left gut shot.
* Buffer a star punch to TKO Soda Popinski.

### Advanced "Screwdriver" Strat (~0:45.00)

In order for the Strat to work, Soda MUST give you an instant uppercut after his opening two hooks. If he gives you a hook (25% chance) or any delay on his uppercut, the strat fails. This strat was developed by Lucandor

Phase 1

* Throw a right misdirected gut-punch. (1/4 chance of landing).
* Buffer a left gut-punch to cancel his 2nd hook
* Slow Right Dodge while holding right throughout the dodge.
* Buffer a left gut shot as Mac is coming back to center.
* Tap Down on the D-Pad as Mac returns to center to land a gut shot on Soda.
* Cancel Soda's 2nd Uppercut with a left gut shot.
* Buffer a star punch to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 2

* Cancel Soda's first hook with a right gut-punch
* Buffer a right face jab to counter his hook (Frame perfect up release)
* Slow Right Dodge while holding right throughout the dodge.
* Buffer a left gut shot as Mac is coming back to center.
* Tap Down on the D-Pad as Mac returns to center to land a gut shot on Soda.
* Cancel Soda's 2nd Uppercut with a left gut shot.
* Buffer a star punch to knock Soda down.

#### Phase 3

* Same as Phase 2

The best possible time with this strategy is 0:44.97

## Videos

```

```

## Referenced Techniques

Buffered Inputs

Misdirected Gut Punch

## Navigation

**Previous Fight:** Piston Honda 2

**Next Fight:** Bald Bull 2