Enrico Pucci

**PLAYSTYLE**

900HP

Seal your opponent’s specials, then turtle. Chant words as an ‘investment’ for transformation, if need be.

Pucci is a character with the special ability to steal the opponent’s specials by comboing into HHA, or use his command throw. Once he has done this, he can make use of his good normals, and excellent projectile to turtle up and have the opponent implode on themselves. Pucci’s main mode is S-OFF, where he has access to great pokes, his projectile, and the ability to ‘chant words’  (22H) to transform into C-Moon. With 3 bars, he can then transform again into his final, devastating form.

His main move across all three forms is 236A, a move where Pucci spins and throws a disc. The disc forms as he spins, often resulting in CH trades against hasty opponents. It’s his main pressure move and allows him to turtle. From here, Pucci basically splits into three different characters:

Whitesnake: In S-OFF he has 214A, a chopping blow combo ender that gives hard knockdown, giving Pucci enough time to chant a word. 22H chants words. Chanting 14 words will allow him to transform into C-Moon. It recovers fast, but Pucci is vulnerable during the chant. The move also costs meter, whether the word is chanted or not. Trying to power through words fast uses up meter quickly. You can hold H down to charge multiple words as one ‘attempt’, however. In S-ON, Pucci has access to 41236A, a command throw that seals the opponent’s specials. It also has 63214A, which is a counter. His HHA in this form will also seal specials.

C-Moon: When Pucci transforms into C-Moon, he loses the ability to steal specials. S-OFF has 214A, an upwards projectile that launches the opponent. PCing after this move will guarantee the transformation GHA into Made in Heaven. In S-ON, he has 236A, a lunging unblockable punch that launches. He has 214A as well, an unblockable strike that crumples. Both of these moves are Strand Rushable and are useful in combos and setups. 22H becomes a counter that can be done in both S-OFF and S-ON.

Made in Heaven: If Pucci pulls off his C-Moon GHA transformation, he transforms into Made in Heaven. For the rest of the round, Pucci is super fast, and the opponent is super slow. Only S-ON has any unique specials. 236A is a lunging, launching slash that can be repeated in the air to waste time. 623A instantly teleports Pucci next to the opponent in front (L), above (M), or behind (H). Finally, he has air 214A, which throws knives at different angles. These knives also launch the opponent, giving way to 236A juggle loops. During this transformation, the timer counts down at an accelerated rate, ending the round quickly. This, combined with long juggle combos makes Made in Heaven primarily used for time outs.

Casual onlookers will see videos of Pucci’s Made in Heaven and assume he’s bar none the strongest character in the game. The reality of how this character is played, however, is very different. Most Pucci players stick with his initial form above all else. While Whitesnake feels a bit limited, it is a solid moveset boosted by the ability to seal the opponent’s specials. Chanting 14 words eats up not only meter that could be used for combos, but also time that could be used for okizeme. Players will be spending almost all their time as Whitesnake, and the ability to turtle is his main playstyle. Pucci players may choose to ‘invest’ in some words to get the ball rolling in case they need to make a major comeback, which C-Moon excels at. C-Moon grants fast, unblockable moves and higher combo damage. Many people think of Made in Heaven as the ultimate character, but it isn’t good for comebacks at all. The 3 bars needed to guarantee the transformation (on top of the time and meter for words), means players will have to dedicate the whole match to obtaining this form. Made in Heaven does low damage, and instead opts to waste time, which ticks down at a rapid rate. Although the opponent is at a severe disadvantage, they can still run away. This means that obtaining Made in Heaven with a life deficit can backfire horribly. Instead Made in Heaven exists solely as a ‘style-onning’ tactic, as a sign of disrespect.

Pucci’s Whitesnake generally does low damage for the trade of sealing specials and pesky moves. Using Rotation Cancels, however, can up his damage drastically. It is a tricky and advanced way to combo that requires Easy Beat, which comes at its own risks and goes against his turtle playstyle..

PROS

* S-OFF 236A universal projectile has crazy active frames and is annoying to deal with. Shaves health with CH.
* Ability to seal opponent’s specials with HHA and S-ON 41236A.
* Strong, fast pokes. Ideal for keep-out.
* Ability to transform based on his needs.
* C-Moon has powerful, fast, unblockable attacks, high combo damage.
* Made in Heaven can make the round unwinnable for the opponent due to forced time-outs.

CONS

* Low damage, unless you can incorporate advanced combos in Whitesnake or C-Moon. Takes practice and wall awareness.
* Movesets broken up across 3 forms, can feel limited.
* Chanting 14 words requires sacrificing meter and time.
* Getting Made in Heaven needs 3 bars on top of that.
* Made in Heaven is only good for when you’re already winning, only lasts one round, and can backfire.
* No forms have a true reversal or anti-air, instead having to get craft with his other moves.

#### Combos

White Snake

* [Stand OFF] 5L 5M 5H 6H 214H [DM 163]
* [Stand OFF, 1 Gauge] 236H PC 9 j.H 5L 5M 5H 6H 214H [DM 240]
* [Stand OFF, 1 Gauge] 5L 5M 5H 6H 214H(1) HHA [DM 250]
* [Stand OFF, 3 Gauge] 5L 5M 5H 6H 236L PC 9 j.H 5L 5M 5H 6H 236L PC 9 j.H 5L 5M 5H 6H 214H(1) HHA [DM 514]
* [Stand OFF, 1 Gauge] 5L 5M(1) 214H(1) PC 5L 5M 5H 6H 236H 22H(2) [DM 159] [Stand ON] 5L 5M 5H 6H [DM 116]

* [Stand ON, 1 Gauge] 5L 5M 5H 6H HHA [DM 236]

* [Stand ON, 3 Gauge] 5L 5M 5H 6H PC 5L 5M 5H 6H PC 5L 5M 5H 6H HHA [DM 408]

* [Stand OFF, 2 Gauge] 5L 5M 5H 214H(1) PC 5L 5M PC S 41236H [DM 189]
* [Stand OFF, 2 Gauge] 5L 5M 5H 6H 214H(1) PC 5L 6H 214H(1) HHA [DM 325]

Pucci Baby Confirms:

* 2H, all ranges: 1 word

* Forward/Back Throw: 1 word
* 214H: 1 word, can be PC'd for 2 words
* S-on 6H>undo stand: 1 word

C-Moon

* [Stand OFF] 5L 5M 5H 6H 214H [DM 156]
* [Stand OFF, 3 Gauge] (5L 5M 5H 6H 236L PC 9 j.M)x3 5L 5M 5H 6H 214H [DM 467]
* [Stand ON] 5L 5M 5H 6H [DM 116]
* [Stand ON, 0.25 Gauge] 236H S 9 j.M 5L 5M 6H 214M/H [DM 186]
* [Stand ON, 0.25 Gauge] 214H S 9 j.M 5L 5M 5H 6H 236H [DM 236]