JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R/Enrico Pucci (Whitesnake)/Strategy

Overview

Strategy

Combos

Matchups

Resources

Neutral

Pucci's main mode for the most of the time is a “stand-off” mode. That's where he has his best normals, best okizeme starters, and also has a useful projectile. Also, in this mode, Pucci has tools to knock down mounted characters.

5M as the main move If the opponent has weak projectiles or none at all, the "semi-keepout" tactic is a way to go for Pucci, since he just doesn’t have strong offensive tools.

Keep a favorable distance with your DISC. As soon as the opponent makes a mistake - immediately punish him with your 5M or HHA.

5M is very fast move and has a huge range for the move of its type.

Thanks to these properties, it is possible to catch the opponent at a large distance, every time he accidentally whiffs in front of you with his normals or specials.

HHA as anti-air HHA will help a lot against those who like to jump on you. It's especially effective against players, who often feel too confident,

when you are at disadvantage and jump on you recklessly.Also beats reckless opponents trying to jump over your projectile,
since it can be canceled into HHA on early recovery frames. A successful hit by HHA will turn the enemy's advantage back into neutral game.
HHA is a very good defensive tool on wakeup as well since Pucci is invisible during the entire animation.

Here is a list of characters one way or another vulnerable to HHA blocking:

Dio Brando, Wham, Kars, Lisa Lisa, Mariah, Koichi, Shigechi, Akira,
Giorno, Pucci (both) , Mista, Josuke 8, Wonder of U.

s.on 3H is a tricky normal This normal despite being slow, unsafe and sometimes unreliable has some tricks in its sleeve.

This is the only move in Pucci's arcenal which can be canceled into specials even on whiff.
You can occasionally throw command grabs, mids and even reversals right after the 3rd hit of this move.
If Pucci uses GHA or HHA after s.on 3H, the move cancels immediately. If s.on 3H is stylish guarded or
if Pucci faces with opponent's GHA/HHA on wake-up or sees any other threat after performng the move,
cancelling into GHA or HHA can potentially catch the opponent who tries to punish Pucci or defendns himself by using Heart Attack specials.

There is a setup which allows you to hit the opponent on the latest frames of the move.

This setup can be cancelled pretty much safely into Pucci’s special counter.
This is a very effective mind game against people who don’t want to deal with your okizeme and spam invulnerable moves on wake-up.

Approaching zoners If the opponent's projectiles are better than your DISC, Pucci has a hard time.

For the most effective approach, dodge the projectile with "Stylish guard", then immediately throw the DISC.
Then, advance under its cover:

Unfortunately, it does not always work at particularly close distances or with a large projectiles

like Caesar's projectiles:

Tips Sometimes the opponent will use stylish guard against your projectile.

So, it makes sense, sometimes immediately after the throwing the DISC try a command throw.
This may not sound like a particularly effective trick, but it catches the accustomed opponent off guard from time to time:

Don't be afraid to occasionally use a medium or heavy command grab in a neutral game.

Yes, it is reactable, especially if it is abused too much.
But from time to time, even experienced opponents fall for this relatively quick long-range move:

Offense

Pucci approaches, mostly under the cover of his DISC projectile. Pucci is most likely will use all the available jumping normals in the arsenal, because most of them have a really good property:

s. off j.L - It’s fast, has a good range and active frames. Because of it’s the short recovery, it can become safe pretty reliably even if stylish guarded.

s. off j.M – Has an amazing large hitbox, good active frames and can create cross-ups. Also good for air-to-air exchanges. Beware though, this move recovers much slower than s. off j.L and if the opponent is hit on early frames of this move, it can become unsafe even on hit. But with a proper positioning and timing it can become safe even if stylish guarded.

s. off j.H - is the longest reaching normal in Pucci's arsenal. It is mainly used to gain an advantage on block and to knock down a mounted character. Also, an amazing defensive move against airborne opponents, since the move has a large hitbox and bounds the opponent on hit.

s. on j.M – Fast normal with a short recovery so it can be easily become safe even if stylish guarded. Launches the opponent on hit regardless of his position, which makes it a good offensive and anti-air tool. s. on j.L s. and s. on j.H are not used that often. Basically, they are the worse versions of their s.off counterparts. s. on j.L has worse hitbox and short active frames and s. on j.H has much worse range and doesn’t bound on hit.

Tips Remember that commands can be entered while in the air.

To do this, do a jumping normal while in the air, then enter a command right before landing.
If you did it correctly, it will work instantly, after the jumping move's recovery

This can lead to an unexpected surprise for your opponent.

For example, 63214L command grab after well timed s.on j.M and s.on j.H are unitnerruptable.

You can even activate your HHA and GHA immediately after the jumping move recovers.

This can catch the opponent who is trying to punish you.

Mix-ups

Pucci creates dangerous situations on hit and on block with his command grabs. Pucci can unexpectedly grab the opponent after each hit and repeat it until the opponent takes action or calls the assist.

The basics of 50/50

The most common one occurs after s.off 5L > s.off 5M attack sequence. There is a tiny gap between s.off 5M and s.off 5H, so the opponent can easily stylish guard the strong attack. However the 623L command grab will easily beat this option. The similar string gaps Pucci has in a stand mode as well in s.on 5L > s.on 5M and s.on 5M > s.on 5H attack sequences.
Another common case happens after s.off 5M (or s.off 2M), when the opponent has to guess between low s.off 2H, special mid 214L and 214L command grab.

What is notable though, performing 214L grab after s.off 2M conceals it slightly: due to fast s.off 2M animation and recovery, the command grab comes out faster and the The opponent may not react to this.

Don't be afraid to occasionally reset the grab even after the couple of jabs on hit, because not only it’s unexpected, but the there are some opponents who hold their assists just to use it just as soon as you will waste your meter. Eating that grab vortex all the time will make them think twice. When the grab animation starts the opponent's assist goes right through you, so sometimes it can even save Pucci from being interrupted.

Another common mix-up happens after s.on 3H on block. The opponent has to choose between an uninterruptable 63214M command grab and 214M.

Okizeme

After almost every knockdown, Pucci can bring an opponent to okizeme chain. Almost any knockdown or grab leads to another okizeme setup, and then to another one. If the opponent never guesses right and does not call out the assist, Pucci will slowly but surely reduce his HP to zero. However, be careful of the opponents who like to spam a defensive moves on wake up, don't risk too much by using the command grabs.

The best okizeme enders for Pucci are: generic throws, 214H, s.on 3H, 63214 command grab. And the most worthy situation of setting up the okizeme would be after his command grab. Pucci can't deal a lot of damage due to the harsh scaling, but he can set up an advantageous situation.

Plus on block DISC

Pucci in some situations gets the opportunity to throw a plus on block 236L projectile. Here's how it works:
If the DISC projectile hits the middle of the opponent’s hitbox as soon as he gets up, on block Pucci gets a huge plus (+7 and above), and on hit, he gets a guaranteed combo. This DISC is one of the most unique aspects of playing Pucci.

Example

As you can see, after one of these attacks, with adjusted timing (generic throw > 5M > 236L), a plus on block and on hit DISC consistently happens. Instead of throwing a DISC, we can do a command grab to beat opponent’s SG or a faster version of the Disc to punish his Stylish Guard. If the opponent blocks the DISC, we have a frame advantage, during which we can do an uninterruptable 5M.

There are a lot of ways to set this up. Here are some another reliable examples:

After 214H In User mode: 3H > 214H > 5L > 236L

In Stand mode: 214H > S > 236L

After s.off generic throw: 214H > delay > 236L

This sequence is consistent even in s.on combos such as: s.on j.M > 5L > 5M > 5H > 214H, the frame advantage after
the s.off generic throw > 214H is different. So instead of 5L, just slightly delay the 236L input.

After s.on generic throw Generic throw > S > 5L > 236L

After s.on 3H knockdown s.on 3H > s.on 5H > S > 236L

or
s.on 3H > 66 > S > s.off 3H > 236L

After s.on 63214L/M/H 63214L/M/H > S > 236L

Okizeme setups and cross-ups

Frame kill example The generic throw and s.off 2L are both uninterruptable.

Most of them happen after his key okizeme enders: generic throws, 214H, s.on 3H, 63214 command grab.

214H options 214H > 66 > j.L - generic throw and s.off 2M are uninterruptable.

214H > S - 66 > s.on j.H, 66 > s.on j.M, s.on 623M and s.on 623H are uninterruptable

214H > 5L - 66 > s.off j.L\M\H, s.off 623M and s.off 623H are uninterruptable.
High probability of crossup with s.off j.M.

In Stand Mode:

214H > S - 66 > s.off j.L\M\H, s.off 623M and s.off 623H are uninterruptable
214H > 5L - 66 > s.on j.L\M\H, s.on 623M and s.on 623H are uninterruptable.
214H > 66 > j.L - 63214L, s.on 5H and s.on 3H are uninterruptable.

If you are upclose then it's possible to perform a 63214 command grab:

214H > S - 236M/H and 3H are uninterruptable.
214H > 5L > S - 63214L\M|H, 3H, 5H, are uninterruptable 214H > 5L - 623M\H are uninterruptable.

Generic throw options Throw > 5L - High probability of crossup with s.off j.M.

s.off 623M and s.off 623H are uninterruptable

Throw > 3H > 66 - Generic throw and s.off 5M are uninterruptable.

63214L\M\H options 63214L\M\H > 66 > j.M - Generic throw and s.on 2L are uninterruptable.

63214L\M\H > S > 66 - all jumping options are uninterruptable.
63214L\M\H > S - 623H grab is uninterruptable, but requires some delay.

Other options s.off 214M > 66 > 5H > S > 66 > j.L - 63214L, 5H, 3H are uninterruptable. Crossup.

s.off 2H > 3H > 5L > S - generic throw and s.on 2L are uninterruptable.
s.off 2H > SG > 66 > S - 63214L, 5H, 3H are uninterruptable.

Recovery setups, cross-ups and grab concealment

In JJBA ASBR the opponent can quickly recover after being knocked down. Pucci can use that mechanic to his advantage. He can intentionally drop combos to conceal his setups, crossups and command grabs to deal more possible damage.

Recovery options 214L - 623L, 236L, 66 > j.M\H are uninterruptable. Crossup with j.M.

3H > 66 - Crossup with j.M little delay is needed

3H > 236L - plus on block disc setup
3H(IPS) > 236L > 236L - plus on block disc setup
3H(IPS) > 236L - Crossup with j.M. No delay is needed,
Also 623M and 623H are uninterruptable and can confuse the opponent.

• In the first case 66 > s.on j.H is intentionally misses. 623L and 3H are uninterruptable.
• In the second case after s.on 3H combo doesn't continue to setup 66 > s.on j.L > 63214L or 3H/5H.

Defense

Pucci's defense is quite weak and risky. Of the options, he has a good counterattack, you can cancel your normal into this move reliably to punish bad habits. But it's locked behind the stand mode.

Example

On the wake-up, he has only HHA to protect himself from frame traps and pressure, and sometimes it can fly under your opponent, leaving Pucci vulnerable.

Example

Assist Usage

In general, Pucci can make any assist playable, because without any problem, Pucci can not only conceal his command grabs, but with proper timing, make the opponent guess which will be the first: grab or assist attack.

Examples As we can see from the example of Ermes, Kosaku, and AW Dio, we can easily apply an assist attack on top of our grab. In the case of AW Dio and Kosaku, even if the opponent uses Stylish Guard, the grab will still catch them.

And if the opponent guesses wrong in AW Dio and Valentine case, Pucci has the full combo.

Caesar A. Zeppeli

Caesar allows you to make even more complex set-up and and cross-ups. The same thing can be said about Hol Horse and Guido Mista.

Example

Koichi Hirose

Koichi can help create setups into "It's mine!" for a meterless DISC steal, in addition Pucci can set-up an inescapable "A Stand power that can boil water..." command grab, which can lead to 900+ damage combos if the opponent has no breaker. While carrying only one Reversal Assist Stock makes it risky for defense, its reduced cooldown time greatly helps.

Keicho Nijimura

Keicho is another Assist that Pucci can take advantage of regardless of which Stand he carries. Pucci can use the landmine as a deterrent to approaches after stealing a DISC. Its properties on hit can also help to get the most damaging combos. Carrying two Reversal Assist Stocks further bolsters its defensive usage.

Akira Otoishi

Pucci can take advantage of the extra HH Gauge provided by Akira to gain more frequent access to HHA. While it can only be used once for this purpose, Akira's two Reversal Assist Stocks help mitigate Pucci's weaknesses on defense.

Johnny Joestar

Johnny is mainly called in neutral to help deal with zoning match-ups (most notably Hol Horse).