Option Select Throw (OST)

Some of you may have heard the term option select throw (or OST) floating around and wondered what the heck that was. Basically, option select throw is a way to do 1 input and have several possible outcomes, namely teching throws.

There are 2 ways to do OST, one is while standing and the other is while crouching. The more used version seems to the be the crouching one, usually due to circumstances. Take the following situation:

Opponent does a jump in attack (j.rh). They could possibly continue with a block string or attempt for a tick throw. The OST will allow you to be prepared to both block and tech a throw attempt. After the opponent jumps in or starts their blockstring, you can attempt to OST by holding back (standing) or holding downback (crouching) and pressing lp+lk when you think the throw will come. From experience I have found that it works best if you attempt the OST a little 'late', that is, a split second -after- you think the throw would come. If you OST too early you may find a low short come out, which could be good and bad. There is a chance the low short could be reversed, so waiting a split second helps to rectify this.

One major downside to OST is that an opponent can bait out the tech attempt and use this to punish you, so be wise when choosing to OST.

Please feel free to reply with additional information or personal experience with OST. Also if you have further questions please post those here as well.

actually OST is only while crouching. the reason people wont option select while standing is because a throw wiff animation will come out if the opponent stops they're block string. if your standing and want to tech a throw its better to just watch the animations, as there is a 5 frame tech window while standing compared to a 3 while crouching. hence using the OST. and to clarify for people who are unfamiliar with or dont use the OST, while crouching if you press the throw buttens there will be no throw animation, only a crouching short will come out. take the senario above, if the opponent stops a blockstring halfway, you will hit them with a crouching short instead of missing a throw. this can be turned into a blockstring of your own or used simply to relieve pressure.

THIS IS STILL PUNISHABLE. which is very important to remember, good players will intentionally stop a blockstring to see if youll wiff a cr.short from some distances, and great players will intentionally miss a link into a super (shoryu anyone?) and catch you and it will be a counter hit.

still, more often than not it is a great technique and will help tonnes against players who love to throw you.

Additional Option Selects

On top of theOST,there are a coupleof other options selects.

Firstly: jump-ins.If you do a safe-jump and input a special move prior to landing, the special will come out if the opp' reversals,back dashes, or FAs. With Ryu, you can do this with all his moves. Here are a few examples of when this can be good.

Opp' reversals: Generally, you want to use a SRK,which will beat pretty much anything.

Tatsu : Tatsu is good to use against characters who teleport.The tatsu will chase them and hit when the teleport ends.


Ultra : Can be used against a teleporting Akuma, Chun when she uses EX SBK, and any other character who's AA can be hit by ultra.

Super : Same as ultra.


chain options

SF4 prioritises chains,so if you hit the opp' with a light poke then input both the light poke and a special, the special will come out if the second chain misses. For example, Ryu can do c.lk, d/f, d, d/f, lk+ FP. If the opp just blocks, the c.lk will come out, if the opp' dashes back, you'll get the SRK.

I'm presuming other characters have other ways of doing this sort of option select. Just do a light poke, then special + light poke.

"SF4 prioritises chains,so if you hit the opp' with a light poke then input both the light poke and a special, the special will come out if the second chain misses."

this is contradictory though, the definition of chain means they stay in hit or block stun and are unable to move. i think what youve noticed is that your linking the cr. lk (if its possible for ryu, i'm not sure) and if you miss your link, and they backdash, you get the shoryu because the game prioritizes the FP over the lk.

if you miss your link on the other end, too early, the lk's chain and therefore the shoryu isnt allowed to come out.