Overview
This page provides a long guide for a majority of the PvP mechanics, along with important information to take note of. There are various mechanics, and most will be covered.
Rush Attack
NUCLEAR-STAR's Rush Attacks
Rush Attack, or simply your M1s, is the default move binded to left kick on every ability. They consist of 4-5 basic hits, ending with a blow that knocks the person away (non-ragdoll). They deal 45 base damage and is mainly used to gain meter bar/HT or to deal chip damage. Rush Attacks into any move is 99% of the time not true. For example, if you were to perform three or four M1s into a barrage, the enemy can simply buffer block out of it or use a hyperarmor move to escape. However, this may not be the case for all abilities, as for some abilities, if you were to perform four M1s at a certain angle, you are able to perform another move onto the enemy which ends up being true. In other and some cases, performing 3 M1s into a move can also end up being true, for example, Sorcerer Killer's M1s into Unwavering Flurry is true.
Move Types
Example of a cutscene move
There are various type of moves: grab, stun, hyperarmor, ragdoll, Iframe, counter, and cutscene moves. Some moves may have different variants, such as King Of Curses's moves having aerial, held, and normal variants, and some may also have QTE (Quick Time Events), in which you have to re-press the key of the move to activate a sort of ability. There are also projectile moves, which shoots a projectile forward or homes towards targets.
- A grab move is an attack that simply catches the enemy and knocks them away. Most grabs bypass block, with exceptions such as King Of Curses' block.
- A stun move is an attack that keeps the enemy still and stunned in their initial position, dealing mediocre damage and allows for more combo extending.
- A hyperarmor move is an attack that grants hyperarmor, which means that the move cannot be cancelled in any way, however, the player can still get damaged by moves. Hyperarmor is indicated by highlighting the player in yellow. Players have slight endlag after a hyperarmor move ends, allowing enemies to attack them. Some moves have invisible hyperarmor, granting the player hyperarmor without a yellow outline.
- A ragdoll move is an attack that ends with a ragdoll, essentially knocking them away. Some moves can damage ragdolled enemies and some may also inflict longer ragdoll than other moves. There are moves that inflicts soft ragdoll, a form of ragdoll that allows the player to use any move on the ragdolled opponent.
- An Iframe move is an attack that grants the player invincibility frames. Iframe attacks cannot be cancelled, and the player cannot take damage during the attack. There is usually no indicator for Iframe moves.
- A counter move is a defensive attack that enters the player in a vulnerable pose stance. If the player is attacked during the counter's time frame, the enemy will be hit or stunned by the player, depending on the counter. Players have slight endlag if the counter fails and ends, allowing enemies to attack them. The end of a counter is indicated by a short red highlight on the player.
- A cutscene move is an attack that plays a cutscene and cannot be cancelled after startup. They are usually "ultimates", finishers, or just general attacks, e.g The Strongest's 200% Hollow Purple, Hito Model: Nika's Bajrang Gun, Sorcerer Killer's Swift Stab finisher, or Yasuo's Call of the Wind. They have a slight startup in which the move can be cancelled.
Block
Example of a perfect block
Blocking plays a key role in PvP, and is the default move binded to F. You are able to block constant attack moves such as barrages or rush attacks. Blocking drastically lowers the damage of moves and allows the player to avoid ragdoll. There is a mechanic for blocking called perfect blocking. During the beginning of a perfect blockable move, a shiny yellow symbol will indicate if a move can be perfect blocked or not. When perfect blocking a move, the enemy will be temporarily stunned and highlighted in yellow with kanji. They will be in a vulnerable state, and the player can start a combo or generally attack the enemy. A player's block can be broken if a heavy move is used on it, mostly being hyperarmor moves, e.g Star Platinum's Star Breaker. Grab moves, most cutscene moves, and some general moves bypass block.
Combos
Example of a stun combo
Combos are the foundation of PvP and is the main focus to deal damage. There are two "types" of combos, them being a stun combo and a soft ragdoll combo. A stun combo is a combo in which a player uses consecutive moves that don't ragdoll and inflict large stun, allowing for move extensions and high damage output. A soft ragdoll combo is a combo in which the player uses moves that essentially "ragdoll" the opponent, however, they can still be hit while ragdolled. This can vary from moves that just hit ragdolled enemies or actual moves that inflict soft ragdoll.
Movement
A four M1 chain combo using movement
Movement also plays a key role in PvP, and is very important to land combos or attacks. Every ability has the default binded C move Quickstep, which allows players to dash a short distance while being granted invincibility frames. There are general movement moves such as The World's Teleport or Hito Devil Fruit Model: Nika's Soru, and they also grant invincibility frames to the player. Movement is also crucial to land four M1 combos like Ope Ope No Mi (Spec)'s four M1s into Sterben Operation or Gryphon's four M1s into Crescent Cycle. Movement can also be used to confuse the opponent and lessen your predictability.