In Tekken 8, blocking involves holding back on the directional pad or stick to guard against high and mid attacks. You must also crouch to defend against low attacks.
Tekken 8’s combat system can feel overwhelming at first, especially if you’re new to the series. One of the most crucial skills to grasp is defensive play, and this Tekken 8 blocking guide will help you do just that. It’s more than just holding back; it requires understanding attack types.
Proper blocking is key to surviving the pressure opponents apply. Knowing when to stand block and when to crouch block is vital. This guide will get you started and help to improve your gameplay.
Tekken 8 Blocking Guide
Okay, so you’re diving into the world of Tekken 8, ready to throw down some serious moves. That’s awesome! But before you start stringing together crazy combos, let’s talk about something super important: blocking. It might not seem as flashy as a spinning kick or a super move, but trust me, knowing how to block effectively is the bedrock of becoming a good Tekken player. It’s the shield that protects you from getting your health bar completely emptied, and it sets up opportunities for you to counterattack and dominate. So, get ready to learn the ins and outs of blocking in Tekken 8. It’s simpler than you think, but it takes practice to get good at it.
The Basics of Blocking in Tekken 8
Think of blocking as your character’s default defense. It’s not something you have to activate with a button press for the most part. Instead, it’s more about what you aren’t doing. When you are standing still, and are not pressing any direction on the directional pad/stick, your character automatically guards. This is called standing guard, and it will block most high and mid attacks. That’s right, if you just stand there doing nothing, you’re already blocking a bunch of stuff. Easy peasy, right? This is your first and most basic blocking tool.
Standing Guard
Like we said, standing guard is the most basic type of block. To do it, simply do not input any directional input. Your character will be automatically defending against high and mid attacks in this position. It is, however, the one that is vulnerable to Low attacks, which are generally performed when a character crouches. While standing guard is automatic, it has limitations. It will not block low attacks. If an opponent is regularly using low attacks, you will need to actively block to defend yourself. You can block high and mid attacks. This is your first line of defense and is great against characters who spam high attacks. The key thing to remember is you are vulnerable to low attacks. Knowing this allows you to recognize situations when to switch your blocking strategy.
Low Guard
Now, what about those sneaky low attacks? That’s where the low guard comes in. To block low attacks, you must input the direction ‘Down Back’ on the directional pad or analog stick. This forces your character to crouch and guard. While in a low block, you will be able to block low attacks, but you’re completely vulnerable to mid attacks. If an opponent tries to use mid attacks against your low block, it will connect and hit you. Thus, it is important to note the attack properties of your opponent. If your opponent is spamming lows, you will want to use low guard to block low attacks. Understanding both standing guard and low guard is key to understanding how blocking works in Tekken 8. You will need to switch between them depending on what your opponent is doing.
The Difference Between High, Mid, and Low Attacks
To truly understand blocking, it is very important that you understand the different types of attacks you will face in Tekken 8. Tekken uses a three-tiered system for categorizing attacks: high, mid, and low. Understanding these three kinds of attacks will help you use the correct block to defend yourself. Each category has its strengths and weaknesses, so learning to recognize them quickly is a crucial skill. Let’s take a closer look:
- High Attacks: These are attacks that strike at the upper part of your character. They are fast and can be difficult to react to. High attacks can be blocked by standing guard.
- Mid Attacks: Mid attacks strike in the middle of your character. They can be performed while either standing up or crouching, and they cannot be blocked by a low guard. They are usually slower than high attacks, but have more range and power behind them. You will need to block them using a standing guard.
- Low Attacks: These attacks strike at the lower part of your character’s body and must be blocked with a low guard. Most low attacks require the character to crouch, so they can be easily telegraphed. If a character is crouching a lot, you can anticipate the usage of low attacks.
Knowing when to expect high, mid, or low attacks comes with practice and a deep understanding of your opponent’s character. Some characters are known for their strong low attacks while others focus on high and mid mixups. This understanding will be key to winning matches.
Punishing Your Opponent’s Attacks
Blocking is not just about defense. It is also about creating opportunities to counterattack. In Tekken 8, many attacks leave your opponent vulnerable if blocked, giving you a window of opportunity to strike back. This is called a “punish”. Punishing is when you attack an opponent in a short frame window. Some attacks when blocked are not punishable, while others give you large frame advantages to be able to do devastating combos. You need to learn to punish these moves, as it is a critical part of Tekken gameplay. The more you play, the more you will understand what is punishable or not. Pay attention to animation and timings when you block attacks.
Identifying Punishable Moves
Not all blocked attacks create punish opportunities, however. Some moves have fast recovery times, making it difficult to hit back. Others, known as “safe” moves, leave you unable to punish. However, a large number of attacks in Tekken 8 have large windows of punish, giving you plenty of opportunities to counterattack if you block them correctly. The key is to learn which attacks are punishable. This knowledge comes from practice and spending time with your character of choice. The more you play, the more you will recognize these punish windows. Pay attention to your opponent’s animations. Usually, attacks with bigger swings or longer windups will have longer recovery times when blocked, which will give you the opportunity to punish.
Punishing With The Right Move
Once you recognize a punishable attack, you must be able to punish. Certain moves will be better than others in different situations. Some moves will do more damage, while others may be faster. It is important to choose a move that you will be able to reliably use to punish a blocked attack. Experiment in practice mode to understand what options you have after you successfully blocked certain attacks. There are specific punishes you can use based on whether you block something while standing, or low blocking. Many punish attacks are simple jabs, and these are good to learn because they are generally fast and can interrupt your opponent. You should develop a basic understanding of punish options for all of your character’s moves, so you have a good range of punishes you can do in a match.
Advanced Blocking Techniques
Once you have the basic blocking down, it’s time to look at some more advanced techniques. These can add layers of defense to your game and make you a much harder opponent to break down.
Guard Breaks and Unblockable Attacks
While blocking can protect against most moves, some attacks in Tekken 8 bypass normal blocking. There are two major kinds of moves that do this. Some moves will “guard break,” and these moves will often shatter the block and cause an un-blockable animation. Also, there are actual unblockable attacks that will not be blocked and will cause damage no matter what you do. These attacks are typically telegraphed with a particular effect, like a bright flash of light around the character when they perform the move. Guard breaks also tend to require a charge or a specific animation, so you should be able to recognize the setup for them. Learning when to anticipate these attacks, and knowing what to do when facing them, is key to becoming a great player.
Throw Escapes
Another essential part of defense in Tekken 8 is dealing with throws. Throws are special attacks that grab your character, and are often not blockable by standard guarding. Instead, you must do a “throw escape” to get away from them. Many throws will occur when a player is close to you. When a throw connects, you’ll see a grab animation. To escape this throw, you must input the correct directional input to escape. There are three directions you can use to escape throws: 1, 2, or 1+2. If you input the correct direction, you will successfully escape the throw and take no damage from it. You will need to be able to react quickly to throws, as the window for escaping a throw is short. Learn the timings of each character’s throws so that you are better at reacting. A lot of good Tekken players spend a lot of time practicing throw escapes as it is a core defensive mechanic.
Movement and Blocking
Movement is also a key component to blocking in Tekken 8. Rather than stand stationary, you should move around in order to create an advantage for yourself. There are two main movement techniques that you can use to block more effectively:
- Backdashing: Backdashing is performed by quickly inputting the directional pad/stick in the back direction twice. This will move your character back a bit, putting you outside the range of many attacks. When you backdash, you go into a crouching state, which means you will be able to block low attacks. It is important to recognize the difference between back dashing and simply holding the directional back. Backdashing will move you back, whereas simply holding back will have you stand in place.
- Sidestepping: Sidestepping is when you quickly tap up or down on the directional pad/stick. Sidestepping allows you to move around an opponent and can make certain attacks whiff. Many players use sidesteps to avoid linear attacks, which attack in a straight line. When you sidestep, you will go into a slight crouched state, and can block low attacks.
Mixing these movement techniques with blocks will make it very hard for your opponent to hit you. They will have to think more carefully about their approaches, and you will have a better time defending yourself.
Predicting Your Opponent
The best defense is often a good offense. This is very true in Tekken 8. Instead of just reacting, it is better to anticipate what your opponent will do. By analyzing their moves, you can make more informed decisions on how to block and what to do. If your opponent keeps going for lows, prepare to block low! If you block it, it is then your turn to attack and punish them for being too predictable. If your opponent is playing predictably, you can predict their behavior. When you are constantly adapting, it will be very hard for them to get the upper hand. Tekken is often a mind game, and outthinking your opponent is key to success.
Practice Makes Perfect
Like any skill in Tekken 8, blocking effectively takes time and lots of practice. Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t immediately a blocking master. Here are some ways to improve your blocking skills:
- Spend time in training mode. Practice blocking all kinds of attacks and test various moves to punish. Set the training dummy to do specific strings of moves.
- Focus on the basics. Make sure that you understand the basic differences between high, mid and low attacks, and practice blocking them.
- Watch experienced players. Look up gameplay footage online of people who play your character. See how they approach blocking in certain situations. This can give you insight into how you should be playing.
- Don’t be afraid to lose. The best way to learn is through experience, so play lots of matches, even if you lose. Every loss is a chance to learn and improve.
By putting in the time and effort to practice, you will quickly start to recognize blocking scenarios. In time, you will be blocking all kinds of attacks without having to think. You will be a great Tekken player in no time!
Blocking in Tekken 8 is a fundamental skill, but it is not a complex one. While there are nuances to it, understanding the basic blocking mechanics will allow you to defend yourself from all kinds of incoming attacks. So, keep at it, and never stop practicing, and you’ll become a blocking expert in no time.
How to Block in Tekken 8 – Parry hits
Final Thoughts
Effectively using block is crucial in Tekken 8. A high block will protect against high attacks, a low block against low attacks, and a mid block against mid attacks. Knowing when to employ each is vital for defense.
Learning to block properly is necessary for success. Remember directional inputs impact your block, standing or crouching. The ‘Tekken 8 blocking guide’ emphasizes adapting to opponent’s moves and patterns. You must practice blocking to improve.
