Tekken 8 How To Use Special Moves

Tekken 8 How to Use Special Moves

Alright, fighters! Ready to take your Tekken 8 game to the next level? Special moves are a big deal in this game. They’re not just fancy-looking attacks; they’re the key to winning tough matches. But knowing how to use them can be tricky. Don’t worry, though! We’re going to break down everything you need to know about special moves in Tekken 8, from the basic stuff to some tips that will help you land those powerful blows.

Understanding Special Moves in Tekken 8

First things first, what exactly are special moves? In Tekken 8, special moves are powerful attacks that require specific button combinations and timing. They are much stronger than your character’s regular punches and kicks and can change the tide of a fight quickly. Each character has their own unique set of special moves, which is why it’s important to get to know your chosen fighter really well. Some specials are great for starting an attack, some are good for keeping your opponent away, and some are best for delivering the final blow.

Types of Special Moves

Tekken 8’s special moves fall into different categories. Here are the main ones you’ll encounter:

• Power Crush Moves: These moves can absorb hits from your opponent, allowing you to keep attacking even when they try to hit you. They usually have a short animation and can turn the fight to your favor instantly.
• Heat Engagers: These moves let you activate your character’s ‘Heat’ state, which gives you access to powerful new moves and abilities for a short amount of time. These moves are very important to understand because they dictate how aggressive you can be.
• Rage Arts: These are your super powerful last-resort moves. You can only use them when your health is very low, and they can do a lot of damage, and they can also reverse an entire round.
• Throws: These are special grapple moves that allow you to grab your opponent and throw them, causing damage. Some throws are unbreakable, and some you can break by pressing certain button combinations at the correct time.
• Command Moves: These are basically special moves that have specific input, like forward, down, and then a punch. Each character has a wide variety of unique command moves.

It’s important to know which type of special move your character specializes in to form a good fighting strategy.

Move Lists and How to Read Them

Every character has a move list. You can find this in the game’s menus. This list contains all of your character’s attacks, including special moves, command moves, throws, heat moves, rage arts and many more. The move list shows you the buttons you need to press to perform each move.

Move lists can seem complicated at first, but let’s break it down:

• Button Icons: You’ll see icons that represent different buttons on your controller. These icons are generally standardized across all platforms, so they are easier to understand once you understand them.
• Directions: You will also see directional inputs like forward, backward, down, and up. Sometimes it will be diagonals, like down-forward or up-backward. You need to make sure that you input the directional input first, and then the button input to perform the command.
• Plus Signs (+): A plus sign between buttons means you have to press them at the same time. So, if you see ‘1+2,’ you need to press the 1 and 2 buttons together.
• Commas (,): A comma means that you have to press the buttons in order. So, if you see ‘forward, 1, 2,’ you have to first press forward, then press the 1 button and then the 2 button. The comma means that this sequence needs to be done one by one instead of together.
• Heat Symbol: If you see a heat symbol before a move, it means you can only do this move after activating your character’s heat state.
• Rage symbol: If you see a rage symbol before a move, it means you can only use that specific move when you are on low health and your character is in a ‘rage’ state.

Executing Special Moves

Knowing the button combinations is only half the battle. You also need to know how to execute the moves correctly. It will take time and practice to learn all the different timings and techniques to perform all the special moves. Lets understand some key concepts:

Timing and Precision

Tekken 8 is not just about mashing buttons! Many special moves need good timing and precise inputs. For example, some moves require that you hit the buttons at exactly the right moment or within the very small timeframe. If you hit the buttons too early or too late, you won’t perform the move, or it might not be as effective. It takes time to understand the timing of each special move, and the best way to improve this is to use the practice mode in Tekken 8.

Practice Mode is Your Best Friend

The Practice mode in Tekken 8 is like your secret training spot. You can practice your character’s moves, look at the move list, and test out the timing of your special moves. You can also set the dummy opponent to do different things, so you can learn how to use your specials in different situations. Don’t underestimate this mode; it is essential to improve your skills in Tekken 8.

Understanding Frame Data

Frame data might sound technical but understanding it can really help you out. Basically, every move has a certain number of frames it takes to start up and recover. Knowing this lets you know when it is safe to use certain special moves. A frame is a single image that makes up the animation you see on your screen. Frame data is a measure of time and not a distance.

• Startup Frames: The number of frames it takes for an attack to start. You want moves with fast startup frames, especially when reacting to an attack from your opponent.
• Active Frames: The number of frames the move can actually hit your opponent. The more active frames, the better it is to hit your opponent.
• Recovery Frames: The number of frames it takes after a move has ended before you can start another attack. Having low recovery frame moves is important because it lets you be more mobile, and open to perform your next move.

Strategic Use of Special Moves

Special moves aren’t just about dealing damage; it’s also about using them smartly. Here’s how to think about using them during a fight:

Creating Openings

Some special moves are very good for making your opponent vulnerable. For example, some special moves can break your opponent’s guard, creating an opening for you to attack. You could use a special move that pushes your opponent back and then try to grab them when they try to move forward again. The more you play, the more you understand the different advantages different special moves have.

Dealing with Aggressive Opponents

If your opponent is very aggressive, use special moves that are fast and can stop their attacks. Power crush moves are really useful here. You can use them to absorb some damage and then punish them for being too aggressive. This will force them to be more defensive.

Punishing Mistakes

When your opponent makes a mistake, don’t miss your chance to punish them! Some special moves are very good at punishing your opponent when they whiff an attack, or leave themselves vulnerable. Knowing which special move to use is important here.

Mix-Ups

Mix-ups is an important technique to keep in mind while playing Tekken 8. If you are only doing the same attacks, your opponent will see them coming, and they will be able to defend themselves easily. You should use different special moves to make your opponent unsure of what you will do next. Mix your special moves with normal attacks to always keep them guessing.

Character-Specific Special Moves

Each character in Tekken 8 has their own specific special moves and strengths. What works for one character might not work for another. It is really important to understand which character you are using, and understand all the special moves of that character. Here are some examples of what you should focus on:

Learning Your Character’s Strengths

Some characters are good at keeping a distance, while others are great at close combat. Some have very strong throws, while others are good at pressuring opponents with fast, high-frequency attacks. Look at the character’s special move list and figure out their strengths. Then, practice using those moves that play into the character’s strong points.

Understanding Weaknesses

Every character has weaknesses. Some might be slow, some may have limited range, and some have trouble dealing with certain types of attacks. Knowing your character’s weaknesses will help you make sure to cover them up when playing. This way you can play effectively against any character and in any situation. Knowing your weaknesses will help you find new strategies and ways to overcome different kinds of opponents.

Experimentation is Key

Don’t be afraid to try different combinations of moves. You might find something that works for you and your character that no one else has figured out. The more you experiment, the better you will get, and more unique you playstyle will be. This also makes your gameplay less predictable, which is very useful during online play.

Tips and Tricks for Using Special Moves

Here are some extra tips and tricks to help you become better at using special moves in Tekken 8.

Don’t Overuse Special Moves

Even though special moves are powerful, don’t just spam them. Using them too much will make you predictable, and your opponent will easily counter them. Try to use them at the right times to catch your opponent off-guard.

Mix Special Moves with Regular Attacks

Always mix your special moves with regular attacks. This will keep your opponent guessing and make it harder for them to defend against your attacks. Use normal attacks to open your opponent and then use special attacks to do some damage.

Practice Against Different Opponents

Playing against different players, both online and offline, can help you improve and adapt your strategies with different characters. You’ll learn how to apply your special moves in different scenarios, and against different types of players. This will also expose you to how other characters work and their special moves, which will allow you to understand how they work and how to counter them.

Watch Professional Players

Pay attention to how professional players use their special moves. Watching professional Tekken 8 players can give you some new ideas and strategies that you can incorporate into your gameplay. Watch their movement, their combo execution, and their use of special moves to understand their gameplan.

Don’t Give Up!

Learning special moves takes time and practice. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results right away. Just keep practicing, experimenting, and learning from your mistakes, and you’ll get the hang of it eventually.

By now you have a very good understanding on how special moves in Tekken 8 work, and how you can be better at using them. Remember to use all these information to improve your skill in Tekken 8, and have fun playing!