Tekken 9 Armored Move Analysis

Tekken 9 Armored Move Analysis

Alright, Tekken fans! Let’s dive deep into one of the coolest aspects of fighting games – armored moves! In Tekken 9, these aren’t just flashy techniques; they’re strategic tools that can completely change the flow of a match. We will be examining what makes armored moves tick, how to use them effectively, and how to counter them. Get ready to level up your gameplay!

Understanding Armor in Tekken 9

So, what exactly is armor in Tekken 9? Imagine it like a temporary shield that certain moves provide. When you activate an armored move, your character can absorb a hit or multiple hits without being interrupted. This is super useful because it allows you to power through enemy attacks and land your own devastating blows. But don’t think you’re invincible! Armor doesn’t protect you from everything, and knowing its limitations is key.

Types of Armor

Tekken 9 showcases different kinds of armor. Let’s explore some common types:

• High Armor: This kind of armor protects against high attacks. Think jabs, high kicks, and many jumping attacks. This is great for catching opponents who rely heavily on these attacks.
• Mid Armor: This protects against mid-level hits. This is useful against a wide range of normal attacks. Many sweeps and regular kicks fall into this category.
• Low Armor: These moves can absorb low attacks, like sweeps and foot pokes. It’s rare, but very handy when dealing with players who love to attack low.
• Full Armor: These moves can absorb high, mid, and low hits. This provides the most protection but may come with a longer recovery time or other downsides to make up for the advantage.
• Grab Armor: This is a bit special. It protects against throws and command grabs. A very useful type of armor to break some setups.

It’s important to check each character’s move list to see which moves have what kind of armor!

Using Armored Moves Effectively

Now that we know what armor is, let’s explore how to use it effectively in matches. It’s not just about randomly throwing out armored moves. Strategic timing and understanding the situation are super important.

Punishing Aggression

One of the best times to use armor is when your opponent is being very aggressive. If they keep throwing out predictable jabs or kicks, an armored move can absorb that, then you can retaliate with something strong. Imagine they’re doing a flurry of attacks; you can time your armored move to cut through that and punish them hard for their predictability.

Breaking Setups

Some players rely on specific patterns or setups. Armored moves can break these, disrupting their rhythm. If a player is always doing the same string of attacks that ends with a mid, for example, you can use a mid-armored move to beat them.

Offensive Pressure

Armored moves aren’t just for defense. They can also be used offensively to apply pressure. If you are in the midst of a close-quarters fight, you can throw out an armored move that can break their attack and start a new mix-up, or continue with your own offense.

Mix-ups

Use armored moves in combination with other moves to keep your opponent guessing. If you always follow up your mid armored move with a high, they’ll start blocking it high. Instead, you can start mixing that up with lows and throws to keep them on their toes.

Understanding Risk

Remember, using armored moves isn’t risk-free. They can have slow start-ups or long recovery times. If your opponent predicts the armored move, they can punish you for it. Knowing your character’s specific armored moves, start-up speed, recovery, and how fast they are, is key to using them properly.

Countering Armored Moves

Okay, so armored moves are powerful, but they are not unbeatable. There are several ways to counter an opponent who is using them frequently. Here’s how:

Throws and Grabs

Regular throws usually bypass armor. If your opponent relies too heavily on armored moves, try throwing them. Many players rely on armor as a crutch, and they’ll expect you to attack. This is a great chance for you to throw them and do some damage, especially command grabs.

Low Attacks

Many armored moves only protect against high or mid attacks. If you’re fighting against a player who uses high and mid armor, utilize low attacks to damage them. Low attacks can break through high and mid armor, catching opponents off guard. Certain lows have fast startups that can quickly interrupt armored moves.

Punishing Recovery

Armored moves often have slow recovery animations, meaning the character can’t block immediately after the move. If you block an armored move, use this window to attack them when they are vulnerable. Learn the timings of the different moves to maximize your punish.

Whiff Punishing

If an armored move doesn’t connect, it leaves the opponent open to an attack. You can either block or move to the side, then when they are stuck in animation, throw out one of your faster attacks to deal damage. This is called whiff punishing.

Baiting

A smart technique is to bait out armored moves. Pretend to attack, then stop, and watch as your opponent throws out an armored move. Once they have done that, you can quickly punish them in their recovery. This takes some practice, but it can be very effective.

Move Knowledge

Knowing which moves your opponent is using and what kind of armor they have can give you a significant advantage. Every character has different armored moves, and knowing what type of armor they have, what attacks are protected by the armor, and how fast the move is can be a huge plus to using these tips to counter armored attacks.

Specific Character Examples and Armored Moves

Let’s make this a bit more real. Tekken 9 has a diverse roster, and each character’s armored moves are unique. Here are a few examples:

Character A

Character A is known for their relentless offense. Their armor moves often have a longer start up time, but they make up for it with increased damage. A main armored move they have is a mid attack that is a slow heavy hitting attack, if timed correctly, the attack will absorb the opponents’ attack and give them a chance to do some serious damage.

• Move 1: A mid-armored move that absorbs one hit. This move is relatively slow but very damaging.
• Move 2: A full armor move that absorbs multiple hits, but has a long recovery time. It is powerful but risky.
• Strategy: If you’re playing against Character A, use low attacks and throws often to counter their aggressive play style. Bait them into using the slow moves then punish their recovery.

Character B

Character B’s armor moves are faster, more defensive, and more focused on movement. Many of their attacks do not have a lot of damage, but this allows them to be very aggressive and move around quickly and have a high mix up.

• Move 1: A high armor move that allows them to move forward and avoid high attacks. The damage is minimal but allows them to close the gap.
• Move 2: A quick mid armored move that absorbs attacks and comes out very fast. It has a short recovery time.
• Strategy: When fighting against Character B, use moves that punish aggression and have high range to keep them away. Be careful using high attacks when they have the high armor move.

Character C

Character C has a range of armored moves for all situations. Their moves have the same amount of risk, but have different types of armor, allowing them to fight many different types of situations.

• Move 1: Low armored move that absorbs low attacks and allows them to punish opponents who use low attacks a lot.
• Move 2: A grab armored move that allows them to break throws. This can make it difficult to fight them as opponents cannot just throw them.
• Strategy: When fighting against Character C, be careful of over committing to low attacks, as it might give them a chance to punish. Do not be reliant on throws because they have a grab armored move.

These are simplified examples, but you can see how different each character’s armored attacks are. Make sure to experiment with these moves in training mode.

Training and Practice

Like everything else in Tekken 9, practice is the key to effectively using and countering armored moves. Here are some steps to practice with armored moves:

• Character Selection: Choose a character that you like and one that you know well.
• Training Mode: Spend some time in training mode just learning the move list and figuring out which moves have armor, what kind of armor they have, and their properties.
• Move Experiments: Experiment with each of the armored moves to get a feel for their startup times, recovery, range and damage. Try to see what types of attacks you can avoid using these moves.
• Counter Practice: Once you get used to your own moves, practice against your own moves. Try to block and punish them in your character, this way you can get used to the timing of the attacks.
• Match Analysis: After playing online, look at your matches and see where you could have done better, look at your mistakes, and how to improve upon them.
• Online Play: Jump online against other people and practice what you learned.

By spending time doing these things, you will gain a greater understanding of how armored moves work, and become a better player.

Armored moves are a significant part of Tekken 9’s gameplay. They are not just simple moves but are a strategic tool that can be a key to victory. They can be a game changer in matches. Using and knowing how to counter them will give you a big advantage in any match. By understanding the different types of armor, practicing using them, and knowing how to counter them, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better Tekken player. Remember that practice is key, so get in the game and master those armored moves!