Tekken 9 Counter Hit State Overview

Tekken 9 Counter Hit State Overview

Alright, fighters! Let’s talk about something that can really change the flow of a Tekken match: the counter hit. In Tekken 9, landing a counter hit is like finding a secret power-up. It’s not just about dealing extra damage; it’s about creating big opportunities for amazing combos and controlling the fight. So, buckle up as we dive deep into the world of counter hits in Tekken 9.

What Exactly is a Counter Hit?

Imagine you’re throwing a punch, and right when your fist is about to land, your opponent throws their own attack. If their attack hits you first during your attack’s vulnerable frames, that’s a counter hit. It’s like hitting someone while they’re in the middle of doing something else, catching them off guard. The game recognizes this, and gives you special advantages.

The basic idea is simple: you get a stronger, more damaging hit because you timed your attack perfectly (or they timed their attack poorly). But there’s much more to it than just extra damage. Counter hits in Tekken 9 are a gateway to powerful follow-ups and mind games.

Why Are Counter Hits Important in Tekken 9?

Counter hits are vital because they do more than just inflict extra pain. They often place your opponent in a state that makes them more vulnerable for follow-up attacks. This is where real Tekken skill comes in. Knowing which moves have counter-hit properties and how to capitalize on them can be the difference between a close fight and a total domination. Think of counter hits as a way to punish your opponent’s mistakes and turn the match in your favor.

• Increased Damage: The most obvious benefit is the bonus damage. Counter hits often hit harder than regular hits.
• Combo Starters: Many counter hits cause opponents to be placed in a state where you can start a combo, this can be from a small juggle to a damaging bound combo.
• Frame Advantage: Some counter hits give you a bigger advantage on frame data, allowing you to continue your offense uninterrupted.
• Mind Games: The threat of a counter hit can make your opponent hesitant, allowing you to control the pace of the match.

Different Types of Counter Hits and Their Effects

Not all counter hits are the same in Tekken 9. There are different levels of impact, each with unique properties and effects. Here are a few of the most common:

Standard Counter Hits

These are the most common type of counter hit. They will deal extra damage, will not have any extra effect other than that damage. They are an essential part of Tekken 9’s gameplay. Many players work for them because of the damage bonus.

Launch Counter Hits

This type of counter hit is a game-changer. When you land a launcher on counter hit, it sends your opponent high into the air, making them completely vulnerable to a juggle combo. Launchers on normal hit do not give that advantage. These are some of the most sought after type of counter hits.

These can be done with moves that don’t have launching properties, this changes their property making them a deadly weapon when counter hit is achieved.

Stagger Counter Hits

Stagger counter hits cause your opponent to recoil significantly. This gives you a chance to follow up with attacks before they can recover. Stagger hits can sometimes set up unblockable moves or a delayed timing attack. This is more of an advanced tactic in Tekken 9.

Knockdown Counter Hits

A knockdown counter hit usually sends your opponent to the ground. Depending on the move that you used, you might have further follow ups. Some knockdown moves on counter-hit give a ground bounce giving more opportunity for combos.

Wall Splat Counter Hits

In Tekken 9, wall splats are a big part of the game. Landing a move that splats the opponent on a wall is important. On counter hit, wall splats have more advantage and you might be able to do follow ups before the opponent can recover.

Identifying Counter Hit Opportunities

The question is, how do you get more counter hits? Understanding the timing and properties of moves is key. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

Understanding Move Properties

• Start-up Frames: Some moves have slow start-up frames. If you can time your moves to hit during their slow start-up, you have a good chance of landing a counter hit.
• Recovery Frames: If an opponent whiffs (misses) a move, their recovery frames make them open to a counter attack.
• Active Frames: Some moves have less active frames. Meaning they hit for a short period and then become vulnerable. These move require very specific timing and knowledge to punish with a counter hit.

Recognizing Opponent Tendencies

Knowing how your opponent likes to play can give you a big edge. Do they often throw out quick jabs? Or are they more patient and like to use big, slow attacks? By watching their behavior, you can anticipate their moves and land counter hits.

• Aggressive Players: If they are aggressive, you can be more on the defensive and punish their moves with counter hits.
• Defensive Players: If they are defensive, you can throw out attacks and bait them into making an attack where you can land a counter hit on them.

Using Movement to Your Advantage

Movement is crucial in Tekken 9. If you are able to move correctly, you can create openings for counter hits. Here’s how:

• Sidestepping: Sidestepping can allow you to avoid an opponents attack and then punish them with a counter hit.
• Backdashing: If you backdash at the right time you can create space and bait the opponent to come to you where you will hit them with a counter hit.
• Spacing: With proper spacing, your opponent might come forward for an attack, you can predict that and prepare for a counter hit opportunity.

Capitalizing on Counter Hits: Combos and Follow-Ups

Landing a counter hit is great, but it’s only half the battle. What you do after the counter hit is what separates good players from the great players. Here’s how to make the most of your counter hit opportunities.

Learning Basic Counter Hit Combos

Every character in Tekken 9 has specific combos that work off of certain counter hits. You have to learn these for your favorite characters. Practicing them in training mode will make them second nature.

Using Different Combo Routes

Knowing multiple different combo routes helps you maximize damage output. Depending on the situation, you should go for an easy combo that does safe and consistent damage, or you can try a more complicated combo that offers more damage.

Wall Carry and Wall Combos

A key aspect of Tekken is utilizing walls. After you land a counter hit, you can use it to start a combo that ends in a wall splat, this opens a whole new set of combo possibilities.

Mind Games and Conditioning

Once your opponent knows that you are capitalizing on counter hits, they might become more reluctant to attack. This gives you another avenue for attack. You can now control the tempo of the match and use that knowledge to land more counter hits or other advantages in a match.

Practice and Implementation of Counter Hits

All of this information is great, but it’s useless if you don’t put it to use. Practicing and implementing counter hit gameplay is essential to getting better at Tekken 9.

Training Mode Drills

Use the training mode to work on counter hit combos. Record the opponent performing different attacks and practice counter hitting it with your own moves. With time, these timings will become natural.

• Record Opponent Attacks: Record the attacks that you struggle with and work on countering them.
• Practice Combos: Practice your bread and butter combos over and over again so you know them by heart.
• Slow Down Practice: At the start, practice the combo in slow motion. This will help you get the timing and inputs down. Then you can start practicing at full speed.

Analyzing Your Matches

It’s important to analyze your matches. You should see what you did wrong and improve on it. Pay attention to when you are missing counter hit opportunities or when you are getting counter hit.

• Reviewing Replays: Review the replays, check where you are going wrong or where you could’ve punished the opponent.
• Note-Taking: After each match, take down notes about your mistakes and things you did right.

Playing Against Different Opponents

Playing with different opponents will help you adapt to different play styles. You can get better at recognizing habits and punish them. This will also help you grow your own play style and implement different counter hit approaches.

• Online Matches: Online matches are a good place to practice your new found skills. Try to look for patterns in your opponent.
• Local Play: Local Play is a great way to play against your friends and get better, you can get feedback in real time.
• Tournament Play: Playing in a tournament can be a nerve wrecking experience, it will help you grow and develop as a player.

Counter hits are a critical aspect of Tekken 9 gameplay. They are more than just extra damage, they are a doorway to more complex play styles. By understanding counter hit mechanics, you will become a better Tekken player and win more matches!