In Tekken 9, you can break guard efficiently by using low attacks, throws, and guard break moves, all while mixing up your offensive pressure to keep opponents guessing.
Are you tired of opponents turtling up, blocking every single attack you throw their way in Tekken 9? It can be frustrating when they just hold their guard, waiting for an opening. This article will provide tips on how to get past these defenses. We will look at techniques specifically designed to help you with Tekken 9 how to break guard efficiently.
Mixing low attacks and throws is a great strategy. Remember, predicting is key, keeping your offense varied and unpredictable makes your guard break attempts more successful.
Tekken 9 How to Break Guard Efficiently
Alright, Tekken warriors! Let’s dive into a crucial part of the game: breaking your opponent’s guard. It’s not enough to just throw out attacks and hope they land. Sometimes, your foe will turtle up, making it tough to get through their defense. That’s where guard breaking comes in. This guide will help you understand how to crack that shell and land those sweet hits in Tekken 9.
Understanding Guard and Guarding
Before we talk about breaking guards, let’s talk about what a guard actually is. In Tekken, holding back on the joystick or d-pad makes your character block high and mid attacks. They become like a wall, deflecting most normal moves. But here’s the thing: that wall has cracks. It’s not unbreakable.
Guarding is an essential part of Tekken gameplay. It allows players to defend themselves against incoming attacks, creating opportunities to retaliate. A good player is always switching between offense and defense, and guarding is a large part of it. Think of it like a shield, but a shield with its vulnerabilities that you need to understand to utilize efficiently. Without understanding how to guard or break a guard, it’s going to be very difficult to win matches.
High and Mid Guards
When you hold back, you’re primarily blocking high and mid attacks. These are the most common types of hits. Most characters’ standing attacks will be blocked by this. This is important because if you only guard by holding back, some attacks will still hit you.
Knowing the difference between high, mid and low attacks is the first step towards defending correctly and attacking strategically. When you’re guarding, you need to think about what your opponent is doing. If they are throwing out lots of mid and high attacks, then guarding back is the right thing to do, but if they are trying to hit you low, you need to know how to defend against those.
Guard Disadvantages
Guarding isn’t perfect. It does have some disadvantages. Here are some things to consider when guarding:
- Vulnerability to Low Attacks: When blocking standing, you’re open to low attacks. Your opponent can easily hit your character’s legs if they throw out a low move. That’s why mixing up your defense is super important.
- Throws: Throws completely bypass your guard. If someone grabs you, you’re getting thrown, no matter if you are guarding or not.
- Guard Breaks: Some moves are specifically designed to break your guard. These moves force you to come out of guard mode.
- Pressure: If you constantly block, your opponent can just keep attacking. You are not doing anything to fight back. If they are skilled, they can use this to their advantage and try to open up holes in your defense.
Methods to Break Guard
Alright, so now we know the wall exists, how do we break through it? Well, there are multiple methods in Tekken to do that.
Low Attacks
As mentioned earlier, blocking while standing only defends against mid and high attacks. Low attacks will go under your opponent’s guard. Incorporating low attacks into your offense is a great way to put pressure on your opponent. Most characters will have a good selection of low attacks that help open the opponent up. Think of it like chopping the legs out from under your opponent.
Many low attacks will lead into combos if they connect. So utilizing them is a great way to start your offense.
Throws
Throws are a core element of Tekken and are a fundamental way to break a guard. Throws cannot be blocked, making them a very useful tool against defensive opponents. Many players try to turtle up when they are at a disadvantage. However, if you mix in throws, you can punish them for staying too defensive. A good mixup with throws will always keep your opponent on their toes.
There are two types of throws, normal throws and command throws. Regular throws usually have the command to be a directional input plus a punch and a kick button. Command throws can have varied inputs and are unique to different characters. You will need to learn your specific character’s throws.
Guard Breaking Moves
Some attacks are designed to break your opponent’s guard. These moves often have a special property where they are very powerful and often lead to a full combo. Every character has their own variation of guard break moves. Learning these moves will help you when you are facing an opponent who is turtling.
These moves are usually slower than standard attacks but reward players who can use them effectively. They also come with their own risks, as they are typically very punishable if they are blocked.
Mix-Ups
Mix-ups are the key to a good offense. You want to keep your opponent guessing what you’re going to do. A good player will constantly change what they’re doing. For example, you can use your opponent’s knowledge of a throw to your advantage. You can threaten with a throw, and then, when they are expecting the throw, you can use a quick mid-attack. This forces them to guess what you’re about to do.
A good player will mix-up low attacks, throws, and mid/high attacks constantly. This keeps the other player guessing, and it’s difficult for them to know how to defend correctly. It is important not to be predictable.
Character-Specific Tools
Every character in Tekken 9 is different and will have different move properties. Understanding your own character is just as important as understanding the game. Some characters will have better tools to break guards than others. Take the time to learn which attacks can give you an edge.
For example, some characters might have a good low poke that leads to a combo, while another character might have a powerful command throw that is hard to react to. Characters will have specific moves that can apply pressure in different ways, so understanding all of these nuances will make you a stronger player overall.
Reading Your Opponent
Breaking guard efficiently isn’t just about knowing what moves to use, it’s also about reading your opponent. Watching what your opponent likes to do is a big part of the game.
Observing Defensive Tendencies
Is your opponent mostly guarding high? Then you need to use more low attacks to get them to open up. Or do they always try to duck? Then use more mid attacks to hit them standing up. Watch for patterns and then adapt your strategy. It is important to observe how your opponent reacts to certain things, and then use that to your advantage. For example, if your opponent always crouches when you throw out a mid, they are susceptible to a command throw or a low. If they always back away when you get close, then you can try a move with more range to catch them.
Capitalizing on Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes. Look for the moments when your opponent makes an error and capitalize on them. If they always try to attack after blocking, then you can try to hit them with a move that has priority. If they constantly back up, you can try a rushing attack. Don’t let their mistakes go unpunished.
Training and Practice
Like any skill in Tekken 9, breaking guards efficiently takes time and practice. It is important to go into the training mode to learn how to use your character to their full potential.
Training Mode Fundamentals
The training mode is a key part of Tekken. You can utilize this space to practice new combos, learn the properties of your attacks, and practice breaking guards against a dummy opponent. This will help you develop muscle memory which will be useful in your matches. You can also use training to experiment with different strategies and understand how your attacks interact with your opponents. For example, you can practice your low attacks against an AI that is only guarding high.
Real Match Experience
While practice is great, nothing can replace actual match experience. Every person you play will have their own unique styles. So the more you play and understand different playstyles, the better you will get at playing the game. Fighting against real people forces you to react on the fly and adapt your strategy, just like you will need to in real matches. This will test how well you have learned the game.
By combining practice with real match experience, you’ll get a feel for how to use all of these tools to break guards and win more fights. It will take time and dedication, but you will eventually see a difference.
Advanced Techniques
Once you have a basic grasp of guard breaking, you can start looking at more advanced techniques. These methods may take some time to learn, but they will make you a much better player overall.
Frame Traps
Frame traps are a way to trick your opponent into thinking it’s their turn when it’s not. By using moves that have frame advantage, you can force your opponent into a defensive stance, and when they try to attack, they will get hit. Utilizing frame traps effectively can be a powerful tool in opening your opponent up.
Whiff Punishing
Whiff punishing is when you punish your opponent for missing an attack. It’s very important to be able to recognize which attacks have a long recovery and be able to punish your opponent for using them. When you recognize this, you can use your quickest moves to hit your opponent while they are vulnerable. Learning your character’s fastest moves is crucial to punish whiffs effectively.
Spacing and Movement
Being able to move effectively in Tekken is crucial to success. Understanding the space you take up on the screen will help you know which attacks can hit your opponent and how to avoid certain attacks. By combining your movement with your offense, you can effectively mix up your opponent and apply pressure that will lead to a victory. Sometimes not attacking is a great way to force an opening by frustrating your opponent. Mastering movement will take practice and dedication.
By understanding guard breaks and actively practicing these techniques you’ll be able to break down your opponent’s defense and come out on top.
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Final Thoughts
Effective guard breaking in Tekken 9 requires understanding frame data and utilizing mix-ups. Applying lows and throws strategically forces opponents to react, exposing openings.
Mix different attack types to keep your opponent guessing. Don’t rely solely on one method. Knowing when to use specific moves crucial.
‘Tekken 9 how to break guard efficiently’ involves consistent practice and reading opponents. Perfecting timing and execution remains key to success.
