Tekken 9 How To Execute Complex Moves

Tekken 9 How to Execute Complex Moves

Okay, so you’re ready to move beyond button mashing and simple punches in Tekken 9? That’s awesome! Learning those super cool, complicated moves is what separates the pros from the casual players. But let’s be real, some of these combos look like they’d take a genius to pull off. Don’t worry! We’re here to break it all down, step-by-step, so you can start impressing your friends (and maybe even winning some online matches!). This guide will show you the path to executing complex moves in Tekken 9, starting with the basics and working our way up to some seriously impressive techniques.

Understanding Tekken Notation

Before we dive into specific moves, we need to learn the language of Tekken. It’s not as scary as it looks, promise! Tekken uses a special system called “notation” to write down the button presses and directions for each move. Think of it like a secret code that tells you exactly what to do.

Button Basics

Here’s what the main buttons usually represent:

• 1: Left Punch
• 2: Right Punch
• 3: Left Kick
• 4: Right Kick

Directional Inputs

Directions are also written using numbers, like a clock:

• f: Forward (Toward the opponent)
• b: Back (Away from the opponent)
• u: Up
• d: Down
• uf: Up-Forward (Diagonal Up-Forward)
• ub: Up-Back (Diagonal Up-Back)
• df: Down-Forward (Diagonal Down-Forward)
• db: Down-Back (Diagonal Down-Back)
• n: Neutral (Not pressing any direction)

Combining Inputs

Now, let’s put it together. When you see notations like “f+1” it means you press forward on the directional pad/stick and the left punch button at the same time. The “+” sign means you need to press those buttons together. You can also see moves that use a comma (,) for sequential inputs. For example, “1,2” means you press the left punch first then the right punch. So, understand these notations and you are already halfway through learning to execute complex moves in Tekken 9.

Practice Mode: Your Best Friend

Before you try these tricky moves in a real match, you absolutely need to spend some quality time in practice mode. It is the perfect place to practice executing complex moves because you are not fighting and focusing on your execution only. Think of it as your personal training dojo. Here’s why it’s so useful:

• Slow It Down: You can slow down the game speed to really see what’s happening and practice the timing for each button press.
• See the Inputs: The on-screen display shows you exactly what buttons you’re pressing, which helps you fix any mistakes.
• Repeat and Repeat: You can repeat specific move sequences over and over until you get them down perfectly.
• Experiment: Practice mode allows you to explore different move variations and find what feels most comfortable for you.

Use practice mode to your advantage to make you a better player of Tekken 9.

Breaking Down Complex Moves

Alright, now let’s get to the fun stuff. Complex moves often involve a combination of different inputs, precise timing, and sometimes even special stances or commands. Don’t feel intimidated; just take them one step at a time.

Movement Techniques

Movement is as important as attacks in Tekken 9, some moves are more movement focused than others. Here’s a breakdown of some common movement techniques:

• Sidestep: Quickly move to the side by tapping up or down. This helps you evade attacks and creates openings for your own offense. Mastering sidestep is very important, it is more than just a movement ability, it can be used to create opportunities.
• Backdash: Tap back twice to quickly move away from the opponent. It gives you some breathing space and avoids attacks.
• Forward Dash/Run: Tap forward twice to dash towards the opponent and close the distance quickly. It is very important to close the distance because most of the time you are out of range to perform attacks.
• Crouch Dash: Input df, df. This is very important for movement and attacking because many moves required crouch dash to be done, which allows for an additional low attack.

String Attacks

String attacks are combinations of several different hits. They can be long or short, high or low. You can practice strings using the following steps:

1. Start Slow: Begin with the first few hits of the string and get the timing down perfectly. Don’t rush it, focus on clean execution first.
2. Add Gradually: Once you’re comfortable with the start, add the next hit, and so on, building up the entire sequence. Don’t try to do the full string at once, doing it in portions is always the best option.
3. Be Precise: Ensure you’re hitting the right buttons at the right time, with no gaps or hesitations. Correct timing is very important because you may fail doing the string attack.
4. Rhythm: Strings often have a certain rhythm to them; try to feel that rhythm as you practice.

Just Frame Moves

Just Frame moves are like the holy grail of Tekken mastery. They require the most precise timing, hitting a button at the very last frame of another action. Here is how to practice them:

• Identify the Timing: Each Just Frame move has a specific timing window, often only 1 frame (1/60th of a second). Learning the visual cues or animation is key to master them.
• Practice Rhythmically: Don’t focus on getting it on the very first try, practice it again and again, try to learn the pattern that will work to execute the Just Frame move.
• Don’t Give Up: Just Frame moves are the hardest to master. Don’t give up and practice again and again, you will be able to do it if you keep on trying.

Special Move Commands

Some characters in Tekken have moves that require special command inputs. For example:

• Charge Moves: Holding down a directional input for a certain time before executing another input. Example – Holding back for at least one second then pressing forward with punch button.
• Circular Motions: Executing a full or half circle on the directional stick/pad followed by a button input. Example – doing forward, down, downforward with any punch button.
• Stance Changes: Moves that change your character’s stance, allowing you to access even more moves. Practice them because they are very important to extend combos.

Tips for Effective Practice

Learning complex moves takes time and effort. Here are some tips to help you improve your practice:

• Start Simple: Begin with easier moves and combos, gradually working your way up to the more complex ones. Don’t try to learn the most difficult move at the beginning, you have to learn the basics first.
• Break it Down: When practicing a long combo, break it down into smaller parts. Start with the first two or three hits, then add more as you get better.
• Focus on One Move at a Time: Instead of trying to learn everything at once, pick one move or combo and focus on it until you get it down. Then, move to the next one. Don’t overwhelm yourself by learning more than one move at a single moment, learn one by one.
• Practice Regularly: Consistent practice, even in short sessions, will be much more effective than long, infrequent practice. A daily 1 hour session is much better than weekly 7 hour session.
• Watch Tutorials: Watch videos from skilled Tekken players to see how they execute moves and combos. Learning from others is a great way to learn.
• Record Yourself: Record your gameplay in practice and watch it back to see where you are making mistakes. Self-critique is an important part of improving.
• Take Breaks: If you are feeling frustrated, take a break and come back later. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to frustration and slow down the learning process.

Character Specific Moves

Each Tekken character is unique, with their own special moves and combos. Here’s why this is important:

• Different Playstyles: Each character is designed to be played differently. Some characters are good at close-range fighting while some are better at long-range poking.
• Unique Movesets: Characters do not share the same movesets. Each has their own specific move list, so you have to learn that particular character.
• Advanced Strategies: Learning character-specific strategies is important if you want to use that character. You have to learn what the character excels at to use them to their full potential.

Finding Character Guides

To become a master of a particular character, you need to find character specific resources. Here are some resources to use:

• Online Forums: Connect with other players of the character. You can gain a lot of knowledge from online discussions.
• YouTube Tutorials: Many dedicated Tekken content creators on YouTube make in depth character specific guides. They explain their moves, gameplans and combos, you can learn a lot from them.
• Community Discords: Join discord channels dedicated to the character you play. You can get direct help from expert players and get personalized tips.

Advanced Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start exploring more advanced techniques that will further improve your game.

Punishing Whiffs

A ‘whiff’ is when your opponent misses an attack. When that happens, it is a golden opportunity to punish them. Here is how to punish whiffs:

• Pay Attention: Keep a close eye on your opponent and anticipate their attacks. This will help you notice when they whiff.
• Learn the Reach: Know the reach of your opponent’s attacks so you can move away from them before their attacks.
• Practice Punish Moves: Learn and practice specific combo strings that will inflict heavy damage when your opponent whiffs.

Frame Data

Frame data is the scientific data that will help you become a better player of Tekken 9. Here are some important concepts about it:

• Start-up Frames: The number of frames it takes for an attack to start. Faster attacks have fewer start-up frames.
• Active Frames: The number of frames that an attack is actually hitting. The number of active frames determine the reach of the attack.
• Recovery Frames: The number of frames that it takes for a character to return to neutral stance after an attack. If your attack has too many recovery frames, you become very vulnerable.
• Plus/Minus on Block: If an attack is blocked, the ‘plus on block’ or ‘minus on block’ tells you who will act first. If you are plus on block, then you get to act first.

Mix-ups

Mix-ups are a way to keep your opponent guessing by using different types of attacks. Here’s how to perform a mix-up:

• High, Mid, Low: Use a variety of high, mid, and low attacks to force the opponent to guard in multiple directions. This prevents them from correctly predicting your attack.
• Throw Mix-ups: Use throws and strikes in unpredictable ways. Throws can break their block, while strikes can land when they are not expecting.
• Delaying Attacks: Slightly delay your follow-up attacks, so your opponent cannot anticipate the exact timing of your attack.

Wall Combos

Wall Combos can do massive amounts of damage, and help you win matches in Tekken 9. Learn how to perform Wall Combos using these pointers:

• Wall Carry Moves: Learn moves that can move your opponent towards the wall.
• Wall Splat Attacks: Learn which moves will slam the opponent against the wall for extra damage and a combo opportunity.
• Wall Enders: Learn moves that will end the combo in a way that will give you the most damage.

Remember to practice these advanced techniques in practice mode. It is very important to master these concepts because you will need to use them in real matches.

So, there you have it! A deep dive into the world of complex move execution in Tekken 9. Remember, it’s all about practice, patience, and a willingness to learn. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away. Keep practicing and you will be doing awesome complex moves in no time. Good luck!