Tekken 9 How To Maximize Damage Output

Tekken 9: How to Maximize Damage Output

Okay, so you’re ready to make your opponents in Tekken 9 feel the heat! It’s not just about landing hits, it’s about making every single hit count. Let’s dive deep into how you can boost your damage output and become a true force in the arena. This guide will walk you through the key strategies that separate a good player from a great one.

Understanding the Basics of Damage

Before we get into the fancy stuff, let’s cover the ground rules. In Tekken 9, damage isn’t just a flat number. It’s influenced by many different factors. These factors can make or break your attack. Knowing these rules is crucial for planning your offense and maximizing your damage potential. Here are a few core elements you need to keep in mind:

• Move Properties: Every move in Tekken 9 has unique properties. Some moves might deal more base damage, while others might have faster start-up or better tracking. Learning which moves deal more damage for your character is fundamental.
• Punishment: When an opponent whiffs an attack or throws out a risky move, that’s your chance to punish them. Punishing moves will deal more damage than other moves in normal scenarios. Learning your character’s best punishing moves is key.
• Wall Carry and Splats: Walls aren’t just pretty backgrounds; they’re damage amplifiers! Moves that carry your opponent towards a wall can result in extra damage from wall splats or combos. Knowing wall carry moves is extremely important.
• Combos: Combos are sequences of attacks that chain together. They deal more damage than single hits. Effective combo routes are the most efficient way to deal large amounts of damage.
• Rage Art/Rage Drive: When your health is low, you will enter the Rage state, giving you access to special attacks. Rage Art is a powerful cinematic attack, and Rage Drive enhances specific moves. These can turn the tide of the match.

The Power of Punishing

Punishing is an essential part of Tekken 9 and is very important to maximize damage. Think of it as the art of turning your opponent’s mistakes into your gains. When they throw out a move that leaves them open, you have a split second to react and capitalize. Here’s how to be better at punishing:

Recognizing Punishable Moves

The first step to great punishing is learning which moves are punishable. Some moves have long recovery times. This means that after your opponent uses the move, they’re vulnerable to attack for a moment. These moments are the perfect times for your punishing moves.

• Slow Moves: Moves that are slow on start up will leave you vulnerable to incoming attacks. Learn your characters fastest moves to punish them.
• Whiffs: When someone misses an attack completely, they’re left open. This is a prime time for a quick punish.
• Blocked Moves: Certain moves, when blocked, leave the attacker at a disadvantage. Knowing your characters best moves to use after blocking a move from the opponent is important.

Learning Your Character’s Best Punishers

Every character in Tekken 9 has unique punishing moves. These are moves that are quick to start up, have long reach, and deal good damage. Practice learning these moves and how to execute them quickly after an opponent makes a mistake. Some characters have moves that launch the opponent, allowing you to extend the combo.

Reaction Time and Prediction

Punishing isn’t just about knowing the moves, it’s also about reacting quickly. The quicker you can recognize and react to an opening, the better. Also, sometimes you can predict what your opponent will do. If they use a risky move multiple times, you can prepare yourself and punish them on the next attempt.

Combo Theory and Execution

Combos are the bread and butter of high damage in Tekken 9. They’re the sequences of attacks that flow together, causing extra damage. Mastering combos will drastically increase your ability to defeat your opponents.

Launchers

Most combos start with a launcher. A launcher is a move that lifts your opponent into the air. It sets them up for the rest of your combo. Knowing which of your character’s moves launch is key. Each character has different launchers, and some are easier to use than others. Experiment in practice mode and find launchers that fit your style.

Wall Carry Combos

Carrying your opponent to a wall is an important combo strategy. Many combos can have the opponent near the wall. In this state, you can end the combo with an attack that hits them into the wall and causes a splat. After the splat you can add even more damage with another attack. Learning your wall carry combos is important to maximize your damage when near a wall.

Combo Notation

Tekken uses a special notation system to communicate combos. Here’s a quick rundown:

• 1, 2, 3, 4: Represent the four face buttons (usually square, triangle, cross, circle).
• f: Forward
• b: Back
• u: Up
• d: Down
• f,f: Forward, Forward (press forward twice in quick succession)
• + : Indicates pressing multiple buttons at the same time.
• ~ : Indicates you need to press a button as quickly as possible.

For example, a move like “f+1, 2” means to press forward and 1 at the same time, and then press 2. Learn this notation to better understand and execute combos you find online or from other players.

Practice Mode is Your Best Friend

To get good at combos, spend time in practice mode. Practice your launchers, try different combo strings, and experiment with wall carry setups. Repeat the combos until you can execute them perfectly. This will help you perform them consistently during real fights.

Utilizing Movement and Spacing

Movement is more than just getting from one side of the screen to the other. Good movement allows you to create openings for your attacks and avoid your opponent’s offense. It is a critical component of high damage output because you will have more opportunities to attack and punish the opponent.

Effective Backdashing

Backdashing can quickly create distance between you and your opponent. It helps you avoid attacks and create space for your own offense. Using backdashing can allow you to avoid certain moves and punish your opponent. It is important to use backdashing when needed.

Sidestepping

Sidestepping allows you to move around your opponents and avoid attacks that only hit in a straight line. Sidestepping can create openings for your attack, or force the opponent to whiff, allowing you to punish them. Master the art of sidestepping to make your offense stronger.

Spacing for Punishes

Good spacing will allow you to punish your opponent better. Spacing is all about being close enough to punish moves, but far enough away to avoid getting hit. Finding your optimal spacing will help you increase your offense and defense.

Wall Game Strategies

The walls in Tekken 9 are your allies. They can significantly increase your damage output. Here’s how to utilize walls effectively:

Wall Splats and Damage

When you hit an opponent into a wall, they’ll splat against it, taking extra damage. Some moves result in a wall splat automatically, while others need to be timed correctly. You can take advantage of this by setting up situations where the opponent will hit a wall.

Wall Combos

After a wall splat, you have a chance for a wall combo. Wall combos are designed to deal extra damage after you hit an opponent into the wall. Learning these combos will greatly increase your damage output.

Wall Pressure

When your opponent is near a wall, you can use this to your advantage. Applying wall pressure means forcing your opponent to make mistakes, which allows you to punish them with wall combos. You can use this to force them into a wall and cause even more damage.

Rage Art and Rage Drive Usage

Rage Art and Rage Drive are powerful tools in Tekken 9. They are available when your health is low, and they can change the flow of the fight. Using these correctly can help you come back from a losing situation.

Understanding Rage Art

Rage Arts are cinematic moves that deal a large amount of damage. They are effective at finishing off opponents, or turning a losing match to a winning one. These can be easily punished if they are blocked, so make sure to use them when you have the opportunity.

Understanding Rage Drive

Rage Drive enhances existing moves, making them more dangerous. Each character has different rage drive moves, some may launch the opponent, while others may increase the damage of a single attack. Knowing your character’s rage drive will make your offense more versatile.

Strategic Usage

Don’t use Rage Art or Rage Drive as soon as you get them. Think of them as tools to use at the right time. It’s better to use them at the end of a combo, or when you know the opponent is likely to make a mistake. Timing is everything!

Character-Specific Strategies

Every character in Tekken 9 is different. They have their own special moves, strengths, and weaknesses. Learning your character inside and out is essential to maximizing their damage output.

Learning Your Characters Moveset

The first step is to learn all of your character’s moves. Know which moves are launchers, which ones are punishers, and which ones are safe on block. Use practice mode to learn the range and properties of your characters move list.

Experimenting with Combos

Once you know your character’s moveset, start experimenting with different combos. Try mixing and matching moves to find effective strings that deal big damage. Look up combo guides for your character online or ask more experienced players.

Adapting to Matchups

Every character has favorable and unfavorable matchups. You should adapt your strategy depending on who you are fighting. For example, against a fast character, you might need to focus on spacing and punishment. Against a slow character, you might be more aggressive.

Advanced Techniques for Damage

As you improve at Tekken 9, you’ll start to incorporate advanced techniques into your gameplay. These are high level techniques that can help you take your damage output to the next level.

Frame Data

Frame data refers to the specific timing of moves. This includes how long a move takes to start up, how long it is active, and how long the recovery is. Learning your characters frame data will help you to be more precise with your offense and defense. Understanding frame data can help you find openings to punish the opponent.

Mix Ups

Mix ups are when you keep your opponent guessing by alternating between different types of moves. You can alternate between low attacks, mid attacks, and throws, which will make your offense hard to predict. When the opponent has a hard time predicting your attacks, they will have trouble blocking them.

Okizeme

Okizeme means “wake up pressure”. This is when you apply pressure to your opponent as they are getting up from the ground. Applying okizeme will allow you to continue your offense. Learning okizeme setups are important to increase your damage output.

By combining these techniques with the foundational elements we discussed, you will be well on your way to maximizing your damage output in Tekken 9. Remember that consistency is key, and practice is the fastest path to improvement. Keep training and you’ll become a formidable fighter!