Practice your Tekken 9 punish game by consistently reviewing your match replays, identifying punishable moves, and then drilling the correct counter moves in practice mode.
Want to become a force in Tekken 9? A big part of that involves how well you can punish your opponent’s mistakes. Learning Tekken 9 how to practice punish game is essential for victory.
Good players capitalize on openings. This means understanding frame data and developing the muscle memory for those essential punishes. Focus on your weaknesses and soon you will see improvement.
Tekken 9 How to Practice Punish Game
Okay, so you’re diving into the world of Tekken 9 and you’ve heard about the ‘punish game.’ Maybe it sounds a little scary, like you’re waiting for someone to make a mistake. Well, that’s kind of true! But it’s not about being mean, it’s about being smart and taking advantage of openings your opponent gives you. Think of it like this: if someone leaves a door open, you don’t just stand there, you walk in, right? In Tekken, a punish is when your opponent does something unsafe, and you get to hit them back really hard for it. This article will guide you on how to sharpen your punish skills in Tekken 9. It’s all about understanding what moves are unsafe, learning which moves punish them, and practicing until it becomes second nature. Let’s break down the essentials of a strong punish game.
Understanding Frame Data
Before you can become a punish master, you need to get to know the secret language of Tekken: Frame Data. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Imagine each move in Tekken as a tiny movie clip. Each clip is made of frames, just like an animation. Some moves are really fast, having very few frames, while others are slower with more frames. Frame data tells us exactly how many frames a move takes to start up, how many frames it takes to hit, and, most importantly, how many frames it leaves you open for after the move is finished. This opening, or recovery, is key to the punish game.
What are + Frames and – Frames?
So what are these “frames” we’re talking about? Let’s talk about the important ones, the +/- frames. When a move is finished, it leaves either plus (+) or minus (-) frames on block or on whiff. Imagine you do a move and your opponent blocks it. If you have +3 frames after the block, it means you recover faster than your opponent. You get to act 3 frames sooner, and in the fast-paced world of Tekken, that’s a pretty big deal. You can usually keep the pressure on with another move. However, if you have -5 frames after the block, it means your opponent is free to act 5 frames before you and can counter you if they choose. This is where punishes come in.
- Plus Frames (+): You recover faster than your opponent, usually after they block, giving you an advantage.
- Minus Frames (-): Your opponent recovers faster than you after they block your move, giving them a potential opportunity to punish.
- On Hit: When you hit the enemy, you gain advantage.
- On Block: When your move is blocked, there can be advantage or disadvantage.
- On Whiff: If you swing your attack and miss, there are always disadvantages.
Safe vs. Unsafe Moves
The key concept is safe and unsafe moves.
- Safe Moves: These moves, even when blocked, don’t leave you at a big disadvantage. Your opponent can’t punish you back with most moves. Safe moves usually have a small amount of minus frames on block, or even plus frames.
- Unsafe Moves: These moves are risky. When blocked, your opponent has plenty of time to hit you back with a powerful move. They have a lot of minus frames on block. These are your best friends when you’re trying to punish.
You can usually find Frame data for each move on websites that document moves and their timings for Tekken 9.
Identifying Punishable Moves
Now that we know about frames, how do we figure out which moves are punishable? There are a few key things to look out for:
Slow Moves
Some moves are just naturally slow. They take a long time to start up and a long time to recover. If you see a move wind up slowly, there’s a good chance it’s unsafe on block or whiff. This is not always the case, some slow moves can be designed to force the enemy to act and give an advantage. However, most slow moves are unsafe.
Moves With Lots of Recovery
Even if a move isn’t slow, it might have a lot of recovery time. This means that after the attack is finished, the character is stuck for a while. Look for animations where the character is recovering, leaving them open to a counter. Moves that heavily miss the enemy are also easy to punish.
Moves with Big Visual Cues
Sometimes you don’t even need to know the exact frame data. Some moves are very obvious. If you see someone wind up their fist for a huge overhand punch that goes far, then be prepared to move and punish.
High Risk, High Reward Moves
Many moves that deal massive amounts of damage or launch the opponent are also high risk. They leave the user very exposed if blocked or missed, which makes them prime targets for punishes.
Learning Your Character’s Punish Moves
Okay, you see a move that looks punishable. Now what? It’s time to find out which of your character’s moves are good for punishing. There are generally two types of punish:
Fast Punishes
These are quick moves that you use when your opponent is only slightly unsafe. Think of a quick jab or a mid-range kick. They usually don’t do a huge amount of damage but they are very fast to use.
Launch Punishes
Launch punishes are more like a full-on power move. These punish moves will not only deal big damage but also put your opponent into a state where you can keep the pressure up and do a combo. These are what you use when your opponent does a very unsafe move that is very minus on block or whiff.
How to Find Your Punishes
The best way to learn your character’s punishes is to spend some time in the practice mode. Experiment with different moves after blocking your opponent’s attacks, or letting them whiff.
- Go into practice mode: Choose a character you want to learn punish moves with. Choose an opponent that has moves you want to practice on.
- Test block: Have your opponent do a string of attacks, and try to punish them with your moves after blocking.
- Test whiff: Have your opponent do their moves and miss, and try to punish them with your moves after they whiff.
Look at your character’s movelist in the menu. It will usually tell you when a move is useful to punish. It will also usually say how fast the moves are, and that can give you an idea on how useful it is to punish. Some moves might be “i10” or “i13”. The “i” stands for “frames”, which means a move is 10 frames or 13 frames startup time. Moves with i10 will usually be quick jabs, whereas moves with i13 might be stronger.
Practical Drills for Practicing Punishes
Okay, so we know the theory, but how do we actually get better? Practice, practice, practice! Here are some drills you can use in the training mode to practice your punish game:
Basic Block Punishes
Start with the basics. Pick an opponent character and choose one of their unsafe moves to focus on. Block their move, and then try to punish them with one of your quick punish moves. Repeat this over and over again until the punish comes out almost automatically.
Advanced Block Punishes
Once you have basic block punishes down, try doing the same drill with launch punish moves. Then try doing the drills with more unsafe moves from the opponent. The idea is to learn what to look for in a character’s moves.
Whiff Punishes
This drill is similar to the block punish drill, but here, you’re looking for whiffs. Have your opponent do a move that you can sidestep, duck, or move out of the way from. Then, punish their whiff with a strong attack or even a combo.
Random Opponent Punishes
Once you are familiar with both basic and launch punishes with multiple characters. It is good to choose “Random Opponent” in the practice mode. This will allow you to practice with a variety of moves from different characters and develop muscle memory.
Putting it all together
After practicing block, whiff, and random opponent drills, it is now time to put it all together and do some match practice. Choose an AI opponent and practice your punishes in a match environment. It’s not the same as practicing against a real human, but it will prepare you to be more ready.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even when you try your best, it’s easy to make mistakes when learning the punish game. Here are some common errors and how to fix them:
Punishing too slow
If you’re too slow, your opponent will recover and have a chance to block your punish. Remember the frames! Speed is important when you are looking for punish opportunities. You’ll have to have a good memory of your own punish moves.
Punishing too early
Sometimes we get trigger-happy and try to attack the enemy as soon as they complete their move. Some moves have active frames or properties, that can still hit you after you think the move has finished. If you attack too early, it is very possible that you’ll get hit. It’s important to have a clear idea about when the recovery for a move starts.
Using the wrong punish
Sometimes you might do a move you thought would work, but the opponent has already recovered and blocked it. It is very important to know your punish moves’ timings. What punish works best after each blocked/whiffed move?
Over-committing
Don’t go crazy trying to punish every single little move. If you try to punish everything, you’ll find yourself doing unnecessary risky moves. Only punish when there is an opening and you are sure you can get a hit.
Advanced Concepts
Once you understand the basics of punish, you can dive deeper.
Punish Strings
Many characters have multiple options when they attack. Some moves can be cancelled in to other moves. These are called strings. If you can figure out how your enemy likes to string moves, you can figure out when it is best to try and punish.
Spacing
Spacing is extremely important in Tekken. You want to be close enough to hit the enemy, but also far enough away that you don’t get caught in their attacks. Spacing is a key part of punishing, as good spacing can give you better punish options, and will allow you to whiff punish more often.
Character Matchups
Each character is different, with unique strengths and weaknesses. Each character will have their own safe and unsafe moves, so be sure to do some research about common attacks of certain characters. Learning character matchups and how to exploit them is an important part of mastering Tekken.
Learning to punish in Tekken 9 takes time and dedication, but it is one of the most rewarding things to do in the game. By understanding frame data, identifying punishable moves, and practicing your punishes regularly, you will take your Tekken skills to the next level. Remember to stay patient, learn from your mistakes, and always strive to improve! Good luck in your Tekken 9 journey!
How Do I Punish in Tekken 8? – Tekken 8 Guide
Final Thoughts
Effective practice in Tekken 9’s punish game requires dedicated time. You must learn character move properties, focusing on block and whiff recovery. Identify punishable gaps in your opponent’s offense is a key aspect.
Practice these specific punish scenarios in training mode. Repetition is crucial for developing muscle memory. Use recording to simulate opponent patterns.
For Tekken 9 how to practice punish game, focus on specific techniques. This process will improve reaction time and execution. Consistently practicing these aspects will greatly enhance your ability to punish effectively.
