Advice on dodging unblockable attacks | Forums

[ChampionRuby50g]

Basically I struggle with dodging unblockable attacks, mainly unblockable melee attacks, on a consistent basis. I usually don’t dodge unblockable attacks unless I’m an Assassin, as I’m usually pretty good with parrying. But then moves like Nobushi kick or Glad toe poke I can’t dodge consistently. I’m not sure if this is because I panic and dodge to early or not at all, and my thumb presses the A button late from moving it from my thumb stick but I swear I’ve mashed A (dodge on Xbox) and my hero doesn’t move. In particular have trouble dodging after I’ve been hit by something, it seems my hero just gets stuck in recovery animations. For example I’m hit by two lights in Valks chain and it seems I can’t dodge the spear sweep reliably, more often than not I’m caught. Or Glad light attack then straight into toe-poke. I’ve heard that is dodgeable, but personally I’ve never seen it.

What do you guys look for on your opponent that tells you when to dodge? The start of the orange glow? Is there a sound you listen too that also gives audio cue? What are your best tips for getting good at dodging.

For reference I play on Xbox one x, I use a 1/ms response monitor, wireless controller and what many off you call horrible internet but what I call average in Australia. My mains are LB, bit of Warden (which are the two I struggle dodging with), Beserker but I’m fine with him, and I’ll pick up Valk again once she gets her rebalance.

I’m really looking forward to the training arena mode because I feel that will help a lot with learning the right times, but for the moment I’d just like advice from the forum members.

[bob333e]

I recall having my Xbox360 controllers being wireless and running on batteries. I often had command input lag because the batts were dying, so make sure you have fresh batts, or better yet, wire the controller to the xbox if possible (not sure how xboxone controllers are, but pretty sure same concept as xb360).

When I'm fighting someone, I keep my gaze on their chest at all times (that probably came out dirty haha) I mean, I keep my gaze on the level where the stance widget rests, and where the unblockable icons will flash. I don't look at head or hands. I sometimes look at weapon if need be. On top of reacting to the unblockable flash, I also make a mental note of how my opponent likes to fight, how they prefer their mixups and their baits. And I adapt from there. I eventually become able to tell when they'll throw an unblockable, most times.

By unblockable melee attacks, do you mean unblockable bashes from neutral, or unblockable charged heavies? by mentioning Nobu's kick and Glad's toefetishism, I'll assume you referred to the former (even though Nobu's kick isn't exactly from neutral but it falls in that category because it's just for stagger to crack defense).

The most reliable way is taking a mental note of how your opponent likes to move, as well as knowing their hero's moveset to a fair degree, and their most reliable mixups. A good reason why I'm still struggling against the new Conq is simply because I'm still not used to his new bashes and his new softfeint. Additionally, there are often visual cues. If a Glad wants to bash your face, he has to dodge first. When he's dodging and you didn't even attack, expect to see an unblockable icon flash. If a Shaman wants to headbutt, she'll duck and sheathe her weapons. If she wants a yummy bite, she'll sheathe her weapons, duck a bit and spread her arms further.

Glad's toestab and Warlord's headbutt are among the hardest bashes from neutral, if not the hardest, to telegraph and react to. So don't judge yourself too hard if you often mistime dodging those. It ain't easy at all, especially on console. Though, in the case of Glad, you can apply consistent pressure and force him to react, rather than him having you react to his attacks, which is how most good Glads will play. When they feel too pressured (and short reflex guard won't help) they'll spam backdodge to reset the fight. Which is often followed by either a dodge attack, or a dashing top light. Both of which are easily punished.

To note, Glad gets a guaranteed toestab from a light, almost 90% of the time. The small stagger caused by a light attack poke is roughly enough for him to land the toestab as a followup. That's why dodging the toestab followup is a myth (not undoable, but no one saw anyone pull it off either ) well if you're Shugo you can easily punish with a GB.

As for Valk, I tend to focus more on her lights first. She must not land her light pokes. She opens up to the rest of her kit just from landing the light pokes. A good telltale of a spear sweep is if she stops staring at you and starts spinning her head (against Valk it's good to take note of her head positioning). The actual sweep attack won't tick until she's mid-spin. By then you'd have understood she's doing the spear sweep and you dodge it and punish.

I don't care much for the orange glow on the shoulder/neck/head, because unblockables are often feinted, especially charged unblockable heavies. I focus on the parry flash instead.

100% agree on the training arena, I can't wait for it to really start grinding some real serious hardcore training against the most impossible odds (if they can be replicated, that is. Dunno to what extent we may customize the bot's combos and mixups, but here's hoping).

[ChampionRuby50g]

I’m doing a massive clean out off my room later on, I believe I’ve got a cord somewhere there so hopefully I find it. Luckily I sit reasonably close to my Xbox, so if it’s a short code I’ll be right.

Well make sure you don’t stare at Valks chest for too long 🙃 but I can see the benefit of that, all movement starts from that region and it could often give you the info you need before the widget highlights.

Now, thanks to you, I’ve reslised I need to watch for the dodge animation more. Glad SB always gets me, but looking at it in my minds eye I see the dodge animation on Glad I should be watching for. I feel like every time I apply pressure to a Glad though they use a dodge attack on me and I’m punished

I’ve got 17 Reps on Valk but that was all done prior to Season 2 really, so I’ve forgotten what it’s like to play her almost. As well as there been hardly any Valk players out there, can be a effort to remember and learn all the different counters. I’ll keep a note of her head from now on though, and aim at parrying that 2nd light if it ever comes.

But you are right in assuming I meant bashes from neutral, I should have made that more clear in my OP.

I’m also curious as to how much freedom we will have in the training arena, and how we can implement the combos we want practice against on the bots. Guess only time will tell when we get closer to the release date.

[CandleInTheDark]

I’m doing a massive clean out off my room later on, I believe I’ve got a cord somewhere there so hopefully I find it. Luckily I sit reasonably close to my Xbox, so if it’s a short code I’ll be right.

Well make sure you don’t stare at Valks chest for too long �� but I can see the benefit of that, all movement starts from that region and it could often give you the info you need before the widget highlights.

Now, thanks to you, I’ve reslised I need to watch for the dodge animation more. Glad SB always gets me, but looking at it in my minds eye I see the dodge animation on Glad I should be watching for. I feel like every time I apply pressure to a Glad though they use a dodge attack on me and I’m punished

I’ve got 17 Reps on Valk but that was all done prior to Season 2 really, so I’ve forgotten what it’s like to play her almost. As well as there been hardly any Valk players out there, can be a effort to remember and learn all the different counters. I’ll keep a note of her head from now on though, and aim at parrying that 2nd light if it ever comes.

But you are right in assuming I meant bashes from neutral, I should have made that more clear in my OP.

I’m also curious as to how much freedom we will have in the training arena, and how we can implement the combos we want practice against on the bots. Guess only time will tell when we get closer to the release date.

With the dodge unblockables, I have said the same since shinobi's kick, if you are reacting to the orange, you are already behind the curve because there is a dodge that comes before that and whether it is attack or dodge before they can gb, you have lost a couple hundredths of a second already. Some are quicker than others, I have played gladiator far more than I have met someone playing him given he is my current rep 7 target so I can't really give specifics there outside of that I tend to use it as a whiff punish (I am not at the level the turtle meta is an issue just for full disclosure) and as far as I am aware you wouldn't be able to dodge. I can also back the above comment that gladiators like to be running the show, it is a lot harder to get attacks off, especially as similarly to the kensei top unblockable (before rework in any case) the skewer needs feinting a few times if we are having to also block.

[ChampionRuby50g]

With the dodge unblockables, I have said the same since shinobi's kick, if you are reacting to the orange, you are already behind the curve because there is a dodge that comes before that and whether it is attack or dodge before they can gb, you have lost a couple hundredths of a second already. Some are quicker than others, I have played gladiator far more than I have met someone playing him given he is my current rep 7 target so I can't really give specifics there outside of that I tend to use it as a whiff punish (I am not at the level the turtle meta is an issue just for full disclosure) and as far as I am aware you wouldn't be able to dodge. I can also back the above comment that gladiators like to be running the show, it is a lot harder to get attacks off, especially as similarly to the kensei top unblockable (before rework in any case) the skewer needs feinting a few times if we are having to also block.

Cheers for the info, I’ll certainly be going before anything orange in the future. I’m always hesitant on dodging I believe because I fear been caught in recovery frames and been guard broken. But now I know how to identify the right time to dodge.

I did manage to find that cord to connect my controller to the Xbox, and so far the results have been showing. I used to have good and bad days playing unwired, but even playing for 3 games with a now wired controller, Parrying and crushing counters feels a lot more reliable and not as much delay in pressing buttons like revenge. Dodging feels better too, but I’m not saying I’m suddenly great at it. Still going to take some time to learn it all properly.