Unlike other fighting game titles, Guilty Gear Strive takes on the traditional Guilty Gear formula of flashy theatrics with brutally fast-paced techniques. Anyone who's had a solid grasp of the Arc System Works title is bound to have a rocking time in competitive action. However, the more competitive PVP scene of the Guilty Gear fanbase is ruthless when it comes to technical combat.
While this can seem overwhelming to newcomers, Strive's flashy combat certainly makes technical battle an interesting highlight for some. How can players amp up their fighting game spirit to outlast the competition?
10 Keymapping Simplifies Combat
It's common for games like Strive to allow players to map their controls – and this is something newcomers should do before getting into PVP. Dedicating a macro for certain in-game mechanics can make combat much smoother, especially for a combo and timing-intensive game like Strive.
For instance, Dashing alone requires to double tap a directional key, something not everyone can do easily. The Psych Burst originally needs players to use Dust + any Attack Button, and the more flexible Roman Cancel needs three Attack Buttons to work. Keymapping any of these mechanics into a dedicated button can help characters flow into combos much easier, especially since certain characters excel in specific mechanics.
9 Rewarding Aggression
Unlike other fighting games where players can freely explore a defensive playstyle, Strive has mechanics that outright encourage aggression. Players simply fill their Tension Meter from aggressive tactics. These include walking towards the opponent, pulling off attacks, and even taking damage. Likewise, players who hug the wall too much will decrease their Tension Meter. The Tension Meter is the primary resource for crucial combat mechanics, including Overdrive Attacks, Roman Cancels, and Faultless Defense.
Meanwhile, players who block too much will slowly fill their RISC Meter. If this purple bar becomes full, any attack from the opponent instantly becomes a big Counter Hit.
8 Maximize The Tension Meter
The Tension Meter in Strive serves as the Guilty Gear equivalent of Street Fighter's V-Gauge or Super Combo Gauge. However, unlike in some games that "carry over" a full gauge in the next round, Strive matches start with empty Tension Meters. Since aggression will almost always lead to a full meter, it's a goof idea to spend the Tension Meter whenever possible.
Aside from combos, players can use the Tension Meter in almost any playstyle. For instance, the overly-aggressive player can constantly refill their Tension Meter through well-timed Overdrive Attacks. Likewise, an emergency Faultless Defense is always helpful for dangerous situations. Proper Roman Cancels can lead to devastating combos, or ruin the enemy player's combos.
7 Proximity Inputs Dominate At Close Range
As players may soon realize, even basic Attacks expand into various technical moves with the right kind of command. In Strive, this is particularly true with the Slash button. Interestingly, the Slash works a different way depending on how much space the players leave between their character and the opponent.
Similar to Dust + Up, the Proximity Slash results in a different kind of attack compared to the regular Slash for each character. Players should study how each character expands their Proximity Inputs to capitalize on their close range combat.
6 Even Range Motivates Offense
For a game like Strive where simple combinations lead into a wide variety of attacks, it's important for players to mind their range. They need to remember that most characters have strong mid-range to long-range attacks. Examples include long-ranged projectile attacks such as much of I-No's kit, or more straightforward attacks such as Potemkin's low Slide Head and Sol Badguy's Gun Flame.
Players of these characters can depend on these for long-ranged poking. Likewise, those fighting these characters should note how to best escape these pokes. Even these ranged attacks discourage players from rushing to their wall for defense, and instead they should engage the enemy more.
5 Wake Up Blockers With Grabs
When fighting enemies with a penchant for blocking too much, players will want to punish them with grabs. Depending on the finishing moment, certain grabs or Throws end up with harsh knockdowns, leaving enemies wide open for a harsher combo string.
Strive also has a unique option of grabbing opponents in the air. This is especially helpful for enemies who love traveling around the battlefield through unnecessary jumping. Since certain fighters like Potemkin have especially-harsh Throws, these grabs remain an essential part of any PVP toolkit.
4 Dust Capitalizes The Neutral Stance
Despite Strive favoring a more aggressive approach, players can still do a lot of things from a neutral – or standing – stance. The Dust mechanic vastly expands the movement potential of any character, and can string into excellent combos and mobility options. Dust releases an overhead attack that launches opponents in the air. This attack, also chargeable for a cinematic finish, needs a standing guard.
When players combine directional buttons with Dust, things get much wilder. Dust + Down initiates a sweep that can knock down characters, requiring a crouching guard. For more technical Dusting, Dust + Left/Right initiates a throw into that direction. Lastly, Dust + Up releases a different action for every character. When used properly, Dust can lead into radically-unique combat situations.
3 Mind The Roman Cancels
The Roman Cancels occupy a great deal of of the Tension Meter's use in combat. Instead of using Tension to pull off Overdrive Attack, a well-timed Roman Cancel can make or break someone's day. In Strive, all Roman Cancels take up half of the Tension Meter – and these all have various effects.
- Red Roman Cancel: These happen just as players land a hit. This shockwave forces enemies to float for a short time, opening them for combos.
- Yellow Roman Cancel: These occur when players block an attack, and release a shockwave that repels enemies further.
- Blue Roman Cancel: This happens when RC-ing without attacking, and slows down the enemy temporarily.
- Purple Roman Cancel: Occurs during the recovery frames of an attack, and releases a stunning shockwave.
2 Counter Hits Can Bypass Exceptions
Unlike other fighting games with countering mechanics, Strive introduces three kinds of Counter Hits, one for each attack type. Universally, all Counter Hits release a stronger version of the countering attack. The Heavy Counter (Heavy Slash) also flashes a "Counter!" label on the screen to accompany its much stronger Heavy Slash attack.
However, Counter Hits shine most in their latent stagger mechanic. When Counter Hits get through an opponent, they stay staggered mid-air for a split-second. This minor time differential opens opportunities for otherwise impossible moves. These mostly include stringing combos between these "stagger" frames that would normally be impossible.
1 Remember Forward + Punch
Of all the combo strings players can learn for characters, Forward + Punch may help them the most. While this looks different for every character, Forward-Punch releases a small attack that's essentially a short-to-mid-ranged poke. In some instances, Forward-Punch works well to halt an unnecessarily aggressive approach.
However, it shines best when players remember that Forward + Punch grants characters upper body invincibility. Thus, Forward + Punch can cancel almost any attack that targets the upper body. This upper body protection can transform this combo into a great anti-air poke as well.