One of the most critical aspects of any fighting game is being able to effectively block incoming attacks. In a release like Tekken 8 where the goal of the fight is to juggle the enemy until they are completely K.O.'d, being able to prevent your enemy from easily launching into their strongest combos is a must.
As the Tekken series features one of the most detailed layouts in the genre, being able to block alone sometimes isn't enough to pave a path to victory. Knowing how, and when, to properly execute parries, counter inputs, or counterattack stances is quintessential for defeating harder difficulties in the campaign, the Dark Awakens, along with climbing in online ranked matches.
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Blocking
To execute a standard block, refrain from any input on the controller and your fighter will block any incoming strikes in the mid or high lanes. Players need to crouch to block low attacks by holding the Down input.
Players can also block by holding the Back input (a standard Block input for most fighting games) – keep in mind that this will cause players to slowly walk backward away from their opponent, which is not often desired if hoping to follow up with attacks during the enemy's recovery frames (the time following the final strike of a combo, before a player's character can transition into a new attack combo). Additionally, players can find holding Back as a blocking strategy is counter-productive, as holding the Back input can prevent successful execution of a Throw Escape if the enemy counters your blocking with a Throw technique.
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How Do You Break A Fighter's Block?
When facing enemies who are adept at blocking, players will need to change their strategy to create a window of opportunity to dish out damage. Players can try to push through enemies with increased damage output, or by simply getting in close.
Guard Break with Power Crushes
Most fighters will have an unblockable power crush attack in their arsenal that can push through a blocking fighter to send them flying back. These power crush techniques are most commonly a combination of a single directional input plus a single limb input (for example, Down + LP for Jin and Devil Jin), but players will find some characters have many power crushes in their arsenal, with the fanciest techniques having more complex inputs (like the Hang-Up technique, performed by Dr. Alisa Bosconovitch).
Power crush attacks can be discovered in the move list by using the attack stats provided in Practice mode (or used easily with Tekken 8's Special Style). Watch for an Unblockable property to display on the Hit Properties line, designating a power crush attack. Players can use the move list Demo feature to scroll through every technique in a fighter's kit and easily discover these powerful moves.
What Is Chip Damage?
Some of the stronger fighters in Tekken 8 can dish out extraordinary amounts of damage that will affect enemies even when they can successfully block. When players can overpower their enemy with these intense attacks, their enemy will flash a burning orange/gold through their body as small amounts of health are whittled away. While damage taken is significantly reduced, combos that deal chip damage can be great ways to sneak in some extra damage that can be critical in deciding the winner of the fight.
If players can dish out enough chip damage, they can open up an enemy's guard, allowing for a massive follow-up combo. Or, they can use chip damage to tack on some minor damage, then hold the attack and wait for the enemy to begin their attack during your mid-combo recovery. As their attack starts up, launch into a Heat Smash or Rage Art to permanently remove the health broken away from the chip damage.
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Throws
The biggest downside to power crush attacks is they typically have a very long start-up time, allowing certain fighters like Steve or Yoshimitsu the chance to sidestep out of the way. If players find themselves face-to-face with a very mobile enemy, turn to a throw technique that can be executed much faster. Every fighter in Tekken 8 has at least two basic throws that can be executed when close to the enemy by inputting LP + LK or RP + RK.
Throws can be a great option when unable to break through an enemy's guard, or as a quick reversal when enemies are finishing an attack you were able to block. Many fighters have a variety of throw techniques available (with some Tekken fighters like King and Jack-8 basing a majority of their fighting style around grappling tactics). Find these moves by going to the All Techniques tab in the move list and scrolling down to the bottom (or scrolling up from Technique 1).
Fighters like King who can input multiple throwing combos can be incredibly deadly, allowing for a chain of attacks that can be executed through a block, and continue to slam and throw the enemy around the ring, never providing an opportunity for them to recover.
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Parries and Counterattacks
As players begin to master a specific character, they should begin to incorporate their fighter's ultimate reversal techniques. Every fighter is capable of at least parrying low attacks (hold Down-Forward), with most martial arts-based fighters having a standard reversal technique available by inputting Back + LP + RP.
In very few cases, players will encounter fighters that only have Low Parry reversals available (like Claudio). Keep in mind that when the enemy is pressing the attack, throw techniques can be used to turn the tide back in your favor.
In contrast to Claudio's single reversal, there are a few fighters on the roster who feature heavy counterattack moves in their kit, like one of Tekken 8's new fighters, Azucena. Azucena's Libertador stance will allow Azucena to automatically counter any attack in specific lanes - these techniques will be at the very bottom of the move list, beneath the list of throws.
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Counter Inputs
Some throws and counter abilities have specific inputs that can be used to cancel out the damaging effect. For example, a player may go in for an Armlock Throw technique while playing as Steve. If the enemy fighter can execute the proper input response correlated to where the throw initiates contact, the grapple can be countered. In this case, LP + RP will counter the Armlock Throw as Steve grabs both arms at the elbow to initiate the technique.
Players hoping to climb high in the Tekken 8 ranks will want to master every throw counter and counterattack stance to be successful against any opponent. In the case of Azucena's Libertador mentioned above, go for a mid-strike to knock her back and out of the stance. When players encounter grapples or stances that are unfamiliar, try to use context clues given by the character animations to decide on a response - if the enemy grabs your left leg and left arm, try inputting LP + LK to cancel their technique. For those looking to study every counter input, you can find counter inputs in a fighter's move list in the red bar underneath the technique input box.
Tekken 8
- Franchise
- Tekken
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment , Arika
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
