Any tips on building up defense ?

[ProudDisciple]

Figure out common blockstring with characters you commonly play against. Then go to training mode and have the dummy character do that blockstring and practice instant blocking. Use as many options as you can. Instant blocking is your friend.

Im a Tager player and what has been said right here you should take to HEART! You have to put time into recognizing what options your opponent has to better predict how to react! Whether its just blocking or waiting for an opening to throw out a counter. Its trial and error put make an effort to learn from your habits and improve.

[Mr. Mamation]

Most of the time you get hit when you are trying to attack. Learn to focus on blocking and try not to mash jab inbetween everything.

[bbq sauce]

Just playing a lot, and being patient, tbh.

In pressure, it'd be knowing when you can and can't move/press buttons.
In mix up, it's mostly about either A) reacting to it where applicable, B) if it's something that's too fast to react to - just taking the educated guess based on circumstances.

[shtkn]

analyze your fights and try to find out WHY you're getting hit.

are you getting counter hit a lot? stop mashing and learn when it's your 'turn' to hit buttons
getting mixed up? learn to block or learn how to avoid that situation

i highly recommend recording your fights somehow so you can analyze yourself with the added advantage of hindsight

[ProudDisciple]

Training mode record and playback options!


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[kirbster]

Learning the best time to use pokes to negate an opponent's offense will not help with defense. A poke in this case is more of an offensive option used to reverse momentum, and should only be used after a solid defense has been established.

It's true that your defense shouldn't be based on mashing but overly respecting the opponent will lead to you getting walked all over. Defense is not just blocking/not getting hit, it's also getting out of that situation where you're being pressured.

[Bohemian Polka]

It's true that your defense shouldn't be based on mashing but overly respecting the opponent will lead to you getting walked all over. Defense is not just blocking/not getting hit, it's also getting out of that situation where you're being pressured.

Yes. This is actually an important point for new people to learn. One example would be learning when someone has to reset their pressure. You can typically either attack and gain offensive momentum or use a movement option to get out. And both of these are better for your defensive game rather than letting someone run blockstrings on you all day. Sometimes people won't do something that's obviously punishable, but they will always put themselves into a situation where they have to reset pressure. Spacing can also help you here as it'll teach you when it's okay to press buttons and when it's not okay.

Also keep in mind that sometimes these opportunities are only open for you if you instant block. Which you can either figure out by learning the other character's block strings and practicing in training mode or through experience.