Guilty Gear Strive – 10 Advanced Techniques
Well-Structured Summary
High-Level Summary
This video covers advanced, system-level techniques in Guilty Gear Strive that go beyond basic combos and neutral. The focus is on option selects, meter optimization, Roman Cancel (RC) mastery, burst interactions, wake-up control, wall management, and defensive/offensive momentum manipulation. These tools allow players to convert uncertainty into advantage, maximize damage consistency, and safely control space, pressure, and reactions in high-level play.
Condensed Bullet-Point Overview (Quick Review)
OTGs exist and can secure wins or mess with wake-up timing
Hitstop allows option-selected combo routing
Dash blocking is extremely strong and low-risk
Throw OS lets you defend while teching grabs
Faultless Defense Cancel (FDC) manipulates air momentum
Roman Cancel drift determines combo routes and positioning
Blue RC is one of the strongest mechanics in the game
Bursts are more punishable but harder to bait traditionally
Metered reversals (supers) are very strong compared to DPs
Wall break decisions should be strategic, not automatic
Chunked Breakdown (Numbered, Self-Contained) Chunk 1: OTGs (Off-the-Ground Attacks) Summary
OTGs still exist in Strive and can be used without strict timing or tech input stress. They’re excellent for closing rounds, disrupting wake-up reversals, and adding guaranteed damage after hard knockdowns. Many attacks—including supers—can OTG if they hit low and fast enough.
Key Lesson
OTGs are round-securing tools, not gimmicks.
Comprehension Questions
What is required for an OTG to hit in Strive?
Why are OTGs good for ending rounds?
Answers
A hard knockdown and a low, fast hit.
They prevent wake-up options and confirm kills.
Action Steps
Identify which of your character’s normals/specials OTG reliably.
Practice OTG timing after knockdowns in training mode.
Chunk 2: Hitstop Combo Option Selects Summary
Strive allows players to buffer different combo routes during hitstop, especially on counter-hit slowdown. This lets you visually or system-confirm whether to go for optimal damage or safer routes—especially useful near the wall.
Key Lesson
Hitstop turns uncertainty into consistency.
Comprehension Questions
How does hitstop enable combo option selects?
Why is this important near the wall?
Answers
The slowdown gives time to buffer alternate inputs.
Wall breaks are inconsistent and hard to predict.
Action Steps
Practice buffering different enders during counter-hit freeze.
Build wall-aware combo trees with fallback routes.
Chunk 3: Dash Blocking (Neutral Control Tool) Summary
Dash blocking is much stronger than in older Guilty Gear games. You can safely approach without Faultless Defense and even use the dash macro. Combined with Instant Block, dash blocking removes pushback, builds meter, and safely closes distance.
Key Lesson
Dash blocking is low risk, high reward neutral movement.
Comprehension Questions
Why is dash blocking safer in Strive than older GGs?
What does Instant Block add to dash blocking?
Answers
No FD requirement to block during dash recovery.
Reduced pushback + meter gain.
Action Steps
Replace jump-ins with dash blocking in space-control matchups.
Practice dash → block → IB sequences.
Chunk 4: Throw Defense Option Select Summary
You can defend throws while blocking by inputting a grab OS. This prevents whiffed grabs from putting you in counter-hit state. It’s not perfect (loses to lows and command grabs) but is very effective against standard pressure.
Key Lesson
Smart OS usage reduces defensive risk.
Comprehension Questions
What does the throw OS protect against?
When should you avoid using it?
Answers
Whiffed throw counter-hit states.
Against command grab characters.
Action Steps
Practice the no-burst version for reliability.
Learn matchup-specific command grab threats.
Chunk 5: Faultless Defense Cancel (FDC) Summary
FDC lets you alter air momentum—speed, direction, distance, and height. It stabilizes air-to-ground conversions, helps with positioning, and expands combo consistency beyond mix-ups.
Key Lesson
FDC is a movement correction tool, not just defense.
Comprehension Questions
How does FDC affect momentum?
Why is it useful outside mix-ups?
Answers
Adjusts speed, distance, and direction.
Helps stabilize conversions and spacing.
Action Steps
Practice FDC during air hits and pressure escapes.
Experiment with FDC-assisted combo routes.
Chunk 6: Roman Cancel Drift Selection Summary
Each RC drift changes combo structure and positioning:
Forward Drift: Corner carry + moving hitbox
Neutral/Down Drift: Standard slowdown, lower height
Up Drift: Maximum launch
Back Drift: Side swap, burst-safe punishes
Key Lesson
RC drift = intentional positioning control.
Comprehension Questions
Which RC drift is best for side swaps?
Which provides maximum launch?
Answers
Back Drift.
Up Drift.
Action Steps
Map RC drifts to specific combo goals.
Drill RC drift reactions per hit confirm.
Chunk 7: Blue Roman Cancel (BRC) Power Summary
BRC can steal turns, punish otherwise safe options, extend reactions, and convert off situations that normally wouldn’t be punishable. Its slowdown dramatically increases reaction time and combo viability.
Key Lesson
BRC is one of the strongest mechanics in Strive.
Comprehension Questions
Why is BRC stronger than other RCs?
What does the slowdown enable?
Answers
Increased convertibility and reaction time.
Safer punishes and unique conversions.
Action Steps
Practice BRC punishes in scramble situations.
Use BRC defensively to escape pressure and reset momentum.
Chunk 8: Bursts and Burst Punishes Summary
Bursts are more punishable than ever—blocked bursts can be punished by Dust. Blue RC can also slow burst startup, allowing you to block safely after normals. Gold Bursts are harder to punish but still strike-vulnerable.
Key Lesson
Burst interaction is now system-manipulable, not just a read.
Comprehension Questions
How can Blue RC help against bursts?
What changed about burst throws?
Answers
It slows startup, allowing block recovery.
Bursts are no longer throwable mid-air.
Action Steps
Practice BRC burst-safe confirms.
Learn burst punish windows per character.
Chunk 9: Metered Reversals vs DPs Summary
DPs are weaker: throwable and counter-hit vulnerable. Reversal supers are strong—fast, uncounterable, and often full-screen. This makes stagger pressure risky against characters with strong supers.
Key Lesson
Supers are real defensive threats, not panic buttons.
Comprehension Questions
Why are supers safer than DPs?
What makes them risky to misuse?
Answers
No counter-hit state and fast startup.
Can be baited, reversed, or bursted if mis-spaced.
Action Steps
Identify when super is a better defensive option than DP.
Respect opponent meter during pressure strings.
Chunk 10: Wall Break Strategy & Intentional Drops Summary
Wall breaks reset neutral but give buffs. Super wall breaks are especially strong due to no meter penalty. Sometimes intentionally dropping combos for better oki or later wall break is optimal.
Key Lesson
Wall breaks should be strategic decisions, not autopilot.
Comprehension Questions
Why might you delay a wall break?
What makes super wall breaks strong?
Answers
To gain meter or secure better oki.
Buffed damage, defense, and meter gain.
Action Steps
Plan wall routes based on meter and kill potential.
Practice intentional drops into strong oki.
Super-Summary (Under 1 Page)
This video teaches how high-level Guilty Gear Strive is played through system mastery, not just execution. Key themes include using hitstop for option selects, dash blocking for safe approach, Roman Cancel drift for positioning control, and Blue RC for reaction extension and momentum theft. Defensive systems—bursts, reversals, FD cancel—are now manipulable resources, not binary guesses. Finally, wall breaks and meter usage should be intentional, strategic decisions, sometimes favoring delayed damage over immediate reward. Mastery comes from turning uncertainty into controlled advantage.
Optional 3-Day Spaced Review Plan
Day 1:
Review Chunks 1–4
Drill OTGs, hitstop confirms, dash blocking
Day 2:
Review Chunks 5–7
Practice FDC, RC drifts, and Blue RC reactions
Day 3:
Review Chunks 8–10
Focus on burst safety, reversal awareness, and wall routing decisions
