Keep in mind much of what I am posting may be open to interpretation as well as random differences between ver.B ps2 and ver.B arcade. I do not pretend to 100% understand the conditions for some of this. Also these are 'created' scenarios and may not be completely accurate. They are only based on my testing and match experience.
Clashing and why it happens:
Several moves have 'clash frames' during their startup. This means if the opponent strikes you during these frames, you clash and both of you gain full cancel options. During a clash you can:
1) Press nothing and let your move continue to come out. Note that if you are the aggresor in this situation and you hit the opponent during the startup of one of their clash moves, this is NOT the option you want, as your active frames are gone already, and the opponent will win. On the other hand if you are the 'defender' this is a good scenario depending on what move was used.
Example:
Shiki versus V.Sion. Shiki does a dashing 2A and V.Sion presses 5B. Shiki's 2A hits during one of the clash frames of V.Sion's 5B. In this scenario Shiki wants to immediately cancel to another move or a jump in an attempt to trade or escape since the active frames of his 2A have been used up. V.Sion on the other hand wants to let her very fast 5B continue and hopefully counterhit Shiki. You want to learn how to control yoruself if you are the V.Sion in this situation and not accidentally cancel to another attack.
2) Immediately cancel to another fast attack. If the opponent does the same, these two attacks may 'Clash' again if they make contact with each other, regardless of whether or not either new move has clash frames. This is what you see when you see matches with several clashes in a row. Usually this happens when the defender should have let his move continue, but did not for whatever reason whether it was because of an expected cancel point or something else entirely. The way to WIN in this situation: attack more times than the opponent does by quickly cancelling to different attacks, or cancel to a jump and try to excape.
Example: Ciel versus Akiha. Ciel presses 5C which clashes with the startup of Akiha's 2C. Akiha anticipated a hit or forced block however, and presses 5B. Ciel presses 5A immediately and the new attacks clash. Ciel presses 2C and Akiha finally recovers from the situation and cancels to jump. Ciel's 2C misses Akiha who jumps out and now has an opportunity to punish Ciel's recovery or just escape the corner.
Example 2: Same situation. Ciel 5C clashes with Akiha 2C. Cancel 1: Ciel 5A clashes with Akiha 5B. Cancel 2: Ciel 5B Ends up being faster than Akiha's 5C, so she gets a counter hit and wins the 'Clash war.'
3) Cancel to an invincible EX or heat super. This is the riskiest of the options but has the biggest payoff.
So to recap:
If you hit your opponent's clash frame: You should immediately cancel to another attack, jump, or ex in an attempt to beat them out or escape.
If your clash frame is hit by the opponent: press nothing and allow the attack to continue if it is fast enough. Else you should press an attack and try to win the ensuing clash war.
Clashing is a scenario that is very uprooting, sudden, and unexpected. By training yourself to react quickly to it you can catch the opponent with their pants down and score a counterhit into some very good damage, or use it to escape bad scenarios.
Topic: How to win at clash frames (Read 5679 times)