FGC Glossary
All essential fighting game terms
Fundamentals
(5 terms)Frame Data
Numerical data indicating the speed and properties of each move. Includes startup, active frames and recovery.
Startup
The number of frames needed before a move becomes active and can hit the opponent.
Recovery
The number of frames during which a character is vulnerable after performing an action.
Frame Advantage
The frame difference between you and your opponent after a move. Positive (+) means you recover before them.
Hit Confirm
The technique of visually confirming that a hit has connected before completing a combo.
Strategy
(4 terms)Neutral Game
The phase of the match where neither player has the advantage, often called 'footsies' or spacing game.
Footsies
The ground space control game, using ranged attacks to maintain or gain positional advantage.
Zoning
Defensive playstyle using projectiles and ranged attacks to control space.
Rushdown
Aggressive playstyle based on constant pressure and mixups to overwhelm the opponent.
Offense
(3 terms)Mixup
Offensive technique using multiple attack options (high/low, left/right) to make defense unpredictable.
Okizeme
The offensive options available when the opponent is getting up from a knockdown. From Japanese 'wake-up game'.
Combo
A guaranteed sequence of hits where the opponent cannot defend after the first hit.
Defense
(3 terms)Punish
A guaranteed attack after blocking or dodging an opponent's unsafe move.
Reversal
An action performed on the first possible frame after waking up or blockstun.
DP (Dragon Punch)
Short for Dragon Punch, an invincible anti-air with Shoryuken input (forward, down, down-forward + punch).
Technique
(2 terms)Counter Hit
A hit that lands on an opponent during their attack startup, often providing bonus damage or frames.
Option Select
A technique where a single input covers multiple defensive options automatically.
Community
(2 terms)FGC
Fighting Game Community - The global community of fighting game players.
Tier List
A ranking of characters based on their relative strength in the current game meta.
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