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Attack Reversal also known as Reversal Art/Technique (返し技 Kaeshi-waza) in the Japanese version, is a special type of throw that is used to negate an enemy attack and either deal damage back to them or put the user in an advantageous situation. Most characters can only reverse high and mid-range attacks; a few characters are able to reverse low-range attacks. In the western Tekken 2 movelists, it is called Counter Attack.

High/Mid Reversals[]

High/Mid Reversals can negate both a high or mid-range attack. Damage is dealt back to the attacker. The amount of damage is generally dependent on the damage of the attack being reversed, and is calculated by halving the attack's damage and adding 25. However, Noctis's reversal always deals 30 damage.

The standard input for an Attack Reversal is usually b+1+3 or b+2+4, however the input may differ depending on the character or even the game itself. For example, in Tekken 2, Nina and Anna Williams' Attack Reversal inputs were originally b+1+4 and b+2+3, only changing to the regular input in the following game.

It is crucial to not abuse this because the user is potentially vulnerable if the attacker misses or doesn't attack at all. The length of the animation varies among characters. Some characters like Asuka Kazama can extend the length of their animation by holding the command. Certain reversals such as Lili's and King's can only reverse a certain type of attacks.

Another variation is Asuka's reversal, where in Tekken 6 onwards, the command can be held to increase the length of her reversal state. Jun's reversal in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is the only one that can be tag buffered.

Prior to Tekken 8, Heihachi, Geese, and Leroy further serve as exceptions with their reversals. True Ogre's Demon's Feast in Tekken 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament was also a special case where it was treated more closely to a grab and was only escapable by inputting 1.

For most of its history, generic reversals cannot reverse certain types of attacks, typically attacks not using the four limbs such as weapons, tails, headbutts, knees, and elbows. In Tekken 7, a Rage Art cannot be reversed. In Tekken 8, all attack reversals leave recoverable damage but are now also susceptible to charged attacks like Paul's Crushing Wind, Heat Bursts, Heat Smashes, and airborne attacks like hopkicks.

Notably, some generic reversals can reverse extra things uniquely, such as Anna's reversal being usable against shoulders, or Paul and Nina's reversal working against falling attacks or somersaults.

Users[]

"Chickening"[]

Chickening is basically reversing an attack reversal. To accomplish this, a special escape input must be pressed. The escape input is based on the attack being reversed. The command can be either f+2+4 for right limbs and f+1+3 for left. It is virtually impossible to chicken an attack reversal without anticipating it well in advance. This is because the escape window is very short. If successful, the narrator will say, "chicken" for confirmation.

Not all reversals can be chickened with some examples being King's or Noctis's reversals. Attacks that are reversed in a special way such as Paul or Nina against Frankensteiner or Demon Scissors or Anna's shoulder reversal cannot be chickened either.

In Tekken 3, there was also a glitch where the opponent is left back-turned for a short period of time if they are hit by a chicken, and the player could abuse this by grabbing or performing attacks on their opponent as they were unable to block.

As of Tekken 8, chickening has been removed, being replaced by throws dealing counter-hit damage and being unbreakable during a reversal attempt.

Parry[]

Parrying does not inflict any damage back to the attacker but will sometimes put the user into an advantageous situation. Parrying was introduced in Tekken 3. Multiple characters, however, are typically given a guaranteed attack after a successful parry such as: Leo, Marshall Law and Baek Doo San. Most parries are generally towards very specific attacks such as several, but not all, punches.

A variation of this is called the "Sabaki" parry that was introduced in Tekken Tag Tournament where a move will auto-parry punches in its startup; An example being Dragunov's Inertia Kick and Kazuya's Soul Thrust. While the concept of moves with an auto parry existed since Tekken 3, this would only parry the attack but the move would never follow through. An example of this was Anna's "Scarlet Windmill".

Like Attack Reversals, grabbing someone that's attempting to parry will now make that throw unbreakable. Unlike Attack Reversals, non-throw follow-ups and Sabaki Parries will not do purely recoverable damage.

Low Parry[]

The Low Parry in its Tekken 3 incarnation could only be performed by Bryan, Doctor Bosconovitch, Hwoarang, Julia, King, Law, Lei, Nina, Yoshimitsu and Xiaoyu. In most cases, the input is d+1+3 or d+2+4, but some characters have alternate inputs. It can be performed from both standing and crouching positions. This command parry is called Lower Dodge in some move lists.

Characters whose input is d+1+3 or d+2+4:

  • Bryan
  • Forest Law
  • Hwoarang
  • Julia
  • Lei Wulong
  • Nina Williams
  • Yoshimitsu

Characters whose input is d+1+4 or d+2+3:

  • King II
  • Ling Xiaoyu (d+1+4 only)

Characters whose input is d+1+2:

  • Doctor Bosconovitch

Rather than deflecting the opponent's attack, Doctor Bosconovitch will hop over the attack and successive low attacks if it is a combo, for example Gun Jack's Cossack Dance or King's Stagger Kick. If the combo starts low and follows with a mid or high attack, Doctor B. will reverse the mid/high attack, even if the attack cannot normally be reversed, such as Paul's Bone Breaker.

From Tekken Tag Tournament onwards, the Low Parry became a generic technique available to all characters. It is simply performed by pressing d/f in conjunction with an incoming low or special mid, however the original command parries still remain in the movesets of those who could perform them. In Tekken 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament, it only gave frame advantage. If successful in Tekken 6, the low parry staggered an opponent and left them in mid-air and open to a combo. In Bloodline Rebellion and succeeding games, this was changed to leave them in a Bound state instead. This did not apply to sliding attacks, however, as the attacker would just be left grounded although it's only benefit is avoiding the slide's damage. In Tekken 7, this was fixed so that sliding attacks can actually be low parried properly and will leave the attacker in a bound state. In Tekken 8, the low parry animation was reanimated and automatically triggers a Tornado upon succeeding.

Like the mid and high reversals, not all non-projectile low attacks can be low parried. Examples include: knees, attacks with weaponry and tails.

Some characters have also built-in low parry or counter with their stances. An example of this would be Jun Kazama's Genjitsu and Anna Williams's Chaos Judgement, where they will perform a move automatically if attacked by a low or special mid.

See Also[]

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