Advice for People Struggling Against Episode AI.

[Dusk]

Lots of people are struggling and saying the game is hard or they need help, but nobody actually seems to have anything beneficial to say other than 'skill issue' or 'train more'. So, how about some actual advice?

Here are a few things you can do to improve fighting the AI:
(CONTROLS ASSUMED TO BE ON CLASSIC)

1) Use Sparking Mode.

When you fully charge, you get the ability to spam your basic attack button somewhere around 20 times. This is best used when you super dash behind the AI and let loose, as they are limited in reversal options. To super dash, hold your ability menu button and double tap X (PlayStation) or A (Xbox). Watch the combo counter until around 17-19, then hold up on the directional input, and hold Triangle (PlayStation) or Y (Xbox). This will kick your opponent into the air for a follow up. The follow up will be your ultimate, which is exclusive to Sparking Mode. If you do this quick enough, you can almost always get a 20 hit combo into an ultimate for at least 2 health bars.

*This is not a guaranteed way to win every fight, but it does trivialize a lot of them. The AI will still counter you, vanish, and dodge. However, if you can't seem to fight fair, this strategy works.

2) Vanish Timing

When an enemy AI vanishes your attacks and teleports behind you, do NOT immediately press Circle (PlayStation) or B (Xbox). The timing for the counter-vanish is based on when their fist connects with your hurtbox. That is to say, try to press counter-vanish with when their hands touch your character, NOT when they initially vanish. The first counter-vanish is easier than the follow-ups, but with practice you can start vanish chains and eventually, the AI gives up (Usually after you counter-vanish twice). These counters apply for when they vanish out of your melee combos, as well as when they vanish out of your rushes in the air.

*Vanishing is a major pain, and you can never be perfect against it. Be sure to practice against many types of characters, as their timings will be different. Gogeta/Vegito, Burter, and Great Ape Vegeta for example, all have different swing speeds.

3) Revenge Counters

When an AI Revenge Counters you in melee (Glowing aura and armor), they almost always attempt to rush you down immediately afterwards. You can typically use Super Perception (Circle+Triangle / B+Y) to immediately reverse the momentum, as since they almost always attack. Super Perception can counter their rushdown and send them flying. AI need 2 blast stocks (Numbers below your Ki Gauge) in order to do this though, so it will be an occasional encounter.

*This is not a guaranteed way to reverse pressure. They can always vanish, grab, or ignore your input and wait. Though, they are very aggressive and often fall for this trick if they use Revenge Counter.

4) Ki Blast Stun into Combos

Some old school players might remember this technique. Charge a large ki blast, followed by a few regular ki blasts. The AI will usually attempt to block the blasts, and if they fail, they are placed into hitstun. Use the ki blasts to advance towards your enemy and use a rush super when they're vulnerable. You may also get close to an enemy, but keep a more fair distance if you'd prefer a ranged super. In either case, a direct hit from a ki blast ensures stun, which can lead to a super or combo opener.

*Many characters have different and stylized ki blasts. Goku has standard large and small blasts, SSJ4 Gogeta has a grapeshot, and Frieza's are slow but inflict a much longer stun. These can often be more or less beneficial for range or rush supers, or to rushdown the AI and grab while they block the ki blasts.

5) Bosses and Armor

Bosses, such as Great Ape Vegeta and Raditz, are very overwhelming with their armor, rushdown, and super spam. However, spamming supers in return, such as the Kamehameha during Ape Vegeta and Meteor Smash for Raditz, invalidates them. For Giants, keepaway and ranged supers are their bane. Their ranged supers are typically easier to dodge, so winning range wars can be favorable. For your average foe, armor is ignored when they are hit with a rush super and they are placed in a cutscene all the same.

*This is a rule of thumb for certain encounters, such as the aforementioned Ape Vegeta and Raditz. Full Power Jiren for example, does not have armor, but has a sizable amount of HP and ranged supers.


These strategies and tidbits were things I carried over from BT3, or have been finding success doing myself. They are not the most efficient or glorious, and they may not be that useful to many. But they helped a few of my friends who started and were getting rolled by the AI. Hope someone finds something useful here to combat them.

[MysticApples]

There is a rhythm to the counters so probably get used to that and you'll be vanishing their vanish with a vanish like 6 times