Lethal League Fundamentals

"fundamentals are the most important part of lethal league." -Mecha Soul
Before trying to learn strategy, you must learn the fundamentals of the game. This is where you'll find them.

Introduction

When it comes to learning advanced concepts, you won't get far without first knowing the fundamental concepts of a game. That applies to all games, not just Lethal League; it's difficult to progress in a puzzle game if you don't understand the gimmick, and there's no way to succeed in an RTS when you don't know the core principle. This guide aims to alleviate the learning curve of the game for players that are just learning the basics and also for veteran players that just need a little refresh.

This is a short and sweet guide, so it's relatively small. A small summary of the different sections is given below, in place of a table of contents.

Characters & Maps - Each character is different in numerous ways. The most obvious difference is in their specials, but many other things differ too, like hitboxes, max speed, acceleration, jump height, method of reaching the top of the stage, etc. Each map is also different. The stage size differences are generally small enough to only change the angles, but some maps are large or small enough to impact player movement as well.

Hard Inputs - Hard inputs are inputs that happen instantly upon pressing a button. Most other moves in the game are variations of these hard inputs; the swing button is generally used to activate something, while the bunt button is generally used to cancel something.

Key Combos - Key combos are moves that can be executed by pressing a combination of different keys at specific times. They're often more complex than just swings or bunts, and are used for most core game mechanics that are too advanced to have their own separate button.

The alternative names for certain moves are shown, although these are only listed to help your understanding if you learned the names incorrectly. The alternative names are generally improper, and many players aren't familiar with them, so it's advised to call them by their name in this guide. This isn't bias: the names used here are standardized and common among most players' vocabulary.

Characters & Maps

Characters

The characters in Lethal League are not created equal. Unlike other fighting games, the characters here don't differ in health or damage; they differ in angles, among other things. Each character has three neutral angles, a smash angle, and some have special angles. These angles direct where the ball goes, and depending on how the ball is hit, its speed will increase or decrease.

Neutral attacks are when the ball is hit by your character swinging horizontally. After connecting with the ball, holding "down" will make the ball go in your character's downward neutral angle, not pressing any inputs/pressing "right" or "left," respectively, will make the ball go horizontally (this is universal to all characters), and holding "up" will make the ball go in your character's upward neutral angle.

Smash attacks are when the ball is hit by your character swinging vertically. Smashes have two hitboxes, and a different animation will play depending on which hitbox the ball connects with. Smashes have one predetermined angle, which is usually downwards at 45 degrees, or something close to that.

Special attacks aren't necessarily when your character uses their special, but when your character hits the ball and sends it in an angle different from their neutral down, horizontal, neutral up, or smash angles. Not all characters have special angles, and some have more than others.

Characters also differ in speed and acceleration. Some characters have fast accelerations with low top speeds (Latch), while others have slow accelerations with high top speeds (Switch). These speeds generally aren't important, but become relevant when you and your opponent are racing for the ball: if the ball isn't far away, the one with the fastest acceleration will get there first, and if the ball is far away, the one with the fastest top speed will get there first.

Jump heights also come into play. Each character has a unique jump height; some characters that have more unconventional methods of movement than others tend to have a naturally higher jump, while those that can easily reach the top of the stage tend to have shorter jumps. Each character also has a unique method of reaching the top of the stage; Latch can wall-climb, Sonata can double-jump, Raptor can wall-jump, etc.

Hitboxes are less important, but it's still wise to note that some characters are smaller than others. Latch stands as the largest character, while Raptor is a bit smaller; this doesn't mean Latch can't kill Raptor if the ball is aimed directly at him, but it does make Raptor a bit less susceptible to being hit. The characters also swing for different lengths of time, and their swings have different hitboxes.

Maps

Maps aren't created equal, either. Each character's angles will stay the same across all stages, but the patterns created by those angles will change depending on the stage. Most stages have unnoticeable size differences, although some are noticeably larger or smaller than others; Room 21, for example, is obviously smaller than Industrial Outskirts when compared side-by-side.

Some stages also impact player movement. On State Manufacturing Facility, Switch takes an extremely long time to ride the ceiling from one corner to another, but never actually needs to because the ceiling is so low. Candyman also has difficulty reaching the very top of the stage on Abandoned Pool, for example.

Hard Inputs

Swings

Activated by "Z" by default, swinging is when your character swings at the ball. If the hit connects, the game enters hitlag. You can choose between three angles by pressing the down, left/right (respectively), or up directional keys.

Alternative names: Strikes, attacks

Bunts

Activated by "X" by default, bunting is when your character bunts the ball, setting it to a fixed speed temporarily, making it arc, and giving it an omnicolor tag that won't harm you nor your opponent. Swinging at a bunted ball gives less hitlag and two special meter. You can bunt the ball in 4 directions by pressing the down, left, right, or up directional keys.

Jumps

Activated by "Space" by default, jumping is when your character leaps into the air. The height and floatiness of the jump can be controlled by holding the spacebar down for varying lengths of time. Different characters have different natural jump heights as well as accelerations, and some characters have multiple types of jumps. You can fastfall to reach the ground faster by pressing the down directional key after reaching the peak of your jump.

Crouches

Activated by the down directional key by default, crouching is when your character crouches in order to reduce their vertical profile. This usually doesn't have much practical application, although it can be useful to quickly avoid a speeding horizontal ball.

Movement

Activated by the left and right directional keys, respectively, movement is when your character... well, moves. Different characters have different movement speeds and accelerations.

Key Combos

Smashes

A smash can be activated by swinging in the air while holding the down, left, or right directional keys. It doubles the ball speed and has a larger hitbox than a regular swing or bunt, but limits your potential angles to one. It's wise to note that the hitlag from the resulting speed is always used; for example, if you smash a ball at speed 64, it'll have hitlag equivalent to that of a speed 128 ball.

Alternative names: Power attacks, air attacks, lunges

Charges

Charges are done by holding down the swing button while not pressing the down, left, or right directional keys. They can be initiated in the air or on the ground, but you can only change direction while on the ground, and you can only move left or right while in the air. Charges cause the ball to have reduced hitlag and double its speed, while still giving you the option of 3 potential angles. Releasing a charge prematurely results in a regular swing; however, it's wise to note that this swing will increase the ball's speed by a set amount, determined by how long you charged: if you get halfway through your charge, let go, and hit the ball, the ball's speed might be increased by 6 or 7 rather than 1. This is a flat value and will not scale to higher ball speeds.

Parries

Parries are mostly defensive maneuvers executed by bunting while in hitlag. They act as a blue shield around the ball, and, if your opponent hits the shield, they'll be stunned momentarily. This is usually used defensively to prevent your opponent from stealing the ball immediately after hitlag, although it can be used on very low ball speeds to stun your opponent if used in an offensive way. Parries require a minimum of one special meter to be used, although they'll use your entire special meter when used, not just one.

Alternative names: Clash guards, shields

Clashes

Clashes are completely situational, and there isn't a specific key combo that'll create one every time. Instead, they happen when two or more players' neutral or bunt hitboxes connect; the players involved are pushed away from eachother and are stunned momentarily. This doesn't happen with smashes, although it may be difficult to jump and smash if you're in a position where you could be clashed.

Specials

Most specials are activated by swinging again during hitlag. Some specials restart the hitlag timer, while others give the ball certain properties upon leaving hitlag. Switch's special is the only exception, as it's activated by either jumping while crouching, jumping while in the air, or jumping while in the hitlag of an overhead smash. Using a special depletes your special meter, and as such, prevents you from parrying; using your special early may allow your opponent to steal the ball out of hitlag.

It should be noted that Latch can climb a wall and swing from it, giving him a new neutral-down angle. This isn't a special attack per se, but is still unique to him.

Alternative names: Specs, ultimates

Conclusion

This is a rather small guide that was made to help ease players into the feel of Lethal League, and also to prepare them for the more advanced guides out there. There's much more to learn, so don't stop here: some useful guides are listed below to help further your skills.

Want to learn more lingo that isn't completely made up?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=340132134

Want to learn the angles in detail?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=308796397

Want to know how to handle high-speed balls?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=306363294

Want better ways to train?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=315088517

Want to know the exact stage sizes in detail?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=309338037

Want to learn advanced tactics, strategies, and find a detailed analysis of every character?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=336626329

Other Guides

These guides aren't exactly necessary, but they have some useful information.

Want to know how to use Switch's special?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=321855651

Want to know how to use Dice's special?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=339092773

Want to know how to play Sonata?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=313741634

Want to learn some odd tactics and how to deal with them?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=320869340

Want to know how to change the music?

Check this. (his voice more than makes up for the entire guide being nothing but a video)

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=307637572

Want to know how to change the graphics?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=315142470

Want to know how to change the graphics with Blender?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=341351204

Want to know the stereotypes of Lethal League?

Check this.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=324066770

[Donut Steel My Eyes]

Oh, yeah, I mean links, I'm just so hard wired to type videos after I type embedded now.

[beans]

(1k character limit x-x)

Also, those aren't videos: those are entire other guides, some of which (mostly mine) have triple/quadruple/quintuple the word count of this guide. That also means they're not streamlined whatsoever and are extremely difficult to follow, but it's possible if you're determined. You probably don't need to look there, though, because most of the things in them should come to you as you play; they're only there if you don't fully understand a certain concept or strategy.

[beans]

Thanks, man. I wrote these guides because the other guides available at the time were rough at best; they weren't necessarily bad, but they weren't great, either, and had a lot of misinformation that could very easily throw someone off.

A lot of my other guides for LL aren't meant to guide anyone, and just act as documentation of a few things that can be easily forgotten. They're also subjective to a point where they have no place on the wiki (not like anyone checks the wiki anyway, lol), so the next best place is in the guides section. With this guide, however, I've tried to make it as comprehensible as possible, while keeping detail and clarity. It's good to know that it worked.

[Donut Steel My Eyes]

This is by far the best guide I have read on steam. You call it basic concepts, but that is much of what LL is, while the more complex tactics are just combinations of all these ideas. That being said, it very cleanly transitions into more advanced concepts with the embedded videos. Amazing guide, ups to you man.

[beans]

Added clashing. Not sure how I missed that.

[Elyas]

I don't know why but your guides are fun to read