Garou: Mark of the Wolves/Defense

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Defense

Sources: JPN Garou Wiki, JPN Garou Wiki Translation, and Garou Discord Group

Just Defend (JD or JDF)

While Standing - tap .
While Crouching - tap .
While Jumping - tap /.

By defending an attack just before it connects, you can "just defend" it.

There are three types of this kind of guard: standing, crouching, and airborne.

Air Defense. In the air, it is a very important and powerful defensive tool, so you want to be sure you know how to use it.

• There is no air blocking in Garou, but you can JD in the air. (Also see instant air just defend.)
  
  
• You can not air JD during any small jump, super jump, or whiffed jump attacks. Feel free to anti-air them.
  
  
• When crossing past the other player in the air (side-switch), air JD changes direction but inputs do not. When defending against their attack, you're technically doing air JD with forward in that situation.
  
  
• If you air JD, you can get hit again in the air after leaving JD blockstun. It’s different from an air hit where you are air invincible after leaving air hitstun.
  
  
• After JDing an air hit, the "air hit landing" situation described in this section is still those 3 frames, but there is no "unblockable" situation. You can block a 0F super unblockable.
  

The following four benefits are given by you doing a JD over regular guard.

1. Special move chip damage, super move chip damage, and guard crush durability reduction do not occur.
   (No guard meter loss that will bring you closer to a guard crush (GCH) like blocking will.)
   
   
2. Life points are gained according to the damage points of the opponent's attack (the more damaging the move, the more life gained).
   
   
3. Guard cancel becomes available.
   • Guard Cancel (GC): Completing a special move (including T.O.P. Moves) or supers during a JD will cause a GC, immediately ending the blockstun and going into the attack's animation. The motions of the command can be buffered before the JD occurs, or done entirely during the JD if you are fast enough.
     
     
4. Blockstun is reduced by 2 frames compared to normal guarding, allowing you to recover faster.

Note that the amount of life point recovery is determined by the basic attack power and does not include the TOP correction.

Some special moves cannot be JDed when the life bar is at 0 points (near-KO).

Also, Freeman's strong Morbid Angel cannot be guard canceled.

There are some exceptions to the reduction in blockstun, some of which are only a 1 frame reduction.

Some JD's are significantly disadvantageous (High Angle Nerichagi, Jae's TOP attack).

JD Buffer Period/Window

Directions for air and ground JD are 4 and 1 (7 doesn’t work for air-JD).

For a JD to happen, you must have not input a back direction (1, 4 or 7) for 9F (cooldown).

(this cooldown prevents the continuous spamming of the JD input)

You must be holding guard (4 or 1) for it to happen, and get hit within 7F after pressing guard. In the air, it becomes 9F. (8F only for forward jumps)

Example of the Window for Ground JD:

• JD can be held alternating between the 4 and 1 directions, but it is only accepted 7 frames in total.

• If you input 4-direction for 3 frames and then 1-direction starting the next frame, the low JD will only be accepted for 4 frames.

You can JD immediately after exiting hitstun.

You cannot JD for 4F after exiting blockstun.

Even if the guard is released, JD is not possible for 4 frames. JD won't be able to be done during absolute guard, a real blockstring, or jailing.

Air JD and ground JD do not share cooldown.

You can hold back on the ground, and then air JD without waiting 4F. After that, hold back in the air and keep holding back, and as you land -- after 1F of landing recovery -- get a JD. (you can even hold the same direction input)

In frame-by-frame this means:

• Ground JD (7F of active JD) -> jump (2F of vulnerability) -> IAJD (9F or 8F of active JD)
• release in the air for 4F to obtain another JD when you land
• Hold back before landing: 9F of active air JD -> land (1F vulnerable) -> keep holding back for 7F of ground JD

(The landing recovery time after jumping is based on the case where no attack is made.)

Similarly, you can hold back in the air, after an air hit or an air JD, to ground JD.

In both cases, the ground JD acceptance window starts when you enter air hit landing recovery (where you usually cannot be hit) and afterwards you JD.

See this link for an example after an air JD.

Instant Air Just Defend (IAJD)

You can air JD at any point in time of your normal jump besides landing.

But the fastest you can air just defend is as soon as you leave the ground, the first airborne frame of your normal jump.

That is, as soon as the 3rd frame of the jump input (4th frame for Tizoc/Griffon) after pre-jump frames.

As for your small jump, you generally can't air JD.

But if you do a JD during the ascent of the small jump, during the first 6 airborne frames, the small jump will become a normal jump air JD.

However, it's difficult to both do a small jump and then a JD as fast as possible because you are required to return to neutral.

Doing air JD as soon as possible is usually done with an option-select called "instant-air just defend" (IAJD).

(And because it's done with motions without returning to neutral, it always starts as a normal jump.)

IAJD is a very strong defensive mechanic.

Here are some common motions to do IAJD.

(These motions are done fast just before the attack lands when you are at back or down-back so that the JD reception window is not exceeded before JDing):

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

This option-select can cover multiple scenarios. As shown in these examples of doing a ground JD and then an air JD in this post and this post.

For situations in the mid-air where you miss an IAJD or held a back direction for too long, refresh the air JD cooldown by going to neutral or a non-back direction before trying to air JD again.

• 14741 [2] 1
• 14741 23698 741
• [7] [8] 741 OR [7] [5] 41

Successive JD's

When you successfully JD, you are able to JD again.

• There is no JD cooldown after the first JD.
• The fastest you can do a next JD is during the previous JD's blockstop.
• You can next JD during subsequent blockstun of the previous JDed hit.
• You can JD immediately after exiting the blockstun of the previous JDed hit.

After the first JD, you can spam back to JD successive hits (and also multi-hit attacks or combos).

When the next hit will happen during the first JDed hit's blockstop or subsequent blockstun, you are given more leeway to "buffer" (or queue) this next JD:

• You can hold the guard direction past the JD acceptance window and still have the next JD.
• After pressing a guard direction, you can return to and hold a non-JD direction 2/5/7/8 and still have the next JD.
  • If you then press or hold 3/6/9 directions afterwards, the JD will not happen.
    • However, you can go back to a guard direction and still have the next JD (resetting your JD).
• When you leave JD blockstun, both the JD cooldown and JD acceptance windows go back into effect.

Successive JD Motions:

---

5 4(JD) 5 4(JD) 5 4(JD) ...

For successive low JDing

• 5 1 (JD) 5 1 (JD) 5 1 (JD) ...
• 5 2 1 (JD) 5 2 1 (JD) 5 2 1 (JD) ...
• 5 4 1 (JD) 5 4 1 (JD) 5 4 1 (JD) ...

Stay at 2 or a low direction to preserve charge

• 2 1 (JD) 2 1 (JD) 2 1 (JD) ...

Successive Air JD's:

---

Because there is no absolute guard in the air, you will get hit if you do not JD a successive hit.

In the air, buffered successive JD stay active until you land, even if you release guard.

You can add a quick 5 4 5 right after an IAJD, not waiting for the cooldown.

This will buffer a 2nd air JD in case of successive hits.

Kain Air Unblockable Example:

---

As touched upon in proximity guard JD prevention and Seele Bug, you can fail to successive JD Kain's Seele ball super (especially super D since the duration is longer) because of other attacks done during it.

When you aren't quick enough to JD an extra incoming attack, the attack will hit in between your attempted Seele JD's.

If on the ground, you end up being put in regular blockstop and blockstun.

And if in the air, because of no air blocking, you'll be hit.

Kain has an air unblockable setup with this:

Seele super D (air JDed) --> Empty Lanze D fireball.

The Lanze fireball followup actually contains 2 fireballs that hit very close together.

So even if you successfully air JD the first Lanze fireball hit in between Seele hits, you won't be able to JD the second Lanze fireball hit. You won't be able to defend against the Seele afterwards.

Low Un-JDable and High Un-JDable Normals

Some high/low blockable normal moves can only be JDed either standing or crouching, not both.

Most close C or close D cannot be JDed while crouching (must stand).

Most 2C cannot be JDed while standing (must crouch).

In particular, crouching "JD-disabled" techniques are important,

and by using them properly with low-hitting light attacks when attacking standing opponents,

it is possible to disrupt the opponent's JD (or GC from that JD).

Normals you cannot JD while crouching:

Rock Howard	cl.5D
Kim Dong Hwan	cl.5D, f.5C, f.5D
Hotaru Futaba	cl.5D, f.5C
Khushnood Butt	cl.5C
Hokutomaru	cl.5D
Kevin Rian	cl.5C, f.5C
Freeman	f.5C, f.5D
Tizoc	None
B. Jenet	cl.5D, f.5C
Gato	cl.5C
Kim Jae Hoon	cl.5C, cl.5D, f.5D
Terry Bogard	cl.5C, cl.5D, f.5C
Grant	cl.5C, cl.5D, f.5C, f.5D
Kain R. Heinlein	cl.5C, f.5C, cl.5D, f.5D

Normals you cannot JD while standing:

Rock Howard	None
Kim Dong Hwan	2C
Hotaru Futaba	2C
Khushnood Butt	None
Hokutomaru	2C
Kevin Rian	2C
Freeman	2C
Tizoc	None
B. Jenet	2C
Gato	2C
Kim Jae Hoon	2C
Terry Bogard	2C
Grant	2C
Kain R. Heinlein	2C

Exceptions to JD Blockstun Reduction

Instead of -2F, the normal 2F reduction in blockstun. (Unless mentioned otherwise, applies to multi-hit moves JDed until the last hit.)

◯ Blockstun after Mid-Air JD

After you JD an air hit, you have 11F blockstun, after every type of hit.

Weak Attack... -3F

(14F light normal ground blockstun - 11F = 3F of blockstun reduction)

Strong Attack... -9F

(20F heavy normal ground blockstun - 11F = 9F of blockstun reduction)

Evasive Attack ・Special Attack... -13F

(24F evasive attack ・special attack ground blockstun - 11F = 13F of blockstun reduction)

As a general rule, the frame data of projectiles is listed as though they are hit in close contact.

◯ All projectiles

(except S-power supers, P-power supers, Jenet's Baffles (236P), Hoku's strong Shurikens (236C), Grant's Kokuen-Ryu (214P), and Kain's Lanze descending flame): -1F

◯ Grant's Kokuen-Ryu (214P)

Weak -4F (-11F to -15F), Strong -5F (-3F to -8F)

◯ Kain's Weak Lanze descending flame [2]8B

-9F (-4F to -13F)

However, when Hokutomaru JD's the descending flame, the blockstun is -3F to -12F.

When Kevin, Griffon, Freeman, Jenny, Cain, and Grant JD's the descending flame, the blockstun is -5F to -14F.

If crouching, all characters have their above values given an additional +1F
(this means that they enter blockstun 1F later, but blockstun reduction from JD is still -9F).

◯ S-Power and P-Power Projectile Supers (JDing until the last hit)

Rock's S-power Raging Storm (236(x2)A)... -23F to -39F

Terry's S-power Buster Wolf (236(x2)B)... -17F to -62F

Dong's S-power Raimei-Dan (236(x2)B)... -5F to -22F

Dong's P-power Raimei-Dan (236(x2)D)... +5F to -12F

Freeman's S-power, P-power Full Blast (236(x2)A/C)... -7F, -6F to -24F

Marco's S-power Haou Shou Kouken (236(x2)A)... -16F to -33F

Kain's S-power Atem (236(x2)A)... +8F to -9F

When Kevin, Griffon, Freeman, Jenet, Kain, and Grant JD the super, the blockstun is +7F to -10F

If crouching, all characters have their above values given an additional +1F
(this means that they enter blockstun 1F later)

Kain's P-power Atem (236(x2)C)... +34F to +2F

When Kevin, Griffon, Freeman, Jenet, Kain, and Grant JD the super, the blockstun is +33F to +1F

If crouching, all characters have their above values given an additional +1F
(this means that they enter blockstun 1F later)

◯ Moves where if you JD, the opponent doing the move gains advantageous frames.

Rock's P-power Raging Storm (236(x2)C)... -51F to -41F

Terry's P-power Buster Wolf (236(x2)D)... -34F to -12F

Marco's P-power Haou Shou Kouken (236(x2)C)... -24F to +5F

Hokutomaru's S-power Shuriken (236(x2)A), P-power Kunai (236(x2)C)... -34F to -27F

Kevin's S-power Gatling Freezer... +1 to +13

Jenet's Weak Baffles (236A)... -3F to +6F

Jenet's Strong Baffles (236C)... -2F to +15F

Jenet's GC Super Ennui Mademoiselle (during JD, do A・B・C)... -79F to -68F

Hokutomaru's Strong Shuriken (236C)... -2F to +5F

Jae's High-Angle Nerichagi (TOP attack CD)... -1F to +11F

◯ The following moves' advantageous frames change if you switch to normal block in the middle of JDing the move.

Jenet's Weak Baffles (236A)
JD the first 1~2 steps/hits --> then normally block the rest... -2F

Jenet's Strong Baffles (236C)
JD the first 1~2 steps/hits --> then normally block the rest... +5F

Terry's P-power Buster Wolf (236(x2)D)
JD up to the first 2~4 steps/hits --> then normally block the rest... -22F

Marco's P-power Haou Shou Kouken (236(x2)C)
JD up to the first 1~3 steps/hits --> then normally block the rest... -7F

Kain's P-power Atem (236(x2)C)
JD the first 1~2 steps/hits --> then normally block the rest... +19F

When Kevin, Griffon, Freeman, Jenet, Kain, and Grant do it, it is +18F
If crouching, all characters have their above values given an additional +1F
(this means that they enter blockstun 1F later)

About JDing "Blackout" Moves (Super)

Although the direction inputs during the blackout time are "frozen" and are not accepted, the JD buffer/acceptance window (as well as the JD cooldown window) can still elapse, especially when the guard input is being held before the freeze/blackout.

That's why immediately when the "blackout" occurs, you can go back to a direction other than guard (such as neutral) so you reset the JD cooldown window and don't take up the JD buffer/acceptance window.

And then at the ending portion of the "blackout", hold a guard direction to start JDing the hits from the super.

Example: If a player releases guard after "blackout", and then enters guard 3 frames before the end of "blackout", JD window would have elapsed 4 frames at the frame after exiting "blackout".

So you adjust according distance and startup of the super and wait some more to hit back again to JD.

But since many of the supers are fast, it is best to input JD as early as possible to reliably and consistently JD.

For 0-frame supers

---

For 0-frame supers (moves that cannot be guarded against even if the guard input is made after blackout), the guard input must be made before blackout.

Just release the stick during the blackout to retrieve your JD cooldown. Since you’re already blocking, you will JD even if you’re any direction other than guard (neutral is also acceptable).

For 0-frame supers while airborne

---

It's different for air JD.

You can't just hold the guard input before "blackout" and release the stick like on the ground. There is no blocking state in the air, no proximity guard in the air.

To air JD a 0F, you do as discussed above and must time it when the "blackout" ends. Hold the guard input a few frames before (such as 3 frames) so you don't exceed the JD buffer/acceptance window.

Guard Cancel (GC)

An essential counter attacking system in Garou (there are similar counter attacking systems in other fighting games, but without the added stipulation of JD).

GCs can only be performed during JD frames while you flash blue (JD blockstop).

During a JD, JD blockstop includes 4 frames added in various ways:

1. all added to the end of the normal blockstop (such as 8F --> 12F or 12F --> 16F),
2. partially replaces the last 2 frames of normal blockstop and adds 2 frames at the end (such as 12F --> 10F + 4F),
3. entirely replaces last 4 frames of normal blockstop (such as 16F --> 12F + 4F).

A counter attack of your choosing -- with the command entered during the first part of JD blockstop -- will cancel part of the added JD blockstop frames and then execute.

This GC move happens 3F before the opponent can move. (i.e., 3F before you normally exit JD blockstop. Reduces hitstop/blockstop for you by 3F.)

The window for guard cancel:

• Light attacks (A or B): 9F after the JD occurs (GC executing on the 10F)
• Heavy attacks (C or D), Evasive attacks, Special moves, Super moves: 13F after the JD occurs (GC executing on the 14F)

(Note: Normally, Light attacks have 8F of hitstop/blockstop, while Heavy attacks have 12F of hitstop/blockstop)

Therefore, offense with “light” attacks make it harder for your opponent to GC.

Because the blue effect when JD is successful appears so quickly, it's almost impossible to input GC on reaction, especially on arcade stick.

Only 3 kinds of attacks will let you guard cancel out of a JD animation:

• Special Moves
  
• Super Moves
  
• T.O.P. Attack
  

(exception: Freeman's strong Morbid Angel can't be used as a GC.)

When the opponent special cancels their normal (or cancels with a target combo) while you JD and then GC that normal:

• Both the opponent's cancel move and your guard cancel will execute.
• They'll beat each other out or even trade.
• If the startup of the GC move is 2F or less, the opponent will be hit before their cancel move's startup.
• Some GC moves are unavoidable. But even in that case, the opponent can still do some things to avoid them like canceling their normal into a break move (invincible) or a move that counter-hits.

Note that the large buffer allows you to perform the motion before JDing. For example 623 > 4 > JD > press A : will GC with a DP.

Here are typical input methods for GC (get a JD, then press the button):

(236) command

(JD) () X

(JD) X

  (JD)   OR   (JD)   X

(623) command

(JD)   OR   (JD)   X

  ( (JD)   OR   (JD) )   X

(214) command

do JD by pressing button during 1 or 4 input

(JD) X

(JD) X

JD > 214 is also possible.

(JD) X

(JD) X

360° command

1 rotation input starting from a JD and then button

(JD)   OR   (JD)   X

1 rotation input and do JD and then button

  (JD)   OR   (JD) X

, super (236236) command

  (JD)   OR   (JD) X

,   (JD)   OR   (JD) X

2 charge 8 command

hold OR   (JD)   OR   (JD) X

you can repeat 1 > 2 > 1 > 2 for consecutive/repeating JD's and keep charging while doing lower JD's.

4 charge 6 commands

hold OR     (JD)   OR   (JD) X

List of Moves used for GC after which the resulting Knockdown cannot be tech-rolled:
(See Ground Recovery (Rolling) section)

Character	Move
Rock Howard	Rising Tackle (Note 1)
	Strong Hard Edge (214C)
	TOP (CD)
Terry Bogard	Burn Knuckle (214P)
	Power Dunk (623K)
	Crack Shoot (214K)
Kim Dong Hwan	Strong Kuusa-jin (623C)
	TOP ("Revolving Don Juan") (CD)
Kim Jae Hoon	Strong Hien-zan ([2]8D) (plus follow-up)
	Hishou-kyaku (j.2K) > Additional move
	Ryusei-Raku (236K)
	Shakka-shuu (236P)
Hotaru Futaba	Sou-shou Shin (214P)
	Kobi-Kyaku (214K)
	TOP ("Senkai Tsubame") (CD)
Gato	Shin-ga > Additional Move (236P)
	Rai-ga (623K)
	Katsu-ga (214K~D)
B. Jenet	Gulf Tomahawk (214K)
	Harrier Bee (j.2K)
	TOP ("Rolling Thunder") (CD)
Khushnood Butt/Marco	Strong Hien Shippuu Kyaku (236D)
	Dragon Flash Fist (charge [C])
	Tiger Flash Leg (charge [D])
	Strong Ko-ou-hou (623C)
	TOP (CD)
Hokutomaru	Karakusa-Kiri (214P)
	Rakka-ki (real) (214D)
	Kuu-ha-dan (236K)
	TOP (CD)
Freeman	Phobia (623P)
Tizoc/Griffon	Poseidon Wave (421P)
	TOP (CD)
Kevin Rian	Weak Hell Snipe (623A)
	Creeper > A Follow-up (214B~A)
Grant	Weak Black Flame Dragon (214A)
	Evil Bird Blade (623P) (No additional input)
	Messhou Hisetsu (j.2K)
	TOP (CD)
Kain R. Heinlein	Strong Schwarze Panzer ([4]6D)
	Schwarz Lanze (when break done, tech rolling is possible)
	TOP (CD)

Note 1: When full hit (weak 3-hit, strong 4-hit) is done, a tech roll can be done afterwards.

JD Storing on Next Guard From Whiffed GC

Whiff GC stores a JD on the next guard regardless of the JD window. See: [1] and [2].

Whiffing a GC makes the next guard JD.

You get a free JD on your next guard.

You don’t have to hold back so the JD can come up.

If you release back and press back again without JD timing you get the JD.

It works with air JD too.

A few conditions remove the free JD state:

• Taking damage and giving damage, as well as either of you blocking normals and specials, remove the state.
• Backdash, forward dash, and landing from jump remove the state.
• Whiffed normals and specials don't remove the state.

Mid-Air Hit

This is a section devoted to the mid-air hit situation, touched upon in other various topics, but consolidated here.

Receiving hits while in mid-air, from either grounded or air moves, may cause knockdown (tech or untechable).
Depending on what you're hit with, follow-up attacks are possible before that knockdown.

• Air counter-hit while airborne
  • See "Counter Hits" section for allowed follow-ups.
• Non-counter-hit special/super while airborne
  • Allowed follow-up specials and supers are dependent on the character.

Meanwhile, non-knockdowning, non-counter-hit air hits put you in hitstop, then air hitstun, and then -- after falling -- into an air-hit landing recovery.

• Special/super/TOP attacks that hit in such a way while you are airborne (especially the latter parts of a move).
• Normals, evasion attacks, and jump normals that hit while you are airborne.

All non-knockdowning, non-counter-hit attacks while you are airborne have 14F air hitstun.
Comboing off of this window of air hitstun is limited:

• Only light normals into special cancel connect into a combo.
• Upper-body evasion attacks or heavy normals into special cancel do not connect into a combo.
• Target combos do not connect into a combo.
• Follow-up normals, even if done within this air hitstun, do not connect into a combo.

Cancels and other attacks will whiff instead of hitting.

Similarly, air JDing any attack puts you in air JD blockstop, then air JD blockstun, and then -- after falling -- an air JD landing recovery.
Mid-air JD has 11F JD blockstun:

• Every type of hit has this same JD blockstun (weak normal, strong normal, evasion attack, special/super/TOP attack).
  (See "Exceptions to JD Blockstun Reduction".)
• Another JD can be buffered before JD blockstun ends.
  (See "Successive JD's".)

Air Hit Landing Recovery

---

(Sourced from "0F Move Guard-Impossible Phenomenon".)

After exiting air hitstun while airborne, your sprite is reset, you fall to the ground, and you have 3 frames before you can move again (for Hokutomaru it is 4 frames)

You cannot be hit after exiting air hitstun while falling (air invincible) and during these landing frames because there is no hurtbox.

However, during these landing frames' latter half 2 frames, if a 0F move is done, then you are able to avoid it, but not block against it (unblockable).
The 0F move whiffs on the 1st frame of landing. (For Hokutomaru, the 0F move whiffs on the 1～2nd frame of landing.)

Air JD Landing Recovery

---

(Sourced from "Just Defend (JD or JDF)", "0F Move Guard-Impossible Phenomenon", and "JD Buffer Period/Window")

After exiting air JD blockstun while airborne, your sprite is reset, you fall to the ground, and you have 3 frames before you can move again (for Hokutomaru it is 4 frames)

You can be hit while falling after exiting air JD hitstun, unless you air JD again.

But you cannot be hit during these landing frames because there is no hurtbox.

And unlike Air Hit Landing Recovery, there is no "unblockable" situation. The 0F super whiffs on all the landing frames.

Both Air Hit Landing Recovery and Air JD Landing Recovery

---

In both cases, the ground JD acceptance window starts the first frame of landing and only after landing recovery can you JD.

• Air JD and ground JD do not share cooldown.

• So you can hold back in the air, and after an air hit or an air JD, that held back direction will ground JD after exiting landing recovery.

• See this link for an example after an air JD.

Besides the regular okizeme options, the opponent may have the option to do a "Cross-Under" before you land.