Garou: Mark of the Wolves/Meta Strategy

Basic Neutral

Source: Posted in the Garou Discord Group. Created by player Kuronekoekoeko.

Description of basic neutral.

5A > Runs, dashes.

2B > 5A.

Hops > 2B.

Anti-air > Hops.

Jumps/cross-ups < Use IAJD.

In KOF you can beat hops with 5A, you can't in Garou

Best bet against hops is to GC / block / backdash,

best option against jumps is back dash / GC / run below it

and 2B when they hit the ground (unblockable)

See "Just Defend & Neutral Guide" posted in the Garou Discord Group for more info.

Core Garou MetaGame

Garou Meta strategy.

Below the diagram is the transcription of all its items, organized by type, and their relationships (what beats what).

Diagram

Source: Posted in the Garou Discord Group. Created by player Stone (?).

Key

Color

red = strong,

orange = somewhat strong,

yellow = somewhat weak,

green = weak,

blue = equal/neutral,

purple = variable

Type

rectangle = defense,

diamond = offense,

oval = movement,

hexagon = situation,

cloud = elements (space/time)

Situation (hexagon)

---

far-range footsies (AKA neutral)

---

(purple = variable, hexagon = situation)

Equals

(blue = equal/neutral) projectiles

mid-range footsies

---

(purple = variable, hexagon = situation)

Beaten by

• (green = weak) projectiles

close-range footsies

---

(purple = variable, hexagon = situation)

Beaten by

• (red = strong) DP (breaks)

life disadvantage

---

(blue = neutral, hexagon = situation)

Beaten by

• (red = strong) turtling/blocking (fishing for GC's too)
• (purple = variable) meter building
• (red = strong) timer (time control)
• (red = strong) 2d space (space control)

life advantage (often turtles. check what beats turtling!)

---

(red = strong, hexagon = situation)

Beats

• (red = strong) turtling/blocking (fishing for GC's too)

Beaten by

• (orange = somewhat strong) JD (GC)
• (yellow = somewhat weak) (feint) pressure/mixups
• (orange = somewhat strong) 0f supers/supers

Elements (space/time) (cloud)

---

timer (time control)

---

(red = strong, cloud = elements(space/time))

Equals

• (blue = equal/neutral) meter building

Beats

• (red = strong) life disadvantage

2d space (space control)

---

(red = strong, cloud = elements(space/time))

Equals

• (blue = equal/neutral) projectiles

Beats

• (red = strong) life disadvantage
• (red = strong) turtling/blocking (fishing for GC's too)
• (red = strong) Backdashes (invincible)

• backdashes give space control to the opponent, because backdashes move you closer into the corner

Beaten by

• (red = strong) advanced dash/run footsies and movement (requires high level understanding and skill)
• (red = strong) Empty jumps (a powerful mechanic; IF you can master empty jump JD's)
• (red = strong) jump normals

• if done reacting to an opponent trying to jump, say, out of the corner
• this is the smart way to use full jump attacks -- to control space and used on reacting to the opponent.
• keep full jumps either empty, or wait to press a button after the opponent jumps

• (yellow = somewhat weak) forward dash/run
• (green = weak) jabs

Movement (oval)

---

forward dash/run

---

(yellow = somewhat weak, oval = movement)

Beats

• (yellow = somewhat weak) 2d space (space control)

advanced dash/run footsies and movement (requires high level understanding and skill)

---

(red = strong, oval = movement)

Equals

• (blue = equal/neutral) jabs

Beats

• (red = strong) 2d space (space control)

dash/run unders (under jumps)

---

(yellow = somewhat weak, oval = movement)

Beats

• (yellow = somewhat weak) Empty jumps (a powerful mechanic; IF you can master empty jump JD's)

Empty jumps (a powerful mechanic; IF you can master empty jump JD's)

---

(orange = somewhat strong, oval = movement)

Beats

• (green = weak) (feint) pressure/mixups
• (red = strong) 2d space (space control)

Beaten by

• (yellow = somewhat weak) dash/run unders (under jumps)

hop attacks (you can't JD during a hop's descent, but can JD during the ascent)

---

(yellow = somewhat weak, oval = movement)

Beaten by

• (green = weak) 2AB

• w/proper spacing or timing

• (blue = neutral) Backdashes (invincible)
• (yellow = somewhat weak) JD (GC)

Defense (rectangle)

---

Pressure v. Turtling

---

(purple = variable, rectangle = defense)

Pressure is green at mid-range, turns to orange/red in the corner, which is why space control is so effective at getting turtles to make a move

Backdashes

---

(yellow = somewhat weak, rectangle = defense)

Backdashes are invincible.

Beats

• (blue = neutral) DP (breaks)
• (blue = neutral) hop attacks (you can't JD during a hop's descent, but can JD during the ascent)
• (purple = variable) 0f supers/supers

Beaten by

• (red = strong) 2d space (space control)

• backdashes give space control to the opponent, because backdashes move you closer into the corner

JD (GC)

---

(red = strong, rectangle = defense)

Beats

• (red = strong) DP (breaks)
• (red = strong) jump normals

• full jump attacks get DESTROYED easily by many things;
  DO NOT throw out random high jump attacks without reaction. You'll get blown up.

• (yellow = somewhat weak) hop attacks (you can't JD during a hop's descent, but can JD during the ascent)
• (orange = somewhat strong) (feint) pressure/mixups
• (orange = somewhat strong) life advantage (often turtles, check what beats turtling!)

Beaten by

• (orange = somewhat strong) jabs

• mashing jab or 2B can interrupt lots of JD/GC's

• (orange = somewhat strong) lows (2B mainly)

• mashing jab or 2B can interrupt lots of JD/GC's

meter building

---

(green = weak, rectangle = defense)

Equals

• (blue = equals/neutral) timer (time control)

Beats

• (green = weak) turtling/blocking (fishing for GC's too)
• (purple = variable) life disadvantage

Beaten by

• (orange = somewhat strong) projectiles

turtling/blocking (fishing for GC's too)

---

(orange = somewhat strong, rectangle = defense)

Pressure v. Turtling -- pressure is green at midrange, turns to orange/red in the corner, which is why space control is so effective at getting turtles to make a move

Beats

• (red = strong) life disadvantage

Beaten by

• (purple = variable) (feint) pressure/mixups
• (orange = somewhat strong) throws
• (red = strong) life advantage (often turtles. check what beats turtling!)
• (red = strong) 2d space (space control)
• (green = weak) meter building

Offense (diamond)

---

(feint) pressure/mixups

---

(yellow = somewhat weak, diamond = offense)

Beats

• (purple = variable) turtling/blocking (fishing for GC's too)
• (yellow = somewhat weak) life advantage (often turtles. check what beats turtling!)

Beaten by

• (orange = somewhat strong) JD (GC)
• (yellow = somewhat weak) DP (breaks)
• (yellow = somewhat weak) 0f supers/supers

• risky!!

• (yellow = somewhat weak) 2AB
• (green = weak) Empty jumps (a powerful mechanic; IF you can master empty jump JD's)

projectiles

---

(yellow = somewhat weak, diamond = offense)

Equals

• (blue = equal/neutral) 2d space (space control)
• (blue = equal/neutral) far-range footsies (AKA neutral)

Beats

• (green = weak) mid-range footsies
• (orange = somewhat strong) meter building

jump normals

---

(yellow = somewhat weak, diamond = offense)

full jump attacks get DESTROYED easily by many things; DO NOT throw out random high jump attacks without reaction. You'll get blown up.

Equals

• (blue = neutral) DP (breaks)

Beats

• (red = strong) throws

• neutral jumps can be a hard counter to attempted throw on wake-up.
  this is why wake-up throw is risky!

• (red = strong) 2d space (space control)

• if done reacting to an opponent trying to jump, say, out of the corner
• this is the smart way to use full jump attacks -- to control space and used on reacting to the opponent.
• keep full jumps either empty, or wait to press a button after the opponent jumps

Beaten by

• (red = strong) JD (GC)

DP (break)

---

(yellow = somewhat weak, diamond = offense)

Equals

• (blue = neutral) jump normals

Beats

• (yellow = somewhat weak) (feint) pressure/mixups
• (red = strong) close-range footsies

Beaten by

• (red = strong) JD (GC)
• (blue = neutral) Backdashes (are invincible)

jabs

---

(red = strong, diamond = offense)

Equals

• (blue = equal/neutral) advanced dash/run footsies and movement (requires high level understanding and skill)

Beats

• (orange = somewhat strong) JD (GC)

• mashing jab or 2B can interrupt lots of JD/GC's

• (green = weak) 2d space (space control)

Beaten by

• (green = weak) 2AB
• (green = weak) lows (2B mainly)

lows (2B mainly)

---

(red = strong, diamond = offense)

Beats

• (orange = somewhat strong) JD (GC)
• (green = weak) jabs

Beaten by

• (blue = neutral) AB

sweeps

---

(green = weak, diamond = offense)

Beaten by

• (red = strong) AB

2AB or AB

---

2AB (red = strong, diamond = offense)
AB (green = weak, diamond = offense)

2AB Beats

• (green = weak) hop attacks (you can't JD during a hop's descent, but can JD during the ascent)

• w/proper spacing or timing

• (yellow = somewhat weak) (feint) pressure/mixups
• (green = weak) jabs
• (purple = variable) 0f supers/supers

AB Beats

• (blue = neutral) lows (2B mainly)
• (red = strong) sweeps

throws

---

(yellow = somewhat weak, diamond = offense)

Beats

• (orange = somewhat strong) turtling/blocking (fishing for GC's too)

Beaten by

• (red = strong) jump normals

• neutral jumps can be a hard counter to attempted throw on wake-up. this is why wake-up throw is risky!

0f supers or supers

---

0f supers (yellow = somewhat weak, diamond = offense)
supers (yellow = somewhat weak, diamond = offense)

Both Beats

• (orange = somewhat strong) life advantage (often turtles. check what beats turtling!)

0f supers Beats

• (yellow = somewhat weak) (feint) pressure/mixups

• risky!!

0f supers Beaten by

• (purple = variable) Backdashes (invincible)
• (purple = variable) 2AB