Super Meter
Both players have their own super meter display at the bottom of the screen, divided into three sections that are referred to as “bars.” This gauge is used for a number of purposes; the most common use of super meter is to enhance special moves, which costs 1-2 bars depending on the move. Certain move cancels or mobility options (such as using more than one airdash in a sequence) may also burn meter. Breakers cost 3 bars of meter and require the kameo to not be active offscreen already when performed.
Meter Gain
Both players begin the match with 1 bar of meter. Whoever lands the first hit of the match will be awarded a “First Hit” bonus and be rewarded with another bar of meter. Players on offense will gain minimal meter for attacking with normals, gaining slightly more for landing specials on hit and/or having their attacks blocked. The player defending will earn more meter for getting hit than the offensive player will gain for hitting successfully, but no meter is gained by the defending player for blocking. Flawless Block, however, will negate the opponent’s meter gain. Characters with health lower than the base value will gain slightly increased meter for being hit, while characters with higher health will gain less meter; this can also be slightly affected by the Kameo health value.
Kameo Gauge
Kameo Partners are individually powered by their own unique gauge, which is divided into two sections sometimes loosely referred to as “bars” (i.e. “1-2 bars” or “half/full Kameo bar”) that recharge over time; kameo abilities may require a half or full gauge to execute depending on the strength and utility of the move. Kameo Throws and Breakers are still able to be performed by the lead character when no Kameo Gauge is available and/or the Kameo is in cooldown, so long as the Kameo is not in use onscreen at the time.
Kameo Cooldown/Recharge
Different abilities performed by Kameos have differing cooldown duration periods and gauge recharge rates, depending on the ability used. Both players begin the match with a full Kameo Gauge, entering a cooldown window after using a Kameo ability where the Kameo Fighter will run offscreen and the Kameo Gauge begins to refill at its own unique rate. The exception to this rule is Shujinko, who begins every match with no Kameo Gauge available and must charge it up manually with his “Passing Time” Ambush. Shujinko does however have two Summon attacks (“Apep Punch” & “Konquest Kick”) that can be performed without Kameo Gauge being available and can cancel into his charge. Sindel also has moves that affect her Kameo Gauge; her DB3 “Inspire” buff will greatly increase the rate of her Kameo Gauge’s recharge speed while it is active, while her DB4 “Queen’s Kommand” will recover half of her Kameo Gauge upon successfully hitting an opponent’s Kameo.
Hype
A unique meter/mechanic to Johnny Cage, which allows him to build up a star-shaped “Hype” meter at the bottom of the screen. This meter can be filled by any combination of manually inputting his Hype command (FDB4 or HCB+4) three times, performing 19 special moves (excepting his Shadow Dash), parrying 5 attacks, or cancelling certain special moves into unique Hype taunts by inputting the Flip Stance button; the Hype meter can be quickly filled up by cancelling Ball Buster (BD1) or Throwing Shades (FDB2 or HCB+2) into Hype on startup three times, or by cancelling Shadow Kick (BF4) on hit or Rising Star (DB3) on hit/whiff into Hype twice.
Once the Hype meter is full, the player can input the same Hype command to trigger the ability “Wowing Out,” an install which allows Johnny to cancel special moves up to 2 times in a row into other specials, Kameo attacks, or Fatal Blow; this state also changes all of Johnny’s specials to the enhanced versions for no meter cost. Although he still has access to his Hype taunts off of some specials, Johnny cannot gain any additional Hype meter or stop the depletion rate of Hype with any moves once the meter has started draining.
