1. The Stamina Economy: Guard Durability & Depletion
Holding the Guard button projects a protective bubble around your fighter. However, continuous guarding drains 6% stamina per second. More importantly, blocking heavy strikes causes instant chunk depletion:
Light Attacks: 4–8% Stamina Loss
Heavy Attacks: 16–22% Stamina Loss
Special Projectiles: 12–18% Stamina Loss
When stamina reaches 0%, the fighter enters a Shield Break state, leaving them completely incapacitated for 180 frames (3 full seconds).
2. Frame-Perfect Just Guard (The Instant Parry)
Tapping the Guard input within 3 frames (50 milliseconds) of impact initiates a Just Guard Parry. A successful parry yields three massive competitive benefits:
1. Zero Stamina Loss: Guard gauge remains 100% intact.
2. Zero Blockstun: Attacker is frozen in hitstop while defender recovers instantly.
3. Frame Advantage Shift: Turns a -10 disadvantageous situation into an immediate +6 frame punish opportunity.