What does S mean in Tekken 7? The Ultimate Guide to Notation and Strategy in Tekken 7

Hey there! My name is Terry and I‘m a huge fan of Tekken 7. As a tech geek and data analyst, I‘ve spent countless hours researching frame data and competing in tournaments. In this guide, I want to help explain common Tekken 7 terms and strategies so you can level up your own skills!

First, let‘s quickly go over some background.

A Brief History of Tekken 7

Tekken 7 is the latest entry in the groundbreaking 3D fighting game franchise Tekken, first launched in arcades by developer Bandai Namco in 1994. Known for its diverse roster, strategic movement, and juggle combo systems, the series has seen great success, especially in competitive gaming.

Tekken 7 was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2015, with several updated versions adding new characters and balance changes releasing over the following years. With over 5 million copies sold, Tekken 7 has become one of the most popular and well-supported fighting games available.

Now let‘s break down some of the unique terminology and notation Tekken uses!

Tekken 7 Notation and Abbreviations

Compared to other fighting games like Street Fighter, Tekken uses some unique terms and abbreviations in its notation system. Here are the ones you‘ll see the most:

These shorthand terms allow players to quickly denote complex motions, stances, and properties in combos and frame data. I know they can seem confusing at first, but will make more sense the more you play!

Now that you understand the abbreviations, let‘s go over some key areas of Tekken gameplay.

Tekken Gameplay Systems and Mechanics

Much of Tekken‘s complexity emerges from the various gameplay systems interacting with each other. Here are some of the most essential ones to know about:

Movement – Tekken has extensive movement options. Sidestepping, sidewalking, backdashing, and waving allow you to reposition yourself and avoid attacks. Mastering movement is critical at high levels.

Pokes – Quick, safe attacks used to check the opponent. Good pokes create pressure and check sidesteps. Some top pokes include df1, jabs, and d4.

Punishers – Punishing unsafe moves with the appropriate attack. Launchers punish more severely. Memorizing key punishers is important.

Crushes – Attacks with evasive properties, allowing you to crush (avoid) highs and mids. Useful for interrupting pressure.

Rage – Gains attack boosts once health drops below a certain point. Carefully using Rage can turn around losing matches.

Now that we‘ve covered the basics, let‘s take a quick look at some powerful top tier characters.

S Tier Characters – Leroy and Fahkumram

If you‘re looking to pick a strong character right now, Leroy and Fahkumram are two of the best options. Here‘s a quick rundown of why they‘re so good:

Leroy – Extremely well-rounded character with great tools for every scenario. His parry allows him to reverse pressure. Orbitals give huge damage combos. Very strong competitive character.

Fahkumram – Amazing range on his strikes lets him dominate spacing. Excelsent at corner pressure and rushing down. Strike throws and combo damage make him a threat up close.

Both Leroy and Fahkumram have seen top level tournament success lately and are regularly considered top 5 characters in Tekken 7‘s current meta.

Now for some tips specifically for players just starting out.

Beginner Tips for Learning Tekken 7

As a new Tekken player, I recommend focusing on these fundamental skills first before anything else:

• Movement – Be comfortable sidestepping, backdashing, and sidewalking. This builds crucial spacing and evasion skills.

• Blocking – Get used to holding back to block instead of down. React to overheads with stand blocking.

• Pokes – Use safe, quick moves like jabs and d4 often. Don‘t throw out risky attacks recklessly.

• Punishes – Punish whiffed attacks or unsafe moves with the appropriate strength launcher or attack.

• Throws – Throw escape by inputting 1 or 2 based on left or right arm. Break throws often to discourage opponent.

Learning Tekken takes time and experience, but focusing on these core areas will help you pick up skills naturally. And don‘t worry about losing – take it as a learning opportunity!

Once you have more match experience, you can move on to more advanced techniques:

• Korean backdash cancels for quicker back movement.

• Sidestep blocking and sidewalking to avoid linear attacks.

• Using movement and pokes to create whiffs for big damage launchers.

• Applying mixups like lows, mids, throws, and frame traps to open up turtling opponents.

The depth of Tekken can feel endless. But improving little by little each day will see your skills develop faster than you think!

Now that you have a solid base, let‘s look at the bigger world of competitive Tekken.

The Competitive Tekken Scene

Tekken 7 has one of the most passionate competitive scenes in fighting games. Top players compete in major tournaments held across the world to determine the greatest Tekken Master each year.

Some of the most prestigious events include:

• EVO – The world‘s biggest fighting game tournament, held yearly in Las Vegas. Tekken 7 finals have over 3,000 live spectators.

• Combo Breaker – Major US Tekken 7 tournament occurring annually in Illinois. Features open bracket and pro exhibition matches.

• The Mixup – Big European Tekken 7 event hosted in Lyon, France. Gathers Europe‘s top talent annually.

Winning these tournaments requires incredible reads, reactions, and matchup knowledge. Top players spend hours in training mode perfecting movement, combos, punishes, and defense.

Let‘s take a quick look at some current top professionals:

• Knee (South Korea) – Regarded as one of the greatest Tekken players of all time. Known for fundamentals and mastery of multiple characters.

• JDCR (South Korea) – Uses Heihachi and Dragunov at the highest level. Excellent defense and punishment.

• Anakin (USA) – Best American player currently, masterful use of jack of all trades character Jack-7.

• LowHigh (South Korea) – Plays a dangerous Shaheen. Uses exceptional sidestep ability to create whiffs for combo punish.

I love tuning into these players‘ streams and tournament matches to learn new strategies and see the game played at the highest level. It‘s amazing seeing the skill ceiling Tekken provides even for pros.

If you really want to test your abilities, be sure to participate in ranked online play. Reaching the highest rank of Tekken God Prime means you have the knowledge and execution to potentially compete with the best!

Final Thoughts

Congrats, you made it to the end of this Tekken 7 guide! By now you should have a solid grasp of common notation and terms, top tier characters, essential mechanics, and the competitive scene.

As you play more Tekken, don‘t feel overwhelmed by the complexity. Take it step by step, focusing on fundamentals first. The depth of Tekken allows for endless growth, always giving you something new to learn.

I hope this guide helps provide a fun starting point to improve your own Tekken skills. Tekken 7 is one of my favorite games, with a community full of supportive players happy to help others improve.

If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out! I‘m always down to share Tekken knowledge and strategies. Have fun and keep practicing!