Joquan here, current top 50 global and current member of Trix. The strings that this guide is currently going to go over are Spear, Sword, Guns, and Bow, with the other weapons possibly later. What I notice when I spectate's someome that I'm mentoring is that they know how to perform the strings (spear Slight>Dair>Sair), but they do not know how or when to adapt said strings, in order to be able to use them consistenly, which this guide is going to be talking about.

If you see anything wrong with this guide or would like to add anything, please shoot me a message on Discord. I’m a mentor on both Brawl League and Brawlhalla Academy, if anything is needed. If you're not in those, you can try Sir Joquan of Trixonia#9362. Please note that I don't teach new players (under 150 hours) as they still have plenty to learn about regarding legend sigs, learning their preferred playstyle, what legends they struggle against, etc.

Some of this guide relies on abusing chain dodges (due to the invulnerability frames and the chase potential), I would advise you to do so if you already aren’t.

General rule of thumb: You should be assuming that if your opponent does a move, he’s going to do it again, although it may be later in the game. This includes everything include weapon combos, dodge patterns, movement patterns, etc, but be looking to see if they ever do change up their pattern.

Disclaimer: The string combos that I’m expecting to be dodged should be expected to be dodged at around Platinum and up. If you’re gold or under, try to do the strings as a full combo, and see if they dodge. If they do, then you’ll have to be using the same methods as mentioned below.


Disclaimer 2: My steam account isn't high enough level to posted animated gifs ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Whenever you play spear, spacing is king. I would advise that you either play 2 styles, Full parry, or Aggressive Parry. Aggressive Parry is basically being aggro at times, but for the majority of your gameplay you will be focusing on a defensive position and not be taking too many risks, instead just abusing your long reach with moves such as Nlight, Sair, and Slight. If you want to be a constant aggressive player, play sword, as the versatility of the weapon will help much more for aggressive play.

• When hitting someone with the Nlight, look to see which direction they dodge your Nlight, because most players would usually dodge after being struck by it. Generally most people will dodge towards a weapon if they are unarmed, so look for that.

https://gfycat.com/RapidPowerlessAsiantrumpetfish

• If they dodge towards you, you can hit them with another Nlight. Instead of another Nlight, you can continue with a Slight.

https://gfycat.com/FavoriteRecklessClam

• If they dodge back, follow up with chain dodge Slight’s strings, or to be more safe, another Nlight if you walked up close enough.

• Because Nlight is a ground move, when they dodge backwards, there dodge will be up after you hit them with another move, so if you're trying to extend the strings be taking note of that.

• After using a Slight, you should always assume that your opponent is going to dodge it.
  
• Take a second to see which way they are dodging, that way next time you will be able to follow it up. If they love dodging to the right, aim yourself that you will be below their dodge so you can follow up with Dlight combos,or Sair if you’re unsure of a Dlight hitting. There's also the possibility to hit them with another Slight.

https://gfycat.com/HatefulGlamorousGavial
Slight>Dlight>Sair

https://gfycat.com/TameAchingAustraliansilkyterrier

• Slight is very abusable with chain dodges so don’t be afraid to use it constantly and attempt to follow up with Slight strings. Notice how I timed my Slight for when he would jump when he would exit the stun from the previous move.

https://gfycat.com/SlimNeglectedHornbill

• Take note that I standed in the very center, that way I would be able to Dlight him if he dodged either left or right. Generally a Nsig wouldn’t hit in these situations, but I knew his playstyle so I was sure it would. For Ranked gameplay I would use a Sair as it’s guaranteed to hit.

https://gfycat.com/BoldSimplisticFurseal

• When they dodge away, usually your best bet after the Slight is to follow up with into a Dlight>Sair, although you can put in a GC Dlight because their dodge is down.

https://gfycat.com/ShowyEnchantingAlligator
https://gfycat.com/NaiveMilkyGalapagosalbatross

• Probably the easiest one to continue, after the Slight you can either hit them with a Nlight to see if any of the Nlight strings will be performed, or hit them with another Slight.

• If they dodge and they are able to touch the ground, it will be available after you hit them with another move, so be trying to guess what they will do after said move.

• Another option is so just hit them with a ssg, as at red health you’ll be able to get a kill easily.

https://gfycat.com/DismalComplexCottontail
https://gfycat.com/SmartUnderstatedFlicker

• Generally people don’t do this so I wouldn’t be worried, but if they are constantly dodging upwards then you’ll be able to hit them with a recovery, or a Sair.

• Every spear legend has an Nsig that will hit an opponent high in the sky so if you're confident in your reads, go for it.

https://gfycat.com/PotableThirstyAngora
https://gfycat.com/UnconsciousScratchyGentoopenguin

• Generally this move will only be used (by itself) when trying to edge guard, depending on their current position, where a Nlight would not be the optimal move. Can also be used when trying to catch someone in the air.

https://gfycat.com/HorribleFarawayBlackbuck

• When using Nair, I will often use when edgeguarding, when I am unsure if a Sair will hit. Nair is a safe enough move where you won’t be punished too easily for trying to throw one out. I use nairs in an attempt to send them upwards, as it can lead to a potential recovery attack.

• One of the best recoveries in the game, that only gets beaten by bow (and maybe hammer off stage). The recovery allows you to be able to attack impending ground pounds and edge guarders. Abuse it often when you are off the map. (example soon)

6. SAir

• At low health, Sair into Nlight is true. Try to see if you can read their dodge after the Nlight, if you can you'll be able to follow up with more damage. (example soon)

7. Ground Pound

https://gfycat.com/DeliciousYoungIndianpangolin
https://gfycat.com/TemptingLastFurseal

• Spear GP is a fantastic panic move if you’re opponent loves to use chain dodges, or if you predict that they are going to be offensive in any way that requires close contact (sword slight,nlight, hammer nlight, etc). Notice how he assumed I was going to dodge to the right, so I used my GP in a way that would protect me if tried to attack in any form below me.

• Another use of spear GP is to be using it when you are predicting your opponent that you are currently edgeguarding to dodge in some way or fashion, and that your GP would be able to cover a variety of positions.

You want to constantly to be trying to “box” your opponent, into ways that they only have a few options to defend themselves. An example of that is the blaster Nlight, forcing opponents to defend themselves from the air.

• The Nlight is one of the blasters best moves. The Nlight is huge in terms of reading your opponent, as many situations lead to you either hitting them with another Nlight, A sair, or some nairs. The blaster Nlight is one of the weapons moves that is most important to see how your opponent reacts to it.

https://gfycat.com/GloomyIckyDachshund

• When they do that, you’ll be able to hit them with another Nlight, or a ssig. Usually when they get hit by it twice, they will attempt to stop dodging to the ground, so after the 2nd Nlight you should be trying to hit them with some Nairs or Sairs.

https://gfycat.com/RightFinishedAstarte

• After this, you are able to hit them with some Nairs, and try to see if you can follow up with either Sair or Slight.
  
• Instead of Nairs, you also have the possibility of hitting them with a recovery, in order to secure a kill.

https://gfycat.com/ImperturbableDistantAmericanbadger
https://gfycat.com/FakeBackBighornsheep

• A move I usually only use when trying to get extra reach, usually against passive players.
  
• At low health you can attempt to perform Slight into Sair, although most people will dodge it, expecting you to perform a Sair, so you don't use one. See which form of string extension you will be able to perform.

https://gfycat.com/FlamboyantMagnificentKentrosaurus

• Dlight is used when parrying or when predicting them to dodge forward into you, or as a tool of aggresion when playing aggro. Dlight>Sair is true at all health levels.

https://gfycat.com/ResponsibleUntimelyFantail
https://gfycat.com/CluelessHeartyCopepod

• Blaster NAirs will beat every single move trying to gimp you (sword dair, spear dair, GPs, etc). Don't be afraid to spam it.

• When people are hit by Nairs they will usually dodge afterwards. Take note of which way they dodge after you Nairs so you can follow up with other moves, most likely recovery to get an easy kill.

https://gfycat.com/AngrySecondaryCock
https://gfycat.com/AstonishingLazyHarborporpoise

• The blasters Sair should be used the the same way as spear Sair, as a tool that can be aggressive, but safe at the same time. Blaster Sair into Nlight is true at low health.

• This move should only be used when you are predicting your opponent to dodge into it, and around orange/higher health it can be used as a method to secure stocks. Blasters recovery can somewhat act as a method to attack someone that is edgeguarding you, although it is not as easy as spear or bow.

https://gfycat.com/FavorableDampCoati
https://gfycat.com/NeedyRectangularGermanwirehairedpointer

• There are plenty of blaster mains that abuse the dair, as with its large hitbox it can be hard to punish. When hitting them with a Dair, there are multiple ways they can dodge, so be looking at the way they have dodged your Dair if you've used it previously.

• If you are trying to perform DAir strings that require them to be behind you, their dodge will most likely be back up in time before you can do another move to take note of that.

With the sword, you have a variety of moves that will let you go as aggressive as you want, as you have moves such as Slight that will constantly be putting on pressure. If you favor a more defensive position, then I would advise you to play either the spear, or the guns.

https://gfycat.com/DigitalNecessaryIcelandichorse

• Same with the spear, see when you Nlight if they come towards you, allowing you to hit them with another move of your choice.

• If someone dodges backwards, then you can follow up the same way you would as spear, by using Slight or trying to attempt another Nlight.

https://gfycat.com/SolidHeartyGiraffe
• When you hit someone with a Slight, take a moment to see how they are dodging. when I noticed that he likes to dodge forward, I instantly switched to using Gravity cancel'd Nlights.
  
• Because of the active hitbox that the sword has while moving forward, just like the hammer Slight, it's a fairly effective move to spam. Slight spamming can be used to continue pressure, although it does not deal much damage.
  

https://gfycat.com/GlamorousGrippingIrishwaterspaniel
https://gfycat.com/ExcitablePettyJaguar

• Depending on how they dodge, it is possible to repeatedly Dlight someone until they reach around orange health, where they then bounce in the air, giving you a chance (depending on how/if they dodge) to Sair them.
  
  • Usually I will just perform Dlight>Dair into Dlight>Sair. There is a possibility to put a GC’d Dlight between the Dlight>Sair, if you read the dodge correctly.
  • When players get around red health, try to secure stocks using Dlight>Sair and trying to finish them off from that point.
  • Try using Dlight when people are off stage in order to attempt to use a kill with Dlight>Sair or Dlight>Dair.
  4. DAir
  
  https://gfycat.com/AmpleEqualEuropeanfiresalamander
  
  
  • This move is used mostly in attempts to try to perform sword gimp strings, or used in combination with the Dlight. When attempting a Dair gimp (usually starts at around orange health), start fastfalling towards them so you will be able to Dair them as soon as they jump.
  • Because the Dair is easier to maneuver with than a ground pound, for any attempts at edgeguarding should most likely rely on hitting the Dair first.
  5. SAir
  https://gfycat.com/BareGrossGosling
  
  • See Spear Sair above, anything that you would use Spear Sair for, you would use sword Sair for.
  6. Recovery
  • The only real information I have about this move is after a Dlight>GC Dlight (Dodgeable) you can perform a Recovery, and afterwards you can try to see if you hit them with a Nair. Usually doesn’t work, doing a Sair instead of recovery is generally more effective.
  7. Sword Gimp Basic
  https://gfycat.com/GenerousCommonHuman
  https://gfycat.com/VictoriousAcidicAmericanwirehair
  
  • How most gimps such as the katar/sword gimp works is that your opponent is going to jump into your hitboxes, allowing you to continue the string, which for sword is usally Dair>Gp>Dair>etc. Some opponents realize that and instead do not jump into your moves, and if they are one of those players don't try to use GP in order to gimp them. Instead only use dairs, but you may have to fastfall towards them with the Dairs in order to get a gimp.
  8. Sword Gimp FastFall
  https://gfycat.com/UnfoldedUnevenKookaburra
  
  • Take note that the Missing Dair was to see whether or not he would fall into the basic sword gimp, and when he didn’t I realized I needed to fast fall in order to connect to him.

During bow gameplay, you want to be constantly looking for situations that will be pushing your opponent upwards by using moves such as Dlight, Sair, Nair, and Nlight. You want to keep them in the air, so you can abuse your Nair and your Recovery. Bow has a hard time getting kills, so you may need to attempt to fish for kills using Dlight>Nair, or through the Recovery. Usually It takes me several tries of hitting them with the Sair or Dair at red in order to get a kill.

Basic Slight Combo
Slight>Dlight>Nair
https://gfycat.com/SereneLightAnemonecrab

Bow Slight>Slight
https://gfycat.com/SelfishEuphoricDachshund

• Like the other moves, your opponent should be dodging after you use an slight. Watch them to see how they dodge.
  
• If they dodge towards you, stay in position in order to Slight them again.
  
• If they dodge away from you, run up to them to perform another Slight. I do not reccomed using Dlight as it is harder to hit than a second Slight.
  
• If they dodge in the air, you can attempt to use a Nlight or an Nair, or possibly a Recovery.

Bow Slight>Slight>Dlight>Sair into (Dodgeable) Dair or (unlikely) a potential ground pound.
https://gfycat.com/AthleticFaroffGosling

• Both this and the previous combos are dependant on health, with the more damage they take the more impossible it becomes to perform, usually around the orange health mark. This combo is impossible to perform if they spot dodge towards the ground, as touching the ground will reset their dodge, meaning you can’t connect the Slight into a Dlight.

• The Sair is one of my best moves in order to get someone in the air, so you can follow up with Nair/Nlight and Recovery strings. As an edgeguarding tool, Dair or Recovery is usually better.

Bow SAir>NLight>Nair
https://gfycat.com/LittleHollowGreathornedowl

After this combo, you have the possibility to follow up with more Nairs, or Recovery. I don’t generally use GC Nlight as recovery is easier to hit with than a Nlight.

Bow Sair>Nair
https://gfycat.com/FloweryFlickeringEagle

• This string is to only be used when your opponent likes to dodge diagionally, as Spot dodge, Away/Toward dodges are covered by Nlight. Because his dodge is up when I hit him with the Slight, I wait for him to dodge in order to continue the string.

• The times I use my dair are when I fail a recovery or Nair attempt, so I use Dair to protect myself as I am coming back to the ground. Dair can also be used when edge guarding, attempting to snipe them at the corners of the edges. (example soon)

• Generally I only use Nlight when I just hit them with a Sair, in order to attempt Nair and Recovery strings. However against weapons such as Hammer or Spear Dair, If I get hit too much by those moves when trying to combo them with a Nair, I start to use Nlight instead. (example soon)

• If you hit someone with a Nlight alone, take a second to see how they dodge to see if you can continue any strings.

https://gfycat.com/SatisfiedFocusedDiscus

• The Nair is one of the bread and butter moves of bow, as keeping your opponent in the air gives them less options than you. This move is able to hit stacked.

• Nair can directly counter a spear GP when beneath the weapon (pretty hard so not too reliable tbh) but for other every other weapon you will need to be out of their GP zone in order to punish with a Nair. You should probably be using recovery if your in that situation anyways.

• Generally the only time I use this move is if I’m trying to fish for a Dlight>Nair for a kill at red health, or if they are dodging out of my Slight combos. I prefer using the other moves such as Slight or Sair more.

https://gfycat.com/ConcreteDamagedEastsiberianlaika
https://gfycat.com/NiftyLivelyFruitbat

• Recovery is also fantastic for bringing players in the air, to allow you to attempt to get damage or even a stock off your opponent. You want to be positioning yourself in a diagonal position from your opponent, and wait to see if they dodge before you attempt anything.

gonna try to finish this, this weekend (Dec 16th-18th)

To Be Announced

That's the end of the guide, I appreciate you for taking the time to read any section. Remember that for anyone interested that I'm a mentor on both Brawl League and Brawlhalla Academy, or you can try Sir Joquan of Trixonia#9362. Please note that I don't teach new players (under 150 hours) as they still have plenty to learn about regarding legend sigs, learning their preferred playstyle, what legends they struggle against, etc.