Dodge (Dissidia 012)

From Dissidia Wiki

Dodge is a gameplay mechanic in Dissidia 012.

Overview

Dodge is one of the game's defensive options that is used to evade against incoming attacks. After equipping the two basic abilities, players can perform a burst of movement by pressing R + X that has 20 frames of invincibility (at 60 FPS).

Ground dodge has a few different versions depending on the directional input, while air dodge functions identically regardless of input. However, air dodge can move the character in a variety of different directions.

Dodging is a crucial defensive technique in competitive play, as it allows characters to make attacks safer to use, create openings against the opponent's attacks, generate assist meter more quickly and otherwise survive dire situations. Many attacks can be cancelled into a dodge earlier than other actions, making it one of the most accessible defensive mechanics in the game. And because of the invincibility provided by other abilities, it is also one of the most powerful defensive mechanics overall.

Being able to facilitate favorable situations both with dodges and against them can greatly influence a character's ability to compete. Fall speed after a dodge directly impacts air dodges' safety, while the safety of acting out of a dodge is impacted by characters' individual repertoire.

Concepts such as dodge punishment and variable dodge timing become important at higher levels of play and the defensive blodge technique combines both dodging and blocking for even stronger defensive play.

Ability CP (Mastered) AP Description
Ground Evasion 10 (5) 50 On the ground, push R + X to dodge opponent's attack.
Midair Evasion 10 (5) 50 In the air, push R + X to dodge opponent's attack.

Ground Dodge (Neutral / Backward)

Invincibility Attack
cancelable
Total duration
1~20F 29F 56F

Ground Dodge (Side)

Invincibility Attack
cancelable
Total duration
1~20F 43F 56F

Ground Dodge (Forward)

Invincibility Attack
cancelable
Dodge / block
cancelable
Total duration
1~20F 41F 57F 78F

Air Dodge

Invincibility Attack
cancelable
Total duration
1~20F 29F 56F

Ground / Midair Evasion Boost

Ability CP (Mastered) AP Description
Ground Evasion Boost 20 (10) 100 Increase movement distance for ground evasion.
Must enable Ground Evasion.
Midair Evasion Boost 20 (10) 100 Increase movement distance for midair evasion.
Must enable Midair Evasion.

Basic ability.

Increases dodge distance by 2m. Both ground and midair boosts are staple picks as the increased movement helps evading attacks more consistently regardless of remaining invincibility.

However, equipping ground evasion boost is not as important in air oriented match-ups where dodging on the ground may not happen often.

Evasion Boost

CP (Mastered) AP Description
20 (10) 100 Increase duration of invincibility after evasion.

Basic ability.

Evasion Boost doubles the invincibility time of all dodges from 20 frames to 40 frames.

The generous invincibility provided by this ability has had rippling effects in competitive play. Dodges have a much smaller window for any guaranteed punishment, bolstering defense for many characters while also restricting options for the attacker.

For one, this enables gapless defense for characters with defensive attacks such as Exdeath, Sephiroth and Jecht when cancelled out of a neutral ground dodge or any air dodge. And HP attacks that can punish air dodges such as Laguna's Ragnarok Blade now struggle to connect at all and presents a bigger risk to the user.

Because of Evasion Boost, dodge punishment is more difficult and risky across the board, but defending against attacks with strong tracking or projectiles also becomes a lot more reliable.

That is not to say dodging is entirely safe, far from it. However, much of Dissidia 012's established defensive gameplay can be attributed to the nature of dodge and the invincibility granted by this ability. Unfortunately, enforcing a ban on Evasion Boost can negatively impact tournament logistics - This is not an ability that that can be viewed in equipment briefing prior to a fight and the in-game battle information does not notify either player about it. As such, monitoring the use of this ability can be time consuming.

Evasion Boost remains a part of Dissidia 012's competitive play, but recent years have also had players engage in fights with mutual agreement of not using it.

Precision Evasion

CP (Mastered) AP Description
90 (45) 200 Evasions are more effective when well-timed.

If an attack is dodged within the first 4 frames of the dodge, this extra ability extends invincibility to the end of a dodge.

This means any character can act out of a dodge without a gap of vulnerability dodges usually have. Another dodge can be performed and it will be invincible, though it cannot trigger another Precision Evasion this way. Regular blocks are technically possible as well, but a more common application of guarding is seen with characters who possess an attack with frame 1 block properties. Warrior of Light's Shield of Light, Cloud of Darkness's [Wrath] Particle Beam and Jecht's Jecht Block all take advantage of this well.

Dodge punishment