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These options are used to either steal meterless plus frames or bait the opponent into options like DI and Parry. The most common buttons that are used are sMK, sHP, and cHK, but other buttons like cMK, cMP, sMP, and cLK are sometimes used too. Similar kinds of mind games can occur using raw flicker in neutral or even with meaty charged flicker as well.
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| Option | Purpose/Notes |
|---|---|
| Button xx L/M Flicker | • Controls space, deals drive damage, frametraps, and otherwise pesters the opponent potentially goading them into DI’ing or PP’ing. |
| Button xx L Flicker (fully charged) | • Steals meterless plus frames, and encourages the opponent to respond with DI, Parry, or Jump. Cancelling buttons into charged H Flicker can be done as a read against jumpy opponents, but such jumps can be avoided with KRF if using L Flicker. |
• If the opponent goes for parry in response to Flicker it can lead to a stare down where they are stuck holding parry. Ed can KRF to grab them (see video examples for more details/counterplay ideas). PP DR OS was a common response to flicker before the PP nerf but it does not seem as common or as preferable to tap hold parry now
• When you have level 3 you can release the flicker in reaction to a DI and cancel into LVL 3.
• If they are hit go into combo, on block go into one of Ed's ‣ | | Button xx L Flicker (charged) xx KRB/KRF
This baiting option was nerfed on December 2, 2024 | • KRB from charged L Flicker is now technically reactable against practiced opponents who can react to the flicker animation with DI. Reacting exclusively to the flicker and not baiting options is still tricky however and KRB can still potentially escape delayed DI reactions (and doesn’t lead to crumple if hit). Flicker cancelled into KRB as a baiting option is still used but much less frequently.
• KRF can catch parrys and avoids jumps
• A related option to keep in mind is DR > sHP xx Flicker Mind Games as the plus frames from the DR sHP makes canceling the charged flicker into KRB beat any DI’s outright. This is essentially how it worked from a few spaced normals without DR before the nerf. | | Button xx Spark or KRB | • Spark baits DI, but does not give up space to do so. Can be punished by long reaching lows however. This is the most frequent baiting option I see high level Ed’s use. (See SilverRupee’s explainer video for details on this option & more)
• KRB baits DI and is otherwise safe, but gives up space to do so. It can be used as a space making option and not solely for baiting |
<aside> 💡
Fuudo got away with button xx charged flicker three times during this ft2 w/o having lvl 3, and not once did DCQ challenge with DI. This perhaps highlights the idea that some high level players are more averse to using DI (opting for parry instead) and thus may be more susceptible to charged flickers than lower level players who are more DI happy. Or maybe DCQ wasn’t familiar with the Ed matchup, which seems a bit unlikely…
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[Full Set Link From Blink Respawn 2025](attachment:358cb4e0-da8b-4c82-bc56-c4d47097f747:Fuudo_DCQ.mp4)
Full Set Link From Blink Respawn 2025
From Blink Respawn 2025
From Blink Respawn 2025
From Blink Respawn 2025
<aside> 💡
This example, while occurring from a raw charged flicker, can occur from buttons xx charged flicker too.
This example showed how Fuudo tried to KRF to grab Moke, but Moke reacted with a DR jab (which is a high level counter play to KRF grab attempts). It may have even been possible for Fuudo to react to Moke’s DR with a KRE/L attack which is a high level counter play to the DR counterplay
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From Blink Respawn 2025
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Holding flicker w/o using KRF to catch the parry can still make the opponent drain their meter
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From evo 2025
From Blink Respawn 2025