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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 for these are sMK, sHP, cHK, but other buttons like cMK, cMP, and cLK are sometimes used. Similar kinds of mind games can occur using raw flicker in neutral or even 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 (charged) | Steals meterless plus frames in neutral, or can hit leading to combos but is weak to DI on reaction. However, reacting to the charged flicker animation with DI and not a baiting option is tricky for opponents and is in no way guaranteed. Cancelling into charged H Flicker can be done as a read against jumpy opponents. |
If the opponent goes for parry in response to L Flicker can lead to a game of chicken where they are stuck holding parry. Ed can KRF to grab them.
When you have level 3 you can release the flicker in reaction to a DI and cancel into LVL 3. Thus button into charged flicker mind games becomes more real when Ed has 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.
Killrushing back 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 escape delayed DI reactions. This baiting option is still used but much less frequently.
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 normal buttons 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)
KRB baits DI and is otherwise safe, but gives up space to do so. KRB may even open yourself up to opponents who jump after blocking the initial button in a way spark does not |
Momochi baits DI with button into spark.mp4
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Fuudo got away with button xx charged flicker 3 times during this ft2 set, and not once did DCQ challenge with DI. This perhaps highlights the idea that 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.
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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 sLP (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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