Idol Showdown/System

Movement

Dashing

Botan performing a dash.

Press 66 on the ground to dash forward. Continue holding 6 to keep running forward.

Dashing is a fast way to approach the opponent, but leaves you unable to block for a little while afterwards (17f, to be exact).

Backdash

Press 44 on the ground to dash backwards.

Backdashes allow you to reposition and make certain attacks whiff, and are invulnerable to grabs. However, they still leave you susceptible to being hit.

Teching

Quick Rise

After being hit with a move that does not result in a hard knockdown and falling to the ground, hold any attack button to perform a quick rise. If you hold forwards or backwards, you'll tech in that direction. Perform a quick rise leaves you completely invulnerable until you get up.

Air Tech

Hold any attack button to tech in the air. If you hold forwards or backwards, you'll tech in that direction. Teching in the air leaves you completely invulnerable until your character either lands or performs an air action.

Offense

Normal Moves

Press L, M, or H to perform a normal attack.

Throws

Press L+M on the ground while next to the opponent to throw. You must be close to a grounded opponent to successfully throw them.

Throws are short-ranged, fast attacks that cannot be defended against by blocking. They also cannot be used mid-combo.

Universal Overhead

Press M+H on the ground. Your character will perform a slow, throw-invulnerable hop into an overhead attack.

Useful as a low-risk option to attempt to frustrate someone's guard or extend your own pressure. Everyone's Universal Overhead (with the exception of Coco's, which is plus) leaves them minus, but safe on block, and some are able to combo afterwards if it's a successful Counter Hit. As the character hops up when performing it, this option may help you evade some low attacks.

Special Moves

Press S and any direction or a motion input and L, M, or H to perform a special move.

Unique attacks performed by each character, ranging from simple projectiles to extra pressure options and movement tools. If you perform a special move with a motion input, you'll obtain a move-dependent amount of Superchat Meter.

Star Specials

Press H when inputting certain special moves. This requires and uses 1 Star Meter.

More powerful versions of special moves, often referred to as "EX moves".

Idol Moves

Press 22S on the ground to perform an Idol Move. For some characters, this requires 1 Star Meter.

Idol Moves give a higher amount of Superchat Meter than most special moves.

Super Star Attacks

Press 236S on the ground to perform a Super Star Attack. This requires and uses 2 Star Meter.

A character's strongest attack, often referred to as a "super". They often have invulnerable startup but are very unsafe when blocked or whiffed. As they tend to lead to a cutscene where the opponent is completely unable to attack, they're a good option in case you want to secure some damage without them bursting.

Superchat Cancels

Press a Special move during another Special move to cancel into the new Special. This requires and uses 1 bar of Superchat meter.

OTG

Some attacks can pick the opponent up "off the ground" after knocking them down. Combos are limited to 3 such OTG hits, with the third one making the opponent unhittable afterwards. A move that hits OTG multiple times counts multiple times towards the OTG limit, and attacks with the ability to OTG still count towards the limit even if the opponent is not knocked down when they hit.

Infinite Prevention System

When the same move is used too many times in one combo, the opponent becomes unhittable for a short period of time.

Move Type	Max Uses
L / M Normal	5
H Normal	3
Air Normal	6
Special	3
Air Special	4
Star Special	3

For example, using 2H three times in one combo causes the combo to end after the third 2H.
An exception to these values is Botan's Aerial Takedown, which is limited to 3 uses instead of 4.

Defense

Guarding

Hold any backward direction to block.

Hold back to block standing. This blocks high and mid attacks.

Hold down-back to block crouching. This block low and mid attacks.

Normal blocking is the default type of blocking and is the most commonly type used. You have 3 frames of buffer when attempting to perform an attack out of a guard.

Instant Blocking

Input the correct blocking direction within 6 frames of an attack connecting

Instant Blocking an attack reduces pushback and blockstun, increases your superchat meter, and negates chip damage. Useful as a way to obtain a little bit of Superchat Meter when being pressured, and can make some blockstrings unsafe, especially so if you currently have access to an invulnerable reversal. For repeated Instant Blocking, it does not matter if you return your input direction to neutral so long as you stop inputting an standing or crouching block first.

Burst

Press L+M+H in neutral or while being hit to Burst. This requires a full Burst meter. -15 on block.

Gauges

Star Meter

The equivalent of a traditional fighting game super meter. This can hold up to 4 bars, and the Star Meter you have at the end of a round will carry over to the next. It increases from doing most offensive actions in the game and (very slightly) from taking damage. It can be spent on Heavy versions of special moves, Idol Skills, Super Star Attacks, and Star Call-In's.

The following actions gain Star Meter: Landing normal attacks on hit or block, using special moves (even on whiff), landing a grab (even when teched), dashing, and receiving damage.

Superchat Meter

A separate meter that is used for Superchat Cancels and Off Collabs. Whether it can hold up to 2 or 3 bars depends on the Collab character you select. Unlike the Star Meter, it will NOT carry over between rounds. It will gradually increase on its own throughout the round, but you can also gain Superchat meter from certain precise actions. When this happens, a "Superchat" message will appear over the bar.

The following actions gain Superchat Meter: Bursting in the middle of a combo, Bursting while not being attacked, Using specials with a motion input, Instant Blocking an attack, attacking an opponent during the recovery of one of their own moves, teching a grab, and "anti airing" the opponent (specifically starting a combo with a grounded attack on an airborne opponent).