Duelists of Eden/Glossary
Gap
A "gap" is the number of frames between hits wherein the enemy is not stunned.
A negative gap is a combo that hits the enemy while they have remaining stun frames, while a positive gap is one wherein the enemy has already become unstunned.
Hitstep
To "hitstep" is to begin moving before being hit, thus resulting in you being stunned but still completing your movement to the tile you're progressing towards.
True Combo
A true combo is a combo wherein there are no "gaps", the enemy consequentially has no tools to escape it. Once the combo has landed it's first strike without the enemy doing something to disrupt it, it will continue so long as the player performing the combo executes correctly.
Whiff
To "whiff" is to fire a weapon or spell and miss.
Punish
"Punish" is a broad term referring to any situation wherein a player makes a mistake and their opponent takes advantage of it.
Most commonly it refers to a situation wherein one player whiffs a spell, and the other hits them as they whiff.
Sweetspot
Some spells have an additional advantage for hitting a particular area of it on the enemy, for example Twinferno has a "sweetspot" where the two hits of the spell overlap and two smaller sweetspots wherein flames will appear, thus dealing additional damage.
Tipper
This is a sweetspot that hits the "tip" of a spell, for example Violette's primary weapon has a "tipper" that does additional damage and pushes an enemy back.
Sourspot
A "sourspot" is the inverse of a sweetspot, the spots that are still hits but do not carry as much benefit in most cases.
Framewalk
A "framewalk" is refers to walking through a spell's hitboxes with precise timing, generally from a tile that's about to be hit to a tile that was just being hit. This is usually, but not always, frame-perfect and a mostly inconsistent strategy. As an example, Cataclysm can be frame walked.
Cycle
"Cycle" can be used as another way to say "shuffle", usually with the connotation of doing so prematurely to get rid of unfavourable cards or draw particular ones sooner.
It can also refer to "cycling through" your cards by using them quickly. For example, you might cast Thunder intentionally from a position that you know won't hit your enemy but where your enemy is also unlikely to hit you, simply to "cycle it away" and draw your next card.
Cycle Deck
A "cycle deck" is one that often uses very low cost cards simply to fill out the 8-card minimum of deck building, and "cycles" through those filler cards to get to a core combo or card(s), such as Align + Ragnarok.
Brick
"Brick" generally refers to a card that cannot be used in a scenario without your enemy making a mistake. Cards with limited range, such as Push Slash, or those that only hit specific spaces, such as backstab, are often "bricks".
Bricked
May more broadly refer to your spells and weapons being bricks simultaneously.
For example, if you lack a spell or weapon to hit the enemy's back column you may say your hand is "bricked" if the enemy can simply attack you from that distance to make progress. When bricked you may be forced to cycle one of the cards in your hand or shuffle your deck to attempt to find a method of reaching your enemy.
Defuse
This refers to the act of standing beneath the landing spot of a trap or structure such as a Mine or Bomb and dodging when they would land, thus removing the trap without taking damage or waiting out the duration.
Anchor
"Anchor" holds you in place for a duration after casting a spell or weapon. Most spells and weapons have "anchor", but how long it holds you in place is variable.
Anchor Cancel
"Anchor Canceling" is the act of ending your anchor prematurely, generally through the return portion of a step spell but sometimes through other means such as catching a blade catch. This allows you to move during scenarios you'd usually not be able to, such as while firing Unleash.
Field
The field is the 4-high and 8-wide grid that the battle takes place upon
Tile
A tile is one of the individual 1-high, 1-wide squares of the field.
Column
A column is a vertical slice of the field, 4-high and 1-wide.
Row
A row is a horizontal slice of the field, 1-high and 8-wide.
Somewhat confusingly, "row" is often used to refer to columns such as in the term "backrow".
Dodge on Approach
During the approach portion of a step spell, you may dodge. This is a "dodge on approach". Notably, even if the duration of your dodge hasn't elapsed you will be able to be hit briefly before the striking portion of the step spell.
Dodge on Return
During the return portion of a step spell, you may dodge. This is a "dodge on return".
Return Canceling
To "Return Cancel" is to move to a tile that is on your own side of the field to prematurely end a step spell's effect. You will not return to the position you cast your step spell from if you do this.
Proc
"Proc" is a somewhat nebulous term, and somewhat rarely used. It generally used to refer to Frost procs (reaching 3 stacks of Frost, thus activating the effect of Frost) and more occasionally is used to refer to activating something such as an Amplifier or Beam Crystal.
Combo Starter
A "combo starter" is a spell or weapon, generally one that is fast and/or covers a broad range, that sets up for other attacks, generally in a true combo. For example, Align and Vortex both combo into Ragnarok into Thunder by covering a wide area.
Prediction
A "prediction" is taking any action in anticipation of what the enemy is going to do.
Reaction
A "reaction" is taking any action in response to what the enemy has already done.
Payoff
A "payoff" is a reward for engaging in a particular archetype generally, however it may also refer to a style of play, or even just individual cards.
Usually the payoff is slightly undercosted for how powerful it is, while the cards that result in payoffs are somewhat overcosted.
As an example of an archetype payoff, Crystal Rifle scales up to be a fast, high-range 14 damage spell for just 2 mana but you need to get frost procs in order to get it there.
For an individual card payoff example, Ragnarok is a payoff for using Align.
For an example of a strategy-oriented payoff, standing closer to your front column rewards you with more mana regeneration.
Off-angle
"Off-angle" refers to being able to hit somewhere that isn't directly in front of you, for example Lockdown provides you with off-angle potential as the hitbox extends a tile above and below you.
