Tough Love Arena/Garlic/Combos

Garlic

Overview

Combos

Strategy / Counterstrategy

Matchups

Full Frame Data

General legend

Abbreviation	Meaning
AA	Anti air starter
>	Link
5LH	Cancel (Light cancels into Heavy in this case)
DAC	Delayed Attack Cancel
(Number)	Indicates what part of a multi hit move hits. Omitted if every hit of a multi hit move hits.
[Text]	Indicates that multiple variations can end the specific combo covered
Bold Text	Meaty Attack

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Beginner Combos

Some basic combos that are useful to know if Garlic’s advanced combos are too hard.

  5LHH > 5SS > 5SS > 5HH

A solid ground combo to use off of a 5L or 5H opener.

  AA 5L > Walk > 5HH

Solid anti air combo.

  5HH > 6S > 6S > 5HH

Garlic’s most damaging corner combo.

Combo Primer

Combo Theory

Garlic’s combos mainly depend on how close they are relative to the opponent, whether they are close to the corner, and whether they have meter. The closer Garlic is to their opponent and the closer they are to the corner, the more damage they will be able to get from their combos. Garlic’s link combo is a core part of their combo game. The combo will only work if Garlic is close enough to link Trip into Flick. Combo notation for the link combo:

  5HL > 5LH

Garlic gains access to a continuous loop that only relies on them having meter to spend on Rapid to perform. A sample combo with the combo loop in bold:

  6S > 5HL > 5LHL > RC > 5HL > 5LHL > RC > 5LHL > 5LHH > 5SS > 5SS > 5HH

Juggle Game

Garlic's combo game is dependent on how close Garlic is to the opponent, but it also varies when taking into account how far away they are from the corner. Due to the fact that almost every combo Garlic will do leads into Roundhouse to launch the opponent, different routes can be used accordingly depending on Garlic's stage positioning:

  4H > 5SS > 6S > 5HH

Garlic's most common juggle midscreen due to how far away they can be from the opponent before launching them with Roundhouse and how much damage it does relative to their other juggles. Most combos mentioned in this page will default to this specific juggle for simplicity sake.

  4H > 5SS > 5SH > 5HH

An alternative Sneak juggle that keeps the side Garlic was on in exchange for damage.

  4H > 6S > 6S > 5HH

Garlic’s highest damage juggle that only works in point blank range or in the corner.

  4H > 5SH > 5S > Walk > 5LHH

Garlic’s highest damage same side midscreen juggle that only works with a close Sweep.

  4H > 5S6S > 5HS > 5HS > 5L4H

Garlic’s highest damage same side midscreen juggle off of a max spaced Sweep.

  4H > 5SH > 4H > 5HH

Garlic's highest damage juggle when somewhat close to the corner.

Meaties

Meaty Flick, Trip, and Sweep all can link into an additional Sweep given they are meaty enough. Flick is the easiest meaty to time given its fast speed and large amount of active frames, but scales Garlic's combos heavily. Trip gives Garlic the most amount of time to link into Sweep, so much so that Garlic can microwalk in between the link to gain a little bit of meter. Sweep is Garlic's most rewarding meaty but is also the hardest one to time.

Combo Openers

• Flick is Garlic’s fastest move and one of their most common pressure tools.
• Sweep is one of Garlic's best starters, one of their pokes in neutral, and can be paired with 5S for hit confirming.
• Jump Garlic's slowest and riskiest starter, but can lead to similar damage to Sweep and is Garlic's longest range move.
• Trip is very easy to hit confirm off of and can be common during Garlic's strike-throw pressure.

5L/4L Openers

Notation	Damage	Meter Gain	Location	Notes
AA 5L > 5SH > 4H	160	300	Anywhere	Garlic's Flick anti air combo that works at most ranges.
AA 5L > 6S > 4H	176	300	Anywhere	Garlic's most damaging Flick anti air combo.
5LHH > [5SS > 6S > 5HH]	290	700	Anywhere	A basic combo off of 5L starter.
5L > Microwalk > 5LHL > 5LHH > [5SS > 6S > 5HH]	291	At least 1100	Anywhere	A sample combo from a meaty Flick. Flick can be replaced with Sweep and Trip with good timing for the meaty for better damage.
4L > 5LHH > [5SS > 6S > 5HH]	396	800	Anywhere	A point blank Trip starter combo.

5H/4H Opener

Notation	Damage	Meter Gain	Location	Notes
5HL > 5LHH > [5SS > 6S > 5HH]	416	900	Anywhere	A meterless, point blank 5H combo.
5HL > 5LHL > RC > 5HL > 5LHL > RC > 5LHL > 5LHH > [5SS > 6S > 5HH]	519	-606	Anywhere	A full meter combo that almost gains a full bar of meter and shows the link combo loop in action.
4H > 5S6S > 5HS > 5HS > 5L4H	301	500	Anywhere	A side combo that works from a max range Roundhouse. Sweep can be an easier ender if ending with Roundhouse is too hard.

Resources

Garlic: The Way of the Dab

Garlic Combo Guide

How to Play Garlic - Tough Love Arena