Paul strategy

This page is for Tekken 8. For Tekken 7, see Paul strategy (Tekken 7).

Combo Theory:

Launchers

df+2:

Fantastic safe on block high-crushing mid. Time your use of this so that you have your opponent under pressure where they would need to reset momentum. Once you have the read on the jab counter with df+2. Be careful as misreading this as this would be counted via armored moves or if you are neutral or at a disadvantage: quick counter hits.

b+3:

Another amazing safe on block launcher. Comes out faster than df+2 for clutch situations, but with a high hitbox. Creates a low launch on hit. This is a great launcher to pressure with, as it has forward momentum and moves Paul about 0.8 distance during the animation toward the opponent.

ff+4:

Wiff punish launcher, this will give you variable frames based on your distance to the opponent when the hitboxes make contact (like wake-up spring kicks). Can be anything from -1 if very close to +5 if you make contact at the tip range. Vulnerable to being float combo'ed mid-animation.

uf+3:

Mid hop kick that crushes low attacks, launch punishable on block. Has extension to potentially catch mashing opponents on block. (uf+3,4) Not launch punishable if you complete the extension but can be punished mid string.

Enders

fff+2: for damage/ floor break
d+4,2,1+2: wall travel and wall breaks
df+2: okizeme
qcf+2: uhhhhhaaaaa

Poke Theory

Close in on opponents by utilizing Paul's crouch dash, and the extension. Good pokes off of the deep dive extension are DPD.4 and DPD.2.

ss+3 is a low with great reach. It has guaranteed damage follow-ups on counter hit.

Create pressure utilizing plus on block moves on opponents, uf+2, df+1,b~ SWA, ect..

Very easy to condition opponents to have to jab-check your pressure to create a gap. Read this timing and counter with df+2 to crush high and launch the opponent for big damage.

Pokes

i14 DF1,b - 11 DMG - #PLUSOB #SWAY - Best way to pressure with sway

i15 3,2,b - 31 DMG - #stringGapPunishable #PLUSOB #SWAY - longer range than DF1,b to engage into sway pressure

i15 QCB2 - 27 DMG - #safeOB #heatEngager - Natural follow-up for any of the sway pokes

i15~17 F,F+2 - 14 DMG - can cancel

i18 QCF 3 - 18 DMG - #chLauncher #unsafe

i19 SS.3 - 17 DMG - Good range pressure tool, natural follow-up on counter hit; d+1+2 for 50 DMG.

At wall:

i12 - FF1+2 - 38DMG Throw - Sets up Wall combo if Unbroken

i15 D4,2,1+2 - 38 DMG - #unsafe #launchPunishable #wallbreak - Demoman :)

i19 CH SS3 > D1+2 - 50 DMG - #unsafe #wallbreak

i22 QCB1 - 24 DMG - #chipDMG #forceCrouch #safeOB

Move	Speed	Damage	Risk	Hitbox
Whiff punishers
CS.2	i13~14	45	-17	Mid
f,F+2,1	i15~17	34	-12	Mid
f,F+2:1	i15~17	38	-4	Mid
SWA.2	i15	27	-9	Mid
df+2	i15~16	13 (69)	-8	Mid
f,F+4	i27~34	20 (72)	-1~+5	Mid
b,n,f+1	i28~31	22 (59)^[1]	-6	High

Grabs

i11 - B 1+4 - 40 DMG - 1 break

i12 UF1+2 - 40 DMG - #floorbreak - 1+2 break

i12 FF1+2 - 38 DMG - #wallbreak - 1+2 break

i12 2+4 B hold - 40 DMG - 2 break

i12 DF1+3 - 22 DMG - +9 trap setup - 1 break

DF1+3 > QCF 2 - #wallbreak #uhhhhaa

Takedown.2,d+1,1,1+2 -50 DMG - 1 break

Takedown.1+2 - 25 DMG - 1+2 break

Frame Traps

Setup moves:

i12 DF1+3 (throw +9/ -2 ob)

i12 DF1,b (+3ob/+9oh)

i15 SWA4 (+1ob)

i22 UF2 (+5ob)

i20 SS1 (+8ob)

Samples

Safe

i15 SWA4 (+1 ob) > 1,2 (-3 ob) - 18 DMG

i20 SS1 (+8 ob) > QCF 1(-4 ob, #launcher) -21 DMG

i22 UF2 (+5 ob) > B3 (-9 ob, #launcher) - 19 DMG

Unsafe

i15 SWA4 (+1 ob) >!i10 1,2,3(-25 ob) can be hit confirmed - 25 DMG

i20 SS1 (+8 ob) > QCB1+2(-14 ob, #launcher)

Deep Dive Startup Delay/Input Lockout

There is a 10-frame window after Deep Dive where Paul's movement is locked and attack options (both WS and DPD) start up 1-10 frames slower.

iWS1 (normally i15~16) hits on frame 25 when input immediately after Deep Dive.
DPD.2 (normally i15) hits on frame 25 when input immediately after Deep Dive.

Paul cannot block in the 10-frame lockout window following a Deep Dive input.
Paul returns to a standing state and is able to block again at the end of this period.

An immediate press after DPD (WS1/WS2/WS3/WS4/DPD2/DPD4/DPD3+4) will add 10 frames of startup to that move. This delay decays gradually for each frame following the DPD input, until startup eventually returns to normal. For example:

WS1 startup is i15~16
d, df, d, df, WS1 startup is i25~26
d, df, d, df, (4f delay), WS1 startup is i21~22
d, df, d, df, (5f delay), WS1 startup is i20-21

And so on until 9f delay (10f after DPD), when WS1 startup is back to the regular i15~16.

Paul's only bufferable movement in this state is u, though this cannot be used to crouch cancel (see next section for details).

Lockout frames begin as soon as the initial crouch dash is canceled into Deep Dive. Delay between CD and DPD inputs does not seem to matter.

This delay makes Deep Dive a more committal approach than Paul's regular crouch dash and has practical drawbacks in both neutral and pressure. Be mindful of this extra startup before attacking with a long-range iWS1,2 or DPD.2, and avoid using DPD inputs for iWS at closer ranges whenever possible.

Crouch Cancel Does Not Avoid Lockout

Crouch canceling to avoid the DPD delay window and immediately return to neutral does not seem possible. The sidestep from crouch cancel will not come out until 10 frames after DPD, and no other directional movement or attack can be executed or buffered in the interim.

This includes b, meaning you cannot block for at least 10 frames after DPD.

Mids cannot be blocked during the lockout window.
Highs will still whiff.

Other

Canceling ff+2,2 via db input gives access to easy crouch pressure mixups such as Ultimate Tackle (fc.d+1+2), and Thunder Palm (ws.2)

↑ qcf+1 minicombo follow up

[1] qcf+1 minicombo follow up

[1]