Sidestep

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Initial sidestep animations for some of the cast.

A sidestep (u~n or d~n) is one of the major movement options. It's more likely to create whiffs than a backdash, but it's riskier since you can't guard while sidestepping. This risk can be mitigating by doing a step block.

Sidestepping is generally more effective in pressure than neutral, since in pressure the entire input can be buffered. In neutral, the step doesn't start until the n, so you're vulnerable during the frames of u or d without moving at all. This also makes it less evasiveโ€”it may only be a difference of 1โ€“3 frames, but when most moves are stepped by about 8โ€“12 frames of step, it's a big deal.

Timing

The u can be held for up to 8 frames and still get a step. While u is held the start of a jump is tweened, which can in some cases be evasive. Holding u for 9 or more frames locks in the jump.

Sidestep
Jump
Frame
Input
State
1
u
2
u
3
u
4
u
5
u
6
u
7
u
8
u
9
n
Frame
Input
State
1
u
2
u
3
u
4
u
5
u
6
u
7
u
8
u
9
u
10
n

The d can be held for up to 7 frames. If a high is crushed while d is held, crouch assist is entered and the step is no longer possible.

Crushed high
Sidestep
While standing
Frame
Input
State
1
d
2
d
3
d
4
d
5
d
6
d
7
d
8
n
Frame
Input
State
1
d
2
d
3
d
4
d
5
d
6
d
7
d
8
d
9
n
Frame
Input
State
1
d
2
n

Stance

Most characters have moves that can only be done from sidestep, making it a temporary stance. These moves can't be done from a sidewalk, so doing a walk instead of a step is one way to avoid them.

Sidestep moves can be input immediately from the step starting, but the attack won't start until the 10th frame of the step (adding 9 frames minimum).

Sidestep
SS.2 startup
Fastest SS.2 input
Frame
Input
State
1
u
1
n
2
2
3
n
4
n
5
n
6
n
7
n
8
n
9
n
10
n
Frame
Input
State
1
u
1
n
2
n
3
n
4
n
5
n
6
n
7
n
8
n
9
n
10
2

The stance lingers for 42 frames and is cancelled by doing any other move, including guarding.

Sidestep
2 startup
SS.2 startup
Latest SS.2 input
Frame
Input
State
1
u
1
n
2
n
3
n
4
n
5
n
6
n
7
n
8
n
9
n
10
n
โ‹ฏ
n
41
n
42
2
Lapsed stance
Frame
Input
State
1
u
1
n
2
n
3
n
4
n
5
n
6
n
7
n
8
n
9
n
10
n
โ‹ฏ
n
41
n
42
n
43
n
Frame
Input
State
1
u
1
n
2
n
3
n
4
n
5
n
6
n
7
n
8
n
9
n
10
n
โ‹ฏ
n
41
n
42
n
43
2

Sidewalk

A sidewalk is done with u~n~U or d~n~D. The longer the direction is held the longer the sidewalk is done for.

There are situations where a sidewalk will cause a whiff, but a sidestep won't, and vice versa. The animations are different. As a general rule, sidewalks are better vs mids and sidesteps are better vs highs.

For Alisa, Lili, and Zafina, sidewalk is almost always better than sidestep.

d skip

Pressing d during a sidestep into the foreground causes the animation to skip ahead by 1 frame. This can be used to step things that otherwise can't be stepped. It can also just be done for the sake of it since there's no real cost to doing so other than the added input.

Comparison of characters' sidesteps

This table tallies situations where some but not all characters can successfully cause a whiff with a sidestep or sidewalk. Half point if it's inconsistent or done with a d skip.

Character[1] [2] [3] [4]
Alisa ✔︎ SWL ✘︎ ✔︎ SSR
Asuka ✔︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Bob โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Bryan โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✔︎ SWR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Claudio ✔︎ SSL ✔︎ SWR ✘︎
Devil Jin โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✔︎ SWR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Dragunov ✔︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR ✘︎
Eddy ✘︎ ✘︎ ✘︎
Feng ✔︎ SSL ✔︎ SWR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Gigas ✘︎ ✘︎ ✘︎
Heihachi ✔︎ SSL ✔︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Hwoarang ✔︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Jack-7 ✘︎ ✘︎ ✘︎
Jin โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✔︎ SWR ✘︎
Josie ✔︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SWR
Katarina ✔︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SWR
Kazumi ✔︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR ✘︎
Kazuya ✔︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
King โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✔︎ SWR ✘︎
Kuma ✘︎ ✘︎ ✘︎
Lars โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✘︎ ✘︎
Law ✔︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Lee โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Leo ✔︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Lili ✔︎ SWR ✔︎ SWL ✔︎ SSR
Lucky Chloe ✔︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Master Raven ✔︎ SSL ✔︎ SSR ✘︎
Miguel ✔︎ SSL ✔︎ SSR ✘︎
Nina โ‰ˆ︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Paul โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✔︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Shaheen ✔︎ SSL ✔︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Steve ✔︎ SSL ✔︎ SWR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Xiaoyu ✔︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Yoshimitsu โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Akuma โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Eliza ✔︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Geese โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✔︎ SSR ✘︎
Noctis ✔︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Anna ✔︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Lei โ‰ˆ︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Marduk ✘︎ ✔︎ SWR ✘︎
Armor King โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✔︎ SWR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Julia ✔︎ SSL โ‰ˆ︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Negan โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Zafina ✘︎ ✔︎ SWL ✔︎ SSR
Ganryu โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Leroy โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✘︎ โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Fahkumram โ‰ˆ︎ SSL ✔︎ SWR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
Kunimitsu ✔︎ SSL ✘︎ ✔︎ SWR
Lidia ✔︎ SSL ✔︎ SSR โ‰ˆ︎ SSR
  1. โ†‘ Order is as per the in-game Simple Select to make filling in the table easier.
  2. โ†‘ Leo โ€“ b+1,4 (step between hits on block)
  3. โ†‘ Lidia โ€“ 1,2,2 (step on hit) CFT.2,3
  4. โ†‘ Lidia โ€“ 1 (step on block) d+4