3. Jin vs Xiaoyu The third scenario involves Xiaoyu landing a Feathered Fan (db2). After this hit, Jin is in a crouching state with a -5F disadvantage. From her Rain Dance stance, Xiaoyu has a variety of follow-up options, many of which are difficult to evade, and need to... be sidestepped to the left. In Season 2, however, even when Jin is on the RIGHT side, he can now sidestep into the foreground (left) from a crouching state. This allows him to sidestep Xiaoyu's moves more effectively, adding risk to her follow-up choices and forcing her to think twice before committing to an attack. ＃TEKKEN8show more

In Season 2, I have spoken in the TEKKEN Talk Live and interview videos about the upcoming defensive improvements. However, I feel that I haven't fully conveyed the details and the significance of these changes. Season 2 introduces major system changes to sidestepping and movement mechanics: You can now sidestep toward the foreground while in a crouching state. You can complete the input for a side walk using input buffering. I would like to explain how these changes will affect matches using some video samples. Of course, I fully understand that the effectiveness of these adjustments may vary depending on factors like the character's size, their sidestep and sidewalk performance, and the axis situation when moves hit or are blocked. There may also be scenarios where a safer and simpler option than sidestepping is available. Please keep in mind that these videos are simply reference examples to demonstrate how the increased sidestep and sidewalk options will contribute to defensive improvements. The sample video and explanation can be found in the thread. #TEKKEN8

1. Jin vs Nina The first example involves LEFT side Jin getting hit by Nina’s Stiletto Heel (db3). In this situation, Nina's Uppercut > Jab (df1,2) is a stable follow-up that takes advantage of her frame advantage. Until Season 1, characters could only perform move sideways into the background from a crouching state, making it extremely difficult to evade the Uppercut > Jab using a sidestep to the background. However, in Season 2, since it is now possible to perform a sidestep toward the foreground from a crouching state, evading the Uppercut > Jab becomes significantly easier compared to using a sidestep into the background. As a result, Nina will need to consider moves that counter a sidestep toward the foreground, limiting her stable options despite having a frame advantage. This gives Jin more defensive options, making it harder for Nina to apply pressure consistently. #TEKKEN8

2. Lidia vs Steve The second example features Lidia on the LEFT side after landing her move Lame Duck (d2). If it scores a counter hit, it guarantees a follow-up with Flash Elbow (while crouching df2), leading to a Heat activation. It's a rare move with crouch status that can be used to launch a strong offense, making it quite valuable. However, on a normal hit, Lidia is left at -4F, meaning the opponent in this scenario would usually retaliate with a 13F left uppercut (df1) as a stable option. In this scenario, when Lidia is on the LEFT side, she can easily evade Steve's Left Uppercut (df1) using a sidestep into the background. However, the situation changes drastically when she is on the RIGHT side, where the sidestep into the background is not an option. With Season 2, as shown in the video, Lidia can now sidestep toward the foreground even from a crouching state, allowing her to evade the opponent’s attack and create a situation where the opponent is at risk. #TEKKEN8

4. Kazuya vs Zafina The final scenario differs from the previous examples, focusing on how sidestepping can create a significant risk for the opponent using multi-hit moves. When an opponent's health is low, uninterruptible multi-hit attacks that mix low and mid, or low and high hits become particularly effective for finishing them off. While using a low parry can be a viable option, if the opponent times their attack well after your ukemi, you may be forced to deal with it. A common example of this is Zafina’s Euphrates Cannon (db4,2), which is often used in scenarios where the opponent tries to chip away the remaining health. When anticipating the opponent will commit to both hits of Euphrates Cannon, even knowing that the second hit can be avoided with a left sidestep, Season 1 presented a limitation in which hen positioned on the RIGHT side(2P side), players couldn't sidestep to the foreground (left sidestep) after blocking the initial hit. However, with the introduction of Season 2, players can now sidestep to the foreground directly from a crouching state. This means that, regardless of which side they're on, they can effectively evade the second hit and deliver optimal damage, adding a significant risk for opponents attempting to finish with moves like Euphrates Cannon. #TEKKEN8

ok cool but you still eat a heatsmash that deals 51dmg and still standing at -20 for her to mix you up. and then she goes mid safe and that it ? Nakatsu, thats the kind of defensive stuff we are talking about. I don't know if your team unsderstood that yet (respectfuly talking)

Mr Nakatsu, what's the logical explanation behind you eating a 50 damage mid and then needing to guess a mid/low mixup?

I personally trust you and Harada and Murray, and I know that you are going to make a good job but please, listen to you base ... Your grass and woods.. like Anna's heatsmash i13 mid? these kind of things make some players feel unfaithful and hopeless

Buff xiaoyu on neutral please nakatsu

こうなると 男女のサイドステップの角度はもう均等なのでしょうか？

you still have to guess on HIT on the heatsmash. Please continue to nerf ki charge while the real problems remain

Thank u for providing context and these videos examples I think this is what us hard core and pro players wanted to see in the Tekken talk.

That’s cool and all but can you make her neutral game better?

Is It specifica character or for everyone?