An Introduction to Frame Data

If you have been playing fighting games for a while, or you are moderately new to it, you have most likely heard people referring to "Frame Data". What exactly is it? Why is it important? What does it tell you? Why do so many people in the Fighting game community talk about it and reference it?

To remove the mystery of frame data, I'll be writing several articles on what frame data is, what it affects, and how to use it. In order to become a better fighting game player, you need to take advantage of frame data and make it your own.

When you make an attack, what dictates if you will be counter hit by the opponent? How do you know when things link or combo? How do you know how difficult a combo's timing is? Every fighting game has a system in which it defines your attack's properties. How fast is your roundhouse? How fast can you recover to make another move following it? The code written by that game programmer dictates how that character "feels" and "plays" in the game.

In addition to knowing your character's frame data, what happens when you understand your opponent's? It allows you to know what is safe and unsafe about your opponent's attacks - giving you the upper hand in the battle. Knowing their data limits their options and opens up your options.

Let's get started on the subject.