Gakuran fights run on timing and posture, not button spam. Clicking does nothing until you enter fighting stance, and holding block the whole duel still gets you opened up. Learn the loop here, then use the Gakuran wiki and fighting styles when you want build depth.
Press T first, then use these combat keys
If left click does nothing, you are still out of stance. Press T to enter fighting stance before any attack comes out. That single miss is the classic new-player faceplant.
Do not mix this up with the phone. Alt opens the phone; mid-fight that is a free punish. Stance is T only. If you keep hitting the wrong key, how to use the phone in Gakuran covers that menu.
| Input | What it does |
|---|---|
| T | Enter fighting stance so attacks work |
| Left click (M1) | Light attacks; often up to 4 hits ending in a knockback kick |
| R (common PC layout) | Heavy attack: slower, harder hit |
| F | Hold to block; time the block input just before impact for a Perfect Block / parry |
| Q | Dash with brief i-frames to dodge heavies and reposition |
| Shift | Sprint; drains the same posture bar you need for blocking |
If R does nothing, check your in-game keybinds. Some layouts map heavy to right click / M2 instead.
Heavies are the usual answer to someone who only turtles on block. A normal hold-block often fails against them, so parry, dodge with Q, or interrupt. Soaking a heavy on held F is how you gift them a free combo.
Manage posture and time your parries
Posture (sometimes called stamina) fuels sprinting and blocking. Sprint into a fight and you start the duel already half empty. Blocked hits drain it too.
If the bar empties while you try to block, you can guard break and sit open for a punish. Community guides often call that window about two seconds of feel, not a lab-tested frame count.
Blocking still lets chip and reduced damage through under pressure. Style passives change how chip and posture feel; browse kits on fighting styles rather than memorizing every passive here.
A Perfect Block / parry is a timed block input just before impact while facing the attacker. Land it and you take no damage, lose no posture (and no block chip), and get a short stun window to counter. It can still work when posture is empty, which beats trying to hold-block on a dead bar.
Panic full M1 strings are easy to read and parry. Safer beginner habits:
- Throw shorter pressure instead of dumping the whole light string every time.
- Mix a heavy after one or two lights, or delay the rhythm so your string is harder to parry.
- Save Q for real dodges, especially heavies and punish attempts.
- Practice somewhere quieter, like Nishikata Fitness Center on the locations page.
Height and Fight Style change reach, speed, and HP feel once the loop clicks. Spend rerolls with how to reroll fighting styles and stats in Gakuran, and check Gakuran codes when you want free rolls.
