Invincible VS Tips: Getting Into The Superhero Triple Tag Melee
Invincible VS is a brand new 2D fighting game, based on the Invincible animated TV show. It’s a violent adult animated series, with a post-modern take on the superhero genre. Invincible VS is much more Street Fighter-inspired than violent Mortal Kombat-inspired though. It uses Street Fighter 6’s “modern” control scheme, and mixes it with Marvel vs. Capcom’s triple tag format. You can read our review HERE. This article is going give interested players tips for before they start, and for how to approach mastering the fighting system.
1. Watch the Invincible TV Series First
The opening cutscene of Invincible VS gives away the climax of the TV show’s first season. This spoiler is the very beginning of story mode, but the spoiler heavy cutscene also plays before the main menu comes up. The first season relies on a major twist, so if you are at all interested in the game, TV series, or comic book narrative, play the game second.
2. Play the Tutorial First
I know this is good advice for any fighting game, but it definitely applies to Invincible VS. The basics of the controls will be obvious to anyone who’s played Street Fighter 6. The only major difference is the special button is X instead of triangle. But the game has lots of less obvious techniques that are essential to success. Thankfully, this article will lay out most of these…
3. Use the Joystick, and Not the D-Pad
I prefer using d-pads normally, but there are some moves in Invincible VS that are much easier to pull off with a joystick. For example, characters have a super jump that can be performed by jumping out of a crouch. I was never able to do this move with the d-pad, but could effortlessly perform it with the joystick.
4. Always Use Boost
Holding R2 uses Boost. This strengthens attacks, and builds up the Boost meter. There’s no reason to not be using it all the time. Get yourself in the habit of keeping R2 locked down. The Boost meter is used to perform Super attacks.
Supers are performed like throws. Every character has two Supers set to forward and X + circle at the same time. They use one bar of the Boost meter. Each character also has an Ultimate move. It’s performed as a Boost Super, by pressing R2, X, and circle at the same time. Ultimate moves use three bars of the Super Meter.
5. Figure Out Your Attack Distances
This advice is basics for playing 2D fighting games. Learn your characters’ attacks, and know how far away your opponent has to be for each one to land. Invincible VS has lots of movement options. Some characters can fly, and have different jump heights. It’s important to be able to short hop, jump, double jump, dash, Boost dash, etc. in addition to knowing the attack distances.
6. Practice Using Throws
Throws are one of the best free ways to counter blocking. They’re performed by pressing forwards, square + X. Unlike forward throws, back throws don’t deal damage. They are an effective way to reposition an opponent, or get yourself out of a corner though.
7. Avoid Using Assist Breakers
Invincible VS has the equivalent of a Street Fighter 6 Drive Impact. Pressing L1 or L2 for an assist while holding R2 for Boost will break a combo. But the assist character will lose 50% of their HP! The Assist Breaker also uses two bars of Boost and puts assists on a cooldown. Only use this in an extreme emergency situation. Invincible VS has lots of other options that are tougher to perform, but have no cost.
8. Practice Counter Tags
The most obvious alternative to Assist Breakers are Counter Tags. Counter Tags work like a precisely timed parry, but only for when an opponent tags-in mid-combo. If a player presses triangle + circle as an opponent is landing an attack, it will be parried.
9. Be Ready to Push Block
Push blocking is performed by pressing R2 to dash while holding back to block. It’s a very easy way to break an opponent’s combo. It uses some Boost meter, so it can’t be abused. But Push Blocking is probably the easiest risk-free method to parry opponent’s attacks.
10. Practice Snap Backs
An interesting Invincible VS mechanic is the Snap Back. Pressing forwards or backwards with triangle + circle does an attack that forces an opponent to tag-out. Characters can take damage that leaves a red bar, which can recover while they’re tagged-out. A Snap Back is a great way to control an opponent trying to tag-out in order to recover health.
On the surface, Invincible VS seems like it would be easy to master by even the most casual fighting game fans. It’s definitely easy to pick up and play, but its most obvious counters come at a great cost. This will force competitive players to look at the more a-typical mechanics, and knowing about them ahead of time will ease any player’s journey into competitive play. Just make sure to watch the TV show first.
***PS5 code provided by the publisher***