Scuba Guides source note. This lesson is based on the older Scuba Guides and the supplied source archive. It is an independent community clarity rewrite, not an official GunZ publication; mechanics are not verified for the current Steam/remaster client.
Lesson content
An important part of gladiator is sending your slashes where you actually want them to land. Slashing the air is useless, and a top tier gladiator will punish you for this. In the most ideal gameplay, every one of your slashes will land on your opponent somewhere.
Delayed Slash
The core concept of delaying your slash is quite literally to slash slower than you potentially can to displace where the slash will come out compared to a natural attack. You should only send a slash when it will actually connect with your opponent. This comes in a few forms. Delayed slash is also the basis of utilizing Angle Slashes, which is a core ability in gladiator.
Timing Slashes to Hit Targets
Just because you can perform a butterfly at full speed doesn’t mean you should. You can hold your slash during a butterfly for a few moments, allowing you to cross a larger distance before actually attacking. You can also utilize moves such as Block Launch to give yourself more air time and even further distance before attacking. This is one of the core ideas behind Counter Style and Counter Slashing using moves.
Delaying Slashes to Avoid Block
You can also utilize a delayed slash to Avoid a block and land a hit on your opponent’s back or side. There’s a few ways to do this.
Using Angle Slash - By utilizing angles and delayed slashes together, you can send a slash at a designated spot on your opponent.
Using Momentum Control - By using momentum control to carry you past your opponents front, you can simply hit your opponents back or side.
Counter Slashing - By sending a pin point slash at a target when their slash is down, you can safely hit your target. This is a core idea behind Counter Style.
Delaying Timing - You can also change the timing delay between your moves, for example multiple Ground Slashes or a Double Butterfly. Changing the tempo of your movements can both confuse the enemy, and send a well timed slash into a different spot on your opponent.