This is an overview of base game combos. It applies to all enemies in the base game except the Warrior.

S = Sword
E = Elika
J = Jump
G = Gauntlet
' = Block/Parry/Cancel
; = Knock enemy into wall/ledge

Combo Structure

• A combo consists of 1, 2, or 3 phases.
• If a combo is executed completely, we say that the combo is finished
• A combo may also be cancelled at any point during its execution, for example:
  • The player fails to press any attack input in time
  • The player presses the cancel button after an attack to cancel the combo (this also cancels the slow-mo while the game is waiting for another attack input)
  • The enemy is pushed into a wall (each enemy reacts differently to this)
  • The enemy is pushed off a ledge (each enemy reacts differently to this)
  • An attack is blocked by the enemy
  • The fight ends (though the player can still press the cancel button to cancel the slow-mo)
• Therefore a combo can end in two ways: either it is finished or it is cancelled

Phase 1

• Phase 1 consists of zero or more S and/or E attacks
• A combo may finish in phase 1 - in this case the combo does not have a phase 2 or 3 (e.g. SSSESES, SSSS, EEE)
• At any point during phase 1 (provided the combo has not ended), we may go into phase 2 by invoking a J or a G attack
• Phase 1 may be empty - i.e. if the first attack in a combo is not S or E, then phase 1 is empty (e.g. for the combos GS, JGJG, phase 1 is empty)
• All S attacks in phase 1 are blockable; all other attacks are unblockable (including S attacks in other phases)

Phase 2

• Phase 2 always starts with a J attack or a G attack
  • If phase 2 starts with a J attack, we say it is a jumpy phase 2 (in game lore this is an acrobatic combo)
    • A jumpy phase 2 starts with exactly one J attack, followed by zero or more S and/or E attacks
    • The only exception is when phase 1 is empty - then a jumpy phase 2 may be JJ which also finishes the combo (the Prince simply jumps over the enemy and deals no damage)
  • If phase 2 starts with a G attack, we say it is a throwy phase 2 (in game lore this is a lift combo)
    • A throwy phase 2 starts with exactly one G attack, followed by zero or more S and/or E and/or G attacks
• A combo may finish in phase 2 - in this case the combo does not have a phase 3 (e.g. EEJEEE, SJSSS, SSGS, EGEG)
• The J attack at the start of a jumpy phase 2 is one of the only possible attacks in any combo (and in any phase) that reverses the direction of the enemy's knockback - most other attacks knock the enemy directly back to varying degrees
• On the other hand a G attack (followed by some other attacks) is generally used as a means to throw the enemy far in the direction we are already facing