Introduction: What Are Ultimate Skills?
Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising introduces Ultimate Skills, a game-changing mechanic adding depth and comeback potential. These powerful attacks are enhanced versions of a character's special moves, costing 50% of the Skybound Art (SBA) Gauge to execute. While costly, mastering Ultimate Skills is key to unlocking new offensive and defensive possibilities and succeeding in competitive play.
Core Mechanics: Cost, Rewards, and Risks
Executing an Ultimate Skill consumes half your SBA Gauge. These aren't just stronger hits; they often gain significant advantages like increased damage, faster startup, better range, armor, invincibility frames, or improved blockstun. Crucially, if an Ultimate Skill successfully hits the opponent (not blocked), you regain 25% of the SBA Gauge – half the initial cost. This rewards accurate, strategic use.
However, there's a critical exception: Ultimate Skills that possess invincibility during their startup phase (often used as reversals) **do not** refund any SBA Gauge, even if they hit the opponent. This applies even to skills with only projectile invincibility. This makes using invincible Ultimate Skills a higher-risk, all-or-nothing commitment.
Strategic Applications: When to Use Ultimate Skills
Don't spend your meter recklessly. Effective Ultimate Skill usage hinges on timing and situation. Consider these scenarios:
- **Punishing Unsafe Attacks:** An opponent throwing out risky moves? Use an Ultimate Skill with fast startup for a high-damage punish they can't ignore.
- **Extending Combos:** Many Ultimate Skills enable combo routes and damage levels impossible with standard specials or EX moves, often leading to knockdowns or corner carry.
- **Opening Up Opponents:** Certain Ultimate Skills can break guards, possess armor to power through pokes, or have advantageous blockstun to maintain pressure.
- **Defensive Reversals:** Got an Ultimate Skill with startup invincibility? Use it cautiously to escape pressure or punish predictable offense on your wakeup. Remember the high risk – no meter refund on hit!
- **Neutral Game Control:** Some projectile or movement-based Ultimate Skills offer enhanced ways to control space or approach the opponent safely.
For example, Katalina's Ultimate Enchanted Lands (Forward + Skill Button + Heavy) gains armor, allowing her to absorb a hit while closing the distance with a powerful thrust. Meanwhile, Gran's Ultimate Reginleiv Recidiv (Quarter Circle Forward + Skill Button + Heavy) significantly boosts his combo damage potential.
Analyzing Your Character's Ultimate Skills
Every character's Ultimate Skills serve different purposes within their kit. Instead of just knowing *what* they do, analyze *how* they fit your game plan. Ask yourself:
- **What situations do they excel in?** (Combos, neutral, defense, pressure)
- **What are the risks?** (Is it safe on block? Does it have long recovery on whiff? Does it grant meter back?)
- **How do they compare to using 50% meter on an SBA?** (Sometimes an SBA might be better for guaranteed damage or invincibility).
- **Can they be comboed into reliably?**
- **Do they create unique setups or mix-up opportunities?**
For instance, while Soriz's Ultimate Impact Knuckle (236S+H) wallbounces on hit for extended combos, his Ultimate Muscle Spirit (214S+H) is relatively safer on block than the standard version, offering a different risk/reward profile for pressure. Use Training Mode extensively to test these properties.
Training Drills for Ultimate Skill Mastery
Consistent practice is key. Head into Training Mode and focus on these drills:
- **Ultimate Combo Practice:** Identify your character's optimal combos that incorporate Ultimate Skills. Practice the execution until it's muscle memory.
- **Hit Confirmation:** Practice confirming into Ultimate Skills from common pokes and counter-hits.
- **Spacing and Range:** Understand the precise range of each Ultimate Skill. Practice using them at maximum effective distance.
- **Punishment Training:** Record the dummy performing common unsafe moves (DPs, sweeps) and practice punishing them with the appropriate Ultimate Skill.
- **Defensive Usage:** Set the dummy to perform blockstrings or wakeup pressure. Practice identifying gaps where an invincible Ultimate Skill can be used as a reversal (remembering the risks!).
Resources for Continuous Improvement
The meta for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is always evolving. Stay informed and sharpen your skills using these resources:
- **Official GBVSR Website:** For official news, patch notes, and character move lists.
- **Dustloop Wiki (GBVSR Section):** In-depth frame data, combo guides, and system mechanic explanations.
- **Reddit (r/GranblueFantasyVersus):** Community discussions, tech sharing, and match VODs.
- **YouTube & Twitch:** Watch top player matches, character guides, and tournament footage.