To truly apply frame data to high-level match strategy, players look beyond basic attack phases to evaluate special properties built into character animations:
Frame data refers to the detailed information about the startup, active, and recovery frames of a character's moves. In essence, it reveals how long a move takes to start, how long it's active, and how long it takes to recover. This data is essential for players to optimize their gameplay, identify safe and punishable moves, and develop effective strategies.
This comprehensive guide breaks down what frame data is, how to read it, why it matters in MultiVersus , and how you can apply it to dominate your matches. What is Frame Data?
Mastering MultiVersus Frame Data: The Definitive Competitive Guide
The "cool down" period after an attack where you are vulnerable and cannot act. Key Move Examples Multiversus Frame Data
Startup frames represent the "wind-up" animation of a move. During this phase, your character is preparing the attack, but no actual hitbox is active. This dictates the speed of your attack. A move with a 5-frame startup is incredibly fast and will easily beat out an opponent's move with a 15-frame startup if both are used at the same time. 2. Active Frames
Whether you main Banana Guard or Agent Smith, mastering is the only true shortcut to the top of the leaderboards.
The official MultiVersus patch notes archive is available at under the News section, though navigating older patches may require external archival sites.
In September 2022, Player First Games implemented a “big overhaul” of the hitbox/hurtbox system to “more tightly tie hitboxes and hurtboxes to character animations”. This ongoing refinement means that understanding your character’s hitbox placements (which vary between moves and directional inputs) is just as important as knowing the frame counts. To truly apply frame data to high-level match
Every single move in MultiVersus is broken down into three distinct, chronological phases. To analyze frame data accurately, players must understand how these phases interact:
Dodging gives your character invincibility frames (i-frames). However, MultiVersus utilizes a Dodge Meter.
sighed, adjusted his green shirt. "I feel slow, Arya. I tried to challenge Batman’s Batarang today. I thought I had the
: This is the initialization phase. It counts the frames between your physical button press and the exact moment the attack's hitbox becomes capable of dealing damage. Moves with low startup frames (e.g., 3–6 frames) are ideal for interrupting opponents or "panicking" out of pressure. This comprehensive guide breaks down what frame data
Note: Official frame data resources have become harder to maintain due to frequent patches and the game’s evolving development status.
Despite community efforts, MultiVersus frame data remains less complete than traditional fighting games. Here's what's still missing:
Watching high-level players (like those in 2026 Smash/fighting game tournaments) reveals which moves are currently considered "safe" or "broken." How to Apply Frame Data to Your Game