Time your guard against a blue-flash attack as the strike arrives. October hands-on coverage describes blue-flash attacks as guardable or parryable, with a successful parry triggering a special response described as Ghoststep. Holding guard through the entire attack is not the same result as landing that timed parry.
Recognize blue before choosing your response
The blue flash identifies an attack you can answer with the special parry interaction. Read the movement that follows it to judge when the hit will reach Soul.
A blue cue identifies the attack type; the approaching strike still determines timing.
In the October description, Ghoststep moves Soul behind the enemy. Do not assume that a broad visual comparison with an older trailer proves the same response, name, or timing in every development build.
Practicing the timing
- Watch for the blue cue rather than committing automatically to another attack.
- Follow the enemy’s strike through its wind-up.
- Use a timed guard when the strike arrives.
- Check whether you received an ordinary guard interaction or the special repositioning response.
Parrying is also useful for Sha-Chi pressure: successful timing preserves your own resource while reducing the enemy’s. Merely surviving behind a block does not establish that the parry succeeded.
When the attempt becomes a block
If you guard too broadly or hold the input, you may defend without producing the special parry outcome. Use that distinction to evaluate the attempt rather than judging success only by whether Soul took damage.
An exact timing window, controller binding, or guaranteed follow-up combo is not confirmed. Red-flash attacks use a different defensive answer, so do not reuse the blue response for every colored warning.
Sources and related reading
Last checked October 23, 2026. Preview observations remain subject to the release build.
Continue with Red-Flash Dodges, Enemy Sha-Chi Breaks.