Combo Devils Controls Guide: Master Movement, Combos, and Defense

Learn Combo Devils controls for attacks, movement, air dashes, shields, techs, ledge recovery, and beginner combo practice.

Combo Devils controls: learn the input language

A single wrong direction in Combo Devils can turn a safe block into a cross-up or a combo extender into a missed recovery. Combo Devils controls are built for a hybrid fighter: platform-fighter movement sits alongside traditional-fighter specials, meter, and motion inputs. Learning the Combo Devils controls matters because your input choice can affect your attack route, defensive option, air mobility, or ability to return to the stage.

The references for the game describe actions rather than one universal keyboard or controller layout, so this guide uses terms such as Light, Strong, Special, and Shield. Open the pause menu and check the command list for your assigned buttons. The official Combo Devils Steam page is also a useful overview of the game’s movement, shield, EX special, tech, and air-dash systems.

Core input notation

Input or action	What it controls	Beginner reminder
Direction	Movement, attack direction, shield angle, and some special variations	Forward means toward your opponent; back means away
Light	Jabs, tilts, and light aerial attacks	Start here when learning a character
Strong	Strong ground attacks, aerial strongs, and launchers	Neutral Strong is different from a directional Strong
Special	Neutral, forward, up, and down special moves	Specials can often complete a gatling route
Shield	Blocking and some defensive actions	Aim the shield toward the incoming hit
Attack + Special	Default EX shortcut described in player experience	Usually spends one meter bar
Motion + Special	Super-move input for characters with motion supers	Check the character’s command list for the exact motion

Forward and back are always relative to the fighter’s current facing direction. If you change a button binding, the action name stays the same even though the physical button changes.

Attack inputs and beginner combo routes

Combo Devils controls become easier once you understand the game’s attack hierarchy. Light attacks generally lead into directional light attacks or tilts, and those attacks can then branch into Strong attacks or specials. This system is commonly called a gatling combo.

Attack family	Basic input idea	Primary use	Important note
Jab or light	Light, often repeated	Fast pressure and combo starters	Many characters have a multi-hit jab string
Tilt	Light with a ground direction	Mid-speed grounded attacks	Forward, up, and down tilts serve different spacing roles
Aerial light	Light with a direction in the air	Air-to-air attacks and combo links	Direction changes the aerial move
Strong	Strong with neutral or directional input	Launchers, kill attacks, and heavier pressure	Neutral and directional versions are not interchangeable
Special	Special with neutral, forward, up, or down input	Unique character tools and combo enders	Specials can often be reached through gatling routes
Dash attack	Light or Strong during a dash	Approach, punish, or armored challenge	The light and Strong versions have different properties
Target combo	Character-specific attack sequence	Reliable multi-hit route	Follow the command list because these vary by fighter

A useful beginner route is:

Light → Light → Tilt → Strong

You can also test:

Light → Tilt → Special

These are starting templates rather than guaranteed combos for every character. Knockback, spacing, hitstun, and directional influence can change the result.

Player experience: A community tutorial demonstrates a neutral light string branching into a forward tilt and then a down Strong. It also describes neutral Strong as a consistent launcher that can send the opponent to a predictable height. After the launch, hold up or use an aerial attack to begin practicing a basic air route.

Character-specific target combos add another layer. Player experience: The same tutorial uses Achilles as an example: repeating a forward tilt creates one follow-up, while changing the second input to down tilt produces a pop-up route. Treat this as an Achilles example, not a universal Combo Devils control rule.

The Strong button also gives the game a distinct feel. You can use a neutral Strong without committing to a forward, up, or down direction. Some aerial Strong attacks can be charged and used to influence timing, but those properties are character-specific.

Metered attacks and special inputs

The official game information lists EX specials and motion-input supers. The exact costs and shortcuts below are described through player experience and gameplay coverage, so verify them in your current command list.

Meter option	Reported cost	Input concept	Best use
EX special	1 bar	Attack and Special together by default	Increase damage, speed, knockback, armor, or change a move’s properties
Super	3 bars	Character-specific motion followed by Special	Confirm a hit, finish a short route, or secure a KO
Defensive Strong	2 bars	Strong while shielding	Invincible-looking get-off-me option in player demonstrations

Player experience: A tutorial demonstrates Achilles’ super with a double quarter-circle-forward motion followed by Special. It also notes that using a super late in a long combo can reduce its knockback or KO power. For that reason, practice confirming the super from a short starter rather than adding it randomly at the end of every string.

Movement controls: air dashes, wavedashes, and recovery

Once the core Combo Devils controls feel comfortable, movement should become your next priority. The game includes familiar platform-fighter techniques such as fast falls, dash dancing, wavedashing, wavelanding, wall movement, and air-dash cancels.

Movement tool	Input concept	What it does	Main limitation
Dash dance	Dash, then quickly reverse direction	Helps bait attacks and adjust spacing	Reversing too late can leave you exposed
Fast fall	Press down after the jump reaches its timing window	Brings you down sooner	It is not available immediately at jump start
Flash step or air dash	Shield plus a direction in the air	Moves horizontally and changes approach angles	Player experience reports one use per airtime
Air-dash cancel	Cancel an aerial move into a flash step	Extends combos and reduces aerial recovery	Save the resource if you still need to recover
Wavedash	Jump and directional air-dash input together on the ground	Slides across the floor or off platforms	Timing is easiest when the inputs are simultaneous
Waveland	Use the air-dash movement to land on a platform or ledge	Preserves momentum while changing levels	A missed landing can create a punish
Super jump	Down, then up	Jumps higher and faster than a normal jump	Consumes your double jump, though the flash step remains
Wall cling or wall jump	Hold toward a wall, then jump or press away	Recovers or changes your position	Staying on the wall too long can become dangerous

Player experience: The wavedash input is described as lenient, with jump, direction, and air-dash inputs arriving almost simultaneously. Start by practicing a short forward wavedash on flat ground, then try a backward version. After that, practice using one near a platform edge.

The flash step is valuable both offensively and defensively. You can air dash through a shielding opponent to create a cross-up, or cancel an aerial attack into the dash to keep a combo going. A gameplay preview describes one free air-dash cancel after an aerial move, so do not spend it casually if you are far from the stage.

Super jump requires special care. Player experience: The beginner tutorial shows that the move takes away the double jump, leaving the flash step as the main remaining aerial mobility option. Use it only when you know where you will land, especially near a blast zone.

Moonwalking is another advanced movement option. The tutorial describes it as a half-circle directional input. It is stylish but less important than learning fast falls, dash dances, wavedashes, and air-dash cancels.

Defensive Combo Devils controls and ledge options

The defensive side of Combo Devils controls is unusual because the shield is directional. Blocking is not simply a matter of holding shield; you also need to point the shield toward the attack.

Defensive action	Input concept	What it accomplishes	What to watch for
Directional shield	Hold Shield and aim toward the attack	Blocks attacks from the covered direction	Jump-ins and cross-ups require quick angle changes
Ground roll	Left or right plus the assigned Special input by default	Moves away from pressure	Player experience reports no traditional spot dodge
Air dodge	Shield plus Special in the air	Avoids attacks while airborne	It uses your defensive resources
Air reset	Use the reset input during hitstun	Escapes some untrue follow-ups	A player tutorial reports that it does not use shield meter
Tech	Press Shield as you hit the floor, wall, or platform	Prevents a vulnerable landing	Direction determines some tech options
Ledge get-up attack	Use Light from the ledge	Strikes an opponent waiting nearby	It can be punished if predicted
Ledge jump or roll	Choose the corresponding ledge option	Returns to the stage with movement	Repeated ledge grabs do not refresh all protection
Wall cling and jump	Hold toward the wall or jump away	Buys recovery time or changes your route	Overstaying can lead to a forced fall

A directional shield creates several defensive mind games. Aim upward when an opponent attacks from above, and turn the shield behind you when you expect an air dash through your front. The official mechanics list also mentions a hold-back-to-block toggle, but you should still practice reading cross-ups and adjusting the shield manually.

Community reports: A player tutorial explains that repeated hits drain the shield meter. When the shield is depleted, attacks can cause chip damage, and the normal roll may no longer be available. The tutorial also reports that a fully charged Strong attack can break a depleted shield. If the shield indicator is low, disengage instead of waiting for it to fail.

Air resets are especially useful against dropped or incomplete strings. Watch for the reset prompt and use the defensive input as soon as the game allows it. A successful reset can prevent an opponent from turning a missed combo into additional damage without spending the same shield resource as an air dodge.

Teching works on more than the floor. The game supports ground techs, wall techs, and platform interactions. If the game shows an untechable indicator, do not keep attempting the input; instead, prepare for the next defensive option or DI direction.

The ledge also has several choices: attack, jump, roll, neutral get-up, or release. Player experience: A community tutorial reports that grabbing the ledge again before touching the stage does not restore the same invincibility protection. Avoid repeatedly regrabbing while waiting for an opponent to make a mistake.

Walls can influence both recovery and offense. The official listing includes wall impact KOs, while player experience describes a tested situation where a hard wall hit against an opponent above 100 PSI caused an immediate KO. Treat that number as a matchup and build-sensitive warning rather than a guaranteed rule for every move.

A practical Combo Devils controls drill

Use this Combo Devils controls practice routine before worrying about advanced techniques:

Verify your layout. Open the pause-menu command list and identify Light, Strong, Special, Shield, jump, and movement inputs. Do not rely on labels from another player’s controller.
Practice the gatling route. Perform Light → Light → Tilt → Strong ten times. Then repeat it with Special as the final attack.
Add the launcher. Use neutral Strong, hold up during the launch, and attempt one aerial Light. Focus on timing rather than damage.
Drill movement separately. Perform five fast falls, five forward wavedashes, five backward wavedashes, and five flash steps in each direction.
Practice directional defense. Shield a jump-in while aiming up, then defend against a cross-up by turning the shield behind you.
Test recovery. Super jump once, confirm that the double jump is unavailable, and then practice returning with the flash step or wall movement.
Spend meter deliberately. Perform one EX special at one bar, then practice your character’s super at three bars. Learn the motion before adding it to a combo.
Apply one new tool per match. Use only one advanced mechanic—such as wavedash, air-dash cancel, or air reset—until it feels reliable.

If a combo stops after the jab, check whether you used the correct tilt direction and whether the target combo belongs to that character. If a wavedash fails, press jump, direction, and the air-dash input closer together. If your shield gets opened from behind, the problem is probably shield direction rather than timing.

Combo Devils controls FAQ

What are the basic Combo Devils controls?

The essential actions are Light for jabs, Strong for heavier attacks and launchers, Special for character abilities, Shield for blocking and defensive options, and directional movement. Use the in-game command list to confirm the physical buttons for your layout.

How do I perform an EX special?

Player experience describes the default EX shortcut as pressing Attack and Special together while you have one meter bar. EX versions may gain speed, armor, damage, knockback, or a different effect. Check the command list because bindings and properties can change between builds.

How do I air dash or wavedash?

For a flash step, press Shield plus a direction while airborne. Player experience reports that it is normally available once per airtime. For a wavedash, combine jump and the directional air-dash input at the same time while grounded.

How do shielding, teching, and air resets work?

Point your shield toward the incoming attack, press Shield as you hit the ground to tech, and use the reset input during hitstun when the game permits it. Directional shielding and air resets are central to the game’s defense, so practice them before attempting advanced combos.