How is transition priority determined?

[ptang]

I'm back after a year or so off this game, and I see it's still broken and completely unplayable on a competitive level for a myriad of reasons. Despite this, I'm having fun casually playing ranked, quitting lagged matches without caring about record, etc.

One thing is really annoying me though...


How the hell is transition priority determined? If 2 players pre-input a transition, who wins? It's clearly not based on stamina or speed/difficulty of transition...

I was on top, blocked transitions until he had literally ZERO stamina, and I was completely full. Then he hit a transition to standing over/under clinch. While that animation was playing out, I pre-input R1+up for the throw. Well, my yellow meter NEVER EVEN BEGAN TO FILL, yet he threw me in less than a second, with ZERO stamina while I was FULL.

Same situation happens regularly on ground and in clinch. No clue when to try to deny, or when I can pre-input transitions...

Any insights here?

Thanks,

[Solid_Altair]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

Some transitions don't exchanges with others. Also, is R1 + Up the actual input you tried, or was it a typo? Did you mean L2, instead of R1?

If you find a situation where a (non-instant) transition doesn't let you exchange AND starts before yours, even though you have more stamina, then I'd very much like to know about it.

[Good Grappler]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

You can’t pre-input transitions, ever. So in your example of your opponent transitioning to standing over/under, you shouldn’t be inputting the throw while that animation is still playing out. You should wait until you have entered the new position before attempting the throw.

All this being said, you also need to remember that it if your opponent starts a transition, that transition must be denied. Instead of just trying to “power through” their transition with a transition of your own, deny theirs first. As soon as their transition has been denied, you have priority, assuming you transition immediately.

There are some transitions that are designed to be dynamic (you and your opponent can transition simultaneously and there is a unique animation to show this). Such as passing to sidecontrol while your opponent attempts to take your back from HG. But even in those cases, it’s best to just deny THEN transition.

[Solid_Altair]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

You can’t pre-input transitions, ever. So in your example of your opponent transitioning to standing over/under, you shouldn’t be inputting the throw while that animation is still playing out. You should wait until you have entered the new position before attempting the throw.

All this being said, you also need to remember that it if your opponent starts a transition, that transition must be denied. Instead of just trying to “power through” their transition with a transition of your own, deny theirs first. As soon as their transition has been denied, you have priority, assuming you transition immediately.

There are some transitions that are designed to be dynamic (you and your opponent can transition simultaneously and there is a unique animation to show this). Such as passing to sidecontrol while your opponent attempts to take your back from HG. But even in those cases, it’s best to just deny THEN transition.

Pre-inputting transitions is possible.

[ptang]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

Yep, typo before.

You can most definitely pre-input transitions, and you can attempt to transition during someone else's, and can be successful depending on timing, difficulty, stamina, and grapple advantage.

This guy and I both pre-input the throw. His completed seemingly before the standup animation completed, meanwhile mine NEVER STARTED. All this while I was full stam and he was literally zero.

This is a common occurrence for me. I'm almost sure it's missed inputs caused by lag, which is why I quit playing this game a year ago. I have a fiber connection and no problems with any other game, this one just straight up doesn't work for me. Missed inputs, tons of strike landing sounds that aren't even animated, motion blur, "waiting on opponent", etc etc.

Was hoping there's some explanation other than lag.

Thanks for responses.

[That Ragdoll Guy]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

My favorite pre input transition was always... Guard to half guard, and then pre input to mount. Its really quick.

[rabbitfistssaipailo]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

Pre-inputting transitions is possible.

What do you mean by pre - inputting ? Are you talking about pre loafing transitions or what ?

Sent from my Infinix X604 using Operation Sports mobile app

[ptang]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

Correct, holding the next transition direction during animation frames, so that once the animation completes, you're instantly attempting another transition.

This seems to help combat the lag.

Related question: What determines strike vs transition priority? Sometimes a guy with zero stam can fake transition indefinitely to avoid being hit at all. Not sure if lag or what, but even when I know it's coming, it's sometimes impossible to block. He can keep flicking the stick and stay safe indefinitely with no stam.

It's tough to get an idea of when you can slip in a strike, then try to transition block, vs go for a block, then strike. Especially in clinch positions, where a lot of the timing feels off/weird to me.


I've got a hunch that anyone who finds this game truly capable of being played at a competitive level is on a PS4 Pro with a gaming monitor. Only thing left I can thing of is a hardware problem on my end. I've been among the best grapplers in past UFC games, and I've given up on it as my primary offense in this game. Yet people that barely know the buttons can hold me down at times.

[Solid_Altair]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

Correct, holding the next transition direction during animation frames, so that once the animation completes, you're instantly attempting another transition.

This seems to help combat the lag.

Related question: What determines strike vs transition priority? Sometimes a guy with zero stam can fake transition indefinitely to avoid being hit at all. Not sure if lag or what, but even when I know it's coming, it's sometimes impossible to block. He can keep flicking the stick and stay safe indefinitely with no stam.

It's tough to get an idea of when you can slip in a strike, then try to transition block, vs go for a block, then strike. Especially in clinch positions, where a lot of the timing feels off/weird to me.


I've got a hunch that anyone who finds this game truly capable of being played at a competitive level is on a PS4 Pro with a gaming monitor. Only thing left I can thing of is a hardware problem on my end. I've been among the best grapplers in past UFC games, and I've given up on it as my primary offense in this game. Yet people that barely know the buttons can hold me down at times.

I'm not sure, but I also suspect transition priority might be related to whoever has just succeeded, even if this fighter has less stamina. So, in your example, he has just gotten up successfully and might have had priority because of that.

Pro consoles help, but just a bit. They mostly feel better, but don't really let you see things noticeably early. Monitors however, can make quite a big difference. So can game mod eon some TVs (if you don't have a fast monitor).

Another thing about no longer being able to dominate people in grappling is that people simply got better. There are many players from UFC 2 times, who learned to grapple late and whom you could stomp early in UFC 2. But these folks kept at it and can now stomp us old timers who didn't keep playing the games diligently through out UFC 2 and 3. Matchmaking is also way better at UFC 3, meaning you'll hardly be matched up against players who clueless on the ground because they're pretty much just starting to play.

[ptang]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

Oooh interesting thought on "whoever last succeeded has priority". I'll have to investigate that.

People simply getting better at grappling is definitely a thing. However, when I say I used to be among the top, I was being a bit modest. When I came across someone with a record like 1200-90, I would often completely dominate them, and grappled almost exclusively. I was definitely one of the best in the world. The game has changed a lot since then, but I'd still expect to be top 5, 10, 20, 30% at least. After 1000+ hours in this game, I was still getting smashed by noobs. (ground only. solid on the feet).

Not only that, I could simply feel and see the inconsistencies. Obviously, really bad players will just spam transitions with zero technique, and there is sometimes NOTHING that works against them when I know exactly what they are going to do, and when. I mean staring at the screen and waiting for the very first frame of a hand just beginning to lift off an arm, and responding instantly, because I know it was coming. And no block.

Even pre-blocking TD's. I don't mean timing it way ahead. I mean actually eating shots to the face and just holding TD block, yet being taken down when they try. Regular block doesn't even work sometimes. It's as if I hit block, and hold it, but the original press wasn't registered, so even though I'm holding block, it's just not working. I have to release and re-press.

This game just never worked for me. It's a damn shame bc it's my favorite franchise of all time, and the single best I've probably ever been good at in my life (except this latest iteration).

Here's to hoping UFC 4 somehow fixes this...

[ptang]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

And how about the 'flick' transition fakes to avoid taking damage? Anyone else experience this?

Head grabbing while they are in bottom guard and I am postured up, and one of the submissive side control left-right transitions. I've seen both of these a bunch of times. Zero stam vs full stam and they can still interrupt my strike every time with the transition fake, and just keep it up until I give up or the round ends. Denying simply doesn't work, even when I know it's coming and I try immediately, or I try a split second before the animation even starts, nothing works.

In general, I have to 'guess' rather than 'react' to deny transitions unless I have a fighter with way higher skill and stamina.

I promise it's not just bc I'm ****ty. I excelled in the other games with super quick reactions within the first few frames.

[RomeroXVII]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

Correct, holding the next transition direction during animation frames, so that once the animation completes, you're instantly attempting another transition.

This seems to help combat the lag.

Related question: What determines strike vs transition priority? Sometimes a guy with zero stam can fake transition indefinitely to avoid being hit at all. Not sure if lag or what, but even when I know it's coming, it's sometimes impossible to block. He can keep flicking the stick and stay safe indefinitely with no stam.

It's tough to get an idea of when you can slip in a strike, then try to transition block, vs go for a block, then strike. Especially in clinch positions, where a lot of the timing feels off/weird to me.


I've got a hunch that anyone who finds this game truly capable of being played at a competitive level is on a PS4 Pro with a gaming monitor. Only thing left I can thing of is a hardware problem on my end. I've been among the best grapplers in past UFC games, and I've given up on it as my primary offense in this game. Yet people that barely know the buttons can hold me down at times.

The game was made on a Pro, so it plays better on the Pro.

[Tidge]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

The game was made on a Pro, so it plays better on the Pro.

Is this why some fakes seem to hang on PS4?

[TheUFCVeteran]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

Is this why some fakes seem to hang on PS4?

Fakes also hang on the Pro. Game still receives inputs exactly like the base consoles at 30hz. The only difference is that it visually renders at 60fps and can output higher resolutions for 4K TVs/monitors.

[Tidge]

Re: How is transition priority determined?

Fakes also hang on the Pro. Game still receives inputs exactly like the base consoles at 30hz. The only difference is that it visually renders at 60fps and can output higher resolutions for 4K TVs/monitors.

Cheers fella! It's nice to know we're all dealing with that annoyance.