GGST/Testament/Counterstrategy

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Fighting Testament

Testament’s goal is to force you into the corner by controlling the screen using their large normals and zoning special moves. This goal is accented by Testament’s unique affliction Stain StateGGST Testament Stain.pngGuardAllStartupRecoveryAdvantage- that allows them to extend their combos on hit, or maintain their pressure on block. Without Stain State, Testament is unable to meaningfully convert from the distances they prefer to play at, so even on a successful hit it can be difficult for them to dish out too much damage.

Stain State


As mentioned previously, a central part of Testament’s goal is to apply Stain State to their opponent. While their opponent is in this state, an automatic follow-up attack will trigger after being hit by any of Testament's strike attacks, including all their normals, Arbiter Sign, or the scythe slash of Grave Reaper. On connection, the Stain explosion can be used to extend combos on hit or maintain pressure on block. Stain State will disappear if the opponent scores a hit on Testament while in Stain State. There are two ways that Testament can apply the affliction to an opponent:

  • Unholy Diver (214P)GGST Testament 214P.pngGuardAllStartup21RecoveryTotal 39Advantage+1
    • The first way to apply Stain State is via their Unholy Diver projectile special move where Testament sends their crow familiar flying forward towards their opponent. If the crow projectile makes contact, either on hit or block, it will apply Stain State. From its default position which it will activate from either if there’s no Succubus on the screen or the P button is held, the projectile will usually whiff opponents with the only characters that can be hit from its default position, if they’re standing idle, being  Potemkin and  Faust. In order for Testament to truly get their gameplan started, they must first rely on the special move Grave Reaper (236S/H)GGST Testament 236S.pngGuardAllStartup16~22Recovery27Advantage-4. This is their premiere special move that has Testament launch a projectile skull made of blood at the opponent. The S version launches the projectile forwards horizontally and the H version launches it at a diagonal angle. Both versions can be held and charged, which changes their frame data. Uncharged comes out the fastest at 16-22 frames, partially charged comes out at 23-29 frames, and fully charged comes out at 30-36 frames. There are two hits to this special move: the first being a strike that comes from the slash of Testament’s scythe, the second comes from the projectile of the skull itself. The slash and projectile form a true blockstring between themselves. When the skull finishes traveling, it transforms into a Succubus that remains in place on screen for nearly 6 seconds. Once the Succubus from Grave Reaper is on the screen, the crow projectile of Unholy Diver will home in on the Succubus’ location. This is the best and main way to alter Unholy Diver’s trajectory, with the only other method being if Testament uses Unholy Diver immediately after itself causing the crow to travel at the height it’s returning from.
  • Nostrovia (236236P)GGST Testament 236236P Cinematic.pngGuardAllStartup11+19RecoveryTotal 53Advantage+63
    • The second way Testament can apply Stain State to an opponent is with their Overdrive Nostrovia, which has Testament summon both their Succubi, who slash forward with a total of three strikes with the last applying Stain State. This has 11 frames of start up, as well as an additional 19 before the Succubi start attacking. Because of its high start-up, Testament generally has to combo into it or use it to wall break, otherwise this super is rather easy to jump and avoid on reaction in neutral.

Round Start


Testament’s round start options aren’t the best compared to many other characters. They're far more likely to back off and whiff punish or create distance so that they can begin setting up from range and zoning. f.SGGST Testament fS.pngGuardAllStartup12Recovery18Advantage-7 is one of Testament’s strongest buttons to do this with. A common opener for Testament is to walk back before pressing this. It’s a great whiff punish tool, and on Counter Hit, it can immediately go into Grave Reaper or other moves for combo extensions. However, it’s only disjointed towards the tip range of the attack, and can be easily dealt with through the low-profile of 6P. Testament's own 6PGGST Testament 6P.pngGuardAllStartup11Recovery15Advantage-7 is another strong option that will beat most attacks with an extended hurtbox that isn’t low to the ground and jump-ins. They have one of the best 6Ps in the game being an extremely strong anti-air, poke, and counter-poke with the ability to be buffered into Grave Reaper. 2SGGST Testament 2S.pngGuardLowStartup10Recovery18Advantage-7 is an alternative poke that doesn’t reach as far as some of their other options, it often doesn’t reach round start distance unless the opponent extends a hurtbox into it, but it’s a tool to be wary of as it covers the lower deadzone that 6P and f.S don’t. Testament will usually use this to shut down your approach for it to reach as it’s mainly used to call out an opponent’s low-profile tools. Another typical option for Testament’s round start would be IABD > H Grave Reaper. It’s a safe option that allows Testament to get a Succubus out which could allow them to start their gameplan. Approaching with an anti-air or air-to-air is your best choice as the hurtbox of Grave Reaper is extended quite far. Testament will typically rotate between these four options as well as backdashing and walking backwards. Since their round start options aren’t the best compared to other characters, they don’t want to take too many risks, so they’ll generally want to make space unless they’re playing against a character who may outrange them such as  Axl Low or  Happy Chaos. Use their slower round start options to your advantage and shut down whichever you see with the proper solution by mixing up your own round start.

Neutral


Approaching Testament

Testament’s main goal in neutral is to get you into the corner with your back against the wall, so that they can apply safe pressure on you from a distance or close the gap for a safe mix-up made possible by Stain State. They do this by combining their screen controlling special moves with their large normals to prevent your approach. Once the Succubus from Grave Reaper is on screen, Testament has control over the space between them and where the Succubus is as they have different options they choose to use post Grave Reaper.

A very common choice is that Testament will follow Grave Reaper immediately with an Unholy Diver to try and apply Stain State. It can be jumped from a distance and certain moves that are low and advancing may be able to travel under the crow’s trajectory.

Another option Testament has when the Succubus is out is moving their position with Posession (214K)GGST Testament 214K.pngGuardStartup16RecoveryTotal 35Advantage-. This move is Testament’s main movement option, as it causes Testament to teleport directly to the location of the Succubus. When teleporting, Testament is invulnerable after disappearing, but not immediately on start up as Posession has has 16 frames of startup and 9 frames of recovery and Testament is in Counter Hit state for the duration of both. Depending on the position of the Succubus, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to punish this move, but you can use it to predict where they will appear and cover the space accordingly. Iif a Succubus is behind you, they may try to teleport to it and catch you with a quick mix-up such as a throw. You will always be able to throw them before they can throw you if they try this, so keep an eye out, and don't let them get away with free mix-up opportunities.

In addition to controlling the screen with Grave Reaper, Testament can also use Arbiter Sign (214S/H)GGST Testament 214S.pngGuardLowStartup24Recovery26Advantage-12 to prevent you from being able to send out long range attacks of your own and keep you from passively blocking on defense. This is a special move where Testament summons a biting beast that tracks your position. The S version hits as a low and the H version hits overhead. Both versions have slow startup speed, at 24 frames and 28 frames respectively, and slow recovery speed, at 26 frames. There is a four frame difference in their start up speed, so blocking low then blocking high will safely defend both versions. Both moves are -12 on Block, making them punishable at close ranges for some characters, however, Stain State has the ability to make both versions +11 on block. Its slow start up also leaves Testament vulnerable to fast, advancing special moves, such as  Sol's Night Raid VortexGGST Sol Badguy 214S 1.pngGuardAllStartup15~31 [32]Recovery32 [26]Advantage-17 or  Ky's Stun DipperGGST Ky Kiske 236K 1.pngGuardLow, AllStartup7Recovery30Advantage-19 [-14]. Arbiter Sign has both minimum and maximum ranges resulting in dead zones directly in front of Testament and at fullscreen. This move has 26 frames of recovery, so if they whiff it, you have an opportunity to advance. Furthermore, the tracking for this move is somewhat poor, making it extremely exploitable. You can dash forward and depending on your character’s run speed, you can simply outrun the tracking. You can backdash once you see either the high or the low. If you’re close enough, you can punish the recovery of the move after blocking it with faster long reaching attacks. You can react to the low Arbiter Sigh, and IAD forward or you can dash and quickly block. You can even input an advancing invincible reversal Overdrive if you’re close enough. The "Testament Match-up Tutorial 2" Mission in the 5 Star area in Mission Mode is a tutorial for blocking Arbiter Sign that may help. Just bear in mind that Testament has other moves that cover options that evade Arbiter such as delayed 5H, Unholy Diver or S Grave Reaper.

Testament’s neutral will mainly consist of zoning you out with Grave Reaper and attempting to apply the Stain State with Unholy Diver. Patient Testament players will be watching how you play around these two special moves. They will also occasionally mix you up with other options such as either Possession for a sudden approach or Arbiter Sign for a midscreen call out. Match the pace at which they play. Alternate your approaches from the ground and the air if you can and don’t autopilot into one single response. With the right read, you’ll be able to blow them up by punishing one of their special moves. Generally, they’ll control space with f.S into Grave Reaper. There’s no restrictions when it comes to spamming Grave Reaper meaning Testament can immediately launch another after sending one out. They can even transition from one version of Grave Reaper to another to quickly cover the ground and the air as well. There is a gap between f.S and Grave Reaper, and characters with fast, long range buttons can mash during this gap depending on the spacing.

You could also IAD over Grave Reaper, however, Testament has strong anti-air options, including the aforementioned 6P, as well as a decently high hitting 6HGGST Testament 6H1.pngGuardAllStartup23Recovery32Advantage-19, which leads to great conversions and hard knockdown on hit. Testament gets strong return from their anti-airs so they essentially want you to jump at them. Jumping at them is an option to represent occasionally in order to get around their ground control, but it shouldn’t always be your go-to option.

One point that you can always challenge Testament is when they send out Unholy Diver. It has 21 frames of start up with 39 frames of recovery. While the projectile does home in on the Succubus once it’s been launched, Testament can hold P to send the crow flying straight from its default position. Both you and Testament will be playing the match up depending on what you think the other will do post Grave Reaper so it’s a 50/50 for both sides. Testament has options to cover your approach from both the ground and the air, but they can’t cover both at the same time.

  • You could wait for them to send the crow out with Unholy Diver, jump, and IAD forward to punish them, but if they can recover fast enough they may Counter Hit you with 6P or 6H.
  • You can run forward and press a ranged button or use a fast and low-profiling advancing special moves to go underneath the Unholy Diver projectile if they send it out, but they can hit you with f.S or 2KGGST Testament 2K.pngGuardLowStartup6Recovery13Advantage-3 preemptively.
  • You can jump over the Unholy Diver projectile, but they can punish your landing.

Different characters have different options. Testament will often have to vary the ways they run their pressure on a character by character basis, so you’ll have to study the match up, and see what options you have that Testament must work around. Check out the Matchups page for more information on specific Testament matchups.

Once the Succubus is on screen, Testament can only perform either one Unholy Diver or Possession as the Succubus will disappear after said move is used. They can’t do both moves, so they’re committing to whichever option they choose to do. However, they can get past this restriction if they have Tension, as they can PRC Unholy Diver, and then use Possession in order to send the crow flying AND teleport to the Succubus before the crow reaches its destination, so be on the lookout for this if they have Tension.

If you manage to close the distance, they’ll likely try to fish for a hit with 2K > 2DGGST Testament 2D.pngGuardLowStartup14Recovery22Advantage-8. From there, they can gatling into Grave Reaper and send you tumbling back away from them. 2K can also low-profile most long range pokes. If you block it, there’s a gap in between the 2K and 2D that loses to reversals, throws, and you can backdash and whiff punish the 2D which has 22 frames of recovery. This gap is covered if you’ve been put into Stain State, however.

If they push you to fullscreen or they land a throw on you, they have two different options. They could do an IAD forward > delayed j.HGGST Testament jH.pngGuardHighStartup13Recovery16Advantage+5 (IAD) for a safejump. They can mix this up with whiffing a j.H into 2K. These both hit on the exact same frame and you won’t be able to react. It’s a true 50/50 and their best option midscreen after a throw. Both options will hit meaty to beat wakeup throw as well.

Take note of the Testament’s habits. If they’re sticking to one linear gameplan, that makes them a lot easier to predict. Mix up your approach options in order to break through their zoning onslaught and take back your turn with a deadly punish.

What To Do While In Stain State


After you’ve been put into Stain State, be patient, and observe what the Testament tries to do. They’ll attempt to fish for a hit in order to trigger the Stain State for full extensions, but before they do, they’ll likely attempt to condition you not to move by throwing out another Grave Reaper. Testament wants you to be in a situation where you’re in Stain State and they have a Succubus out to act upon. If they’re able to get another Grave Reaper out, they can do a number of dirty setups including using Arbiter Sign to trigger the Stain explosion, set-up for another Unholy Diver, or Possession to teleport in, mix you up, and trigger the Stain State explosion. Notably, they could use Possession after an H Grave Reaper and hit you with a cross-up j.KGGST Testament jK.pngGuardHighStartup8Recovery12Advantage-3 (IAD) to trigger the Stain State explosion and convert into a full combo.

Be on the lookout for a dash into 5KGGST Testament 5K.pngGuardAllStartup7Recovery11Advantage-3 or 2K. These are some of Testament’s fastest buttons that still hold decent range, and the easiest buttons they can confirm the Stain State explosion from. Between the two of these buttons, they’ll be more likely to use 2K because of the low-profile and the low properties, so remember not to be too hasty to take your turn back once Stain State has been applied to you. You’ll have to be patient and wait for the right moment or a great read to challenge them.

Counter-Zoning Testament


Testament’s zoning options are not as effective from fullscreen. Uncharged Grave Reapers and Arbiter Sign won’t reach from that distance, they need to be at least within the mid-range in order to properly zone. This leaves them vulnerable to characters who can zone from longer ranges, such as  Axl Low or  Happy Chaos. Against characters who can counter them with fullscreen zoning, Testament is forced to approach and is prevented from being able to run their traditional gameplan. Many other projectiles may also be able to contest Testament’s gameplan from afar and force them to work around your counter-zoning. Testament’s projectiles from Grave Reaper and Unholy Diver aren’t considered regular projectiles either meaning most reflectors, with the exception of  Potemkin's F.D.B.GGST Potemkin FDB.pngGuardAllStartup18~36Recovery19Advantage-6, cannot reflect Testament’s projectiles.

Offense


Testament's fastest abare button is their 5 frame 2PGGST Testament 2P.pngGuardAllStartup5Recovery10Advantage-3. They could also mash out their 6 frame 2K from longer distances as well for better reward on hit. If they've managed to get a Succubus out before you start running your pressure on them, they may attempt to jump and use Posession to teleport away from you and get out of your offense, especially if they're in the corner. They don't have a meterless invincible reversal, however they do have an invincible reversal in the form of their Overdrive, Calamity One (236236K)GGST Testament 236236K.pngGuardAllStartup11+4Recovery67Advantage-38. The start-up to this reversal is 11 frames plus an additional 4 for the attack to actually come out. Because of the slow start-up, it’s easy to bait out, react, block, and punish. However, like  Faust's Bone-crushing ExcitementGGST Faust 632146H 1.pngGuardAllStartup16+5Recovery48Advantage-32, Testament can cancel its startup with PRC and avoid or punish attacks at the cost of a single bar of Tension.

Defense


Testament has several options to start their pressure if they manage to get in your face. Generally, they’ll be playing a standard strike/throw game with some tricky mix-ups enforced by Stain State. From c.SGGST Testament cS.pngGuardAllStartup8Recovery10Advantage+1 they can either do a tick-throw, or perform stagger pressure with c.S > f.S > 2S as all three of these buttons can be frame trapped with 2HGGST Testament 2H.pngGuardAllStartup23Recovery12Advantage-2. 2H has a vacuum effect that pulls opponents in on block and gives Testament another opportunity for a strike/throw mix up. It is -2 on block, making it throw punishable, however it can be frame trapped with either version of Grave Reaper. Aside from this, they could do c.S and then immediately IAD > H Grave Reaper, or tick-throw from 2K as well.

In the corner is where Testament especially thrives. After a throw, they can do a meaty Grave Reaper in a couple of ways. They can do it right away to OTG against characters that have a DP. From here, they can simply follow-up with Unholy Diver and continue their pressure from there. Against non-DP characters, they can just dash forward and then do Grave Reaper and run their pressure from there.

Testament doesn’t have that great of a mix-up game, so if you’re just blocking everything, once they have 50% Tension, they can set up a high/low mix-up with Nostrovia. During the Overdrive, they can try to hit you with either 2K or 5DGGST Testament 5D.pngGuardHighStartup20Recovery26Advantage-15 to cause you to be hit by Nostrovia and put into Stain State. If the mix-up doesn’t open you up, they can still send Unholy Diver after one of these buttons has been blocked after the Overdrive is over and use it again as soon as they can as it’s risky but could give them another chance to run their offense. If Testament tries to confirm into Nostrovia during a blockstring, it’s very fake. You can immediately jump and IAD over it during it’s start-up.

References/Resources


How to Play Testament & How to Beat Them - Guilty Gear -STRIVE- Guide by Brendan Mushi

Testament 101 | Strategy, Combos, Overview and Pros/Cons | Guilty Gear Strive Starter Guide by Diaphone

How to play Testament - Guilty Gear Strive by Romolla

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