The Heat system takes center stage in Tekken 8 as it’s a brand-new mechanic. While learning how Heat works is essential, Rage moves are just as important. Let me give you a crash course on how to do Rage Moves in Tekken 8 and how they work, as it’s different from Tekken 7.
What is Rage in Tekken 8?
Every character in Tekken 8 enters Rage when their health falls below a certain threshold. This level is indicated by a small notch in the Life Bar highlighted in the image above. While in Rage, your Life Bar sets aflame and your attacks deal more damage.
The extra damage is handy, but the real value of Rage is the special attack it enables. Rage Moves can only be activated while your character has low health and is so strong they can instantly turn the tide of battle.
What is a Rage Move in Tekken 8?
Rage Moves are game-changing cinematic attacks. Upon activation, a Rage Move briefly lets the user absorb attacks before connecting. The only counter your opponent has is blocking or getting out of the way, so a smart player will unleash their Rage Move when they think their opponent is about to attack. Another great time to use a Rage Move is at the end of a combo to deal ludicrous amounts of damage.
Although Rage Moves are powerful, they are blockable and launch punishable if they don’t connect. Rage forces your opponents to play more safely unless they want to eat a powerful attack. Remember that you lose your Rage state after performing a Rage Move, even if it doesn’t land.
The universal input for Rage Moves in Tekken 8 is Down+Forward, and both punch buttons (D/F 1+2). You can also bind your Rage Move to a single button in the controls menu. I recommend something out of the way, like one of your controller’s shoulder buttons/triggers.
Are there Rage Drives in Tekken 8?
While Rage Drives have a ton of utility in Tekken 7, they don’t feature in Tekken 8. In Tekken 7, players can access Rage Arts and Rage Drives while at low health. This system is streamlined in Tekken 8, offering a single move to each character, simply called a Rage Move.
This change may seem like a downgrade, but Heat more than makes up for it. Heat may seem like an overwhelming mechanic, but I know you’ll get the hang of it with practice. Check out our guide if you’re lost, as you’ll win matches once you figure it out.
