Character archetypes

A character archetype is a term used to classify a character by their physical attributes, strategy, or gameplay characteristics in an asymmetrically balanced game. They are commonly seen in fighting games, which are normally designed to use certain recurring archetypes that are balanced against one another.

The purpose of the archetypes is to help inform the player of the kinds of characters that exist in a game, so that they may choose a character that suits their playstyle and be able to plan strategies against their opponents.

Typically, character archetypes can be defined in a general sense by a set of various axes. Examples of such axes include the following:


 * Offensive vs. Defensive
 * Close range vs. Long range
 * Ground vs. Aerial proficiency
 * Strength vs. Mobility
 * Combo ability vs. KO power
 * Range vs. Speed

In general, there are three main categories of archetypes : offensive, defensive, and undefined. Each of those, in turn, has their own unique/specific kinds of strategy; meaning that characters can fit into more than one archetype because of variations in their mind games and game-play styles.

Offensive archetypes
Offensive characters are the ones that possess better tools for approaching and chasing down opponents. They usually attack relentlessly without giving any breathing room.

Well-rounded
These are the characters that have little bit of everything( projectiles, melee attacks, chain-grabs, etc…), and have very few (or none) outstanding moves.

Pressure
Once a pressure character start a combo, the combo will be delivered for a quite long time. Pressure characters rely on forcing their opponent(s) to make a mistake, then punish them severely with damage racking combos and setups. Usually, they rely heavily on mind games and reads.

Opportunist
Like pressure characters, opportunists patiently wait for their opponent to make a mistake before attacking. But instead of racking up damage, they deal powerful attacks that can kill opponents early. Like pressure characters, they usually rely heavily on reads and mind games.

Glass cannon
Just like the name implies, these characters can pack a punch, but can be killed early because of their weight and low accelerated falling speed.

Tank
Like glass cannon characters, these characters are very powerful, and can last considerably longer on stage because of their weight and high accelerated falling speed. However, due to these attributes, they are also easier to combo and chain-grab.

Defensive archetypes
Defensive characters are the opposite of offensive characters, in that they usually avoid their opponents and bait them into setups to exploit their weaknesses from a distance before delivering a punishing blow.

Zoners
These are your typical stage defenders, in that they will use their many projectiles and/or disjointed attacks to out range players in order to keep control of the stage. Very good at wearing down opponents.

Bait & punish
Like catching a fish with a fishing-rod, these characters tease and weave in and out of their opponents space. Once they got them to react, they then swiftly punish them for it. Very good at reacting and punishing.

Turtle
Being more slow, these characters rely on waiting for their opponents to approach them (by using a mix of projectiles and high priority moves,) then punishing them from doing so. Usually play very safe and damage opponents from afar/when they approach.

Trapper
Unlike most projectiles that disappear quickly after being fired, these characters use their long lasting projectiles to trap and hit-stun their opponents to deal damage racking combos and kills. Great at comboing and camping.

Camper
These characters can play it as safe-as-possible while inflicting as much damage(or time consuming spacing) as they can before the opponent finds a way in. Good at stage control.

Grappler
These characters move sets mostly revolve around or combo into their grabs, as their grabs are very powerful/useful to set up more combos. Very good at punishing whiffed attacks and weak approaches.

Undefined archetypes
These characters have attributes that are different from offensive and defensive game-play or can be used as either or in a given situation. However, most of these characters tend to incline towards another category, meaning this can be considered a "subcategory" between offensive and defensive archetypes.

Precision
Unlike most characters, precision characters require more skill, as they have the option for using a move for either comboing or killing, but usually requires a sweet spot to KO.

Dynamic
These characters have moves that can either be for damage, killing or a little bit off both, but the moves are not the same when used multiple times, and are rotating.

Power house
These characters can use their attacks both offensively and defensively, and cannot be defined by attributes alone.