Hitting a block in Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections stops your momentum entirely. If your opponent decides to hold the guard button, your standard attacks will just bounce off. Learning counter-guard tactics for Naruto in Storm Connections matters because high-level players will block by default to stay safe. You have to force them to make a mistake. Cracking their defense requires mixing up your timing, using throws, and punishing their defensive habits rather than just mashing the attack button.

How does the blocking system actually work?

Before you can bypass a guard, you need to know what beats what. The defensive meta relies on a strict rock-paper-scissors system. Holding block stops normal attacks and Simple Ninjutsu. Throws will break a standard block, but you will get hit if the opponent decides to attack instead. The Guard Break mechanic (clicking the right stick) shatters a standard block and beats Simple Ninja Arts, but it leaves you wide open to normal attacks.

Understanding this loop is the first step to mastering specific counter-guard tactics for Naruto. You are not just pressing buttons; you are trying to predict what your opponent will do when they feel pressured and have limited movement options.

When should you use throws versus Guard Breaks?

Timing is everything. If you finish a basic string and the opponent is still holding block, a quick throw is usually the safest option. It eats through their health and forces them to respect your offense. However, if you notice the opponent using Simple Ninja Arts (Triangle + Circle) to escape your combos, a throw will miss. In that specific situation, you need to time a Guard Break to catch their invincibility frames as they try to reposition.

Getting comfortable with this mental stack is essential when building high-pressure situations online. You want your opponent to feel like they have no safe way out of the corner.

What are the most common mistakes against defensive players?

The biggest error is spamming the Guard Break. It has significant recovery frames. In fighting game terminology, this means you are at a negative frame advantage if the move is blocked or dodged. If a player blocks your first attack and you immediately Guard Break, a skilled opponent will just drop their block and hit you with a launcher.

Another mistake is wasting chakra. Throwing an Ultimate Jutsu at someone who is successfully blocking your basic strings is a massive waste of resources. You need to create an opening first. Learning how to manage your resources and confirm hits ties directly into developing advanced combo strategies for ranked play.

How can ninja tools help bypass a guard?

Ninja tools are excellent for forcing reactions. If you throw an explosive tag or a windmill shuriken while approaching, the opponent has to block the projectile. The moment the tool hits their guard, you close the distance. You can then choose to throw them, continue with a normal attack string, or delay your next move to bait a counterattack.

Pushing a blocking opponent to the wall is also highly effective. Once they are cornered, their movement options disappear. You can use Simple Ninjutsu to keep them pinned against the edge, creating opportunities for massive wall splats that pair perfectly with ultimate jutsu synergy.

How do you punish guard cancels and awakenings?

Sometimes, an opponent will spend chakra to Guard Cancel (flicking the right stick) or trigger an Awakening to escape your pressure. When they do this, do not panic. A Guard Cancel pushes you back but leaves them with reduced chakra. Just walk forward and start your mixup again. If they burst into an Awakening, back off, use long-range ninja tools, and wait for the timer to run out.

Once their Awakening ends, they will be vulnerable and low on health. This is the exact moment for optimizing your awakening combos to take the round.

Next steps for training mode

Take these steps into the practice room to build muscle memory for your mixups:

  • Set the training dummy to Guard All. Practice ending your basic strings with a throw, then switch to a Guard Break to see the difference in pushback.
  • Set the dummy to Simple Ninja Arts. Practice punishing this specific defensive option with your Guard Break right as they start their animation.
  • Record the dummy throwing a ninja tool and then attacking. Practice blocking the tool and interrupting their attack to learn how to turn defense into offense.
  • Focus on delaying your attacks after a blocked string to bait out a panicked Guard Cancel from your opponent, then punish their wasted chakra.
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