Combo Devils Combo List & Mechanics Guide: Master Every String and Cancel

Master every bread-and-butter string with our comprehensive Combo Devils combo list, mechanics breakdown, cancel routes, and platform fighter tech guide.

Finding a complete Combo Devils combo list is essential if you want to dominate the arena in Punkzilla's electrifying hybrid fighter. By seamlessly fusing classic 2D fighting mechanics like gatlings and motion inputs with lightning-fast platform fighter mobility, the game demands precise execution and creative string routing. Whether you are competing in high-stakes PvP lobbies or grinding the cooperative extraction roguelite mode, mastering a structured Combo Devils combo list will elevate your neutral game and optimize your damage output.

From fundamental bread-and-butter (BnB) strings to advanced air dash cancels and wavedash extensions, understanding how hits link together is the key to victory. This deep-dive combat guide breaks down the core combo theory, universal target routes, character archetypes, and advanced movement tech in Combo Devils.

Anatomy of a Combo in Combo Devils: Understanding the Hybrid Engine

Combo Devils bridges the gap between traditional fighting games (like Street Fighter and Guilty Gear) and platform fighters (like Super Smash Bros. Melee and Rivals of Aether). This unique foundation means your combo structure relies on both cancel windows and spatial physics.

Starter (Light / Poke) 
  ↳ Gatling Target String (Light → Medium → Heavy) 
      ↳ Special / EX Cancel (Motion Input or Directional Special) 
          ↳ Movement Extension (Air Dash / Wavedash / Plat-Boost) 
              ↳ Finisher (Super Input / Spike / Stage Blast-Zone Knockout)

In traditional fighters, combos are bounded by static screen corners and rigid hitstun frames. In Combo Devils, combos are dynamic. Hitstun, weight classes, Directional Influence (DI), and platform layout all affect whether your opponent stays within range of your next strike.

Combat Mechanic	Engine Discipline	In-Game Function	Execution Impact
Gatling / Target Combos	Traditional 2D	Chains normal attacks in ascending order (L > M > H).	Guarantees consistent ground confirmations.
Special & EX Cancels	Traditional 2D	Interrupts normal recovery with special or EX moves.	Extends hitstun and allows launch setups.
Motion Input Supers	Traditional 2D	Executes high-damage finishers via quarter-circle or DP inputs.	Closes out stocks and finishes boss phases.
Wavedashing & Wavelanding	Platform Fighter	Slides across the ground using angled air dodges.	Closes spatial gaps during grounded hitstun.
Directional Influence (DI)	Platform Fighter	Allows the defender to alter launch trajectory.	Forces attackers to react and tech-chase.
Air Dash Cancels (ADC)	Anime Fighter Hybrid	Cancels aerial normals into air dashes or tri-dashes.	Enables extended juggle strings and resets.

Unlike older platform titles, Combo Devils removes tedious legacy barriers like L-canceling, crouch canceling, and smash DI. Instead, it prioritizes on-hit cancels, rekkas, and seamless movement tech. Check out the official Combo Devils Steam page to learn more about the developers' vision for the game's mechanics and tournament features.

Universal Combo Routes and Bread-and-Butter (BnB) Strings

Every character in Combo Devils possesses a universal framework for standard combat interactions. When studying any Combo Devils combo list, mastering universal strings ensures you can pick up any roster member and instantly convert stray hits into meaningful conversions.

Standard Notation Guide

L / M / H: Light, Medium, Heavy Attack
2 / 5 / 8 / 4 / 6: Directional inputs using standard numpad notation (5 = Neutral, 2 = Down, 6 = Forward, 8 = Up, 4 = Back)
j.: Aerial normal (e.g., j.H = Jumping Heavy)
QC / DP: Quarter-Circle (236/214) or Dragon Punch (623) motion
WD: Wavedash
ADC: Air Dash Cancel

Universal String Pattern	Input String Sequence	Target Damage Band	Best Application
Basic Ground Gatling	`5L > 5M > 5H > 236L`	14% – 18%	Fast close-range poke confirmation.
Launcher Juggle Route	`5L > 2M > 5H (Launcher) > Super Jump > j.L > j.M > j.H`	22% – 28%	Vertical stage control and anti-air conversion.
Low Poke Reset Route	`2L > 2M > 6H > 214M > Jab Reset`	16% – 20%	Shield pressure, low mixup, and tech trap.
EX Wall Bounce String	`5M > 5H > 236EX > Wall Splat > WD > 5H > Super`	38% – 48%	Corner carry and high-resource burst damage.

Ground-to-Air Juggle Routing

Converting grounded pressure into aerial juggles is the cornerstone of high-level optimization. Once you launch an opponent with a heavy attack or an anti-air special, you can utilize super jumps and double jumps to maintain hitstun above the stage.

Grounded Starter (2M or 5L)
  ↳ 5H (Launcher)
      ↳ Super Jump Cancel
          ↳ j.L > j.M
              ↳ Fast Fall / Double Jump
                  ↳ Aerial Spike / Down Air (Stage Splat)

Learning this universal route gives you a dependable conversion off almost any grounded counter-hit.

Archetype Routing: Adapting Strings to Playstyles

Different characters emphasize distinct combo engines. While a rushdown brawler relies heavily on rekkas and jab resets, a space-control zoner relies on projectile confirms into wavebounce specials.

Understanding where your main character fits inside the Combo Devils combo list helps you tailor your practice routines effectively.

Character Archetype	Core Combo Strategy	Cancel Priorities	Execution Difficulty	Optimal Finisher
Rushdown / Brawlers (e.g., Lizzo)	Rapid gatling chains, rekkas, and close-quarters jab resets.	Target combos into Rekka series (236A > A > A).	Medium	Off-stage aerial spike or EX motion super.
Zoners & Space Controllers	Long-range pokes, traps, and wavebounced projectiles.	Special cancels into wavebounce projectiles or B-reverses.	Hard	Stage control setup or long-range beam super.
Grapplers & Heavy Hitters	Armored normals, command grabs, and platform tech-chases.	On-hit cancels into command grabs or ground slams.	Easy – Medium	Hard knockdown slam or wall-splat impact.
Speed / Tri-Dash Specialists	High-mobility aerial strings, plat-boosting, and air-dash loops.	Air dash cancels into reverse aerial rush (RAR) strikes.	Hard – Expert	Aerial carry into off-stage blast-zone knockout.

Lizzo Rekka Bread-and-Butter (BnB) Example

Community reports and tournament playtests highlight Lizzo as the quintessential aggressive rushdown character. Her combo list features fast-paced, multi-hit rekka chains:

Starter: 5L > 5M (Two-hit grounded confirm)
Bridge: 2H (Low sweep or launcher cancel)
Special Input: 236L~L~L (Three-part Rekka string)
Extension: ADC (Forward Air Dash) > j.M > j.H
Ender: 214EX (Ground Pound) or Level 1 Motion Super

Practicing this flow develops the rhythm required for characters who thrive on branching on-hit cancels.

Advanced Extensions: Air Dash Cancels, Wavedashing, and Plat-Boosting

To push beyond basic strings, you must weave movement tech into your combos. Movement in Combo Devils isn't just for repositioning—it actively extends hitstun windows and resets juggle decay.

Integrating movement into your Combo Devils combo list enables true touch-of-death potential across tournament-legal stages.

Advanced Movement Tech	Technical Input	Combo Application	Risk vs. Reward
Wavedash (WD) Follow-Up	`Jump > Air Dodge (Angled Down) > Normal`	Closes horizontal distance after high-knockback knockdowns.	Low risk / High consistency.
Plat-Boosting	`Drop through platform > Fast Fall > Aerial Normal`	Cuts jump frames short, enabling fast aerial re-stands.	Medium risk / High juggle potential.
Reverse Aerial Rush (RAR)	`Dash > Flick Back (4) > Jump > Back Aerial (b.Air)`	Hits opponents with high-knockback back-air strikes during forward momentum.	Low risk / Essential kill confirm.
B-Reverse / Wavebounce	`Special Input > Reverse Direction Stick (Within 1-2 frames)`	Reverses momentum mid-air while firing projectiles for tricky combo extensions.	High risk / Unpredictable spacing.
Tri-Dashing	`Short Hop > Angled Down-Forward Air Dash > Ground Normal`	Low-to-the-ground aerial approach that starts rapid low/overhead strings.	Medium risk / Elite offensive tool.

The Waveland Re-Stand Loop

When fighting on stages with floating platforms, knocking an opponent toward a platform opens the door for waveland re-stands:

Launch target with 5H toward upper platform.
Jump and waveland onto the platform surface instantly.
Cancel the landing slide into 5L > 5M before the opponent can tech.
Continue the string into an off-stage launch.

PvE Roguelite Extraction Combos vs. PvP Routing

Combo Devils features both a hyper-competitive PvP versus mode and a cooperative PvE extraction roguelite mode. Adapting your Combo Devils combo list between these two game types is crucial for survival and leaderboard rankings.

PvP Focus: Micro-spacing → Burst Confirm → DI Reaction → Stage Kill
PvE Focus: Wide Area-of-Effect (AoE) → Super Armor Break → Trait Synergy → Mob Wipe

Combat Factor	Competitive PvP Priorities	PvE Extraction / Boss Priorities
Opponent Defensive Reaction	Human DI, tech rolls, parries, and shield drops.	Super armor, mob grouping, and boss phase shifts.
Combo Length Target	Short, high-damage burst loops (3 to 6 hits) that prevent escape.	Extended infinite juggles and AoE crowd-control strings.
Meter Usage	EX specials for safe confirms and invincible reversals.	Meter dumping into multi-target supers for wave clearing.
Item & Perk Synergies	Standardized tournament attributes (no mods).	Elemental procs (Burn, Freeze, Shock) on hit-cancels.
Knockback Strategy	Off-stage spikes and ring-outs at blast zones.	Wall splats, hazard impacts, and crowd clustering.

In the extraction roguelite mode, player experience reveals that building around elemental perk traits can completely transform standard combo strings. A simple 5L > 5M > 5H string can trigger chaining lightning or explosive freeze procs, allowing you to juggle entire waves of mobs simultaneously.

Defensive Counterplay: Escaping Combos and Resetting Neutral

A comprehensive understanding of combat requires knowing how to escape strings as well as execute them. Since Combo Devils omits crouch canceling and smash DI, defensive mechanics focus on positioning, timing, and prediction.

Incoming Attack String
  ├── Option 1: Shield / Hold-Back-to-Block → Shield Drop / Counter-Poke
  ├── Option 2: Directional Influence (DI) Away → Force Whiff / Tech Reset
  ├── Option 3: Timed Parry → Frame Advantage Reversal
  └── Option 4: Wiggle-Out → Air Dodge / Aerial Reversal in Loose Hitstun

Essential Defensive Techniques

Directional Influence (DI): Hold your movement stick perpendicular to the launch angle. DI-ing away from your opponent increases the physical distance between you, forcing them to drop strict follow-up hits.
Wiggle-Out: Rapidly alternate directional inputs during extended hitstun to break out early from non-true combo strings and buffer an air dodge.
Teching: Press shield right as you make contact with the floor or wall after being spiked to prevent grounded tech-chases.
Hold-Back-to-Block Option: Players can toggle traditional hold-back-to-block or use dedicated shield buttons to fit their comfort level.

Mastering these escape routes forces opponents to abandon autopilot strings from their Combo Devils combo list and guess your escape direction on the fly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the most updated Combo Devils combo list for competitive play?

The most reliable source for updated combo routes is the official Combo Devils community Discord and tournament community hubs. Because character frame data and cancel windows evolve through beta updates and patches, player-tested combo sheets and character-specific guides are continuously updated by competitive labbers.

Does Combo Devils use traditional fighting game inputs or platform fighter controls?

Combo Devils uses a hybrid control scheme. Normal attacks follow light, medium, and heavy configurations similar to 2D anime fighters, while movement uses platformer mechanics like wavedashing and air dodges. Players can perform specials via simple directional commands or standard motion inputs (like quarter-circles) for enhanced damage and EX properties.

What mechanics from traditional platform fighters are excluded in Combo Devils?

To streamline combat and reduce unreactable defensive stalling, Combo Devils does not include crouch cancels, L-cancels, Smash DI (SDI), ledge planking, or grab pummeling. This design choice puts greater emphasis on fluid hit-cancels, shield play, and reactive tech-chasing.

How do EX Specials work within extended combo strings?

EX Specials cost meter and enhance standard special moves with extra properties, such as invincibility frames, wall bounces, or ground bounces. In combo routing, players use EX specials as combo bridges—canceling a heavy normal into an EX move to re-stand or juggle an opponent for an extended super finisher.