Gaming
whiff punish
What does whiff punish mean?
In fighting games, punishing an opponent who whiffs a move while they're stuck recovering.
"She baited the sweep and got a clean whiff punish."
Origin
A fighting-game compound combining 'whiff' (a missed move) with 'punish' (capitalizing on an unsafe action). Central to the spacing-and-footsies mind game in titles like Street Fighter.
Frequently asked questions
What does whiff punish mean in fighting games?
It means hitting your opponent during the recovery frames right after they miss an attack. You bait the whiff, then punish it.
How do you whiff punish?
You stay just out of range, let the opponent swing and miss, then dash in and hit them before they recover. It's a core footsies skill.
Is whiff punishing only in fighting games?
It's most associated with fighting games but the concept of punishing a missed move applies broadly. The exact term is a fighting-game one, though.
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