: The window during which the attack’s hitbox is "live" and capable of dealing damage or knockback. Moves with long active windows are excellent for catching opponents who dodge prematurely.
often utilizes moves with low recovery to maintain constant pressure, forcing opponents to remain defensive. Conversely, knowing a move is "minus" allows a defender to confidently counter-attack, knowing their opponent is still locked in a recovery animation. Impact on Character Tier Lists Multiversus Frame Data
Finally, frame data explains the ever-shifting competitive tier lists and the impact of patches. When Player First Games adjusts a character, they rarely change the animation; instead, they tweak the numbers. A patch that increases Bugs Bunny’s safe recovery from eighteen to twenty-two frames might seem minor, but it turns a once-safe poke into a guaranteed punish for the entire cast. Similarly, the infamous “Taz tornado” nerf was fundamentally a frame data adjustment: the developers increased the start-up and added recovery frames, removing Taz’s ability to spin with impunity. The community’s perception of a character’s strength is often just a collective realization of hidden frame advantages. Arya Stark is considered high-tier not because of her dagger gimmick, but because her up-air has a four-frame start-up and her landing recovery is among the lowest in the game. Numbers do not lie, even when tier lists do. : The window during which the attack’s hitbox
If a hitbox is active for 10 frames, it is much easier to "drag" opponents into it. Conversely, knowing a move is "minus" allows a