This feature is still in development.
7/5/2018: Combo videos & tech videos below.

The 2D fighting game Fighting EX Layer is out on PS4 right now. Go get it now if you’re into old-school fighting games. We have a video that sums up the game.

https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1459609614143449/

So we talked casually about the Gougi system earlier on. Let’s talk about it in full on this guide.

What Is Gougi?

It’s a card deck consisting of 5 power-ups -Gougi Boosts- that activate under certain conditions during a match. Power-ups include fast movement speed, boosted throw range, heavy attacks that negate projectiles, and more damage in your combos. Damage scaling: what’s that?

Before a fight, and after you pick a character, you get to pick which Gougi deck you want to use. Note: you cannot customize your own Gougi deck. Each Gougi deck present in FEXL is preset. 

Each Gougi card has a Trigger and Effect property. The Trigger is when you activate it when you perform a bunch of actions (or none at all depending on the requirement). The Effect is, well, the power-up you get.

For example, the Grab Master Gougi gives your Normal Throw Range a 20% boost as an Effect if you can Trigger it. How do you Trigger it? By landing 2 Normal Throws during a fight.

Naturally, the basic Gougi effect have typical Trigger requirements while the better ones have pretty ballsy ones. It’s really hard, for example, to stick around close to your opponent for 10 seconds if he/she is a keep-away character. The fact that you have to land the specific attacks to trigger the Gougi make for interesting-if-tough choices to decide on mid-game. Do you boost your characters up or should you focus on your opponent for a few seconds?

But the best part about all this? Gougi effects are cumulative. You will find decks that have multiple cards of the same effect, which basically doubles down on the power-up. Example: the Infinity Deck purposely has three Meter Up cards to triple your meter-gaining properties.

List of Gougi Decks

Credits to JiyunaJP for the character suggestions via Twitter. He also localized the game so do support his hard work.

Aggro

“Recommended for Aggressive Attackers”. If you want to go all-out and offensive or even not care about the intricacies of Gougi, just go for this. Suggested characters: anyone.

Cards
Rampage
Trigger: Deal over 40 damage in a single Combo.
Effect: Damage increases the more you attack.

Illusion
Trigger: Receive over 300 points of Damage.
Effect: Able to escape Combos once per round.

Chip Up
Trigger: Deal 40 points of Chip Damage.
Effect: Increase Chip Damage by 1.

Grab Up
Trigger: Land 2 Normal Throws.
Effect: Increase Normal Throw range by 20%

Erase
Trigger: Hit your opponent with Heavy Attacks 3 times.
Effect: Get the ability to negate projectiles with Heavy Attacks.

Juggernaut

“Use your invincible body to unleash a Fatal Attack”. If you want to turtle, there’s no other Gougi like this.

Cards
Hades
Trigger: Get knocked down 12 times.
Effect: Gain Super Armor.

G.Break
Trigger: Attack your opponent with 4 Hard Attacks (MP+MK).
Effect: Hard Attacks become Guard Breaks.

Meter Up
Trigger: Attack your opponent 10 times.
Effect: Increase Super Meter Gain by 10%.

Speed Up
Trigger: Allow 10 seconds to pass in-game.
Effect: Increase Movement Speed by 10%.

Attack Up
Trigger: Build 1 Bar of Super Meter.
Effect: Increase Damage by 5%.

Shinobi

“Move stealthily like a Ninja and surprise your opponents”.Better-suited for faster characters who can do hit-and-run and mixups well. Suggested characters: Blair, Hokuto, Shirase.

Cards
Ghost
Trigger: Avoid your opponent for 6 seconds.
Effect: Turn invisible during Forward Dashes.

G.Cancel
Trigger: Guard 30 Attacks.
Effect: Become able to cancel Guards into Special Attacks.

G.Break
Trigger: Attack your opponent with 4 Hard Attacks (MP+MK).
Effect: Hard Attacks become Guard Breaks.

Speed Up
Trigger: Allow 10 seconds to pass in-game.
Effect: Increase Movement Speed by 10%.

Attack Up
Trigger: Build 1 Bar of Super Meter.
Effect: Increase Damage by 5%.

Infinity

“Go wild with Infinite Super Meter”. You want to use this for a guy or girl who is reliant on Super Meter and can do loops. Suggested character: Allen.

Cards
Rage
Trigger: Spend 10 Blocks of Super Meter.
Effect: Gain the ability to recover Super Meter.

G.Cancel
Trigger: Guard 30 Attacks.
Effect: Become able to cancel Guards into Special Attacks.

Meter Up
Trigger: Attack your opponent 10 times.
Effect: Increase Super Meter Gain by 10%.

Meter Up
Trigger: Attack your opponent 10 times.
Effect: Increase Super Meter Gain by 10%.

Meter Up
Trigger: Attack your opponent 10 times.
Effect: Increase Super Meter Gain by 10%. (yes, this is a cumulative effect)

Miracle

“Unleash all your Gougi at once and gain an Invincible Iron Body!” If you can pull off 25 Special Attacks on your opponent before he dies, good for you.

Cards
Overload
Trigger: While having MAX Super Meter, attack with 25 Special Attacks.
Effect: Activate all other Gougi on this deck.

Hades
Trigger: Get knocked down 12 times.
Effect: Gain Super Armor.

S.Drain
Trigger: Drain a total of 99 Super Meter from your opponent.
Effect: Drain Super Meter and Health by being near your opponent.

Utsusemi
Trigger: Perform a Recovery 5 times.
Effect: Turn invisible during Recoveries.

Mammoth
Trigger: Spend 20 blocks of Super Meter.
Effect: Increase Damage by 35%.

Stealth Raptor

“Rush down your opponent with Overhead Attacks”. Perfect for mixup characters like Hokuto, Sanane, and Shirase.

Cards
Hunting
Trigger: Dash for a total of 3 seconds.
Effect: Forward Dashes become Short Hops.

Utsusemi
Trigger: Perform a Recovery 5 times.
Effect: Turn invisible during Recoveries.

Grab Up
Trigger: Land 2 Normal Throws.
Effect: Increase Normal Throw range by 20%

Speed Up
Trigger: Allow 10 Seconds to pass in-game.
Effect: Increase Movement Speed by 10%.

Speed Up
Trigger: Allow 10 Seconds to pass in-game.
Effect: Increase Movement Speed by 10%.

Berserker

“Lose your senses and go Crazy”. You better go all-out with this deck, since it loses to Guard Cancel decks. Perfect for guys like Shadow Geist.

Cards
6 Chain
Trigger: Perform 15 Chain Combos.
Effect: Chain Combos become 6 Chains.

Pierce
Trigger: Attack your opponent 30 times.
Effect: Normal Attacks deal Chip Damage.

Grab Up
Trigger: Land 2 Normal Throws.
Effect: Increase Normal Throw range by 20%

Meter Up
Trigger: Attack your opponent 10 times.
Effect: Increase Super Meter Gain by 10%.

Erase
Trigger: Attack your opponent with Heavy Attacks 3 times.
Effect: Negate projectiles with Heavy Attacks.

Double Face

“Victory or Defeat determines your skills”.

Cards
Heads/Tail
Trigger: Complete 1 round.
Effect: Win to activate 6 Chain, Lose to activate Hades.

G.Cancel
Trigger: Guard 30 Attacks.
Effect: Become able to cancel Guards into Special Attacks.

Illusion
Trigger: Receive over 300 points of Damage.
Effect: Able to escape Combos once per round.

Grab Up
Trigger: Land 2 Normal Throws.
Effect: Increase Normal Throw range by 20%

Speed Up
Trigger: Allow 10 Seconds to pass in-game.
Effect: Increase Movement Speed by 10%.

Sky Dancer

“Attack from the skies with Jumping Attacks”. If you jump a lot and wish not to get punished for it, this deck is for you. Suggested characters: D.Dark, Sanane.

Cards
EX Arrow
Trigger: Attack your opponent with 4 Jump Attacks.
Effect: By inputting Down>Up, you can jump directly to your opponent.

G.Break
Trigger: Attack your opponent with 4 Hard Attacks (MP+MK).
Effect: Hard Attacks become Guard Breaks.

Illusion
Trigger: Receive over 300 points of Damage.
Effect: Able to escape Combos once per round.

Chip Up
Trigger: Deal 40 points of Chip Damage.
Effect:Increase Chip Damage by 1.

Frenzy
Trigger: Remain below 50% health for 6 seconds.
Effect: Increase Damage as your Health is lowered.

Nightmare

“Gradually Wear Down your opponent, then finish them off”. This Deck focuses on debilitating your opponent by handicapping his meter while you become faster and more reactive. Use characters like Garuda and Shadow Geist for this.

Cards
E.Drain
Trigger: Knock your opponent down 4 times.
Effect: Drain Super Meter from a downed opponent.

S.Drain
Trigger: Drain a total of 99 Super Meter from your opponent.
Effect: Drain Super Meter and Health by being close to your opponent.

Ghost
Trigger: Avoid your opponent for 6 seconds.
Effect: Turn invisible during Forward Dashes.

Speed Up
Trigger: Allow 10 Seconds to pass in-game.
Effect: Increase Movement Speed by 10%.

Speed Up
Trigger: Allow 10 Seconds to pass in-game.
Effect: Increase Movement Speed by 10%.

Babel

“Keep landing Special Attacks to increase damage, but if you miss…” This is perfect for characters who are Special Attack-reliant, like Allen. You’ll be amazed at how much life you can take out from an opponent with a full meter bar.

Cards
Desperation
Trigger: Perform Special Attacks or Super Combos 8 times.
Effect: Damage increases the more you land Special Attacks/Super Combos.

G.Cancel
Trigger: Guard 30 Attacks.
Effect: Become able to cancel Guards into Special Attacks.

M.Power
Trigger: Build 5 bars of Super Meter.
Effect: Gain a Damage Boost depending on how much Super Meter you have.

Meter Up
Trigger: Attack your opponent 10 times.
Effect: Increase Super Meter Gain by 10%.

Meter Up
Trigger: Attack your opponent 10 times.
Effect: Increase Super Meter Gain by 10%.

Thunderbolt

“Strike like a Bolt of Lightning”. Best for characters who have good damage output but cannot catch up with opponents. That teleport move can be useful in surprising opponents. Suggested characters: Jack.

Cards
Teleport
Trigger: Attack your opponent out of a Dash Attack 5 times (Dash, then land the Dash attack combo).
Effect: Teleport directly in front of your opponent when dashing.

Critical
Trigger: Avoid your opponent for 12 seconds.
Effect: Gain a large Damage boost for a limited time.

Attack Up
Trigger: Build 1 Bar of Super Meter.
Effect: Increase Damage by 5%.

Meter Up
Trigger: Attack your opponent 10 times.
Effect: Increase Super Meter Gain by 10%.

Frenzy
Trigger: Remain below 50% health for 6 seconds.
Effect: Increase Damage as your Health is lowered.

Fantasista

“Bet everything you’ve got on Reversals!” Use characters like Hayate, Shirase, Hokuto, and Sanane since they have reversal attacks on command.

Cards
M.Gross
Trigger: Perform 2 Reversals.
Effect: Gain Meter when performing Reversals.

P.Reversal
Trigger: Attack with 5 Reversals.
Effect: Reversals gain a Damage boost.

Disrupt
Trigger: Perform a Super Cancel from a Super Combo.
Effect: Spend all Super Meter to perform a powerful Super Combo.

Attack Up
Trigger: Build 1 Bar of Super Meter.
Effect: Increase Damage by 5%.

Meter Up
Trigger: Attack your opponent 10 times.
Effect: Increase Super Meter Gain by 10%.

Supernova

“Unleash all your Gougi at once and gain Unlimited Gauge Powers”. An all-or-nothing deck. This is best for characters with insane-damaging Super Attacks like Skullomania and Shadow Geist since they have that Raging Demon-style input attacks.

Cards
Overload
Trigger: While having MAX Super Meter, attack with 25 Special Attacks.
Effect: Activate all other Gougi.

Rage
Trigger: Spend 10 Blocks of Super Meter.
Effect: Gain the ability to recover Super Meter.

G.Break
Trigger: Attack your opponent with 4 Hard Attacks.
Effect: Hard Attacks become Guard Breaks.

Disrupt
Trigger: Perform a Super Cancel from a Super Combo.
Effect: Spend all Super Meter to perform a powerful Super Combo.

M.Power
Trigger: Build 5 bars of Super Meter.
Effect: Gain a Damage boost depending on how much Super Meter you have.

Grab Master

“Unlock the maximum power of your Throws!” This is essentially the Gougi for grapplers like Darun Mister and…not anyone else, really. Okay, maybe Allen since he has a command grab. But damn if it doesn’t kill anyone stupid enough to walk up to anyone using this Deck.

Cards
Kraken Power
Trigger: Perform a Special Throw or Throw Super Combo 5 times.
Effect: Increase Special Throw and Throw Super Combo Damage by 20%.

Kraken Grab
Trigger: Spend a total of 10 seconds close to your opponent.
Effect: Special/Super Throw Range 30% up (with some exceptions).

Grab Up
Trigger: Land 2 Normal Throws.
Effect: Increase Normal Throw range by 20%

Speed Up
Trigger: Allow 10 seconds to pass in-game.
Effect: Increase Movement Speed by 10%.

Erase
Trigger: Hit your opponent with Heavy Attacks 3 times.
Effect: Get the ability to negate projectiles with Heavy Attacks.

Combos & Tech

Shadowgeist Air Conversion

Shadow Geist Air Conversion Combos#FEXL #FEXL_SG pic.twitter.com/gP9RYFZlzS

— UncleJimmyBones (@LordJimmyBones) July 4, 2018

The magic of Guard Cancel Gougis, demonstrated by Darun.

Tapping some buttons this evening after going to HCL for #FEXL on Monday.

Gaurd Cancel Gougi's are the one! Bun your block strings!

Just need to find one with a throw damage boost and this geezer is ready to ruin days!@PNDKetchup…WATCH.WHEN.I.SEE.YOU.#Arika #FLEX #Thappar pic.twitter.com/cffqjT5uCH

— dWo | Singho (@JassiSingho) July 5, 2018

Some simple Sanane juggling.

Hmmmmm wonder if I can get more!! #FEXL_SA #SananeLab #FEXL https://t.co/ZmrTrTKrXt pic.twitter.com/O2upRIXgJj

— NASHFAN@EVO2022 (@SoSickNashfan) July 4, 2018