Alternate Battlegrounds Guide: Starting the game and finding the tutorial
About
OverviewAlternate Battlegrounds (AB) is a 1v1 fighting game on Roblox based on Undertale, Deltarune, and their alternate-universe fan characters. Despite the name, it is not a Battlegrounds-genre game. This guide covers the controls, core mechanics, fighter basics, and combat tactics you need to start winning fights.
What is on this page
Contents
Starting the game and finding the tutorial
Step
AB has a built-in tutorial you can reach straight from the menu.
- Open the menu look for the controller icon labeled Gamemodes.
- Select Tutorial it sits on the left side of the Gamemodes screen.
- Check settings first the game contains flashing lights and rapid screen effects by default; turn them off in settings if you are sensitive to them.
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Core controls to learn first
CheckEvery character shares the same basic inputs. On mobile, dashing is a dedicated button and locking is done by tapping the lock icon then tapping an opponent.
- Lock on (L or Middle Mouse on PC; tap Lock then tap opponent on mobile) keeps your camera and attacks aimed at the target automatically.
- LMB (left-click) your basic 5-to-6 hit attack string; the final hit causes knockback and breaks the opponent's block.
- Block (F key) absorbs incoming damage at the cost of mana; if your mana hits zero while blocking, your guard breaks automatically.
- Dash (double-tap W, A, S, or D) gives you 0.2 seconds of invincibility, enough to pass through an attack if timed right.
- Teleport (R key) snaps you to your locked target quickly; not every character can use it.
- Jump (Space) gets you airborne and dodges most hitboxes, but carries a 10-second cooldown.
Mana, stamina, and why they matter in a fight
Summary
Two resource bars sit at the bottom-left of your screen. Mana is spent on most attacks and on blocking hits. Stamina, shown in blue, is spent on dashing, sprinting, and some utility moves. Both refill over time.
- Mana spent on moves; each LMB that lands on your block drains 10 mana from you.
- Low mana on knockdown the less mana you have when you hit the ground, the slower you get back up, giving the opponent more time to extend their combo.
- Stamina drains when you dash or sprint.
- Mana punish when your opponent is low on mana, they get up slowly; use that window to land extra hits or moves you normally cannot combo into.
- Resource conservation avoiding unnecessary sprinting and spacing your moves out lets you recover mana mid-combo.
Perfect block and block-break
TipsRegular blocking absorbs damage but costs mana. Two advanced interactions change the dynamic entirely: perfect block punishes the attacker, while block-break moves force the defender out of their guard.
- Press block within 0.2 seconds of an LMB hitbox touching you to trigger a perfect block, which stuns the attacker for 2.5 seconds.
- Block-break moves force the opponent out of block and stun them for 3 seconds, but deal no damage on their own.
- Some moves bypass block entirely, dealing full damage and effects even if the opponent is holding guard.
Picking your first fighter
TableEvery fighter has a distinct archetype, HP total, and skill ceiling. None of them carry over between sessions — there is no persistent progression, so you can try anyone whenever you like.
| Sans | high damage, low HP, low mana; a glass cannon that can end fights in 3-4 combos but dies quickly if caught. |
| Asgore | 1050 HP tank with trident and fire move sets; slower than other fighters. |
| GT!Gaster | all-around strong with short cooldowns; demands high mechanical skill to use well. |
| X!Frisk | another glass cannon with four block-break or block-bypass tools. |
| X!Event (Cross / X!Chara) | a two-phase fighter where Cross handles phase 1 and X!Chara takes over in phase 2, each with a different playstyle. |
| The Fun Gang | a three-member team; combos get weaker as members fall, and the last survivor enters a Last Stand phase with a new ultimate. |
Combat tactics that actually work
Tips
These are approaches the game's experienced players use to create advantages without relying on risky plays.
- Keep combos simple — a straightforward combo you land every time beats a high-damage sequence you drop half the time.
- Watch the opponent's mana bar — when it is low, they get up slowly from knockdown, so you can confirm hits you would normally miss.
- Jumping to escape combos is your fastest option, but save it: the 10-second cooldown means a smart opponent will bait it out and punish you afterward.
- Use neutral chip — low-endlag moves poked out in neutral stop the opponent from regenerating resources even when you are not going for a full combo.
- Fish for block-breaks — if your opponent keeps blocking in a specific situation, bait that block and punish it with a block-break move; less endlag on the move, the better.
- Dashing works as an answer to playstyle changes, jumping opponents, and block-and-dash pressure.
Unlocking skins
SummarySkins are cosmetic changes to a character's appearance. They do not alter any stats, move damage, or cooldowns.
- Skins earned by reaching kill milestones with a specific character, not purchased with kills.
- Effect on gameplay none; the character's abilities are identical regardless of which skin is equipped.
Things that will get you removed from a server
WarnThe game's own page lists behaviors that result in removal from servers.
Glossary
Glossary- LMB
- Left Mouse Button — the basic attack string of 5-6 hits, with the final hit dealing knockback and breaking the opponent's block.
- Mana
- The resource spent on most moves; running low makes you get up slower after being knocked down.
- Stamina
- The blue resource bar spent on dashing, sprinting, and certain utility moves.
- Perfect Block
- Blocking within 0.2 seconds of an LMB hitbox connecting, which stuns the attacker for 2.5 seconds.
- Block-Break
- A move that forces the opponent out of their block and stuns them for 3 seconds without dealing direct damage.
- Knockdown
- The state of being sent to the ground by an attack; lower mana means a longer, slower recovery.
- Lock-on
- A mechanic that fixes your camera and attack direction onto a target, activated with L or Middle Mouse on PC.
- Clash
- What happens when two players land an LMB on each other simultaneously — both are pushed back and returned to neutral.
- Mana Punish
- Attacking an opponent while their mana is depleted to take advantage of their slow knockdown recovery.
- AU
- Alternate Universe — fan-created reinterpretations of Undertale characters and settings, which this game's roster is drawn from.
- Glass Cannon
- A fighter archetype with high damage output but low HP, such as Sans and X!Frisk.
- Endlag
- A period of vulnerability after a move finishes where the user cannot act.
Common questions
FAQIs there a tutorial?
Yes. From the main menu, open Gamemodes (the controller icon) and select Tutorial on the left side.
Can I play with a controller?
The current version, AB:A, supports controllers. The older AB version did not support controllers and required a keyboard and mouse.
Do I keep my character between sessions, or is there leveling up?
Fighters are not locked in permanently — you choose fresh each session. There is no leveling, equipment, or RPG-style progression in this game at all.
Why can some characters not teleport?
Teleport is part of each character's kit, and some characters simply do not have it. Asgore, TFG's Kris and Susie, and phase-1 GT!Frisk are examples of fighters who cannot teleport.
How do I escape a combo I am stuck in?
Jumping is the fastest option, but its 10-second cooldown means you cannot rely on it every time. Dashing and using your character's counter move (if they have one) are the other reliable escape tools — counters activate instantly and can interrupt untrue combos.
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