No, it’s not what those teenage ninja turtles do in their free time, but a viable defensive strategy in the fighting game community.

It may not be as useful at higher levels of play, however, it’s a valid option to vary your playstyle and dodge attacks.

What is Turtling (FGC)

Turtling is when players block, avoid damage, and put themselves in a defensive position to try and draw out or bait attacks from an opponent while minimizing risk to themselves. The name comes from turtles retreating into their shell for protection. This is different than say, zoners, which use projectiles to keep enemies at set distances.

How to Turtle

Turtling relies on slow timing, positioning, and mitigating punishable mistakes. Similar to actual turtles, the player primarily stays in a defensive position and attacks when appropriate, like after whiffs. Some say turtling eschews offensive tactics completely, but that won’t help anyone win a match.

Is Turtling Good

Depending on the game, turtling may or may not be a great strategy. Games like Street Fighter 5 have meters that build off of blocks and attacks, while Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate’s meter is time-based. In Smash, there’s a little bubble that gets smaller and smaller as players shield.

Turtling Strategy

Mix-ups generally discourage turtling in MK 11, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work in specific instances. Some say this is cheap, but if the clock is running out and you’re ahead, turtling can sometimes hand you the match.

Turtling in RTS and RPGs

Turtling doesn’t only exist in the fighting game universe. It’s also a strategy in RTS games (when players want to protect their territory and recharge) and turn-based strategy games (when a player is low on health and needs to protect themselves).

For more information on other fighting game archetypes, check out our guides on zoners and rushdown, or come out of your shell to explore the Open Series.