Blocking in Injustice 2 is the most critical skill to learn if you want to survive more than ten seconds in a competitive match. Unlike many other fighting games that feature a dedicated block button, Injustice 2 relies on a directional input system that is both intuitive once mastered and incredibly punishing if misunderstood. If you are struggling to keep your health bar intact, the issue likely isn't your reaction speed, but rather your understanding of the game's defensive layers.

To block in Injustice 2 on console or PC, you must hold Back (the direction away from your opponent) to block standing attacks, or Down + Back to block low attacks. There is no magic button to press; your character's movement is your shield.

The Core Philosophy of Directional Blocking

The transition to a "no block button" system changes the fundamental rhythm of combat. When you hold back to block, you are also moving away from the opponent. This means that defense and spacing are inherently linked. In our experience testing various archetypes, from the heavy-hitting Bane to the agile Catwoman, we found that the most common mistake beginners make is trying to "find" a block button when they see an attack coming, rather than simply committing to the backward movement.

Because blocking requires a directional input, it opens up the possibility of "cross-ups." A cross-up occurs when an opponent jumps over your head and attacks from the other side. Since you were holding "Back" relative to their original position, you are now suddenly holding "Forward" relative to their new position, leaving you completely exposed. Mastering the block in Injustice 2 means constantly recalibrating your definition of "Back" as the characters dance around the screen.

Standing Block vs Crouching Block Mechanics

Not all blocks are created equal. Injustice 2 categorizes attacks into High, Mid, Low, and Overhead. Understanding which block to use against which attack is the difference between a successful defense and a devastating combo.

When to Block Standing

Holding Back while standing will protect you from High, Mid, and Overhead attacks.

  • High Attacks: These are often the fastest starters in a character's combo string. If you are crouching, some high attacks might actually whiff (miss) entirely, but blocking them standing is the safest bet.
  • Overhead Attacks: These are the "block breakers" for people who crouch too much. An overhead attack must be blocked standing. If you are holding Down + Back, an overhead will hit you every single time. Characters like Batman have notorious overheads that can lead into full-damage combos.

When to Block Crouching

Holding Down + Back puts your character in a crouching defensive stance. This protects you from Mid and Low attacks.

  • Low Attacks: These are designed to trip up players who block standing. You must crouch to defend against these.
  • Mid Attacks: These are the most common attacks in the game. The beauty of Mid attacks is that they can be blocked both standing and crouching.

In our competitive sets, we discovered that the "Default Crouch" strategy is often the most effective. Most players naturally start their pressure with low pokes or mids. By defaulting your defense to Down + Back, you cover two out of the three primary ground attack heights. You only switch to a standing block when you visually identify a slower, more deliberate overhead animation.

Utilizing the Meter Burn Push Block

Sometimes, simply blocking isn't enough. If an opponent like Deadshot or Starfire is pinning you in the corner with a relentless string of attacks, you will eventually succumb to "Chip Damage"—the small amount of health lost even while successfully blocking. To break this pressure, you need the Push Block.

To perform a Push Block, also known as Block Advancing, hold Forward + Meter Burn (the button used to enhance special moves) while you are currently in a block animation. This move consumes one bar of your Super Meter.

The Push Block is a game-changer for several reasons:

  1. Creating Space: It physically shoves the opponent away from you, resetting the "neutral" game.
  2. Stopping Momentum: It interrupts the opponent's rhythm, forcing them to stop their combo string and reconsider their approach.
  3. Surviving the Corner: If you are trapped against the edge of the screen, a well-timed Push Block is often your only ticket out.

However, do not spam this. During our high-level play sessions, we noticed that players who Push Block too frequently find themselves without the meter needed for a Super Move or a Clash later in the round. It is a tactical tool, not a panic button.

The Unblockable Threats and How to Counter Them

You cannot block everything in Injustice 2. If you try to hold Back for the entire match, a skilled opponent will punish your passivity with unblockable moves.

Escaping Throws

Throws (or Grabs) ignore your block entirely. If an opponent gets close and presses the Throw button, your character will be grabbed regardless of whether you are holding Back or Down + Back. To counter this, you must perform a Throw Escape. This is done by pressing the Throw button (or Light Attack + Heavy Attack) at the precise moment the opponent attempts to grab you. It requires a "read"—you have to anticipate the throw before it happens.

Avoiding Stage Interactables

Some stage objects, like the cars in Metropolis or the turbines in the Batcave, can be thrown at you. While some of these can be blocked, many are considered "Unblockable" or deal massive chip damage. The best defense against these is not blocking, but movement. Dashing (tapping Forward or Back twice quickly) or jumping is usually the only way to avoid stage-based hazards.

Advanced Defensive Maneuvers

Beyond the basic block, Injustice 2 offers several advanced mechanics that use the Super Meter to save your life.

The Clash System

The Clash is a unique Injustice mechanic that can only be triggered once you are on your second (red) health bar. If you are being hit by a combo, you can press Forward + Meter Burn to initiate a Clash. This breaks the combo and enters a mini-game where both players wager a portion of their Super Meter.

If the defender wins the wager, they regain a significant amount of health. If the attacker wins, they deal extra damage. Knowing when to Clash is an art form. We recommend Clashing early if you have a full four bars of meter and your opponent has none, as this practically guarantees a massive health recovery.

Air Escapes and Rolls

If you are launched into the air (juggled), you cannot block. However, you can use an Air Escape by pressing Back + Meter Burn or Up + Meter Burn. This costs two bars of meter but allows you to flip out of the air and regain control of your character.

On the ground, you can perform a Roll Escape. During a dash, press the Meter Burn button. This makes your character roll a long distance and gives you invulnerability frames, allowing you to pass right through projectiles or get out of a corner. Like the Air Escape, this is a costly maneuver (one bar of meter) but essential for mobility.

Blocking in Injustice 2 Mobile vs Console

The mobile version of Injustice 2 is a different beast entirely. It does not use directional blocking because the touch interface wouldn't support it effectively.

  • How to Block on Mobile: You can either tap and hold the bottom-left corner of the screen or hold two fingers anywhere on the screen.
  • Damage Reduction: In the mobile version, blocking reduces basic attack damage by 25% and special attack damage by 50%. This is a significant difference from the console version, where blocking negates almost all damage except for a tiny sliver of chip damage.
  • Special Blocks: Certain characters in the mobile game, like Superman or Wonder Woman, have "Special Blocks" or "Shield Blocks" as part of their ability kit. These can reflect damage back at the opponent or provide nearly 90% damage reduction when fully upgraded.

Practice Drills to Improve Your Defense

Knowing how to block is different from being able to do it under pressure. To improve, we suggest the following routine in Practice Mode:

  1. AI Recording: Set the AI to "Record." Have the AI perform a simple string that ends in a Low, then another string that ends in an Overhead.
  2. Random Playback: Set the AI to play these recordings randomly. This forces you to react visually to the animations rather than memorizing a pattern.
  3. Throw Teching: Set the AI to walk forward and throw you. Practice the timing of the Throw Escape until it becomes muscle memory.

Why Your Defense is Failing

If you feel like your blocks aren't registering, check for these three common issues:

  • Input Delay: If you are playing online with a high ping, your character might not move "Back" fast enough to trigger the block animation.
  • Letting Go Too Soon: Many combo strings in Injustice 2 have three or four hits. If you let go of the Back direction after the second hit, the third will hit you. You must hold the direction until the entire animation is finished.
  • The "Gap" in Strings: Some character strings have a tiny gap where you can be poked out of your block if you try to counter-attack too early. This is called "frame trapping."

Conclusion and Summary of Defense

Mastering defense in Injustice 2 is about more than just holding a direction; it’s about meter management, recognizing animations, and knowing when to stay grounded versus when to take to the air. By understanding the hierarchy of High/Mid/Low/Overhead attacks and utilizing advanced tools like the Push Block and Clash, you can turn a defensive disadvantage into a winning opportunity.

FAQ

Can you block while jumping in Injustice 2? No, you cannot block while in the air on the console/PC version. Jumping makes you highly vulnerable to "Anti-Air" attacks. You must use an Air Escape (consuming meter) if you get caught while airborne.

Does blocking stop all damage? Not quite. You will still take a small amount of "Chip Damage," especially from special moves and Super Moves. If your health is extremely low (a "magic pixel"), you can actually die while blocking.

What is the best way to block high attacks? Simply hold Back while standing. However, many High attacks can also be avoided entirely by crouching without blocking, which allows you to recover faster and punish the opponent.

How do I block a Super Move? Super Moves can be blocked just like any other attack by holding Back (or Down + Back, depending on the move). However, they deal significant chip damage, so it is always better to dodge them if possible.

Is there a block button in the options menu? No. Injustice 2 is designed specifically around the "Back to Block" mechanic for consoles. You cannot remap a button to act as a dedicated block key.