I-frames (invincibility frames)

Invincibility frames: a short window, usually during a dodge or after taking a hit, when the character cannot be damaged. They decouple evasion from literal geometry — a roll through a sword swing succeeds because of timing, not because the hitboxes truly missed. Designers use i-frames to make defense skill-expressive and readable: the player learns each attack's rhythm and answers it with precise timing, which is the backbone of Souls-style combat. Post-hit invulnerability also prevents stunlock deaths from overlapping hits. Tuning is everything: generous windows feel forgiving but trivialize attacks; tight windows demand mastery. Games often scale windows with equipment (Dark Souls ties roll speed to equip load) or upgrades. Pitfalls: invisible rules frustrate — players must be able to learn the window through feel — and multiplayer latency makes i-frame timing notoriously contentious.

• Dev effort: Small
• Timing: Real-time
• Common in: action

View “I-frames (invincibility frames)” in the interactive map →