Mode · Exploit
Recorded run · Nano strategies, 960 rounds, Super explanation

What strategy breaks the game?

A search evolves move policies against the CPU rival and keeps the ones that win too often for too little damage. Each result is a degenerate strategy with a seed you can watch in the real game.

Nemotron Nano proposed 32 strategies over 2 generations; the engine played 30 rounds of each against the CPU (960 rounds). Measured: the top strategy's landed hits were SWEEP 117, GROUND 49, BODY_JAB 16, PUNCH 7, KNEE 6. All three strategies exploit the CPU’s tendency to retreat after being hit by sweeps—specifically, the Sweep move triggers the CPU’s decision logic where `if (spammedSweep && dist <= 1.25 && grabReady)` leads to a THROW_PERSON action, but more critically, the repeated use of sweep causes the CPU to enter recovery or block states where it fails to defend against follow-up grabs due to its state-based retaliation rules not accounting for rapid re-engagement after sweep-induced stun or knockdown. The actual damaging move in each case is the ground-based grab or throw (implied by the GROUND hit count), which lands because the CPU, after being swept, enters a RECOVERY or BLOCK state where its decision function prioritizes retreating or parrying over blocking low or defending against throws, especially when `player.state === 'RECOVERY'` leads to a CROSS/SWEEP/ROUNDHOUSE response that misses if the bot is already in grapple range. The guard rule further confirms this: `isGuarding` only blocks low sweeps if the defender is crouching, but the CPU rarely crouches after being hit by a sweep, leaving it vulnerable to standing throws or ground attacks that bypass its high-block focus. Thus, the bot’s sweep spam manipulates the CPU’s memory and state tracking to create openings for unblockable grabs.

RankStrategyWin rateAvg hp lostLanded hits (measured)Replay
1Mid Grapple Cheese: Trigger grab when rival is in mid and down for mounting strikes.100%40.2SWEEP ×117, GROUND ×49, BODY_JAB ×16▶ seed 452584
2Flip Cheese: Flip forward then grab or prop when rival is down for massive damage.97%37.4SWEEP ×121, GROUND ×65, BODY_JAB ×11▶ seed 495781
3Prop Toss Bait: Occasionally throw a crate near the rival to force them to dodge, then grab when they land.93%36.7SWEEP ×104, GROUND ×68, BODY_JAB ×15▶ seed 955927
4Grapple Mount Rush: When rival is down, mount them and unleash a rapid series of ground punches for massive damage.93%49.5SWEEP ×121, GROUND ×35, BODY_JAB ×9▶ seed 286473
5Mid Grab Counter: Grab rival when they attempt a kick from mid.87%43.7SWEEP ×100, GROUND ×47, BODY_JAB ×15▶ seed 249947
6Far Prop Bomb: Wait on far distance then toss a crate when rival is idle for easy ranged damage.83%50.8GROUND ×39, SWEEP ×35, ROUNDHOUSE_KICK ×24▶ seed 644770
7Airborne Escape: Jump away when rival is active at far distance to reset spacing and avoid damage.83%64.3GROUND ×58, ROUNDHOUSE_KICK ×31, PUNCH ×19▶ seed 388263
8Close Block‑Parry Combo: Block from close, then parry when rival starts a jab chain.83%64.9JAB ×37, GROUND ×30, ROUNDHOUSE_KICK ×29▶ seed 138382