Quick beginner rules
- Redeem active codes before you do anything else.
- Learn the basic controls (WASD, M1, F, Q) before jumping into PvP.
- Practice in the Gym against NPCs before fighting other players.
- Choose your fighting style wisely — it defines your playstyle.
- Height matters more than you think — shorter = faster, taller = stronger.
Video guide for this page
Best current beginner video — covers controls, styles, tips, and combat basics in one watch.
YouTube beginner guide
Gakuran Guide! (Styles, Tutorial, Tips & Tricks, Controls)
A strong current beginner video because it focuses on the questions new players actually search for right now.
Watch beginner guideBeginner priority table
Use this table to see what to do first, how much to commit, and which habit to avoid.
| Situation | Goal | Route | Investment | Next move | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Log in and claim free rewards | Start with free rerolls for fighting style | Join the official community group, add 5 friends, then redeem all active codes from the Codes page. Each code gives free rerolls for fighting style, ethnicity, and appearance. | Two calm minutes in the menu. | Use your rerolls to get a better fighting style before investing time in combat practice. | Do not spend your first ten minutes fighting while free rerolls are sitting in the codes box. |
| Learn the controls in the Gym | Master basic combat before PvP | Go to the Gym and practice against NPCs. Learn M1 combo timing, F block/parry, Q dash, and R heavy attack. The Gym is the safest place to build muscle memory. | Five minutes of focused practice. | Once you can consistently perfect-block NPC attacks, you are ready for real PvP. | Skipping the Gym and jumping straight into PvP usually means losing badly and learning nothing. |
| Pick your fighting style | Choose a style that matches your playstyle | Check the Tier List to see all styles ranked. If you are new, start with Karate or Muay Thai (Uncommon — easier to roll). Aim for Boxing or Capoeira once you understand the combat system. | One honest style choice based on your playstyle. | Build your combat habits around your chosen style's passive and combo patterns. | Rolling for Legendary styles too early wastes rerolls before you understand what each style actually does. |
| Choose your character build | Optimize height and ethnicity for PvP | For PvP, shorter characters (150-160cm) have a smaller hitbox and faster movement. For damage, taller characters (175cm+) hit harder but are easier to hit. Check the Ethnicity and Height guides for details. | One character build decision. | Once your character is built, focus entirely on combat skill improvement. | Do not reroll ethnicity and height repeatedly — the differences are meaningful but not game-breaking. |
Beginner route steps
Follow these steps in order if you want the beginner experience to feel smooth and efficient.
Claim your free codes
Join the community group, add 5 friends, and redeem every active code for free rerolls.
Learn the controls
Go to the Gym and practice WASD movement, M1 attacks, F block, Q dash, and R heavy attack.
Pick your fighting style
Use the Tier List to choose a style. Start with Uncommon styles, aim for Epic/Legendary later.
Build your character
Choose ethnicity and height based on your playstyle — shorter for speed, taller for damage.
Practice in the Gym
Fight NPCs to learn combo timing, perfect blocking, and style-specific passives.
Start PvP
Once you are comfortable with controls and your style, challenge other players.
Decision table
Use this section when the guide stops being theory and turns into a real choice you need to make.
| Situation | Action | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| You want the easiest start | Start with Karate or Muay Thai and practice basic combos | Uncommon styles are easier to roll and teach fundamental combat mechanics. |
| You want the strongest PvP build | Aim for Capoeira (speed) or Wrestling (grapple) with a short height | These S-tier styles dominate PvP when paired with optimal character builds. |
| You keep losing PvP fights | Go back to the Gym and practice perfect blocking | Most PvP losses come from poor block timing, not bad styles or builds. |
| You wasted all your rerolls | Check the Codes page for new codes and play passively until you earn more | New codes drop during updates and milestones — patience beats frustration. |
Beginner mistakes to avoid
These are the habits that most often make the beginner route feel heavier and slower than it needs to.
Skipping codes and grinding for rerolls manually — free codes give 25 rerolls.
Fighting other players before learning controls in the Gym.
Rerolling for Legendary styles before understanding what each style does.
Ignoring height — it affects damage, health, speed, and hitbox size more than any other stat.
Not joining the official community group — it is required to redeem codes.
Spending all rerolls at once instead of testing styles one at a time.
Sources behind this page
Official pages and verified videos this guide is grounded in.
Beginner Guide FAQ
Short answers for the most common beginner questions.
What should I do first in Gakuran?
Join the official community group, add 5 friends, then redeem all active codes for free rerolls. After that, go to the Gym to learn the controls.
How do I redeem codes?
Open the Menu (left side) → Codes → Enter code → Redeem. You must be in the game, in the community group, and have 5+ friends.
What is the best fighting style for beginners?
Start with Karate or Muay Thai (Uncommon rarity). They are easier to roll and teach fundamental combat mechanics. Aim for Boxing or Capoeira once you improve.
Does character height matter?
Yes — height is the most impactful stat. Shorter = faster with smaller hitbox. Taller = more damage but larger hitbox. Choose based on your playstyle.
Where should I practice combat?
The Gym is the best place to practice against NPCs. Learn perfect blocking, combo timing, and style-specific passives before fighting other players.
How do I get more rerolls?
Redeem active codes (check the Codes page), earn them through gameplay, or purchase with in-game currency. New codes drop during updates and milestones.
Start with the real blocker, not the loudest one
Open Controls if you need keyboard inputs, Tier List if you need style rankings, or Codes if you need free rerolls first.