====== Hidden Melee ======
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{{tablelayout?rowsHeaderSource=Auto}}
^ <wrap centeralign> **//Hidden Melee//** </wrap>||
^ <wrap centeralign>{{ ::universaltech:sevenlightningballhiddenmelee.mp4 }}</wrap>||
^ Tech Type                                             | Universal       |
^ Difficulty                                            | Basic Mechanics |
^ Character Dependent                                   | Yes              |
^ Inputs                                                | Use an ability then buffer a Heavy Melee     |
</WRAP>


A **Hidden Melee** is a [[universaltech:heavymelee|Heavy Melee]] whose animations are hidden/obscured using abilities. Certain animations tied to abilities have a higher "priority" than the Heavy Melee animation, overriding it and therefore "hiding" the melee animation.

Hidden Melees makes parrying harder, since there is less visual tells on screen. However, a person can still parry based off the sound and flame effects around your fist.

A Hidden Melee only hides the animation with another animation; a common misconception is that some Hidden Melees also obscures sound and particle effects. These are __not__ Hidden Melees: they are client-sided only and enemies can still hear the sound and particle effects.

Hidden Melees can be either hidden or obscured:
  * When a Hidden Melee is hidden, the melee animation is fully hidden and no part of it can be seen.
  * When a Hidden Melee is obscured, the melee animation can still be partially seen.

The execution depends on the character and their abilities; they are typically performed by using an ability then buffering a Heavy Melee afterwards. The timing can vary; for example, <viscous_mm> Viscous' Hidden Melee can be executed quite easily, at any point during his animation. <seven_mm> Seven's Hidden Melee is a three tick window and is considerably harder.

===== Characters That Can Perform a Hidden Melee =====
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^ Character                       ^ Ability             ^ Notes                                                                                             ^
| <bebop_card> Bebop              | Exploding Uppercut  | Animation hidden. Buffer Heavy Melee when using Exploding Uppercut. Heavy Melee is much shorter.  |
| <grey-talon_card> Grey Talon    | Charged Shot        | Animation hidden. Buffer Heavy Melee when using Charged Shot.                                     |
| <holliday_card> Holliday        | Bounce Pad          | Animation hidden. Buffer when landing (only when stomping, can only occur once per pad).          |
| <kelvin_card> Kelvin            | Ice Path            | Animation hidden. Heavy Melee, then cast Ice Path.                                                |
| :::                             | Ice Dome            | Animation hidden. Heavy Melee while casting Ice Dome or cast then Heavy Melee.                    |
| <lash_card> Lash                | Grapple             | Animation hidden. Can Hidden Melee during Grapple for ~3 seconds after initial Grapple.           |
| :::                             | Flog                | Animation hidden. Cast Flog and buffer Heavy Melee.                                               |
| :::                             | Ground Strike       | Animation hidden. Cast Ground Strike and buffer Heavy Melee.                                      |
| <mo-and-krill_card> Mo & Krill  | Sand Blast          | Animation hidden. After throwing Sand Blast, Heavy Melee.                                         |
| <seven_card> Seven              | Lightning Ball      | Animation hidden. Cast Lightning Ball and buffer Heavy Melee.                                     |
| :::                             | Static Charge       | Animation hidden. Cast Static Charge and buffer Heavy Melee.                                      |
| <shiv_card> Shiv                | Killing Blow        | Animation hidden. Buffer Heavy Melee after casting Killing Blow.                                  |
| <viscous_card> Viscous          | Puddle Punch        | Animation obscured. While Puddle Punch is emerging, Heavy Melee.                                  |
| <vyper_card> Vyper              | Screwjab            | Animation hidden. Cast Screwjab and buffer Heavy Melee.                                           |
| :::                             | Petrifying Bola     | Animation hidden. Cast Petrifying Bola and buffer Heavy Melee.                                    |
| <yamato_card> Yamato            | Shadow Form         | Animation hidden. Buffer Heavy Melee after casting Shadow Form                                    |