DAS Optimization

DAS Optimization involves multiple techniques to keep DAS charged between pieces. All the following sections don't make any assumptions about ARR, so factor them in to the examples where necessary.

Before reading the following, familiarize yourself with what DAS is and how it works.

DAS Preservation
DAS Preservation is keeping your DAS charged between pieces. The simplest example is to place two pieces against the wall (in neutral orientation).

No DAS preservation:
 * Charge right DAS
 * Piece hits wall.
 * Neutral movement (release right)
 * Hard drop
 * Charge right DAS
 * Piece hits wall
 * Neutral movement (release right)
 * Hard drop

With DAS Preservation
 * Charge right DAS
 * Piece hits wall
 * Keep Right held
 * Hard drop
 * Piece hits wall
 * Hard drop

This method saves time because you are cutting out the time required to charge DAS.

DAS Interruption
DAS Interruption is a method for keeping your DAS charged, but interrupting its effects. It is game-specific, however most Guideline games support it. Note-able games include JSTris, Nullpomino, PuyoPuyoTetris, TetrisFriends.

The simplest example involves DAS Tapback. The first piece is one away from the wall, the second against the wall.

Without Interruption
 * Charge right DAS
 * Piece hits wall
 * Release right, tap left
 * Piece comes off wall
 * Hard drop
 * Charge right DAS
 * Piece hits wall
 * Hard drop

With Interruption
 * Charge right DAS
 * Piece hits wall
 * Keep right held down, press and hold left
 * Piece comes off wall
 * Hard drop
 * Release left - right DAS is still charged
 * Piece hits wall
 * Hard drop

Pipelining
Pipelining is a technique where you drop two pieces - the first one with a tap, and the second using DAS. By holding the first tap rather than going neutral, you can add time to the DAS counter.

Forward Pipelining
Forward pipelining is the simplest form. When you have two pieces that need to move in the same direction, with the second require charge, Forward Pipelining is the way to go.

Without Forward Pipelining:
 * Tap right.
 * Drop
 * Hold right and charge
 * Drop

With Forward Pipelining:
 * Hold Right
 * Drop before DAS is charged
 * Keep holding right
 * Drop

Forward pipelining need not be for a single tap. You may for example convert a tap-tap-drop-das to a tap-hold-drop-das.

Tapback Pipelining
Tapback pipelining is pipelining using the tap-back from a DAS Tap-back.

The reason this is differentiated to Forward Pipelining is that this involves changing DAS directionality while pipelining.

Example - drop first piece one away from right wall, drop second piece against left wall


 * Charge Right DAS
 * Release Right, Hold Left
 * Hard Drop before DAS is charged
 * Hard Drop when 2nd piece hits left wall

Tapback pipelining is very easy to combine with Double DAS Charging (see below), due to the fact that you can simply keep holding the first DAS Charge.

Double Charged DAS
In some games, particularly on PC, it is possible to charge both DAS Timers.

An effective example involves three pieces. The first against the right wall, second against the left wall, and third against the right wall.


 * Charge Right DAS
 * Hard drop first piece
 * Keep Right held down, charge Left DAS
 * Hard drop second piece
 * Release Left. Right DAS kicks in immediately
 * Hard drop third piece.

Note that Double Charged DAS is game-specific.

Here is an example video with more discussion on a less basic example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ5iGOyRsgQG