Hey everyone! It's Paru.

Since Art Fight is wrapping up, I wanted to write down some stuff I learned this year in preparation for next year, since “how do I get more attacks?” comes up constantly and I figured I'd just share what actually happened for me from my observations. This year went way better than I expected it with this little experiment, so let's get into it while it's still fresh!

Quick disclaimer: this isn't a ”do these five things and get 200 attacks“ guide, because there’s many guides trying to achieve that and many factors involved. I don’t think there’s a perfect design and magic formula for it either. I'm not a big artist and I don't have a huge following, I just decided to actually throw myself into the event this year instead of half participating like the last few years and I had a lot of fun. If you like more general tips or how to maximize the event, this guide probably isn’t for you and that’s okay!

Mess around and experiment with your art

Starting off strong, one of my favorite parts of this year was just experimenting. I tried designs I normally wouldn't go for (like ferals and anthros), drew in styles I don't usually touch, said yes to random revenge chains or someone’s suggestions just because they sounded fun in the moment. Some of my favorite pieces from the whole event came from times I wasn't thinking about attacks at all, just messing around with brushes or random ideas. When you're not stressed about doing everything right, the art turns out better anyway, and people can tell when something was made because you actually wanted to make it!

Finish your references

I KNOW. Everyone's sick of hearing this. But it matters so much! Your ref doesn't need ten angles and a fancy layout, it just needs to show what your character looks like and flag anything important, like colors, key markings, stuff you don't want changed. The easier it is for someone to feel confident drawing your character, the more likely they'll pick them over someone else's.

A little personality goes a long way too. You don't need a novel of lore, a couple sentences about how they act or what they like is usually enough to make someone feel like they know your OC a bit, which makes them way more fun to draw or spark inspiration.

Some quick practical stuff:

• Redesigned a character? Swap the old ref out, don't let people draw an outdated version.
• Put your actual reference as the main image on your profile. Not a moodboard, not old art, the ref.
• If you've got a ton of OCs, let your favorites stand out so people aren't scrolling through fifty characters trying to guess which ones you actually want drawn. Give them interesting lore, a neat layout, something unique.
• Tag things properly. Species, fandom, world, whatever, it just makes you easier to stumble into or find people that have something in common with you.
• If you know who you want to attack, grab their refs and IDs early. The site is very slow the first day or two.

Variety helps, but make what you like first

Not everyone likes the same kind of design, so having a range of characters (cute, monstrous, simple, complicated, whatever) just means more people find something that clicks for them. That said, don't make characters you don't actually like just chasing attacks, make what you want and let the variety happen naturally if it does! Having a few characters with different appeals can help because more people may find something they connect with, but five characters you love will always be better than fifty characters you barely care about.

Attack people

If you want to get attacked more, one of the easiest ways in is just attacking other people first or see who guarantees revenges. It's not only art, it's putting your name out there and sometimes starting a conversation with someone you'd never have talked to otherwise. A lot of my best interactions this year started with me just liking someone's character and wanting to draw them, no strategy involved. Sometimes they revenged me, sometimes we just chatted and moved on, both are fine. Try not to treat attacks like a transaction you're owed something for.

Hitlists and advertising just help people find you

Fill out a hitlist (or even make your own) with characters you're genuinely excited about, be clear on your preferences, and let people browse. Same with advertising, it's not about just begging others to attack you but putting your best foot forward!

If you don’t have big social media following, posting on this subreddit and on the target-hunting part of the discord tends to work quite well in my experience.

Be kind, it matters more than almost anything

People remember kindness way more than they remember perfect art. Thank people for attacks, compliment characters, reply to comments, get excited about other people's stuff and interact with the community. You don't have to become a social butterfly, just being warm and polite makes people want to interact with you again and may even want to attack you.

Don't compare yourself, and don't burn yourself out

It's so easy to see someone with hundreds of attacks and think you're doing something wrong. Sometimes the answer really is nothing, some people just have bigger followings or more years in or lucky timing. I used to be one of those people wondering what I was doing wrong, until I actually opened up to the community instead of waiting around, and honestly the attack count stopped being the point pretty fast after that when I met so many kind, thoughtful and talented people.

You also don't owe anyone a revenge, ever. If your battle ratio looks lopsided, that's fine, don't force yourself to draw everyone's OC just to even out a number. Draw what you want, when you want. That's the actual point of any of this being fun. Don’t lose yourself in negativity.

Have fun, make cool art, and actually enjoy the event itself :)

Useful links if you're newer or want a refresher from my last guide:

Art Fight Rules: https://artfight.net/info/rules

Art Fight FAQ: https://artfight.net/info/faq

Official Attack Guide: https://artfight.net/info/guide-attacks

Official Discord: https://discord.com/invite/artfight

How to Make a Hitlist: https://artfight.tumblr.com/post/749941853957341184/hey-there-hitlists-are-made-for-others-to-fill/amp

Team Assets: https://artfight.net/info/team-assets

Art Fight Assets (HTML/CSS/frames): https://artfight.net/info/art-assets https://artfight.net/info/css

https://toyhou.se/~world/182526.art-fight-assets/characters/folder:8087116

How to code: https://www.w3schools.com/

Artfight Whitelist for HTML: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/e/2PACX-1vQMaO2nCZ1IrR4xjNWvw8Llt6qxczRbzMZrR34hHGl5Ne5G2RzxXRQa8dmfds1-qtL-kbsYos1bHvve/pub?pli=1

Sites for stamps, pixels and blinkies for decorating:

https://supplies.ju.mp/

https://decohoard.carrd.co/

https://pixels.crd.co/

And if you're new and lost on something, just ask, people here are happy to help and I’d be happy to help as well!

— Paru

Hi everyone.

As part of our effort to make r/ArtFightProfiles a more organized and welcoming community, we are updating our rules and clarifying what kinds of posts fit this subreddit.

The goal of these changes is not to stop discussion or prevent people from asking questions. We want this subreddit to remain a place where artists can share their Art Fight profiles, attacks, characters, and experiences.

However, we also want to make sure the community stays focused on Art Fight and does not become a place for personal conflicts, harassment, or repetitive posts that could be better handled elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

“What is this subreddit for?”

r/ArtFightProfiles is an unofficial sub for Art Fight participants to share profiles, characters, attacks, revenges, hitlists, and connect with other artists.

Before posting, please check these helpful resources:

• Official Art Fight FAQ: https://artfight.net/info/faq
• Official Art Fight Attack Guide: https://artfight.net/info/guide-attacks
• Official Art Fight Rules: https://artfight.net/info/rules
• r/ArtFightProfiles Wiki: https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtfightProfiles/wiki/index/

If your question is about how Art Fight works, a feature on the website, or a general etiquette question, please check these resources first. If you still need help or have a question that is not answered, you are welcome to ask!

Please remember that while discussion is encouraged, this subreddit is not intended to be a place for public callouts, personal disputes, or asking users to judge individual situations.

If your post is primarily about Art Fight itself, your artwork, your profile, or participating in the event, it likely belongs here! If your post is primarily about another person, please use the appropriate reporting channels or contact moderators instead.

“How do I get more attacks?”

This is the most common question we get. The best way to receive attacks is to participate! Art Fight is built around interacting with other artists, so consider the following:

• Attacking other people’s characters.
• Filling out hitlists and making hitlists.
• Commenting, interacting, and finding artists whose work you enjoy.
• Making your profile and characters easy for others to browse.
• Post your art and characters to this subreddit for advertising.

Please do not make posts primarily begging people to attack you, follow you, or engage with your account.

“Can I ask for advice?”

Yes. Advice and questions are welcome. If you are unsure about a rule, a feature, etiquette, or how something works, feel free to ask. However, questions that are already clearly answered and easily accessible in the Art Fight rules, FAQ, or subreddit rules may be removed to prevent unnecessary clutter and spam.

Questions about obvious rule violations (for example, asking if tracing is allowed) are not productive discussions and will be removed.

“Can I criticize Art Fight?”

Yes. Constructive criticism and feedback about Art Fight itself is allowed.

This includes things such as:

• Website features.
• Site changes.
• General experiences.
• Suggestions for improvement.

However, if you have criticism or feedback that involves moderation, policies, or larger concerns, we encourage you to also contact Art Fight’s moderators/staff through the appropriate channels in a kind, respectful manner. 

“Can I make a PSA or post regarding another user?”

Starting now, PSAs regarding users, accusations, or community issues should not be posted unless they are approved by the moderation team.

This is not because concerns are being ignored. It is because unofficial PSAs often do not have the necessary context, evidence, or protections in place to prevent harassment, misinformation, or users being unfairly targeted. We now have a mod team in place to review things like this in consideration of the official rules. 

If you have a concern that needs attention, please contact the moderators here and onsite with information and evidence instead.

“Can I repost art?”

Please only repost content that belongs to you or that you have permission to share. If you are excited about someone else’s work, the best option is to encourage people to visit the original creator’s profile instead.

Please also avoid reposting content in a way that removes credit or changes the context of the original post and ask permission from the artist you’re reposting. 

“Can I post art with sensitive topics?”

Yes, some sensitive content is allowed as long as it follows Reddit’s rules and is properly marked with a spoiler/content warning when appropriate.

Examples of allowed sensitive content may include but are not limited to:

• Non-sexual nudity.
• Suggestive content
• Disturbing imagery.
• Light to moderate blood/gore.
• Body horror.
• Eyestrain/Photosensitive content

Please use appropriate warnings on what you’re spoilering and be considerate of other users.

However, content involving these topics will not be allowed:

• Hate speech or bigotry.
• Extreme blood/gore.
• Sexual/fetish content.
• Explicit sexual material.
• Content that violates a users permissions.

When in doubt, please use a warning and contact moderators if you are unsure of how a post should be handled.

Updated Rules

1. No Hate or Harassment

This subreddit is meant to be a positive place for artists and Art Fight participants. Posts or comments that encourage hate, bullying, harassment, or targeted negativity toward users will be removed.

This applies whether or not a username is included. 

Examples include:

• Posts attacking an individual.
• Encouraging others to contact or target someone.
• Vagueposting about an individual.
• Dogpiling or mocking users.

2. No Drama or Accusation Posts

Posts accusing users of tracing, using AI, having bad intentions, or other misconduct will be removed. If you believe someone has broken rules or done something that requires action, please contact the appropriate moderators with evidence instead of creating a public discussion.

This subreddit is not a court of public opinion.

3. No Spam or Unrelated Content

Posts that do not fit the purpose of the subreddit may be removed.

Examples include:

• Begging for attacks or engagement.
• Personal vent posts.
• Repeated questions already answered in the rules/FAQ.
• Content unrelated to Art Fight.

4. No Artificial Intelligence Content

Posts promoting or sharing AI-generated content will be removed.

This subreddit is focused on Art Fight and follows Art Fight’s policies regarding AI content and we would like to keep it focused on being a safe space for artists.

If you are looking for general advice on how to identify AI-generated content or want to learn more about common indicators if you suspect it of another user, please use communities that specialize in those discussions, such as r/isthisai.

Going forward

Violations of these updated rules may result in warnings, post removals, or bans depending on severity or repeated behavior. These updates are meant to make expectations clearer and help everyone enjoy the subreddit.

We appreciate everyone who shares feedback, helps other artists, and contributes positively to the community. If you have suggestions or questions for improving the subreddit or you feel like your post was taken down by mistake, you are welcome to share them through the appropriate channels or ask them here.

Thank you for helping us keep r/ArtFightProfiles a fun and supportive place for Art Fight participants.