A trap move is a move that puts out a trap hitbox; its aim is to catch a strike, thereupon starting an automatic counterattack.
Many trap moves are completely defenseless to anything but a strike in the right place at the right time, so they are definitely high risk.
Also, depending on the move, there is a possibility that even a successful catch will leave you vulnerable to any extra attack before your own attack hitbox comes out.
Usually, the power in a trap move doesn’t come from the success of the move itself so much as the fear that a seemingly safe attack can be hazardous to use against a trap-savvy opponent.
The actions after a trap move catches an attack vary:
Trap moves in general fall into these two types:
This is most typical of SNK-like games. Basically, the trap hitbox itself is small, and as such, it will only cover some part of the character who has it.
Because these three can essentially catch anything, some characters can only use the high and mid-height traps, and some things can catch practically anything; it is essential to know whether someone has these abilities.
In many cases, special moves and moves of higher rank will fall under the “high” classification, even though they aren’t in midair. Therefore, the “high” trap moves will be comparatively easy to catch with.
This is most typical of Arc System Works-like games. Sometimes this means the trap hitbox will cover the character’s entire body; if the corresponding hitbox hits, then the trap move will be completed wheresoever the attack should coincide.