Street Fighter 6 is coming out on 2nd June, which is just less than a month away. As such, the game’s roster for its launch is set with 18 characters, each with their various playstyles.

In this entry, we’ll be focusing on Ryu, a renowned character from the Street Fighter series, known for his disciplined martial arts skills and iconic moves. He’s also the OG Shoto that everyone goes to when starting a new Street Fighter entry.

Note: This guide is still in development.
All inputs are in numpad notations. For example, Hadouken from player 1’s starting side is 236P.
Attack buttons are as follows: LP, MP, HP are light punch, medium punch, and heavy punch respectively. LK, MK, and HK are light kick, medium kick, and heavy kick respectively. None of this Fierce or Roundhouse bulls*** in Asia. 

Info & video credits: Fighting Game Anniversaries, WoolieVS, FlawlessDeku, Capcom

STREET FIGHTER 6 RYU OVERVIEW

In Street Fighter 6, Ryu retains his classic appearance and fighting style, with a few updates and refinements.

Physically, Ryu is a well-built and muscular fighter, displaying a serious demeanour and intense focus. He typically wears a white gi (traditional martial arts attire) with a black belt and gloves. His black hair is usually styled in a traditional Japanese topknot.

In terms of gameplay, Ryu is a pretty versatile character who excels in balanced combat. He relies on a combination of strikes, kicks, and special moves derived from his Ansatsuken style, which includes both traditional karate and elements of the mysterious “Satsui no Hado” (Dark Hadou) energy.

Ryu’s signature move is the “Hadoken,” where he generates a blue energy projectile in his palms and launches it towards his opponents. He also possesses the “Shoryuken,” a powerful uppercut attack that can be used to counter airborne assaults. Another notable move is the “Tatsumaki Senpukyaku” (Hurricane Kick), a spinning kick that allows Ryu to close the distance or hit opponents multiple times.

With his disciplined training and strong fundamentals, he offers players a balanced playstyle that rewards precision and timing. If you are starting out in Street Fighter 6 and can’t stand Luke’s getup, use Ryu to get the hang of the game in general. He has all the tools you need whether you’re a beginner or a high-level player.

Play If: You are just starting out and need to know how SF6 works, you are new to fighting games, you prefer all-rounder characters with the best tools for every situation.
Avoid If: You don’t like vanilla characters, you don’t like having a balanced repertoire, you don’t like specialized playstyles.

STREET FIGHTER 6 RYU MOVE LIST

SPECIAL MOVES

Hadoken: 236LP/236MP/236HP/236PP. Ryu’s iconic fireball used primarily for zoning. Fire a ki blast directly forward. Useful for attacking opponents at range.

Denjin Charge Hadoken: 236P/236PP. With a Denjin charge stocked, Ryu can no longer change the speed of his fireballs. However, they all gain an extra hit and become very fast, making it hard to react to in neutral.

Shoryuken: 623LP/623MP/623HP/623PP. Leap into the air and perform a powerful uppercut. A Shoryuken is invincible to an opponent’s jumping attacks, making it a great anti-air tool. All versions have good juggle potential, which can help squeeze out extra damage from Ryu’s many corner juggle situations.

Tatsumaki Senpu-kyaku: 214LK/214MK/214HK/214KK. Unleash a series of roundhouse klicks while moving forward. It is a useful attack for knocking opponents away.

High Blade Kick: 236LK/236MK/236HK/236KK. This move is commonly known as the “Donkey Kick”. It is a thrust kick that quickly closes distance, and can be used to surprise an opponent between their attacks. Strike with the tip of the foot for maximum effectiveness.

Aerial Tatsumaki Senpu-kyaku: j.214K/j.214KK. This move is basically a Tatsumaki Senpu-kyaku performed while airborne. Useful for altering the trajectory of your jump, or for staging a surprise attack from above.

SUPER ARTS

Shinku Hadoken: 236236P/236236P. A Hadoken in which the body’s ki is concentrated and condensed into your palms before firing. Its swift speed and invulnerability can quickly turn the tables on an opponent. If Ryu has a Denjin stock available, this Super does 400 extra damage and gains 1 additional frame of knockdown advantage on hit.

Shin Hashogeki: A Hashogeki enhanced through spiritual focus. Hold the button to charge the attack and increase its power.  The Denjin Charge version of each level deals 400 extra damage on hit (but again, no extra Chip).

• Charge 1: 214214P. 214214P
• Charge 2: 214214P (hold). 214214P (hold). Button must be held for 6f after the Super freeze
• Charge 3: 214214P (hold). 214214P (hold). Button must be held for 36f after the Super freeze. This gives a tumbling OTG knockdown that can be followed up with a raw Drive Rush combo.

Shin Shoryuken: 236236K/236236K. A powerful Shoryuken unleased at short range. An overwhelming technique that aims for an opponent’s vitals. This works well in juggles.

UNIQUE ATTACKS

Collarbone Breaker: 6MP. An overhead attack that cannot be blocked while crouching.

Axe Kick: 4HK. A multi-hit kick that can be cancelled into special moves.

Whirlwind Kick: 6HK. A kick with long reach. Useful as a counter to an opponent’s sweeps.

High Double Strike: HP~HK. A multi-hit attack with a lenient input window for follow-ups.

Fuwa Triple Strike: MP~LK/MP~LK~HK. A multi-hit attack that doesn’t leave you wide open even if stopped partway through.