The Soulcalibur series has always been approachable: It’s easy to press buttons and have something interesting happen, so it’s a casual favorite. However, don’t get the mistaken impression that the game is a “button masher” with little depth beneath the flash. That’s never been the case, and Soulcalibur 6 is a deep and meaty piece of work. In this guide, we’re going to take you through the basic and unique systems of Soulcalibur 6, give some general advice, and help you not to get knocked out of the ring.
Table of contents
We’ve split our Soulcalibur 6 guide into several sections, each of which dives deep into different aspects of the game. If you follow along from the beginning (there’s a table of contents on each page), you’ll end with a deep understanding of the game. You can also check out the descriptions of each section below and head straight there to learn more.
Basic controls and movement
As with most fighting games, movement in Soulcalibur 6 is digital. If you have a PS4 or Xbox controller, look at the D-pad. To make things easier for players on different formats, we are going to use Soulcalibur 6’s in-game button terminology. This way, you’ll know which buttons we’re talking about no matter what kind of controller you’re holding.
Attack types: High, mid and low
The relationship between high, mid, and low attacks is common to every 3D fighting game, going back to the genre’s origins in Virtua Fighter and Tekken. It’s a fundamental mechanic, and if you don’t understand it you’ll be at a big disadvantage.
Reversal Edge
Reversal Edge is the new system in Soulcalibur 6, so it warrants its own close look. Press B and guard at the same time to initiate a Reversal Edge. The character will hold their blade out for a bit and then strike. During the windup animation, you will absorb hits from the enemy. This is an ideal move to catch players during long attack strings.
Soul Gauge, Soul Charge and Critical Edge
The Soul Gauge is up on the top center of the screen, between the life bars. As fighters take a beating or deliver Lethal Hits, their meter increases to a maximum of two stocks. There are two things you can do with a stock of Soul Gauge.
Intermediate tips: Punishment, advantage and combos
As in so many fighting games, a lot of the average Soulcalibur 6 match is two players pacing around each other in eight-way run mode, trying to position themselves for a hit. If you get yourself into position and make the hit, that’s all well and good, but another great way to inflict damage is getting your opponent to take the shot and miss.
Avoiding Ring Outs
It would be unfair to talk about Soulcalibur without bringing up the Ring Out, the bane of so many beginners. In this game, when you’re knocked off the stage, you lose the round. No excuses.
Character types and our recommendations
It’s hard to choose a character in a big, deep game like this, and there are simply too many to discuss individually. So we’ve decided to group the characters by what they’re good at doing, and offer some suggestions in order of how easy they are to pick up.
Final notes and advice
A beginner’s guide like this is only the start of your journey. We can only fit so much into one feature, and there are plenty of topics beyond the scope of this guide. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find out more.