Street Fighter 6: Classic, Modern, and Dynamic controls explained

Develop your flow state

Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 aims to be the most accessible title in the series to date, and hopes to see beginners through to veterans return to the ring to throw down with Ryu, Guile, Juri, Lily, and co — To this end, Capcom implemented three unique control styles, with which it is hoped new players can adjust to the fast-paced, hard-hitting action a little more easily than they might have done in the past.

Here, we will take a look at the three styles — Classic, Modern, and Dynamic — and what they entail.

Classic Controls

Classic Controls represents the iconic Street Fighter control system that has been in place since the 1991 release of Street Fighter II, ultimately forming the basis for so much of the fighting game genre itself. This is a six-button system, with three punches (LP, MP, HP), and three kicks (LK, MK, HK). In addition, special and super moves are performed by inputting motions on the stick or D-pad and then pressing the correct button.

For example: Ryu’s Hadoken is Down, Down-Forward, Forward, and then Punch.

This is the Street Fighter control system, offering the full spectrum of movement, strikes, and strengths.

Modern Controls

Street Fighter 6‘s Modern Control system is a new feature for the franchise, though other fighting games, such as Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, and Blade Strangers all have a similar system. Modern Controls only utilizes four buttons, (Light, Medium, Heavy), along with a  dedicated button for special moves. Special moves are now performed with a direction and this button.

For example: Ryu’s Hadoken is simply the Special button alone, while Shoryuken is Forward + Special.

Moves such as Throws, Drive Impact, Drive Parry, and OD modifiers are performed utilizing shoulder triggers. There is also an “auto-combo” button, which can be held in tandem with the attack buttons to produce a string of automatically assigned and linked moves. This control system reduces the need to manage all six attack buttons or master the execution of special moves. The downside is a negligible reduction in damage, and the loss of certain strikes and combo routes. Modern controls can be used online and are legal in tournament settings.

If you want to use them, go ahead, and don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re “cheating” by doing so.

Dynamic Controls

The third and final option is Dynamic Controls. This is essentially an AI-led system that simply performs suitable moves for the given situation, based on your character, your opponent, and the distance between you. By simply pressing buttons, the character will best attempt to ascertain and perform the best strikes, specials, and combos available moment-to-moment. Just press buttons, basically.

This system is best utilized by total beginners, children, or those who simply wish to have a chaotic knockabout without too much concern for strategy or execution. Dynamic Controls cannot be used online and are not tournament legal.