Tools, matchups, and frame data determine a character’s playstyle. While most fighters can be played in multiple styles like aggressive zoner for example, there’s almost always an optimal approach to certain characters.

Players add their own personal touch to any character, but it is important to find a main that fundamentally suits your preferred playstyle. Are you more into grapplers, rushdown, or zoners? Picking up a fighter that feels natural will only make learning how to play easier.

• How to Pick a Main in SoulCalibur VI: Understanding Range
• Find Your Playstyle
• Execution Difficulty

Balanced

Balanced fighters are the most fundamental characters in SoulCalibur 6 (SC6), meaning they’re fairly straightforward and perfect for learning game specific techniques. Expect simple movesets with enough versatility to counter most of the roster. The balanced fighters in SC6 are:

Cervantes

Cervantes is the hardest hitter out of this group. A well-executed combo will make short work of a life bar. Some of his best moves are unsafe on block so he takes strong fundamentals and patience to play. 

Geralt

Geralt complements his standard attacks with magic abilities in exchange for Soul Meter. He is a fantastic choice for beginners thanks to some of the best fundamentals in the game.

Hwang

Hwang’s Life Force mechanic makes him one of the more complex balanced characters. This ability stacks talismans that can heal Hwang during a round, but if activated with no resources he will instead lose health at the start of the next round.

Kilik

Kilik has a host of defensive options that make him keen at punishing opponents from any range. He has some unconventional moves, especially during Soul Charge, including Special Unblockable Critical Edge, that can keep opponents from predicting his patterns.

Mitsurugi

Mitsurugi is a no-nonsense, well rounded character with a versatile playstyle. Like most fighting game poster boys, he is designed for beginners. Fortunately for veterans he is hard to master at higher levels of play. 

Sophitia

Sophitia is the queen of fundamentals in SC6 and a favorite pick for veterans of the series. Despite having a straightforward moveset, she can mix-up opponents into oblivion if she gets into a groove. 

Balanced fighters are great picks for beginners, but require strong fundamentals and game knowledge to excel at high levels. Spacing, proper punishes, and understanding frame data are key. Balanced fighters can be more easily read than others, so it is important to utilize a character’s entire kit to keep opponents off-balance.

Rushdown

Rushdown fighters have the fastest moves in the game and excel at keeping the pressure on their opponent. They rely less on defense and instead aim to bombard foes with a flurry of quick, successive attacks. The rushdown fighters in SC6 are:

Amy

Amy has a variety of fast-paced attacks in addition to high, mid, and low Auto-Guard Impact inputs that stifle her opponent’s attempts at returning the pressure. She is somewhat technical given her reliance on stacking up roses to increase her damage output. 

Groh

Groh has the longest range out of any rushdown fighter but still excels at creating pressure with his wide array of mix-ups. He also has one of the best Soul Charges in the game that can lead to large comebacks in a flash. 

Maxi

Maxi has several strings with Break Attacks that make opponents hesitant to Guard Impact. He is the most technical rushdown fighter. Entering all seven of his stances triggers a devastating Lethal Hit.

Taki

Taki is the fastest character in the game and excels at in your face pressure. She flash parrys through attacks at the start of her Critical Edge before dealing damage. 

Talim

Talim’s variety of jumping attacks and speedy pokes leave opponent’s scared to ever take their turn. Her infamous Wind Cannon punishes mashing opponents looking to capitalize on Talim’s buttons.

Xianghua

Xianghua is the game’s most traditional rushdown character with fast pokes and clever mix-ups. She can counter her opponent’s attempt at pressuring her on knockdown with “Crybaby,” a damage-dealing move that only works on the ground. 

Rushdown fighters typically thrive at close range where their speed can smother opponents. Playing rushdown characters at high levels requires fast hands, reactions, and quick decision making. Learn your character’s frame data to better understand when each move is most effective. No one wants to get caught spamming unsafe moves that are easily punished on block.

Power

Power characters have scary high damage output and take a mighty toll on their opponent’s guard. They look to deplete their opponent’s lifebar in as few mix-ups and combos as possible. The power characters in SC6 are:

Astaroth

Astaroth’s axe has lengthy reach and only needs a few hits to take a round. The angry golem can set up combos with his vast assortment of throws, many of which have armor. 

Cassandra

Cassandra is the fastest power character and shines at pressuring opponents with dangerous mix-ups and throws on wakeup. When Divine Force is active it makes some of her moves even more explosive and her Critical Edge deals additional damage. 

Nightmare

Nightmare has arguably the highest damage output in the game. If he isn’t slicing through your lifebar, he might dominate with his ring-out potential. Nightmare also has armor on several of his attacks and can enter a brief Soul Charge state when Terror Charge is active. 

Seong Mi-na

Seong Mi-na trades speed for range and power, using her halberd to dish out huge amounts of damage from afar. Her attacks also abuse the opponent’s guard on block. When her opponent is flashing red she can end combos with a potential Guard Crush reset. 

Siegfried

Siegfried is the most balanced power character but still hits hard with his giant broadsword. He can deal insane damage to grounded opponents, making him one of the hardest characters to deal with in oki situations (wakeup/knockdown).

Power characters deal the most damage in the game, but their moves can be slow and predictable. They are generally more unsafe in terms of frame data and a lot of their strongest moves are punishable on block. Power characters rely heavily on breaking their opponent’s guard using the Guard Crush mechanic and forcing ring outs. There is also an intimidation factor. Facing big bodies makes some opponents afraid of making mistakes and reluctant to go in on offense.

Technical

Technical fighters rely on complex techniques, game knowledge, and attention to detail to outduel their opponents. Learning these characters is a stiffer challenge but can also pay big dividends. 

Azwel

Azwel uses “Weapon Arts” instead of a traditional weapon. He can switch between Shield, Sword, and Axe stances. He has three powerful B+K moves that change according to his stance, so players must closely monitor their attacks to avoid misinputs.

Hilde

Hilde uses two different weapons for her horizontal (sword) and vertical (spear) attacks. She unlocks powerful moves during Sword Regalia and Spear Regalia. Either is tricky to pull off. Hilde must perform unique moves that require holding and releasing the A or B attack buttons, although she can also gain them more easily with 6BBB or 6BBA.

Ivy

Ivy’s emphasis on spacing, punishing, and mind games require intense attention to detail and knowledge of your character and the opponent’s. Her button execution difficulty is also higher than most of the roster, resulting in one of the harder characters to play.

Raphael

Raphael is a very defensive character adept at fighting at his own pace and distance. He relies heavily on spacing and whiff punishing which requires patience, fast reactions, and precise timing.

Setsuka

Fill up three different meters (visions) to buff some of Setsuka’s moves. Unlike Amy or Hilde, Setsuka cannot “go” for these power-ups. Activate all three to make her Soul Attack lethal hit: Wintry Reflection is unlocked after six normal hits, Vernal Reflection after five counter hits, and Moonlit Reflection after four successful punishes.

Zasalamel

Zasalamel afflicts his foes with curses in each round which compliment his ability to slow down time. The more curses he applies, the longer time slows, giving him a significant plus-frame advantage after certain attacks.

Technical fighters are generally amongst the hardest characters to play. They require in-depth knowledge of their entire kit in order to use them optimally and generally have higher levels of execution difficulty, leading to less beginner friendly fighters. Sharpen your fundamentals before maining a technical character. The reward is worth the effort. Master a technical fighter and you’ll become a force in any tournament bracket.

Funky

Funky characters are unorthodox fighters that use unique and unpredictable moves to topple their foes. They are oftentimes downright weird in both personality and playstyle, making them harder for opponents to read. The funky characters in SC6 are:

Haohmaru

Haohmaru brings many mechanics over from Samurai Shodown that no other characters in SC6 can use. This includes his ability to deflect attacks and spot dodge highs and mids into Break Attacks. 

Tira

Tira has two stances, Jolly and Gloomy, with different movesets to reflect her multiple personalities. Unlike most stance characters in the FGC, she switches randomly throughout a battle. Switching nine times unlocks Gloomy Coda and puts Tira in a permanent Soul Charge state whenever she is in Gloomy Stance. 

Voldo

Voldo is SoulCalibur’s resident black sheep. He features two different movesets: one for facing the opponent and another for looking away from the opponent. Voldo utilizes a variety of strange stances to mix-up foes. He can even throw and break throws when his back is facing the opponent.

Yoshimitsu

Yoshimitsu is well-known for his wild playstyle and plethora of unconventional trademark moves. His Dragonfly stance, ability to steal meter from his opponent’s Soul Gauge, and infamous Seppuku attack make no match boring.

2B

2B brings a lot of her flashy fighting tactics over from Nier: Automata that make her almost seem like a boss character at first glance. She uses two different swords to strike at any range. Her handy Pod can fire projectiles and assist with combos.

Funky characters tend to be high-risk, high-reward and sometimes require an unhinged playstyle to be successful. They thrive on being unconventional and unpredictable, so it is essential to keep opponents guessing and unfamiliar with your patterns. These characters are also great for players with an affinity for style or just want to leave opponents wondering what the heck even happened to them. 

What playstyle will you bring to the SoulCalibur VI Open Series?