It can be intimidating to jump into a new game, especially after the title has been out for a few years. Luckily, it’s not too late to jump into SoulCalibur VI’s vibrant tournament scene. The 3D weapons-based fighter, released in 2018, is still going strong in the Open Series. The Competition Center is here to guide you through some of the easiest characters to pick up.
Learn SCVI with one of these beginner-friendly fighters to gain a better grasp of the fundamentals. Choices for the top five take into account community feedback, technical execution difficulty, and the intuitiveness of each character’s build. Remember, harder doesn’t always mean better, and easier can simply mean more efficient!
Grøh
Grøh is a new original character in the SoulCalibur universe. He’s made a mark thanks to his anime-inspired looks and unique Nordic origin, but also for his intuitive play. A healthy balance of speed and range make Grøh a good choice for new players and tournament-goers alike. Pay attention to his quick recovery time, as well as his teleport skills in Soul Charge state. Basically, if you misstep while playing Grøh, it’s not necessarily the end of the world.
Geralt
Similar to Grøh, Geralt is a low mechanical difficulty pick for new entrants to the series. His all-round straightforward build revolves around swordplay and hitting hard up close. The only significant complexity to Geralt’s design are his special abilities called Signs, similar to the magic found in the Witcher series. Aside from these spells and the potions activated in Soul Charge mode, Geralt is a no-brainer for those who like easy, quick-striking combos.
Seong Mi-Na
A veteran from the first Soul Edge game, Seong Mi-Na continues her tale in Soul Calibur VI. Her fast jabs with low input difficulty, particularly her downward vertical “poke of death,” can open up almost any challenger (fun fact: she consistently maintains high ratings on community tier lists). Mi-Na’s slow, methodical style and long range allow players who prefer distance to space opponents. Combos are also relatively simple to initiate, and her strong vertical attacks make juggling easy for inexperienced players.
Sophitia
Sophitia is a staple of the SoulCalibur franchise. As one of the foundational characters of SoulCalibur VI (Sophitia and Misturugi were the first two designed for the game), she is a good entry point for new players. Like Geralt, Sophitia is an all-around fighter with a decent kit for almost any scenario. Her small sword favors close combat. When out of range, Angel Step makes closing the gap between opponents quick and easy when necessary. Sophitia is rated an A-tier character, so picking her is a safe bet.
Mitsurugi
Like Sophitia, Mitsurugi is a core design model for SoulCalibur VI with more focus on offense. The samurai has a relatively low barrier of entry for new players. He has easy-to-execute attacks and enough range to mix things up. However, getting good at Mitsurugi requires mastery of his two stances, Mist and Relic, which offer different offensive and evasive moves than his neutral stance. If you like the sound of a samurai with powerful crippling moves, he is the perfect choice for you.
Don’t let the learning curve of an established game franchise intimidate you. With SoulCalibur VI’s extensive roster, you’re bound to find a perfect fit in no time. Enter one of the Competition Center’s Open Series tournaments to measure yourself against the champions of history.