Master the Battle with Street Fighter 6's Dynamic Drive System

The Drive System in Street Fighter 6 introduces a unique combat mechanic that limits dodges while enabling new special attacks. Each player has six stamina bars that can refill through timed attacks, blocks, or automatically during the match. However, emptying these bars puts players in a vulnerable state where enemy strikes can drain larger chunks of HP. To master this new system, players can refer to this Street Fighter 6 guide to learn about the Drive Gauge and its various Drives.

What Is the Drive Gauge

All Five Drive Types

In Street Fighter 6, the Drive Gauge is a crucial six-bar power meter that displays the number of Drives each character can perform. If the bars are depleted, the characters enter the Burnout State, but the meter automatically replenishes during the match and at the start of each round. Moreover, the Drive Gauge protects players against chip damage, but in exchange for half a bar of their power meter. Notably, the Drive Gauge and the Super Move bar function independently, and depleting one does not impact the other.

Street Fighter 6 characters have five unique moves that require the Drive Gauge: Impact, Parry, Rush, Reversal, and Overdrive. These Drives provide extra skills like counterattacks and power strikes on top of the Super Moves.

- Drive Impact

Drive Impact

Instruction

How to Perform

Heavy Punch + Heavy Kick

Drive Gauge Cost

×1

Armored and power-absorbing, the Drive Impact strike is a formidable move that can corner the enemy with a wall-splat. Blocking this move results in the opponent being pushed back and losing a Drive Gauge bar. When both players perform Drive Impacts simultaneously, the late striker wins the hit in slow-motion. In the Burnout State, where the enemy has no Drive Gauge, the Drive Impact stuns them for a few seconds with an unblockable effect. Players will need to wait for the Drive System to replenish in order to shake off the effects of this powerful attack.

- Drive Parry

Drive Impact

Instruction

How to Perform

Medium Punch + Medium Kick

When players activate the Drive Parry by holding down the Medium Punch and Kick buttons, they enter a focus mode that blocks all enemy attacks in exchange for their Drive Gauge. This move is perfect for dodging and deflecting. The Drive Parry freezes an opponent when timed correctly and allows players to follow up with a counterattack. Although the Drive Gauge bar is halved with each use, successful dodges replenish it. Additionally, players can refill the gauge and recover faster by deflecting enemy projectiles such as fireballs.

The ideal counter for the Drive Parry is a throw. Simply throw the enemy on the ground to break their focus mode.

- Drive Rush

Drive Impact

Instruction

How to Perform

Double-tap the forward button

Drive Gauge Cost

- Drive Reversal

Performing the Drive Rush in combat can give you a significant advantage over your opponent. This move can be executed by either dashing out of a parry or dashing from a cancelable normal attack. The enhanced strike that follows gains +4 frames, which is a substantial gain for your combo potential. When combined with other moves like the Punish Counter, Drive Rush can give up to +12 frames per light punch, making it an essential move to master in combat.

Drive Impact

Instruction

How to Perform

Heavy Punch + Heavy Kick (while blocking)

Drive Gauge Cost

×2

The Drive Reversal is a counterattack that is executed while blocking. It is a highly effective technique for breaking free from enemy combos and restoring the Drive Gauge that may have been depleted while dodging.

While it breaks the opponent’s combinations, the Drive Reversal deflects minor damage. So, it’s not the most potent comeback move. Plus, each Reversal consumes two Drive Gauge bars, making it a costly defense.

- Overdrive

Drive Impact

Instruction

How to Perform

Special Move + Two of the Same Type Attacks

Drive Gauge Cost