Unleashing Ken's Domination: The Unbeatable Rise in Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter 6, being just over a month old, sees its meta constantly changing as players explore each character and analyze competitive play results. Luke was initially a strong force in ranked and tournament play. Blanka was considered weak until MenaRD, a two-time Capcom Cup winner, used him to win CEO 2023. However, one character consistently stands out among others in the Street Fighter 6 tier lists, and that is none other than Ken Masters, the fiery shotokan practitioner.

Recently, Capcom released the character usage data for Street Fighter 6 in June 2023, revealing that Ken secures a top-three position in all ranked divisions, from Rookie to Master. Additionally, he consistently holds an S- to A-tier spot in tier lists created by professionals and highly ranked content creators such as Nephew, the FGC Birds, and Haitani. While Ken was not as prominent in high-level competitive play in Street Fighter 4 and Street Fighter 5, he has now become the preferred choice for top players in the latest sequel, including Tokido, Angry Bird, and the fighting game legend Daigo Umehara.

What Makes Ken Strong in Street Fighter 6

Ken initially copied Ryu's moves in the original Street Fighter game, but he gradually developed his own unique style as the game evolved. In Street Fighter 5, he gained a V-skill that allowed him to cancel moves into a forward dash, opening up new possibilities for aggressive play. This ability carried over to Street Fighter 6, where Ken's move list expanded with even more enhanced abilities.

Ken's aggressive moveset thrives in the current meta, thanks to Street Fighter 6's Drive system. Each character has a Drive gauge consisting of six bars, which can be utilized in various ways. For Ken, the Drive Rush and Overdrive mechanics are particularly advantageous. Drive Rush enables him to cancel moves early into a dash, enabling quick and seamless close-range attacks and allowing for complex combos that were previously impossible. Skilled players often utilize this to seamlessly transition from Ken's heavy punch into his chin buster second target combo, which can be finished off with a special move or a super move.

Street Fighter 6's Overdrive functions similarly to the EX moves found in previous games. By inputting two punch or kick buttons during a special move, players can grant Ken heightened damage. This mechanic proves particularly effective when utilized in conjunction with Ken's Jinrai kicks, which have made a comeback from Street Fighter 2. One can initiate the combo with a chin buster, followed by a medium Jinrai kick to launch the opponent into the air. Continuously juggling them with a subsequent snap light kick, players can conclude the sequence with an overdrive Jinrai and snap follow-up. For maximum damage, the combo can also be concluded with any super move.

Street Fighter 6 Makes Blocking Weaker, Which is a Boon for Ken Mains

Blocking attacks in the game drains the Drive Meter of the character. Once the Drive Meter is depleted, the character enters a state called burnout, which comes with several drawbacks. During burnout, the character is unable to execute any drive moves, their health gradually decreases when blocking attacks, and they become stunned if an enemy's drive impact bounces them into a corner.

Rushdown characters in fighting games, like Ken, exert constant pressure on their enemies, leaving them with no alternative but to either block or retaliate. Blocking puts the opponent at a disadvantage, as Ken gradually chips away at their Drive meter, pushing them closer to an unfavourable burnout state. If the opponent chooses to fight back, even a single mistake can result in Ken swiftly countering with a combination utilizing his various hit confirm and punishing techniques. Those who opt for a defensive playstyle will still have to contend with Ken's ability to pursue and his powerful Drive Rush move. When facing off against Ken, opponents often feel suffocated by his relentless assault, making him an ideal choice for the aggressive gameplay style that currently prevails in Street Fighter 6.

Street Fighter 6 is now available for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.