SoulCalibur 6 is, in fact, a fighting game. And while like previous games in the series it is easy enough for anyone to pick up and get into it — one of the reasons for this franchise’s enduring popularity, in fact — there are still some maneuvers and moves you might need help figuring out. That’s what we are here for.
CRITICAL EDGE
Critical Edges are basically your character’s big Super move. They take up your full Soul Gauge, and while they can be devastating, they can in fact miss, so you need to be super careful with timing and using them. Every character gets their own Critical Edge:
- Astaroth: Final Anguish
- Azwel: From Science, with Love (Normal), I Shall Save Humanity! (Soul Charged):
- Cervantes: Casa de Leviathian
- Geralt of Rivia: Hunt of the White Wolf
- Grøh: Chevalier Mai Fet:
- Ivy: Guilty Throne
- Kilik: Ling-Sheng Su Phoenix Loop (Normal), Forbidden Moonset (Soul Charged)
- Mitsurugi: Thunderbolt Blade
- Nightmare and Inferno: Dark Reconquista: Triumph and Dark Reconquista: Purgatory
- Raphael: Royal Poison
- Seong Mi-na: New Seong Style: Scarlet Meteor
- Siegfried: Deep Scar
- Sophitia: Providential Thunder
- Taki: Fu-Ma Seal, Fatal Violet
- Talim: Blade Ciclone
- Tira: Bleak Concerto (Jolly) and Bleak Concerto: Finale (Gloomy)
- Voldo: Downward Spiral
- Xianghua: Sublimating Blade
- Yoshimitsu: Ghost Thief Funeral
- Zasalamel: The Voice from the Abyss
You can check out each of these Critical Edges in action for yourself in the video here.
CHARACTER SPECIFIC ABILITIES
Every character in SoulCalibur 6 gets specific traits, known as abilities, that helps differentiate them. These can be passable or active, or just special stances and bonuses only they get access to. You can find the character specific abilities for each character in the game below:
- Astaroth: Increased throw range, can escape back throws, and can access super-armour during Soul Charge
- Azwel: Unique Soul Charge, with a new Critical Edge when charged; can summon weapons into existence with magic
- Geralt: Like in The Witcher 3, Gerald can use Aard, Axii, Igni, Quen, and Yrden in combat. When he uses Soul Charge, he can use these without any cost to his Soul Gauge.
- Grøh: Can teleport during his Soul Charge. Can also dual wield his double saber.
- Ivy: Like before, Ivy has the Serpant’s Embrace stance. Summon Suffering, her command throw, can no longer be blocked.
- Kilik: Can use his Critical Edge during Soul Charge with no Soul Gauge cost, and also has enhanced damage and attack in Soul Charge. However, his health depletes for as long as he is in Soul Charge.
- Maxi: Maxi has a Pure Soul Loop Stance, which has enhanced damage output.
- Mitsurugi: Attack strings may end in Reversal Edge parries.
- Nightmare: When in Night Behand Stance, Nightmare enters Terror Charge, which grant access to a move that can only be used in Soul Charge.
- Raphael: Can feint his Reversal Edge, which is arguably the best ability in the game.
- Seong Mi-na: Attacks work differently depending on range.
- Siegfried: When you pull a Guard Impact, or reach critical Health, you enter a state called Dark Legacy, which lets you use Nightmare’s Soul Wave, and new Lethal Hit combos.
- Sophitia: Soul Charge can extend her strings.
Taki: Taki gains access to a new projectile attack.
Talim: Talim can regain health during her Critical Edge.
Tira: Can either be Jolly or Gloomy, and if her mood changes enough times, she becomes “burning Gloomy”, giving her new Soul Charge exclusive moves. - Voldo: The only character in the game who can pull off a Reversal Edge with a backturn. The only character other than Astaroth who can escape back throws.
- Xianghua: Gains access to a stance that lets her dodge high and mid attacks.
- Yoshimitsu: Using Soul Steal, he can deplete enemies’ Soul Gauges to fuel his own.
- Zasalamel: Can stop time temporarily by cursing his opponent.