SoulCalibur 6 is now out, and while there isn’t a whole lot to unlock in terms of characters (there’s only really one), there’s a lot to do in terms of getting the right customization options (yes, Create A Soul returns again) as well as Soul Points. And that’s what we’re focusing on in this guide, so let’s get started.

CREATE A SOUL

The popular custom character creation feature from previous games returns this time around too. You’ve probably already seen news reports abound about how fans are using the feature’s sheer capability and flexibility to create some, er, interesting characters.

Create A Soul is really self explanatory—you go there, and you create your character. Said character can then be used in fights. You can check out the character creation in this game in full effect for yourself here.

GAINING SP

No, what’s likely to be a bigger challenge for you will be to gain enough Soul Points to unlock everything you need or want in the character creation. Soul Points, or SP, can also be used to unlock things in the museum, and they’re not actually that hard to come across, if you know what you’re doing. That’s what we’re here to ensure:

• You can gain 2,000 SP for completing the story mode. This is a one time thing, but it’s good to get going
• You get 50 SP each time you win an Online Ranked Match. This is the only way to get SP in online play. 
• In Libra of Soul, exchange 5,000 Gold for 100 SP. This is the best way to grind SP on a consistent basis.
• You can get 200 SP for each character’s story you complete
• Completing Arcade Mode can get you anywhere from 50 to 200 SP depending on the difficulty level and completion time.

Fighting games are always a bit hard to get a handle on, owing to the frame perfect inputs they require, as well as the plethora of moves and abilities your character has. SoulCalibur games, to their credit, try to make things easy for newcomers, which is one of the reasons the series has found great success in the past. This is also the case with SoulCalibur 6–but just in case you do need some help figuring out how to pull off some moves, we’re here to help with this guide.

SOUL CHARGE

A Soul Charge (mapped to R2/RT on your controller) is essentially a superpowered state for your character. It can only be activated if you have at least one bar of the Soul Gauge full.

When you are in this state, you can pull off extra moves and combos you don’t otherwise have access to, while your regular hits also land harder. Pulling it off always puts you in a vulnerable state for a split second, so make sure you don’t do it with your opponent right next to you, because you’re just going to get a beating that way (and could even lose the game).

BREAKING THROWS AND COUNTERS

Breaking throws and countering are literally fundamental moves in SoulCalibur 6. In fact, one might argue they are the most fundamental moves (well, other than punching and kicking and stuff). If you want to know how to pull them off, you must master them, these most ancient, arcane, and unknowable of all moves that will pave your path to victory in SoulCalibur 6.

Are you ready?

Press L2 (or LT on Xbox One).

That’s it.

No, really. If you want to make it more complicated, you can press X and [] together (X and A on Xbox), but the end result is the same. You counter. If your enemy is in a throw attempt, you break it and also push them back a bit for good measure.

Now, go out there and start mashing that L2/LT button.

Libra of Souls is a second campaign in SoulCalibur 6 that isn’t focused on the premodern characters, but is, rather, stomping grounds for your custom character. Here’s the good news, though: it’s also where you can earn a lot of Gold (to buy new weapons for your character) consistently. Gold can also be traded in for SP (to unlock more character creation options).

In other words, you probably want to get the most out of this mode the fastest way you can. So let’s get down to business.

FARMING GOLD IN LIBRA OF SOULS

There are two techniques to keep in mind here. One is grinding, and one is a multiplier, which can help with the grinding. Let me explain.

• Complete Side Missions. Especially the Green Medal Side Quests will net you a lot of cash. Finish these, and you will earn Gold.
• Battle. This, obviously, goes without saying.
• Multiplier. There’s a town called Feendorf which you reach and unlock in Chapter 4. In this town, you can buy and use food, which gives you gold payout multipliers. Use this to your advantage when grinding Green Medal Quests and battles.

EARNING XP QUICKER

… Well, what do you know, the exact same techniques apply here, too:

• Complete side quests. Always a steady source.
• Battle. I mean, this is the most basic way for you to get yourself some XP.
• Multipliers. Grab yourself the relevant meals in Feendorf, and go your way grinding extra XP.

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.