Street Fighter 6: How to Effectively Parry

by Fernando Diaz / Articles, Street Fighter / 06 Feb 2022

In Street Fighter 6, unlike in Street Fighter 5 where the ability to Parry was exclusive to Ryu and Gill’s V skills, every character possesses this ability. The Parry mechanic functions as a defensive shield, and the Parry action can be maintained indefinitely to block incoming attacks. However, using the Parry mechanic isn’t as simple as just holding the button down; timing is key, and understanding when to release the Parry button will be critical for maximizing its potential. Also, note that the Parry mechanic consumes a small portion of the Drive Gauge when held.

Advantageous Features of Parry

Parrying is particularly effective against projectiles. Instead of losing Drive Gauge by blocking, Parrying not only neutralizes the attack but also helps replenish the Drive Gauge. Moreover, Parrying an attack causes the character to give up less ground than blocking, giving players a positional advantage and an answer to opponents who continually spam projectiles.

Mastering the Perfect Parry

The timing of the Parry is paramount in Street Fighter 6. A Perfect Parry, achieved with impeccable precision, dramatically slows down game time, providing the player with an even more significant advantage. After executing a Perfect Parry, the opponent is left vulnerable, allowing for the execution of counter-attacks and combos that would not be possible under normal circumstances. However, keep in mind that damage scaling is a factor here, meaning the damage of your combo attacks will decrease as the combo extends.

Perfect Parry Timing

Achieving a Perfect Parry requires precision and can be challenging to master. The timing window is between 1-2 frames. This level of precision is what sets a Perfect Parry apart from a normal Parry. This means that holding the Parry button too early or too late will result in failing to achieve a Perfect Parry. The mastery of Perfect Parries requires practice, timing, and anticipation.

Recovery Frames & Block Window

Another feature that adds to the depth of the Parry system is the recovery frames. Parries have 29 frames of recovery, during which you can block incoming attacks. This unique feature ensures that even if you miss a Perfect Parry, you’re not completely defenseless, and you can still block the attack. This safety net makes attempting Perfect Parries a viable option in more scenarios.

Vulnerability to Throws

While the Parry system in Street Fighter 6 seems strong, it’s not without its vulnerabilities. One such vulnerability is throws. During the Parry’s recovery frames, players cannot tech throws. If your opponent catches on to your Parry habits, they might start throwing more often. Not only are you unable to tech these throws, but you also take increased damage due to the Punish Counter mechanic. This mechanic increases throw damage by 70%, making throws a powerful counter to the Parry mechanic.

Tips for Parrying

To master the art of Parrying, here are a few additional points to keep in mind:

Perfect Parries work against all attack types, including projectiles. It might be harder to time a Perfect Parry against a fast-moving projectile, but it’s possible.

A standard Parry provides the same benefit as a regular block in terms of frame advantage/disadvantage.

If you hold the Parry button for too long, you risk creating a frame disadvantage (known as being ‘negative on block’), which can create an opportunity for your opponent to counter-attack.

Fernando Diaz

Fernando is doing what he always did, sharing his honest opinions about games whenever he can. The difference is now he is writing and not talking about it.
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