Legend tells of a man so consumed by his pursuit of power that his soul and body have now vanished into nothingness. Although many people wish he was just a legend, Akuma will rise again Street Fighter 6to challenge enemies worthy enough to face him on May 22. Will you harness the power of Satsui no Hado or succumb to it?
Akuma first appeared in Super Street Fighter II Turbo as a hidden boss and a playable character. In Street Fighter 6, Akuma’s thirst for power has insane consequences. He carved images of hundreds of opponents he had defeated and placed them in the cave he was in, their silence beckoning him deeper into his path of inner conflict.
Nakayama-san’s comments on his design: Akuma now has a more prominent appearance with gray hair. We also used Buddha statues and animals as references for the character’s muscles in an attempt to give the character a more memorable aesthetic.
Like the rest of Class 1 characters, Akuma can become your Master in World Tour. Find him in a new area, Enma’s Hollow, located on Gokuento Island, but be careful of Satsui no Hado’s effects or you will be tormented by its hunger. After strengthening your bond with Akuma, he will teach you his demonic moves, which you can then assign to your avatar to use during your World tour or in Battle the Avatar in the Battle Hub.
As someone who spent his life honing his skills, Akuma’s moveset will be familiar to longtime fans, but Satsui no Hado unlocks new abilities. His fast and mediocre walking pace for long periods of time allows him to control space and the flow of the match.
Let’s start with Akuma’s iconic moves that make him a complete chaser. His infamous fireball, Gou Hadoken is back and can be fully charged so that a “red fireball” is released instead, giving Akuma more options when hitting or blocking. Everyone’s favorite air fireball, Zanku Hadoken, can cover Akuma’s aggressive approach. His dragon punch, Gou Shoryuken, acts as an anti-air or combo finisher. Finally, Tatsumaki Zanku-Kyaku saw Akuma swing forward in a series of kicks that changed properties based on which kick button was pressed.
Like before, Akuma used Ashura Senku to glide across the battlefield in the dark. Be wary when using this ability as it can be blocked midway by your opponent’s attacks. However, Akuma has honed the weaknesses of this move and can now use Oboro Throw during the approach to surprise opponents.
Adamant Flame is one of Akuma’s new moves, where he performs a forward thrust engulfed in flames. This move is useful in combos and exploiting vulnerable opponents due to its long range. The OD version will smash the opponent’s wall, opening up more opportunities in corner kicks.
Demon Raid is Hyakkishu’s version of Street Fighter 6. When Akuma jumps into the air with this move, choose to perform a low kick, an overhead attack, a diving kick, or end the jump early. The OD version of Demon Raid unlocks two additional sequels: aerial fireball and aerial tatsu.
Akuma’s level 1 super art is Messatsu Gohado, where he fires a highly concentrated ball of Satsui no Hado. Like most Level 1s, this move is invulnerable to boot. Akuma has a second Level 1 called Tenma Gozanku, where he releases fireballs from the air.
Empyrean’s End is Akuma’s Level 2 Super Art, where he turns the Satsui no Hado into a powerful flame and burns it inside the opponent. Using this move near a corner will create a crack in the wall where Akuma can continue to apply pressure or damage. Empyrean’s End is also invulnerable at launch.
Akuma’s first level 3 super art is Sip of Calamity, another move that cannot be attacked at the start! He throws his opponent to the ground by their face and follows up with a devastating blow.
Finally, the move you’ve all been waiting for: Shun Goku Satsu or “Rage Demon”. This second level 3 Super Art can only be performed when his Vitality is low enough for a Critical Art and can be used to finish combos. This time, he lets you see what happens in a one-second nightmare.
Included with this update is a new stage, Enma’s Hollow, where Akuma resides to continue his hellish training. Ultimate Pass Year 1 owners will receive this stage on May 22.
Akuma’s 2 outfit is inspired by his first appearance in Super Street Fighter II Turbo. Speaking of outfits, Rashid, AKI, Ed and Akuma will have Outfit 3 available for purchase when Akuma releases and will be automatically distributed to all Year 1 Ultimate Pass owners.
One last thing before we sign off. The Akuma update comes with the major balance patch we mentioned before, where all characters will receive changes. We will have more to share on this in the future as we get closer to May 22.
Get ready to unleash your inner demon when Akuma goes on a rampage!
