Street Fighter IV Strategy Guide - All Moves, Combos, Tips, and Secrets for SFIV

The Big Bosses

Beware! Each of these fighters is best at dishing out huge amounts of punishment and stacking the odds in their favor with a ridiculous amount of overpowered Special Moves!

Command Key:

  • [F] - Forward
  • [B] - Back
  • [U] - Up
  • [D] - Down
  • [DF] - Down Forward
  • [DB] - Down Backward
  • [360] - Full Circle

    • Akuma: More Than Human

    Street Fighter IV Fighter's Guide

    Akuma's back with every single one of his tricks from Street Fighter III, and he's just as deadly as before -- his Hadokens are nothing to sneeze at, and his juggles still kill!

    Special Moves
  • Gohadoken: Motion [D] [DF] [F] + Punch
  • Shakunetsu Hadoken: Motion [F] [DF] [D] [DB] [B] + Punch
  • Zanku Hadoken: Motion [D] [DF] [F] + Punch (Mid-Air)
  • Goshoryuken: Motion [F] [D] [DF] + Punch
  • Tatsumaki Senpukyaku: Motion [D] [DB] [B] + Kick (Possible in Mid-Air)
  • Ashura Senku: Motion [B] [D] [DB] or [F] [D] [DF] + Punch x 3 or Kick x 3
  • Hyakkishu: Motion [F] [D] [DF] + Kick

    • Super Combo!
  • Raging Demon: Jab Punch, Jab Punch, [F] + Short Kick, Fierce Punch

    • Ultra Combo!
  • Wrath of the Raging Demon: Jab Punch, Jab Punch, [F] + Short Kick, Fierce Punch x 3

    • ProTips!

    1. Akuma's Shakunetsu Hadoken is a real cheap sandwich -- it's the only normal fireball that can score up to three hits, making it a weapon of mass destruction in fireball wars!

    2. While his combat output is pretty high, Akuma will also take as much damage as he dishes out, so use Hurricane Kicks and the Demon Warp to avoid getting pressured.

    3. Akuma's ability to throw air Hadokens is a great way to ground other fighters and push them into the corner -- try mixing up your punch commands to find every possible angle!


    Gouken: Legendary Martial Arts Master

    Street Fighter IV Fighter's Guide

    Gouken, the man who trained Ryu and Ken, is every bit the powerhouse that Akuma can be thanks to his large, imposing frame and wide variety of fireballs and combo attacks!

    Special Moves
  • Gohadoken: Motion [D] [DF] [F] + Punch
    • (Chargable)
  • Senkugoshoha: Motion [F] [D] [DF] + Punch
  • Tatsumaki Gorasen: Motion [D] [DB] [B] + Kick (Possible in Mid-Air)
  • Kongoshin: Motion [B] [D] [DB] + Punch or Kick
  • Hyakkishu: Motion [F] [D] [DF] + Kick

    • Super Combo!
  • Forbidden Shoryuken: Motion [D] [DF] [F], [D] [DF] [F] + Punch

    • Ultra Combo!
  • Shin Shoryuken: Motion [D] [DF] [F], [D] [DF] [F] + Punch x 3

    • ProTips!

    1. All of Gouken's Gohadokens can be charged by holding down the button, giving them an extra hit to dish out -- it's practical to win fireball wars and match fists with Akuma!

    2. Gouken's EX chip damage is INSANE -- if you constantly pour on the heat with multiple Gohadokens and Special Moves, you'll always have enough power in the EX Meter to rail 'em!

    3. The Senkugoshoha is an awesome way to close in on opponents, and it burns right through projectiles (though not on the start-up part of the animation) and Focus Attacks!


    Seth: The Ultimate Biological Weapon

    Street Fighter IV Fighter's Guide

    As the Big Bad Boss of Street Fighter IV, Seth is not only an unstoppable living weapon in almost anyone's hands, but he's cheap -- incredibly, ridiculously, unfathomably cheap!

    Special Moves
  • Sonic Boom: Motion [D] [DF] [F] + Punch
  • Shoryuken: Motion [F] [D] [DF] + Punch (Can Be Chained 3 Times)
  • Hyakuretsukyaku: Motion [D] [DB] [B] + Kick
  • Tandem Engine: Motion [D] [DB] [B] + Punch
  • Yoga Teleport: Motion [B] [D] [DB] or [F] [D] [DF] + Punch x 3 or Kick x 3
  • Spinning Piledriver: Motion [360] + Punch
    Super Combo!
  • Tandem Storm: Motion [D] [DF] [F], [D] [DF] [F] + Punch

    • Ultra Combo!
  • Tandem Stream: Motion [D] [DF] [F], [D] [DF] [F] + Punch x 3

    • ProTips!

    1. Seth can not only wall jump like El Fuerte, but he can also follow up with a three-hit version Chun Li's headstomp -- almost no fireball thrower will be safe from this!

    2. The Tandem Engine is a double-edged sword -- while it can make projectiles pass by Seth like a cool breeze and stun opponents, it'll leave him open to counter attacks if blocked.

    3. Seth's stretching, jumping Fierce Punch mimics Dhalsim's range and power, while the crouching version can dodge under most fireballs (definitely not Sagat's Low Tiger Shots).

    Comments [28]

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    The_Pig

    WOOO!

    Finally, now I can cheap out all those damnable 10-year-old kids online!

    DJKennethA

    Glad to see they still added a cheap character like Seth. I'm HIGHLY considering picking this up

    slickjames

    Ryu has to be one of my favorite characters ever. Still waiting for the game in the mail. Hurry up Amazon!!!!!!!

    PatrickShaw

    Awesome guide! Definitely going to help me suck-less at Street Fighter IV, which everyone here in the GamePro office is a pro at.

    KenTheGreat1

    PatrickShaw wrote:

    kayvee wrote:

    has anyone beat mckinley yet?
    I sure as hell haven't.

    The top spot in the office often switches between Sui, one of GP's developers, and our art intern Will Chu. I'm still trying to beat TMoses and Mr. Shuman.

    Boskiway

    Damn, this game is tight! I cant get off of it! Well, I guess I am now, but im blogging about it!

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