Street Fighter II Moves and Combos by Edition

Updated 9 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Street Fighter II moves and combos vary by character and by edition, but the core special moves are simple directional inputs paired with a punch or kick. This guide covers the original World Warrior roster and explains how Champion Edition, Hyper Fighting, Super, and Super Turbo change the cast, move behavior, and combo options.

How Street Fighter II editions differ

Street Fighter II began with eight selectable fighters and four non-playable bosses. Champion Edition made the bosses playable and allowed mirror matches; Hyper Fighting increased the pace and gave characters new tools. Super Street Fighter II added four fighters, while Super Turbo added selectable Super Combos and further balance changes. Later releases and ports can differ, so treat the inputs below as the classic arcade conventions rather than a promise that every collection uses identical settings.

Inputs use a six-button layout: light, medium, and heavy punches and kicks. A quarter-circle forward means down, down-forward, forward; a charge input means hold the indicated direction briefly, then quickly press the opposite direction plus the attack button. “Away” means away from the opponent, so the direction changes when fighters switch sides. The original games do not use universal modern combo rules: timing and whether a move cancels into another move depend on the edition and character.

World Warrior: the original eight fighters

Ryu: Hadouken (quarter-circle forward + punch), Shoryuken (forward, down, down-forward + punch), and Tatsumaki (quarter-circle back + kick). A basic opportunity is a jump-in attack into a grounded normal, then a special move if the hit and timing allow it.
Ken: Shares Ryu’s three classic inputs, but his attacks and follow-ups differ. His Shoryuken is a key anti-air; close-range normals can lead into it in appropriate versions and situations.
Chun-Li: Spinning Bird Kick (charge down, then up + kick) and Kikoken (charge back, then forward + punch). Her fast kicks help control space; a jump-in followed by a standing kick is a straightforward hit sequence.
Guile: Sonic Boom (charge back, then forward + punch) and Flash Kick (charge down, then up + kick). A common plan is to use Boom to make the opponent approach, then Flash Kick a predictable jump.
Blanka: Rolling Attack (charge back, then forward + punch) and Vertical Rolling (charge down, then up + kick). Electricity is performed by rapidly pressing punch. The rolling move can be punished if blocked, so it is not a safe way to attack at every distance.
Zangief: Spinning Piledriver (a full rotation of the directional input + punch) and Double Lariat (press all three punches together). He relies on close range: use normal attacks and movement to get near before attempting the grab.
Dhalsim: Yoga Fire (quarter-circle forward + punch) and Yoga Flame (half-circle forward + punch). His long-reaching limbs and projectiles are for keeping opponents at a distance; a poke into Yoga Fire is a useful basic pattern.
Honda: Hundred Hand Slap (rapidly press punch) and Sumo Headbutt (charge back, then forward + punch). The slap can maintain pressure up close, while Headbutt is a movement attack that can be blocked and punished.

Champion Edition and Hyper Fighting

Champion Edition’s defining change is access to Balrog, Vega, Sagat, and M. Bison. Their moves expand the roster, but special inputs still follow the familiar charge or rotation patterns.

Balrog: Dash Straight (charge back, then forward + punch) and Dash Upper (the same charge with punch, depending on version). His punches are charge attacks; keep space in mind because a blocked dash can leave him vulnerable.
Vega: Rolling Crystal Flash (charge back, then forward + punch), Flying Barcelona Attack (charge down, then up + kick, then punch), and Izuna Drop (the Barcelona sequence followed by a close-range grab input). Wall interaction and claw behavior vary across releases.
Sagat: High and Low Tiger Shots (quarter-circle forward + punch, with punch strength affecting the shot) and Tiger Uppercut (forward, down, down-forward + punch). The high/low projectile pair controls different spaces; Tiger Uppercut is his anti-air.
M. Bison: Psycho Crusher (charge back, then forward + punch), Double Knee Press (charge back, then forward + kick), and Head Press (charge down, then up + kick). His follow-up options and exact move properties change among editions.

Hyper Fighting speeds up play and changes character balance, so strategies that work in Champion Edition may not transfer exactly. It also gives Ryu and Ken a faster Hadouken and introduces additional character-specific changes. Do not assume that a combo’s timing, damage, or safety is identical across these two versions.

Super Street Fighter II and Super Turbo additions

Super Street Fighter II adds four selectable characters:

Cammy: Spiral Arrow (quarter-circle forward + kick), Cannon Spike (forward, down, down-forward + kick), and Hooligan Combination (half-circle back + kick). Her fast approach and anti-air complement one another.
Fei Long: Rekkaken (repeated quarter-circle forward + punch presses), Shienkyaku (forward, down, down-forward + kick), and aerial Tenshin (a command grab performed in the air at close range). The exact follow-up opportunities depend on the edition.
Dee Jay: Air Slasher (charge back, then forward + punch), Double Rolling Sobat (charge back, then forward + kick), and Jackknife Maximum (charge down, then up + kick). His kit combines projectile control with charge attacks.
T. Hawk: Mexican Typhoon (full rotation + punch), Condor Dive (press punch while airborne), and Tomahawk Buster (forward, down, down-forward + punch). He threatens with a close-range throw and a rising anti-air.

Super Turbo adds Super Combos, selected by meeting the game’s Super meter conditions and entering a character-specific motion. For example, Ryu’s Shinkuu Hadouken uses a double quarter-circle forward plus punch; Chun-Li’s Senretsukyaku uses a double quarter-circle forward plus kick. Exact meter rules, move properties, and character options are edition-specific. The game also includes “Old” character versions, which restore some earlier move sets or properties; they are not simply identical to a separate older game in every detail.

Building reliable combos and avoiding input errors

Start with a small sequence rather than memorizing long tournament combos. A normal attack into a special move is commonly called a cancel when the normal transitions directly into the special. Many attacks do not cancel, and some apparent combos are only possible after a jump-in or when the opponent is in a particular state.

Choose the exact game and character version before practicing; Super Turbo’s Old versions and different arcade editions can change results.
Practice the motion slowly, then make it quicker without skipping its directional components. For a quarter-circle forward, press down, down-forward, and forward before the attack button.
Confirm that the opponent is close enough and that the attack actually connects. A move that is blocked is not a combo.
Test both sides of the screen. Charge directions reverse when the opponent crosses over, and quarter-circle inputs must also face toward the opponent.

Common mistakes include pressing the attack before completing the motion, using a special at a range where it misses, and assuming a move is safe because it worked once. A command list tells you how to attempt a move; it does not guarantee a combo, a hit, or an advantageous result.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the basic Street Fighter II controls?
The classic arcade layout has three punches and three kicks, each at light, medium, and heavy strength. Direction plus an attack performs normal moves; special moves combine a directional motion or charge with an attack button.

How do I do a Hadouken?
Press down, then down-forward, then forward, followed by a punch. The input is the same on either side of the screen because forward always means toward the opponent.

Which Street Fighter II edition has the most characters?
Super Street Fighter II introduced Cammy, Fei Long, Dee Jay, and T. Hawk in addition to the earlier roster. Super Turbo builds on that cast and adds Super Combos and Old character options.

Are combos the same in every edition?
No. Game speed, move properties, character balance, and cancel behavior can differ. Check the specific release and version rather than assuming a combo from one game works in another.

Why does my special move not come out?
Most often, the directional sequence is incomplete, the attack button is pressed too early, or a charge was not held long enough. Also check that you are using the correct direction for your current side and the right button strength.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.