In Street Fighter 6, the Drive System is a super-meter-based combat mechanic that allows for new special attacks while limiting dodges. With this system, each player has six stamina bars that refill by timed attacks and blocks or automatically during the match. And emptying these bars sends them into a vulnerable state wherein enemy strikes drain larger chunks of HP.
Players looking to master the new combat system can use this Street Fighter 6 guide to learn about the Drive Gauge and its different Drives.
What Is the Drive Gauge
The Drive Gauge is a six-bar power meter, indicating how many Drives each character can perform. When the bars are depleted, the characters enter the Burnout State. However, the meter automatically replenishes during the match and at the start of each round. The Drive Gauge also protects players against chip damage in return for half a bar of their power meter.
The Drive Gauge and the Super Move bar function independently. Depleting one does not impact the other.
All Five Drive Types
Street Fighter 6 characters have five unique moves that require the Drive Gauge: Impact, Parry, Rush, Reversal, and Overdrive. These Drives provide extra skills like counterattacks and power strikes on top of the Super Moves.
Drive Impact
Drive Impact | Instruction |
How to Perform | Heavy Punch + Heavy Kick |
Drive Gauge Cost | ×1 |
The Drive Impact is an armored power-absorbing heavy strike that can wall-splat the enemy in the corners. When the opponent blocks this move, they get pushed back and lose a Drive Gauge bar. Simultaneous Drive Impacts activate slow-motion, with the late striker winning the hit.
If the enemy is in the Burnout State (i.e., they have no Drive Gauge), wall-splatting them with Drive Impact stuns them for a few seconds. This stun is unblockable; the only way to get out of it is by waiting for the Drive System to replenish.
Drive Parry
Drive Impact | Instruction |
How to Perform | Medium Punch + Medium Kick |
Drive Gauge Cost | ×0.5 (when tapped) |
As the title suggests, the Drive Parry is a dodge and deflect move. By holding the Medium Punch and Kick buttons, players enter a focus mode that automatically blocks all enemy attacks in exchange for their Drive Gauge. But when timed correctly, the Drive Parry freezes the opponent, allowing for a follow-up counterattack.
While each Drive Parry consumes half of the Drive Gauge bar, successful dodges replenish it. Players can also deflect enemy projectiles (fireballs) to refill the bars and recover from the parry move faster.
The ideal counter for the Drive Parry is a throw. Simply throw the enemy on the ground to break their focus mode.
Drive Rush
Drive Impact | Instruction |
How to Perform | Double-tap the forward button |
Drive Gauge Cost | ×1 to ×3 |
The Drive Rush is a quick dash toward the enemy. There are two ways to perform it: dashing out of a parry or dashing from a cancelable normal attack. Either way, their next move after a Drive Rush will be enhanced. To be more accurate, the strike that follows this move gains +4 frames, giving the performer an excellent combo advantage.
Drive Rush’s frame advantage stacks up with other enhancing moves, such as the Punish Counter. Combined, the two strikes give up to +12 frames per light punch, which is a massive gain.
Drive Reversal
Drive Impact | Instruction |
How to Perform | Heavy Punch + Heavy Kick (while blocking) |
Drive Gauge Cost | ×2 |
The Drive Reversal is a counterattack that is executed while blocking. It is a highly effective technique for breaking free from enemy combos and restoring the Drive Gauge that may have been depleted while dodging.
While it breaks the opponent’s combinations, the Drive Reversal deflects minor damage. So, it’s not the most potent comeback move. Plus, each Reversal consumes two Drive Gauge bars, making it a costly defense.
Overdrive
Drive Impact | Instruction |
How to Perform | Special Move + Two of the Same Type Attacks |
Drive Gauge Cost | ×2 |
Replacing the EX Special Move from previous Street Fighter games, the Overdrive is an extra-powerful combo of special moves. It turns every special strike of the same type into a deadly hit called the Overdrive Art, which players can perform by tapping two buttons of the same SP move (e.g., Medium Punch + Heavy Punch while making a Special Move).
The Burnout State Explained
If a player exhausts all their Drive Gauges, they will go into a state of Burnout. During this phase, their Drive bar will regenerate at a much slower rate, and they will take more damage from enemy attacks. Additionally, they will experience chip damage, meaning they will lose HP while dodging or blocking.
Street Fighter 6 is available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on June 2, 2023.