Street Fighter 6’s poison master A.K.I. has an impressive collection of special moves, Super Arts, and even unique moves in her arsenal. These are the basic building blocks that lead string into fanciful—and painful—combos. Below is a list of all of A.K.I.’s special moves and their inputs in both classic and modern controls.
Notation for A.K.I.’s Special Moves in Street Fighter 6
/ – Or (separates alternate moves)
+ – Press simultaneously
P – Any punch
LP – Light Punch
MP – Medium Punch
HP – Heavy Punch
PP – Overdrive punch (any two punches simultaneously)
K – Any kick
LK – Light Kick
MK – Medium Kick
HK – Heavy Kick
KK – Overdrive kick (any two kicks simultaneously)
L – Might (for modern controls only)
M – Medium (for modern controls only)
H – Heavy (for modern controls only)
SP – Special (for modern controls only)
A – Assist (for modern controls only)
D – Down
U – Up
F – Forward
B – Back
N – Neutral (not pressing a direction button)
QCF – Quarter circle forward (D, DF, F)
QCB – Quarter circle back (D, DB, B)
All of A.K.I.’s Special Moves in Street Fighter 6 Listed
Nightshade Pulse
- Classic Control Input: QCB + LP
- Modern Control Input: B + SP
Nightshade Pulse launches a bubble projectile. It travels a long distance to the opponent, and poisons them when it hits.
Nightshade Chaser
- Classic Control Input: QCF + P / PP (during Nightshade Pulse)
- Modern Control Input: F + SP (during Nightshade Pulse)
- Triggers Toxic Blossom
Nightshade Chaser extends A.K.I.’s poisonous talons to strike enemies. It can also detonate Nightshade Pulse early.
Orchid Spring
- Classic Control Input: QCB + MP
- Modern Control Input: N/A
Orchid Spring leaves a pool of poison on the ground that will poison any opponent who touches it. The pool itself cannot be blocked.
Toxic Wreath
- Classic Control Input: QCB + HP
- Modern Control Input: N/A
Toxic Wreath creates a poisonous bubble while A.K.I. slashes forward, popping the bubble.
Serpent Lash
- Classic Control Input: QCF + P
- Modern Control Input: F + SP
- Triggers Toxic Blossom
Serpent Lash is a mid-range stab done by A.K.I. extending her talons. Pressing different direction buttons will change the direction the talons extend.
Serpent Lash (Overdrive)
- Classic Control Input: QCF + PP
- Modern Control Input: F + SP + A
If the Overdrive version of Serpent Lash hits the opponent, A.K.I. will jump and land next to them.
Cruel Fate
- Classic Control Input: QCB + K
- Modern Control Input: D + SP
A.K.I. leaps into the air and unleashes many piercing, downward strikes from up above. Pressing B or F controls the leap distance.
Cruel Fate (Overdrive)
- Classic Control Input: QCB + KK
- Modern Control Input:
After jumping, A.K.I. will grab onto the opponent, strike them rapidly, and poison them with a massive poisonous stab.
Snake Step
- Classic Control Input: QCF + K
- Modern Control Input: N + SP
A.K.I. drops to the ground and propels herself forward. This Special Move has drastically different properties based on which kick is used.
- QCF + LK
A.K.I. feints rather than slides across the ground.
- QCF + MK
A.K.I. slithers up to the opponent, closing the gap between them.
- QCF + HK
A.K.I.’s slithering ends with her behind the opponent, rather than in front of them.
- QCF + KK
In the Overdrive version of Snake Step, only throws can hit A.K.I., and she ends up behind the opponent.
Sinister Slide
- Classic Control Input: D + PP
- Modern Control Input: N/A
- Input U to cancel Sinister Slide and get up at any time.
This is a slow, long forward slither on the ground. Sinister slide can follow up into a few different moves:
Venomous Fang
- Classic Control Input: P (during Sinister Slide)
- Modern Control Input: N/A
- Triggers Toxic Blossom
A.K.I. propels herself forward and off the ground with great force, striking and poisoning the opponent if hit.
Heel Strike
- Classic Control Input: K (during Sinister Slide)
- Modern Control Input: N/A
A.K.I. lifts herself out of Sinister Slide with a pair of kicks.
Entrapment
- Classic Control Input: LP + LK (during Sinister Slide)
- Modern Control Input: N/A
A.K.I. leaves Sinister Slide and follows it up with a throw. Because Entrapment is a throw, A.K.I. must be close to the opponent to successfully connect the move.
All of A.K.I.’s Super Arts in Street Fighter 6 Listed
Deadly Implication
- Classic Control Input: QCFQCF + K
- Modern Control Input: N / F + SP + H
- Uses 1 unit of Super Gauge
A.K.I. kicks the opponent and launches them into the air, then traps them in a poisonous bubble.
Tainted Talons
- Classic Control Input: QCBQCB + P
- Modern Control Input: B + SP + H then B / N / F
- Uses 2 units of Super Gauge
A.K.I. extends many talons forward and leaves a large poisonous pool on the ground where they landed. Both the strike and the poison pool will poison opponents when touched. The different punches will change how far the talons go in classic controls, with light landing the closest to A.K.I. and heavy going the furthest. In modern controls, the distance is controlled by the directions held at the end of the input.
Claws of Ya Zi
- Classic Control Input: QCFQCF + P
- Modern Control Input: D + SP + H
- Uses 3 units of Super Gauge
- Does more damage when A.K.I.’s health is at or below 25%
A.K.I. injects poison into various points of the opponent’s body, which then detonate.
A.K.I.’s Unique Moves in Street Fighter 6
Not quite Special Moves, but still distinct from regular attacks, A.K.I. has a handful on unique moves to spring on the opponent or sprinkle into combos.
Pu Lao
- Classic Control Input: DF + MP
- Modern Control Input: DF + M
An overhead strike. Enemies can’t block it while crouching.
Chi Wen
- Classic Control Input: F + HP
- Modern Control Input: DF + H
A forward lunge that can be cancelled into a Super Art.
Qiu Niu
- Classic Control Input: F + HK
- Modern Control Input: F + H
A kick that propels A.K.I. forward.
Xiu She
- Classic Control Input: N/A
- Modern Control Input: DF + H
A.K.I. performs a low attack that knocks the opponent down upon hitting. The opponent can’t block this attack while standing.
Gong Fu
- Classic Control Input: D + HP (during a forward jump)
- Modern Control Input: D + H (during a forward jump)
This jumping strike can hit opponents that are behind A.K.I.
Hun Dun
- Classic Control Input: LP, LP
- Modern Control Input: L, L
This combo can be cancelled into a Special Move.
Qiong Qi
- Classic Control Input: HP, HP
- Modern Control Input: H, H
- Triggers Toxic Blossom
This combo has a long reach, poisons opponents if it hits.
The Best Way to Practice A.K.I.’s Special Moves in Street Fighter 6
To become more consistent at executing A.K.I.’s special move inputs, the best place to go is Training Mode. To get to Training Mode:
- Go to Fighting Ground (the rightmost option on the main menu),
- Go to Practice,
- And under Practice, select Training.
Here, you can practice moves and combos against any opponent of your choice. There are some options to make the process smoother. In the Pause menu, go to “Screen Display Settings.” There are a lot of fantastic options to play around with here, but the ones most relevant for beginners learning to input A.K.I.’s special moves are:
- Attack Data: Shows combo and damage data as you attack the opponent.
- Input History Display (highly recommended): Shows what buttons you’ve inputted on the sides of the screen. This is helpful to see what is being read.
- Command Completion Display (highly recommended): If you succeed in doing a combo, special move, or super art, its command will display in the bottom left of the screen
- Virtual Controller: Shows the inputs you make on a virtual controller on-screen.
If you’re interested in trying out A.K.I. for yourself but haven’t downloaded the DLC, check out our guide on using SF6’s Rental Fighter program before taking the plunge.
