Capcom has released update 1.20 for Street Fighter 6, marking the start of Season 3 with substantial adjustments to the battle system and overall character balance. This update aims to reshape competitive gameplay by refining Perfect Parry mechanics, enhancing defensive strategies, and improving modern control schemes, thereby offering a deeper, more calculated fighting experience.
At the core of the update are significant changes to the Perfect Parry system. It now requires more precise directional inputs—down-back for lows and back for highs and overheads—for the screen-freezing effect to trigger. This adjustment targets the reduction of accidental parries and seeks to reward accurate and intentional defense, addressing long-standing community concerns about how easily the mechanic could be abused. As a result, multiple characters have seen changes to their low attacks, ensuring no character gains disproportionate advantage from these updates. The update also modifies throw escapes to be more rewarding, giving players greater resource gain and incentivizing their use as a viable defensive option in high-pressure situations.
The patch further adjusts the role of crouching attacks, especially light and medium kicks, altering their combo potential and block string dynamics. These tweaks are complemented by changes to the Modern control scheme, which now supports differentiated jumping attacks and introduces new Assisted Combo variations that start from crouching light attacks. These adjustments are designed to close the performance gap between Classic and Modern control styles, offering more tactical diversity for players regardless of their preferred input scheme.
Patch Notes Summary for Street Fighter 6 Update 1.20 (Season 3)
Battle System Changes
- Perfect Parry Adjustments
- Screen freeze only activates if correct block direction is input.
- High/Overhead: Back + Parry; Low: Down-Back + Parry.
- No changes for Perfect Parry against projectiles.
- Aims to reduce accidental Perfect Parries and encourage intentional inputs.
- Perfect Parry Consequences
- Increased importance of high/low mix-ups.
- Crouching medium kicks adjusted to reduce overpowered offensive pressure.
- Light kick sequences now more viable due to Perfect Parry risk reduction.
- Throw Escape Enhancements
- Increased Drive and Super Art gauge gain on successful throw escapes.
- Aimed at making throw escapes a more rewarding defensive tactic.
- Sweeps
- Reduced hurtbox on 1st active frame.
- Players can now recover from normal or counter hit sweeps.
- Reduces side-switch opportunities unless performed as Punish Counter.
- Does not apply to slide-type attacks.
Modern Controls Overhaul
- Jumping Attacks
- Assist button alters aerial attacks.
- Standard jump: air-to-air attacks; Assist + jump: air-to-ground attacks.
- New Assisted Combos
- Unique combo now triggered by ↓+Assist+Light after rapid-cancel light attack.
- Reflects structure of Assisted Combo 1 but functions under different conditions.
Universal Fixes and Adjustments
- Corner Interaction Fixes
- Resolved inconsistencies in corner jumps and side-switching from Perfect Parry.
- Drive Gauge
- Forward movement now recovers Drive gauge starting from frame 11.
- Assisted Combo Input Timing
- Unified input window to prevent unintentional combo sequences.
- Throw Bug Fixes
- Corrected throw behavior and resolution issues in edge cases involving Cammy, Bison, Terry, and Mai.
- Normal Throws and Command Throws
- Resolved inconsistencies when both players attempt throws simultaneously.
Move Adjustments
- Crouching Heavy Kick (and equivalent)
- Unified behavior on hit/counter hit (allows back recovery).
- Reduced hurtbox on 1st active frame.
- Increased buffer input time post-recovery.
- Specific application varies by character (affects A.K.I. and Ed differently).
Character-Specific Changes
- Detailed adjustments for each fighter are available on the official Street Fighter 6 website.
Street Fighter 6 is currently available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. With this update, Capcom aims to ensure a more deliberate, skill-focused competitive environment heading into the third season of the game.
