10 Most Iconic Street Fighter Special/Super Moves

Used By: Ryu, Ken, Evil Ryu, Sakura, Kage (Hadouken), Akuma, Oni, Gouken (Gohadoken), Dan (Gadoken)

First Appearance: Street Fighter

Input: Quarter-Circle Forward + Punch

The iconic projectile attack utilised by Ryu and Ken since the original Street Fighter, the ‘Hadouken’ (or ‘Wave Motion Fist’) is probably the most recognisable special move to Street Fighter fans. As with the ‘Shoryuken’, after the release of Street Fighter II, the abilities of Ryu and Ken’s Hadouken attacks grew further and further apart.

Starting with Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers, Ryu has access to the ‘Shakunetsu Hadoken’ using a Half-Circle-Forward + Punch input. This allows Ryu to imbue the Hadouken attack with thermal energy, causing it to set opponents on fire - a technique which is also used by Akuma. Other common variants used by Ryu are the ‘Denjin Hadoken’ and the ‘Shinku Hadoken’, which allow Ryu to charge the Hadouken attack before releasing it at the opponent.

Many of the characters who use moves similar to the Shoryuken also have a variant of the Hadouken attack. Akuma, Oni and Gouken can utilise the ‘Gohadoken’ (‘Great Surge Fist’) while Dan has the ‘Gadoken’ (‘Self Way Fist’). Sakura also uses the same basic Hadouken as Ryu and Ken. The Quarter-Circle Forward + Punch input used for the Hadouken is synonymous with fighting games, and is a standard fireball/projectile attack motion used in many other games.