Street Fighter 6: Elena’s Gameplay Debut, Combo Potential, and Umehara’s Healing Doubts
Elena, the final DLC character of Street Fighter 6 Season 2, is almost here, and the first gameplay footage is finally making its rounds. With her release slated for June 5th, 2025, alongside the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 version, fans are eager to see what she brings to the table. But will her healing abilities be as impactful as they seem?
Japanese publications have released videos showcasing Elena in action, providing a comprehensive look at her moveset, combo potential, and even a glimpse into her Arcade Mode story. This marks the first opportunity to see Elena in real match scenarios, offering valuable insights before her official release.
One of the key aspects highlighted is Elena's new Lynx Song move, which allows her to perform various follow-up attacks after dodging projectiles. This special move significantly enhances her mobility and opens up new strategic possibilities. The footage also demonstrates her combo potential, such as launching opponents with Spinning Scythe after a Drive Impact, leading into a devastating Drive Rush combo.
Elena's healing ability, tied to her level 2 Super Art, has also been showcased. The footage reveals that it replenishes approximately 1,500 health points, roughly 15% of her total health bar. In her Arcade Mode story, she has a discussion with Akuma. He talks about how fighting with murderous intent and living life is like the same coin.
GameSpot provided CPU mirror match gameplay, showing both the modern Zebra-striped outfit and her classic Street Fighter outfit. She is the final addition to Year 2 of DLC, costing $29.99, or $49.99 for the Year 2 Ultimate Pass along with M. Bison, Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui.
However, not everyone is convinced about the effectiveness of Elena's healing. Daigo Umehara, a legendary figure in the fighting game community, has expressed doubts about its practical application. Daigo initially thought the healing was from super art 1, but is in fact tied to super art 2.
Daigo notes that sacrificing damage for a 15% health recovery might not be worth it, especially if Street Fighter 6 retains throw loops. He also contrasts Elena's new healing with her Street Fighter 4 incarnation, where it was linked to the Revenge Gauge and could be used multiple times in a round.
"You can choose whether to go for more damage or healing with super art 2?" begun Daigo. "I see. I wonder if this would be a good super art. I'd say it's probably better than a normal super art 2." He notes Ryus and Ken's super art 2 are not that good compared to Blanka, JP, and Rashids.
Ultimately, he questions whether the healing is as valuable as simply maximizing damage output with her Super Art 2.
As Elena's release date draws closer, the debate surrounding her healing ability is sure to intensify. Will it prove to be a game-changer, or will it be overshadowed by other strategic options? Only time will tell.
What are your thoughts on Elena's healing and her overall potential in Street Fighter 6? Share your opinions in the comments below!
