Street Fighter 6: What Is Burnout & How To Survive

In Street Fighter 6, one of the new gameplay mechanics introduced is called “Burnout.” Burnout is a state that affects your character when your Drive Gauge, located below the health bar, is depleted. This Sf6 Burnout guide is all about how to survive Burnout!

What Is Burnout?

In Street Fighter 6, burnout refers to a specific state a player enters when they’ve depleted all of their Drive Gauge. This gauge, also known as the Drive Meter, is a resource that each player begins with in full at the start of every round. It’s composed of six stocks of Drive Gauge and allows players to perform various universal mechanics in SF6, including moves like Drive Impact, Drive Rush, Drive Parry, Drive Reversal, and Overdrive moves.

• However, if a player exhausts this resource completely, they enter a SF6 burnout state.
• In this state, the player loses access to all of the moves that require the use of the Drive Gauge.
• This means they cannot use any defensive or offensive drive moves.
• On top of this, being in burnout puts the player at a severe disadvantage because it makes them susceptible to being stunned.
• Burnout also introduces a new damage mechanism.
• In a normal state, players can block hits and the impact chips away at their Drive Gauge, but in burnout, players will see their health go down incrementally even as they block their opponent’s moves.

Additionally, players become vulnerable to being KO’d with chip damage – something that can only happen in burnout.

Best Strategies To Do In Burnout State

These tricks have absolutely worked for me. Incorporate these and you will be SF6 Burnout proof, well Kind of! Playing aggressively while in a SF6 burnout state in Street Fighter 6 is a risky strategy, but it can pay off if executed correctly. Here’s how you might approach it:

• Counter-Attacking: While defending against your opponent’s attacks, look for opportunities to counter-attack. This could involve interrupting their combos or exploiting the recovery time of their moves.
• Pressure Play: Maintain pressure on your opponent. Use quick, safe moves to keep your opponent on their back foot and to limit their opportunities for attacking.
• Mix-Ups: To keep your opponent guessing, mix up your attack patterns. Throw in some grabs, use both high and low attacks, and vary your approach to keep your opponent on their toes.
• Frame Advantage: Knowing the frame data for your character’s moves is crucial in aggressive play. Use moves that give you a frame advantage to maintain pressure and create opportunities for follow-up attacks.
• Corner Control: Try to maneuver your opponent into a corner. This limits their movement options and allows them to maintain offensive pressure.
• Surprise Attacks: Catch your opponent off-guard with unexpected moves. This can help you break through their defenses and give you the upper hand.
• Chip Damage: If your opponent is playing defensively, you can use special moves to deal chip damage even when they’re blocking.
• Punishing: Learn to punish your opponent’s mistakes. If they miss an attack or use a move with a long recovery, make sure to capitalize on it.

1. Stay Grounded

“Stop jumping” might seem like a simple directive, but in a game like Street Fighter, it has complex implications. Here’s how and why you might consider keeping your feet on the ground more often:

• Predictability: Frequent jumping can become predictable and easy for your opponent to counter. If your opponent notices that you’re jumping a lot, they might start anticipating it and respond with anti-air attacks, which can lead to significant damage.
• Vulnerability: When you’re in the air, your options for blocking or countering attacks are limited. This can make you vulnerable to attacks, especially from skilled players who can time their strikes accurately.
• Control: Staying grounded allows you to maintain better control over your character’s movements. This can help you execute precise combos, block attacks effectively, and respond quickly to your opponent’s moves.
• Range and Timing: Being on the ground gives you a wider range of moves and allows you to better time your attacks and defenses. This can help you control the pace of the match and pressure your opponent more effectively.
• Footsies: “Footsies” is a term used in fighting games to describe the mid-range ground game that characters play, trying to control space and punish their opponents.

2. Attack Is The Best Form Of Defense

If you play too defensively, there’s a chance you would be all corned up. “Avoid the corner at all costs” is another fundamental strategy in fighting games like Street Fighter. Here’s an expanded look at why this is important and some strategies to avoid getting cornered:

• Limited Movement: When you’re in the corner, your movement options are significantly reduced. You can’t retreat or sidestep to avoid attacks, which makes it easier for your opponent to pressure you and land hits.
• Increased Vulnerability: The corner increases your vulnerability because it allows your opponent to control the fight.
  • They can trap you in the corner and relentlessly attack, and if you make a mistake, it can lead to devastating combos that you can’t escape from.
• Escape Tactics: If you find yourself cornered, your first priority should be to escape.
  • Some ways to do this include using a “wake-up” attack if you’re knocked down, using a move with invincibility frames to get through an opponent’s attack, or using a well-timed jump or dash to slip past your opponent.
• Reversing the Situation: If you’re skilled, you can try to reverse the situation and corner your opponent instead.
  • Look for a chance to sidestep, throw, or knock your opponent into the corner, then take advantage of their limited movement options to apply pressure.
• Spatial Awareness: Always be aware of your position in relation to the corner. If you find yourself getting pushed back, be proactive in changing the situation.
  • This can involve advancing aggressively, using moves that reposition you and your opponent, or forcing your opponent to back off by using long-range attacks.

The key to avoiding the corner is to control the space in the fighting game effectively.

3. Have A Full Super Meter

Here’s an expanded look at the strategy for saving your super meter:

• Resource Management: Saving your super meter is all about resource management. The super meter is a limited resource that can turn the tide of battle when used wisely.
  • If you use your meter recklessly, you might find yourself without it when you need it most.
• Strategic Use: By saving your super meter, you give yourself more strategic options. For example, you can use your super move as a finisher to end a round or match. You might also use it to interrupt an opponent’s attack, escape a dangerous situation, or apply pressure by threatening its use.
• Psychological Pressure: Having a full super meter also puts psychological pressure on your opponent. They have to play carefully, knowing that any mistake could be severely punished by their super move. This can make them more cautious, which you can take advantage of.
• Combo Potential: In some games, your super meter can be used to extend combos. Saving your meter allows you to unleash long, damaging combos when you find an opening, potentially leading to a comeback or solidifying your lead.
• Counterplay and Defense: Your super meter can also often be used for defensive options such as guard cancels or invincible reversals. Saving it can give you a get-out-of-jail card when you’re under heavy pressure.
• Adaptation: The decision to save your meter should also depend on the flow of the match. If you’re close to winning a round, it might be worth it to spend some meters to secure victory.

Finally, feel free to check out our take on Street Fighter 6: JP and Eternity, Ryu and M. Bison guides.

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