Going head-to-head with Ed in Street Fighter 6

When it launched in 2023, Street Fighter 6 seemed to be the start of a whole new era of fighting games, with Mortal Kombat 1 and Tekken 8 quickly joining their Capcom counterpart with rave reviews. The game’s roster has been steadily growing since the introduction of Rashid and A.K.I. last year, but the first new fighter of 2024 is Street Fighter V’s Ed and he sure knows how to pack a punch.

I had the chance to try Ed out in the game before his release and see how he fared against the rest of the legendary roster of fighters. While I may be a little bit rusty in the boxing ring, Ed got me right back into the swing of things, and I could see myself jumping straight back in with him as a new main.

Pulling his punches

As the first pure boxing-type character in Street Fighter 6, Ed is bringing a unique playstyle that is yet to really be covered in the game. The DLC characters so far have been able to wield tricky abilities to keep opponents on their toes. While Rashid utilised the power of the winds, and A.K.I. has a penchant for poisons, Ed adds unique Psycho Powers to his punches, making him a force to be reckoned with.

Ed almost feels like the antithesis of Cammy, who focuses more on kicks. His punches are fast and ferocious and his footwork is nimble, meaning if you see him closing the gap, get ready to block.

I found he is best played when getting up close and personal with opponents, but has a fair bit of range to some of his punches. Just when you think you’re going to try and escape him, his Psycho Abilities may just pull you back in for even more punishment. I found that getting to grips with his combos and learning his moves was a lot of fun, and could see him being quick to pick up and play with.

Hand in glove

Ed’s moves were perfect for my playstyle and often peppered opponents with a series of punches, before delivering some seriously heavy final blows. After poring over his combos, it’s clear that Ed has a lot of potential in the Tricky class, without being too over complicated.

His surly attitude and arrogant demeanour are a far cry from Rashid’s cockiness and A.K.I.’s creepiness. Every one of his punches makes you feel like he has something to prove. Ed is new to this SF6 adventure with a journey of his own, and he’s certainly not going down without a fight.

Ed is making his way to Street Fighter 6 on February 27, 2024. If you’re on the lookout for more on Street Fighter 6, be sure to check out our Street Fighter homepage where you’ll find guides on all the characters from Blanka to Zangief.