Dash

Not to be confused with Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, where in Japan it was called "Dash".

Dash is a movement option in modern Street Fighter games, complementing Walk Speed.

Description

G's forward dash in action.

Executed by performing two forward or backward inputs in quick succession, the character quickly moves in the specified direction.

Tactics

While both dashes have the same horizontal reach, Makoto's is much faster than Dhalsim's in terms of time to finish.

Dashes serve as a faster, riskier alternative to walking. Dashes can vary in their speed and distance, with far-reaching dashes often being compensated with a long duration. For example, Dhalsim and Makoto have the longest and second-longest forward dashes in terms of distance traveled, however Makoto covers the same distance in half the time, compensating for her extremely slow walk speed. Alternatively, some characters can benefit from having a short, quick dash such as Rufus being able to use Focus Attack Dash Cancels without worrying about going under a juggled opponent.

Forward dashes are primarily used for positioning and surprise attacks. Excluding a handful of unique cases such as Rashid's followups during his run or M.Bison's brief invulnerability, dashes leave characters fully grounded and are unable to be cancelled out of, making them risky if done too predictably.

Rufus' Dash combo in action

Back dashes vary depending on the game, but are primarily used as defensive options. In Street Fighter IV, back dashes have full invulnerability followed by an airborne period, whereas in Street Fighter V, back dashes only have throw invulnerability and have a counterhit state during the airborne period. While they can create space away from the opponent, it also places the user closer to the corner, which can greatly limit their defensive options. Back dashes in the corner retain their properties while cutting the distance short, which can lead to potential punishes against throws that would otherwise be impossible midscreen.

Types

Dash Attacks

Ibuki performing her Dash Attack in Gem Fighter.

Some games such as Street Fighter EX3 or Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix allow characters to attack while dashing. In some games they are triggered after dashing for a distance and others they require players to manually attack.

Special dashes

Example of a command dash

Command Dash

Command Dashes are dashes that require a special input. Characters can use these types of dashes in any state as long as it is part of their regular moveset. These characters can also usually special cancel any normal that allows it into these attacks. The trade-off is that the performing character is usually negative in terms of frame data on non EX versions. EX versions are usually used as part of safe pressure or combo extension.

Gallery

Abigail's forward dash in Street Fighter V.

Ibuki's forward dash

Ibuki forward dashing on Gem Fighter.

Ibuki's Backdash in Gem Fighter.

Juri's forward dash

Poison's forward dash

An example of a backdash, performed by Ibuki

Faster dashes have better "Corpse Pushing" capabilities, here Makoto using her dash to push Hugo into the corner. Character size is generally not a factor.

Zangief backdashing

2 Forward Dashes, Zangief's is slower than his opponent's so he is being pushed back.

Backdashes usually have around eight frames of invincibility, Here Rose is able to backdash out of Akuma's Demon Armageddon, since she has a 21-frame back dash it is easier for her to recover and apply pressure more than most of the cast.

Here Ibuki uses a dash without any cancel mechanics to Raida Ling Xiaoyu.

Ibuki forward dashing to approach Makoto in 3D Battle.

Skullomania dashing in Street Fighter EX 3

Trivia

• Ibuki's forward dash in SFV is similar in terms of visuals to the hopping Ryu and Ken did to move in the original Street Fighter.
• Hakan can cancel his forward dash animation while he is oiled, making him the only fighter who can combo off a level one Focus Attack.
• Ibuki's dash animation is used 3 times in different context within Street Fighter X Tekken. The first is her forward dash, her incoming animation from a Tag reuses her dash animation (albeit extends it) other characters such as Chun-Li and Tekken's Lili get unique running animations for the action. Ibuki lastly also uses the animation in King and Marduk's side of their rival battle against Rolento and Ibuki.
  • This also makes Ibuki have the most recycled animation for different actions in any game of the series (not counting Clones).