Taunt

A taunt is a type of move introduced in the Street Fighter Alpha series.

Input

Street Fighter Alpha series
Street Fighter III series-Present	+

Description

Taunts are usually harmless actions that can only be performed on the ground, and every character has only one, with the major exception of Dan in both cases. Though taunts are often done to mock or annoy the foe, some can actually hit them (though there is no damage in some cases), making them potentially useful combo starters. Once a taunt is used, the player cannot cancel out of it (again, with one exception), leaving them open to attack if timed badly.

The buttons used for taunting are sometimes "extra"/unused buttons found in the control scheme. Taunts generally aren't used very often due to the fast pacing of the games, where the taunter is open for counter-attack.

Street Fighter Alpha series

This series is the first to feature taunts, and also makes it possible to knock out a foe with certain taunts while said opponent has extremely low health (e.g. Chun-Li's and Sodom's), which grants a point bonus.

Dan

Dan's taunts (one of which is shown here) have become very famous ever since his introduction in this series. Being a joke character, he has many unique attributes to his taunting. For one, he has a unique taunt for standing, ducking, and even an aerial taunt. Dan also has a special move that involves a taunt, Roll Taunt. Finally, Dan has an entire Super Combo centered around his taunts, called "Legendary Taunt".

Street Fighter III series

The Street Fighter III series gave all taunts in-game effects that last for the duration of the round, listed below. The game also introduces alternate taunts, which are available to certain characters, and are usually performed by holding the buttons on input instead of tapping. Damage increases granted by taunts only apply to the next attack that hits or is blocked; all other effects last for the duration of the current round.

Several of the taunts can hit opponents, meaning that they can usually be parried, used to start combos, and can also fill the Super Art Gauge slightly.

Click any character's sprite(s) to go to that character's article.

Character	Special Effect
	Increases Alex's attack power. This effect can be stacked up to a maximum of four times. The taunt buttons can also be held to steadily increase attack power.
	Increases attack power for all moves, excluding throws and the Raging Demon. It also increases stun damage for all moves.
	Increases Chun-Li's Stun Gauge recovery. This effect can be stacked up to a maximum of three times. Other bonuses can be bestowed based on what else she does. If she cracks her neck, her attack power increases for all moves, excluding throws. If she pats her shoulder, her defense increases. If she arches forward and stretches her hips, both her attack and defense power increase.
	Increases Dudley's attack power for all moves, excluding throws. The rose can hit opponents. Also, only one rose can be thrown at a time.
	Increases the stun damage of Elena's moves. This effect can be stacked up to a maximum of four times. It can also hit the foe twice: once during her leg sweep, and again when she lifts herself.
	Increases Gill's attack power.
	Increases Hugo's defense power. This effect can be stacked up to a maximum of four times. Additional effects depend on the input. Tapping the buttons increases Hugo's attack power for all moves, excluding throws. Holding the buttons increases Hugo's attack power for all throws.
	Increases Ibuki's attack power, but only if the taunt hits.
	Increases Ken's attack power for all moves, excluding throws. The taunt can hit twice, but is not able to start a combo.
	Increase Increases Makoto's Stun Gauge recovery, in addition to increased attack power for all moves, excluding throws. The increase depends on how long the buttons are held, which determines how make actions Makoto will perform. The first action can hit the opponent. Performing the maximum three actions grants two attack power boosts and three Stun Gauge recovery boosts.
	Increases Necro's attack power for all moves, excluding throws. Necro's tongue can hit the opponent multiple times, and holding the taunt buttons increases the duration of the tongue's flailing.
	Lowers Oro's Stun Gauge. Holding the taunt buttons lowers it further.
	Increases Q's defense power for the duration of the round. This effect can be stacked up to a maximum of three times.
	Increases the stun damage of Remy's attacks. This effect can be stacked up to a maximum of four times.
	Increases Ryu's Stun Gauge recovery. This effect can be stacked up to a maximum of three times.
	Increases the stun damage of Sean's moves. This effect can be stacked up to a maximum of three times. The basketball can hit opponents. Also, only one basketball can be onscreen at a time.
	Twelve will turn invisible. The effect last until he is hit, blocks, performs a hold or Super Art, or the player uses the taunt to reappear. Note that he will not reappear while parrying or performing EX Specials.
	Increases Urien's attack power for all moves, excluding throws. The taunt can hit the opponent, though it will not give the attack power bonus if it does.
	Increases Yang's attack power for all moves; throws only receive a 1-point increase in damage. The taunt can hit opponents.
	Increases Yun's attack power for special attacks; all other moves receive the same bonus, though it is much smaller. Holding down the button grants the same increase, though it will eventually reach the maximum; eight regular taunts will also max out the increases. The hat can hit opponents multiple times.

Street Fighter IV series

Taunts are referred to in the Street Fighter IV series as Personal Actions. All characters have 10 each, from which they must pick one when selecting their character. They can be performed at any time during the match by The Personal Actions themselves have mostly no effect in terms of gameplay (as opposed to the previous series), and are there solely for the amusement of players.

Exceptions to the above include El Fuerte and Dhalsim; both possess personal actions that affect hitboxes. One of El Fuerte's personal actions has his crouch and face the screen, allowing most projectiles to pass over him. One of Dhalsim's personal actions has him stretch his body into the upper portion of the screen and balance himself on his stretched leg; this pose can be held, and is only vulnerable to air attacks.