Ken in Street Fighter 5 is much more than a long-range Hadoken-spammer. He can easily close in the gap quickly and shines at close-to-mid-range combat.
For more help on Street Fighter 5 Combos List, you can read out How to Play Chun-Li Guide, How to Play Cammy Guide, and How to Play Birdie Guide.
Street Fighter 5 Ken Guide
This guide basically details tips and strategies on how to play as Ken and how to play against him along with some of his sample combos:
How to Play as Ken
While playing as Ken, you need to understand that he is not as effective at long-range as he used to be in previous iterations. As mentioned earlier, Ken really shines in close-to-mid-range combat.
At close range, you should definitely try out back throw.
While people prefer using the forward glitch as it provides them with an opportunity to continue the offense, but Ken is probably one of the few characters in the game who can toss an opponent into a corner even from mid-screen.
Once done, you can toss a slow Hadoken, close in the gap, and continue your assault. When we speak about closing in the gap, you need to learn how much distance your dashes cover.
Despite the fact that your normal dash is extremely quick, Quick Step is ideal for closing in on large distances. Needless to say, but Ken’s Shoryuken is a pretty decent anti-air attack.
Some people also prefer going with a Shoryuken as a wake-up attack in order to avoid frame traps especially from Chun-Li and Cammy, but you need to understand that wake-up Shoryuken are highly punishable when guarded.
How to Play against Ken
In Street Fighter 5, Ken’s Hadoken has lengthy recovery which is why you should not be afraid to jump in.
At mid-range, you need to avoid his standing HK. You can also punish this attack with a light attack, provided that you are in close range or at least close in the gap.
You also need to punish his normal(s) into Quick Step cancel using Ken’s crouching HP or a MP with any other character. Aggressive players will always go with a wake-up Shoryuken which you need to heavily punish after blocking it.
From long range, Ken’s gap closer is HK Tatsumaki Senpukyaku which you need to treat with an anti-air or simply dash under it if he executes it from a close range.
Lastly, do note that Ken’s fireballs are not nearly as effective as they used to be in Street Fighter IV.
Combos
Combo #1
Cr. + LK, XX, f, LP, XX…
Mix-Ups
- HP Shoryuken
- EX Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
Combo #2
Cr. + MP, f, LK, XX…
Mix-Ups
- HP Shoryuken
- EX Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
Combo #3
Cr. + MP, f, B + MP, XX, HP, XX…
Mix-Ups
- HP Shoryuken
- HK Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
Combo #4
Cr. + MP, f, B + MP, XX, HP, XX, MP + MK (hold), XX, HP + HK, XX…
Mix-Ups
- EX Shoryuken
- EX Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
Combo #5
Counter Hit with HP, f, Cr. + MK, XX…
Mix-Ups
- Guren Enjinkya ku
- EX Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
Combo #6
HP, XX, MP + MK, XX…
Mix-Ups
- LK Tatsumaki Senpukyaku, HP Shoryuken
- LP Shoryuken
Combo #7
HK, XX, HP + HK, Cr. + HP, XX, LP Shoryuken, XX…
Mix-Ups
- MP Shoryuken (1-Hit), XX, Guren Enjinkya ku
- EX Shoryuken
- EX Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
- HP Shoryuken
Combo #8
UF + HK, MK, XX, HK, XX…
Mix-Ups
- Guren Enjinkya ku
- EX Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
- EX Shoryuken
- HP Shoryuken
Lastly, do not forget to share your own tips and strategies with us in the comments section below!
