The last new character for Season 2 of Street Fighter 6 was leaked just a few days ago, and I admit, it's pretty hype to speculate how this character will fare in the game.
Elena, a staple character from Street Fighter III and Street Fighter IV, is beloved among fans. So when she did not appear in Street Fighter V, fans were somewhat disappointed because they thought she'd be in the roster, even as a late addition.
Since Elena will be released in June, the only media available as of this writing is the teaser trailer released by Capcom. In the video, Elena is shown in her home country dancing to the beat of the drums and showcasing her dance moves, including some very familiar Special Moves.
The short video did not show any gameplay examples, but a glimpse of her moves already gave fighting game content creators some idea of what Elena will be like.
BigNastyKail, for example, remarked on her moves and speculated that she might have a healing Super Art, which was her trademark Super Art in Street Fighter III. MaximillianDood adds that she'll heal herself during Drive Rush, which may be a pain to deal with. Sajam has a wilder suggestion--her moves have life-steal, or she has healing passives. On the flip side, ChrisG only said, "She looks good."
I do think she'll retain her healing move, it's just a matter of what kind it will be: a Special Move, a Super Art, or a passive (like a taunt).
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+ 2It's fair to say that her moves resemble those from Street Fighter III, with slight variations, such as those of the Shotos, like Ryu, Ken, and Akuma. I am also speculating that her play style will closely resemble Juri's (close range) or be a mid-range threat due to her hitbox.
Then I suppose poking with normal attacks will be better with Elena than Juri (yes, I am a Juri main).
Another speculation I will raise is how she will interact with other fighters, specifically Lily, who shares many aspects with her. Do they have a story together, or are they going to interact for the first time? How about her friends, Makoto and Ibuki? Will they be included in a later update?
click to enlarge+ 2On top of her dance moves, the urban-inspired look of Street Fighter 6 will make Elena easily fit in. I mean, despite some reservations about her hair--which kind of threw some people off, myself included--she belongs in that roster.
What's interesting about the trailer is the choice of costume. I know it's the Street Fighter IV costume, but I suppose it's not a bad idea to include her old costume, possibly as DLC or in a microtransaction. I still prefer the old SF III costume for the nostalgia.
Elena is promising due to the hype surrounding her after the release of Mai Shiranui and Terry Bogard, and her appearance suits the urban aesthetic of Street Fighter 6.
As for competitive play and ranked matches, I can say that she will be picked because of Day One mismatches. Players who don't have her on the first day will have a hard time knowing how she'll move. Well, that goes with every new character released, anyway.
Elena will be released on June 5, 2025.
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