It’s time to see Mai Shiranui in action. She brings her fiery dance fan and super quick moves to Street Fighter 6.
Mai is a great fighting games character! She uses effective techniques to defeat opponents. Her moves are impressively quick, so the matches have the vibes of flowing dances. At the same time, Mai Shiranui is beginner-friendly and enjoyable to play at any skill level. Can the girl keep all her positive features in Street Fighter 6?
Mai is a new SF6 DLC character. The community greeted her reveal open-heartedly, and now we finally get the official gameplay trailer for SF6 Mai.
Mai Shiranui in Street Fighter 6: Gameplay trailer
Mai’s moveset in Street Fighter 6 is quite in tune with her general fighting games personality. In the trailer, we can see a series of long-reaching kicks and hits with her fan. Mai has projectiles, and she uses fire for big damage.
It is an interesting choice to put Mai against Chun-Li for the starting showcase. Chun-Li is another very quick character with the focus on kicks.
The classic costume of Mai is apparently her Outfit 1, while Outfit 2 has a more modern style: like in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
Considering the general tradition of Mai’s moveset, we can easily expect her to be a very fast character: in terms of movement and attack speed. Mai should suppress her opponents with a stream of hits. It is pretty important for her to keep this pressure going, as Mai’s health is usually lower, and her attacks deal smaller damage — compared to other fighters in the roster.
Mai traditionally battles with her dance fan. It can be used as a projectile. Also, the character can summon fire, so Mai attacks with dangerously hot flames.
Her kicks are far-reaching. Mai players should use them to check the defense of their opponents and try to find an opening.
More info about SF6 Mai is coming in her official character guide. Stay tuned!
SF6 Mai release date
The release date of Mai in Street Fighter 6 has been officially confirmed.
- Mai joins SF6 on Feb. 5, 2025.
Previously, we knew only the release window: Winter 2024/2025. Capcom did the same with the Terry release date. First, they announced the character release window, Autumn 2024. And then, around the Gamescom 2024 presentation, they showed the date — yes, Terry Bogard is already playable in SF6.
Character guide: Street Fighter 6 Mai
Capcom released the official character guide for Mai in Street Fighter 6. Check out the video below.
Moveset
Mai can use hit-and-run tactics with her Kachousem attack.
- Throw the battle fan, and in case of hit, use Drive Rush to approach the opponent. A low attack can be super effective to start Mai's combo. Her grab is also a good option.
Kachousem losses to other projectiles in Street Fighter 6, and it can be stopped by a strike. However, this is a good spacing tool for Mai, as the fan covers the full screen. If you hold the button, the fan can strike twice. The multi-hitting feature is brilliant for mixups!
Ryuuenbu is a full-body sweep that creates flames of fire. The attack is effective at mid-range.
- Ryuuenbu is a great combo starter for SF6 Mai, as it launches your opponents for easy follow-ups.
Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi is a cartwheel attack that covers a big distance. It can be used as a surprise rush to force your opponent to the corner. Also, Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi can be part of a combo, after cancelling Mai's normals.
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Hishou Ryuuenjin is a rising knee strike. Mai can use it as an anti-air option or in combos.
- The Heavy version of Hishou Ryuuenjin have nice follow-ups, but it's unsafe on block. Overdrive is invincible.
While in the air, Mai can strike diagonally down with her attack Musabi no Mai. It's better be cautious with this not to get a counter-attack.
- Musabi no Mai is great after jumping over the opponent's projectile.
Kagerou no Mai has a great vertical reach, so use it when an airborne opponent is right above Mai. The attack is invincible to throws and strikes, so at proper moment, it's a great option for close-range counters.
- With Kagerou no Mai, the character gains Flame Stocks to enhance her Specials and Super Art.
Super Arts of Mai in Street Fighter 6
Chou Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi is Mai's Super Art in Street Fighter 6. It also has an air version.
- Mai rushes forward, covered with flames. The attack goes through projectiles. It can be used as a counter. There is no invincibility in the air, so Air Chou Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi should be used in combos.
Shiranui Ryuu: Enbu Ada Zakura is an invincible and super damaging technique. It is very unsafe on whiff and block.
The community's reaction to SF6 Mai
The fighting games community (FGC) is quite happy with what Capcom revealed during Mai’s gameplay trailer. People like her moveset, and they sure enjoy her look. Here are a few reaction videos from some prominent FGC personalities.
Punk, the winner of SF6 Evo 2024, is extremely excited about the new Street Fighter 6 character.
Justing Wong says it all in the very title. Mai is everything he wants in SF6.
Maximilian Dood praises her character animation. (Well, most people in the community do.) Max calls Mai perfect.
Mai Shiranui in other games
Originally, this character belongs to the SNK universe, and specifically to the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series. Mai Shiranui is present in many installments, and she is simply iconic.
SNK confirmed Mai as a playable character in the soon-coming fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. She is part of an iconic roster that also includes SF6 characters: Ken and Chun-Li in Fatal Fury COTW.
Many other gaming franchises are eager to have a collaboration event with KOF / Fatal Fury to add Mai Shiranui to their titles — at least, as a skin. Mai is present in a variety of games, including Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Black Desert Online. One of the most recent collaborations is a KOF event in Naraka: Bladepoint.
It sure will be interesting to see what SF6 pro players can achieve with Mai Shiranui. May she make her appearance at the Capcom Cup 2025 event from March 5 to March 8?
For all Street Fighter 6 news and updates, stick around on esports.gg.
