Why Use Sliding Techniques?
It may seem strange to slide across the buttons when pressing them normally seems to do just fine, and in most cases, for most people, the standard press-and-release method is more than effective for competitive gameplay. So why would you want to use sliding techniques?
Faster Inputs
Sliding across the buttons can help speed up your inputs and provide you the quickest way to output the action of your choice. The press and release of multiple buttons by individual fingers in sequential order can be slower than simply sliding across those same buttons, while also potentially mitigating any typical input issues like pressing a button too soon before you released a previous button.
Accessibility
Combined with input leniency in some games, sliding techniques can offer alternative ways to input motions that were previously difficult to input through standard methods.
Half Circles
The half-circle (half moon) input is typically the motion input that most people associate with difficulty on the Hit Box. Like any other input that is learned on any device, it simply takes practice to get used to - we are sure that it took most people a decent amount of time to output their first dragon punch. However, the half-circle input can be helped with sliding and make the process to learning the motion even easier.
Two-Finger Slide
By using two fingers at the same time, you can ensure that you input the diagonal directions needed for half-circle motions in most fighting games.
One-Finger Slide
For games with leniency with motion inputs - such as the more recent King of Fighter (KOF) and Street Fighter games - you can even skip the diagonal inputs and use a one-finger slide for half-circles.
360s and 720s
Similar to the half-circle, the full-circle motions tend to be considered difficult to input, especially on leverless. The input may be difficult overall, on any controller, but using sliding techniques 360 and 720 inputs actually become faster and more viable on Hit Box.
Sliding 360
Sliding 720
God Supers
"God Super" is the term we use for supers, ultras, and whatever powerful 'finishing moves' are called in your fighting game of choice done as fast as the game allows, with a sliding technique. While difficult and fast, when done well they can be used in reaction scenarios similar to what Modern players get access to with their one-button supers.
Standard God Super
Using Street Fighter 6's input leniency, you can 'skip' one of the diagonals in the double-quarter circle (236236) input. Take advantage of this by using a slide technique and 2nd position to output a God Super.
Divine Hurricane
This is Guile's Sonic Hurricane done as a God Super.
Other Inputs
There are many ways to use slide techniques and many more to discover. Below are some examples of sliding techniques across a few different games.
Full Playlist
For more examples and use cases, check out our YouTube playlist of all of our Sliding Techniques videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFqmWBw3Cymg.
