Mastering Frame Data in Street Fighter 6 (2025 Guide)

In high-level Street Fighter 6, knowing frame data isn’t optional—it’s the difference between winning and guessing.

In Street Fighter 6, frame data is crucial. It’s not just a collection of numbers. It’s about timing, control, and making wise decisions during your fight. If you know how to use frame data, you can punish your opponent, block their moves, and take advantage of their mistakes. Without it, you’ll guess what they’ll do next, which can cost you the match.

Frame data tells you how long a move takes to complete. It shows when your opponent can be hit and when they can’t. In 2025, balance patches and new DLC characters have made some moves faster or slower. Some moves got nerfed (weakened), while others became stronger. Knowing the frame data for these changes is essential for competitive play.

This guide will explain the basics of frame data, how it works in Street Fighter 6, and how professional players use it to win. You’ll learn to punish mistakes, control pressure, and master matchups.

By the end, you’ll be using frame data like a pro!

Frame Data Basics: The Language of Fighting Games

What Is Frame Data?

Frame data refers to the time it takes for a move to happen. Simply, it’s the number of frames (or time units) a moves takes to complete. In Street Fighter 6, one frame is 1/60th of a second. So when we talk about “frames,” we talk about tiny time slices.

• Startup Frames: This is the time to start a move. For example, if a move has a startup of 5 frames, it will take 5/60ths of a second for the move to begin.
• Active Frames: This is when the move hits the opponent. A move with two active frames can hit the opponent for 2/60ths of a second.
• Recovery Frames: After a move finishes, you have recovery frames. This is the time it takes for your character to return to their normal state after performing a move.

Key Terms Every Player Must Know

To make sense of frame data, you’ll need to understand some key terms:

• Plus vs. Minus on Block: When a move is “plus on block,” you can safely continue your pressure after hitting your opponent’s block. When it’s “minus,” the opponent can punish you if you don’t act fast.
• Cancel Windows & Links: These refer to how you can connect your moves. Some moves can be canceled into others, allowing you to create longer combo chains.
• Turns & Frame Traps: Frame traps are situations where you trick your opponent into pressing a button too early. This allows you to land a hit and regain control of the match.

Street Fighter 6’s Unique Frame Data Mechanics

In Street Fighter 6, frame data isn’t just about knowing how fast a move is; it also involves understanding unique mechanics like Drive Impact, Drive Rush, and Parry.

These features change how frame data works in the game and offer new opportunities for advanced strategies.

Drive Impact & Frame Advantage

One of the most significant changes in Street Fighter 6 is the introduction of Drive Impact (DI), which adds a new layer to our thinking about frame data.

Drive Impact can be used to break through an opponent’s attacks, and it’s a powerful tool for getting out of pressure situations. However, it has a unique property: it’s -4 on the block. That means if your opponent blocks your DI, they can punish you if they’re quick enough.

But here’s the twist—Drive Impact has armor, which can absorb one hit from your opponent. This makes it a great tool to break pressure, but you need to be smart about when you use it. If you’re too predictable, your opponent will punish the -4 frames with a quick move.

Drive Rush Cancels & Frame Data

Another important mechanic is Drive Rush. Drive Rush allows you to cancel certain normals into a fast dash that can put you right in your opponent’s face. The key here is cost vs. reward. Some moves, like specific punches or kicks, are more effective when canceled into a Drive Rush.

Knowing which normals give you the most significant boost in terms of speed and frame advantage is essential. For example, a move typically +2 on the block can become much more threatening when you use a Drive Rush to close the gap quickly. However, not every move is worth using a Drive Rush on. Some moves may leave you too vulnerable after the cancellation, so choose wisely based on the situation.

Parry & Perfect Parry Frame Rewards

The Parry system is another core part of Street Fighter 6 that changes how frame data works. Parrying is a high-risk, high-reward move where you counter an opponent’s attack by timing your party right. When you get a Perfect Parry, the rewards are enormous.

Parrying stops your opponent’s attack and gives you a frame advantage, meaning you can immediately retaliate. This makes parrying a powerful tool in both offensive and defensive play.

For example, if you parry an opponent’s attack, you might get a few frames to start your combo or pressure. But it’s risky because you’ll be punished hard if you miss the parry. Pros often use parries to steal turns, especially against aggressive players who spam moves with many recovery frames.

How to Use Frame Data in Matches (2025 Meta)

Knowing frame data is one thing, but using it effectively during a match is what separates good players from great ones. In Street Fighter 6, understanding frame data lets you punish mistakes, apply pressure, and control the game’s flow. Let’s break down how you can apply frame data to make better decisions in your matches.

Punishing Correctly

One of the most important ways to use frame data is to know how to punish your opponent’s mistakes. Every character has punishable moves—attacks that open the opponent to a counter if blocked or avoided. In 2025, moves like Luke’s Sand Blaster got nerfed, making them easier to punish when blocked.

To punish moves correctly, you need to know the frame disadvantage of your opponent’s move. For example, if your opponent uses a move that’s -7 on the block, you can follow up with a fast move that hits before they recover, taking advantage of that vulnerability. A fast jab or a medium poke can often punish these mistakes.

As a player, knowing the top 5 most punishable moves in the game helps you stay prepared. With Luke’s Sand Blaster or other -5 to -7 moves, you need to be ready to react quickly. If you can punish every mistake your opponent makes, you’ll gain a considerable advantage.

Pressure & Frame Traps

Pressure is a key part of Street Fighter 6 gameplay, and frame data is essential for maintaining it. Some moves give you +1 to +3 on the block, meaning you can continue your offensive pressure without fear of being countered. These moves are great for setting up frame traps.

A frame trap occurs when you trick your opponent into attacking too early, leaving them open for a counterattack—for example, Juri’s s.MP is a move that gives her +2 on the block, which means she can safely continue her pressure. If you time your next attack correctly, you can hit the opponent before they have time to defend, creating a trap.

Knowing which moves are +1 to +3 on the block for each character helps you set up these traps. Using a move like this after a blocked attack forces your opponent to guess—should they block or try to attack? This creates mental pressure, leading them to make mistakes.

Oki (Wakeup Game) & Frame Kill Setups

You aim to control your opponent’s wakeup options once you knock your opponent down. Meaty timing is key to creating safe jumps or throw loops. A meaty move hits the opponent as they are about to get up, which can catch them in their wake-up animation and allow you to follow up with another attack.

Knowing how to time your attacks so they “kill” the opponent’s frames—also called frame kills—lets you pressure them without giving them a chance to escape. This setup can also set up throws or mixups, keeping your opponent on the defensive.

Character-Specific Frame Data Tricks (2025 Tier Picks)

In Street Fighter 6, every character has unique strengths regarding frame data. Understanding these strengths can give you a serious advantage in competitive play. Some characters have strong frame traps, while others rely on underrated tools that can be game-changers in the right hands.

Top Tier Frame Traps

Let’s look at a few top-tier characters and their frame traps.

• Ken’s Jinrai Kicks: This move has always been a strong tool for Ken, and in 2025, it’s even better. Jinrai Kicks left him with +2 on the block, making it a great move to continue pressure. It’s fast and has a lot of frame advantage, so if your opponent doesn’t know how to react, you can easily steal your turn back and push them into a corner.
• JP’s Portal Punishes: JP is a character who has always excelled at controlling space, and in the 2025 update, his Portal move now has faster recovery. This means he can punish many common moves from his opponents, especially those trying to space him out. Knowing how and when to use JP’s Portal can make a big difference in matchups, especially when he can punish the most minor mistakes.

Underrated Frame Data Tools

Some characters have frame data tools that are often overlooked. These tools might not be as flashy as some top-tier moves, but they can be just as effective in the right situation.

• Manon’s Command Grab Range: Manon has one of the longest command grab ranges in Street Fighter 6. While her command grabs aren’t necessarily fast, knowing how many frames you have to react can give you a massive advantage in neutral. If you’re good at reading your opponent’s movements, Manon can catch them off guard and force them to play more cautiously.
• Dee Jay’s Feints: Dee Jay’s LP Sobat is another tool that’s becoming more powerful with each update. After the 2025 patch, it’s now +1 on the block, making it an excellent tool for feints. You can use the LP Sobat to trick your opponent into thinking you’re going for a more significant attack, but then cancel it into something faster, like a jump or dash. This makes Dee Jay an even more dangerous character in the right hands.

Tools to Learn Frame Data Faster

Learning frame data can be overwhelming, but the right tools can make the process much easier.

Best Apps & Resources

There are several tools and resources available to help you understand frame data faster:

• Fatality Tool (SF6 updated): This app is perfect for beginners and pros alike. It gives detailed information about each character’s frame data and lets you practice in real time.
• Frame Assistant Mobile: This app helps you track and analyze moves during matches. It’s great for reviewing frames while you play.

Training Mode Drills

One of the best ways to learn frame data is to practice in Training Mode. Set up dummy recordings that simulate your opponent’s moves and test your punishment timings. You can also practice reaction-based punishes like Drive Impact to improve your response speed.

Setting up these drills will help you get familiar with punishment timings to apply your frame knowledge in actual matches.

Common Frame Data Myths Debunked

There are a lot of myths surrounding frame data, especially among newer players. Let’s take a look at a few of them:

• “All minus moves are unsafe”: This isn’t true. Spacing and timing are essential. A move that’s -5 on the block can still be safe if you’re far enough from your opponent.
• “Plus frames always guarantee pressure”: Not necessarily. While +1 or +2 on the block gives you some advantage, delay tech or reversals can stop your pressure if you’re not careful.

Conclusion

In Street Fighter 6, frame data gives you control over the match. Understanding how to punish, trap, and control the flow of battle will elevate your gameplay. Practice these techniques and get comfortable with your character’s frame data, and you’ll see improvements in your performance.

Which frame data tip was most useful to you? Try it out in Training Mode tonight, and let us know your results in the comments!