Tekken — Controls & mechanics
Tekken controls, combat systems and edition-specific mechanics.
Four attack buttons
Each button controls a limb: left punch, right punch, left kick or right kick. Learn the notation before following move lists.
Kazuya versus Michelle — Tekken screenshot.
Guard first
Hold back for standing defence and crouch-guard against lows. Mid attacks can hit a crouching opponent.
Build a small move set
Practise a quick poke, a reliable punish and a short combo. Add more moves once you can use those consistently.
Open fighting space
Control distance without wall combos or ring-out victories.
Launch and follow up
A launcher can lead to extra airborne hits. Keep your follow-up short while learning the timing.
The 1995 PlayStation edition, following the 1994 arcade original. Console unlocks and ending movies are covered here.
Game references
Tekken game imagery © Namco / Bandai Namco. Original game pictures are archived with their source and edition information.