Artwork of Ryu firing a Hadoken from Street Fighter II.
The Hadoken (波動拳 Hadōken?, "Surge Fist" or "Wave Motion Fist") is a special attack that originated in Street Fighter. It is often referred to as a "fireball" due to its appearance, despite few instances of the move actually producing flames. It is one of the most famous special moves in the Street Fighter series, along with the Shoryuken, Tatsumaki, and the Shun Goku Satsu.
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Description
The basic type of Hadouken is a surging punch in which a fighter's willpower is utilized to focus energy into and through the palms. As the palms are thrust outwards towards the target, a surging energy wave is expelled that results in a punching force traveling through the air in the opponent's direction. In some games, the projectile will have actual "energy hands" inside it. According to the Street Fighter II Official Fanbook, the Hadouken is said to be as warm as normal body temperature, contrary to popular belief that it is a fireball. Depending on its practitioner as well, its force of impact varies; Ryu's Hadouken is said to feel like a hard kick and its pain lingers, while Ken's is said to be like a hard punch but is brief in pain.
The user will usually be immobilized for a short time after performing this move, leaving them vulnerable to counterattack. Certain crossovers allow the basic Hadouken to be used in midair.
Tactics
The primary use of the Hadouken is to control the horizontal playfield: if thrown at the opponent, they will have to block, jump or use a special attack to counter. In any case, they will have to act, allowing the player throwing the Hadouken to potentially counter. The speed of the Hadouken is determined by which punch button is pressed. The Light Punch version travels the slowest, while the Heavy Punch version travels the fastest. The EX version hits the opponent twice, leading to a knockdown.
Alternatively, the opponent can perform a projectile attack of their own, negating the Hadouken.
Popularity and Pop Culture
Animation of Ryu and Ken firing Hadokens towards the screen, from the opening movie of Street Fighter Alpha 2.
- See: Hadoken/Pop Culture
The Hadouken, Shoryuken and Tatsumaki are the Street Fighter series' most iconic attacks. The Hadouken itself is often featured in the intros of various Street Fighter games, usually at the end of the attract sequence. This trend started from Super Street Fighter II, and has carried on to the more recent Street Fighter V.
Concept and Influence
Takashi Nishiyama, the creator of the original Street Fighter, credits the 1970s era anime Space Battleship Yamato, in which the titular battleship has a weapon called the "Hadōhō" ("Wave Motion Gun/Surge Cannon") as the origin of the Hadouken.[1]
The Hadouken may have also been inspired by the "Kamehameha" ("Turtle Destroyer Wave") from the Dragon Ball series, which was created in 1985. Both have identical hand movements (the way the hands are placed is slightly different between them), and are fired the same way. They are also similar in appearance (the Kamehameha is a laser-like beam, much like the crossover versions of the Hadouken).
Different Variants of Hadoken
- Gohadoken (豪波動拳 Gō Hadōken?, "Great Surge Fist"): A much more powerful and potentially deadly variant used by those who have fully tapped into the Hado (either the Satsui no Hado or its toned down counterpart).
- Bolt Hadoken: An even more powerful variant of the Gohadoken, used only by Cyber Akuma.
- Zanku Hadoken (斬空波動拳 Zankū Hadōken?, "Slashing Air Surge Fist"): This is an aerial Hadouken which travels diagonally down and towards the opponent, first used by Akuma.
- Zanku Bolt Hadoken: Cyber Akuma's take on the Zanku Hadouken.
- Shakunetsu Hadouken (灼熱波動拳 Shakunetsu Hadōken?, "Scorching Heat Surge Fist"): A Hadouken which is imbued with the power of fire. The user can launch from one to three depending on the strength of the punch button, and some versions may inflinct multiple hits. It is also known as the Red Hadouken. Akuma´s version is also called Hell Haduoken in Brazil.
- Gorai Hadoken (轟雷波動拳 Gōrai Hadōken?, "Booming Thunder Surge Fist"): An electric Hadouken used by Oni.
- Shinku Hadoken (真空波動拳 Shinkū Hadōken?, "Vacuum Surge Fist"): A super-charged Hadouken that, when executed, can hit the opponent multiple times and destroy other projectiles launched by the opponent. It is much more powerful than a normal Hadouken in that it is coated with a layer of vacuum. Some versions cause it to be fired as a beam instead.
- Metsu Hadoken (滅・波動拳 Metsu Hadōken?, "Destroying Surge Fist"): Using the energy of the Satsui no Hado, Ryu charges a Hadouken that is likely one of the most powerful variants of the move.
- Messatsu Gou Hadou (滅殺豪波動? "Annihilating Great Surge"): A more powerful version of the Gohadoken, similar to the Shinku Hadouken, that uses massive amounts of the Satsui no Hado. In the Street Fighter III series, it is depicted as being a few times larger than a regular Hadouken.
- High Mega Gou Beam: Cyber Akuma's variant of the Messatsu Gou Hadou.
- Tenma Gou Zankuu (天魔豪斬空? "Sky Demon Great Slashing Air"): A more powerful version of the Zanku Hadouken.
- Thunder Gou Shower: Cyber Akuma's version of the Tenma Gou Zanku.
- Meido Gohado (冥恫豪波動 Meidō Gō Hadō?, "Dark Painful Great Surge"): A more powerful variant of the Gohadoken, used by Oni as his first Ultra Combo.
- Messatsu Gou Zanku: The Meido Gohado fired air-to-ground.
- Messatsu Gou Tenha: The Meido Gohado fired ground-to-air.
- Denjin Hadouken (電刃波動拳 Denjin Hadōken?, "Electric Blade Surge Fist"): A chargeable Hadouken that electrifies the defender, stunning them momentarily.
- Double Hadoken (双龍波動拳 Sōryū Hadōken?, "Twin Dragon Surge Fist"): This version of the Hadouken was invented by Ryu & Ken and involves both fighters launching their Hadouken which fuse together into a single, larger, and more powerful projectile. Though originally debuted in Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (though unnamed at the time), the technique was later reintroduced in Project × Zone 2 as Ryu & Ken's Multi-Attack.
- Ren Hadoken (連波動拳 Ren Hadōken?, "Chain Surge Fist"): A new variation of the Hadouken developed by Ryu in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. Here, he can fire off five Hadokens in quick succession instead of one, albeit with poor range which seems to extend only slightly further than Dan's Gadoken with Heavy Punch/Fierce Punch.
- Baku Hadoken (爆波動拳 Baku Hadōken?, "Bursting Surge Fist"): Another new move developed by Ryu in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3. He is able to charge the Hadouken and once he releases it, it vanishes from sight, reappearing a split second in front of the opponent and promptly detonates with explosive force.
- Gadoken (我道拳 Gadōken?, "Self Way Fist"): A move used by Dan. It has the same input as the Hadouken, but it is significantly weaker, and has a shorter range. This is the result of Dan's short training under Gouken.
- Shinku Gadoken (震空我道拳 Shinkū Gadōken?, "Quaking Air Self Way Fist"): A stronger variation of the Gadoken which also travels further.
- Haoh Gadoken (覇王我道拳 Haō Gadōken?, "Supreme King Self Way Fist"): A variant of the Gadoken used by Dan as his Ultra Combo II in Super Street Fighter IV onward.
- Raiko Hadoken (雷光波動拳 Raikō Hadōken?, "Lightning Surge Fist"): This variant of the Hadouken was invented by Ryu and introduced in Street Fighter V. It can be described as a blue Hadouken with a golden electrical charge at the head. This type of Hadouken can only be accessed when Ryu activates the Denjin Renki (電刃練気 "Electric Blade Refined Qi"?). This projectile attack will cause a hard knockdown with every successful hit and can be charged for additional power and effect, causing a guard crush once fully charged.
- Sekia Goshoha (赤鴉豪焦破 Sekia Gōshōha?, "Red Crow Great Char Blast"): This version of the Hadouken was invented by Akuma and introduced in Street Fighter V. While identical to his traditional Shakunetsu Hadouken in many ways, the Sekia Goshoha differs in the manner in which Akuma prepares the projectile. As he initiates the move, Akuma channels his ki through both hands and ignites fiery spheres which are combined into a single projectile. This method alters the move very little as the properties and effects of the projectile remain virtually identical to Akuma's traditional Shakunetsu Hadouken.
- Sen Hadoken (穿波動拳 Sen Hadōken?, "Piercing Surge Fist"): This variant of the Hadouken was invented by Ryu and introduced in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite. This technique is identical to Ryu's traditional Hadouken. However, the charge is held and amplified momentarily before release, shooting as a beam bolt instead of the traditional wave.
- Tengyo Hadoken (天仰波動拳 Tengyō Hadōken?, "Heaven Seeking Surge Fist"): A new version of Hadouken made by Sakura in Street Fighter V, this version of the move involves firing a anti-air Hadouken, not unlike Gouken's medium and strong Gohadoken.
Users
Ryu
Ryu focuses more on the Hado principle of the fighting style, which makes him very skilled with his usage of ki. Some of Ryu's more powerful attacks are variations of the Hadouken technique. As time progressed, Ryu's version became the most outstanding of its practitioners, with superior speed and recovery time compared to his rivals.
In some games, he has an exclusive "fake-out" Hadouken, executed by doing a quarter circle forward and pressing the taunt button and is known as the Hado no Kamae (波動の構え Hadou no Kamae, "Stance of the Surge"). By doing so, Ryu will simply do the hand thrusting motion for a Hadouken, not firing it.
- Hadoken
- Shakunetsu Hadouken
- Denjin Hadouken
- Shinku Hadoken
- Metsu Hadoken
- Ren Hadoken
- Baku Hadoken
- Shin Hadouken
- Hashogeki
Ken
Ken is also a student of Gouken alongside his partner and best friend Ryu. However, although he possesses the ability to manipulate ki, he has chosen to focus on developing moves & techniques more in line with his speed-oriented fighting style. He is a little faster than Ryu, but not as strong in Hado arts.
In the crossover games, he gains various types of Hadouken, such as the Shinku Hadouken.
- Hadoken
- Zanku Hadoken (crossovers)
- Reppu Hadoken (OMEGA mode)
- Shakunetsu Hadouken (V-Trigger activation only)
- Double Shinku Hadoken (with Ryu)
Evil Ryu
Ryu's darker self has access to many versions of the Hadouken that their normal counterparts have.
- Hadoken
- Shakunetsu Hadouken
- Tenma Hadoken
- Denjin Hadouken
- Shinku Hadoken
- Metsu Hadoken
- Rakuyo Hadoken
- Messatsu Hadoken
Akuma
Akuma infuses his Hadokens with the Satsui no Hado, giving his Hadokens the potential to truly kill an opponent. Akuma is the first to demonstrate the ability to use the Zanku Hadouken. Given the amount of Hadouken variations Akuma can conduct, he appears to be far more proficient in this move than Ryu.
- Gohadoken
- Zanku Hadoken
- Shakunetsu Hadouken
- Messatsu Gou Hadou
- Messatsu-Gohado Agyo
- Messatsu-Gohado Ungyo
- Tenma Gou Zankuu (serves as EX Zanku Hadouken in Street Fighter V)
- Tenma-Gozanku Agyo
- Tenma-Gozanku Ungyo
Cyber-Akuma
Cyber-Akuma, due to his cybernetic enhancements, soundly surpasses Akuma. His Gohadokens and Zanku Hadokens, dubbed Bolt Hadouken and Zanku Bolt Hadouken are much larger visually, more damaging, and have lesser startup and recovery. Like Shin Akuma, he can launch two Zanku Bolt Hadokens at once. His variation of the Tenma Gou Zankuu, the Thunder Gou Shower, has him send down a barrage of 32 Bolt Hadokens at once. His counterpart to the Messatsu Gou Hadou is the High Mega Gou Beam, which is more damaging than the original with almost no startup.
- Bolt Hadoken
- Zanku Bolt Hadoken
- Thunder Gou Shower
- High Mega Gou Beam
Oni
Akuma's Hadouken variants change after his transformation to Oni; he now fires a one-handed Hadouken similar to Gouken, which can also be charged. Fired uncharged, the Hadouken will only travel partway to the opponent but at a full charge they can cover the full range of any Hadouken. Oni also possesses the Gorai Hadouken, which replaces the Shakunetsu Hadouken, and is filled with electricity instead of flames.
He also possesses a stronger version of the Messatsu Gou Hadou, called the Meido Gohado. This massive Hadouken can be fired in 3 ways: on the ground, horizontally and vertically, or in the air, at an downward angle. Each variation bears a different name: Meido Gohado (shot straight), Messatsu-Gotenha (shot upwards), and Messatsu-Gozanku (shot down from air at angle).
- Gohadoken
- Gorai Hadoken
- Zanku Hadosho
- Meido Gohado
- Messatsu-Gozanku
- Messatsu-Gotenha
- Fukuma Gohado (OMEGA mode)
Sakura
Sakura Kasugano has an imperfect Hadouken, since she is not trained in the Hado-style and instead learned by imitating Ryu. She can charge her Hadouken, though the longer she charges, the shorter it reaches. Even with no charge, the projectile does not go too far. However, the damage they inflict is great. She also has the Nekketsu Hadouken, where she immediately charges the Hadouken with a pink color and fires it with great force and speed.
Sean
Sean Matsuda appears to have a powerful Hadouken, but it is not fully mastered yet, and he has yet to fully understand how to manipulate ki. Unlike the other fighters, who have the original technique and some variations available for use, Sean has the Hado Burst Super Art as his only projectile.
Allen
Allen Snider has a self-developed Hadouken based on Ken's.
Dan
Dan Hibiki uses the Gadoken, which is a move likely based on what little of the move he learned while training under Gouken. He gains the Shinku Gadoken with the similarity of a Shinku Hadouken except it is a short distance fireball to close range combat. He also gains the Haoh Gadoken in Super Street Fighter IV, which is similar to Ryu's Shinku Hadouken, and also parodies the Haoh Shoukou Ken used by Ryo in Art of Fighting/The King of Fighters. The distance of a regular Gadoken depends on how strong the punch button was pressed. Also, Dan can use the EX Gadoken, which boosts the range of the blast.
Gouken
Gouken deploys Hadokens based on his belief that martial arts were meant for self-defense. He uses only one hand for his regular Hadouken in Street Fighter IV (a reference to the "Sheng Long" rumors), and can also fire them straight as well as upwards (depending on the strength of the punch button pressed). His Hadokens can also be charged by holding down a punch button after executing them. The EX version involves him firing two Hadokens at the same time, with one going straight and the other in the air. He does, however use 2 hands for the Denjin Hadouken, in order to control the Hadouken while he charges it before releasing.
Sprites
- For more sprites, see: Hadoken/Sprites
Ryu
Ken
Akuma
Cyber Akuma
Dan
Sean
Sakura
Misc.
Artwork and Screenshots
Games
.png "Ryu (MvC2 Hyper Combo).png (308 KB)")
Animation
Live-action
Trivia
- Sakura is currently the only female character that is shown to be able to use the Hadoken (aside from Rogue in X-Men vs. Street Fighter, who can only use it after doing her Power Drain move on Ryu).
- Fei Long's win quote to Gouken in Super Street Fighter IV indirectly references the amount of Hadoken users and variants ("Just how many of you Hadoken throwers are there?").