Controls
Samurai Shodown I/Samurai Shodown II
Basic Commands
- Weak Slash
- Medium Slash- + - Strong Slash
- Weak Kick
- Medium Kick- + - Strong Kick
- Run (hold to keep running)
- Hop back
- Wan-Fu, Kyoshiro and Gen-An can crawl backward and forward by holding
or 
- Nakoruru, Hanzo, Galford and Earthquake can triangule jump by jumping into a wall and pressing
or 
Samurai Shodown III/Samurai Shodown IV
Basic Commands
- - Weak Slash
- - Medium Slash
- - Strong Slash
- - Kick
- - Run (hold to keep running)
- - Hop back
- - Dodge
- + - Behind Step
- or + - Guard Crush
+ - Deflect
+
when floored - Far Pounce Attack- + when floored - Close Pounce Attack
- or while getting up - Escape Roll
- or or while getting up - Quick Recovery
+
/// while lying down - Restore Life
x3 - Weapon Throwing Taunt- or near to weapon - Weapon Grab
- - Rage Explosion
- after Rage Explosion - Combination Slash
- after Rage Explosion - Deadly Single Strike
- - Chain Starter
- , , after Chain Starter - Basic Slash Combo 1
- , , after Chain Starter - Basic Slash Combo 2
- , , after Chain Starter - Basic Slash Combo 3
- +, , , , , , , , , , , , after Chain Starter - 14 Slash Combo
+ when POW Gauge is full - POW Special- (A) - must be done armed
- (U) - must be done unarmed
- (B) - can be done armed or unarmed
- (POW) - more powerful when POW gauge is full
Samurai Shodown V/Samurai Shodown V Special
Basic Commands
- - Weak Slash
- - Medium Slash
- + - Strong Slash
- - Kick
- - Dodge
- - Run (hold to keep running)
- - Hop back
Advanced Commands
Dodging
Dodges are executed by pressing 
and a direction at the same time. The direction effects the type of dodge performed.
| Type of Dodge | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Hop in Place |  + |
|
| Leap Forward |  + |
|
| Roll forward |  + |
|
| Roll Backward |  + |
|
| Lie Down |  + |
|
The Sword Gauge
The sword gauge, located beneath the health bar, represents a character's attack strength. As they attack, the gauge will drop and the amount of damage they deal will decrease accordingly. The gauge will slowly begin to fill again once the character stops attacking.
The Rage Gauge
As a character takes damage their Rage Gauge will slowly fill. Once full, they can execute a Knocking-on-the-Sword move (
+ 
+ ) or a Rage Explosion (
+ 
+ ) . The Knocking-on-the-Sword move is comparable to a Super in other fighting games and the nature of these moves is unique to each character. A Rage Explosion instantly increases the Sword Gauge to max, makes attacks unstoppable, and allows a character to use their Knocking-on-the-Sword move at anytime up until the slowly draining rage gauge is empty. If a character stops taking damage their Rage Gauge will eventually begin to fall.
Samurai Shodown VI/Samurai Spirits: Tenkaichi Kenkakuden
Basic Commands
- Light Slash
- Medium Slash
- Strong Slash
- Kick
- Special Evasion- X2 - Hop backwards
- X2 - Dash/Hop forward
- File:Arcade-Button-HF.png - Run towards opponent until release, action or blocked
- ( or ) + + - Bougyo Kuzushi
- (while standing over fallen foe) + - Down Attack
- (while near opponent) ++ - Grab to throw right.
- (while near opponent) ++ - Grab to throw left.
Advanced Commands
SP/Evasion/Dodge Techniques
To evade attacks press 
and a certain direction at the same time. The direction effects the type of evasion performed.
| Type of Evasion/SP | Input | |
|---|---|---|
| Dodge | + |
|
| Hop Forward | + |
|
| Roll forward | + |
|
| Roll Backward | + |
|
| Lie Down | + |
|
| Repel | + |
|
Recover
When falling down from an attack, quickly 
just as you touch the ground for a quick recovery.
Destroy Weapon
++ - Weapon Destroyer (Note: some SPIRITS cannot use this technique.)
Weapon Control
- (while disarmed & standing over your weapon) or or - Pick up weapon
- (while armed) + - Put down weapon