ダルシム

Dhalsim — Counter-Guide

Key Info

Overhead that combos on hit
- 6MK
Defense
- No OD invincible
- 236236LP: startup 8F, no invincibility
- 214214K: startup 11F
  - Crouching avoids the attack
- 236236K: startup 10F
Teleport available
- 6PPP
- 4PPP
- 6KKK
- 4KKK
Moves that are advantageous on block
- 236K
  - Blocking it starts Dhalsim's offensive turn

Neutral Play (Mindset)

Walk forward
- Unless you have a specific counter-hit or character strength to exploit, don't back up
- Counter-hits are difficult and don't generate huge reward — defaulting to walking forward is the right mindset
Commit to walk-forward crouch-guard
- Walk forward while properly guarding
- Best time to walk forward is right after blocking Dhalsim's normals
Don't walk back against Yoga Fire
- Walking back on Yoga Fire increases Dhalsim's frame advantage and makes the situation harder
- Try aiming for parry into strike as well
Use forward step
- If walk-guard is difficult, consider using forward step
- The ideal timing to forward step is right after blocking a normal
Don't block Yoga Arch
- Blocking leads to Dhalsim's teleport → his offensive turn
- When you see Yoga Arch, avoid it by walking forward or rushing
Forward jump Yoga Comet
- Dhalsim's recovery after Yoga Comet is long, so a forward jump cannot be punished
Punish teleports
- The biggest concern is Dhalsim safely escaping with teleport even when you've cornered him
- For low-altitude teleports, don't use special anti-airs — use standing jab and follow up with a situation-appropriate combo
- For high-altitude teleports, use special anti-air moves or normals with strong upward coverage
Consider time-out when you have a health lead
- Dhalsim's offense isn't particularly strong, and tracking teleport and rush means his offense is manageable
- If you have a health lead and Drive Gauge to spare and a time-out looks viable, backing off and turtling is a valid strategy
Don't act on reversal instinct
- At times when you become action-free (e.g., after failed throw tech), you might want to raw rush, but most Dhalsim players buffer a back dash input — don't raw rush or jump
- If you have a way to punish the rush-stop, press it actively
- Or, if you confirm the buffer, a delayed rush is fine

Yoga Flame

Dhalsim's special used as a combo ender.

63214LP
- Dhalsim -4F on block
63214MP
- Dhalsim -4F on block
63214HP
- Dhalsim -4F on block
63214PP
- Dhalsim -11F on block

Recommended Counter

After blocking Yoga Flame you may want to rush with the frame advantage, but Dhalsim can buffer a back dash — don't raw rush or jump
63214PP is -11F — punish with a heavy attack

Yoga Fire

Dhalsim's slow projectile. At the timing you block it, he uses 6PPP to continue offense. When that happens, it creates a cross-up, so always press parry to limit unnecessary damage.

236LP
- Slowest projectile speed
236MP
- Medium speed
236HP
- Fastest projectile speed

Recommended Counter

When you see 236P: walk forward and guard
- When you see a teleport, a standing light may connect depending on distance — take the punish
- At far distances it's hard to create a gap for a standing light, so how much you can walk forward determines your situation
When you see 236P: walk backward and guard
- If you judge walking forward won't create the standing light gap, walk back and wait for the teleport to punish
- Even taking the hit from 236P is fine if it lets you knock down the 6PPP teleport — that's your offensive turn
In burnout: if you see the teleport flash, forward jump before blocking 236P
- The above two options stop working in burnout — forward jump on seeing the teleport

P Yoga Teleport Forward

Dhalsim's movement special that swaps position. After the teleport, use a standing attack to punish. If you see it, use the higher-damage option; if you didn't, a 4F move still delivers enough reward — don't overcommit.

Also, attacks that land during the teleport flash count as punish counter, so use a punish counter starter combo.

Recommended Counter

When you see the teleport, strike with a normal
- If you saw it: heavy attack for maximum reward
- Even if you didn't: 4F move is enough
Adjust response based on teleport height (high / low)
- Low teleport: knock down with standing jab
- High teleport: use anti-air special or a normal with strong upward coverage
Don't let him teleport out of the corner
- When you've backed him into the corner, watch for teleport
- Letting him teleport out is the biggest waste

Yoga Arch

Blocking Yoga Arch starts Dhalsim's offensive turn. After you block it, Dhalsim's typical follow-ups are:

Sliding (3HK / Long Sliding Kick)
Teleport (6PPP)

Recommended Counter

Best counter to Yoga Arch is to not block it at all
- When you see it, avoid it with a forward walk or rush
- Blocking starts Dhalsim's offensive turn
If you do block it
- It becomes a mix-up between teleport and low
- Press parry to block the teleport strike and stay ready for the low

OD Yoga Arch Setplay

Know that mid/H OD Yoga Arch in the following setplay is unreasonably strong:

Corner-to-corner: Yoga Fire → M/H OD Yoga Arch → teleport creates an unavoidable cross-up
After Yoga Blast: M/H OD Yoga Arch → H Sliding → +6F on block

Recommended Counter

OD Yoga Arch setplay is extremely strong
- When it creates a cross-up, hold parry to cover both sides
- Drive Reversal is also effective but costs Drive Gauge
After Yoga Blast setplay
- After H Sliding it's +6F on block — don't mash
- Block calmly and wait for your turn back

Standing Heavy Punch

Dhalsim's longest-range normal. Dhalsim -11F on block.

Recommended Counter

At -11F, even if Dhalsim attacks consecutively, you have time to walk forward for ~15–20 frames then guard. Walk or forward-step guard. After Dhalsim blocks your guard, he's often looking — avoid forward jump as much as possible after blocking.

Long Sliding Kick

Dhalsim's slide. Long reach, low attack; combos on hit.

Recommended Counter

Crouch-guard to handle it
- After blocking the slide, Dhalsim is at disadvantage — punish
At tip range the punish may not reach
- In that case, forward step then punish
He often uses sliding after Yoga Arch
- After blocking Yoga Arch, be ready for the low

Attacking Dhalsim

When going for oki on Dhalsim, remember that safe jump has high expected value. Here are Dhalsim's reversal options:

236236LP
- No invincibility
214214K
- Crouching avoids the attack
- After avoiding, use throw or a move that locks animation to get reward
- When punishing, performing throw instantly may take the fireball projectile — confirm the fireball has left Dhalsim before throwing
236236K
- Startup 10F
Drive Reversal
- Universal system move
(Jump)2LK
- Can get reward against your throw

Recommended Counter

Adjust your options based on the opponent's gauge and health situation.

If Dhalsim has lots of Drive Gauge
- Use a medium attack oki that blocks Drive Reversal
If SA2 is stocked
- Overlap a crouching attack
If SA3 is stocked
- 9F safe jump
If SA3, SA2, and lots of Drive Gauge are all available
- Delay a strike with strong upward coverage
- Can also add risk to (Jump)2LK at the same time

Yoga Smash — Forward Throw

Dhalsim +18F.

After in-place recovery
- Rush creates oki
- Rush confirm → OD invincible is effective
After back-roll recovery
- Distance increases to Dhalsim's favorable range
- Teleport and projectile become likely

Recommended Counter

In-place recovery → rush confirm → stable response
- Dhalsim uses rush infrequently
- If you don't see rush, walk forward to close the gap
Back-roll recovery is not recommended — it gives Dhalsim his preferred distance
- Dhalsim ends up in his favorable range

Yoga Throw — Back Throw

Dhalsim +16F.

Recommended Counter

Same as forward throw — in-place recovery is the stable response
Back throw leaves Dhalsim with weaker continued offense than forward throw
Walking forward to close distance is the most important thing

This article is updated regularly to keep up with SF6 patches.