Elena returns, and She’s Ready to Ruin Your Day with positivity in Street Fighter 6 | popgeeks.com

Elena’s Back, and She’s Ready to Ruin Your Day in Street Fighter 6

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Capcom finally dropped the full gameplay trailer for the last character of Street Fighter 6’s Year 2 lineup. That’s right, Elena is back, and she’s bringing her signature capoeira moves, positive vibes, and an extra dose of “please don’t heal again” to your screen this June.

It’s been a while since we last saw Elena in Ultra Street Fighter IV, where she was basically the online menace of the century. If you remember her healing mechanic, then you probably have PTSD from losing a match that should’ve been over ten minutes ago. I’m looking at you, Ultra Street Fighter IV ranked lobbies.

But, oh wait, here comes the big question—will Capcom bring her back to her more balanced roots from Street Fighter III? Back in the day, she was a gangly teenager, and now, she’s a grown woman—but don’t worry, she still has that same bubbly, “let’s all have fun” energy. She’s basically that friend who’s always positive, even when you’re trying to grind out ranked wins at 3 AM and are one rage-quit away from losing it.

Also, Capcom went ahead and made her Ultra Street Fighter IV ending canon. Yeah, you heard that right—Elena is officially Akuma’s friend. Now, I know, I know. The visual of a peace-loving capoeira dancer being besties with the demon who literally causes earthquakes with a single punch is kind of hilarious. But hey, it’s 2025, and this is the world we live in.

Of course, just like every legacy character in Street Fighter 6, Elena gets a fresh theme song. “Beats in My Head” is out, and “Beats in My Heart” is in. While I’m still not sure what happened with Ryu, Chun-Li, and Cammy’s new tracks (like, come on, Capcom), Elena’s new jam still gives off that familiar vibe. Sure, it’s not the same as Beats in My Head, but at least it feels like Elena. I guess that’s a win? Speaking of Nostalgia,  Eva La Dare FMA Karen Dryer is voicing Elena again! Trivia: Elena and Sheva Alomar from Resident Evil 5 are both voiced by her.

Now, let’s talk about her look. People are losing their minds over it, but it’s actually pretty cool. Elena’s finally rocking pants—because who needs to fight barefoot in 2025, right? Her zebra-print pants and African-patterned scarf are giving her a modern African aesthetic that’s also functional for capoeira. She’s also sporting shoes now. Shocking, I know. Her hair is longer, with a sleek, asymmetrical bob that some people are calling a mullet. But, hey, if you’re gonna be Akuma’s friend, you might as well go full rockstar with the hair, right?

If you’re a fan of Elena’s classic outfit—a bikini with African jewelry—don’t worry, her original look is still around as an alternate costume. Because, yes, nostalgia sells. And let’s be real: her animations? Insane. Every character in this season has had some upgrades, but Elena’s are next-level. As she moves, flowers and grass literally grow beneath her feet. It’s like she’s planting a garden while kicking your ass. How wholesome… and terrifying.

Now, onto the real kicker. By the end of the trailer, a lot of us thought, “Okay, maybe the healing is gone. Maybe we can all breathe again.” Wrong. Dead wrong. Turns out, Elena’s Level 2 Super has two versions. One is a flashy finishing kick. The other? Yep, you guessed it—her PTSD-inducing Healing Super. But this time, there’s a catch: she needs to land the Super first before she can heal. So don’t think you’re out of the woods yet—if you mess up, she might just be the one getting healed. So, in case you forgot, the nightmare is back.