MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls Open Beta kicks off July 24–26 on PlayStation 5 consoles and PC. Whether you’re new to fighting games or stepping into the arena with your favorite Marvel heroes for the first time, we’ve put together this beginner’s guide to help you get started. From choosing your first character to learning basic controls, combos, and team mechanics, here are a few tips to help you make the most of the Open Beta.
Find your favorite Hero or Villain
When selecting a character, take a look at the EASE OF USE rating on the character select screen.
The more stars a character has, the easier they are to use, making them a great choice for newcomers.
Some of the most beginner-friendly characters include Captain America, Ms. Marvel, and Wolverine. Iron Man and Spider-Man are also relatively easy to learn.
On the other hand, characters such as Storm and Danger offer more advanced playstyles that may take additional time to master. One of the strengths of MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is that once you’ve learned a character, you can rely on them throughout the entire match. That’s why we recommend starting with the hero you like most and gradually expanding your roster from there.
If you’re unsure how to build a team, try combining close-range and long-range specialists. For example, Wolverine’s aggressive melee style pairs nicely with Iron Man’s powerful ranged attacks.
That said, the best team is ultimately the one made up of your favorite heroes. Experiment and create a team that feels uniquely yours.
Learn the basics with Startup Battle
Not sure where to begin? Start with Startup Battle. This mode teaches the game’s core mechanics step-by-step while you play as Captain America. You’ll learn everything from basic attacks—including Light (□), Medium (△), and Heavy (○) attacks—to combos, skills, and unique character-specific actions through hands-on tutorials.
Startup Battle is divided into two sections:
● Basics, which focuses on actions performed by an individual character.
● Assemble, which introduces team-based mechanics and cooperative actions.
Players already familiar with fighting games can skip the Basics section and jump directly into Assemble. While you don’t need to master everything right away, Startup Battle is the perfect place to learn the fundamentals before heading into battle
Master basic combos and defense
One of the first mechanics new players should learn is the Link Attack system. By repeatedly pressing the same attack button, you can easily perform beginner-friendly combo sequences. In the examples below, L, M, and H refer to Light, Medium, and Heavy attacks.
● L → L → L → L
○ Chains into a Skill and can trigger a Break (stage transition)
● M → M → M
○ Leads into a powerful Super Skill
● H → H → H
○ Leads into an even stronger Ultimate Skill
Start by learning these sim