In Sifu, skills provide different kinds of openings for attacks for different kinds of situations, which will prove useful when done to the right enemy at the right moment. Sifu is a fast-paced martial arts action game that will test out your quick reflexes. In this game, you have to go through waves of enemies that will beat you dead; that is unless you beat them first.
Aside from your regular punch and kicks, you’ll also learn useful and powerful skills as you progress through the story. Pulling off these skills and chaining them into combos fluidly is definitely such a satisfying sight to see. In this guide, you’ll learn what these skills are and how to unlock them.
How to Unlock Skills in Sifu
There are two types of unlocking options available in Sifu: the soft unlock and the permanent unlock.
Soft Unlock
Skills that are unlocked once during a run are considered as soft unlocked and can only be used within the current run. Once the run ends, you’ll unlearn the skill and you’ll have to unlock it again on the next run.
Permanent Unlock
Once a skill has been soft unlocked, you’ll gain access to the permanent unlock option. A permanent unlock costs the same amount of XP as its corresponding soft unlock. However, the skill has to be unlocked for five more times for it to be permanently unlocked and usable on runs moving forward.
Partial permanent unlocks from previous runs will be carried over to the next runs until the skill is unlocked permanently. Soft unlocks do not count as partial permanent unlocks and therefore, a skill has to be learned for no less than twice per run to get any progress on its permanent unlock.
For example:
Unlocking Ground Counter within one run: 750XP (soft unlock) + 3,750XP (5X partial permanent unlock) = 4,500XP in total
Unlocking Ground Counter within two runs: 750XP (1st run soft unlock) + 750XP (2nd run soft unlock) + 3,750XP (5X partial permanent unlock) = 5,250XP in total
With that in mind, it’s more economical to save up XP and spend it on expensive skills as much as possible within the least amount of runs to avoid XP losses from soft unlocking.
Skill Age Limit in Sifu
No matter how good our protagonist is, when he or she gets old, the amount of skills that can be unlocked becomes limited. Skills that are in the fifth set can only be unlocked while your protagonist is less than 29 years old. This goes on every 10 years that’s added to your life until you reach the age of 60 and above, upon which you can only unlock skills from the first set.
On the other hand, if you manage to unlock a skill in the latter sets within a run, you can still spend XP towards it for its permanent unlock even if you have gone past the set’s age limit.
Sifu Skills, First Set (Max age to unlock: 60 and up)
360 Swing Focus
Description: For staff weapons. A wide attack capable of knocking down multiple enemies. Cost 2 Bars.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Strong Sweep Focus
Description: Powerful strike to the enemy’s knee, knocking them down for a while. Cost 1 Bar.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Snap Kick
Description: Engage attack with important forward movement.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Spin Hook Kick
Description: Combo leading to a powerful high kick capable of knocking down multiple enemies.
Cost to unlock: 750XP
Charged Backfist
Description: Unleash a powerful punch that stuns any enemy.
Cost to unlock: 1,000XP
Sifu Skills, Second Set (Max age to unlock: 59)
Face Smash Focus
Description: For bat weapons. A direct attack to daze your enemy. Cost 2 Bars.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Weapon Catch
Description: Parry at the right moment to catch an item thrown at you.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Pushback Cancel
Description: When pushed, regain your balance.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Ground Counter
Description: While on the ground, parry to counter your enemy’s attack.
Cost to unlock: 750XP
Environmental Mastery
Description: Throw an item, weapon, or object directly from the ground.
Cost to unlock: 1,000XP
Sifu Skills, Third Set (Max age to unlock: 49)
Double Palm Focus
Description: Straight strike that applies a destructive push to your enemy. Cost 2 Bars.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Flowing Claw
Description: Fast and evasive strike that leaves your back facing the enemy.
Cost to unlock: 500XP*
Chasing Strikes
Description: Attack on a pushed enemy to follow them up and deliver a powerful series of strikes.
Cost to unlock: 1,000XP
Crooked Foot
Description: After a successful parry, knock your enemy down with a quick throw.
Cost to unlock: 1,250XP
Duck Strike
Description: Ducking move with forward movement.
Cost to unlock: 1,500XP
Sifu Skill, Fourth Set (Max age to unlock: 39)
Vertical Strikes Focus
Description: A powerful blow in the solar plexus that stuns the enemy for a long time. Cost 2 Bars.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Invert Throw
Description: Dodge towards your target just after a hit to grab them and invert your positions.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Hook Intercept
Description: Hook that can withstand attacks during its buildup.
Cost to unlock: 750XP
Chasing Trip Kick
Description: Attack on a pushed enemy to follow up and knock them down.
Cost to unlock: 1,000XP
Crotch Punch
Description: Quick, ducking punch that avoids high strikes.
Cost to unlock: 1,500XP
Sifu Skills, Fifth Set (Max age to unlock: 29)
Thigh Cut Focus
Description: For bladed weapons. A damaging slash attack. Cost 3 Bars.
Cost to unlock: 500XP
Raining Strikes
Description: A combo leading to a series of lightning fast attacks.
Cost to unlock: 1,000XP
Slide Kick
Description: Perform a slide kick while running that knocks down enemies.
Cost to unlock: 1,250XP*
Weapon Mastery
Description: Continue to use a weapon until it breaks completely.
Cost to unlock: 1,500XP
Though it may take a couple of runs before you can fully unlock a skill, all the effort will be worth it once you can reliably pull the skill off whenever you need it as you breeze through the enemies.
If you like this guide, check out out other Sifu articles:
- Sifu Trophy Guide and How to Get Platinum
- Sifu Will Not Have Difficulty Options at Release Confirms Producer
- All Skills and How to Unlock Each | Sifu
- How to Beat Fajar Boss Fight | Sifu
- How to Beat Sean Boss Fight | Sifu
- How to Beat Kuroki Boss Fight | Sifu
Sifu is available on PS4 and PS5 through the Playstation Store, as well as on PC through the Epic Store.
