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The fastest way to start Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is to learn the default PlayStation buttons, complete Startup Battle, and use the repeat-button Link Attacks before worrying about motion inputs. On the default PS5 layout, □ is Light, △ is Medium, ○ is Heavy, × calls an Assemble Assist, R2 performs a Quick Skill, and L2 handles Quick Assemble or switching. The official beginner guide by Arc System Works Game Director and Lead Battle Designer Kazuto Sekine recommends learning one character first, then adding teammates and team mechanics gradually.
This guide explains the universal controls, defense, assists, switching, input-style trade-offs, beginner combo routes, and a practical Training Mode routine. Character commands, damage and timings can vary by character and game update, so use the current in-game command display to verify any route before relying on it in a match.
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Default PS5 controls at a glance
The following mapping is the default PlayStation example used in the beginner material. You can customize button inputs, and a remapped controller will not match this table.
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| Button or input | Default action | Beginner use |
|---|---|---|
| □ | Light (L) | Fast starter attack and the first button in the simplest Link Attack. |
| △ | Medium (M) | Stronger normal attack and the middle button in a basic chain. |
| ○ | Heavy (H) | Heavy normal attack and the end of the basic heavy chain. |
| R1 | Unique Attack | Character-specific attack shown in the command list. |
| × | Assemble | Calls an Assemble Assist; direction chooses the teammate. |
| R2 | Quick Skill | One-button Skill activation. |
| L1 | Quick Dash | Fast movement option. |
| L2 | Quick Assemble | Switches to a teammate when used with a direction, or during the on-screen switch prompt. |
| ← | Back | Hold to perform a standing guard. |
| ↙ | Down-back | Hold to perform a crouching guard. |
Think of L, M and H as the three normal-attack strengths rather than as fixed damage tiers. A character’s command display tells you which normal, Unique Attack or Skill follows each input.
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- Assemble your team of legendary Marvel characters in the ultimate 4v4 tag team fighter from PlayStation Studios, Arc System Works and Marvel Games.
- Experiment with team compositions to discover new combos, synergies, and strategies. Blast your way through dynamic stages based on iconic Marvel Universe locales, some featuring interactive stage transitions.
- Fighting is both immersive and intuitive, with a range of unique move sets, combos, and strategies to master. Adjustable controls, both traditional and quick inputs, plus easy chain combos make diving right in a breeze.
- Face off against a friend locally or join the fray with up to 64 players in the online lobby, including standard VS modes. Plus, dive deep on each team with the single player Episode Mode to learn more about team dynamics and lore.
Start with Startup Battle, not random matches
Startup Battle is the game’s interactive tutorial. Its Basics section teaches individual-character actions, while its Assemble section introduces assists, switching and other team mechanics. The official beginner guide recommends completing it before general play. Training Mode is the slower, repeatable alternative when you want to learn at your own pace.
- Choose a character you genuinely want to play. Use the character-select Ease of Use rating as a starting signal, not a permanent ranking.
- Complete the Basics lessons and reproduce every displayed command once without looking at the next prompt.
- Complete the Assemble lessons so calling a teammate and switching are familiar before you add combo practice.
- Play a few low-pressure matches using only Light, Medium, Heavy, guard and one Link Attack. Add more mechanics after those actions feel automatic.
Sekine’s guide names Captain America, Ms. Marvel and Wolverine as beginner-friendly examples, and also describes Iron Man and Spider-Man as relatively easy to learn. It presents Storm and Danger as more advanced. These are the guide’s recommendations, not an independently tested or permanent character ranking; balance patches and your own preferences matter more over time.
Movement, attacks and guarding
Normal attacks
Press □, △ or ○ for Light, Medium or Heavy. Learn the range and recovery of each button from the command display rather than assuming that a heavier attack is always better. A safe beginner habit is to start with Light when close, confirm whether it connects, and then continue a simple Link Attack.
Standing and crouching guard
Hold ← to stand guard. Hold ↙ to crouch guard. Use the training dummy’s attack settings to see which attacks are blocked by each guard position. If you are unsure, return to standing guard first, then practice changing to crouching guard when the dummy uses a low attack.
Quick Dash and movement practice
L1 is Quick Dash on the default layout. Practice dashing into Light range, stopping, guarding and dashing back out. This teaches distance control without requiring a combo. Your character’s dash behavior and available follow-ups are character-specific, so verify them in the current command list.
Defense: Assemble Counter and Crossover
The two □ + × defensive actions have different requirements.
| Action | Input | When it works | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assemble Counter | □ + × while not guarding | During neutral or while you are vulnerable to an approaching attack, provided the move can be performed. | Backsteps and can automatically counter an attack during the maneuver. |
| Crossover | □ + × while guarding | While you are already holding a guard. | Calls a teammate to interrupt the opponent and create a counterattack opening. |
Do not press the same shortcut indiscriminately. If you are holding guard, the game interprets □ + × as Crossover; if you are not guarding, it interprets the input as Assemble Counter. In Training Mode, record an approaching attack and test both states so the distinction becomes muscle memory.
Assists and switching: the team controls
Calling an Assemble Assist
Press × for an Assemble Assist. Direction selects which teammate answers:
- Neutral or →: calls the second teammate.
- ↓: calls the third teammate.
- ←: calls the fourth teammate.
The directional choice is relative to the control input, not a character name. Check the team order on the HUD so you know which slot each direction selects.
Switching directly
Press a direction together with L2 to switch to the corresponding teammate. For example, the direction that selects the second teammate plus L2 switches to that character. The exact direction-to-slot relationship follows the same team order used by assists.
Switching from the prompt
After an assist, the game can display a “Switch?” prompt. Press L2 while that prompt is visible to switch to the assisting character. This guided option is useful when you are learning rotation because you do not need to remember every directional combination immediately.
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There are two ways to activate a Skill. Quick Skills use one button, such as R2 on the default layout. Command Inputs use the motion shown in the character’s command list followed by the required attack button.
| Input style | Execution | Reward described by the official guide | Best starting use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Skill | One button | Easy to execute; the sources do not provide a numeric damage or gauge penalty. | Learn neutral, confirms and basic combos without dropping the special move. |
| Command Input | Directional motion plus an attack button | Slightly higher damage and more Skill Gauge generation. No percentage or fixed amount is published. | Add after the one-button version is reliable and you want the extra reward. |
“Slightly higher” is qualitative. Do not assume a universal percentage, frame advantage or damage value. Compare the displayed damage and gauge gain for the selected character in Training Mode, because the result can depend on the move and the current version.
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- Plunge into fast-paced battles that test your skills and are influenced by team synergies and strategies.
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Beginner combos: learn Link Attacks first
Link Attacks are the approachable repeat-button routes highlighted in the official beginner guide. The letters below mean Light, Medium and Heavy; on the default PS5 layout they correspond to □, △ and ○.
Light route: L → L → L → L
Repeatedly press Light four times. The sequence chains into a Skill and can trigger a Break, which is the stage-transition effect described by the guide. This is the safest first route to practice because you can concentrate on confirming that the first Light connected rather than memorizing a motion input.
Medium route: M → M → M
Press Medium three times. The guide says this route leads into a powerful Super Skill. Use it when you have enough space and the first Medium has connected; do not mash it blindly from a distance where the opening attack will miss.
Heavy route: H → H → H
Press Heavy three times. This route leads into an even stronger Ultimate Skill according to the guide. Heavy attacks are generally less forgiving when they miss, so practice the distance in Training Mode before trying to start with H in a live match.
These are teaching routes, not claims of optimal damage. The guide gives no damage values and does not label any of the strings as the best route for every character or patch.
An advanced team route to add later
Once the three repeat-button strings are comfortable, the guide’s team example is:
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L → M → H → Skill → Assemble Rush → Follow-up Attack
It combines normal attacks, a Skill and team coordination. The exact timing and follow-up depend on the character and teammate. First perform L → M → H by itself. Then add the Skill shown in the command list. Next practice the Assemble Rush and its Follow-up Attack separately before combining the whole sequence. If any link fails, shorten the route and rebuild it one action at a time.
A secondary route reported by Dot Esports
Dot Esports reports a default-layout sequence of Square > Triangle > Circle > down Circle, followed by a jump or chase and air follow-ups. This is a secondary example, not part of Sekine’s official beginner route. Treat it as a pattern to verify rather than a universal combo:
- Check the selected character’s current command display for the down-Circle action.
- Confirm that the first Square connects at the distance where you intend to start.
- Practice the jump or chase immediately after the down-Circle hit.
- Add each air follow-up separately and watch the Training Mode damage display.
- Repeat the sequence with the dummy’s defensive settings changed; a route that works on a passive dummy may be interruptible in a match.
Inputs can be character-specific, changed by patches or altered by remapping. If the in-game command display disagrees with this description, follow the in-game display.
How to verify a combo in Training Mode
Training Mode includes command-input, frame-data and damage displays, scenario presets, bot settings, and record/replay tools. Official PlayStation product information also describes custom bots and adjustable CPU settings. Use those tools to turn a written route into a repeatable skill.
- Select one character and one teammate. Start with the character you intend to use in matches; do not learn a route on a different moveset and assume it transfers.
- Turn on command input and damage displays. Keep the command history visible so you can see whether the game read the intended direction or button.
- Set the dummy to stand. Test the route from the distance where you expect to begin it and note whether the first hit reaches.
- Confirm the sequence slowly. Press each input as the previous hit connects instead of mashing the entire string. This reveals the first point of failure.
- Check the Skill or Super/Ultimate outcome. The Light, Medium and Heavy Link Attacks should produce the outcomes described in the current guide for that character.
- Record an attack. Use record/replay to make the dummy approach, block or retaliate. Test whether your starter still works when the opponent is not passive.
- Adjust bot settings. Try blocking after the first hit and vary the dummy’s behavior. A route that only works against a standing, non-blocking dummy is not match-ready.
- Repeat from both sides. Practice facing left and facing right so directional motions do not fail when your position changes.
- Test the team extension. Add Assemble Assist, Assemble Rush and the Follow-up Attack only after the solo route is consistent.
- Recheck after updates or remapping. Use the current command display whenever the game version changes or you customize buttons.
Training Mode is also the right place to compare Quick Skill and Command Input versions. Record the displayed damage and Skill Gauge change for your chosen move rather than applying the guide’s qualitative “slightly higher” reward to every attack.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing a first character and team
The beginner guide’s strongest recommendation is to start with a character you like. Ease of Use can help narrow the list, but enjoyment is a better reason to continue practicing than a temporary ranking.
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Use one character before expanding
Learn that character’s movement, Light starter, one Link Attack, guard response and basic Skill. Then add a second teammate and learn the assist direction, direct switch and “Switch?” prompt. Adding the whole roster at once makes it harder to tell whether a dropped combo came from the character, the assist timing or the team order.
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The official material suggests experimenting with a close-range and a long-range specialist together. This is an experiment, not a universal competitive rule. If both characters are enjoyable and their assists help you create an opening, the pairing is doing its job for a beginner.
Keep team order visible
Because neutral/→, ↓ and ← select different teammate slots, write down your order during your first sessions. The match begins with the first two selected characters available, so knowing which character occupies each slot prevents accidental calls or switches.
How the rest of your team becomes available
The official FAQ says a match starts with the first two selected characters available. You can assemble the remaining team by triggering a qualifying Break. Listed conditions include certain attacks or throws, selected Skill attacks, a successful Light Link Attack route near the screen edge, and losing a round.
These are system rules that may be adjusted by updates. If a particular unlock condition matters for a challenge or strategy, check the current in-game Battle Guide rather than relying on an older explanation. The important beginner implication is that team access is part of the match flow: practice Break-producing actions and watch the HUD so you know when another teammate becomes available.
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The official FAQ identifies PS5 and PC versions and lists 20 launch characters. Offline content includes Episode Mode, local Versus, Training Mode, All-Star Arena, Battle Guides and Character Guides. Online play requires an internet connection; on PS5 it also requires PlayStation Plus, while on PC it requires a PlayStation account. Availability and service requirements can change, so check the current platform listing before purchase or online play.
PS5-compatible arcade sticks and leverless controllers are supported, and button inputs can be customized. They are optional: the default pad layout is sufficient for learning Light, Medium, Heavy, guarding, assists and the beginner Link Attacks.
Common beginner problems and fixes
“My Skill does not come out.”
Use the one-button Quick Skill first and watch command history. If it works with R2 but not with a motion, practice the motion slowly in Training Mode. Confirm that you are not pressing a remapped button and that the move is available in the current character’s command list.
“I called the wrong teammate.”
Check team order and directional selection: neutral or → calls the second slot, ↓ the third, and ← the fourth. Practice each direction from a stationary position before adding movement.
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The game distinguishes guarding state. While holding guard, □ + × is Crossover. Without guarding, it is Assemble Counter. Deliberately release or hold ←/↙ during practice to learn the state change.
“The combo works in Training Mode but not in matches.”
Test the route against a recorded approach, blocking and retaliation. Check the starter’s range, confirm that the first hit connected, and replace a long route with L → L → L → L until your hit confirmation is reliable.
“The written input does not match my screen.”
Prioritize the current in-game command display. Character commands, remapped buttons and updates can make a secondary example inaccurate for your setup.
A short practice plan for your first sessions
- Five minutes: movement, Quick Dash, standing guard and crouching guard.
- Five minutes: Light, Medium and Heavy Link Attacks separately.
- Five minutes: Quick Skill, then the corresponding Command Input if your character has one.
- Five minutes: call each teammate with ×, switch with direction + L2, and use the “Switch?” prompt.
- Ten minutes: record a dummy attack and test Assemble Counter and Crossover in their correct guard states.
- Ten minutes: add the Skill and team actions to L → M → H only after the basic strings are consistent.
When you can perform the simple route from either side, recognize whether it connected, and choose the correct defensive or team action without looking at the controller, you have the foundation the beginner guide is designed to teach.
Quick Recap
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