Shiva's first appearance as a playable character happens in Streets of Rage 3, unlocked by holding down the B button after defeating him in Stage 1, until Stage 2 starts. He is one of the strongest characters in the game from a pure power standpoint, as well being the fastest character. However, due to him being an enemy character, his moveset is incomplete; for instance, he is unable to pick up weapons.
In Streets of Rage 4, Shiva appears as part of the Mr. X Nightmare DLC. Much like in the third game, he boasts incredible power and speed attributes. He is also unique in that he is the only character in the game capable of performing air combos. Additionally, as a nod to his Streets of Rage 3 version, he is also unable to pick up weapons, but when interacting with any will instead throw them at his opponents; if a weapon is thrown at him, he is able to deflect them back at the attacker instantly by pressing the pick-up button. A retro version of Streets of Rage 3 Shiva can also be unlocked in the base game.
Attributes[]
Strengths[]
- Very high attack power and speed.
- Potent Blitz and Special Attacks.
- Capable of performing air combos in Streets of Rage 4.
Weaknesses[]
- Unable to pick up weapons (but can throw them in Streets of Rage 4).
Move List (Streets of Rage 4)[]
Shiva is able to dash a short distance by pressing the D-Pad Left or Right twice. While it's slower than Streets of Rage 4 Adam's quick steps, it covers more range.
Instead of picking up weapons on the ground, Shiva will lift them up with his foot and launch them forward with a palm strike. Similarly, when opponents throw weapons at him, he'll instead deflect them right back at them with the button input.
Regular Attacks[]
- Attack: A quickly clawed punch. Has more range than his Streets of Rage 3 version.
- Attack (Hold) - Rising Kick: An upwards kick that tends enemies straight up. Part of Shiva's regular combo attack's finisher. Can be frame cancelled into his jump for air combos.
Combo Attacks[]
- Attack (2x): 2 quick clawed punches. Have more range than his Streets of Rage 3 version.
- Attack (3x): 2 quick clawed punches and a palm strike, which pushes enemies slightly.
- Attack (4x): 2 quick clawed punches, a palm strike and a rising kick. Shiva's regular combo. Can be frame cancelled into his jump for air combos.
Jumping Attacks[]
Shiva is unique as he can perform air combos out of any aerial attack. Unlike other characters, he only has a neutral aerial attack, lacking a forward aerial attack. His air combos can hit up to four times, and the player can alter the trajectory of his final hit with inputs; if no input is made, Shiva will finish with a kick that launches opponents forward; if holding down, he'll do an elbow strike that will send opponents downwards. Additionally, Shiva can frame cancel the last hit of his normal combo, charge attack and reat attack into a jump to initiate air combos. He can also cancel any of this air attacks into Air Specials.
Neutral Air[]
- Jump + Attack (mid-air): Shiva performs his signature aerial kick. It deals very low knockback, but chains into his other attacks. By itself it's useful to knock down enemies near ledges.
- Jump + Attack (mid-air 2x): Shiva performs a kick followed by hand thrust. Minimal knockback.
- Jump + Attack (mid-air 3x): Shiva performs a kick, followed by a hand thrust, and another kick. Minimal knockback. Great to link with Air Senretsu Ken.
- Jump + Attack (mid-air 4x): Shiva performs a kick, followed by a hand thrust, another kick and a finisher, which depends on which direction the player is holding.
- If no input is made, Shiva will finish with a rear kick that launches opponents forward; if they hit a wall, it causes a wall bounce, which can lead to more air combos if the player is fast enough.
- If holding down, Shiva will perform a power elbow strike that launches opponents downwards. Useful when juggling opponents with other players that are using multi-hit moves, allowing to trap opponents.
Down Air[]
- Jump + D-Pad Down + Attack (mid-air) - Downward Thrust: Shiva hits the opponent with a semi-closed fist, which staggers enemies without knocking them down, and can be used for him to follow up with a grab and any applicable move.
Rear Attack[]
- Attack + Jump (almost simultaneously; on the ground) - Snake Bite: Shiva extends his arm behind him, performing a hand thrust. Has one of the highest ranges of all rear attacks (capable of even outranging Big Ben's Fire Breath). Pressing it again causes Shiva to do his high kick, sending opponents in the air; can be cancelled into a jump for air combos.
Grabs[]
From behind[]
- Attack while holding opponent - Backward Flip: Shiva performs a circular hand motion and flips the opponent, throwing them behind him. Very fast but doesn't launch enemies very far.
From the front[]
- D-Pad Left or Right + Attack - Elbow Strike: Shiva pummels the enemy with his elbow, up to three times; the third hit ground bounces opponents high enough to air combos. If not directional input is done, Shiva simply performs the elbow strike finisher.
- D-Pad in the direction opposite of the enemy + Attack - Flip Kick: Shiva lifts the opponent with his leg and slams them behind him. Very low knockback, but the angle is favorable enough for following up with a Blitz Attack; if near a wall, the player can do air combos instead.
Blitz Attacks[]
Performed by pressing the D-Pad Left or Right (2x) + Attack.
- Final Crash: Shiva's default Blitz Attack. He turns his back at his enemy for a fraction of a second, followed by a quick ducking twist, then projects an extended leg upwards with its foot in flames, hitting the target with an uppercut-like kick. This attack hits opponents off the ground. Shiva can cancel this move into Aerial Special Attacks.
- Flying Kick: the alternate Blitz attack unlockable in the Survival Mode DLC. He leaps forward delivering a kick that hits multiple times, which pushes enemies forward. One of the strongest Blitz Attacks in the game thanks to its high damage potential, hit stun and invulnerability frames. Great for locking enemies near walls and start juggling. Shiva can cancel this move into Aerial Special Attacks.
Defensive Special Attacks[]
- Flaming Circular Kick: Shiva's default Defensive Special Attack. Shiva delivers a spinning overhead back kick in a circular motion, with his foot engulfed in purple flames. Can hit enemies on the ground, launching them upwards for air combos.
- Hashinsho: the alternate Defensive Special Attack unlockable in the Survival Mode DLC. He performs a dual palm strike that hits on both sides that knocks opponents far away; if it hits in the inner area, it briefly stuns them instead. Can hit enemies on the ground, launching them diagonally upwards.
Offensive Special Attacks[]
- Senretsu Ken: Shiva's default Offensive Special Attack. He performs a quick dash toward his opponent to attack, which varies depending on the distance between him and his target:
- At close range, he'll dash through his opponent, reappearing behind them in a praying pose while his opponent is hit multiple times.
- At long range, he'll perform and powerful palm strike that launches opponents away. A shockwave at the tip of his hand has an extended, disjointed hitbox.
- Spirit Palm: the alternate Offensive Special Attack unlockable in the Survival Mode DLC. He performs a quick palm strike, and then conjures a shadowy clone who repeats the same motion. The shadow clone attack covers longer range and launches opponents away.
Air Special Attack[]
- Air Senretsu Ken: Shiva's default Air Special. This move is unique as it has different properties depending on the input by the player.
- If the player holds right or does no input at all, Shiva will dash through his opponent and hit multiple times.
- If the player holds down, Shiva will descend with a slam attack; this version can hit opponents that are already down on the ground.
- The no-input version can be cancelled into the downwards version, essentially allowing Shiva to use two Air Special Attacks in a single jump.
- Spirit Kick: the alternate Air Special Attack unlockable in the Survival Mode DLC. He performs an overhead axe kick, and then conjures a shadowy clone who repeats the same motion. The shadow clone attack covers higher range and launches opponents away; if hitting opponents in the air, it launches them directly downwards. Shiva can indefinitely spam this attack in the air until hitting the ground.
Star Moves[]
- Shin Hashinsho: Shiva's default Star Move, where he performs a more powerful version of Hashinsho, enveloping his hands in purple flames that erupt fiery wings behind his back. Opponents hit by this move will be launched high up in the air and will fall slowly to the ground.
- Spirit Dance: the alternate Air Special Attack unlockable in the Survival Mode DLC. Shiva conjures three shadowy clones that will perform palm strikes repeatedly for around 9 seconds. These strikes are very powerful and will even knock down unstoppable enemies (such as Max in his boss form). Multiple clones can be summoned at the same time, assuming the player has enough Star Power. If the player has three Spirit Dances active and presses and holds the Star Move button, the clones will disappear sooner by performing a Final Crash each.