Learn all of Shadow's unique moves and abilities in Sonic Forces: Episode Shadow DLC. Master his Boost, Quick Step, and more!
Alright, so you've downloaded the Episode Shadow DLC for Sonic Forces, huh? Nice! This means you get to play as Shadow himself, not just in his own special stages, but also in the main story stages as Modern Sonic. It's a pretty cool way to shake things up!
Shadow's got a few tricks up his sleeve that are a bit different from Sonic's. First off, let's talk about that Boost Gauge you see at the bottom. When it's empty, no regular Boosts or Air Boosts for you. You'll need to grab those White Wisp Capsules scattered around or take down some enemies to refill it. Keep an eye on it!
Here's a quick rundown of the buttons you'll be using, depending on your platform:
| Console Controller Button Key: Shadow | ||||
| Action | PC | Playstation 4 | Nintendo Switch | Xbox One |
| Jump Button | A Button | X Button | B Button | A Button |
| Crouch Button | ? | o Button | B Button | B Button |
| Boost Button | ? | Square Button | Y Button | X Button |
| Quickstep Button | ? | L1/R1 Buttons | L/R Buttons | LB/RB Button |
Now, let's get into Shadow's actual moveset. It's not super complicated, but knowing what each move does and when to use it will make a huge difference.
| Shadow's Moveset | ||
| Action | Buttons/Controls | Tips/Tricks |
| Move Around | To walk and run, move the Left Analog stick in the direction you want to go. | None |
| Crouch | Press and hold the B Button when not moving or on a Grind Rail to Crouch down. | Use this to dodge and to get under places when on a moving platforms. |
| Slide | Press the B Button when running to Slide. | Sliding allows Shadow to get under certain areas, dodge attacks from enemies, and avoid traps and hazards. |
| Spin Jump | Press the A Button while standing or running to Spin Jump. | Depending on how hard you press down the button affects how high Shadow jumps. If you press it lightly, he hops without spinning. If you press it harder, he jumps his highest while spinning. |
| Homing Attack | Press the A button while in midair to do a Homing Attack. | Shadow's Homing Attack is much faster than Modern Sonic's and will automatically destroy a row of Buzz Bomber s. |
| Stomp | Press the B Button while in midair to perform a Stomp. | Stomping allows Shadow to destroy boxes, enemies on the ground, and other objects. It also allows him to bounce higher on Springs and Spring Poles. Stomping is the fastest way to reach the ground from midair. |
| Boost | Press/Hold the X Button when the Boost Gauge has is filled to have Shadow start Boosting. | Shadow's Boost Gauge lasts longer than Modern Sonic's, allowing him to do longer boosts. |
| Jump Dash/Air Boost | Press the X Button while in midair to perform a Jump Dash or Air Boost if the Boost Gauge has energy. | Shadow can stay in the air longer with his Air Boosts |
| Quick Step | While moving forward in 3D areas, press the LB Button to quickly move left or RB Button to quickly move right | This helps Shadow dodge obstacles in some of the levels. |
| Grinding/Grind Step | When Shadow is on a Grind Rail, he will automatically Grind on it. | When there is more than 1 Grind Rail, move the Analog Stick in the direction of a Grind Rail to have Shadow switch rails. Press A to Jump without moving the Analog Stick to Jump once and stay on the same rail. Modern Sonic can Boost on Grand Rails. |
100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content