Tekken 8 Tier List (Best Characters)

Tekken 8 Tier List: A Comprehensive Ranking of Fighters (2024-2025)

Tekken 8, upon its 2024 release, delivered a much-needed gameplay and balance overhaul. Over a year later, this tier list assesses the current roster's strength. Note that this is subjective and player skill significantly impacts outcomes.

S Tier

S-tier characters boast exceptional balance, often considered "broken" due to their numerous offensive and defensive options.

• Dragunov: Initially a top-tier pick, Dragunov remains meta-relevant despite nerfs, thanks to strong frame data and mix-ups.
• Feng: His speed, low attacks, and potent counter-hit potential make him a formidable opponent.
• Jin: The protagonist's versatility and devastating combos make him accessible yet powerful. His Devil Gene mechanics add another layer of strategic depth.
• King: A dominant grappler with unpredictable chain throws and close-range control.
• Law: His strong poking game, agility, and counter-hit capabilities make him difficult to overcome.
• Nina: While demanding to master, her heat mode, devastating grabs, and unique movement set reward dedicated players.

A Tier

A-tier characters are strong contenders, less complex than S-tier but still highly effective.

• Alisa: Her android gimmicks and effective low attacks make her a beginner-friendly pressure fighter.
• Asuka: A solid choice for newcomers, offering strong defensive options and straightforward combos.
• Claudio: Predictable outside his Starburst state, but incredibly powerful once activated.
• Hwoarang: His multiple stances and diverse combos cater to both beginners and veterans.
• Jun: Her health-restoring heat smash and damaging mix-ups make her a dangerous opponent.
• Kazuya: A balanced character rewarding mastery of Tekken 8 fundamentals, excelling at both long and close-range combat.
• Kuma: His size creates unpredictable movement and strong defense, making him surprisingly effective.
• Lars: High speed and mobility allow for effective evasion and aggressive wall pressure.
• Lee: A strong pokers with agile stance transitions and mix-ups.
• Leo: Powerful mix-ups and relatively safe moveset allow for consistent pressure.
• Lili: Her acrobatic style leads to unpredictable combos and few defensive weaknesses.
• Raven: Impressive speed, teleportation, and shadow clones make him a hard-to-predict counter-attacker.
• Shaheen: A high skill ceiling character with powerful, hard-to-break combos.
• Victor: His technological moveset allows for adaptation and offensive versatility.
• Xiaoyu: High mobility and adaptable stances make her difficult to control.
• Yoshimitsu: A tactical fighter with health-siphoning combos, teleportation, and high mobility.
• Zafina: Her three stances provide excellent spacing and unpredictable mix-ups.

B Tier

B-tier characters are fun but exploitable, requiring practice to compete effectively.

• Bryan: High damage output but slow speed and lack of gimmicks make him vulnerable.
• Eddy: Initially overpowered, his fast attacks are now more easily countered due to his lack of pressure and corner carry.
• Jack-8: A solid fundamental character, good for beginners, with strong long-range attacks and wall pressure.
• Leroy: Nerfed from his initial release, his damage output and frame data are now less favorable.
• Paul: High damage potential but lacks agility and versatility.
• Reina: Strong offense but weak defense, easily punished for whiffs.
• Steve: Requires significant practice and is easily countered due to predictable moves.

C Tier

• Panda: Similar to Kuma but significantly less effective in all aspects.

Tekken 8 is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.