It is not an understatement to say that Tekken 8 features one of the most balanced rosters within the franchise, as new patches are constantly released to address unintended behaviors and provide buffs and nerfs in equal measure (in most cases).
But no matter how balanced a game might be, it is unavoidable that some characters will perform better than others. To help you be ready for the next battle, here’s an updated tier list featuring all of the playable characters in Tekken 8.
- Before we start, keep in mind that a character’s placement here should not discourage you from trying them out, as mastering your main and understanding the opposition will give you a fair chance no matter who you face.
Tekken 8 Tier List
Side-stepping away from the usual S to C format, we decided to divide our Tekken 8 tier list into six tiers, going from S+ to B —the latter given how I don’t believe any member of the game’s roster is bad enough to be considered C-Tier. You can check out our tier list below and a deeper dive into each tier by heading further down.
| Tier | Characters |
|---|---|
| S+ | Dragunov, Nina, Jin Kazama, Feng Wei |
| S | Ling Xiaoyu, King, Claudio, Yoshimitsu, Reina, Marshall Law, Alisa |
| A | Shaheen, Kazuya Mishima, Jack-8, Leroy Smith, Azucena, Steve Fox, Lee, Leo, Paul Phoenix, Hwoarang, Kuma, Victor, Lili, Bryan, Lidia |
| B+ | Lars Alexanderson, Asuka Kazama, Jun Kazama, Panda, Devil Jin |
| B | Eddy, Raven, Zafina, |
In the S+tier we have characters with no (or very few) bad matchups, courtesy of their versatility and ability to keep tabs on you at all times. Among them, Dragonov stands in a class of his own, as even if we argue that Nina’s amazing pokes and Jin’s mix-up potential set them on equal footing, they pale in comparison to the suffocating pressure the White Angel of Death can apply on both mid and close range. His ability to crouch cancel also adds another layer to his already-filled toolkit.
In the S-tier, we have what I like to call S+ characters with weaknesses. That means that using them will demand taking a few risks, even if some cases —like King’s— will produce a massive payoff. That also makes them considerably easier to punish when compared to our top tiers. An example of that can be seen in Alisa, who can be easily countered with well-timed sidesteps.
In the A-tier, we have characters that are just as dangerous, but have way clearer strengths and weaknesses when compared to the above, which limits them to a certain degree and translates to a higher amount of bad matchups. The home of most of the game’s cast, you will also find a good mix of technical (such as Lili, Steve, and Kazuya) and easy-to-pick-up characters here.
As the game’s newest addition, it’s important to highlight Lidia here, who earns a spot thanks to her ability to quickly close the distance (especially with her excellent →→2 and running + 1) and perform a good array of mix-ups.
In the B+ tier, we have characters that albeit solid, lack versatility. That causes them to quickly become predictable, as most of their out-of-the-box options and mix-ups won’t offer a decent payoff. Some will also have gimmicks that can do more harm than good in certain instances or have in their large majority risky moves, such as Jun and Devil Jin respectively.
On B-Tier, we have characters that can still deplete your health bar in seconds but are considerably easier to punish even if the player decides to shift its pace, which can make them feel one-dimensional and cause them to be easily countered when faced with high-level players. The biggest example of this is Eddy, who although one of the biggest nightmares for new and intermediate players given his long strings and unholy lows, needs to dance over eggshells when faced with most matchups at a high level.
Now that you know in which tier your favorite character is, don’t forget to also check out how to successfully read combos online in Tekken 8.
