Tekken 8 Tier List (Best Characters)

Tekken 8, launched in 2024, delivered a much-needed gameplay and balance overhaul for the series. Over a year later, here's a comprehensive tier list of the best fighters.

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The following *Tekken 8* fighter tier list reflects their current standing. Factors like ease of use and recent balance adjustments influence placement. Remember, this is subjective, and player skill is a crucial factor.

S Tier

These *Tekken 8* characters boast exceptional balance, often considered "broken" due to their numerous offensive and defensive options.

Dragunov, initially a top-tier pick, remains a meta choice despite nerfs, thanks to his strong frame data and mix-ups. Feng's rapid, low attacks and potent counter-hit abilities punish opponents effectively. Jin, the protagonist, offers versatility and devastating combos, making him an easy S-tier pick. His moveset and Devil Gene mechanics excel at all ranges. King is arguably the strongest grappler, with unpredictable combos and chain throws dominating close-range combat. Law excels at a strong poking game, making him difficult to attack while remaining easy to learn. His agility and versatile counter-hits keep opponents guessing. Despite a steep learning curve, Nina's effective heat mode and grabs, combined with her intricate movement, make her a formidable force.

A Tier

A-tier characters are less challenging than S-tier but remain dangerous and effective counters.

Alisa's gimmicks and low attacks make her beginner-friendly and effective at applying pressure. Asuka offers solid defensive options and easy combos, ideal for newcomers learning *Tekken* fundamentals. Claudio is relatively easy to read, but his Starburst state significantly boosts his damage output. Hwoarang's four stances and varied combos cater to both beginners and veterans. Jun's heat smash offers significant health regeneration and strong mix-ups. Kazuya's versatility and powerful combos reward skilled players with high damage output. Kuma's size and unpredictable movements make him difficult to read. Lars' high speed and mobility allow for effective evasion and wall pressure. Lee's poking game, stance transitions, and mix-ups exploit defensive gaps. Leo's strong mix-ups and safe moves maintain pressure. Lili's acrobatic style creates unpredictable combos and strong defenses. Raven's speed and teleportation abilities capitalize on missed counters. Shaheen's powerful, albeit complex, combos are highly effective. Victor's technological moves adapt to various fighting styles. Xiaoyu's mobility and adaptable stances make her difficult to counter. Yoshimitsu's health-siphoning combos and teleportation create tactical advantages. Zafina's three stances offer excellent spacing and unpredictable mix-ups.

B Tier

B-tier characters are fun but more easily exploited. They require practice to compete against higher-tier characters.

Bryan's high damage output and pressure are offset by his slow speed and lack of gimmicks. Eddy's speed is countered by his inability to pressure effectively. Jack-8 is beginner-friendly with decent long-range attacks and wall pressure. Leroy's abilities have been nerfed, making him easier to counter. Paul's high damage output requires precise positioning. Reina's strong offense is countered by her weak defense. Steve's predictability and lack of mix-ups make him vulnerable.

C Tier

Panda performs similar actions to Kuma but less effectively, resulting in her lower tier placement.

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