Top Characters in Tekken 8: Tier List

*Tekken 8*, released in 2024, was hailed as a pivotal update for the series, bringing significant improvements in gameplay and balance. Over a year later, we present a detailed tier list of the best fighters in *Tekken 8*, reflecting their current standing in the competitive scene. This list considers factors such as ease of use, adaptability, and the impact of recent updates, though it remains subjective and influenced by player skill.

Tekken 8 Tier List

S Tier

Image via Bandai Namco

The S Tier in *Tekken 8* features characters with exceptional balance or powerful gimmicks, offering versatile offensive and defensive options.

Dragunov quickly rose to S-tier status due to his strong frame data and mix-ups, remaining a meta choice despite nerfs. Feng excels with fast, low attacks and strong counter-hit abilities, keeping opponents on their toes. Jin, the protagonist, is versatile and easy to pick up, with deadly combos and devil gene mechanics that make him a formidable opponent at any range. King dominates close-range combat with his chain throw commands, making him unpredictable and powerful. Law is hard to counter with his strong poking game and agility, while Nina offers great options with her effective heat mode and grab attacks, though she requires practice to master.

A Tier

A-Tier characters are less challenging to learn than S-Tier but still highly effective, offering strong counters and adaptability.

Alisa is easy to learn with her android gimmicks and low attacks, ideal for beginners. Asuka is perfect for newcomers with her defensive options and easy combos. Claudio becomes formidable once his Starburst state is activated, increasing his damage output. Hwoarang offers a variety of stances and combos, suitable for both beginners and veterans. Jun can heal with her heat smash and has strong mix-ups, while Kazuya rewards players with a strong grasp of fundamentals with his versatile fighting style. Kuma proved his worth at the 2024 World Tournament with strong defense and awkward movements. Lars excels in speed and mobility, perfect for mastering evasion. Lee has an impressive poking game and stance transitions, while Leo offers strong mix-ups and safe moves. Lili uses acrobatic moves to create unpredictable combos, and Raven leverages speed and versatility for stealthy attacks. Shaheen has a steep learning curve but offers unbreakable combos, and Victor adapts to various fighting styles with his technological moves. Xiaoyu is highly mobile with adaptable stances, and Yoshimitsu uses health siphoning and teleportation for tactical play. Zafina requires mastering her stances for effective spacing and control.

B Tier

B-Tier characters are balanced but can be exploited by higher-tier opponents, requiring practice to compete effectively.

Bryan offers high damage and pressure but is slow and lacks gimmicks. Eddy was initially considered broken but has since been countered effectively. Jack-8 is ideal for newcomers with decent long-range attacks and strong throws. Leroy has been affected by updates, reducing his damage output and making him easier to pressure. Paul deals serious damage but lacks agility, helping newcomers learn positioning. Reina is fun but lacks defensive abilities, making her vulnerable at higher levels. Steve requires practice and can be predictable, though suitable for aggressive players.

C Tier

Panda sits at the bottom of the tier list, performing similar moves to Kuma but less effectively. With limited range and predictable movement, Panda struggles to keep up with the rest of the roster.

This concludes our *Tekken 8* tier list. *Tekken 8* is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.