Kazuya Mishima
Kazuya dominates Tekken 8 with explosive damage, strong Heat mechanics, and hard-to-react mix-ups. His electric attacks punish mistakes heavily, and his pressure game forces opponents into constant defence. He remains one of the most complete offensive characters.
Jin Kazama
Jin’s well-rounded toolkit makes him adaptable in nearly every matchup. His pokes, counters, and mobility blend perfectly with Heat boosts, allowing him to apply safe pressure while maintaining strong defensive options. He thrives in both aggressive and reactive playstyles.
Leroy Smith
Leroy offers safe strings, strong parries, and consistent combo routes that make him extremely reliable. His Heat abilities enhance pressure, and his balanced playstyle suits both beginners and advanced players. He remains one of the safest top-tier picks.
Hwoarang
Hwoarang overwhelms opponents with nonstop stance pressure, fast kicks, and unpredictable mix-ups. His Heat mode amplifies his offensive strings even further, making him terrifying once he gains momentum. Skilled players can completely suffocate opponents with constant aggression.
Azucena
Azucena’s evasive stances and unpredictable movements make her difficult to punish. She excels at baiting attacks and punishing whiffs with surprising speed. Her deceptive pressure and strong counter-options consistently disrupt even experienced players.
A-Tier Fighters
King
King’s command grabs deal massive damage and create powerful mix-ups. His mid attacks and pokes complement his throw game, making him dangerous up close. With Heat engaged, his pressure becomes overwhelming and extremely difficult to escape.
Paul Phoenix
Paul delivers frightening burst damage, punishing mistakes with hard-hitting launchers. His straightforward playstyle works well for aggressive players. Although slightly slow in neutral, his ability to swing rounds instantly keeps him highly competitive across multiple matchups.
Ling Xiaoyu
Xiaoyu’s stance transitions and evasive movement create unpredictable mix-ups. She excels at avoiding attacks and punishing whiffs, but demands strong execution and matchup awareness. In skilled hands, she becomes extremely difficult for opponents to read and counter.
Claudio Serafino
Claudio controls space effectively with long-range tools and pressure enhanced by his Starburst state. He excels at punishing sloppy approaches and thrives in patient play. His straightforward gameplan makes him reliable in tournaments and online matches.
Dragunov
Dragunov offers relentless pressure with fast pokes, strong tracking moves, and excellent wall carry. His straightforward offense allows consistent damage without complicated execution. He performs well in nearly every matchup due to his speed and aggression.
B-Tier Fighters
Lars Alexandersson
Lars benefits from great mobility and stylish combo routes, but his damage output is inconsistent compared to top tiers. He excels at whiff punishing and evasive movement, though he sometimes struggles to keep pressure against stronger offensive characters.
Devil Jin
Devil Jin has strong mix-ups, powerful Hell Sweeps, and great air control, but his execution requirements are higher than many characters. His punish tools are excellent, yet some unsafe strings hold him back from consistent top-tier performance.
Asuka Kazama
Asuka shines in defense with counters and evasive moves, making her dangerous for reckless players. However, her offense is slower and requires strong reads. She excels at punishing mistakes but struggles in fast, aggressive matchups common in Tekken 8.
Lili Rochefort
Lili boasts exceptional movement and evasive sidesteps, making her difficult to track. She applies stylish pressure and controls neutral well. However, her damage and punishment options are less reliable compared to higher-tier characters, requiring more precision to succeed.
Bryan Fury
Bryan features strong pressure tools, strong counter-hits, and stylish juggles, but many of his best options require high execution. While he excels at punishing and mid-range control, he struggles slightly against fast, aggressive top-tier characters.
C-Tier Fighters Jack-8
Jack-8 offers huge range and strong pokes, with the ability to shut down approaches. However, his size and slower movement make him predictable. He hits hard but often struggles to keep up with Tekken 8’s aggressive pace.
Panda/Kuma
Panda and Kuma have unique hitboxes that occasionally offer matchup advantages, but they remain inconsistent. Their unorthodox tools can surprise opponents, yet their movement and predictability make them difficult choices for long-term competitive play.
Victor Chevalier
Victor is stylish and fast, using quick strikes and evasive options to pressure opponents. However, his overall damage and defensive tools are weaker than top-tier characters. He requires strong fundamentals to perform well in difficult matchups.
