How This Tier List Was Built

This list was crafted using recent tournament data, player stats, and feedback from both pros and active community members. It focuses on competitive play—casual results can vary based on individual skill, character knowledge, and matchup experience.

We considered key factors such as:

• Damage potential and combo flexibility
  
  
• Ease of execution for combos and pressure
  
  
• Safety of moves and punishment options
  
  
• Movement tools and defensive choices
  
  
• Adaptability across matchups
  
  

Remember, any character can win in the right hands. But when it comes to high-level competition, some fighters just offer more consistency, safety, and reward.

Want to verify these placements with live matches? Join events or practice against real opponents at HyperX Arena.

S-Tier – Top Competitive Picks

These are the characters dominating brackets. They are strong, flexible, and well-rounded, making them a go-to choice for pro players and top placers.

Jin Kazama

Jin continues to shine in 2025. With strong mid control, wall carry potential, and safe pressure, he is reliable in almost every situation. His parry options make him difficult to approach.

Leroy Smith

Leroy offers safety and power in one package. His simple execution makes him perfect for newer players, while his stance transitions and counter tools give him high-level depth.

Zafina

Zafina’s movement is unmatched. Her stances let her avoid attacks, counter quickly, and apply pressure with weird angles. She is difficult to master but highly rewarding.

Devil Jin

Devil Jin is a powerhouse. His tools include safe pokes, excellent launchers, and strong mixups. With his iconic electrics and wavedash pressure, he can break down almost any defense.

Claudio

Claudio dominates the mid-range game. His Starburst mechanic powers up certain moves, giving him extra damage and utility. His strong wall carry and sharp mids make him hard to stop.

These characters have proven consistent across both online ladders and live events. To play and practice with the best, check the Game Calendar or Rent your Streamer Room for uninterrupted training sessions.

A-Tier – Strong and Reliable

These characters are strong in most matchups and can win tournaments. They may have slightly more weaknesses or require better execution, but they are great picks overall.

Kazuya Mishima

High damage and burst potential define Kazuya. However, his execution is difficult and punishable if you miss. In the right hands, he can dominate quickly.

Lili

Lili has some of the best movement in the game. Her wide-range attacks and evasive sidesteps make her tricky. However, she lacks consistency against strong defense.

Feng Wei

Feng’s mixup pressure and evasive moves make him unpredictable. His defensive options are strong, and he can frustrate players who lack matchup experience.

Paul Phoenix

Paul still brings huge damage with simple inputs. He can delete rounds with one launcher and a deathfist. However, experienced players may punish his predictable tools.

King

King offers great throws, powerful wall pressure, and unique combo routes. He does require matchup knowledge and strong fundamentals to succeed.

Each of these fighters has placed in multiple events and performs well when used by skilled players. You can see them in action at Gaming Events in Las Vegas.

B-Tier – Mid-Tier but Viable

B-Tier characters are solid but require specific strategies or come with notable weaknesses. They’re great for specialists or players willing to put in the time.

Anna Williams

Anna can be deadly up close. Her mixups and wall combos are scary, but she is unsafe on many moves and lacks strong pokes.

Steve Fox

Steve has excellent counter tools and dodging, but his stance system is hard to master. He can overwhelm if played perfectly.

Shaheen

Shaheen is very balanced, with safe tools and a strong slide. However, he doesn’t excel in any one area and can struggle against pressure-heavy characters.

Josie Rizal

Josie has solid rushdown tools and easy combos. Her damage output is lower, but her speed makes up for it in many cases.

Use these characters if you love their style and are willing to work around their flaws. Rent your Streamer Room and lab your setups, punishes, and wall combos in peace.

C-Tier – Niche Picks or High Difficulty

These characters can still win but need deep knowledge, sharp reads, and often a bit of matchup luck.

Katarina Alves

Katarina is easy to use but lacks versatility. Her strings are often predictable and punishable.

Hwoarang

Hwoarang has amazing pressure with his stance system, but it’s hard to manage. One mistake can turn the match against you.

Yoshimitsu

Yoshi is one of the most unique fighters. His unpredictable moves can confuse opponents, but they also carry risk and self-harm.

Dragunov

Dragunov’s powerful rushdown has fallen slightly in the current meta. He is still strong in the right hands but has fewer top finishes recently.

Choosing a C-tier main means putting in extra effort. But if you love their style, it’s worth the grind. You’ll find opportunities to practice against all kinds of players at HyperX Arena.

How to Choose Your Main Based on Tiers

While this tier list gives insight into performance, don’t choose your main based only on rank. Focus on the character that fits your playstyle and motivates you to train.

• Want fast results? Pick someone from S or A tier.
  
  
• Want to challenge yourself? Go with a C-tier favorite and master their tools.
  
  
• Unsure where to start? Watch matches and test a few characters using our Game Calendar for event times.
  
  

The key to winning is not just who you pick, but how well you know them.

Pick Your Fighter and Start Your Tekken 8 Climb Today

Tekken 8 remains balanced and exciting, with regular updates keeping things fresh. While tier lists offer a snapshot of current trends, your own practice and play will always matter most.

Want to train like the pros? Contact HyperX to find out how to join events, get coaching, or book space to grind matchups. The best players do not just follow the meta—they study it.

Ready to rise in the ranks? Play at HyperX Arena, review the Game Calendar, and start building your own tier-defying path to victory.