Tekken 8 tier list (January 2025): Best fighters, ranked

Tekken 8 has gained prominence as a fighting game, featuring a bunch of exciting gameplay elements, such as an exhilarating campaign and an improved combat system. One of the title’s major highlights is its vast roster of over 30 fighters, each possessing a unique moveset and combat style. With so many character variations at hand, fans are likely to wonder which one takes the top spot in a competitive scenario and how well they fare against each other.

Hence, this article will arrange all the current Tekken 8 fighters in a tier list based on their overall combat performances post-patch 1.01.04.

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Tier list of all Tekken 8 fighters for January 2025

Tekken 8 tier list (Image via Bandai Namco and Tiermaker)

That said, feel free to play the character you like since Bandai Namco has done an amazing job balancing them. Hence, you should be able to win with any contender as long as you are aware of the fundamentals and core combat mechanics.

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SS-tier

Xiaoyu (Image via Bandai Namco)

The SS tier is reserved for fighters that have slipped through the balance hammer, to shine as the strongest being in the arena. The following characters will definitely give you an upper hand in the battle as they possess an excellent set of punishment tools and pressure:

• Xiaoyu
• Feng
• Nina
• Dragunov

Xiaoyu, in particular, is easily one of the most rewarding characters in Tekken 8. She has access to multiple stances and powerful mix-ups, which is a nightmare for many players as it forces them into a complex mind game.

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S-tier

Jun Kazama (Image via Bandai Namco)

Fighters in the S tier can compete quite well against the top contenders, with their solid mix-ups and excellent combo potential. In fact, some of them have been deemed to be beginner-friendly characters in Tekken 8.

• Law
• Jin
• King
• Jun
• Reina
• Alisa
• Shaheen
• Hwoarang
• Lili
• Leroy

The seasoned martial artist, Leroy, has made his way to the top to prove that Wing Chun is a dominant fighting style to use in the ring. What helped him overcome his previous flaws were the countless buffs he received in Patch 1.04.

In contrast, Jin, Jun, and King have remained in the limelight ever since the game was released, as they possess powerful yet balanced movesets.

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A-tier

Zafina (Image via Bandai Namco)

As specified, the majority of the characters seem to be quite balanced to the point where their weaknesses have been covered up by their combat strength. Hence, you can easily pick up the A tier characters listed below to win your matches.

• Leo
• Lee
• Asuka
• Claudio
• Raven
• Kazuya
• Yoshimitsu
• Zafina
• Lars
• Victor
• Paul

Among them, Leo has shaped up to be a strong fighter, as his mixups can easily overwhelm opponents in the arena. He also has access to great combos with the Heat system, fueling his juggle potential.

Raven also has access to excellent combos in Tekken 8. With complete control over Ninjutsu, he can unleash clones on command that can easily daze a challenger.

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B-tier

Azucena (Image via Bandai Namco)

Unfortunately, a few fighters were unable to make it to the top tiers as they are restrained by their monotonous playstyle or fail to provide the edge you need to secure a flawless victory. Hence, they have been placed in the B tier.

• Bryan
• Azucena
• Steve
• Devil Jin
• Eddy

Both Azucena and Devil Jin have lost their foothold in the meta, following the countless nerfs to their damage and frame data in patch 1.04 of Tekken 8. As for Eddy, he has retained some of the flaws from the prequel. His frames are long, and his moves are punishable once you are able to predict them.

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C-tier

Kuma (Image via Bandai Namco)

The C-tier is reserved for some of the most underwhelming fighters in Tekken 8. They either lack punishment techniques or their playstyle is too clunky.

• Kuma
• Panda
• Jack

The furry fighters in particular have always been a bit clunky across every Tekken title, as they have exceptionally large hit boxes and unrefined movesets. Despite having their own variations of Heihachi-style Shinken, both Kuma and Panda are unable to cover up their glaring weaknesses.