10 Best Fighters in Tekken 8 (Ranked)

Looking for the best fighters in Tekken 8? Here are the strongest and most skilled characters to use during competitive fights.

Tekken 8, the 2024 fighting game, has quickly become one of the best in its genre, selling 2 million copies in its first month. While it’s in the same league as titles like Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8 offers a fresh experience with a new storyline, aggressive gameplay, stunning visuals, and new characters, all while maintaining its traditional combat style.

Since the game offers up to 32 redesigned and unique fighters, including those from past installments, you might wonder who the best fighters in Tekken 8 are. This piece ranks the 10 best fighters in Tekken 8, giving you a quick rundown of what to expect from each one after the latest patch (1.07).

Who Are The 10 Best Fighters in Tekken 8?

Here are the best fighters you can use or match against in Tekken 8:

10. Shaheen

As of the latest patch in Tekken 8, Shaheen remains a formidable character. His fighting style incorporates elements of striking and grappling techniques, complemented by a solid skill set that emphasizes pressure, mix-ups, and recoverable health manipulation.

Shaheen is known for his effective full-crouch mix-up style, especially his slide (FC.df,d,df+3), which is widely regarded as one of the best low attacks in Tekken 8. This allows him to keep his opponents guessing and create openings.

He can steadily chip away at his opponent’s health with his moves, making him particularly effective against characters that rely on the grey health mechanic. His ability to manage recoverable health with specific setups further enhances his strategic options.

In the Heat state, Shaheen’s mix-ups and recoverable health manipulation become even more potent. He can apply intense pressure with moves that deal chip damage while threatening with powerful mids and his guard break move, Al-Ghul Master.

Overall, Shaheen’s high agility and combo flexibility earned him a spot on this list of best fighters in Tekken 8, despite his struggles against defensive opponents and his lack of unique defensive gimmicks.

9. King

King is another best fighter in Tekken 8, retaining his status as a strong grappler and legendary wrestler. He is renowned not only for his grappling moves but also for his high-impact throws, using a variety of command grabs that can lead to significant damage and advantageous situations for him.

His ability to chain throws together also makes him a constant threat, especially in close quarters. King can apply pressure through his offensive moves, particularly with his mid-attacks and low combos. Additionally, his mix-up ability between throws and strikes keeps his opponents guessing, making it challenging to defend against him.

King excels in wall situations, where his throws can lead to devastating combos. His wall carry potential allows him to capitalize on openings and deal substantial damage when opponents are near the wall. However, this character is vulnerable to pressure and can easily be overwhelmed by aggressive opponents. His reliance on throws is also a downside against opponents skilled at breaking throws.

8. Law

In the current patch of Tekken 8, Marshall Law has experienced notable changes that have impacted his gameplay and overall effectiveness. Even so, he’s still one of the fiercest fighters in the game. His playstyle is characterized by quick, aggressive attacks and mix-ups to keep opponents guessing.

The recent patch has simplified the execution of Law’s Dynamic Snake Stance (DSS), making it easier for new players to access. However, long-time players feel this change has lowered the skill ceiling, reducing the complexity that defined Law’s gameplay in previous iterations.

Law’s aggressive playstyle combines fast pokes and powerful mid-attacks to keep opponents on the defensive. His ability to switch between strikes and throws creates a challenging environment for opponents, forcing them to guess correctly to avoid damage.

Many of Law’s traditional tools have been nerfed, leading to a perception that he is weaker compared to other characters. But this is not true. He still has it in and ranks as one of the best fighters in Tekken 8.

7. Ling

Ling is known for her quick movement and evasive maneuvers during fights, which allow her to maintain pressure and create openings against opponents. Her ability to switch between stances and use a variety of lows and mids also makes her a challenging character to predict and defend against. Another one of her perks is her high reliability on precision.

While she is a very competitive fighter in Tekken 8, she has faced some adjustments with the latest patch that have affected her overall effectiveness. These include changes made to some of her moves and their properties, which may impact her combo potential and pressure game. But with all that, she still remains one of the best fighters in Tekken 8.

6. Yoshimitsu

Yoshimitsu is known for his unorthodox moves and stances, which make his gameplay both creative and unpredictable. He mixes high, mid, and low attacks effectively, making it tough for opponents to defend against his offensive patterns. A key feature of his playstyle is his sword techniques. These include high-impact slashes, teleportation, and special attacks that use his sword in unique ways.

However, his unique moves can sometimes leave him open to counterattacks when not executed with precision, especially against aggressive opponents.

5. Jin

Jin Kazama remains a top-tier character in Tekken 8, thanks to his unique playstyle and powerful moves. His well-rounded toolkit makes him formidable in various aspects of the game, from applying pressure to whiff punishing and counter-attacking. Moves like df+1 serve as mid checks, while b+1+3 or b+2+4 can parry high and mid punches, enhancing his defensive options.

Jin can execute varied combo routes, offering options for damage, wall carry, and positioning. His reliable counter-hit options are crucial for punishing opponents effectively.

The latest patches (including v1.05 and v1.07) have introduced adjustments affecting various characters, but Jin has largely remained unchanged. His core strengths and playstyle have been preserved, allowing Jin players to continue using his well-rounded moveset effectively.

However, Jin may struggle against characters with strong mix-ups, unorthodox movements, or relentless pressure. Players need to adapt their strategies based on their opponent’s character and playstyle to maximize Jin’s effectiveness.

4. Alisa

Alisa is a challenging opponent for many players in Tekken 8 due to her OP nature. She has access to a wide variety of attacks, including projectiles, mix-ups, and evasive maneuvers. This allows her to adapt to different situations and matchups effectively.

This character is known for her strong pressure game, fast attacks, and ability to create openings through her mix-up game. Alisa’s ability to transition between stances and utilize unorthodox moves keeps opponents guessing. She can execute varied combo routes, providing options for damage, wall carry, and positioning. Her combos allow her to capitalize on openings and deal substantial damage.

In the v1.04 patch, Alisa received a minor adjustment to her Hertz Blade – Diablo move during Destructive Form (f 1+2). The frame advantage was corrected from displaying +8 frames on block to the actual value of +5 frames on block.

This change is relatively minor and is unlikely to significantly impact Alisa’s overall effectiveness. Her core strengths and playstyle remain intact, allowing players to continue using her versatile moveset effectively. Her main weakness is that Alisa’s attacks can be quite linear, making her predictable at times. This predictability allows opponents to sidestep or evade her attacks effectively.

3. Feng Wei

Coming to our top 3, we have good ol’ Feng Wei. Feng Wei remains a strong character known for his versatile moveset and aggressive playstyle. He is a master of Taijiquan and God Fist Style Chinese Kenpo. His fighting style combines speed, agility, and powerful strikes, making him a formidable opponent at various ranges.

This character is deceptively fast and evasive, using swift stances and quick strikes to pressure opponents. His movement options, including excellent sidesteps, allow him to create openings for devastating attacks. He has a variety of effective pokes that can interrupt opponents and maintain offensive pressure. Plus, his low-launching attacks and strong mid options make him a threat in both close and mid-range combat.

Feng has strong wall-carry capabilities, which allows him to convert hits into significant damage when near walls. He is a well-rounded and powerful character in Tekken 8, capable of applying significant pressure and punishing opponents effectively. While he has some weaknesses, his strengths make him a popular choice among players looking for a character that combines speed, agility, and strong offensive capabilities.

Some of his weaknesses include:

Feng lacks some strong punishment options, which can make him vulnerable when opponents exploit his mistakes.
His sidestep game is also not as robust as some other characters, limiting his defensive capabilities against aggressive playstyles.

2. Nina

Another one of the best fighters in Tekken 8 is Nina. Nina is known for her ability to mix up between fast pokes and powerful throws. This makes her a constant threat, as she can keep opponents guessing and force them into defensive positions.

Nina has several effective punishing moves that allow her to capitalize on her opponents’ mistakes. Her ability to punish unsafe moves effectively can turn the tide of a match. Nina can adapt her playstyle to different situations, whether playing aggressively or defensively. Plus, her moveset allows for a variety of approaches, making her a flexible choice for players.

While the patch notes don’t indicate major nerfs to Nina, the community has expressed some concerns about her viability in the current meta. Some players believe her damage output may have been reduced, but this is not confirmed.

Overall, Nina remains a strong character in Tekken 8 even after patch v1.07. Her unique mix-up potential, solid punishment options, and flexible playstyle continue to make her OP. However, players may need to adapt their strategies slightly to account for any subtle changes in her moveset.

1. Dragunov

The character at the top of our list of the best fighters in Tekken 8 is none other than Dragunov. Dragunov remains a formidable contender thanks to his sneak stance and highly offensive moveset. Additionally, the recent gameplay update has ensured that his core mechanics remain strong, keeping him at the forefront compared to other characters.

Dragunov is known for his aggressive playstyle; one of his most dependable attacks is the Scimitar (d/f2), a mid-level move that creates excellent openings for follow-up combos. He can also use the Counterstrike (u/b 2) to stun opponents on the counter.

Besides, this character excels at applying pressure with powerful, plus-on-block mids and a complete throw game. His ability to keep opponents on the defensive is a key aspect of his playstyle. Plus, he has a variety of strong pokes that can chip away at opponents’ health while maintaining a safe distance.

Dragunov’s combos often lead to significant wall carry and damage output, making him a threat when he gets close to the wall. However, his offensive potential is primarily focused on mids and throws. This can make it easier for opponents to predict and defend against his attacks.

Conclusion

The eighth installment in the Tekken series has received several patches that sometimes affect character behavior since its release. Still, the characters listed above remain the best fighters in the game. Remember, your skill plays an important role when using these characters to face off against other powerful opponents.