Fighting Game Characters That Are Always Top Tier

Highlights

Street Fighter 3’s Twelve may look neat, but his weak attacks make him an easy target for punishment by stronger characters.
Characters like Fox McCloud, Heihachi Mishima, and Geese Howard consistently dominate in multiple fighting games, reaching the top tiers.
Iconic characters like Iori Yagami, Smoke, and Magneto have proven themselves to be strong contenders with their abilities across various games.

I’ve had the pleasure of watching and playing the evolution of some truly remarkable fighters throughout my long years as a gaming enthusiast. And let me tell you, these ten characters have left indelible marks on the fighting game scene.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve noticed that fighting games boast an impressive array of characters – from graceful schoolgirls to colossal beasts. However, their visually appealing designs won’t save them if they don’t play well. Twelve from Street Fighter 3: Third Strike is a prime example of eye-catching animation. Yet, his attacks deal insignificant damage and leave him vulnerable to retaliation from other fighters on the roster.

In the game, he consistently experiences bad fortune, whereas other characters frequently excel and appear unbeatable. Though they may have had a few mediocre performances, they’re typically dominating forces, ranking among the best in most gaming scenarios, whether it be A-rank or even higher tiers.

1 Fox McCloud

Soaring Up The Ladder

Fighting Game Characters That Are Always Top Tier

Highest Tier: S (Super Smash Bros Melee)
Lowest Tier: C (Super Smash Bros Brawl)

There’s a reason the Melee tournament rules “Fox Only, No Items, Final Destination” became a meme. Fox McCloud was already good in Smash 64 at A tier, but Melee upped his speed, gave him high-damaging combos, had specials that aided his recovery and could reflect projectiles, and many other advantages that made up for his short reach.

In the sequels, Fox’s strength lessened significantly, especially noticeable in “Brawl,” as he fell to the lower end of the Starfox team at C tier. His attacks lacked effectiveness on shield and left him vulnerable to heavy knockback. However, Fox regained his power in “Smash 4,” moving up to A Tier once more, and eventually reaching S-Tier in “Ultimate.” The reduced lag time and increased speed in these games better suited his abilities.

2 Heihachi Mishima

As Immortal In Battle As He Is In Lore

Highest Tier: S (Tekken 1, Tekken Tag Tournament 1-2, Tekken 5, T5: Dark Resurrection)
Lowest Tier: C (Tekken 7)

After defying death through falls from cliffs, being hurled through buildings, explosions, and heart attacks followed by a dip in lava, Heihachi Mishima is set to make an appearance in Tekken 8. With M. Bison and the Orochi team from King of Fighters 15, it seems that reviving malevolent characters is becoming a trend. At this pace, Geese Howard may resurface in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

In an interview with Edge magazine, Katsuhiro Harada, the series director, clarified that they didn’t intentionally make Heihachi overpowered (OP) for Tekken games. Surprisingly, he was the strongest character in the first game, and remained a top-tier fighter in Tekken 2 to Tag 1 and T5-TTT2. However, his power level dipped in T4 and T7, making him a mid-tier character. It remains to be seen if he’ll return to being mid-tier in Tekken 8.

3 Geese Howard

Capable Of The Foulest Beatings

Highest Tier: S (SVC: SNK Vs Capcom Chaos, Tekken 7, Capcom vs SNK 2, KOF ’98: UM, KOF 2002: UM)
Lowest Tier: B (Fatal Fury Special, KOF 14-15)

Regarding Geese Howard, the infamous “bird man” gained such notoriety that he made an appearance as a guest character in Tekken 7. He rules supreme in SVC: SNK vs Capcom Chaos’ latest version, renowned for his dominating projectiles, mastery of midair navigation, effective counters, intricate combo attacks, and infinite combinations, making him virtually unbeatable. Other games have attempted to subdue his power, but he remains untouchable, much like Iori, who has never dipped below the mid-tier rank.

He has the ability to bridge the gap with a spinning kick, prevent attacks with Reppuken barrages, and respond to incorrect strikes with reversals. Certain games enable him to lift opponents for a throw, while his Raising Storm can be utilized both defensively and as a powerful counter-air move. Regardless of his role, he remains the dominant figure.

4 Iori Yagami

Moody And Magnificent

Highest Tier: S (KOF ’95, ’97-’98, 2002, 13 as EX Iori, 14-15)
Lowest Tier: B (KOF ’99, 2003, SVC: SNK Vs Capcom Chaos)

Iori Yagami has been a prominent figure in numerous fighting games since “KOF ’95.” It might be more efficient to mention the titles where he didn’t feature, as his performance is generally strong. His weakest rank is B, which still makes him an effective player. Even in the latest installment, “KOF 15,” Iori is among the game’s strongest characters.

Among the distinctive characters in the KOF series, he stands out not only for his eye-catching design but also for his versatility as a well-rounded shot character. His offensive moves come naturally to him, yet his arsenal is varied enough to execute close attacks, set up mixups and crossups, and maintain distance with mid-range strikes. Although he may not claim the top spot in the game, he consistently ranks among the best.

5 Smoke

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire

Highest Tier: S (Mortal Kombat 3, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Mortal Kombat: Deception, Mortal Kombat 2011, Mortal Kombat 1)
Lowest Tier: B (Mortal Kombat: Armageddon)

Many people are frequently engaged in debate over who is the finest ninja character in the Mortal Kombat (MK) game series, be it Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile or even Smoke. While some may argue based on tier rankings, Smoke merits strong consideration due to his unique attribute – having both human and robot forms. Admittedly, he boasts a higher win rate with the dual forms. However, in the earlier versions of MK3 and Deception, his tag team partnership with Noob Saibot elevated his robot mode to great heights. Nevertheless, as a standalone character, Smoke proved more effective in his human form.

In UMK3 and MKT, he played the role of a quicker, more subdued alternative to Scorpion. He would assault his opponent with a rapid succession of attacks, cornering them, and then disappear using a teleport punch. If things got too hot for him, he’d use keep-away tactics. His later human appearances saw a decrease in intensity, but his aggressive playstyle continued to rule the roost in MK9 and MK1 online matches.

6 Magneto

Magnetically Drawn To The Top

Highest Tier: S (X-Men Vs Street Fighter, MvC2, MvC3, UMvC3)
Lowest Tier: B (Marvel Super Heroes)

I remember back in Disney’s early 2010s, when I was deeply engrossed in the Marvel Vs Capcom gaming community, I fiercely advocated for the inclusion of Sentinel, Storm, and Magneto in Marvel Vs Capcom 3. Their renown from Marvel Vs Capcom 2 made them fan favorites, and I didn’t want to miss out on their presence in the new game. The rebalancing process brought Weather Goddess and Purple Robot back in line, but Magnetism Master himself remained unbeaten.

Despite not using his special defensive techniques, his quick movements left his adversaries disoriented. If he wasn’t confusing them with his fast attack combinations, he was drawing them closer with his Hyper-Grav projectiles for powerful combos or super moves like Magnetic Tempest and Gravity Squeeze. The X-Men found it challenging to keep up with him.

7 Devil Jin

The True Power Of The Dark Side

Highest Tier: S (Tekken 3–Tekken Tag Tournament 1 as Jin, Tekken 5, T5: Dark Resurrection, Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Tekken 7)
Lowest Tier: A (Tekken 6, Tekken 8)

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that while Heihachi is strong, he’s not the absolute best. In T3, he combined the moves of Kazuya and Jun, creating something unique that made him the top non-boss character. But in Tag 1, he surpassed them all by shedding his special techniques and reverting to regular karate. However, in T4 and T5, he fell from being a formidable threat to just being mid tier.

When he succumbed to the dark side, Devil Jin reverted to his old ways and added more flight, lasers, and quick dashes, making him a formidable opponent. In every game since his introduction as a playable character, Devil Jin has been among the top-tier fighters due to his ability to overpower enemies from any distance. However, mastering his techniques can be quite challenging for players.

8 Kabal

Striking Fear In His Opponents’ Hearts

Highest Tier: S (Mortal Kombat 3, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Mortal Kombat 2011, Mortal Kombat 11)
Lowest Tier: A (Mortal Kombat: Deception, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon)

In every fighting game, perfect balance doesn’t exist, and balance isn’t enough to ensure excitement or enjoyment. Take, for instance, “Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3.” Despite its flaws, it remains a favorite due to its quick pace and intriguing combo sequences. Among these characters, the masked gangster, Kabal, is particularly noteworthy, capable of stunning opponents with a swift dash.

In UMK3, Midway aimed to make him more balanced after his devastating speed traps and jump kick-projectile combos turned him into a formidable force in MK3. However, their efforts backfired, and he became the top character instead. Neither Midway nor Netherrealm Studios have managed to tame him down since then. He has consistently remained a high-tier character, with MK9 being no exception and making him just as overpowered as before.

9 Diddy Kong

The Prime Primate

Highest Tier: S (Super Smash Bros for Wii U/3DS)
Lowest Tier: A+ (Super Smash Bros Brawl)

In simpler terms, at least three appearances across different games are required for a character to be considered a recurring one, avoiding the perception of being insignificant or cheap. With this criterion, Diddy Kong from Donkey Kong makes the cut.

When I first stepped into the arena of Brawl, I was relegated to the bottom end of the A+ tier due to my agility, impressive combo capabilities, and unique banana peel attacks that left opponents slipping up. But in Smash 4, I really came into my own with enhanced reach and strength, earning me the title as the best non-DLC character that players had to pay extra for, like Cloud and Bayonetta. In Ultimate, despite some exploitable weaknesses, I managed to secure a spot in the S-rank and remained among the top ten best characters in the game.

10 Zero

Truly A Mega Man

Highest Tier: S+ (SVC: SNK vs Capcom Chaos, Tatsunoko Vs Capcom, Marvel Vs Capcom 3, Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3, Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite)
Lowest Tier: N/A

In various fighting games, Zero, being the quintessential character, consistently stands out with superior abilities. He is equipped with a sword that grants him an extensive reach for regular attacks. Furthermore, he boasts numerous combination strikes, such as his midair “Pizza Cutter” spinning assault. Additionally, he possesses an array of super moves to inflict greater damage, including Sougenmu install and Rekkouha.

An intriguing detail that is not commonly recognized is that he began as a lethal character in SVC, with his design from Megaman Zero being utilized instead of his Megaman X appearance. In this version, he boasts quicker, long-range assaults, the ability to dodge projectiles using slides, and the capacity for endless combos through his “Pizza Cutter” technique. Additionally, he is endowed with an Exceed boost and Cyber Elf traps, making him a hero regardless of the game.

2024-07-24 04:34