Fighting game fans love a good tier list, and for newcomers, it's a neat resource to figure out who they want to play based on different factors. Despite Street Fighter 6 being out for a few days, there are plenty of opinions regarding its roster already. To work out the best characters to use, we've put together a Street Fighter 6 tier list.
With a total of 18 characters at launch, the gameplay variety is amazing. You have classic grapplers like Zangief or Manon, bruiser powerhouses like Marisa, the classic shoto-style fighters in Ryu, Ken, and Luke, charge characters like Chun-Li or Guile, and many more.
- Read more: How to Drive Rush in Street Fighter 6
We figured, why not have some fun ourselves and put an early Street Fighter 6 tier list.
Street Fighter 6 tier list - Best characters ranked
For this list, we'll consider ease of use a bit more than others, since there's little point in declaring characters as the absolute best at this time since the meta is developing by the hour with pros finding new tech every time we pop on social media.
Having said that, some fighters are clear standouts for a variety of reasons we'll explain and we feel confident enough to somewhat accurately try to predict how things will pan out in the coming months.
Still, it's always worth noting that tier lists are highly subjective and sometimes we get it wrong. Let's begin.
Let's quickly run through why we believe each character belongs in each tier.
S tier characters
S tier characters
JP has emerged as the most powerful character in Street Fighter 6, solidifying his position as both the antagonist in the game's storyline and within the player community. He has garnered considerable controversy for being the first character of his archetype.
Luke players have been dominating the pro circuit, with a significant presence in top 8 appearances during the Capcom Pro Tour. Nearly a quarter of all players who qualified for Capcom Cup X are Luke mains. Moreover, he boasts the best level 1 SA. What truly sets Luke apart as one of the game's top characters is his lack of weaknesses and absence of bad matchups. With a straightforward kit and a clear iteration of the Shoto archetype, Luke proves to be a formidable force in the game.
A tier characters
A tier characters
These characters are exceptionally strong and hold just as much competitive viability as the top 3. They are not constrained by weaknesses but rather fall just short of the potential seen in the S+ tier characters.
Ken Masters is a renowned character in Capcom's Street Fighter series. His aim is to continually challenge his strength against a variety of opponents, relentlessly striving for improvement. Known for his mastery of Shoryuken techniques, Ken has established himself as not only one of the top characters in Street Fighter 6, but also one of the most widely favored among players.
Chun-Li employs lightning-fast strikes and exceptional mobility to assert control over matches. Her versatile fighting style enables seamless transitions between offense and defense, ensuring her opponents are constantly kept on their toes.
Cammy possesses a wide array of powerful tools in her arsenal. Her exceptional speed, coupled with extended range on her strong normals, sets her apart from many other characters. Additionally, moves like Spiral Arrow allow her to punish opponents from a considerable distance. With techniques such as Spin Knuckle to cross up opponents or gain advantage on block, Cammy's offense is both potent and versatile.
Despite receiving nerfs since the betas of Street Fighter 6, Guile remains a formidable fighter, arguably second only to Luke in terms of sheer power. His Sonic Boom is an exceptional low-recovery fireball, granting him effortless control over space and outmatching other fireballs when charged. Additionally, his Flashkick stands as one of the most reliable invincible reversals in SF6, while his defensive capabilities are unparalleled.
Juri boasts one of the most potent ground games in Street Fighter 6, arguably unrivaled in strength. With a plethora of outstanding normals, many of which can be canceled into Drive Rush, she dominates the battlefield. Her crouching medium kick serves as a formidable poking tool, while her standing medium punch stands out as one of the few normals that offer an advantage on block.
B tier characters
B tier characters
Rashid falls just shy of the more prominent S-tier picks, yet he continues to showcase his potential since his debut as the first DLC character added to the roster. He has proven himself formidable, particularly when equipped with his whirlwind Level 2 SA, Ysaar, granting him significant offensive and defensive capabilities.
Rashid's extensive arsenal of movement and mixup tools compels his opponents into rapid decision-making situations, constantly keeping them on their toes.
Meet Marisa, everyone's beloved Muscle Mommy! With her unmatched damage output, she earns the title of the comeback queen. Regardless of how dire her health situation may appear, Marisa is always just one or two hits away from turning the tide and securing victory in the round.
Blanka exemplifies the excellent balance achieved in SF6. With the right opportunity, Blanka-chan provides him with immensely strong and safe offensive pressure, along with the ability to execute high-damage juggle combos.
C Tier
C Tier Characters
Dhalsim's zoning proves challenging for many opponents due to their limited experience facing him. Despite being at the bottom of the usage rate, Dhalsim warrants greater recognition. He is a formidable pick with plenty of potential for further optimization. It's possible we'll witness him climbing the tier list in the future.
Lily emerges as the standout victor in the 2024 meta. Initially, she was widely regarded as either the weakest or second weakest character in the roster. Her shortcomings stem from weak normals in neutral, the necessity to build stocks, and a rather straightforward game plan.
Kimberly has faced challenges since her significant nerfing from the beta version upon the launch of SF6. Despite boasting a diverse array of special moves for mixing up her approach and offensive pressure, many of her attacks have lengthy startup animations, making them susceptible to reaction based on visual cues.
D tier Characters
D tier Characters
Ryu boasts a few notable representatives, such as EndingWalker, who has secured qualification for Capcom Cup X. However, he faces several weaknesses that prevent him from becoming a dominant force in the current Street Fighter iteration.
Ryu lacks the overpowered normals seen in characters like Ken and Luke, while his Drive Rush is notably sluggish. Additionally, the requirement to build and store Denjin charges poses significant obstacles for Ryu. Nonetheless, he remains a popular choice for casual play and offers a plethora of impactful combos.
Introducing the formidable ballerina judoka, Manon! She has received widespread acclaim for introducing a fresh perspective on the grappler archetype in the Street Fighter series. With her unique medal system, she can accumulate power to unleash the strongest non-Super Art move ever witnessed.
Meet the Red Cyclone, beloved by his most loyal fans! Zangief's enduring appeal lies in his perpetual underdog status. The fear he instills in opponents with his formidable grabs is his greatest asset.
Zangief faces an uphill battle to close the distance on his adversaries. However, once he manages to do so, many of his attacks reset both players to opposite ends of the screen, reigniting the struggle anew.
F tier Characters
F tier Characters
Her slow fireball can serve as a potent tool for Drive Rush or to Sinister Slide behind opponents, but it suffers from the same drawback of an extremely slow startup. Additionally, A.K.I. faces challenges due to weak normals for footsies, and her only escape tool, OD Snake Step, is vulnerable to throws.
A.K.I. could greatly benefit from more representatives to explore and optimize her kit usage. Broski has demonstrated strong performances with her in the pro scene, so it's premature to count A.K.I. out just yet!
Although Honda players have achieved moderate success in the Capcom Cup Pro Tour, his potential for further development appears limited. He heavily relies on gimmicks and faces consistently unfavorable matchups against every top-tier character in SF6.
Let's take a moment to acknowledge Jamie's plight. Regrettably, Jamie holds the title for the weakest character in SF6. His most glaring weakness is evident from the start: at zero drinks, Jamie starts every match with a 10% damage reduction.
To offset this drawback, Jamie must sacrifice all offensive pressure to consume each drink. His design forces him to repeatedly win neutral exchanges, all while contending with some of the worst frame data and hitboxes in the game. A comparison between his dive kick and Cammy's illustrates the stark contrast between a high-tier and low-tier character.
And that's it! We have way more content for you to check out, including some Street Fighter 6 beginner tips!