Capcom has done it again with Street Fighter 6, offering a plethora of fighters that make it the most approachable game in the series yet. But who among the new and classic characters are the best? While it’s impossible to definitively answer that question, we’ve attempted to rank them all with our Street Fighter 6 Tier List: All characters ranked.
Selection Criteria
Every Tier List needs a theme, and for this one, we’re ranking every character on their ability to climb the ranks online. Of course, this is just our opinion, and as the game evolves, these rankings will change to reflect new trends and player habits. Ultimately, this list is just for fun. So, don’t let it stop you from selecting your favorite fighter.
For those still trying to figure out the game’s control scheme, check out our handy guide to explain everything you need to know.
S-Tier
Dee-Jay makes it to the top of the S-Tier list thanks to his impressive move list. His OD Air Slasher (charge B, F+PP) is a lightning fast double fireball that makes your average fireball user green with envy. In addition, his strong pokes are fairly safe, his Juggling Dash makes Dee-Jay invincible to projectiles, and his combo damage is absolutely terrifying. Dee-Jay has it all and makes dancing through the ranks a breeze.
Guile is a classic Street Fighter character who is still a defensive monster with a ton of ways to bully and frustrate opponents who try to close in on him. This powerful fighter with solid defense is oppressive just by existing and can dictate the pace of fights while feeding off of his opponent’s impatience and hasty specials as long as you’re okay with mastering charge inputs.
JP is a ‘zoner’ fighter with the ability to dominate the long-range game. He excels in damage from afar and keeps opponents at that optimal range. Even if opponents gut close, JP has multiple ways of resetting the fight and is equipped with a counterattack (Amnesia) to deal with close-range foes, making it a deadly fighter perfect for dancing through the ranks.
At the time of writing, Ken is the most played character in the game and the most popular character among the top 1000 players as well. Ken has everything you could want from a fighter in Street Fighter 6. He’s a ‘Shoto,’ so he has the tools to deal with every scenario, and can exert a ton of pressure with specials like his Jinrai Kick. Ken also boasts a ton of decent moves in neutral, and his Triple Flash Kicks and Chin Buster target combos are straight-up nasty. Compared to Ryu, this fighter has it all and can blow up players with a very aggressive play style.
Lastly, Manon is controversially placed so high, but for now, Manon earns her spot in S Tier with great range, excellent pokes, and a ridiculous throw mechanic. Her command throw ‘Manege Dore’ is the reason she earns a Medal every time she uses it. With five medals, Manon’s throws do more damage than Zangief’s and persist for the entire match. However, as players become more familiar with her gameplay style, it’s expected for her to see a decrease in ranking.
A-Tier
Cammy is one of the most popular fighters in the game, but we don’t believe she yields the strongest fighter title. She needs to work for her damage, and while her Hooligan Combination gives her various options, she can be easily punched out of it.
Juri is a dangerous fighter who narrowly misses the S-Tier due to her being trickier to use. She has excellent normals, and simple combos like Crouching Heavy Punch into Tensenrin (DP+P) do obnoxious amounts of damage. Juri has to manage Fuha stocks to enhance a few of her specials and is not totally reliant on them, causing a little bit of a learning curve, but it’s worth it in the end.
Kimberly is a monster up close with all the tools she needs to get in and stay there. Her Sprint (QCF+K) is an excellent gap closer and even has many useful extensions. Hidden Variable (QCB+P) is a superb teleport ability, and she boasts a breakneck walk speed.
Similar to Luke’s all-rounder status, this fighter does not have any significant weakness and has solid normals to boot.
B-Tier
Blanka is a classic character in the series who is great at getting in opponents’ faces and inflicting damage. His electrifying moves work great in up-close-and-personal situations, but once you get a strong player coming after him, Blanka tends to fall apart. He needs work in managing his resources, like the V-meter, and using creative combinations to keep the players coming.
Chun-Li is a fighter known for her agility and quick movements. However, her lightning-fast kicks come at the cost of striking power compared to fighters like Dee-Jay. Still, if you get a Chun-Li player with good skill and quick decision-making, this fighter can excel in many games.
E. Honda is a character that should be familiar to series veterans. He’s not the best fighter in Street Fighter 6, admittedly, but his Hundred Hand Slap and Sumo Headbutt still pack a punch.
Ryu, one of the most played and recognized characters in the entire Street Fighter series, finds himself ranking significantly lower in Street Fighter 6 compared to his past game performances.
C-D Tier
Moving into C through D tier, our list includes fighters like F.A.N.G, Lucia, and Poison. While these fighters have decent moves and respectable damage output, most of them lack mobility, and their moves are slow and predictable compared to higher-ranking fighters.
Tier List Explanations
As mentioned earlier, this Tier List will be updated as trends will change and player habits evolve. Capcom and other developers may also make minor balancing tweaks to the game through updates, so don’t expect this ranking to remain the same forever.
While impressions are important and fun to argue about, it’s ultimately up to you to decide what fighter you’re most comfortable with and want to play with the most. We hope our list provides you with a good starting point to find the fighter that works best for your playstyle in Street Fighter 6.