After EVO 2023, Street Fighter 6 has gained immense popularity. Over 7000 competitors entered at EVO, the largest number of entrants ever for a Street Fighter game. With so many new players hitting the streets, many for the first time, the main question stands: who to play? Of course, it depends on your play-style. Are you defensive minded or do you want to push the tempo and scrap up close? With this Street Fighter 6 tier list, we hope to answer that question. After taking in the tier lists of many other top players and content creators, along with many hours as a Master player, this is the KeenGamer tier list for Street Fighter 6. Let’s start at the bottom.
Zangief
Sadly, the Russian grappler sits on the bottom of the tier list in Street Fighter 6. This does not mean that he is a bad pick, however. Almost every character has made it to the top 8 of a major tournament so far. The game is very balanced. Zangief struggles in the neutral a lot, and if his opponent chooses to stay away from his range and throw projectiles, there is not much Zangief can do. Many of his moves are plus on block, which can be scary when he is up close and forcing the opponent to block, then mixing in a command grab. His normals actually have good range compared to the rest of the cast as well, but with a below average Drive Rush and slow movement, Zangief is forced to wait for the opponent to move towards him.
Playing Zangief requires immense patience, but if your opponent makes a mistake or doesn’t stop your jump forward, you can deal massive damage. The satisfaction of deleting the opponent’s health bar with three throws makes up for all the hard neutral, but his struggles still weigh him down enough to put him at the bottom of the tier list.
Zangief relies on grapples, which makes him struggle against most of the cast.
Lily
One of the new characters for Street Fighter 6, Lily finds herself at the bottom of the tier list. She relies heavily on her wind stock gimmick, which allows her to dive in from across the screen towards the opponent. This, however, isn’t very safe. If she does not do the overdrive version of her dive, a reaction Drive Impact beats her out and she gets punished heavily for it. If she does the overdrive version, a Drive Reversal can push her right back. And if this happens, she has lost not only some of her Drive gauge, but also her wind stock.
Lily is forced to charge up from across the screen as well, which can easily be punished. Her normals do not have much range, and her command grab pushes her opponent across the screen, which stops Lily from pressuring. Besides some high damaging moves if the opponent does not react properly, Lily is currently not a great pick for most players.
Lily’s struggles to get much pressuring going without her wind stock, which forces her to play away from the opponent.
Jamie
Jamie is one of those characters that, with a few tweaks, can be immensely strong. His pressure game and Drive Rush are very strong, along with a lot of multi-hit moves that can catch an opponent off-guard. But with a low damage output without drinks and a poor neutral, Jamie is forced to the bottom side of the tier list. Jamie has a lot of tools that are found in the stronger characters in the game, such as an invincible reversal, good Drive Rush, and above average movement.
But, most of his strength comes after using drinks, which requires him to stay away from the opponent, which ruins a lot of the pressure he could be pushing. Against fireball characters such as Ken, Jamie has almost no chance of winning because he has to drink and play neutral constantly. He also doesn’t get much reward once he guesses correctly and jumps over a fireball because his moves push the opponent away in order to get a drink instead of pushing pressure.
Jamie has great pressure and some very strong tools. But with a reliance on getting drinks, forcing him to play neutral, he struggles against many characters.
Manon
Another grappler that is towards the lower end of the tier list, Manon has a lot going for her. The medal system that buffs the damage of her command grab can win games very quickly. Playing against Manon can be a guessing game with her mixups up close. However, her neutral leaves much to be desired. Her normals are all very unsafe and can be easily whiff punished.
Even when up close, a lot of her moves are hit by Drive Reversal to throw her back, making her play neutral again. Manon struggles to push close against many characters, and if her approaches get blocked, she gets punished hard. The damage output is scary if she lands enough command grabs, but if Manon is forced to play neutral most of the game, she will lose to most of the cast in Street Fighter 6.
Manon’s poor neutral that can easily be spaced out and whiff punished makes her one of the lower end characters on the roster.
Kimberly
One of the newest and flashiest characters in the game, sadly Kimberly is towards the bottom of the tier list. Her offense can be very pressurizing if you do not know what to do against her. She also has many mixups and a great Drive Rush that can combo into the corner, which can feel impossible to get out of against Kimberly. In the corner, she has mixups with a very strong overhead and a grenade that can add to the offense. With a good dragon punch as well, Kimberly’s neutral is definitely not the weakest part of her game.
The main problem with Kimberly is her risk for reward game is underwhelming. If you read into her game plan, it is easy to stop her approach. Kimberly’s combos are very flowchart, meaning she does the same combos and approach every time without much changes. She will hit you with a low medium kick, Drive Rush, and sprint to push into the corner. If you whiff punish her or mash out of the combo, there isn’t much else she can do. On top of that, even if she gets her combos, she does very little damage. Her main combo that most Kimberly players do does about the same damage as one Gladius from Marisa. The damage is buffed with her level 3 super, but by that time Kimberly might have already lost. Her defense is also very lackluster, and if she is pushed into the corner, she doesn’t have any good reversals to escape.
Kimberly’s quick offense and mixups can be very overwhelming to opponents who are not prepared.
Ryu
The original street fighter, Ryu sits at the lower half of the tier list for the sixth installment. The main problem with Ryu is that he is outshined by his counterpart, Ken, in every fashion. This comparison is so prevalent that it is impossible to recommend playing Ryu when Ken is much stronger. Ryu still is fairly good though. His fireball game is very strong, along with an invincible reversal in Shoryuken, which can combo easily into his level 3 super. Ryu’s neutral is also strong, with quite a few safe pokes that can lead to some good damage. And with corner pressure with throw loops and safe normals is also great, and he can combo into some incredibly powerful combos if the opponent isn’t careful.
Ryu’s linearity holds him back slightly, as in the long run his combos won’t develop too much compared to other similar characters like Luke and Ken. Everything Ryu has is good, but not great. He is a jack of all trades, not being particularly powerful in any part of his game. This doesn’t make Ryu a bad pick, as he can beat any character on the roster if playing well enough, as with any character. But you’re better off picking a higher tier character that overshadows Ryu.
Ryu is very similar to Ken and Luke, which makes him feel overshadowed because of how powerful those characters are in comparison.
E. Honda
The sumo wrestler of Street Fighter, E. Honda sits at around the middle of the tier list. His game plan is very linear, with a lackluster neutral game and no great reversal options. But, the linear game plan is actually very strong and can easily become frustrating for opponents if they are unable to stop it. His headbutt special is his main move for neutral and approaching, but if the opponent cannot perfect parry or reversal it, the move is very safe. On top of that, it does high damage to the Drive Gauge meter, putting opponents in burnout quickly if they aren’t careful. His Sumo Smash is his other tool in neutral, which is plus on block and can be very hard to stop for a lot of characters. Sumo Smash goes straight above opponents, which stops many dragon punches from hitting it.
Of course, E. Honda can be stopped. An opponent can perfect parry his neutral tools, which completely stops any form of approach from E. Honda. His Drive Rush leaves much to be desired, and he does not have many pokes or good normals to throw in neutral. And if pressure is put onto him and he is pushed into the corner, there isn’t much he can do. With E. Honda struggling against opponents who only need to perfect parry to stop him, he cannot go any farther than 13th on the tier list.
E. Honda can be very frustrating for the opponent if his approach options aren’t stopped.
Dhalsim
Dhalsim is incredibly unique, making him one of the harder characters to place on the tier list. His ability to transition from defense to offense is some of the best in the game with teleport, and he surprisingly has some strong offense up close. His defense leaves a bit to be desired though, which may also come as a surprise. He doesn’t play well around the Drive system in Street Fighter 6, as he is very susceptible to Drive Impact with many of his normals. His Drive Rush is also one of the worst in the game, going basically nowhere and he doesn’t have many moves to throw out during Drive Rush. A lack of a good reversal also makes him susceptible to characters who produce a lot of offensive pressure, such as Juri.
Dhalsim’s low popularity hurts the character as there aren’t a lot of players innovating to find out how to push the character to his limits. However, this doesn’t mean that he isn’t strong when played properly. His combos can do a lot of damage when up close with his fire specials. He can also pressure with dive kick, which is very plus on block when done correctly. Dhalsim’s float ability is a great mixup, with some strong aerials that can space out the opponent safely. Currently, Dhalsim sits around the middle of the tier list, but can shoot up with a lot of innovation from players.
Dhalsim might not boast the highest popularity amongst the roster, but is certainly not weak.
Rashid
The first DLC character for Street Fighter 6, Rashid is definitely a strong character pick. Rashid’s offense is very strong, with plenty of mixups in the air and ground that can become overwhelming quickly. His Spinning Mixer special is safe on block, which can surprise opponents who are not familiar with his gameplay. He can push opponents to the corner very easily, and it feels impossible to escape once you’re there, with plenty of high low mixups that can lead to powerful combos. With throw loops, an invincible reversal, and a level 2 super that can win neutral by itself, it is hard to keep up with the Soaring Eagle of the Desert.
Rashid is fairly technical to initially learn to play, with his highest damage combos being locked behind a skill barrier. His Eagle Spike special is also not great, and if blocked, can be punished very hard. His neutral if his offense is stopped is pretty weak, with not many pokes and safe normals to throw out except for his projectile. With this, along with a low popularity at the moment, which stops the character being pushed to his limits, he sits right below the high portion of the tier list.
As the first DLC character for Street Fighter 6, Rashid arrives with fast movement and specials that apply great pressure.
Chun-Li
As one of the most iconic characters in Street Fighter, Chun-Li is on the higher end of the tier list in Street Fighter 6. Boasting one of the best fireballs in the game, which allows for a safe Drive Rush engage, Chun-Li can produce a lot of damage. She has plenty of mixups and combos that keep her above most of the cast, along with an invincible reversal and good supers. Her level 2 super especially is good for damage, as she can continue the combo after the super to push more towards the corner. She also has very good pokes in neutral, which all combo into plenty of damage.
Chun-Li struggles against characters that can make her change from her usual game plan. A character like Guile who can beat her fireball approach and outrange her can really make her struggle. She also lacks a throw loop, which really hurts her corner pressure. Without a strong corner game, it stops her from pushing into the top of the roster on the tier list.
Chun-Li has very strong combos in neutral and a great approach game. But, with a lack of a throw loop in the corner, she struggles to apply pressure constantly.
JP
One of the most unique characters in Street Fighter 6, JP holds a high spot on the tier list. Against many characters, JP can completely dominate the neutral game and keep constant pressure from afar. His pokes are very good, and his combo game is overwhelming at times because of the damage and Drive gauge loss. JP has been one of the most popular characters in tournaments, as his game plan doesn’t change for most of the cast. Apply pressure from afar, and use your strong pokes to keep them in check up close.
The main downside to JP is that if a character can Drive Rush through all of his projectiles and apply constant pressure up close, JP struggles. His only way out of corner pressure is his parry special, but if he misses, he will be punished hard. Characters such as Cammy and Juri are especially strong against JP due to their speed and ability to dive kick and spin around projectiles. With a matchup spread that is very convoluted, JP sits just sniffing the top tier placement.
JP’s ability to pressure from afar and deal damage makes him invalidate many characters in neutral in Street Fighter 6.
Marisa
Sitting in the upper half of the tier list is Marisa, whose damage output alone is frightening. One punch or whiff punish in neutral, and Marisa can delete half of your health bar without spending meter. She also has great range on many of her normals, some of them being safe on block. Along with this, her specials are also powerful combo starters and approach options, allowing Marisa to play many different play styles. She can go on the offense and end games extremely fast, or play neutral and more defensively, focusing on landing pokes to get the offense started. Either way you play her, she does not disappoint.
Marisa suffers from a few problems, but the main ones are weak anti air options and not many reversal options. If the opponent gets up close and starts applying a lot of pressure, Marisa doesn’t have any tools to help her escape. Along with this, not being able to stop jump in very well allows her to get opened up in neutral fairly easily. Characters such as Juri who apply immense pressure up close and can mix in throws around their safe moves are some of Marisa’s worst matchups. With this, Marisa sits right below the top of the roster in Street Fighter 6.
Marisa’s insane damage output can end games quickly, and with a good neutral game on top of that.
Blanka
Not as popular as many other characters in the roster, Blanka is still incredibly strong in Street Fighter 6. His defensive prowess is arguably the best in the game, with an Overdrive reversal that completely invalidates many offensive moves, along with being plus on block. With this alone, Blanka can turn the tables on opponents who believe they are safe after winning a neutral interaction. Alongside this, Blanka’s rolling attack moves completely control the pace of a match. He can be across the screen and decide when to approach, and not many characters have a way to stop this play style. Blanka’s corner pressure is also nothing to be scoffed at, with his bomb, safe moves on block, command grab, and hops that can switch positions with the opponent. And Blanka’s level 2 super is easily the best in the game, powering up his offense to be overwhelming.
The main problem with Blanka is that his neutral leaves a bit to be desired. He doesn’t have many far range pokes that are safe, and his ball move can be parried or dragon punched if they are expected. If an opponent can get a read on when Blanka will use his rolling attacks, he can be beat. With a low popularity, Blanka can catch opponents by surprise by how good he really is.
Blanka might not be as popular as other characters, but he is certainly a very strong pick in Street Fighter 6.
Dee Jay
Certainly one of the harder characters to play, Dee Jay is also one of the most rewarding. One of the strongest fireballs in the game and safe pokes, Dee Jay’s neutral is up with the best in Street Fighter 6. His whiff punish combos are incredibly strong, deleting health bars with one punish counter. His movement and Drive Rush is also extremely good, allowing him to start up offense from anywhere on the screen and mix up constantly when close quarters. One of the most common sayings in the fighting game community is if a character has a fake fireball move, they are very good. And that holds true with Dee Jay.
Dee Jay suffers from having expensive moves to engage strongly. Using an Overdrive fireball and Drive Rush to engage safely costs a lot of Drive Gauge, putting yourself in burnout quickly if not used safely. Along with this, Dee Jay’s Drive Rush combos aren’t incredible, meaning he needs to mostly rely on whiff punish combos for most of his damage. He is also very hard to play for beginners, and takes quite a bit of time to grasp. With this, however, Dee Jay is still a top tier character in Street Fighter 6.
Dee Jay boasts some of the strongest neutral game in Street Fighter 6, along with very damaging combos.
Cammy
At number five on the tier list is Cammy, one of the original Street Fighters. There is not much that isn’t good about Cammy in Street Fighter 6. Her movement is some of the best in the game, with quick specials that add to her speedy offense. Along with this, she has amazing normals and pokes that, when landed, can lead into a combo that goes straight to the corner. To add to the great toolkit already, Cammy has an invincible reversal, dive kick, and throw loops that make staying in the corner against her a death wish. Her level 3 special is one of the best in game, being able to go across the screen and punish a fireball and being a great combo finisher.
The only downside for Cammy is her low damage output if you do not spend her meter and Drive gauge, along with being susceptible to Drive Impact if the opponent reads into Cammy’s pokes. But, with a versatile move set that allows her to change her game plan against specific matchups, Cammy’s downsides don’t bring her down farther than fifth on our Street Fighter 6 tier list.
Cammy’s quick offense and many tools allows her to be able to approach any matchup.
Ken
Easily the most popular character in Street Fighter 6, Ken sits at fourth on our tier list. Ken is a jack of all trades, being extremely good at every aspect of the game. Defensively, his fireball and shoryuken can stuff out many approach options for most characters. Along with this, an invincible reversal and strong pokes to keep the opponent away. But offensively, Ken is one of the best on the roster. With a unique dash special and with his Dragonlash Kick being plus on block, there is no shortage of options for ways to Ken to close the distance. His Drive Rush is also stronger than most, with normals that can start up high-damaging combos if not blocked.
Ken also boasts an extremely strong corner carry combos, and once you’re in the corner, Ken can use throw loops and safe mix-ups with Jinrai Kick to keep the opponent in check. Ken’s only struggle comes from not being able to approach characters that stop him on the ground. A good JP or Guile can shut down Ken’s approach options, forcing him to play their game instead of his own.
Ken has become the most popular character in Street Fighter 6 due to his easy to approach gameplay and powerful moveset.
Juri
Coming in third on the Street Fighter 6 tier list is Juri, who can overwhelm most of the cast with her immense pressure. One projectile launch and a Drive Rush from Juri can invalidate many characters because of how quick and safe her moves are. Easily one of the best fireballs in the game, along with the best dash and Drive Rush in the game, makes Juri able to pressure every character.
Juri also comes with many strong tools, such as an invincible reversal, dive kick, and throw loops that can keep the opponent guessing all match. The only downside to Juri is that she can be walled out by a projectile character such as Guile. Even with this weakness, if she finds a way in, Juri will make the opponent feel helpless at times.
Juri’s pressurizing offense can overwhelm many characters on the roster, with many of them having no escape from her powerful tools.
Luke
Luke has some of the strongest tools in the game, putting him at the top of the tier list for Street Fighter 6. His projectile game is strong, his offense is electric, and his damage output is frightening at times. To add on top of this, his supers are extremely good. His one meter super is the best in the game, beating out jump ins and any projectile coming his way. A lot of his damage output also comes off one whiff punish or one Drive Rush, and once you’re in the corner it is very hard to get out. Luke has every tool a character can be asked for, and is only outshined by one character in Street Fighter 6.
Luke has every tool a player can ask for, and they are very powerful as well. With almost no weakness, it is hard not to see Luke at the top of the tier list.
Guile
With how balanced this game is, it is hard to pick the top character. But Guile makes the strongest case. With a defense second to none, he can make many matchups feel hopeless. His sonic boom and flash kick that have been staples for him for many years are stronger than ever. For many characters, it feels impossible to get in on Guile, and if you mistime a jump to get around the sonic boom, you’ll be eating a flash kick.
Even if you guess correctly and successfully close the distance, he is no pushover up close. His damage output and normals are extremely good, with most combos ending in a flash kick to send you back to neutral. And if you find yourself in burnout, you may as well get ready for the next round. His game plan is simple, but its effectiveness is immense.
Guile sits at the top of the tier list because he invalidates many characters and is seen as the only bad matchup for the other top tier characters.
Conclusion
Street Fighter 6 is a balanced game. Just recently, a Zangief broke out in Capcom Cup Pro Tour to win in the US and Canada West region. No matter what character you choose to play, they can be pushed to beat anyone on the roster. Whether you want the strong defense of a character like Guile, or the hyper offense of Juri, there is a character for anyone. And if a character doesn’t speak to you yet, the DLC characters could. Leave a comment of your opinions on the tier list, and check out our review of Street Fighter 6.
The final tier list for Street Fighter 6 as of August 2023.
