Embarking on the Tekken 8 adventure can seem overwhelming for newcomers, with its vast array of characters and deep combat system. Fear not, as this article aims to guide you through the best characters for beginners, ensuring a smooth entry into the game’s dynamic battles. Whether you’re drawn to the strategic depth or the fast-paced action, we’ve curated a list of fighters that are not only accessible but also fun to play, making your first steps into the Tekken universe as rewarding as they are exciting.
Style Overview: Alisa Bosconovitch stands out in Tekken 8 as a beginner-friendly character, thanks to her unique blend of mobility and powerful technological enhancements. As a cyborg, Alisa brings a futuristic flair to the roster, combining high-speed attacks with the ability to quickly close distances between her and her opponent.
Key Features:
- Mobility: Alisa’s rocket-propelled strikes allow her to approach opponents with ease, making her an excellent choice for players who value agility and speed.
- Chainsaw Stance (Destructive Form): By activating her chainsaw arms, Alisa can unleash devastating damage. This stance is accessible through specific commands or attack strings, adding a layer of versatility to her gameplay.
- Beginner-Friendly Combos: Alisa’s combo potential is significant, with moves like her dashing f2 and d3 serving as effective launchers. Beginners can utilize these to practice chaining attacks together and learning the basics of juggling opponents.
Why Alisa?: Alisa is recommended for beginners due to her straightforward approach options and the forgiving nature of her moveset. Her ability to quickly adapt to various situations with her technological enhancements makes her a formidable character for newcomers to master. Plus, the visual flair of her chainsaw attacks adds an element of fun that can’t be understated.
King: The Grappling Phenomenon
Style Overview: King is a character that embodies the spirit of professional wrestling within the Tekken universe. Renowned for his powerful grappling techniques and throws, King offers a playstyle that is both unique and accessible to beginners. His moveset is designed around his wrestling background, featuring a wide array of throws that can catch opponents off-guard and deal significant damage.
Key Features:
- Grabs and Throws: King’s arsenal is heavily focused on grabs, making him an ideal choice for players who enjoy close-quarters combat. His ability to execute a variety of throws allows for dynamic gameplay that keeps opponents guessing.
- Plus Frames: Many of King’s attacks leave him at an advantage (known as “plus frames”), enabling safe transitions into his powerful throws.
- Beginner-Friendly Strategy: King teaches new players the importance of throws in Tekken, plus frames, wake-up attacks, and grab breaks. His intuitive design means that even those with minimal practice can find success in Ranked Matches.
Why King?: King is recommended for beginners primarily because of his straightforward and impactful playstyle. Learning to utilize his throws effectively can provide a solid foundation in the basics of Tekken’s combat mechanics. Additionally, his strength in every Tekken installment makes him a consistently reliable choice for newcomers.
Azucena: The Agile Contender
Style Overview: Azucena, a newcomer to the Tekken series in Tekken 8, brings a fresh and dynamic fighting style that’s both visually appealing and effective. Her gameplay revolves around agility, rushdown tactics, and a unique auto counter stance that allows her to turn the tide of battle swiftly. Azucena is designed for players who enjoy a fast-paced, aggressive approach, keeping opponents on their toes with a barrage of quick strikes.
Key Features:
- Rushdown and Pressure: Azucena excels at maintaining pressure on her opponents with a series of rapid, chaining attacks. Her ability to close distances quickly and keep the offensive going makes her a constant threat.
- Auto Counter Stance: One of her standout features is her auto counter stance, which automatically responds to incoming attacks, making her a formidable opponent in exchanges.
- Beginner-Friendly Combos: Her combos are intuitive, allowing beginners to execute visually impressive sequences without extensive practice. Azucena’s moves naturally flow into each other, encouraging a fluid and relentless assault.
Why Azucena?: Azucena is recommended for beginners due to her straightforward and rewarding playstyle. Her rushdown approach is not only effective but also teaches new players the importance of maintaining offensive pressure and exploiting openings. Additionally, her auto counter stance provides a safety net that can help mitigate the impact of misjudgments or timing errors.
Victor: The Enigmatic Swordsman
Style Overview: Victor introduces a blend of swordplay and supernatural abilities to Tekken 8, offering a unique and visually striking fighting style. His gameplay is characterized by the use of his sheathed sword for quick, powerful strikes and teleportation abilities that allow for unpredictable movement and attacks. Victor is designed for players who appreciate a character with a mix of traditional and fantastical elements in their combat style.
Key Features:
- Teleportation and Mobility: Victor’s ability to teleport adds a layer of unpredictability to his gameplay, enabling sudden changes in position to surprise opponents or evade attacks.
- Sword-Based Attacks: His swordplay is not only aesthetically pleasing but also effective, with a range of attacks that can catch opponents off guard and deal significant damage.
- Beginner-Friendly Punish String: Victor’s main “bread-and-butter” combo is easy to learn and can be highly effective in Ranked Matches, making him a solid choice for newcomers looking to make an impact.
Why Victor?: Victor is recommended for beginners due to his straightforward yet effective main combo and the advantage his teleportation offers in terms of mobility and surprise attacks. His blend of sword attacks and supernatural abilities provides a fun and engaging playstyle that can be rewarding for players new to Tekken 8.
Paul Phoenix: The Powerhouse
Style Overview: Paul Phoenix is synonymous with raw power in the Tekken series. Known for his devastating punches and straightforward fighting style, Paul is ideal for players who prefer to deal significant damage with each hit. His iconic moves, like the Death Fist, embody the essence of his brute-force approach to combat.
Key Features:
- High Damage Output: Paul’s moves are designed to maximize damage, making every successful hit count.
- Simple Execution: His combo strings and special moves are relatively easy to execute, making him accessible to beginners.
- Versatile Punisher: Paul’s ability to punish mistakes with heavy-hitting moves makes him a constant threat in any match.
Why Paul?: Paul is recommended for beginners due to his uncomplicated move set and the satisfaction of landing high-damage blows. He teaches new players the importance of timing and spacing, as well as how to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes.
Hwoarang: The Kick Master
Style Overview: Hwoarang is Tekken’s resident kickboxer, offering a dynamic and aggressive playstyle centered around his unmatched kicking abilities. His fast-paced, kick-heavy approach makes him an exciting choice for players who enjoy keeping the pressure on their opponents with relentless assaults.
Key Features:
- Diverse Kicking Arsenal: Hwoarang’s moveset is rich with a variety of kicks, allowing for creative and flexible combo chains.
- Stance Switching: Mastery of Hwoarang’s multiple stances can unlock even more devastating attacks and combos.
- Beginner Accessibility: While Hwoarang has depth for advanced players, beginners can still enjoy success by utilizing his basic kicks and combos.
Why Hwoarang?: Hwoarang is recommended for beginners attracted to fast, aggressive playstyles. His kick-focused approach is not only effective but also helps new players understand the importance of pressure and mix-ups in Tekken.
Jin Kazama: The Balanced Fighter
Style Overview: Jin Kazama is the face of the Tekken series, known for his well-rounded fighting style that combines traditional karate with the Mishima family’s signature techniques. His balanced approach makes him an excellent choice for beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of Tekken without relying too heavily on gimmicks.
Key Features:
- Versatility: Jin’s moveset is diverse, offering a mix of speed, power, and range. This versatility allows him to adapt to various situations and opponents.
- Mishima Techniques: While Jin has distanced himself from the Mishima style in narrative, he retains access to powerful moves like the Electric Wind God Fist and Hell Sweep, albeit with his unique twist.
- Beginner to Advanced: Jin is designed to be accessible for beginners but also has depth for those who wish to delve deeper into the game’s mechanics, making him a character that players can grow with.
Why Jin?: Jin is recommended for beginners due to his straightforward yet effective moves and the balanced nature of his fighting style. He serves as a solid foundation for learning Tekken’s combat system, offering a blend of offense and defense that can cater to various playstyles.
Leo Kliesen: The Versatile Brawler
Style Overview: Leo Kliesen offers a straightforward yet effective fighting style that is accessible to beginners while still offering depth for more experienced players. With a balanced mix of strong, easy-to-execute attacks and a variety of mix-ups, Leo is well-suited for players looking to master the fundamentals of Tekken with a character that can adapt to many situations.
Key Features:
- Easy Execution Mixups: Leo’s strength lies in the simplicity of executing mixups, allowing players to easily confuse opponents with a blend of high, mid, and low attacks without needing intricate knowledge of the entire move list.
- Baji Quan Techniques: Utilizing the Chinese martial art Baji Quan, Leo’s moves are powerful and have a natural flow, making it easy for beginners to chain attacks together.
- Stance Transitions: Leo’s ability to transition into different stances mid-combo allows for creative and unpredictable fighting strategies, providing a layer of depth for players to explore as they become more comfortable with the game.
Why Leo?: Leo is recommended for beginners due to the character’s balanced approach to fighting, combining ease of use with the potential for complex play. The straightforward execution of Leo’s moves and the versatility of the character’s fighting style make Leo a great choice for learning the ins and outs of Tekken.
Leroy Smith: The Stylish Counterattacker
Style Overview: Leroy Smith brings a unique blend of Wing Chun and street fighting styles to Tekken 8, making him a standout choice for players who appreciate a character with both style and substance. Known for his impressive counterattacking capabilities and easy-to-learn moveset, Leroy is ideal for beginners who want to focus on defensive strategies while still being able to dish out significant damage.
Key Features:
- Counterattacking Prowess: Leroy excels at turning his opponents’ aggression against them with a variety of parries and counters, making him a formidable opponent in defensive play.
- Simple Input Moves: His moveset is designed to be accessible, with straightforward inputs that allow beginners to execute powerful attacks without complex button combinations.
- Versatile Parry Mechanic: Leroy’s ability to parry almost any attack with his well-timed b+2 gives him a unique edge in battles, offering players a chance to swing the momentum in their favor with smart defensive play.
Why Leroy?: Leroy is recommended for beginners due to his intuitive and rewarding playstyle that emphasizes timing and defense over aggressive onslaughts. His stylish moves and effective counterattacks make him a satisfying character to play, offering a sense of mastery as players learn to anticipate and neutralize opponents’ moves.
Emilie De Rochefort (Lili): The Elegant Assailant
Style Overview: Lili, known for her grace and agility, brings a unique blend of elegance and combat prowess to the Tekken series. Her fighting style, characterized by acrobatic kicks and fluid movements, makes her a formidable opponent in the right hands. Lili’s gameplay is accessible to beginners due to her straightforward move set and the intuitive flow of her attacks, which can easily chain together for impressive combos.
Key Features:
- Agility and Range: Lili excels in mobility, allowing her to dance around opponents with ease. Her attacks often have good range, enabling her to strike from a distance before closing in for more elaborate combos.
- Powerful Backturn Stance: One of Lili’s unique aspects is her effective use of a backturned stance, from which she can launch a variety of attacks, keeping opponents guessing and opening them up for further assault.
- Beginner-Friendly: With a move set that’s easy to pick up but challenging to master, Lili is perfect for beginners looking to make a quick impact while still having room to grow and refine their skills.
Why Lili?: Lili is recommended for beginners who prefer a character that combines style with effectiveness. Her ability to control the pace of the match with her agility and range, coupled with the depth offered by her backturned stance, makes her a great choice for those looking to learn Tekken’s mechanics without sacrificing the fun of executing visually stunning moves.
To wrap it up: Tekken 8’s roster is beginner-friendly with characters like Alisa, King, and others, offering a great mix of styles and simplicity. These picks help new players get a solid start while providing room to grow. Dive in, experiment, and find your favorite to master the art of Tekken combat.
