Top 10 Best Tekken Characters

Hey Tekken fans, get ready for a nostalgia trip back to 1994. When we first got introduced to the iconic world of Tekken and felt that electric feeling when you first laid your hands on the controller and chose from a roster of characters so diverse, they could make the UN look like a high school club. From the Mishima Zaibatsu empire to cold-blooded assassins, android wonders, and even a boxing kangaroo, Tekken has it all.

So, who's the GOAT in Tekken? Is it about landing that perfect EWGF with Kazuya? Is it about going through the emotional rollercoaster of Hwoarang's and Jin's friendship? Or maybe it's about those characters that became cultural phenomena, like Yoshimitsu, who's got more blade tricks than a Swiss army knife. The truth?
The Top Ten
1 Jin Kazama Jin Kazama is a fictional character and main protagonist of the Tekken series released by Namco Bandai Games.

Considering that he won two of the Iron Fist tournaments, Jin is the best, based on facts and statistics. Heihachi also won two tournaments, but since Jin won the fifth and most recent one, he is the best, and Heihachi is the second best. Kazuya won the first tournament, making him the third best.

The fourth best is Paul because he lost the 3rd King of Iron Fist Tournament after not realizing Ogre would transform into True Ogre. He left, and Jin took advantage of this to win. The fifth best is Hwoarang because he is Jin's nemesis and is evenly skilled. He most likely hasn't won a tournament yet because he is not in the Mishima bloodline.

I love Jin. He may not have a very diverse moves list in comparison to many other Tekken characters, but I believe that's part of what makes him such an intriguing fighter. He's very much a technical character, and dominating with Jin requires true mastery. An almost comprehensive study of his fighting style. Button-mashing with Jin will more often than not produce poor results. On top of this, his storied history - his fight with the devil within, his hatred for his father and grandfather, and his iconic "unfortunate protagonist" character theme - make for a loyal fan base.

2 Kazuya Mishima Kazuya Mishima is a fictional character in Bandai Namco's Tekken fighting game series, first featured as the protagonist in the original 1994 game.

Kazuya Mishima is the most badass player in the game. I used to be a Law player, but he sucked. I have a friend, and his favorite character is Devil Jin. He says he is good because of his wings and better combos, but he is wrong because Devil Jin sucks. Not only is Kazuya amazing, but he also looks badass too. His combos are awesome, and so are his basic attacks. His super combos are amazing too. He really can't die when you watch the main storyline. He is just 100% better than anyone else in the game. I don't know why he is ranked number 4.

A proud fighter with ruthless aggression who should rightfully get his way, as Tekken seems to screw him every time. He may be a power-hungry maniac whose desire to kill and conquer is somewhat sadistic, but he still has the coolest taunts, moves, and quotes. He makes Jin just look like your average stereotypical good guy who, in this day and age, is totally unrealistic. Let him dragon uppercut his way back to the top or forever feel the wrath of the devil within...

3 Emilie De Rochefort Emilie De Rochefort, better known under her nickname, Lili, was introduced in Tekken 5 : Dark Resurrection and has returned for all subsequent titles. When she debuted, Lili was described as a rich shallow girl from Monaco, who uses her skills in dance to fight in her own street fighting style. Lili has become one of the most popular characters in the series despite her relatively recent introduction... read more

Lili is proof that you don't always have to be an angsty, brooding teenager, a psycho, or a complete jerk to kick ass in a fighting game. She somehow manages to be spoiled and loud yet strong and intelligent (she created her own martial art, people!) at the same time. Sure, some of the supposedly stronger or more mature characters in Tekken look down on her, but she's one of the only characters who actually invented their own fighting style. This style seems to work as well as all the traditional martial arts used by the supposedly stronger characters.

She has a well-rounded character, not only with her fighting style that looks practically graceful but also her personality and story add to her abilities. She seems to have motives behind what she does. It also helps that her rivalry with Asuka provides for some pretty comical cut-scenes between the two. Lili was an amazing addition, and to think she is one of the newer characters to be added to the franchise and yet she has still made a name for herself.

4 King

As a kid, one of the first games I remember playing was Tekken 3, and upon reaching the character select screen, one portrait caught my eye. That was King, and ever since, he has been my main go-to fighter. The formula for me is perfect, combining my love of fighting games with my passion for pro wrestling - perfection.

I love King's story. He's so honorable and likable as a character. How could anyone hate this guy? He's practically a saint. Gameplay-wise, his pro wrestling background helps create such a varied offense, and each move looks incredible and very genuine. It helps when the motion capture was done by Japanese pro wrestling legend Minoru Suzuki.

I could go on more about King, but I'll cut it here. I love this character.

King is a boss in every way possible. Hell, just look at the name! Let's make this clear, King is the epitome of a good guy in the Tekken franchise. He protects his master's honor, donates any and all wealth he gets to impoverished children, and personally owns, funds, and oversees the running of a Catholic orphanage. He does all this while being a pro wrestler, and even finds the time to teach the orphans self-defense. Proof of this is that the current King was an orphan raised in the original King's orphanage, determined to carry on the name.

He's a luchador, with a healthy mix of MMA thrown in, and he is the perfect combination of powerful and quick, and agile. Like I said before, just read the name. King.

5 Hwoarang

Hwoarang is an absolute badass. Whether we're talking about his looks, style, story, bad-boy personality, or charisma, Hwoarang's got it all. Gameplay-wise, he probably has the most combo variety of any character in the entirety of Tekken. He's got speed, strength, precision, range, and so much variety.

Countless world-class professional Tekken players have said that this character likely ranks in the highest tier in the game, if not the best. Hwoarang is the most difficult character to master in Tekken and requires a lot of high-level skill. But once you master him, no one will really be able to stop you with Hwoarang.

I seriously recommend this character to anybody out there playing. Believe me when I say you will fall in love. #HwoarangForNumber1

Alright, why is Jin in first place? What the hell. Wake up, people! Alright, I will admit, Jin is really strong, and he's the main character and all that good jazz. But guys, remember! Hwoarang beat Jin in the Tekken 6 Iron Fist Tournament. Yeah, you heard me right. Hwoarang beat Jin. So why the hell is Jin in first place? Like, I don't understand.

Alright, let me get right to the point. First of all, Hwoarang is the hardest character in Tekken. He's the kicking machine and has the most combos in the game. And by the way, if anyone hasn't watched Hwoarang's Tekken 6 ending, I suggest you watch it now. It's basically Hwoarang holding the Devil Pearl, and slowly turning into a devil Hwoarang. But he dropped the pearl and decided not to become a devil. Just imagine, Devil Hwoarang.

So Hwoarang beat Jin. Then Jin turned into Devil Jin and beat Hwoarang. And then, imagine Hwoarang turning into Devil Hwoarang! He would just toy with Jin, mate. Done.

6 Nina Williams Nina Williams is a fictional character from Namco's Tekken fighting game series. A cold-blooded Irish professional assassin, Nina made her first appearance in Tekken, the original game in the series She is one of four playable characters to appear in all main installments in the series and the only female with that record (with the noticeable exception of the original version of Tekken 7). She also... read more

Nina would definitely defeat the new females in Tekken. The only characters that would stand a chance would probably be Julia and Zafina. Asuka and Lili? Please. Nina's a cold-blooded assassin with an incredible moveset. She doesn't use dance and gymnastics, which would waste too much energy in a real fight.

Besides, being the oldest female, she has the most experience and has been in all of the Tekken Tournaments. Of course, Jun and Michelle could give her a run for her money. But Nina's the only blonde for me.

I love Lili so much as well, but any woman being above Nina is almost like blasphemy. Learning to master Nina is so much more satisfying. She's a sexy blonde assassin who can go toe to toe with the best fighters in the world. What's not to love? I love how cold and uncaring she is (TIME TO DIE) and how she pisses people off if you play her moves well. Her grapples are badass, and her purple outfit is insanely hot. Nina is definitely the most iconic woman in Tekken, and she deserves recognition.

7 Asuka Kazama Asuka Kazama is a video game character from the Tekken series by Namco Bandai Games, introduced in Tekken 5.

Lili has never been too good for me, and I know she's super graceful and good for beginners and all that, but Asuka always ALWAYS beats Lili! Asuka is really good at pokes and deserves to be ahead of Lili, if anything. I really think that Tekken should shed some light on who Asuka really is. She uses violence for peace and is a great character overall. She has the best attitude and reacts quickly, never really thinking out strategic plans.

I use Jin often too, and he has got to be my favorite male character. I think their personalities are fit for each other. One is brash, arrogant, and hotheaded, and the other is trying to control his anger, outwardly calm but fighting a battle within himself. In other words, Asuka and Jin.

Asuka is the best. She's fresh and new, and she doesn't need to be cold-blooded to be a badass - it comes naturally to her. She can calm Devil Jin, has amazing power, and is beautiful in every way. I mean, her hot body, soft brown hair, chocolate brown eyes, and her skin looks so soft. I love her. She's truly amazing.

She has a big heart, and although she often uses her heart instead of her head, that's what makes her perfect. She has her flaws and troubles, but her style, beauty, and attitude are fun and refreshing. She has great potential to be the strongest female character in Tekken.

So, reconsider. And by the way, I love Jin too. He's cute and mysterious. Asuka and Jin forever!

8 Yoshimitsu

Yoshimitsu, I don't know why Namco puts all the fancy art on him. In Tekken 3, I just fell in love with him, not only for his unique attacks but also for his image and appearance. When it was new, every time I chose Yoshi in 2-player fights, everybody got afraid of how fearsome he was. The Tekken of today just doesn't have that cyborg forest ninja-knight feeling, more like a heavily armored piece of paper. Yoshimitsu should get some life knocked back into him. And for God's sake, go easy on his armor. Before you know it, it has lasers shooting out of his kneecaps.

Yoshimitsu is the man! I mean, he is useful with his meditation stuff. When he's got his health back, he's ready to beat anyone up. I believe, in my opinion, he can thrash anyone out of the scene. And he steals. Literally. In his story. Who made him #9? This guy is boss and deserves to have a high position. The end.

Even if not my favorite character of the last Tekken, he was my favorite in my childhood, and I think he is really well made. But to be honest, I would prefer an even more powerful kit because although he is great, he is not easy at all.

9 Ling Xiaoyu Ling Xiaoyu is a character from the Tekken video game series by Bandai Namco Entertainment, who debuted in Tekken 3.

Ling Xiaoyu is my most favorite female character in the game, right after Chun Li and Mai Shiranui. In my opinion, she is considered mature and looks so sexy in Tekken 7. She likes being sociable with Miharu and Alisa, but most importantly, she wants to approach Jin Kazama. She aims to stop Jin when he transforms into Devil Jin and to fight with his father, Kazuya. However, she also wants to join forces with Claudio to prepare to stop Jin, but he cunningly beats her as if baiting prey.

Just now, I see her as sweet because she is a female martial artist who is strong, fast, and actually quite childish and cute. I hope in the next Tekken series, Xiaoyu will seek out Jin and get revenge on Claudio. Then, she will marry Jin and have a child. Thanks, Xiaoyu, I'll vote for this one!

Now with Tekken 7 out, Xiaoyu seems to get her due as a strong fighter with those important buffs. Soon, she will be at the top tier (I think she already has) with more top players and noobs alike maining her. Her fighting style is so interesting, and who doesn't want to side with the good? Xiaoyu represents the force of good in this dark and shady Mishima saga. She has been passed on the holy torch from Jun and has been doing it better. She would be even more awesome if she only knew how awesome she was (in the canon story, of course). How come people don't rank her at the top is beyond me.

10 Paul Phoenix Paul Phoenix is a player character from the Tekken fighting game franchise by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

Why is Paul in seventh place? He should be at least fourth because of his strength, his fighting history (only Kazuya and Kuma have ever beaten him), and almost won the third King of Iron Fist Tournament. He didn't know Ogre transformed into True Ogre when he beat it. He is my favorite character, and I bet that if he wasn't a joke character, he would have won at least one tournament. He would be a really interesting character with a hell of a bigger amount of fans, making Kazuya experience nightmares of Paul beating his ass!

The guy is a badass. He is recognizable in the streets because he used to be undefeated, up until his fight with Kazuya, which ended in a tie. He was undefeated in Tekken 2, 3, and 5, and in 3, he basically won the tournament by beating Ogre, the same guy who killed the first King and Jun, and almost killed Baek, Bruce, Ganryu, Armor King, and Jin.

Paul is the only character in the whole Tekken series who has a lot of wrist power. There are so many shots with his wrist which would make the opponent characters lose their energy. His shots are not good to see, but they reduce the health of the opponents very easily, allowing us to beat them up.

The Contenders
11 Marshall Law Marshall Law, or just Law, is a player character from the Tekken fighting game franchise by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

Let's be honest here... If I had to back a real-life Jaguar or a guy based on Bruce Lee, I think I'd pick the martial arts master. The fact is that Marshall Law is based on one of the most famous fighting styles ever conceived. He deserves to be number 1.

No doubt Law deserves to be number 1. Jin and the Mishimas are the main characters, so they get the spotlight, but when it comes to fighting ability, no doubt Law is superior as he is based on one of the greatest martial artists, the legendary Bruce Lee!

He is a fictional character born out of the idea of a real-life legend. Bruce Lee's speed has still not been matched by any known man in today's world. I will back him.

12 Alisa

First of all, Alisa... yes, she is a robot, and that is why she has all those cool and unique things. And if you think that it's unfair for the other characters because they don't have those cool things, YOU ARE WRONG! Don't you think that the other characters are strong enough to beat her? Still, she is a very good fighter, but if you think like that, then doesn't it mean you are underestimating the other characters?

Plus, she does have a lot of combos, and she is pretty fast. I have to admit, she is really pretty, ha!

If only people could understand how lethal Alisa's moves are once they learn to combine them all, especially the many moves that allow her to alternate to her destructive form. Seriously, her combos are the most flexible ones and can be easily modified to our heart's content.

I don't see any reason why Alisa shouldn't be in the top 10.

16? Really? I honestly and personally thought before I saw this that she would be in the top 10, but no, so I am voting. She is super good when it comes to long-ranged attacks.

Her moves are really unique, and I honestly cannot believe that she isn't in the top 10. Plus, she is pretty and again, really good at fighting!

13 Heihachi Mishima

Heihachi Mishima, the antagonist of Tekken and the rival of his son Kazuya. Kazuya is my favorite character, but Heihachi is a badass immortal boss, and I like him as well. When Tekken 7 comes out, the talking point is what I mentioned: Heihachi vs Kazuya.

Heihachi is the best character ever. He is one tough guy. He has been in every Tekken game and has always been the best character. I use him and beat everyone in no time. Thank you, Heihachi, even a giant explosion can't stop you. Yeah!

Er, why is Heihachi down here? Below Forrest Law, for heaven's sake! Master of a colossal financial empire who also kicks and punches people in his spare time, and had a bear as a bodyguard!

14 Lars Alexandersson Lars Alexandersson is a fictional character from the Tekken fighting game franchise by Bandai Namco Entertainment, introduced in the 2008 game Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion, an updated version of the original Tekken 6 Japanese arcade game.

I underestimated him. Initially, I thought he was a cheap character when I first played against him. That was because I wasn't familiar with his move list, and as such, I wasn't aware of his play-style, or how to play against him. He is now one of my mains. He took a while to learn but has a myriad of quality commands at his disposal and is quite quick compared to other characters.

The best character in all of this game. Not to mention, if you button mash with this guy, you will surely LOSE. Once mastered, this guy is a force like no other. My best time is finishing my opponents in 7 seconds flat with this guy. He is so quick, plus let's face it, he is also pretty cool!

I believe it's kind of a Mario and Luigi situation. Luigi is often put in the background as basic, while Mario is the main focus. The same goes for Lars. Many think he is just a simple and boring character. Sure, Jin, Law, and Hwoarang are great characters, but face it, if you know how to use a character, then they're going to be good.

But with Lars, he's great for beginners, and once you understand his moves, he's an amazing character for advanced players as well. He has amazingly cool and deadly combos, as well as simple yet deadly moves. I used him to beat every single level in the campaign, even Nightmare Train, which was quite hard. It took me about seven tries just to do it.

So overall, maybe, just maybe, he's not exactly the best of all time, but he has to be in the top five. I especially like the move Zeus, silent entry moves, and his XY combos. One combo I discovered with Lars is Up and B (gets the opponent into the air), immediately followed by Up and A (double kicks opponent while in the air). If done right, it's a pretty simple juggling combo with good damage.

15 Lee Chaolan Lee Chaolan is a player character from the Tekken fighting game franchise by Bandai Namco Entertainment.

The funniest and the most excellent character of Tekken, get it, get it? Excellent! Nah! He is awesome. I always see myself as him, and I always choose him as my character. He is the best!

For how good he is in the game, I would say he is number 1. Not only is he a good fighter, but he also has the funniest personality, and is the best looking and richest character.

He is the best player in my opinion. I completed every stage and beat the game with him. He is the awesome player of the game. I think that he is the master Tekken player of the game.

16 Jun Kazama Jun Kazama is a fictional character from the Tekken fighting game series, who made her debut in Tekken 2, her first and only canonical appearance to date.

Jun is my first and favorite character in Tekken. Basically, her most favorite move that I admired is the back walkover kick, aerial cartwheel kick, and roundhouse kick that I need to learn. Her fighting style is Japanese karate with lots of kicks and self-defense counters. I like to use Jun in Tekken 2 and TTT 1 because of her costumes and other things about her. So, Jun Kazama is using power and speed at the same time. She is offensive. Jun is awesome.

She is iconic, ever since Tekken 2. The one that helped Angel defeat Devil out of Kazuya, the one that defeated Devil whilst being pregnant, the bearer of Jin Kazama, the one character that, without being in the newest games, still has a big influence. Her looks, her theme in Tekken 2, her badass fighting style... Everything!

She has the most combos? She definitely has speed. She has stronger moves than Xiaoyu, and she's even cooler than Nina, whom I also love. But Jun is just a mystical creature beyond most comprehension.

17 Bryan Fury Bryan Fury is a player character from the Tekken fighting game franchise by Namco Bandai Games, and has been a mainstay in the series since his debut in Tekken 3.

Vote for Bryan, the second strongest bad guy with a half-human and half-robot body. He's supposed to be one of the top ten and should be ranked higher than Yoshimitsu. He never stops laughing when he beats the hell out of Yoshimitsu and other strong characters. He is energetic and well-balanced, with both power and speed.

Bryan rules! He is one of the strongest characters in Tekken. He survived a helicopter crash without a scratch. Bullets don't do jack against him, and he can take attacks from a tank without any injuries. He can even tear a tank apart. He should become the king of the Iron Fist Tournament. And his evil laugh rules!

Bryan is unbelievable. I don't know why he's not in the main plotline, but he could very much be a wildcard because of the ridiculous destruction he causes! He's the best character because he is balanced in all areas (except low attacks, which Tekken needs to work on) and is just straight up insane!

18 Anna Williams

Anna Williams is the best character. She has some fantastic hidden moves. Very few people know that Anna Williams can reverse all the throws, attacks, and combos of King. For example, when King tries to start a chain throw, she can roll over his shoulder and get rid. When King tries to break her leg, she can break his leg at the start or during the breakage. She is a hidden queen. King is no more a difficult character to defeat with her hidden moves when someone mastered in King is playing. She can even reverse the death roll of King and injure him.

Talk about the real femme fatale, Anna Williams has it all: from looks to skill. Look out, people, looks do kill. But above all, she has killer combos and stances, and is a must-try character for all.

So underestimated. People focus on her seductive being, and it's regrettable. She is quite difficult to play, but with experience, she is as lethal as her sister. The Williams are the best female characters.

19 Kuma

A lot of players would find this bear a waste, but I actually find him worthwhile. His hunting position is great for an ambush attack. Plus, his moves are effective.

I love to play as Kuma all the time! I love that they created a bear in Tekken as a playable character.

Powerful, one needs to know the moves to take full advantage.

20 Jaycee

Jaycee looks okay to me. I really like her mask. That fat guy in Tekken fancies Jaycee/Julia, but I've got a feeling that Julia doesn't love him because he is way too fat.

I know this is Julia. The Changs are the most aesthetic! I like their story!

21 Armor King

Armor King at 21?! Better check that! Why is he so low? He deserves a better spot. Hands down. Out of all the characters, he has changed the MOST. Armor King went from this person who was a fair fighter, cared about helping his friends and preaching honor, to having more of a dark feel, a more berserk ruthless fighter, and now stands alone. His combos deal more damage than King's, and he trained him on top of that. Put him higher.

The only reason they might not add AK in Tekken 7 is because of variety. I'd honestly hate to see Lei or a Capo come back. Since they have two ninjas now, I don't see why they can't have two wrestlers. King and Armor King are about just as different as Raven and Yoshi, in my opinion. Besides, who the hell doesn't like ninjas and wrestlers? They still haven't ended his story yet either. Oh, and one more thing: how is King learning Armor King's moves if AK isn't teaching him?

Armor King is so much stronger than King. Seriously, did you see Armor King's ending in Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection? This is what happened: Armor King was walking, and King came up behind him. Next thing you see, Armor King kicks King's stomach so hard, picks up King, turns him around, jumps very high, and smashes King's head on the ground.

22 Doctor Bosconovitch

This is the first Tekken character I ever played, in TTT2. Needless to say, it was the right choice. His style is unique and very powerful. He uses explosions to propel his own hits and kicks, which leads to a wacky, hard-hitting, inhuman, and extremely unpredictable style. In the right hands, this style can be used to force your opponent to get caught in many infuriating combos.

I'm honestly surprised by how underrated he is, and I was very disappointed when I heard that he was only available to play in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and Tekken 3.

I also like his lore, about how he is the scientist behind many events in the Tekken universe and how he created Alisa. I tend to play him with either Alisa or Sebastian on his tag team, and I like to dress them up thematically to better humiliate my opponents.

Unique fighting style.
Unpredictable, high defense.
Annoys the opponent and forces them to attack.

23 Michelle Chang Michelle Chang is a fictional character in the Tekken series of fighting games by Namco, where she was introduced in the original Tekken in 1994. A young woman of Chinese and Native American descents, Michelle possesses a mysterious pendant allegedly capable of controlling evil and powerful spirits.

Michelle Chang is my favorite Tekken character. I love her so much and I can't wait to finally play as her again in Tekken Tag Tournament 2! Michelle = Strong, Sexy, Kind, Smart, and Fierce!

Michelle Chang is really underrated and needs to make her way back into the Tekken series. I feel like she could really contribute to the plot, but she needs to look as badass as she did in Tekken 2.

The guy who said Michelle is the best Tekken character ever, yes, it's your opinion, but so many Tekken fans would think that is insane.

24 Steve Fox

In my opinion, Steve should easily be in the top 5 because his boxing is fast, and all he does is use his hands in combat, leaving the enemy with very slim chances of avoiding any of his lightning-quick fist blows. He's scrumptious, quick, agile, and, most importantly, strong. The best thing about him is that he shares my name - Steve.

Devastating pressure, slick sways, ducking and dodging his way through the fight. He is the ultimate balance of reflex, defense, and offense. Steve's hi-lo mixup is also one of the best in the game, hands down. Ask HelpMe! If mastered, he is one of the worst characters to be matched up against. The beauty of this character is that it is mostly up to you if he is absolute garbage or a Tekken GOD worthy of EVO.

Steve Fox is one of the fastest fighters in the game. If you are a pressure-style fighter like myself, you will find he can neutralize your opponent's attacks with ducking, parries, and counters. Don't underestimate him because he mostly only uses his fists. He has many low punches you won't see coming.

25 Dragunov

Dragunov never runs out of options. He can compete with all the characters in Tekken. You just have to pick the right move at the right time.

He has really good combos. If you know how to use him, you'll be hard to defeat on Tekken. And by the way, which Russian guy doesn't know how to fight that hard?

Not only is he a badass Russian Spetsnaz member, but he also has a kickass moveset that pressurizes the crap out of other players. He is also the only character in the roster to have a crouching counter.

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