Tekken 8 is one of the most iconic fighting game series. As this boasts an impressive roster of characters that possess diverse fighting styles. While some fighters require precise timing and execution to unleash their full potential, others are more accessible to newcomers or casual players looking for an enjoyable experience. In this guide, we’ll explore each Tekken 8 character to play for beginners.
1. Alisa: The Versatile Cyborg
Alisa stands out as an excellent choice for newcomers due to her versatility and approachability. Her superior mobility is a key asset, as her cybernetic enhancements allow for quick approach tactics. Alisa can utilize rocket-propelled strikes that double as launchers, making her a threat from various distances. One of her unique features is the Destructive Form stance, which adds chainsaws to Alisa’s arms, enabling devastating damage output when used correctly. While Alisa has depth for advanced players to explore, her basic move set is intuitive enough for beginners to grasp quickly, making her an ideal starting point for those new to Tekken 8.
Pro Tip: Practice Alisa’s dashing f2 and d3 moves to close distances rapidly and catch opponents off-guard.
2. King: The Grappling Powerhouse
King has been a Tekken staple for years, in Tekken 8 he is the strongest! His gameplay revolves around a powerful throw-based style, excelling at grabs that force opponents to guess and react quickly. Many of King’s attacks leave him with frame advantage, setting up for more pressure or grabs, making him a constant threat. Perhaps most importantly, playing King teaches crucial Tekken mechanics. By using him, players naturally learn about throw breaks, wake-up attacks, and the concept of frame advantage. This educational value makes King not just a strong character, but also an excellent tool for understanding the deeper mechanics of Tekken 8.
Beginner Strategy: Start by learning a few basic throws and mix them with King’s strong normal attacks to keep opponents guessing.
3. Azucena: The Relentless Newcomer
As one of Tekken 8‘s new faces, Azucena brings a fresh and beginner-friendly playstyle to the roster. She’s a rush down specialist, excelling at applying constant pressure to opponents. Azucena’s auto-counter stance serves as a defensive tool that helps beginners deal with aggressive opponents, providing a safety net as they learn the game. One of her most appealing aspects for new players is how naturally her moves chain together. Many of Azucena’s attacks flow intuitively into one another, making combo creation more accessible and less daunting for those just starting their Tekken journey.
Key Move: Master Azucena’s running 3 into 2 combo to maintain pressure and control the pace of the fight.
4. Victor: The Flashy Technician
Victor offers beginners a character with visually impressive and effective combos that are surprisingly easy to execute. His bread-and-butter combos are memorable and highly damaging, giving new players a clear path to dealing significant damage. Victor’s diverse moveset, which utilizes a mix of sword techniques, gunplay, and teleportation, keeps opponents guessing and provides beginners with a variety of options in any situation. Perhaps most enticingly for newcomers, Victor can find early success in ranked matches with just a few memorized strings, providing a confidence boost as players learn the game.
Focus Point: Practice Victor’s launch combo that ends with teleporting sword swings to quickly improve your damage output.
5. Paul: The Hard-Hitting Brawler
Paul Phoenix, a series veteran, returns in Tekken 8 as an excellent choice for beginners looking for raw power and simplicity. Paul’s fighting style revolves around powerful strikes and a straightforward gameplan, making him an ideal character for newcomers to grasp the basics of Tekken. His moves are generally easy to execute but pack a serious punch, allowing new players to deal significant damage without the need for complex inputs or long combo strings.
One of Paul’s greatest strengths is his ability to end rounds quickly with his devastating “Death Fist” move. This iconic attack, while risky, can turn the tide of a match in an instant, teaching beginners the importance of risk-reward decision-making in fighting games. Additionally, Paul’s simple yet effective mix-up game helps new players understand the fundamentals of offense in Tekken.
Beginner Tactic: Learn to use Paul’s “Death Fist” (qcf+2) as a round-ending punishment, but be careful not to rely on it too heavily as you progress.
Tekken 8 Character To Play for Beginners
While Tekken 8 offers a deep and complex fighting system, these five characters provide excellent starting points for beginners. Alisa offers mobility and adaptability, allowing players to control the pace of the fight. King serves as a fantastic teacher, naturally introducing players to fundamental Tekken mechanics through his grapple-heavy playstyle. Azucena excels in pressure and intuitive combos, perfect for those who want to keep their opponents on their toes. Victor provides flashy, effective moves with a low execution barrier, ideal for players who want to see big results quickly. Paul rounds out the selection with his straightforward, hard-hitting style. That’s perfect for learning the basics of spacing and timing in Tekken.
