Tekken 8 is launching with a total of 32 characters, and 3 of those are brand new characters to join the franchise. Each of these new combatants brings something different to the table, and it’s pretty refreshing to see a launch roster with varied combat styles.

Tekken 8 New Characters

The new characters include the following, each with their distinct fighting style.

• Azucena Milagros: MMA Fighting Style - The “Coffee Queen” and already a favorite among competitive FGC. You can see Arslan Ash making full use of her taunt-based stances to dish out high damage.

• Victor Chevalier: Super Spy CQB (close-quarters battle) - Fans of Raven should keep an eye on this one as he not only has a similar move set but uses quick moves and whiffs to deal devastating damage. He also uses a variety of weapons including a dagger and a laser sword.

• Reina: Mishima and Taido - There isn’t a lot we know about Reina, other than the fact that she’s designed by Bayonetta’s Mari Shimazaki. Reina has access to two combat styles which makes her a fairly complex character that might take players a bit to fully master.

All three of the characters play a role in the larger story, though some more than others, especially Reina who has an interest in the series’ fan-favorite, Jin Kazama. I’m very interested to see where these characters land when it comes to the competitive scene as well. So far, it’s clear that Acuzena has been a hit among the Tekken FGC, but she might be balanced a bit more at launch.