Capcom has successfully created a fairly balanced roster for Street Fighter 6, as evidenced by the confusing post-release meta. This is a positive sign for the game's future, promising fewer broken characters in the upcoming updates—and even in other installments of the franchise. However, Street Fighter 6 fans can’t help but think about the most optimal characters in each archetype and look for the best fighters to main. This data-oriented tier list, therefore, uses recent statistics to rank all characters from best to worst.

The criteria for this SF6 tier list are as follows:

• Frame Data
• Combo Capabilities
• Hit-to-Damage Ratio
• Ease of Use

RELATED: Street Fighter 6: Best Mid-Range Characters, Ranked

Updated June 17, 2023, by Mohsen Baqery: Now that the game has been out for a little while, players are starting to get a feel for which are the best characters in Street Fighter 6. As a result, this SF6 tier list has been updated to include a little more information about each fighter, including some additional insight into their strengths and weaknesses and a few ideas on how best to counter them.

Street Fighter 6 Tier List

The post-release SF6 tier list has seen some changes, with Dhalsim, E. Honda, and Marisa at the top, followed by Manon, Juri, Ken, and Dee Jay. However, classic characters like Ryu, Luke, Chun-Li, and Zangief have fallen into the B-Tier, while newcomers Jamie and Kimberly are at the bottom.

Here's the complete tier list for all 18 main roster characters:

S-Tier: The Best SF6 Characters

The S-Tier belongs to characters with reliable frame data, consistent combo cycles, and an effective hit-to-damage ratio. And in the early stages of the Street Fighter 6 meta, only three characters have proven to excel in all those categories: Dhalsim, E. Honda, and Marisa.

Dhalsim

Thanks to his reach, extensive move list, and seamless combo transitions, Dhalsim is one of the best Street Fighter 6 characters. He can easily keep the opponent at bay, poke them with projectiles, and punish their mistakes with high-damage normal and specials. Dhalsim’s only downside is his recovery frame disadvantage which leaves him open to counterattacks on the block.

Best Counter for Dhalsim

Dhalsim’s disadvantages are his long recoveries and parryable mix-ups. To make the most of these weaknesses, players should count on speedy punishers like Juri and Cammy.

E. Honda

Despite his slow movement, E. Honda's high Life Points and frame advantage on hit place him right at the top of the SF6 tier list. E. Honda is specifically a deadly close-range warrior in Street Fighter 6 because his Special to Super combinations can yield over 30 hits in a row.

Best Counter for E. Honda

Honda lacks proper overhead attacks, and he’s fairly slow, which is why standard-type characters like Luke and Ryu are his optimal counters. These fighters can break E. Honda’s guard with aerial cross-ups while pushing him to make mistakes on the ground.

Marisa

Marisa's spot in the S-Tier of the Street Fighter 6 tier list is all thanks to her armored moves, unique block stances, and unpredictable range. After breaking the opponent’s guard, Marisa is an unstoppable beast who can knock out the toughest characters with one Overdrive combo. However, her recovery frame disadvantage, high predictability, and Drive Gauge dependency might put off beginner players.

Best Counter for Marisa

A power-type mid-range fighter, Marisa’s biggest disadvantage is her slow recovery. To counter her, players must go with speed archetype fighters like Kimberly, Chun-Li, and Blanka.

RELATED: How to Play Marisa in Street Fighter 6

A-Tier: The Solid Fighters

Currently, Street Fighter 6’s A-Tier includes a new face, Manon, as well as three familiar characters: Juri, Ken, and Dee Jay. A-Tier fighters have a promising delivery despite their minor disadvantages. They may not hold the highest stats and best frame data, but they are among the deadliest when played by the book.

Manon

Manon is the best new character in Street Fighter 6 due to her wide range of check moves and rewarding punishments. However, her Medal System, the permanent buff on her throws, gives her invincibility. After increasing her damage, Manon’s normal and Special combos become deadlier, and her mix-ups are much more difficult to read, which is a vital win condition.

Best Counter for Manon

Since Manon has no projectiles, tricky long-range fighters like JP and Dhalsim are her optimal counters. However, players can also bully her by using power-type grapplers that can drain her Drive Gauge while she’s blocking.

Juri

In the SF6 roster, Juri is the greatest poke. She can frustrate the enemy with cost-effective normal kicks, forcing them into choosing aerial combat, in which she excels. The only catch is that she’s too reliant on the Fuha stocks. Without this dependence, she would definitely deserve to be among the top fighters in the Street Fighter 6 tier list.

Best Counter for Juri

While Juri is often hailed as one of the best characters in SF6, she is not without her flaws. In fact, since she’s a close-range attacker, any fighter who can keep her at bay can defeat Juri with no hassle, including Guile, Ryu, and Manon.

Ken

Despite not being the ultimate mid-range Power Archetype, Ken is still a top-notch warrior who suits the A Tier due to his cornering techniques, pushback-heavy cancelable strikes, and quick punish counters. The only disadvantages of Ken are his checks’ long recovery and his combo’s inconsistency.

Best Counter for Ken

Although Ken is in the power archetype, his combo reach is quite limited, leaving him vulnerable to quick punishments and interruptions. As a result, it's worth considering counter options such as Guile, JP, and Jamie when facing him.

Dee Jay

As the rising star of Street Fighter 6, Dee Jay belongs to the A Tier because of his unreadable movement, practical Drive Rush, and projectile-invincibility. What Dee Jay does best is poking the opponent with unusual checks and luring them into making punishable mistakes. As for the weaknesses, Dee Jay lacks consistent cancels and has an inconvenient input arrangement.

Best Counter for Dee Jay

Dee Jay is a tricky mid-range who can deal with most projectiles. However, due to his range-dependent combos, he’s particularly challenged against faster mid-range characters like Blanka and Chun-Li.

B-Tier: The High-Potential Fighters

The B-Tier is made up of fighters who have average skills but are excellent at bouncing back from tough situations and winning matches. Ryu, JP, Luke, Guile, Chun-Li, and Zangief are some of the characters who belong to the B-tier of the Street Fighter 6 tier list in the early meta.

JP

JP was initially considered a formidable character, but he is now classified as a mid-tier fighter. His early popularity can be attributed to his unfamiliar moveset, which some players found challenging to counter. However, now that his strategy is exposed, JP's abilities are mostly limited to long-range dominance and zoning capabilities.

Best Counter for JP

When going up against JP, players have multiple options for zone control, like Cammy, Juri, Ryu, and Guile. However, to beat him effectively, players should utilize the heavy low attacks of these characters, as JP is particularly vulnerable to this type of move.

RELATED: How to Play JP in Street Fighter 6

Ryu

The primary reason why Ryu is in the B Tier of the SF6 tier list instead of S or A is his unsurprising move list. Most players anticipate his strikes and use his range issue and punishable combos against him. However, one could argue that he’s still a well-rounded fighter with unfailing mid-range supremacy.

Best Counter for Ryu

When Ryu is able to control the zone and range, he is highly effective. However, when facing opponents such as Dhalsim, Blanka, and Luke, executing his biggest combos becomes a challenge, leading to a higher likelihood of making punishable mistakes.

Luke

Sharing the same fate as Ryu, Luke is an overall decent fighter. However, his weak projectile and range disadvantage stop him from being in the higher tiers. The new Luke is overly needful of the Drive Gauge, giving him a huge disadvantage in intense melees.

Best Counter for Luke

The best counter-picks for Luke are Ryu, Ken, Guile, and Zangief. These characters can withstand his punishments and great damage while benefiting from Luke’s whiffing combos.

Guile

The new Drive Gauge system hasn't affected Guile's move list, which has its pros and cons: Experienced players can stick to what they know and continue using him, but opponents can use the same counterstrategy that has been effective against Guile for years. Still, he can dominate matches by trusting his zoning and anti-air skills.

Best Counter for Guile

Guile is slow and predictable, which is why he can be easily countered by Chun-Li, Dee Jay, and Juri.

Chun-Li

Chun-Li is likely to go higher on the Street Fighter 6 tier list, as her movement and Punish Counters match flawlessly. The only major downside that keeps her in the lower tier is the complexity and vulnerability of her primary attacks.

Best Counter for Chun-Li

Chun-Li lacks effective throws and aerials, making her a weak opponent against grapplers like Zangief, E. Honda, and Marisa.

Zangief

Zangief is a potent foe when it comes to grappling. However, his large hitbox and slow reaction time affect his ranking negatively.

Best Counter for Zangief

There are two ways to counter Zangief: stopping his grappling combos with faster responses and keeping him at bay with projectiles. With that in mind, the best counters for him are Dee Jay, Ryu, and JP.

C-Tier: The Inconsistent Fighters

C-Tier choices are characterized by their unreliability in producing consistent results, which is why Cammy, Blanka, and Lily fall in this category: They are powerful characters, but their checks, counters, and combos are inconsistent. Players must either become proficient at using them or disregard them entirely.

Cammy

Cammy’s downfall in Street Fighter 6 can be attributed to better close-range counters for her. Marisa, for example, can easily punish Cammy after the slightest mistake and keep her in the danger zone for longer than she can take. But she’s still one ofthe best speedy fighters who could win a match at the cost of a risky game plan.

Best Counter for Cammy

Due to her speed archetype and close-range capabilities, the best counters for Cammy are Power-type fighters like Zangief and E. Honda. These characters can benefit from Cammy’s reliance on physical combat and grapple with her whenever she gets close.

Blanka

Blanka is a skilled SF6 fighter who is difficult to rank as he equally deserves to be in the S-Tier and the C-Tier. Ultimately, that’s the primary reason he’s down in the lower tiers; playing as Blanka has inconsistent results, especially for an average player.

Best Counter for Blanka

Because of his inconsistent aerials and long startups, Blanka is vulnerable to quick airborne attacks. And the best characters to exploit his weaknesses are Ryu, Ken, and Manon.

Lily

The reason why Lily is in the C-Tier of the SF6 tier list is that her disadvantages outweigh her advantages. Although she can pressure the opponent in the mid-range, Lily fails to inflict serious damage outside of her Super Arts.

Best Counter for Lily

As a standard mid-range fighter, Lily is prone to speedy close-range characters and tricky long-range ones. Therefore, the ideal counters for her are Cammy, JP, and Dhalsim.

D-Tier: The Worst Fighters

Based on Street Fighter 6 standards, the D-Tier should include characters with the worst frame advantages, recovery, and control configurations. Luckily, only two fighters have these qualities: Jamie and Kimberly. They have not received favorable feedback in the meta and are the most probable choices for future buffs or gameplay alterations.

Jamie

Jamie's fighting ability is not up to par due to his dependence on the Drink mechanic. He is also susceptible to long-range fighters since he lacks effective counter moves for projectiles, especially when his Drink Level is low. Additionally, his moveset changes with his Drink Level, making it difficult for average players to master his combos.

Best Counter for Jamie

Jamie heavily relies on his Drink Level buffs, favoring slow and strategic gameplay. Nonetheless, characters with balanced abilities, such as Ryu, Luke, and Ken, can effectively counter his tactics and hinder him from obtaining his buff.

Kimberly

Due to her short reach, predictable checks, and low hit-to-damage ratio, Kimberly is possibly the worst character in Street Fighter 6’s main roster. She lacks invincible Specials, and her frame rate doesn’t allow seamless cancels, leaving players with readable combos, and Kimberly right at the bottom of the Street Fighter 6 tier list.

Best Counter for Kimberly

To effectively counter Kimberly's gameplay, players should opt for mid-range power types like Marisa and E. Honda, who can easily bully her and prevent her from executing her combos. Kimberly's vulnerability to charged interruptions makes her an easy target for these characters.

Street Fighter 6 Ranking Tier List

A quick overview of the Ranking List reveals that Street Fighter 6 has managed to diversify the meta. As of June 2023, the most prominent characters in Ranked Matches are Guile, Ken, Marisa, and JP. However, the top 20 include even D-Tier characters like Kimberly and Jamie.

Street Fighter 6 is available now on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.