Highlights

  • Tekken 8 introduces a diverse roster of fighters, including Lili Rochefort, a self-taught combatant with a privileged background.
  • Lili's confidence in her abilities and desire for revenge drive her to participate in The King of Iron Fist Tournament, facing defeats and setbacks along the way.
  • Lili's story arc is not yet concluded, as she continues to seek revenge and forms an unexpected alliance with Asuka in Tekken 8.

Tekken 8 has arrived, bringing with it a huge roster of fighters for players to choose from. These range from some of the series' mainstays such as Nina Williams and Paul Phoenix to brand-new characters, including the French leader of the United Nations' Independent forces, Victor Chevalier, and the mysterious Reina, who is connected to the Mishima family. Among this diverse list of Tekken 8 characters is Emilie De Rochefort, known as Lili, a 17-year-old woman from a wealthy family in Monaco, who was first introduced in Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection.

Lili had a very privileged upbringing, thanks to her father being a successful oil magnate, meaning she never wanted for anything during her childhood. Sometime before her debut introduced her as one of Tekken's strongest female characters, she was kidnapped and held for ransom, with her kidnappers likely targeting her due to her father's wealth. It was during this kidnapping that Lili found her insatiable appetite for combat, as she managed to fight her way free, overcoming one of her kidnappers in the process. Lili, now freed, was determined to continue to seek out new ways to fight, which set her on her path to The King of Iron Fist Tournament.

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Lili Rochefort is a Worthy Addition to Tekken 8's Roster

Lili's self-centered personality often leads her to be pretty dismissive of other people's abilities and opinions. Her confidence in her own ability has more than made up for her lack of any formal training, and this is evident in the self-taught style of gymnastics and street fighting she uses to overcome her opponents. After being released from captivity, Lili quickly made a name for herself by winning a series of street fights, and one of her defeated adversaries quickly recognized her potential, inviting her to compete in The King of Iron Fist Tournament 5.

Having realized this tournament was hosted by the Mishima Zaibatsu, a multi-national conglomerate who were increasingly exerting their dominance on her father's own smaller company, Lili saw this as a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Against her father's wishes, she entered the tournament in secret. Unfortunately, this plan backfired, with Lili experiencing a crushing defeat at the hands of Asuka Kazama and going home humbled. From that moment on, Lili vowed revenge on Asuka. However, her father, having discovered his daughter's secret participation, threw a spanner in the works by banning her from leaving home ever again.

Lili Rochefort's Story Arc is Not Yet Concluded

Sooner after, the Mishima Zaibatsu all but wiped Lili's father's company out, and the stress caused him to fall ill. Lili seized this opportunity to seek revenge for both herself and her father, quickly signing up for The King of Iron Fist 6. However, much to Lili's dismay, the tournament was abandoned before she had the chance for a rematch against Asuka thanks to Jin Kazama's dogged pursuit of the demon Azazel. This left Lili even hungrier for revenge, so when Heihachi Mishima announced The King of Iron Fist 7, her participation was almost a foregone conclusion. Tekken 7 saw Lili finally come face to face with Asuka again, but incredibly, the outcome was the same, with Asuka again emerging victorious.

Lili managed to win the European B Block qualifiers to advance to the final rounds of Tekken 8's tournament which takes place in Rome's Coliseum. She is paired against newcomer Azucena in the first round of the finals. However, the official outcome of the match is unknown, and the tournament is abandoned after the arena is infiltrated by Victor and his allied forces, who are hell-bent on stopping Kazuya Mishima who is seen as a growing threat to the world. Lili then aids Jin Kazama in his quest by giving him access to her private jet. Interestingly, during Tekken 8's story, Lili is shown to be working with Asuka, with the two even playfully joking with each other, suggesting their rivalry is either over, or not as fierce as was first thought.