Starting in Tekken 8

Tekken 8 turn on : where to start ?

To fully leverage community resources, you'll need to grasp basic controls, guarding, and notation.

The objective is to outmaneuver your opponent and deliver effective strikes while avoiding their attacks.

• Don't attack if you just got hit.
• Use random moves until you figure out which ones they can't deal with. Then spam those moves.

How hard it is to win depends entirely on your opponent.

The key to enjoying Tekken is finding a competitive balance. This is easy with the game's matchmaking system. Even if the netcode isn't perfect, you can find suitable opponents for ranked matches.

Even with an evenly matched opponent, be prepared for unexpected challenges. Skill level is not always a guarantee of victory. It's entirely possible for two players of similar ability to experience a lopsided match. Overcoming such setbacks requires resilience and a willingness to learn from mistakes. While self-improvement is possible, it takes time and effort.

Choosing your (main) character

Pick a character you can vibe with. The game is about having fun, so choose someone you enjoy playing as. Try out different characters until you find the one that clicks.

Don't worry about starting with a "bad" character. It doesn't matter if they're considered "bottom tier." What matters is your skill and how you play. With enough practice, you can make any character a force to be reckoned with.

• It'll be years before you could possibly be at the point where pro players' tier lists are relevant to you.
• Even pro players don't have much agreement on which characters are the best, and they're often proven wrong as the meta develops.
• There aren't any characters that are fundamentally non-functional or lacking a robust game plan with serious threats.
• The closest thing to a joke character is Kuma, who's still totally viable, and if you're picking a bear you should know what you're in for anyway.
• Learning a new character is much easier once you've already mastered one.
  • The hardest part of improving in Tekken is getting better at defense, a skill which transfers almost entirely between characters.
  • Many generic moves are some of the best moves you can do, and there are a lot of archetypal moves, so if you change characters you'll still have a lot of familiar moves to play with.
  • The combo system is fairly standardized, so experienced players can learn bread and butter combos on new characters in minutes, and these combos usually do at least 80% as much damage as the hard ones.
  • Every character has roughly the same neutral plan. The difference is in the details. There aren't any strict character archetypes.

How to learn playing a character?

Before diving into competitive matches, spend some time in training mode to familiarize yourself with your chosen character. Explore the movelist, practice basic combos, and develop a feel for the character's controls. The goal is to gain a solid understanding of the character's movement options and attack patterns.

Once you're comfortable with the basics, you can start playing online matches. Don't feel pressured to learn complex combos and setups right away. The most important thing is to have fun and experiment with different strategies. Pay attention to which moves are effective and which ones are less successful. By analyzing your gameplay, you can identify areas for improvement and develop your own unique playstyle.

If you're interested in delving deeper into your character, the Tekken community offers a wealth of resources. Online tutorials, guides, and forums can provide valuable insights into advanced techniques, match analysis, and character-specific strategies. By actively seeking out and utilizing these resources, you can continue to grow as a player and unlock the full potential of your chosen character.

Fighting an other character

Every character in Tekken has a vast move set. Learning every single move for every character and how to counter them is nearly impossible, so don't make that your goal.

Instead, focus on improving your gameplay by analyzing your replays. Identify specific moves that are causing you problems, and use training mode to discover their weaknesses.

1. Determine whether the move is high, mid, or low to guard it correctly.
2. Analyze the move’s frame data to find effective responses for hits, whiffs, and blocks. If it’s unsafe on block, identify a suitable punisher.
3. Try to avoid the move using movement techniques.
4. Look for moves your character has that can counter it.
5. Experiment with mixing up similar-speed moves to see if the opponent can react.
6. Once you’ve learned how to punish a move, practice it extensively. Knowing the punishment isn't enough; you need to be able to execute it instinctively. Building muscle memory is crucial.

It’s important to limit yourself to a few key moves to avoid overwhelming yourself. Endless practice can be tedious, and trying to learn an entire matchup at once will likely lead to forgetting everything quickly.

Good characters to start with