Gakuran Fighting Style Tier List Overview
A strong fighting style can decide a duel before either player runs out of health. The best choices create reliable pressure, punish blocks, or give you an escape when an exchange goes badly. This Gakuran fighting style tier list focuses on practical PvP value: consistency, matchup tools, difficulty, and how well each style works with character height.
No tier list is absolute. Balance changes, player skill, and team-fight situations can move a style up or down. Newer styles such as CQC, Kyoushin Karate, and Mishima also need more time in real matches before their placements become fully settled.
| Tier | Fighting styles | Why they rank here |
|---|---|---|
| S | Ali, Boxing, Wrestling, Kure | Exceptional pressure, defensive tools, or fight-ending win conditions |
| A | Hakari, Striker, Muay Thai, Capoeira, Karate | Powerful options with clearer weaknesses or higher execution demands |
| B | Kickboxing, Basic | Useful kits that are more matchup- or player-dependent |
| C | Slugger, Wing Chun | Can work, but are inconsistent or demand unusually clean play |
| Watchlist | CQC, Kyoushin Karate, Mishima | Too new for a confident long-term ranking |
Rarity matters because rare styles are harder to replace, but it does not automatically make them better for you. A player who understands spacing and perfect blocks can get more wins from Karate than from a Legendary style they cannot control.
S-Tier Styles: The Best Rolls to Keep
S-tier styles have the strongest overall tools in competitive fights. They either stay dangerous without much setup or force the opponent to make difficult defensive decisions repeatedly.
| Style | Best height | Main strengths | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali | Short or tall | Fast attacks, evasive counters, critical i-frames, guard pressure | Requires sharp timing and movement reads |
| Boxing | Short | Safe M2 pressure, i-frames, cooldown reward after Perfect Blocks | Predictable pressure can be parried |
| Wrestling | Tall | Powerful grabs, slam damage, guard-break power, grapple strength | Missed takedowns are punishable |
| Kure | Medium or tall | Slam pressure, parry denial, strong low-health damage | Needs close-range control |
Ali is the highest-ceiling style in the game. Its quick offense and evasive counterplay make it difficult to touch when used well. Critical attacks can create guard-break opportunities, while its defensive movement lets experienced players turn enemy aggression into damage. Short builds benefit from speed and smaller hitboxes, but tall Ali builds can also become threatening through extra reach and damage.
Boxing is the safest all-around S-tier recommendation. Untouchable gives its heavy attacks i-frames, making them difficult to interrupt normally. Perfect Reflex also reduces the M2 cooldown after a successful Perfect Block, so a player with strong defense can keep their best tool available more often. Pick Boxing if you enjoy relentless close-range pressure without relying on a hard-to-land grab.
Wrestling is the scariest style when an opponent is forced to stand close. Its Takedown heavy can grab and slam targets for increased damage, while its resilience and guard-break tools make blocking or contesting risky. Taller builds are especially valuable because they improve the style’s reach, durability, and grappling threat.
Kure combines aggression with late-fight danger. Its damaging takedown and slam can interfere with an opponent’s ability to rely on parries, and Last Stand raises damage when health is low. That makes Kure excellent at turning a nearly lost duel around, especially if you can stay in range without overcommitting.
A-Tier Styles: Excellent Choices for the Right Player
A-tier styles can absolutely beat S-tier opponents. Their difference is usually reliability: they may need cleaner setups, stronger spacing, or better matchup knowledge.
| Style | Best height | What it does well | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hakari | Short or medium | Huge M2 burst after a full M1 string | Combo-focused players |
| Striker | Short or medium | Unpredictable pressure and changing attack rhythm | Aggressive duelists |
| Muay Thai | Short or medium | Block chip, posture pressure, ragdolls | Players who walk opponents down |
| Capoeira | Medium or tall | Dash mobility, spacing, knockdowns | Movement-focused players |
| Karate | Medium or tall | Posture recovery and patient defense | Counter-focused players |
Hakari is a burst-damage specialist. Momentum Rush activates after you complete a full M1 sequence without interruption, creating a brief period where the next M2 is dramatically stronger. The reward is huge, but experienced opponents will try to parry, dodge, or interrupt before you finish the setup. Use Hakari if you can confirm openings instead of forcing every combo.
Striker thrives on awkward timing. Its forward pressure and changing attack pace make standard defensive habits less reliable. It is strongest when you vary strings, delay attacks, and avoid repeating the same approach. Once opponents learn your rhythm, its advantage falls quickly.
Muay Thai is one of the most accessible aggressive choices. It offers strong posture damage, meaningful block chip, ragdoll utility, and solid performance in close clashes. It is not subtle: stay close, keep pressure on, and make blocking uncomfortable. Its weakness is getting kited by a faster, more mobile opponent.
Capoeira is the movement pick. Ginga reduces dash cooldown, helping you enter range, bait attacks, leave bad trades, and reset neutral. Its heavy attacks can ragdoll enemies and create space, but it does less by simply standing still and trading. Players who enjoy hit-and-run pressure will get more value from it than players who want direct brawls.
Karate is the defensive A-tier option. Perfect Blocks improve posture recovery through Steady Nerves, while Balanced Strike can restore posture after a successful heavy. Karate does not overwhelm opponents as easily as Boxing or Kure, but it is reliable in long, disciplined fights.
Choosing a Style and Build That Fits You
Before spending more rerolls, decide what actually wins you matches. The strongest style on paper is not always the best fit for your height, reaction speed, or preferred range.
Use this quick approach when judging a new roll:
- Keep S-tier styles unless you already know they conflict with your preferred playstyle.
- Favor short builds for rapid pressure styles such as Boxing, Ali, Striker, and Muay Thai.
- Favor tall builds for Wrestling, Slugger, and some long-range Karate setups.
- Choose Capoeira when movement and spacing are your biggest strengths.
- Choose Karate or Basic if you are learning Perfect Blocks and posture management.
- Do not reroll Hakari immediately; its burst is exceptional when you can consistently finish M1 strings.
| Playstyle | Best choices | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Constant close pressure | Boxing, Kure, Muay Thai | Strong chip damage and dangerous heavy attacks |
| Grapples and punishes | Wrestling | High-value takedowns and clash strength |
| Fast movement and spacing | Ali, Capoeira | Evasion, repositioning, and counter opportunities |
| Defense and counterplay | Karate, Boxing, Wing Chun | Rewards Perfect Blocks or reactive play |
| High-risk damage | Hakari, Slugger | Big payoff, but mistakes are costly |
| Beginner fundamentals | Basic, Karate | Easier way to learn timing, posture, and spacing |
Basic is not a wasted style. Its straightforward toolkit helps new players understand M1 timing, guarding, counters, and recovery without asking them to manage complicated passives. It becomes less threatening at higher levels, but it is a better learning tool than repeatedly rerolling before you understand the combat system.
Slugger has high damage and strong block chip, but its slow attacks and increased incoming damage make bad trades expensive. It can be effective on tall builds that enjoy committing to heavy hits, yet it is much less forgiving than most alternatives.
Wing Chun has quick attacks, defensive utility, and counter-focused potential. However, its practical performance is still more situational than the top pressure styles. Treat it as a specialist pick rather than an automatic keep.
FAQ
What is the best style in this Gakuran fighting style tier list?
Ali is the strongest overall choice for players who can use evasive movement and counters consistently. Boxing is the safer recommendation for most players, while Wrestling is the best dedicated grappling style.
Should I reroll Basic?
Not immediately. Basic is fine for learning the game’s combat fundamentals. Reroll once you know whether you prefer pressure, grapples, mobility, or defensive play.
Is Boxing better than Wrestling?
Boxing is more consistent for fast, close-range duels and rewards Perfect Blocks. Wrestling has a higher payoff when grabs connect, especially on tall characters, but missed takedowns are easier to punish.
Which style is best for tall characters?
Wrestling is the clearest tall-build choice because its grabs, reach, and durability all benefit from the build. Slugger and Karate can also work well on taller characters.
Are new styles worth keeping?
CQC, Kyoushin Karate, and Mishima may become very strong, but their long-term PvP rankings have not been officially confirmed. Test them before rerolling, especially if their kit matches your preferred combat style.