Gakuran Fighting Style Rankings
A strong fighting style changes more than damage: it changes how safely you can pressure, defend, escape, and break guards. This gakuran tier list prioritizes reliable PvP performance, not rarity alone, so you can decide whether a style is worth keeping before spending another reroll.
Rankings can shift with balance updates and improve dramatically in the hands of specialists. Still, the top picks offer strong tools with fewer matchup-dependent weaknesses.
| Tier | Fighting Styles | Main Strength |
|---|---|---|
| S | Ali, Boxing, Wrestling, Kure | Exceptional pressure, defensive tools, or fight-ending conversions |
| A | Hakari, Muay Thai, Striker, Capoeira, Mishima | Powerful styles with clearer setup, spacing, or execution demands |
| B | Karate, Basic | Consistent and usable, but less threatening than top options |
| C | Slugger, Wing Chun | Situational strengths with meaningful reliability issues |
Ali is the standout if you can obtain it. Its rapid attacks, evasive options, counterplay, and guard-breaking potential make it extraordinarily hard to contest. The catch is its extremely low availability, so most players should build around a strong Epic, Legendary, or Uncommon style instead of endlessly chasing it.
Boxing is the best broadly accessible high-tier choice. Its heavy attacks have invincibility frames and resist interruption, allowing it to stay dangerous in scrambles. Perfect Blocks also improve its heavy-attack availability, rewarding players who can defend without surrendering offense.
Wrestling and Kure are more specialized S-tier choices. Wrestling turns close-range reads into devastating grabs and slams, while Kure combines aggressive damage, guard pressure, and a parry-disabling slam effect. Both can dominate, but their best results depend more on positioning than Boxing's.
How to Choose a Style for Your Build
Your character height matters. Taller characters generally gain reach, health, and damage, while shorter fighters trade that durability for speed and a smaller target. A style can move up or down a tier for your individual build.
| Build or Preference | Best Fits | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Short, aggressive fighter | Ali, Boxing, Striker, Hakari | Fast pressure and compact movement suit close-range attacks |
| Tall, high-impact fighter | Wrestling, Capoeira, Muay Thai | Reach and durability support grabs, spacing, and posture pressure |
| Defensive player | Boxing, Karate, Basic | Perfect Blocks and posture recovery create reliable counterplay |
| Mobile spacing player | Capoeira, Ali, Striker | Dash tools and awkward attack rhythms help control distance |
| Burst-focused player | Hakari, Wrestling, Kure | Strong conversions can end a favorable exchange quickly |
Before rerolling, ask what actually loses you fights. If opponents repeatedly block your strings, choose a style with chip damage or guard-break tools. If you are getting interrupted during heavy attacks, Boxing has a direct answer. If you struggle to enter range, Capoeira's mobility may provide more value than a theoretically stronger close-range kit.
Avoid picking only by rarity. Capoeira is Legendary, but it may feel weaker than Boxing for a player who wants sustained pressure. Likewise, Basic is Common, yet it teaches core combat habits and remains competitive enough while you learn parries, spacing, and posture management.
Best Styles Explained
| Fighting Style | Tier | Best Use | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali | S | Fast movement-heavy pressure and counters | Extremely difficult to roll |
| Boxing | S | Safe close pressure and Perfect Block punishment | Needs solid timing for maximum value |
| Wrestling | S | Tall-build grapples and guard breaks | Missed grabs are punishable |
| Kure | S | Aggressive duels and anti-parry pressure | Requires confident close-range play |
| Hakari | A | High burst after a completed string | Setup can fail against skilled defenders |
| Muay Thai | A | Posture damage, chip damage, and aggression | Can be spaced out |
| Capoeira | A | Mobility, disengages, and spacing | Lower direct damage than many rivals |
| Karate | B | Defense and posture sustain | Lacks a defining offensive threat |
| Basic | B | Learning fundamentals and counterplay | Fewer explosive tools |
| Slugger | C | Risky damage trades and chip pressure | Slow attacks and extra incoming damage |
Ali: Short builds get the most from Ali's speed and evasive game. It is especially punishing when you can bait an attack, evade or counter it, then convert into guard pressure. Its ceiling is enormous, but its rarity means it is more a lucky long-term target than a practical reroll plan.
Boxing: Keep Boxing unless you specifically dislike its close-range rhythm. Its heavy attack can push through situations where other styles would be interrupted, and its Perfect Block reward creates a satisfying offense-defense loop. It is forgiving for newer players while remaining potent in experienced hands.
Wrestling: Wrestling is the choice for players who enjoy forcing high-stakes close exchanges. Its Takedown heavy attack grabs and slams for increased damage, while grapple-related bonuses make clashes dangerous for opponents. Tall builds make its threat more consistent, but predictable grab attempts will get punished.
Kure: Kure excels when you want to keep attacking without allowing opponents to rely on repeated parries. Its slam can temporarily deny parrying, and its low-health damage boost makes it dangerous even when behind. Use it to maintain pressure rather than waiting passively for a single opening.
Hakari: Hakari can look like S tier when its Momentum Rush setup lands. Completing a clean light-attack sequence unlocks a brief window for a dramatically stronger heavy attack. That burst is frightening, but opponents who interrupt, parry, or avoid the initial string reduce the style's value.
Muay Thai: Muay Thai is one of the best attainable pressure styles. Strong posture damage, block chip, and ragdoll-heavy attacks make blocking uncomfortable. It rewards players who stay proactive, vary their timing, and do not let opponents reset the distance for free.
Capoeira: Capoeira belongs in A tier for the right player. Its reduced dash cooldown lets you bait attacks, exit unfavorable trades, and restart from better range. Treat its heavy attack as a spacing and reset tool; relying on it as a guaranteed combo starter is less reliable.
Reroll and Matchup Strategy
Do not reroll immediately after seeing a lower-rarity style. First, test its heavy attack, dash interactions, and performance after a Perfect Block. A style that fits your reactions and movement habits is usually more valuable than a rare one you cannot use consistently.
| If You Roll... | Recommended Decision | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Ali, Boxing, Wrestling, or Kure | Keep it | Each offers top-tier PvP potential |
| Hakari, Muay Thai, Striker, or Capoeira | Usually keep it | Strong styles that reward practice |
| Karate or Basic | Keep while learning | Reliable fundamentals and low-risk utility |
| Slugger | Consider rerolling | Its slow attacks and damage drawback are hard to overcome |
| Wing Chun | Test before deciding | Its counter-focused kit is more matchup dependent |
Use these habits to get more from any style:
- Practice Perfect Blocks before judging a defensive style. Boxing, Karate, and Basic gain much more from good reactions.
- Do not throw heavy attacks on cooldown. Bait a dodge, block, or missed attack first.
- Match your height to your plan: short for speed-oriented pressure, tall for grabs and durability.
- Learn one reliable light-attack route before attempting high-damage conversions.
- Against grapplers, maintain spacing and make them commit before you counterattack.
Newer styles such as Mishima, CQC, and Kyokushin have less settled competitive data than the established roster. Mishima appears promising as a forward-pressure option, but it is sensible to treat early rankings cautiously until players have more matchup experience.
FAQ
What is the best style in this gakuran tier list?
Ali has the highest overall ceiling because of its speed, evasive tools, counters, and guard pressure. For a more realistic target, Boxing is the best all-around recommendation thanks to safe heavy attacks, strong chip pressure, and rewards for Perfect Blocks.
Which fighting style is best for beginners?
Basic, Karate, and Boxing are the most beginner-friendly choices. Basic teaches the combat fundamentals, Karate offers forgiving posture management, and Boxing combines accessible pressure with excellent defensive utility.
Is Wrestling better than Boxing?
Wrestling has higher grab-based damage potential, especially on tall builds. Boxing is generally more consistent because its heavy attacks are harder to interrupt and its kit works well in more situations. Pick Wrestling for confident grab reads and Boxing for dependable pressure.
Should I reroll a Legendary style?
Not automatically. Legendary rarity does not guarantee the best fit. Keep Capoeira if you enjoy mobility and spacing, keep Wrestling for a tall grappler build, and consider whether the style supports your actual PvP habits before using a reroll.