Tekken 8 Ranking System Explained

Do you dream of being a Pro Tekken player? If so, then you will need to climb its perilous online ranked ladder. Thanks to Tekken 8’s rollback netcode, the online experience is consistently smooth and responsive. Getting the top of Tekken 8 ranks will not be anything but easy. You will face countless sharks from around the world who have a taste for fresh meat. You will need to focus on learning the game and how to defeat each character instead of reaching a particular level. As a martial artist in real life, my master always stressed this important lesson: “Chase skill, not rank.”

Ranks

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Rank of Tekken 8

Ranks and Points

The Tekken series utilizes the Dan ranking system from real life martial arts. Unfortunately your rank in Tekken won’t translate into real life combat prowess. You will start out at the beginner rank and work your way up. You will see your progress after each match via a small bar at the bottom. When you have enough points you will be placed in a promotion match. Winning the match will progress you into the next rank. At higher ranks you will gain points alongside promotions. Below is the list of all the ranks in Tekken 8.

Demotion

From the beginner rank all the way to the Warrior rank you will not be able to be demoted. Once you reach the Warrior, you will be at risk of demotion. If you lose a demotion match you will rank down. Whenever you rank up, a small amount of extra points are awarded to you..

Win Loss/Ratio

In Tekken 8 your win/loss ratio has an impact on how high you climb the rank ladder.. In the beginning of the rank ladder losses will not have much of an impact. Starting with Warrior rank you will be able to be demoted. When you reach the Fujin rank you will receive less experience points for wins, so ranking up will become much more difficult. This is a divisive aspect of ranked matches with many feeling it incentivizes not rematching opponents. Another strange part of the system is that players will not receive higher points for beating stronger players. You also won't lose many points for being defeated by a lower ranked opponent.

How Ranks Affect Other Characters

Similar to Street Fighter 6, each character will have their own individual ranks. Unlike Street Fighter, ranking up your highest level characters will level up your unused fighters. Every fighter you play has their own Tekken prowess that adds to your total. It is located on the top of your health bar. You will be matched with players with similar prowess regardless of what character you pick. This is used to prevent experts of the game from bullying beginners.

Rank Distribution

Below you will see a chart of the most current rank distribution of Tekken 8. You will be able to see where your current skills are against the rest of the community. Rank does not always equate to skill, so never feel bad about losing to lower ranked opponents.

Top 20 Tips to Rank Up

20. Experiment With Characters

Tekken 8 has over 30 characters to choose from. Each character has at least 50 unique moves with some even exceeding 100. It is important to practice with as many characters as you can to learn their strengths and weaknesses. While some fighters may have more advantages than others, everyone in the roster can be viable in the right hands.

19. Learn Key Moves

When learning your new characters it's important to learn their key moves quickly. Thankfully in training mode Tekken 8, the game lists all of the key moves that you will need to use. Mastering these attacks will make it easier to deal damage to your opponent.

18. Learn Combos

In any fighting game, landing a hit on your opponent is never a guarantee. For that reason, you have to make every hit count. Learning a variety of simple combos can help you punish your opponent for making a mistake. Tekken 8’s practice mode provides a variety of sample combos for you to learn. There are also combo trials to help build your understanding of each character. You will eventually be able to create your own unique combos.

17. Learn Frame Data

Frame data is a concept that many casual fighting game players aren't familiar with. Frames are used to measure speed in fighting games. The lower the frame number, the faster your attack will come out. Conversely, higher frames correlate to slower attacks. There are also recovery frames to consider If an opponent blocks your attack your frame data will determine whether or not you can block their counter attack. Some attacks will actually give you an advantage. It is vital to pay attention to the frame data at the bottom corner of the screen.

16. Improve Your Spacing

In real life fighting, it is important to understand critical distance. This is the space where either combatant can strike each other without taking a step forward. When starting a fighting game for the first time, many will button mash to see what works. This will result in many whiffed attacks that will leave you open for a counter attack. You need to carefully space your moves to make sure they connect. It is almost always better for an opponent to block your attack than to miss entirely.

15. Side Step

In order to excel at Tekken you need to appreciate how it differs from other fighting games. Tekken 8 is a 3D game meaning you can move to the side in addition to forward and back. Many newcomers will ignore sidestepping which is a huge mistake. You can avoid certain linear attacks by moving in the right direction. Even the strongest characters in the game have a side that they are weak to. Some attacks can only be performed after side stepping. You become harder to hit when you keep moving.

14. Learn Your Punish Moves

Learning your punish moves is vital to winning matches. The most damaging moves in the game are usually unsafe when blocked. You have to be alert and look for your opportunity to strike back. Some punish moves will even give you a chance to start a combo. You can learn your punish moves from block training in Practice mode. In replay mode, the game will give you tips on which moves you should use to counter certain attacks. After playing the game long enough, you will be able to get a feel on which punishment moves to use even if you don't know the matchup.

13. Practice Blocking

Although Tekken 8 is more offense oriented, defensive skills are still vital. A strong defense can frustrate your opponent into making a mistake. One of the most common failings for new players is the inability to block slow sweeping attacks. You can practice your defense via Practice Mode with two levels of difficulty. Watching your replays will also help you learn how to strike back against your opponents common moves.

12. Learn How to Break Throws

Breaking throws is a skill that most newer players ignore. Throws in Tekken 8 have become much more powerful when compared to past games. If you want to make it into the higher ranked levels, you must practice breaking throws. Spending 5-10 in training mode can help you react to different throws. Watching your replays will tell you what buttons are needed to break them.

11. Use Heat/Rage Wisely

For most of the series’ history, special moves were few and far between in Tekken. Starting with Tekken 6, rage was introduced as a small comeback mechanic. Tekken 7 expanded on this concept with Rage Arts giving characters a special ultimate move. In Tekken 8 the Heat System was introduced giving each character unique gimmicks to add more complexity to the game. These mechanics serve to give newcomers an edge against series veterans and speed up the pace of the combat. Using these tools wisely will help you turn the tide of any battle. Just be sure to not panic when using them or you will be brutally punished.

10. Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Due to Tekken being a 3D fighter the stage can play a critical role in your strategy. Some stages have balconies, and breakable floors that can be used to extend your combos. Some combos can only be done at the wall. There are also certain characters that can wall jump. You will need to be aware of your surroundings at all times and be ready to adjust your strategies.

9. Watch Your Replays

Sooner or later you will face a significantly better opponent. You will try to chip away at their life bar only for them to delete your health bar with a few simple combos. At first you might say they were playing an overpowered character but this is not the answer. You won't improve as a fighter without feedback. Watching your replays can be a humbling yet rewarding experience. You will find opportunities for retaliation that were hidden from you in the moment. Watching replays will slowly expand your character matchup knowledge for the future.

8. Watch Other Players Replays

One of Tekken 8’s best features is its reply channel. You can watch other players use a specific character and fight in online matches. This can be an invaluable source of inspiration for your growth in Tekken. Thanks to the extensive move list of each character, there are an infinite number of ways to play a character. You will be able to come up with new strategies that you never considered.

7. Download Ghosts

Ghost battles are a new feature introduced in Tekken 8. After an online match, players can download their opponent's ghost. The ghost is an AI that will mimic the original player's patterns. This is a great tool to use for beginners who struggle against certain match ups. While the Ghost can often be a far cry from the real player, you should use every tool at your disposal to do better.

6. Play Casual Matches

Casual matches can help level up your skills in Tekken 8. These matches can take the stress of ranked gameplay away and can make you think more clearly. Even if you are horribly mismatched and run into a seasoned veteran you won't have to worry about demotion. Casual matches are also a great place to make new friends and sparring partners.

5. Look at Tier Lists

Tier lists are a way for you to find out who are the strongest characters in the game. There are no universal tier lists in fighting games but generally there are some opinions that are shared throughout the community. Tier lists can help you find out where the meta game is right now. In tournaments, you will mainly see characters at the top of the pyramid. Just remember that Tier Lists are not set in stone. Lower tier characters can still be viable in the right hands.

4. Watch Youtubers

Tekken Youtubers are more than just entertainment. They can help you find new strategies and even relieve the tension that comes with playing ranked matches. You may even run into popular YouTubers by chance. Watching their videos can give you an edge on how to fight them. You’ll also get a huge ego boost if you are able to beat one.

3. Make Friends/Rivals

You’ll reach your full potential without help. While fighting games are competitive by nature, the community is what gives them legacy. You might be tempted to trash talk if you are on a hot streak but giving grace can lead to unexpected friendships. Whenever I fight a close match I always try to message them to see if they want a casual rematch sometime. Tekken 8 allows you to send friend requests across all platforms. You can also register players as rivals and view their current ranks.

2. Join Tournaments

Tournaments are what separate casual players from the experts. If you want to reach the next level of skill, you must put yourself out there. While arcades aren't as commonplace as they were in the past, online competition is thriving. It can be a daunting experience the first time around, but entering enough tournaments can make you more confident in your abilities. You may even meet some friends in real life.

1.Don't Stress Out

This may be the most important tip on the list. At the end of the day, fighting games are still entertainment at their core. You should not tie your self worth to a video game no matter how good you are. If you are on a losing streak, take a break. Tekken 8 has a multitude of single player content to enjoy. You can even swap out for a different game entirely. Breaks can also be great for renewing your interest in a game once you return. Ignore any troll comments and keep living your best life.

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Are you the next champion?

Playing Ranked in Tekken 8 can be a challenge but it is also exciting and rewarding. I love battling against players who are slightly above my level to push my skills to the limit. Currently I am at the Raijin Rank with the King and the Fujin Rank with Zafina. I plan to take my characters to at least Tekken King rank but I am very satisfied with my journey. It is great to set goals, but never forget to have fun. Loving the battle regardless of the outcome is the secret to becoming a great player.

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