Tekken 8 King Character Guide: All You Need to Know

Tekken 8 King Character Guide: All You Need to Know

Sitting as one of the best grapplers in the game, and to the annoyance of plenty of players, King is a fantastic character to learn. Not just to play in ranked but even more so to figure out the fundamentals on how to beat him. His fantastic whiff punishes, as well as a solid natural game, which means he is well suited for patient players, especially because although deadly as a whole, King lacks singularly destructive moves. The opposite of a glass cannon, if you will.

If you plan to stick with Zafina going forward, then after you learn the basics here, we highly recommend you watch pro player Jesandy's guide on the character.

However, this text guide is intended to give you a wider scope, and teach how to work up your way up with King so you can start taking names in Tekken's Ranked mode.

King's Gameplay Basics

King excels in executing the mixup game with finesse. His diverse array of moves renders him proficient in both offensive and defensive strategies, whether that means whiff punishes or mounting pressure with his own attacks. However, he encounters challenges against opponents who adopt a defensive stance and those proficient in aggressive rushdown tactics with precise execution.

Like many other characters in the roster, King's Heat moves are paramount to his gameplan. He has incredible Heat Smash, use it to your advantage. It's crucial to remain vigilant against adversaries who dominate the neutral game, avoiding being ensnared in their strategies. If you can take control of the tempo of the fight, you can win.

Best Buttons

• 2,1 – a good fast 10-frame punish. +8 on hit, -3 on block, with some nice damage.

• b1,2 – a 12-frame punish. A full launch on counterhit.

• b2,1 – 37 damage and a knockdown. Wallsplats. It’s duckable, so be careful.

• df1 – great poking tool, only -1 on block. Great followup if your opponent mashes.

• df2 – only 12 damage, but a great check to stop your opponent moving. A CH combo though.

• ff,N,1+2 – no damage, but makes your opponent respect the spacing. Makes some moves guaranteed on CH.

• b3 – -10 on block, but it’s armored. 43 damage on hit.

• ff,N,2 – best low of King.

• ff1 – 20 frames, homing, leaves your opponent on -14. Safe on block.

• f3 – low range, but has a DDT followup. Good Oki.

• uf4 – 15-frame launcher. Use only as a launcher, not as a punisher.

Whiff Punishers

• f2,1

• b3

• b2,1

• FCdf2

Heat Moves

• f2,1

• f2+3

• df1+2

• d1+4

King's Bread & Butter Combos

• UF+4 > 4 > df+4,3 > b+1,2 > f,f,f+2+4

• FC DF+2 > 4 > d+f4,3 > b+1,2 > f,f,f+2+4

• FC DF+2 > f,f+1 > df+4,3 > b+1,2 > f,f,f+2+4

• FC DF+2 > WS3 > df+4,3 > b+1,2 > f,f,f+2+4

• FC DF+2 > f1+2 > df+4,3 > b+1,2 > f,f,f+2+4

• UF+4 > 4 > b+2,4 > b+3 > f,f,f+2+4

• UF+4 > 4 > df+4,3 > b+1,2 > 2  > f,f,f+2+4

• FC DF+2 > 4 > d+f4,3 > b+1,2 > 2 > f,f,f+2+4