You'll find multiple charts below showing roughly who would win how many games if two high-level players of equal skill played against each other using the characters shown.
For example, by the top chart, Yun would win six games out of ten against Chun Li. And Alex would win four games out of ten against Ryu.
Tiers have been and will likely always be a hotly debated topic. Just because a character is a higher tier does not mean you should play them. You're best off picking characters you like because of how they play. Regardless, some people have disadvantages and the tier rankings do a fair job of outlining these, but DO NOT take the rankings as the final end all be all word about who the best characters are. Think of it more as a loose guideline.
There are multiple charts because this represents the evolution of tiers over the years.
| Chun | Yun | Ken | Mak. | Dud. | Yang | Akuma | Urien | Ryu | Oro | Elena | Ibuki | Necro | Alex | Remy | Q | 12 | Hugo | Sean | Rank | |
| Chun | - | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | +33 |
| Yun | 6 | - | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | +31 |
| Ken | 4 | 5 | - | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | +22 |
| Mak. | 4 | 4 | 5 | - | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | +17 |
| Dud. | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | - | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | +15 |
| Yang | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | - | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +14 |
| Akuma | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | - | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +6 |
| Urien | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | - | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +5 |
| Ryu | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | - | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +5 |
| Oro | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | - | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +4 |
| Elena | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | - | 5 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +2 |
| Ibuki | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | - | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | +2 |
| Necro | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | - | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | -13 |
| Alex | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | - | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | -14 |
| Remy | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | - | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | -16 |
| Q | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | - | 6 | 7 | 7 | -21 |
| 12 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | - | 6 | 6 | -27 |
| Hugo | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | - | 7 | -33 |
| Sean | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | - | -37 |
All characters are color coded by tiers. Top tier characters are gray, upper tier are blueish-green, middle tier are red, lower tier are purple, the bottom tier is brown and the worst is a puke-gold color.
The biggest difference between the 2007 and 2005 charts are that before 2007 Yun was considered to be the best overall character in the game. Elena is also now tied with Ibuki. Some of the other match-ups changed, slightly, but for the most part things have remained the same.
| Yun | Chun | Ken | Mak. | Dud. | Yang | Akuma | Urien | Ryu | Oro | Ibuki | Elena | Necro | Alex | Remy | Q | 12 | Hugo | Sean | Rank | |
| Yun | - | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | +32 |
| Chun | 4 | - | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | +32 |
| Ken | 5 | 4 | - | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | +22 |
| Mak. | 4 | 4 | 5 | - | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | +17 |
| Dud. | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | - | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | +15 |
| Yang | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | - | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +14 |
| Akuma | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | - | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +6 |
| Urien | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | - | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +5 |
| Ryu | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | - | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | +4 |
| Oro | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | - | 6 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +4 |
| Ibuki | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | - | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | +2 |
| Elena | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 | - | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +1 |
| Necro | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | - | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | -13 |
| Alex | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | - | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | -14 |
| Remy | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | - | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | -17 |
| Q | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | - | 6 | 5 | 7 | -23 |
| 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | - | 6 | 6 | -27 |
| Hugo | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | - | 6 | -27 |
| Sean | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | - | -35 |
| Yun | Chun | Ken | Mak. | Dud. | Yang | Akuma | Urien | Ryu | Oro | Ibuki | Elena | Necro | Alex | Remy | Q | Hugo | 12 | Sean | Rank | |
| Yun | - | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | +32 |
| Chun | 3 | - | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | +30 |
| Ken | 5 | 4 | - | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | +21 |
| Mak. | 4 | 4 | 5 | - | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | +20 |
| Dud. | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | - | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | +16 |
| Yang | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | - | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +12 |
| Akuma | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | - | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +6 |
| Urien | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | - | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +5 |
| Ryu | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | - | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | +5 |
| Oro | 3 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | - | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +3 |
| Ibuki | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | - | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | +3 |
| Elena | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 | - | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | +1 |
| Necro | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | - | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | -10 |
| Alex | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | - | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | -14 |
| Remy | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | - | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | -19 |
| Q | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | - | 5 | 6 | 7 | -23 |
| Hugo | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | - | 4 | 6 | -28 |
| 12 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | - | 6 | -28 |
| Sean | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | - | -36 |
I'm going to post this here, and the 3rd Strike main section, but there is a new tier-list for 3rd Strike, as of 2009, I guess. Sorry for the lack of the number chart.
Arcadia tier list-
S+ - Chun-Li
S - Yun
A+ - Ken, Dudley
A - Makoto, Yang
A- - Urien, Akuma, Ryu, Oro
B+ - Hugo
B - Elena, Ibuki, Alex
C - Necro, Twelve, Remy, Q
D - Sean
@ Dude Man.
You have to learn all those things for Yun too lol. For everyone really and if anything Yun is one of the hardest characters to learn just because of his super.
how can Hugo be so low? I always get my ass kicked because of him not to mention he's like an iconic image because of this game. Hugo FTW!!! He's Numbuhhhhh one!
Yeah I mean I don't even know why they are coming out with this "online edition" if they are not planning on balancing some things, they don't have to over kill it like HDR but just give some things to some characters that need help. The online feature is fine but if it's gonna be the same 5 characters over and over I see, i'll pass.
More time and effort could have been spent on Street Fighter Alpha 3 IMHO.
Holy crap Makoto was actually good in this game????? sweet jesus lol. What happened Capcom????
There will be a different Tier list Geni since this one is outdated. I think we'll have a much more recent one once the game is out for a month or so.
From Shoryuken.com
New Arcadia Tier List
S+ - Chun-Li
S - Yun
A+ - Ken, Dudley
A - Makoto, Yang
A- - Urien, Akuma, Ryu, Oro
B+ - Hugo
B - Elena, Ibuki, Alex
C - Necro, Twelve, Remy, Q
D - Sean
Anyone know who the best dudley was back then? VictoLy, Kokujin, or Fujiwara?
I really Wana main Ken but I am pretty sure everybody will be aware of the style "nevertheless, Ken is one of the most famous characters" man I am so hype for the SF3:OE release woot woot!!!
@ #10
I'm not saying I disagree with you but SFA3 would need a bigger makeover than this game if re-released IMO. That game's V-ism combos made it just as broken (if not more broken) as Marvel vs Capcom. Look up some V-ism combos on youtube if you don't know what I'm talking about. Xenozip (on youtube) has some good examples. Though I do agree with you, being able to play as Karin again on an up to date console would be AWESOME!
Sfa3 has been re released for psp and ps3 got the ps1 classic alpha games. This is the first time the average gamer has had access to sf3 in a very long time and I for one am VERY happy to see it. I don't care about character balancing tweaks. And I'm glad they kept the graphics original. ssf2thdr is a beautiful game, but sometimes the original artwork is just fine how it is, and in sf3's case I think this is true. The one thing that's missing on psn, is Street fighter (1987 original). I realize it isn't a great game but when you have 2,3 and4 it just feels wrong to not have 1.
sean was actually top tier in the sf3 then they nerfed all his stupid and left chun li and yun alone.... because he is black ofcourse... cant have a top tier black character in a capcom game after what storm did to mvc2.... (joke) but yeah they nerf the crap out of sean in 3so for whatever reason... I just got watch SBO 2013 ad a few Yun players got bopped by a hugo mainer... so this game really relies on skill more than tiers... why wont capcom make a fighter like this again
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