Tiers — Character Rankings for Street Fighter 3 Third Strike
Last updated on Dec. 31, 2007
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.
Updated tier listing for 2007
| 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.
Older tier listing for 2005
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 |
Original tier listing from 2002
| 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 |
Posted by guy January 16, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. #1
wow, why does Sean suck so much?
Posted by Hugo's house o horrors January 20, 2008 at 12:04 a.m. #2
Hugo gets a bad rap. I love his design so much too.
Posted by NQ January 31, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. #3
note that this is not good-sucky characters. it's more like characters easiest-hardest to use. i'm sure people have seen hayao use hugo. scary stuff.
Posted by zob February 5, 2008 at 5:22 p.m. #4
Actually, it's a list of matchups and a ranking based on how well chars fare against each other. The more easy matchups a char has, the higher his rank.
So yes, it's a list of good-sucky characters. A player being good with a low tier has nothing to do with it.
Hell in almost every game slow big grapplers are never top tier but you'll always see some players beasting with them because they are usually high risk-high reward. Big gambles for huge payoffs.
Posted by Black-Jack February 15, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. #5
Why do you hate Sean so much? Most of Sean's moves are awsome if you do them right, the rolling move he does helps you get out of situations when your cornered, he might not be able to do the fireball unless you use it as the super art(which is probably a big mistake by the game designers) but still, he is my second favorite character.
Posted by Teabrewer March 6, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. #6
To Black-Jack, he doesn't say he hates Sean or anything....Sean just sucks....and it has been tested and proven that he sucks since this data is taken from matches...
Posted by NQ March 9, 2008 at 8:07 p.m. #7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayo66tDp_...
it all depends on the player.
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