Imagine a world where Akuma, the iconic demon of Street Fighter, isn’t at the pinnacle of power. Shocking, right? That’s precisely what fighting game legend Daigo Umehara, also known as ‘The Beast,’ suggests in his recent analysis of Street Fighter 6’s character tiers. He’s stirring up the pot with some seriously controversial opinions!
Daigo boldly claims that even with an absurdly boosted health pool of 10,000 stamina, Akuma still wouldn’t crack the top three in Street Fighter 6. Yes, you read that correctly. He believes the current top dogs, Mai Shiranui and Ed, would maintain their dominance even with such a significant buff to Akuma. But here’s where it gets controversial… are these assessments based purely on objective data, or is Daigo factoring in player skill and matchup knowledge?
In a recent video, Daigo elaborated on his perspective, diving into what he perceives as the current meta of Street Fighter 6. He acknowledges the widespread perception of JP and Blanka as top-tier threats. And this is the part most people miss… He points out that JP’s success was largely attributed to Kakeru, a player who recently retired due to health concerns. This raises a critical question: Does JP’s perceived strength stem from the character itself, or was it a product of Kakeru’s exceptional skill and understanding of the character?
Then, Daigo turns his attention to the other end of the spectrum: the characters struggling to find their footing in the competitive scene. “If you asked me who the weakest character is, I’m not sure,” he admits, initially hesitant to pinpoint the absolute worst.
However, a viewer chimed in, asking, “Is Ken really one of the bottom five?” Daigo’s response? A definitive, “Bottom five. Sure seems like it, wouldn’t you say? He seems like one of the five weakest to me. I think Ken is quite weak indeed.” This is a particularly spicy take, considering Ken’s historical popularity and perceived strength in previous Street Fighter iterations. Many players will likely disagree with this assessment, potentially igniting some fiery debates.
Beyond Ken, Daigo also expressed concerns about the viability of characters like Luke, Kimberly, Manon, E. Honda, Cammy, Dee Jay, Dhalsim, and Sagat. He suggests these characters are currently facing significant challenges in the competitive landscape. Why are they struggling? Is it due to inherent weaknesses in their movesets, unfavorable matchups against the top tiers, or simply a lack of optimized strategies and player representation?
Daigo’s tier list is far from definitive, of course. Tier lists are subjective by nature and constantly evolve as players discover new strategies and techniques. However, his insights offer a valuable perspective from one of the most respected figures in the fighting game community. What do you think? Are Daigo’s assessments accurate, or are some of these characters being unfairly judged? Which character do you believe is the most underrated or overrated in Street Fighter 6 right now? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!