The Elena update brought more than just a new character to Street Fighter 6 — it significantly reshaped the game’s balance. Some former favorites received noticeable nerfs, while others got unexpected buffs that changed their place in the meta. As a result, we now have an entirely new power ranking among characters.

Who’s the strongest after Elena’s arrival? Which characters got buffed? And who should be benched until the next patch?

Street Fighter 6 Season 3 Tier List – Elena Patch (June 2025)

S-Tier: Rashid, Ryu, Akuma, Bison

This season, Ryu confidently climbed to the top of the meta — thanks to buffs to his fireballs and Denjin mode, he’s now a near-perfect shoto with no real drawbacks. Rashid remains powerful due to excellent mobility and space control, barely affected by the patch. Akuma holds strong with his zoning capabilities and devastating combo pressure. Bison, despite minor changes, is nearly uncounterable — his burst potential and consistent neutral game keep him at the top.

A-Tier: Guile, A.K.I., Blanka, Zangief, Mai, Ed, Ken, Cammy, JP

These characters either retained their strength or took a light hit from balance changes. Guile and A.K.I. were slightly nerfed, but can still punish nearly every mistake and control the stage effectively. Zangief and Blanka benefitted from buffs, making them more versatile and less dependent on risky plays. Mai, Ken, and Ed had some pressure or combo options toned down but remain reliable. Cammy and JP are still dangerous thanks to their mobility and zoning tools, though no longer as dominant.

B-Tier: Terry, Luke, Juri, Chun‑Li, E. Honda

These mid-tier characters either have a steeper learning curve or fall short in stability. Terry has new low-kick combos that open up potential, but his pressure game is unstable. Luke, Juri, and Chun‑Li are technical picks that require skill but suffer from inconsistent damage or control. E. Honda saw improvements to his Taiho combos but still loses to stronger opponents in neutral exchanges.

C-Tier: Dee Jay, Marisa, Kimberly, Dhalsim, Manon

These characters have limited match impact. Dee Jay and Dhalsim struggle against rushdown fighters, often failing to set their pace. Marisa and Manon can be strong in the right combo situations, but are easy to punish and slow in neutral. Kimberly has solid mobility but relies too much on tricks and often loses to faster opponents.

D-Tier: Lily, Jamie

Still the weakest in the current meta. Despite receiving buffs, they haven’t become competitive. Lily and Jamie suffer from weak neutral play, risky combos, and a lack of effective pressure tools. They are hard to use at a high level and generally lose most matchups.

Elena (Unranked)

The newest character of the patch — Elena — doesn’t yet have a clearly defined place in the tier list. Her healing mechanic looks unique and shows promise for extended fights, but there’s currently not enough tournament or ranked data to evaluate her actual strength.

After the Elena patch, Street Fighter 6’s meta has changed drastically. Familiar favorites have lost ground, while some forgotten characters found new life. Even though Elena’s role remains uncertain, it’s already clear that Season 3 is shifting the game’s dynamics, with versatility, consistent neutral, and space control becoming key to success.