Street Fighter 6: the 18 launch characters

Capcom’s launch announcement names the following 18 fighters. This is the original SF6 roster, not a total for every later expansion.

If a name is absent here, continue to the DLC groups below. If you are playing an older Street Fighter game, its own edition and character-select screen are the relevant reference.

Launch roster groupCharacters
Group 1Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile, Blanka, Dhalsim
Group 2E. Honda, Zangief, Cammy, Dee Jay, Juri, Luke
Group 3Jamie, Kimberly, Manon, Marisa, Lily, JP

Find additional SF6 characters by DLC year

The official Character Pass listings divide additional fighters into four-name groups. A pass is content for SF6 and requires the base game; it is not a standalone game. The year labels below identify those content groups, rather than a character’s first appearance in the franchise.

Content groupNamed fightersHow to read this row
Year 1Rashid, A.K.I., Ed, AkumaSeparate from the 18-character launch roster.
Year 2M. Bison, Terry, Mai, ElenaCheck your edition or owned pass for access.
Year 3Sagat, C. Viper, Alex, IngridListed together in Capcom’s Year 3 pass.
Year 4Yasmine, Arjun, Tifa, BoschAnnounced group with sequential releases; do not treat the whole row as already playable.

Year 4: an announced name is not a release-status check

The Year 4 Steam listing gives these announcement windows: Yasmine in summer 2026, Arjun in autumn 2026, Tifa in early 2027 and Bosch in spring 2027. Those are the published windows checked for this article, not four confirmed release dates.

Before purchasing for a particular fighter, check their current official release notice and your platform’s listing. A pass being on sale does not mean all its characters have arrived. An older seasonal window should not be silently converted into a precise day.

Capcom distinguishes Character Passes from Ultimate Passes: both include their year’s fighters, while Ultimate adds content such as costumes and extra Drive Tickets. Read your exact product’s contents rather than assuming that a bundle name includes every year.

Three distinct fighters to understand before choosing

Capcom’s introductions give three useful contrasts. These descriptions identify character concepts and signature tools; they are not a current strength ranking.

FighterBackground and signature conceptWhat to explore first
ZangiefA wrestler built around powerful throws, including Screw Piledriver.Whether you enjoy the decisions involved in getting close enough to threaten a throw.
LilyA Thunderfoot fighter using war clubs; Condor Wind grants Windclad stock for enhanced specials.Whether preparing a resource before an approach feels rewarding.
CammyA Delta Red operative with signature moves including Spiral Arrow and Cannon Spike.How her approach and response options fit the pace you enjoy.
  • Choose a fighter whose decisions interest you, then learn one dependable action at a time.
  • Use the current in-game command list for inputs and move properties; old introduction videos can describe an earlier build.
  • A character’s story role, popularity and competitive strength answer different questions.

A practical first session with your chosen character

Capcom’s official demo introduction teaches Ryu and Luke through Character Guides. For any fighter you have access to, start with their own available guide or tutorial rather than a combo video that assumes you already know their inputs.

Try a short routine: move around, block an incoming attack, identify one useful normal attack and practice one special move from the current command list. Then play a few rounds with one clear goal, such as recognizing when you were too far away for your chosen attack.

Keep the same character long enough to learn why a decision succeeds or fails. A tournament tier list can describe a specific patch and level of play; it cannot choose the style you find enjoyable or supply the practice you have not done yet.

Looking for characters from an older Street Fighter game?

Record the full title and subtitle first. Street Fighter II, its later revisions, the Alpha series and the Street Fighter III games do not share one interchangeable character-select screen. The official 30th Anniversary Collection contains 12 games and a museum with character-history material, which makes the distinction especially relevant when browsing that collection.

A returning character’s presence in SF6 also does not establish their controls in an earlier game. Search the exact title’s command list and roster before using an SF6 guide. This page focuses on SF6’s named content groups; it is not an exhaustive roster for every historical revision.

For a competitive ranking, insist on a stated game version, patch date and ranking method. We have not verified a current cross-character ranking and therefore do not attach S, A or B labels to this list.

Quick help

What is Street Fighter 6 and where can I play it?

Street Fighter 6 is Capcom’s fighting game released in June 2023. Fighting Ground is for traditional matches, World Tour is a single-player story with a custom fighter, and Battle Hub is an online gathering and match space. The game is available on PC via Steam, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. Nisu provides the character guide.

How do I choose a character in Street Fighter 6?

Try Ryu for a balanced toolkit, Guile if you prefer to control space, Cammy for fast close-range pressure or Zangief for grabs. Pick one and use Training or their Character Guide to practice a normal attack, a special move and a way to defend. Check the roster for your edition to see which fighters are available.

Does Street Fighter 6 have only 18 characters?

Eighteen is its launch roster. The official character passes list additional fighters in separate yearly groups.

Does owning the newest pass unlock every earlier pass?

Check the exact product. A pass names its own content group; do not assume it includes the base game or all earlier years.

Is this a current competitive tier list?

No. It is a roster and character-selection reference, with release groups kept separate from balance rankings.

Source and scope

Launch roster and Capcom-published DLC listings checked October 23, 2026. Year 4 windows are announcement schedules, not proof that all four fighters are playable. Nisu has not tested current balance or ranked the cast.