July 2025 Patch – New Tweaks and Rebalance for All Street Fighter Characters
Street Fighter continues to dominate the fighting game scene thanks to Capcom’s smart strategy that delivers new content and useful patches. The latest patch for Street Fighter 6 at the moment of writing is called “Sagat Arrives!” Fighting Pass brought a few additions to the GaaS title. The BandurArt team are devoted fans of the Street Fighter characters, story, and gameplay. That is why we want to share our opinion about the current state of this great game after the recent patch.
The Street Fighter 6 Update – The July 2025 Patch for Season 3
Capcom dropped the July 2025 patch like a perfectly timed Tiger Uppercut with cosmetic flair, gameplay fixes, and meta-shifting balance. The patch received the title “Sagat Arrives!” Fighting Pass with an awesome trailer from Capcom. This patch will be equally useful for players and hardcore competitors.
Aespa Collaboration – K-Pop Meets Street Fighter
The headline-grabber of this patch became the collaboration with the K-pop band aespa. Thanks to this collaboration, all Street Fighter characters received a limited-time makeover straight out of a futuristic K-pop video. Neon lights and holographic displays with aespa’s signature outfits make this addition quite interesting to explore.
In addition to skins, the players got a few commemorative rewards through the News section:
- New Titles like “Next Level Fighter” and “Savage Striker” that scream aespa energy;
- Custom frame profiles with sleek, cyberpunk designs;
- The group’s mascot Naevis joined the Fighting Ground as a color commentator;
- Aespa-themed backgrounds for in-game devices – perfect for flexing the K-Pop fandom.
These cosmetics are free to claim during the event, but keep in mind that they are time-limited. Do not sleep on them!
“Sagat Arrives!” Fighting Pass – Rewards for Season 3 Players
The “Sagat Arrives!” Fighting Pass brought a lot of interesting and creative rewards in addition to gameplay tweaks:
- New outfit colors;
- New Challenger images;
- Fighting Ground goodies;
- Vibrant skins for Sagat, Ryu, Chun-Li, and others;
- Improved profile cards with showcases of Street Fighter 6 moments;
- Double Kudos for Sparkling Cabinets in the Battle Hub;
- Sagat-centric theme with cosmetics;
This pass costs 1000 Drive Tickets – about $10. But the double Kudos mechanics compensate for this price tag. Sparkling Cabinets are scattered across the Battle Hub. You will earn rewards at a blistering pace by playing on them.
Gameplay Changes in Street Fighter 6 After the July 2025 Patch
Balance and bug fixes were also done correctly. The most important change targeted Mai’s Standing Heavy Kick. Previously, a bug allowed players to cancel this move two frames before the recovery ended after a whiff. Her combo is into specials or supers when she shouldn’t be making her a nightmare to punish.
Other fixes are less important but relevant. The patch notes mention “various minor corrections”. They are hitbox adjustments, frame data tweaks, and bug squashing across the gameplay.
Sagat Returns with Incredible Moves
Sagat’s reintroduction is the patch’s main attraction. Being the King of Muay Thai, he got a reworked moveset with smooth animations and a classic zoning game with modern Street Fighter 6 trends. Personally, we appreciate his Tiger Shots. They are oppressive, with quick startups and better recovery. He is a zoning beast with normal skills being buffed. Stronger pokes and better anti-air options make him the absolute best.
Moves of Sagat after his return in Street Fighter 6:
- Tiger Shot. A quick, versatile projectile for controlling space and forcing opponents to approach;
- Tiger Knee. A swift, advancing move that is great for closing gaps or punishing whiffs;
- Tiger Uppercut. This high-damage anti-air blow can shut down jump-ins with brutal efficiency.
This return is not cosmetic – Sagat is a legitimate contender in this meta. While he is not (yet) on the list of S-tier characters of Street Fighter 6, we see a huge A-tier potential in the skilled hands. The Fighting Pass rewards tie into his arrival, offering Sagat-specific cosmetics.
The Street Fighter 6 community is eating this patch up. On Reddit, players are raving about aespa-inspired outfits and great moves of Sagat. Clips of Juri’s walk-out scenes, complete with “Savage” blaring, are flooding timelines. OG players are actively sharing Street Fighter II combos and Tiger Shots. The nerf of Mai’s skills has caused some debate, but most people agree that it is a fair tweak for keeping her viable without breaking the general game balance.
The Tier List of Street Fighter Characters After the July 2025 Patch
Yes, the July 2025 patch has reshaped the Street Fighter 6 meta with Ryu claiming the throne, and former S-tier stars like Mai and Ken are taking a step back. How have the tiers of Street Fighter 6 characters changed? Let’s try to analyze, according to our experience.
S-Tier Characters in Street Fighter 6
Just like with the rebalance of Mortal Kombat characters after the release of all the patches in MK1, some SF6 characters received a great hype in Season 3.
Ryu
He became a balanced all-rounder after all the updates in Season 3. Since the release, buffs have transformed his Hadoukens into zoning monsters, with quick startups and great recovery points.
His Denjin Charge significantly enhances projectile damage to create a nightmare for rushdown characters in Street Fighter 6. We love his Shoryuken as a reliable anti-air skill with the Level-3 Super, Shin Shoryuken eating health bars.
As for the weaknesses, he struggles against grapplers like E. Honda, but his versatility makes him a safe pick.
Rashid
Recent nerfs have not destroyed Rashid’s Arabian Cyclone and Eagle Spike. He is the most mobile character in Street Fighter 6. You can dance around opponents. Use his V-Trigger-like Ysaar state to boost his mix-ups, making him a pressure machine. He is the absolute best against zoners but struggles when it comes to heavy hitters like Bison.
Bison
His psycho-powered toolkit is as oppressive as ever. Use his Psycho Crusher and Double Knee Press to control space. His teleport mix-ups keep opponents guessing. Since the release, a few buffs have improved Bison’s frame data, making his normals safer. We love his Level 2 Super, called Psycho Storm. It is a combo ender that deals massive damage. His weakness is his predictable approach against skilled players, but his raw power and pressure make him S-tier.
A-Tier Characters in SF6
Unlike S-tier characters in Street Fighter 6, A-tier fighters have certain flaws, though, irrelevant to their superior skills. Consider picking these characters in SF6 if you seek an easy entrance to the game:
- Mai Shiranui. She used to be an S-tier until the latest July nerf. Her Standing Heavy Kick lost the ability to cancel two frames early. The combo potential is reduced. Still, her Ryuenbu projectiles and Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi fan toss give her strong pressure and zoning. We also recommend picking her for the normal like Crouching Medium Punch – a good thing for pokes;
- Ed. Ed’s psycho-fueled punches are still a force. His Psycho Flicker and Psycho Upper give him quick, high-damage combos, while his Kill Switch specials let him chain the pressure attacks. Post-release buffs only released his anti-airs, making him tougher to jump in on. Ed’s weakness is his limited range, forcing him to play close;
- Ken. We absolutely enjoy playing as Ken because of his aggressive playstyle. His Jinrai Kick and Dragonlash Kick are still deadly for pressure. But reduced frame advantage makes him less oppressive. He got some zoning due to the Hadouken buffs. He is the greatest for close-range brawls.
Besides these A-tier characters, Cammy, Akuma, JP, Blanka, AKI, and Sagat are considered decent picks and powerful skills to try.
B-Tier Characters
These characters in SF6 are viable but have significant flaws. Only experienced players can handle these fighters. But if you seek such an experience, take a closer look at B-tier characters in Street Fighter 6:
- Terry. His Power Wave and Burning Knuckle are great, but his predictable approach keeps him B-tier. Buffs to his normal since release improved his neutral, but he lacks the tools to compete with A-tier. Terry counters zones but struggles against grapplers;
- Chun-Li. Since buffs in July 2025 brought Chun-Li’s normals, like Standing Medium Kick, being deadlier. Her Lightning Legs and Kikoken give her a balanced toolkit. She is a sleeper pick, countering rushdown, but struggles against grapplers too;
- Dee Jay. His rhythmic combos and Air Slasher projectiles are very fun but also quite situational. Buffs to his frame data helped, but with limited mix-ups. He counters zoners but struggles against rushdown;
- Jamie. Jamie’s drink mechanic boosts his damage. However, reliance makes this character inconsistent. Post-release buffs to his normals help, but otherwise, he is in the B-tier list for a long time;
Also, you may try such popular B-tier listers as Dhalsim, E.Honda, and Luke. We love their balanced normals, but each of these Street Fighter characters lacks significant skills like bad zoning.
C-Tier Characters
Street Fighter 6 characters are all unique and cool, but there are a few obvious underdogs, let’s admit it. According to our biased opinion and 100+ hours into the gameplay, we can claim that the least viable characters in Street Fighter 6 after season 3 are:
- Marisa. Nerfs gutted her armor moves with a slow, high-risk pick. Her Gladius punch is strong but her lack of mobility keeps her tier that low;
- Kimberly. Her speed and mix-ups are hilarious, but nerfs to her frame data made her combos less reliable against a more balanced opponent;
- Manon. Her command grabs are deadly, but nerfs to her reach and frame data since the release make her moves too predictable.
| Tier | Street Fighter Characters | Features |
| S | Ryu, Rashid, Bison | Ryu’s Hadouken buffs make him a zoning god. Rashid and Bison stay dominant too |
| A | Mai, Ed, Ken, Cammy, JP, Akuma, AKI, Blanka, Sagat | Nerfs hit Ken and Mai, but they are still relevant for tournament. Sagat shines post-return |
| B | Terry, Chun-Li, Dee Jay, Jamie, Luke | Buffs boost Chun-Li. Others are great in niche matchups for experienced players |
| C | Marisa, Manon, Kimberly | Nerfs destroyed their too,l making them tough picks for high-level players |
Tips for Choosing the Best Street Fighter Characters After July 2025 Patch
Do not get scared by all these tiers and strong/weak points. You will learn how to choose the greatest Street Fighter characters but especially for you. Yes, there are more preferable picks for newcomers like Bison or Ken. But you can achieve a lot even with average characters if you invest time and effort:
- Match your playstyle. Do you love aggression? Then pick Ken or Cammy for rushdown. Do you prefer control? Then try zoning fits of Ryu or Sagat. Pick the character who aligns with your playstyle;
- Consider skill level. Beginners should start with Luke and Ryu – simple and versatile kits. Advanced players can tackle complex characters like AKI and Dhalsim for high-skill rewards;
- Always check the character’s meta. Rashid, Ryu and Bison dominate Season 3. Choose S-tier or A-tier characters like Sagat and Mai for a competitive edge, but B-tier can surprise;
- Experiment in Training Mode. Test the new characters in Training Mode to feel and learn their combos. Juri’s flashy kicks or Blanka’s wild rolls might spark joy.
FAQ
Who is LGBT among Street Fighter characters?
Capcom hasn’t confirmed officially the appearance of LGBT characters in Street Fighter 6 or previous games. Though, some fan interpretations often point to Poison as an LGBT character.
Does Street Fighter 6 have DLC characters?
Yes, Street Fighter 6 added DLC characters like Ed, Akuma, Rashid, Mai Shiranui and Sagat during the seasons 1-3 up to July 2025.
Who is the worst character in Street Fighter 6?
Well, it depends on the balance and the personal style of a player. Many devoted gamers believe that Manon and Kimberly are balanced in the wrong way.
Final Thoughts
The July 2025 patch is like a masterclass on how to update the GaaS projects. Street Fighter 6 is a stellar example every aspiring developer can use and implement into their projects. We hope your path in game development will be successful, and we are ready to help with useful recommendations. Also, we encourage you to contact our team and collaborate with us. There are many ways to help one another to create awesome video games.
