Pick for motivation first, then use the official battle-type labels to narrow the cast. DLC ownership and Switch availability are shown separately.
How to choose without overthinking it
Shortlist three fighters whose look, movement, or theme makes you want to press buttons.
Play their Arcade or Training sample long enough to feel walk/dash speed, jump arc, normals, and special inputs.
For each candidate, try the simplest neutral button, confirm, knockdown, and defensive button in Training mode.
Commit to one for twenty matches. Switching after evidence is healthy; switching after every loss hides the lesson.
The official labels are broad onboarding hints: Balance, Zoning, Rushdown, Shooting, One Shot, Power, and Unique. They are not tier rankings and do not describe every matchup.
Base roster · 15
Fighter
Official type
Mainline access
Switch status
Sol Badguy
Balance
Base game
Included
Ky Kiske
Balance
Base game
Included
May
Power
Base game
Included
Axl Low
Zoning
Base game
Included
Chipp Zanuff
Rushdown
Base game
Included
Potemkin
Power
Base game
Included
Faust
Unique
Base game
Included
Millia Rage
Rushdown
Base game
Included
Zato-1
Unique
Base game
Included
Ramlethal Valentine
Balance
Base game
Included
Leo Whitefang
Rushdown
Base game
Included
Nagoriyuki
One Shot
Base game
Included
Giovanna
Rushdown
Base game
Included
Anji Mito
Balance
Base game
Included
I-No
Rushdown
Base game
Included
Season Pass 1 · DLC 1–5
Fighter
Official type
Mainline access
Switch status
Goldlewis Dickinson
Power
Season Pass 1 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Jack-O'
Unique
Season Pass 1 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Happy Chaos
Shooting
Season Pass 1 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Baiken
Balance
Season Pass 1 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Testament
Zoning
Season Pass 1 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Season Pass 2 · DLC 6–9
Fighter
Official type
Mainline access
Switch status
Bridget
Balance
Season Pass 2 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Sin Kiske
Balance
Season Pass 2 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Bedman?
Unique
Season Pass 2 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Asuka R♯
Unique
Season Pass 2 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Season Pass 3 · DLC 10–13
Fighter
Official type
Mainline access
Switch status
Johnny
Zoning
Season Pass 3 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Elphelt Valentine
Rushdown
Season Pass 3 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
A.B.A
Unique
Season Pass 3 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Slayer
Power
Season Pass 3 or individual DLC
Included in launch package
Season Pass 4 · DLC 14–17
Fighter
Official type
Mainline access
Switch status
Queen Dizzy
Unique
Season Pass 4 or individual DLC
Free post-launch update
Venom
Zoning
Season Pass 4 or individual DLC
Paid DLC from Dec. 18, 2025
Unika
Balance
Season Pass 4 or individual DLC
Paid DLC from Dec. 18, 2025
Lucy
Balance
Season Pass 4 or individual DLC
Paid DLC from Dec. 18, 2025
Season Pass 5 · released DLC 18–19
Fighter
Official type
Mainline access
Switch status
Jam Kuradoberi
Rushdown
Season Pass 5 or individual DLC
Not documented as available
Robo-Ky
Unique
Season Pass 5 or individual DLC
Not documented as available
Unreleased Season Pass 5 slots
The official product page lists DLC characters #20 for winter 2026 and #21 for spring 2027 without names. They are not counted among the 34 released fighters, and this guide does not speculate.