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The main protagonist, and sometimes anti-hero, of theTekkenseries returns to save the world inTekken 8, Jin Kazama. Fighting alongside a roster of long-time entrants of the Iron Fist Tournament, players will step into the role of Jin when playing throughmost chapters in The Dark Awakens story.
Players will need a solid understanding of Jin’s fighting style and technique if they wish to get through later chapters of theTekken 8campaign, and with this guide and a little dedication, you may breeze through the hardest difficulty of The Dark Awakens, and master a fighter who can be used to quickly climb lower ranks in online Ranked Matches.
Style Overview - Jin, The Lightning of Fate
A fighter with afamily style based in karate,Jin Kazama has a pretty simple fighting style that can be very welcoming to new players, mostly relying oncross-kick combos or left-right, left-punch combos. Because of his more simple techniques, even after completing the story, players who are not veterans of theTraditional layout of the Tekkenseries canuse Jin to become familiar with individual limb control to gain a better understanding of why and how techniques workfor more complex characters before attempting tolearn those fighters (like Yoshimitsuor Raven).
While not overly complex, Jin does still have a few tricks up his sleeve, being able to tap into his Devil Jin form to blast enemies with demon energy - don’t forget the following when locked in as Jin:
Jin’s Move List
Jin has a pretty average move listcompared to other fighters inTekken 8, with 109 techniques in total. Jin has many stances for players to explore, with one stance (and its follow-up attacks) that taps into his demon power by consuming Heat Gauge.
Input
Hellfire Trespass Slayer
Amassive five-hit combothat pushes enemies high into the air with charged attacks, ending with a crushing downward strike accented bya blast of demon energy.
Heat Input OR RP + LK
Hellfire Darkside Slayer
Afaster variant of the Hellfire Slayerattack that trades aerial juggle strikes for a forceful thrust kick thatthrows enemies far back.
Heat Input, RK OR RP + LK, RK
Median Line Destruction
A rapidly executed mid-strike jab combo thatsends enemies flying backand activates Heat Dash (if Heat is available).
LP + RP
Tanden Nidan-uchi
Start with a thrust kick, then strike the enemy with a powered cross thatknocks the enemy back.Activates Heat Dash if available.
Forward + LK, LP
Right Spinning Axe Kick
Step forward and spin, using the momentum for a fast yet strong head kick that activates Heat Dash if available.
Down-Forward + RK
Demon’s Paw
Throw the enemy back with a powerful gut punchthat activates Heat if available.
Forward, Forward (Hold) + RP
Fiendish Claw
Performed from Zanshin, a sweeping high strikeempowered by demon energy,activating Heat if available.
Back + LK + RK (Zanshin), RP
Awakened Power Stance
Consumes Heat to brieflyexert demon energy, breaking guards and knocking enemies back.Opens new lines of attack.
Down-Back + LP + RP
Awakened Thunder God Fist
A rising uppercut powered by demon energy thatsends enemies flying back. Performed from Awakened Power Stance.
(Awakened Power Stance), LP
Awakened Wind God Fist
A fast uppercut that launches enemies upward,allowing for juggle combos.Performed from Awakened Power Stance.
(Awakened Power Stance), RP
Awakened Demon’s Hoof
Jump and stomp down on the enemy,continuing ground juggle combos.Performed from Awakened Power Stance.
(Awakened Power Stance), LK
Awakened Demon’s Tail
Feint high before dropping to the ground and striking the enemy with a far-reaching low kick,knocking them to the ground.
(Awakened Power Stance), Down-Forward (Hold) + LK
Awakened Spinning Demon
A spinning combo that uses charged kicks to devastate your enemy, start by knocking the enemy down with Awakened Power Stance, thenjuggle the enemy with a low-high kick combo, sending them back.
Polar Demon Gouge
Lock the enemy with a charged uppercut, then unleash the full fury of Jin’s Demon in a flying punch.
Rage Input OR Down-Forward + LP + RP
A simple two-hit combo
LP, RP, RK
Left Jab > Double Low
Start with a high jab, then quickly tag the enemy twice with low strikes thatleave the enemy open for follow-up attacks.
LP, LK, RK
Double Thrust > Roundhouse
A quick two-punch strike followed by a fast high kick that recovers quickly,allowing for follow-up techniques.
RP, LP, RK
Switchblade
Punch high, then spin and kick the enemy in the face, releasing a small burst of demon energy.Hold Forward to transition to Zenshin after execution.
RP, RK
Kishin Rekko
A powerful combo that starts with a high kick and a high punch, followed by a low knee kick.Transition to Zenshin after execution by holding Forward.
LK, LP, RK
Spinning Flare Kick
A falling kick thatknocks both Jin and the enemy to the ground.
RK, LK (Quickly)
Left Sidekick > Stinger
A combo that kicks twice with the same leg,transitions to Zenshin by holding Forward.
Thrusting Uppercut
Blast enemies upward with a small blast of demon energy,allowing for juggle combos.
(Breaking Step), LP
Wind Hook Fist
An uppercut that uses a larger amount of demon energy toknock enemies back.
(Breaking Step), RP
Depraved Savagery
Trip your enemy beforecrashing down on them with a massive blast of demon energy.
Brimstone Bite
A spinning fist strike that uses demon energy tosend enemies flying back
(Zanshin), LP, RP
Kazama Style Leg Strike Flurry
A juggle combo that executes automatically(players can interrupt the cinematic with a throw input)
(Zanshin), LP, LK
Halberd Heel
A cross-strike heel kick that exerts a small blast of demon energy.
(Zanshin), LK
Combos for Jin Kazama
When playing as Jin, players will want to focus on simple combos thatlock the enemyand trap them in a succession of Jin’s strikes,finishing with a demon energy strike for maximum damage.
Basic Combo: Left Right Combo + Left Jab > Double Low + Over the Shoulder Reverse
A basic combo that starts with a jab-cross-jab combo followed by two quick low strikes (be sure to pause a moment between the Left Right Combo and the Left Jab input, or players will accidentally execute Black Wing Rondo). Before the enemy recovers, grab them and throw them to the ground -transition into ground juggle techniques for follow-up damage.
Input: LP, RP,, LP, LK, RK, RP + RK
Advanced Combo: Double Lift Kick + Fiendish Rend + Scourge + Spinning Flare Kick + Handspring Kick
Combining excellent timing with swift input execution, start bylaunching the enemy into the airwith a powerful upwards kick,catch them midair with Fiendish Rend, followed by a chargedlow swipe, timed right as the enemy hits the ground. Flip forward and down onto the enemy, then launch up off the ground, kicking the enemy as you approach,allowing for follow-up attacks.
Input: Down + LK + RK, Down-Forward + RP, Down + RP, [Quickly RK, LK], LK + RK
Perfect Combo: Left Right > Black Wing Rondo + Left Kick + Zanshin + Corpse Crusher + Shun Masatsu + Savage Sword + Heat Burst + Hellfire Trespass Slayer
Catch the enemy with a quick jab combo thatlaunches them into the air.Catch the enemy with a left kick to juggle them momentarily, thenrapidly transition to Zanshin and follow up with Corpse Crusherto close distance and continue the damage chain.Quickly transition to Shun Masatsu, opening up the enemy’s guard for the heavy-hitting strikes of Savage Sword, kicking the enemy back on the final hit.Activate Heat, and smash the enemy to oblivionwith the power of Jin’s Devilwith Hellfire Trespass Slayer.
Input: LP, RP, LP, LK, Back + LK + RK, RK, Back + RP, LP, Down-Back + RP, RP, LK, Heat Input OR LK + RK, Heat Input OR LK + RK
How To Win
Players will need to gain a solid understanding of Jin Kazama’s techniques to progress through thelater stages of the main campaign, especially on higher difficulties. Players who hope to master the Kazama style should focus on the following aspects of Jin:
Countering Jin
Jin is decent all around as a fighter,not the fastest, yet not the strongest,even with his demon energy attacks. A solid Jin player can be a challenge for most fighters,especially if you are playing against a Jin and aren’t very familiar with his counter abilities or stance transitions(for example,Zanshin steps back to dodge,allowing Jin to launch into a new line of attacks, andAwakened Power Stance can interrupt and guard break enemieswhile allowing Jin to tap into empowered combos the emit demon energy blasts). With the lowest start-up frames hitting 10,Jin can easily be outpaced by some of the faster fighters who are still able to keep up with his damage output, like Victor or Lili.
Victor Chevalier, one of Tekken 8’s new fighters, especially has an easy time taking on Jin as he can use his quick knife combos to lock Jin(with start-up times of Victor hitting as low as 7 frames)and then seamlessly transition to his Iai Stance, which uses Victor’s cybernetic sword to dish out huge amounts of damage usingblink attacks that can zip in and out of Jin’s attack range.
Jin also has a particularly rough time against fighters who have a good variety of throws ora grappling fighting style that can grab Jin and throw him around the ring without allowing himto use his parries- like Kingor Panda. Azucena, while less of a grappler, can also be a strong pick due to her automatic counters built into her Libertador stance and her tricky startup motions that can dodge around enemy attacks and strike underneath guards.
