Top Ten Grapplers In Fighting Games | Game Rant
Heavy hitting and characterized by their devastating command grabs, grapplers are one of the most iconic character archetypes in the history of fighting games. No matter which fighting game a player happens to be playing, there is a significant chance that game's roster features a grappler to call its own. So in the spirit of massive command grabs and those who implement them, we're going to count down the top ten grapplers of fighting games! Just because a character features a command grab doesn't automatically mean they cut the mustard. We're talking about those special characters who truly encapsulate what it means for a character to be a great grappler.
For the sake of keeping this list fresh and interesting, we're limiting one character from a franchise to this list.
10 Astaroth - Soul Calibur
In a game dominated by weapon-based combat, it may come as a surprise that the Soul Calibur franchise contains a grappler to begin with. However, the axe-wielding series mainstay, has long utilized numerous command grabs across his numerous iterations as the series progressed. Capable of hooking opponents with his axe to grab them from afar, as well as possessing the ability to deal solid chunks of damage to foes who approach Astaroth up close, few could serve the role of grappler in a game like Soul Calibur better than Astaroth.
9 Kanji Tatsumi - Persona 4 Arena
Brandishing a chair as a primary weapon, Persona 4 Arena's grappler, Kanji Tatsumi possesses a straightforward yet effective grappler strategy that allows him to use his Persona to his advantage.
While many characters in Persona 4 Arena utilize personas to attack opponents from afar, Kanji's persona, Take-Mikazuchi possesses an anti-air grab as well as numerous means of drawing opponents closer to Kanji, allowing him to commence the grappling.
8 Jax - Mortal Kombat
One of the strongest grapplers of the Mortal Kombat Series, Jax's grappling ability is simple yet effective.
Capable of utilizing his "Gotcha Grab," Jax is capable of dealing much more damage than other characters on the roster through the use of grabs. Many more recent incarnations of Mortal Kombat such as Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat XI feature variations that improve Jax's grappling capabilities even further, letting players who seek to play with a more grappler-oriented strategy prosper.
7 Wan-Fu - Samurai Shodown
While the use of weapons is integral in Samurai Shodown to deal high sums of damage to opponents, Wan-Fu is one of the only characters in the game capable of functioning well without. While normally players can attempt to disarm one another, as playing without a weapon is to a player's detriment, Wan-Fu is capable of disarming himself, throwing his weapon at opponents.
Capable of viably fighting without a weapon in hand, Wan-Fu can punch and kick his way to victory when unarmed, even gaining access to a quick and potent command grab as long as he isn't holding his weapon.
6 Ladiva - Granblue Fantasy Versus
The character on this list who was most recently made playable in a fighting game, like Astaroth, Ladiva's role as grappler must be commended. The game in which Ladiva originates, Granblue Fantasy Versus features a roster full of character wielding a variety of weapons such as swords, lances, and scythes. Despite this, Ladiva opts to take the approach of a true grappler, not utilizing a weapon, and instead brandishing a fighting style rife with moves such as a lariat and a mighty command grab. Ladiva even comes with a super that causes the character to pin the opponent, with a referee appearing to give a three count.
5 Mike Haggar - Marvel Vs. Capcom 3
The mayor of Metro City, Mike Haggar personifies what makes great grappler in both gameplay and his story. As mayor, Haggar decides to fight against crime in the most direct and literal way possible, removing his shirt and choosing to suplex and piledrive criminals in the street.
In a game dominated by incredible combos and terrifying onslaughts of projectiles, Mike Haggar is still capable of laying down the law via the utilization of a lead pipe, and his classic piledriver.
4 Iron Tager - Blazblue
One of the biggest weaknesses found within most grapplers in fighting games is a lack of range. Blazblue's Iron Tager immediately throws that problem out the window due to his magnetism mechanic. Via the use of various moves in his repertoire, Tager is capable of magnetizing opponents. This allows for him to pull them closer, so he can execute hard hitting moves such as his command grab.
We're talking about a character who possesses a super move in which the character picks up the opponent, jumps up into the upper stratosphere, then plummets the opponent into a burning crater within the earth's crust. How could we not include Tager on this list?
3 Cerebella - Skullgirls
While some grapplers come equipped with numerous command grabs, few possess as many as the resident grappler of Skullgirls, Cerebella. Possessing a grab for every occasion, Cerebella can grab near, far, in the air, while running, and everything in-between.
In addition to numerous powerful command grabs, Cerebella is backed up by numerous strong normals and even excellent combo potential, allowing her to be utilized in various play styles whilst remaining a grappler through and through.
2 Zangief - Street Fighter
A pioneer of grapplers and perhaps one of the most iconic fighting game characters to exist, modern grapplers wouldn't exist if not for Zangief's introduction in Street Fighter II. Appearing in nearly every Street Fighter game save for the Street Fighter III series, Zangief has evolved and adapted with each of his incarnation, constantly keeping the character fresh and exciting. Whether it be through his powerful air super and the quickness of his "Banishing Flat" in Street Fighter IV, or his access to powerful armor that in many instance can prevent Zangief from flinching.
1 King - Tekken
When it comes to 3D fighting games like Tekken, no character exemplified the grappler archetype quite like King. A masked wrestler, who has countless grabs for any occasion, extensively spanning actual moves in professional wrestling. Capable of executing everything from a DDT to a Frankensteiner, to a stunner, King even possesses a variant costume that allows him to access real-life wrestler Kazuchika Okada's finisher, "The Rainmaker." King has more grabs than other characters have entire move sets. No other grappler presents the sheer scope or flexibility when it comes to command grabs in fighting games quite like King.
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