Grappler / Chain Throw SpecialistTekken 8
Good First Pick

King

The legendary masked wrestler. Terrifying multi-part chain throws, armored Heat charges, and lethal counter-hits.

Execution Difficulty:
2/5
Role: Grappler / Chain Throw Specialist
King
Image: King — © Bandai Namco Entertainment — via Tekken Wiki (Fandom) (EDITORIAL)Source

Watch this first

Ten minutes here will save you an evening of guessing.

3 Key Starter Moves

The only 3 buttons you need to drill in Practice Mode to start winning matches.

Move 01
→,←,↙,↓,↘,→+
→ then ← then ↙ then ↓ then ↘ then →+□. Classic Tekken notation: f,b,db,d,df,f+1.

Giant Swing

Iconic throw that spins the opponent and hurls them across the stage for huge damage.

Move 02
→,→,→++
→ then → then →+△+○. Classic Tekken notation: f,f,f+2+4.

Running Powerbomb (Shining Wizard)

Instant dashing knee throw that catches opponents backing up or waking up.

Move 03
↘+
↘+□. Classic Tekken notation: df+1.

Gut Punch

Quick 12-frame mid check to prevent opponents from ducking your high throws.

Reading the inputs

Each face button is one limb. Arrows are directions on the stick or D-pad — → is toward your opponent, ← is away (which is also how you block).

□

Left punch

= 1

△

Right punch

= 2

✕

Left kick

= 3

○

Right kick

= 4

The small grey code under each move is classic Tekken notation. It looks cryptic, but it is what every guide, frame-data site and player online uses — worth learning to read so you can follow any tutorial you find.

Ready for the full movelist?

Three moves win you matches; the full list is a few hundred. When you want the rest, these are the resources the Tekken community actually uses. They are independent sites, not ours.

Okizeme.ggMoves & frame dataTekken WikiFull Tekken 8 move listWavu WikiCommunity strategy guide

Full movelist

All 197 of King's moves, in PlayStation buttons. Names and inputs only — no frame data.

  • Jab
    □. Classic Tekken notation: 1.
  • Palm Strike
    ,
    □ then △. Classic Tekken notation: 1,2.
  • Palm Strike Uppercut
    ,,
    □ then △ then □. Classic Tekken notation: 1,2,1.
  • Palm Strike Uppercut → Suplex
    ,,,+
    □ then △ then □ then △+○. Classic Tekken notation: 1,2,1,2+4.
  • Palm Strike Uppercut → V Driver
    ,,,↓++
    □ then △ then □ then ↓+△+○. Classic Tekken notation: 1,2,1,d+2+4.
  • Palm Strike → Head Jammer
    ,,+
    □ then △ then △+○. Classic Tekken notation: 1,2,2+4.
  • Palm Strike → V Driver
    ,,↓++
    □ then △ then ↓+△+○. Classic Tekken notation: 1,2,d+2+4.
  • Head Spinner
    +,
    □+△ then □. Classic Tekken notation: 1+2,1.
  • Brutal Sting
    +,
    □+△ then ✕. Classic Tekken notation: 1+2,3.
  • Ki Charge
    +++
    □+△+✕+○. Classic Tekken notation: 1+2+3+4.
  • Winding Nut
    +
    □+✕. Classic Tekken notation: 1+3.
  • Right Jab
    △. Classic Tekken notation: 2.
  • Right Jab → Uppercut
    ,
    △ then □. Classic Tekken notation: 2,1.
  • Heat Burst
    +
    △+✕. Classic Tekken notation: 2+3.
  • Suplex
    +
    △+○. Classic Tekken notation: 2+4.
  • Left Kick
    ✕. Classic Tekken notation: 3.
  • Stampede Crush
    ,,
    ✕ then △ then △. Classic Tekken notation: 3,2,2.
  • Stampede Crush (Hold)
    ,,*
    ✕ then △ then △*. Classic Tekken notation: 3,2,2*.
  • Jaguar Step
    +
    ✕+○. Classic Tekken notation: 3+4.
  • Right Kick
    ○. Classic Tekken notation: 4.
  • Triple Arm Breaker (AB2a)
    AB.,+
    AB□.□ then □+△. Classic Tekken notation: AB1.1,1+2.
  • Chicken Wing Face Lock (AB2c)
    AB.,,+
    AB□.△ then □ then □+✕. Classic Tekken notation: AB1.2,1,1+3.
  • Head Jammer (AB2b)
    AB.,,+
    AB□.△ then ○ then △+○. Classic Tekken notation: AB1.2,4,2+4.
  • Struggle Combination (AB2b1)
    AB←.,,+,+
    AB△←.✕ then ○ then ✕+○ then □+△. Classic Tekken notation: AB2b.3,4,3+4,1+2.
  • Rolling Death Cradle (AB3cb)
    ABc.,,,,+
    AB△c.□ then ✕ then ○ then △ then □+△. Classic Tekken notation: AB2c.1,3,4,2,1+2.
  • Dragon Sleeper Finish (AB3ca)
    ABc.,,,+
    AB△c.△ then □ then ✕ then □+△. Classic Tekken notation: AB2c.2,1,3,1+2.
  • Mid-Air Leg Cross Hold
    AIRstance+
    AIR □+✕. Classic Tekken notation: AIR.1+3.
  • Spine Cracker
    AIRstance+
    AIR △+○. Classic Tekken notation: AIR.2+4.
  • Double Heel Hold (DHH)
    AIRstance↓++
    AIR ↓+□+✕. Classic Tekken notation: AIR.d+1+3.
  • Flapjack (From DHH)
    AIRstance↓++,+,+
    AIR ↓+□+✕ then □+△ then □+△. Classic Tekken notation: AIR.d+1+3,1+2,1+2.
  • Giant Swing (From DHH)
    Airstance↓++,,,,
    Air ↓+□+✕ then △ then □ then ✕ then ○. Classic Tekken notation: Air.d+1+3,2,1,3,4.
  • Running Jaguar Bomb
    AIRstance→,→,→++
    AIR → then → then →+△+○. Classic Tekken notation: AIR.f,f,F+2+4.
  • Aerial Jaguar Bomb
    AIRstance→,←↙↓↘→
    AIR → then ←↙↓↘→ □. Classic Tekken notation: AIR.f,hcf+1.
  • Quick Hook
    ←+
    ←+□. Classic Tekken notation: b+1.
  • Quick Hook → Uppercut
    ←+,
    ←+□ then △. Classic Tekken notation: b+1,2.
  • Quick Hook → Heel Kick
    ←+,
    ←+□ then ○. Classic Tekken notation: b+1,4.
  • Throw Away
    ←++
    ←+□+△. Classic Tekken notation: b+1+2.
  • Throw Away → Back Swing
    ←++,+
    ←+□+△ then □+△. Classic Tekken notation: b+1+2,1+2.
  • Arm Whip
    ←++
    ←+□+✕. Classic Tekken notation: b+1+3.
  • Chupacabra
    ←+
    ←+△. Classic Tekken notation: b+2.
  • Chupacabra → Spinning Back Elbow
    ←+,
    ←+△ then □. Classic Tekken notation: b+2,1.
  • Chupacabra → Head Butt
    ←+,+
    ←+△ then □+△. Classic Tekken notation: b+2,1+2.
  • Chupacabra → Olympia Slam
    ←+,
    ←+△ then ○. Classic Tekken notation: b+2,4.
  • Spinning Heel Hold
    ←++
    ←+△+○. Classic Tekken notation: b+2+4.
  • Leg Screw → Figure Four Leg Lock
    ←++:+
    ←+△+○:✕+○. Classic Tekken notation: b+2+4:3+4.
  • Toll Kick
    ←+
    ←+✕. Classic Tekken notation: b+3.
  • Guillotine Drop
    ←+:+
    ←+✕:□+△. Classic Tekken notation: b+3:1+2.
  • Reverse Jaguar Step
    ←++
    ←+✕+○. Classic Tekken notation: b+3+4.
  • Disgraceful Kick
    ←+
    ←+○. Classic Tekken notation: b+4.
  • Half Boston Crab
    Behind.+
    Behind.□+✕. Classic Tekken notation: Behind.1+3.
  • Cobra Twist
    Behind.+
    Behind.△+○. Classic Tekken notation: Behind.2+4.
  • Stretch Buster
    Behind.←,→++
    Behind.← then →+□+△. Classic Tekken notation: Behind.b,f+1+2.
  • Atomic Blaster
    Back turned+
    Back turned □+△. Classic Tekken notation: BT.1+2.
  • Moonsault Body Press
    Back turned+
    Back turned □+○. Classic Tekken notation: BT.1+4.
  • Blind Kick
    Back turned
    Back turned ✕. Classic Tekken notation: BT.3.
  • Jaguar Step (BT)
    Back turned+
    Back turned ✕+○. Classic Tekken notation: BT.3+4.
  • Low Drop Kick (BT)
    Back turned↓+
    Back turned ↓+○. Classic Tekken notation: BT.d+4.
  • Blind Kick → Neck Breaker
    Back turned,+
    Back turned ✕ then □+△. Classic Tekken notation: BT3,1+2.
  • Arm Breaker (AB1)
    Crouch dash+
    Crouch dash □+✕. Classic Tekken notation: CD.1+3.
  • Standing Heel Hold (SHH1)
    Crouch dash+
    Crouch dash △+○. Classic Tekken notation: CD.2+4.

Movelist data from Wavu Wiki, an independent community wiki. Inputs are converted to PlayStation buttons by UGL.

Strengths
  • •Deadliest throw arsenal in esports
  • •Armored running moves in Heat
  • •High counter-hit damage
Weaknesses & Counter-Play
  • •Large character hitbox
  • •Can be interrupted if throws are telegraphed

King is the undisputed king of grapplers. In Tekken 8, King's throws deal chip damage on break, and his Heat state gives him armored wrestling charges that plow through incoming punches.

If you want to panic your opponents with ambiguous chain throws, King is the tournament crowd favorite.

Video Guides

Related Masterclasses

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