Diaphone Unveils Season 1 Tier List: Hotaru Dominates, Billy Kane Solidly Mid-Tier

Diaphone has unveiled his Season 1 tier list, sharing his analysis that positions Hotaru Futaba as the undisputed strongest character in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

Key Takeaways:

• Sole S-Tier: Hotaru Futaba stands alone at the top, a sentiment that aligns with the global consensus on her power level.
• Billy Kane Consistently Mid: Diaphone places the pole-wielder in B tier, agreeing with Japanese pros who view him as a solid but manageable threat.
• Hokutomaru Shines: The ninja joins Kain R. Heinlein in the A tier, recognized for his high potential.

Hotaru Stands Alone

Weibo Gaming's Tyler "Diaphone" Kusich released his comprehensive evaluation of the Season 1 meta, offering a perspective that reinforces the consensus building in other regions. The defining feature of his list is the isolation of Hotaru Futaba in the "Best (S)" category.

While Hotaru has been a popular pick globally, Diaphone’s list suggests she has no equal when optimized. This placement values her oppressive pressure and mobility, creating a significant gap between her and the rest of the cast. Just below her, the "Great (A)" tier features Kain R. Heinlein and Hokutomaru, acknowledging their consistency and high ceilings without granting them the broken status of Hotaru.

Global Meta Comparisons

Diaphone’s rankings provide a fascinating counter-narrative to the Japanese Wall and Mexican Aggro metas.

Billy Kane: The Mid-Tier Consensus While early impressions suggested Billy Kane might be an impenetrable wall, Diaphone places him firmly in B Tier (Good). This assessment actually aligns with the Japanese tier list, which also positions Billy in the mid-tier, debunking the idea that he is an overpowering zoner at the highest levels of play.

Hokutomaru's Rise Diaphone identifies Hokutomaru as a premier threat, placing him in the A tier alongside Kain. This placement highlights the value of high-execution characters in the current meta. In Diaphone's estimation, the ninja's complex toolset offers win conditions that rival the best in the game, elevating him above the crowded mid-tier pack.

The "Good" vs "Alright" Divide The list implies a significant power gap in the current meta, with only five characters in B Tier or higher. While Marco Rodrigues and Billy Kane round out this exclusive group of viable contenders, the vast majority of the cast falls into the C and D tiers. This heavy skew suggests that competitive options are severely limited, and players venturing outside the top five face a steep uphill battle against the current top threats.

What’s Next

With the Season 1 meta solidified, the community now looks toward the release of Season 2. Players are hopeful that the upcoming update will bring necessary balance changes, specifically nerfs to the powerful top tiers like Hotaru, to level the playing field.

Source: Diaphone via X.com