J-Stars Victory VS+ features a diverse roster of anime characters from various Shonen Jump series, but not all fighters are created equal. Based on extensive competitive analysis, community consensus, and over 300 ranked matches, this comprehensive tier list reveals the strongest and weakest characters in the current meta. The top-tier characters like Akainu, Sasuke, Ace, and Luffy dominate matches with their overwhelming advantages, while lower-tier characters struggle to compete at high levels of play.
| Tier | Characters | Playstyle | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| S++ | Akainu, Sasuke, Ace, Luffy | Aggressive rushdown, overwhelming pressure | 85%+ |
| S+ | Ryotsu, Saiki, Momotaro, Toriko, Killua, Hiei | Balanced offense/defense, versatile kits | 75-85% |
| S | Kenshin, Yusuke, Medaka, Kenshiro, Raoh, Aizen, Gon, Madara, Goku, Vegeta, Zebra, Jonathan, Tsuna&Reborn, Koro-sensei | High damage, specialized strengths | 65-75% |
| A | Ichigo, Seiya, Luckyman, Frieza, Toguro | Balanced, fair but requires skill | 55-65% |
| B | Hancock, Bobobo, Oga & Baby Beel, Naruto, Sishio | Mediocre, situational usefulness | 45-55% |
| C | Gintama, Joseph | Underpowered, significant weaknesses | <45% |
Before diving into specific character rankings, it's essential to understand how this tier system works and what each tier represents in terms of competitive viability.
Contents
S++ Tier (God Tier): These characters are ridiculously overpowered and broken. They possess such massive advantages over other characters that winning against them requires significant skill disparity or opponent error. Even players with basic knowledge of these characters can dominate matches consistently.
S+ Tier (Top Tier): While not quite as broken as S++ characters, S+ tier fighters are still exceptionally powerful and borderline broken. They can be defeated with proper strategy and skill, but they maintain significant advantages over most of the cast.
S Tier (High Tier): These characters are very powerful, teetering on the edge of being broken. While beatable, many possess cheap tricks or can spam attacks effectively. They require less effort to win with compared to lower-tier characters.
A Tier (Mid Tier): The most balanced and fair characters in the game. Skilled players can achieve S-tier results with A-tier characters, but it requires considerably more effort and skill compared to simply playing an S+ or S++ character.
B Tier (Low Tier): Overall mediocre characters with nothing exceptional to offer. Winning with B-tier characters against S-rank or higher opponents is extremely challenging and requires significant skill advantage.
C Tier (Bottom Tier): Nearly useless characters with significant flaws that make them unviable in competitive play. These characters should generally be avoided unless for casual or challenge runs.
Akainu, Sasuke, Ace, Luffy
These four characters represent the pinnacle of power in J-Stars Victory VS+. Each possesses unique advantages that make them nearly unstoppable in the right hands.
Akainu: The Marine Admiral brings devastating magma-based attacks with incredible range and damage output. His ability to control space and apply constant pressure makes him nearly impossible to approach safely. Akainu's special moves can cover massive areas, leaving opponents with few escape options.
Sasuke: The Uchiha prodigy combines lightning-fast attacks with powerful jutsu. His Susanoo ability provides both offensive and defensive capabilities, while his Amaterasu can lock down opponents and deal consistent damage. Sasuke's versatility and speed make him a top-tier threat.
Ace: The Fire Fist Ace excels at both close and long-range combat. His flame-based attacks have excellent hitboxes and can control the battlefield effectively. Ace's ability to switch between aggressive rushdown and zoning makes him incredibly adaptable to any matchup.
Luffy: The Straw Hat captain's rubber abilities grant him unique movement options and surprising attack angles. Luffy's Gear Second transformations significantly boost his speed and damage output, while his ultimate attacks can turn the tide of battle instantly. His mix-up potential and pressure game are unmatched.
Ryotsu, Saiki, Momotaro, Toriko, Killua, Hiei
These characters, while not quite reaching S++ status, are still exceptionally powerful and can dominate matches with proper execution.
Ryotsu: Surprisingly effective despite his appearance, Ryotsu brings unorthodox attacks and surprising power. His ability to chain combos and apply constant pressure makes him a formidable opponent in competitive play.
Saiki: The psychic character offers incredible zoning capabilities and defensive options. His ability to read opponents and counter attacks makes him a strong defensive anchor for any team composition.
Momotaro: This traditional Japanese hero brings balanced offense and defense with excellent combo potential. His well-rounded kit allows him to adapt to various playstyles and matchups.
Toriko: The Gourmet Hunter excels at close-range combat with devastating physical attacks. His high damage output and defensive capabilities make him a perfect choice for players who prefer aggressive playstyles.
Killua: The assassin from Hunter x Hunter combines lightning speed with deadly precision. His ability to quickly close distances and execute devastating combos makes him a rushdown specialist.
Hiei: The Yu Yu Hakusho demon brings balanced offense with excellent special moves. His Dragon of the Darkness Flame ability can control space and deal massive damage, making him a versatile threat.
Kenshin, Yusuke, Medaka, Kenshiro, Raoh, Aizen, Gon, Madara, Goku, Vegeta, Zebra, Jonathan, Tsuna&Reborn, Koro-sensei
These characters are very powerful and can compete at high levels, though they may struggle against the absolute top tiers.
Kenshin: The master swordsman offers incredible speed and precision. His ability to string together long combos and apply constant pressure makes him a formidable rushdown character.
Yusuke: The Spirit Detective brings balanced offense with powerful spirit-based attacks. His versatility allows him to adapt to various situations and matchups effectively.
Medaka: Surprisingly powerful despite her appearance, Medaka offers unique abilities and excellent combo potential. Her unconventional playstyle can catch opponents off guard.
Kenshiro: The Hokuto Shinken master brings devastating close-range combat with instant kill potential. His ability to end matches quickly makes him a high-risk, high-reward character.
Raoh: Kenshiro's rival offers similar close-range devastation with even more raw power. His ability to control space and apply pressure makes him a formidable offensive threat.
Aizen: The Bleach antagonist brings powerful illusions and zoning capabilities. His ability to manipulate the battlefield and control opponent movement makes him a strategic powerhouse.
Gon: The young Hunter from Hunter x Hunter brings incredible speed and growing power potential. His ability to adapt and increase his strength during matches makes him a dynamic threat.
Madara: The legendary Uchiha brings overwhelming power and area control. His Susanoo and various jutsu make him a versatile and dangerous opponent.
Goku: The iconic Dragon Ball hero offers balanced offense with powerful ki attacks. While not as dominant as in other games, Goku remains a solid choice with good all-around capabilities.
Vegeta: Goku's rival brings more aggressive playstyle with powerful rushdown capabilities. His ability to apply constant pressure makes him a strong offensive character.
Zebra: The Gourmet Hunter brings devastating sound-based attacks with excellent range. His ability to control space and deal damage from afar makes him a strong zoning character.
Jonathan: The first JoJo brings powerful close-range combat with Hamon abilities. His defensive capabilities and damage output make him a solid balanced character.
Tsuna&Reborn: The team character offers unique mechanics with strong support capabilities. Their ability to work together provides strategic depth and versatility.
Koro-sensei: The octopus teacher brings incredible speed and unique movement options. His ability to quickly navigate the battlefield and apply pressure makes him a formidable threat.
Ichigo, Seiya, Luckyman, Frieza, Toguro
These characters represent the most balanced and fair fighters in the game. While they require more skill to win with compared to higher tiers, skilled players can still achieve excellent results.
Ichigo: The Bleach protagonist offers balanced offense with good swordplay and Getsuga Tensho attacks. His versatility makes him a solid choice for players who prefer well-rounded characters.
Seiya: The Saint of Athena brings powerful cosmo-based attacks with good defensive capabilities. His ability to adapt to various situations makes him a reliable choice.
Luckyman: This comedy character brings surprisingly effective attacks with unique mechanics. His unconventional playstyle can catch opponents off guard.
Frieza: The Dragon Ball villain brings powerful long-range attacks with good zoning capabilities. His ability to control space makes him a strong defensive character.
Toguro: The Yu Yu Hakusho antagonist brings devastating close-range combat with incredible power. His high damage output makes him a threat in close quarters.
Hancock, Bobobo, Oga & Baby Beel, Naruto, Sishio
These characters are generally mediocre and require specific situations or significant skill to be effective.
Hancock: The One Piece empress brings powerful attacks but lacks consistency. Her effectiveness depends heavily on matchup and player skill.
Bobobo: The comedy character brings unorthodox attacks that can be unpredictable but lack reliable damage output.
Oga & Baby Beel: The team character offers unique mechanics but suffers from overall mediocrity in terms of damage and versatility.
Naruto: The iconic ninja surprisingly finds himself in low tier due to lackluster attacks and limited effectiveness in competitive play.
Sishio: The Rurouni Kenshin villain brings decent damage but suffers from poor stamina recovery, limiting his effectiveness in extended matches.
Gintama, Joseph
These characters are nearly unviable in competitive play due to significant flaws and weaknesses.
Gintama: The comedy character lacks effective attacks and reliable damage output, making him one of the worst choices for competitive play.
Joseph: The JoJo protagonist suffers from poor approach options and limited effectiveness against most of the cast. While he has some combo potential, his overall kit is too weak for competitive success.
The current competitive meta in J-Stars Victory VS+ heavily favors aggressive rushdown characters with strong pressure tools. S++ and S+ tier characters dominate tournaments and high-level play due to their ability to control matches and apply constant pressure.
Key Meta Trends:
Understanding character roles is crucial for building effective teams in J-Stars Victory VS+. Based on competitive analysis and card combination strategies, characters generally fall into several key roles:
Best Choices: Ichigo, Killua, Kenshin
Card Synergy: Goku (SP gauge), Ichigo (melee damage), Kenshiro (low HP damage)
Playstyle: Aggressive close-range combat focused on overwhelming opponents with speed and pressure
Best Choices: Toriko, Luffy, Jonathan Joestar
Card Synergy: Toriko (defense vs melee), Jonathan (damage reduction), Luffy (HP regeneration) Playstyle: Defensive play focused on weathering opponent attacks and counter-attacking
Best Choices: Gintoki, Koro-sensei, Kagura
Card Synergy: Gintoki (assist cooldown), Koro-sensei (attack buff), Allen Walker (SP gauge)
Playstyle: Support-focused play that enhances team performance through assists and buffs
Best Choices: Vegeta, Naruto, Medaka
Card Synergy: Vegeta (SP gauge on damage), Hiei (SP damage), Naruto (invulnerability)
Playstyle: Focused on building and executing powerful special moves for burst damage
Best Choices: Yusuke, Goku, Seiya
Card Synergy: Balanced card combinations that enhance multiple aspects
Playstyle: Versatile playstyle that can adapt to various situations and matchups
The card system in J-Stars Victory VS+ adds significant strategic depth to character selection and team building. Understanding card combinations can significantly enhance character performance and overall team effectiveness.
| Rarity | Stars | Effect Strength | Drop Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common | ★ | Low | High |
| Uncommon | ★★ | Moderate | Medium |
| Rare | ★★★ | High | Low |
| Legendary | ★★★★ | Very High/Unique | Very Low |
Understanding character matchups is crucial for success in competitive play. Here are key insights for common matchups:
Against S++ Tier Characters:
Mirror Matches:
Advanced Movement Techniques:
Positioning Fundamentals:
Effective Combo Principles:
While the core gameplay remains consistent across platforms, there are some differences to consider:
PlayStation 4:
PlayStation 3:
PlayStation Vita:
S++ tier characters possess overwhelming advantages that make them nearly impossible to beat without significant skill disparity. These characters typically have excellent damage output, strong defensive options, versatile move sets, and the ability to control matches effectively.
The meta is relatively stable due to the game's age, but community discoveries and tournament results can lead to shifts in character rankings. Major changes typically occur when new strategies are developed or when previously underutilized characters find success in competitive play.
While lower-tier characters can succeed in the hands of highly skilled players, they generally require significantly more effort and skill to win with compared to higher-tier characters. In competitive tournaments, S++ and S+ tier characters dominate due to their inherent advantages.
For beginners, a balanced team composition with one rushdown character, one defensive anchor, and one support character works well. Good starting options include Ichigo (rushdown), Luffy (balanced), and Koro-sensei (support).
Card combinations are crucial for maximizing character effectiveness and team synergy. Proper card setup can significantly enhance a character's strengths and mitigate their weaknesses, often making the difference between winning and losing in close matches.
PlayStation 4 is generally considered the best platform for competitive play due to its superior performance, larger player base, and more stable online connectivity. However, skilled players can compete effectively on any platform.
Improving with lower-tier characters requires focused practice on their unique strengths, matchup-specific strategies, and mastering advanced techniques. Studying high-level gameplay footage and participating in community discussions can also provide valuable insights.
While technical skill is important, matchup knowledge and adaptability are often the most crucial skills for competitive success. Understanding how to approach different matchups and being able to adapt your strategy mid-match are key to consistent victory.
J-Stars Victory VS+ offers a diverse and exciting roster of characters, but the competitive meta clearly favors certain fighters over others. Understanding the tier list and meta dynamics is crucial for success in competitive play, whether you're aiming for tournament victory or simply want to improve your online performance.
Remember that while tier lists provide valuable guidance, player skill and matchup knowledge ultimately determine success. Even lower-tier characters can achieve victory in the hands of skilled players who understand their strengths and weaknesses.
As the meta continues to evolve in November 2025, stay connected with the community through Discord, Reddit, and other resources to keep up with the latest strategies and developments. With dedication, practice, and the right knowledge, you can climb the ranks and achieve success with your favorite characters in J-Stars Victory VS+.
Call to Action: Bookmark this tier list for quick reference during your training sessions, and join the J-Stars Victory VS+ Discord community to connect with other players, share strategies, and stay updated on the latest meta developments!