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Melee Styles Tier List

Melee styles are less glamorous than Souls or Weapons, but they matter a lot in the launch game because they control early comfort, combo smoothness, and whether your character feels stable before expensive upgrades start stacking.

Updated: 2026-05-24Launch Meta

Decision Guide

Black Leg is the best overall Melee style and the one most players should target first. Fishman Karate is the best comfort alternative if you value larger training ceilings and smoother progression toward high stat caps. Combat is only a starter bridge.

Pick By Goal

Best long-term style

Black Leg is the best Melee style if you want clean scaling and practical all-round value.

Best comfortable fallback

Fishman Karate is the best fallback if you want stronger training ceilings and a smoother stat path.

S+

S+ Tier — Meta / God Tier

Best serious style for long-term accounts.

Black Leg

+ Best overall style for combo quality, utility, and late-route value

− Requires real setup instead of being a free upgrade

S Tier — Top Tier

Strong alternative style with clear route value.

Fishman Karate

+ Strong training ceiling and smooth practical route value

− Slightly less complete than Black Leg overall

A Tier — Strong / Viable

Starter bridge style that should eventually be replaced.

Combat

+ Starter style that gets you moving immediately

− Pure bridge option that should be replaced once possible

Tier List FAQ

When should I replace Combat?+

As soon as you can afford the trainer and route requirements for Black Leg or Fishman Karate without derailing your core progression.

🛡️ Haki Guide

See how Melee style timing overlaps with Haki progression.