Clive Rosfield has been making waves ever since his arrival inTekken 8, which swiftly followed his reveal, and he seems poised to live up to the legacy of the series' previousFinal Fantasyguest character. By bringing his signature swordplay and Eikon powers fromFF16, he seems to have followed in the footsteps of Noctis as a disruptive force in theTekken 8meta who largely cannot be ignored.
He might thematically stick out as a medieval warrior in a modern martial arts tournament setting to begin with, butClive Rosfield inTekken 8truly separates himself through the properties that define his gameplay. By subverting several major elements of the title’s core combat with a deep set of tools, his role in the game’s overall meta is only likely to grow if he remains unchanged.
The Versatility of Clive Rosfield’s Sword-Based Moveset is Promising
A Contender for the Best Heat Engagers in Tekken 8
Through the consistent starter potential of moves like Prominence (f+1+2), a double-hitting, homing Heat Engager, Clive takes full advantage ofTekken 8’s signature system. With the reach of his sword, only completely whiffing the first hit of this move makes it possible for the opponent to sidestep it. A similar homing property is shared by moves like Executioner (b+2), a seemingly straightforward attack that can cancel into Phoenix Shift (f+4) and its follow-ups like Scarlet Cyclone (1+2 during PH) which yet again tracks.
The Terrifying Synergy of a Parry Balancing Mid-Range Offense
Another layer to Clive is Precision Dodge (b+3), a parry with defensive utility matching his general damage potential. This not only makes trading with him far less productive, but further highlights the inherent imbalance of a sword user inTekken. Due to having the weapon property on moves like Swift Edge (FC+d/f+2), many ofClive Rosfield’s attacks inTekken 8are ironically unable to be parried by other characters themselves.
Clive Rosfield Competes with the Fundamental Dominance of Tekken 8’s Top-Tier Characters
Unique Systems and Design That Can Rival Perfect Traditional Play
Among those who tend to be considered thetop fighters ofTekken 8’s roster, the likes of Jin Kazama and Nina Williams have always been characterized by the foundation they provide for skilled players to elevate their basic kits to the highest execution level. Clive, on the other hand, stands against these examples by sharing more with Yoshimitsu, another character considered to be a major threat due to his unorthodox approach.
While a Jin player has to put in constant work and vigilantly punish the opponent’s openings, a move like Clive’s Knight’s Gambit (f+3) gives him the freedom to deliver a low whiff punish at will, for instance. He’s even been graced with his own Zantetsuken level mechanic, and achieving a full charge of that character-specific gauge basically allows Clive to utilize another Rage Art on top of the universal option. He might not necessarily be the absolute peak of theTekken 8meta, but he can reach similar levels of success with far less dedication on the part of the player.
Clive Has Several Moves Which Could Be Contenders for Future Nerfs
In the vein ofpreviousTekkenDLC characters, it’s likely that the more overtuned aspects of Clive will be toned down with progressive updates. The Titan ability Windup (b+1+2) having a range of nearly fullscreen with solid pushback makes it practically impossible to punish, despite the fact that it’s minus on block, for example. With moves like Pile Driver (d+1+2) being a mid, counter hit, launcher with homing properties and a large hitbox to boot, it’s safe to say that some of Clive’s more potent options are capable of carrying his performance in the right environment for the time being.
Tekken 8
WHERE TO PLAY
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
