The Unstoppable Power of JP in Street Fighter 6: Unveiling the Ultimate Top-Tier Character

Highlights

The Gamers 8 Street Fighter 6 invitational had a $1,000,000 prize pool, with Kakeru emerging as the grand champion, defeating Angry Bird.

Kakeru and other skilled players opt for JP, a zoner character in Street Fighter 6 renowned for his intricate abilities and defensive approach.

To counter JP's zoning, players can respond to his projectiles, capitalize on punishing his Level 1 Super and command grab through jumping, and make use of the parry mechanic to bridge the gap between them.

The Gamers 8 Street Fighter 6 invitational proved to be the largest tournament of 2023, boasting a prize pool of $1,000,000. The grand champion, Kakeru, walked away with a staggering $400,000 after defeating Angry Bird, the reigning SF6 EVO 2023 champion, in an intense grand final match. Kakeru has been an exceptional player since his involvement in Street Fighter 5 and recently showcased his skills by winning the Red Bull Kumite Last Chance Qualifiers, as well as securing a fifth-place finish at EVO 2023. While he previously favored Ryu in SF5, Kakeru has now embraced SF6's premier zoner - JP.

Kakeru is not the only highly ranked player who has chosen JP as their character. In fact, 11 other players within the top 64 of EVO's Street Fighter 6 tournament also utilize JP. Notable professional players such as Brian_F and SonicFox have also made JP their main character in their ranked streams and competitive matches. Despite his complex move set and defensive playing style, JP has become a formidable opponent, causing frustration for many players, particularly those who are less experienced.

Why JP is One of the Strongest Zoners in Street Fighter 6

JP is categorized as a zoner in fighting games. This means that his primary strategy is to fight from a distance using projectiles to keep his opponent away. He shares this playstyle with other characters in Street Fighter 6 such as Guile and Dhalsim. What sets JP apart is his special moves, Triglav and Torbalan. Triglav summons spikes from below at different distances depending on the strength of the punch inputted by the player. Torbalan, on the other hand, summons a clone that can attack high, mid, and low, keeping opponents guessing even when they are blocking.

If other fighters attempt to use their projectiles, JP can punish them with Triglav, regardless of their position on the battlefield. JP's Embrace special move allows him to perform a command grab from a distance, which can be helpful in stopping advancing enemies. Both his Triglav and Torbalan projectiles can be canceled into his Level 3 Super Art, allowing him to deal significant damage without ever getting close. His defensive playstyle is further enhanced by his Overdrive Amnesia special move, which can act as a reversal against attacks and throws. JP players can also switch up their tactics by going on the offensive, using Drive Rush or Departure teleport to close the gap and ending their combos with Stribog to push their opponents away again.

How Players Can Counter JP in Street Fighter 6

Fighting game newcomers often struggle against zoners. The inability to approach the enemy can make matches feel hopeless. Even defending against characters like JP, whose projectiles can reach from anywhere on the screen, poses a challenge. However, there are strategies to overcome this and deal significant damage.

One effective way to counter JP is by training in Street Fighter 6's Torbalan mode, where players can learn to react to his projectiles. By paying attention to the height at which JP spawns the projectile based on the input, players can react accordingly by blocking high or low. Additionally, JP's Level 1 Super and command grab are punishable with a well-timed jump. Utilizing the parry mechanic is also advantageous when facing zoners like JP. A perfectly timed parry can provide the player with extra frames to close the distance and even execute a combo.

JP stands out as a top-tier character in Street Fighter 6 due to his exceptional zoning specials, capable of hitting opponents at different distances and heights. Even the most skilled players struggle against individuals like Kakeru, who have perfected their utilization of JP's versatile set of attacks with remarkable triumph. Despite his dominance in high-level tournament and ranked matches, JP can be overcome by opponents who sharpen their reflexes against his projectiles and refine their parry timings.

Street Fighter 6 is currently accessible on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S platforms.