Combo Devils Tier List: Best Characters, Playstyles, and Beginner Picks

A provisional Combo Devils tier list ranking Jingo, Shai, Ikani, and Achilles by neutral tools, combo potential, execution, and learning value.

Combo Devils tier list at a glance

The Combo Devils tier list below turns the documented four-character preview roster into a practical starting point for choosing a main. That matters because Combo Devils combines platform-fighter movement with directional shielding, meter management, air-dash cancels, and PSI-based KO routes. This provisional Combo Devils tier list ranks Jingo, Shai, Ikani, and Achilles from the available preview and campaign material—not an unverified tournament meta or a future roster.

The supplied material describes the game as a work in progress, so treat these placements as an editorial guide rather than official balance rankings. The campaign material spells the distance-oriented character’s name as Ikani; one video transcript uses a different transcription, so this article uses Ikani consistently.

For the game’s store information, visit the official Combo Devils Steam page.

Tier	Character	Core identity	Practical verdict	Confidence
S	Jingo	Fast ninja-dog rushdown with projectiles and teleport utility	The strongest all-around documented toolkit	Medium
A	Shai	Technical pressure using a skateboard, power glove, and Beyblade-style top	Excellent ceiling, but timing-heavy	Medium
A	Ikani	Distance-focused fighter supported by Xochi	Strong space-control option with a clear game plan	Medium
B*	Achilles	Explosive close-range fighter	Potentially powerful, but the available kit details are limited	Low

*Achilles is not being labeled weak. The lower placement reflects limited information, not proven poor performance. All four fighters appear to have viable roles, and additional testing could quickly change this order.

How this Combo Devils tier list was built

The supplied reference material does not include frame data, patch-specific matchup charts, ranked win rates, or a developer-authored character ranking. That limitation makes this Combo Devils tier list a guide to documented tools, combo potential, execution demands, and learning value—not a claim about a settled competitive hierarchy.

The two video previews are player experience. One reviewer favored Shai, while another gravitated toward Ikani and reported placing well in her target-test stage. Those comments help describe how the characters feel, but they are not controlled balance tests. You can also review the Combo Devils Preview and Combo Devils: The Good and the Bad for additional hands-on impressions.

I prioritized four questions:

How does the character start pressure? Speed, range, projectiles, and movement options all matter.
How easily can the character convert a hit? Combo Devils uses gatling-style routes, launchers, and one free aerial flash step.
How does the character close out a stock? PSI, walls, edgeguarding, and stage positioning create several win conditions.
What is the execution burden? A character with strong tools may still be difficult to use consistently.

The universal systems below are especially important because they can raise or lower a character’s practical value even when the fighters have different specialties.

System	Documented rule	Why it matters for character rankings
Directional shield	Your shield must face the incoming attack, and cross-ups can change the correct defensive direction	Characters with strong movement or cross-up pressure can force more defensive decisions
Shield meter	Rolling and air-dodging consume a limited shield resource	Safer-looking evasive habits can become costly during extended pressure
Gatling combos	Light attacks can generally flow into directional lights, then heavies or specials	Every character has a basic route, but the best follow-ups may differ
Flash step	You receive one free air dash per airtime and can use it to extend an aerial sequence	Characters that convert airborne hits well gain extra damage and positioning
EX and super meter	One bar powers an EX special; three bars can fund a super	Meter use affects damage, pressure, and combo-finishing power
PSI and wall interactions	After 100 PSI, sufficient wall-impact velocity can cause the verified Impact K.O.; other overheat behavior is build-specific and unverified	Stage walls and positioning become increasingly important as a stock takes damage

Character breakdown for this Combo Devils tier list

S tier: Jingo

Jingo is the safest top placement in this provisional ranking because the previews describe several complementary strengths: exceptional speed, ninja tools, projectiles, and a butterfly effect that lets him teleport to an opponent. That combination gives him multiple ways to approach, maintain pressure, or begin a combo.

His mobility should also pair naturally with Combo Devils’ movement-heavy systems. A Jingo player can practice using a fast approach, placing the butterfly, and then deciding whether to teleport immediately or use the threat to make the opponent defend first. The character therefore appears to reward both aggressive rushdown and patient threat-setting.

Jingo is a strong first choice for players who want to stay active. Start by learning one grounded gatling route, one launcher conversion, and one butterfly-to-teleport sequence. Then add the flash step so your aerial confirms do not end after the first hit.

A tier: Shai

Shai offers the most visibly technical game plan. His weapon set includes a skateboard, power glove, and spinning top, while his neutral special includes an active-reload-style timing mechanic. The preview specifically presents that timing as demanding precision, which makes Shai attractive to players who enjoy execution and laboratory work.

He ranks just below Jingo because a complicated toolset is not automatically consistent. Missing the active reload or mistiming a route can reduce the benefit of Shai’s unusual kit. However, players who invest in his timing may gain a character with creative pressure options and a high combo ceiling.

For Shai, practice the neutral special in isolation before adding movement. Once the timing is reliable, connect it to a basic light-to-heavy route and then test whether a flash step gives you a useful extension. His target-test stage can also help you build movement confidence.

A tier: Ikani

Ikani is the clearest choice for players who prefer controlling distance. The available material describes her as a distance-focused fighter who fights alongside Xochi. One reviewer also said Ikani was the character they gravitated toward most, which supports her placement as an appealing and distinctive pick.

This does not prove that Ikani dominates neutral or has the highest tournament win rate. It does suggest that her identity is easy to understand: create space, make the opponent approach, and punish the approach with the tools available in her kit.

Ikani players should focus on stage positioning rather than chasing every exchange. Practice keeping enough room to react, then convert a successful defensive interaction into a combo. As PSI rises, learn when to push an opponent toward a wall and when to prioritize a conventional blast-zone KO.

B tier, watch list: Achilles

Achilles is the biggest question mark in the available evidence. A preview gives him a broad comparison to aggressive, power-oriented fighters, but it provides fewer specific move details than it does for Jingo, Shai, or Ikani. That makes a confident ranking difficult.

His lower placement should therefore be read as “needs more information,” not “avoid this character.” If you like direct offense and explosive close-range interactions, Achilles may be the right personal choice even if he appears lower on an early tier list.

Begin with the universal gatling route: light attack into directional light, then a heavy attack or special. From there, work on movement that gets you into close range without wasting your defensive resources. Achilles may become much more valuable once players understand his detailed confirms, recovery tools, and wall interactions.

How to use the Combo Devils tier list to pick a main

Use the Combo Devils tier list to narrow your first experiments, not to decide what you are allowed to play. In a four-character roster, personal comfort can matter more than a provisional letter grade. A character that matches your preferred pace will usually teach you more than a supposedly stronger character whose movement or timing you dislike.

If you enjoy…	Start with…	Why	First practice goal
Fast offense and constant movement	Jingo	His documented speed and ninja tools support active pressure	Convert one grounded hit into a teleport or aerial sequence
Technical inputs and timing challenges	Shai	His tool-based kit and active-reload mechanic reward precision	Make the neutral-special timing consistent before adding combos
Keeping opponents at a preferred distance	Ikani	Her distance-focused identity gives you a clear spacing objective	Win neutral without standing too close after a successful hit
Direct, explosive close-range offense	Achilles	His preview description suggests an aggressive fighting style	Learn a safe approach and a reliable heavy or special ender

A useful first-week practice route looks like this:

Session	Focus	Actionable drill	Success check
1	Movement	Practice dash, jump, fast fall, and air movement without attacking	You can reposition without accidentally spending defensive resources
2	Defense	Face the directional shield toward grounded, aerial, and cross-up attacks	You block without relying on a universal bubble shield
3	Grounded combos	Test light attack into directional light, then heavy or special	You can perform the route consistently from both sides
4	Aerial conversions	Hit with an aerial, then use the single flash step to continue	You understand that the free air dash is limited to once per airtime
5	Meter decisions	Compare a one-bar EX special with saving three bars for a super	You know which route gives damage, pressure, or a better finish
6	PSI positioning	Practice fighting near and away from walls as PSI increases	You recognize when high-PSI wall Impact K.O. conditions become meaningful

Once those basics feel comfortable, add advanced movement such as wavedashing, wavelanding, wall sliding, or wall jumping one technique at a time. Combo Devils includes many movement and fighting-game mechanics, but learning all of them simultaneously can make it harder to identify which decision caused a failed interaction.

The most important lesson is to connect your character’s strength to the game’s win conditions. Jingo wants to turn speed into pressure. Shai wants to convert precision into extended offense. Ikani wants to make distance meaningful. Achilles needs enough close-range access to turn power into a stock. Every character still has to manage directional defense, meter, PSI, and stage geometry.

Combo Devils tier list FAQ

Is there an official Combo Devils tier list?

No official ranking appears in the supplied material. This Combo Devils tier list is a provisional editorial assessment based on documented character descriptions and player experience from preview builds. It should not be mistaken for developer guidance, tournament consensus, or verified matchup data.

Who is the best character in Combo Devils?

Jingo is the provisional S-tier pick because the available previews describe a particularly broad toolkit: fast movement, projectiles, ninja options, and a teleport interaction that can start or continue offense. Shai is the closest alternative for players who prefer technical execution. The “best” choice can still change with balance updates, deeper matchup knowledge, or your personal control of the character.

Is Ikani beginner-friendly?

Ikani may be a comfortable starting point for players who naturally understand spacing and patience, but the sources do not provide a formal difficulty rating. Her distance-focused identity offers a clear plan, while her effectiveness will still depend on learning when to approach, retreat, and convert hits near walls.

Can Achilles rise on this Combo Devils tier list?

Absolutely. Achilles has the lowest confidence placement because the reference material explains less about his specific tools. That is different from evidence that he is weak. More matchup testing, combo discovery, and understanding of his PSI or wall-impact routes could move him higher than this early ranking.