Written by Tyler Payne.
Dizzy, the latest DLC character for “Guilty Gear Strive,” was released on Halloween 2024. The half-Gear queen retains many of her iconic moves from past entries in the series, including her ice spike, fish and Gamma Ray, and has some new ones, such as freezing her opponents and weakening ground friction. She’s the first character of the Season 4 Pass, soon to be followed by franchise mainstay Venom, newcomer Unika and guest fighter Lucy from the hit anime “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”
With so many exciting characters on the way, it’s a good time to look back on the three seasons of DLC we’ve had so far. I’ll be ranking the 13 previous DLC characters (Dizzy won’t be included, as we’re still figuring out her gameplay), but not by competitive viability. That’s right: this isn’t a tier list. Instead, I’ll be looking at the characters’ designs, theme music, story impact and, most importantly, the way they rock our hearts.
Note: there will be spoilers for both “Guilty Gear Strive” and “Guilty Gear Xrd.”
13. Jack-O’ Valentine
Though she comes in last, Jack-O’ is by no means a bad character. She has a great redesign from “Guilty Gear Xrd,” animations brimming with personality and one of the most unique themes in the game, “Perfection Can’t Please Me.” Only two things knock her to the bottom: her limited personality and the changes to her moveset from “Xrd.”
Jack-O’ doting on her chibi servants is adorable, but her character lacks the ongoing conflict or range of emotion the rest of the cast has. At the end of the “Strive” story mode, any hope of the spirit of Aria returning to Jack-O’ is lost, and she accepts her place as Sol’s new companion. Her arc is resolved, unlike other characters such as Baiken or Bedman. Without something to struggle for, she’s not as interesting, and her quirks aren’t enough to make up for it.
She’s also one of the “Strive” characters whose gameplay is most altered from their previous incarnation. Her moveset in “Xrd” was reminiscent of tower defense games, focusing on keeping the opponent away with her Ghosts and Servants. In “Strive,” she’s much more offense-oriented and requires a high level of execution, as Servants are now controlled by the player instead of attacking on their own. It’s less about gradually building momentum and more about quickly overwhelming the other player. One isn’t necessarily better than the other, but there’s no denying her “Xrd” moveset was unlike anything else in fighting games. It’s sad to lose such a unique character design, something “Guilty Gear” always prides itself on.
12. Baiken
A franchise hallmark since the first game, Baiken was one of the most anticipated characters to come to “Strive,” andshe’s worth the hype. Her coarse, heavy-drinking personality is as entertaining as ever, and her lovingly rendered intro and outro reference classic samurai films.
The problem is that, like Jack-O’, she’s been significantly changed. Many of her most iconic moves have been taken away. In “Xrd” and “Guilty Gear XX Accent Core,” she was the only character able to parry while blocking, letting her follow up with knockdowns, side-switches and more. Her “Strive” version replaced this with a generic neutral-only parry, which, while strong, is far more limited. Her famous command dash is also gone, making her approach much slower. Her new tether mechanic allows her to bully opponents when she gets close, but she’s still a shell of her former self. It’s not all bad, though. Her theme, “Mirror of the World,” is kick-ass, and her story took a heartwarming new direction with her looking after Delilah.
It’s a shame. For many people, Baiken is one of the first characters to come to mind when they hear “Guilty Gear.” If her moveset hadn’t been changed so much, she definitely could’ve placed higher.
11. Sin Kiske
It might be concerning to see the next protagonist of the franchise this low, but at this point, rankings are more about the “absence of good” than the “presence of bad.” Sin is one of the funniest characters in the series (he thought babies came from eyeballs), and his flag-based fighting style is hypnotizing to watch. The biggest things holding him back are his relatively one-note personality and his weak theme.
Sin is the classic idiot hero. He’s brash and a little dull but makes up for it with a heart of gold. That’s all great, but his depth ends there. It makes sense, as he’s at a weird spot in “Strive.” He’s still playing backup to Ky and Sol before he eventually takes the lead in the upcoming “Dual Rulers” anime, which will hopefully give him some more development. As for his theme, “The Hourglass,” it’s my least favorite in the game. The lyrics are fitting, but the laid-back instrumental feels off for someone as bombastic as Sin. Plus, it’s just not that catchy.
Unlike Jack-O’ and Baiken, Sin is pretty solid gameplay-wise. He hasn’t lost much from previous entries and is strong without feeling unbeatable. The only flaw is his move Still Growing, commonly agreed to be the most useless in the game. He eats some food and gains a random status buff, but what the buff does is unknown to the player. Since it isn’t essential to his gameplay, it doesn’t cost him too much, but the fact it hasn’t been changed after several patches doesn’t help either.
10. Goldlewis Dickinson
If you want to see what makes “Guilty Gear” characters different from those in other fighting games, look no further than Goldlewis. He’s the overweight “Secretary of Absolute Defense” of the United States, who fights with a massive coffin that has an Area 51 alien inside. Plus, he can call down laser strikes with his glasses.
With the franchise running for two decades, you’d think Arc System Works would be running out of ideas. But even Goldlewis, who debuted in “Strive,” is one of a kind. His coffin is beautifully incorporated into gameplay, with weighty animations and the Behemoth Typhoon move, whose eight input variations make it unlike any other attack in fighting games, at least that I know of. Other than that, his moveset is relatively simple, but that’s not a bad thing. He perfectly fills the role of the slow juggernaut, one no-fighting game roster is complete without. And there’s no better soundtrack to crush skulls to than “The Kiss of Death,” his groovy desert-rock theme.
Goldlewis’s only weakness is his design. It’s not bad, but it isn’t as flashy or colorful as others. Still, his commanding presence leaves us all saying, “God bless America.”
9. Happy Chaos
The newly revealed mastermind behind many of the series’s events, Happy Chaos arrived with a bang. Bad jokes aside, the man-turned-god has definitely made his mark on the franchise. His design is my favorite out of any character, and you have to love his mischievous personality. In one move, he clones himself in a random pose, such as flexing or blowing a raspberry, and in his outro, he summons a car to drive away, even though he can literally teleport.
What really sets Happy Chaos apart is his gun. His gameplay centers on using it to lock the opponent in long combos or full-screen keep-away, all while managing his Ammo and Concentration levels. This makes his pressure and zoning distinct from those of I-No or Axl. If he can’t refill his resources, it all falls apart. For a long time, this unique and versatile kit made him virtually unstoppable, but recent changes have knocked him down to everyone else’s level. Now, his gameplay is right where it should be: innovative yet fair.
His theme, “Drift,” has rapid tone shifts that fit his hyperactive demeanor. The soulful chorus is almost out of place, but unlike Sin’s theme, the incongruity feels intentional. It represents the man Happy Chaos once was, someone who tried to do good but got swept up by things more powerful than himself. For such an irreverent character, it’s surprisingly touching.
8. Johnny
It’s pretty telling that Johnny has appeared in four “Guilty Gear” games and his design hasn’t changed once. “If it ain’t broke…” as they say, although Johnny has no qualms about breaking other things with his katana. The cowboy-samurai-pirate is the epitome of swagger, and it’s no surprise he was one of the characters most requested for “Strive.”
Johnny flirts with every woman he meets, even those he has to fight. While the “ladies’ man” archetype can be tired, Johnny works because he doesn’t harass the people he hits on and he’s a genuine sweetheart: he takes orphans under his care, as one himself. He also loves to gamble, and card and coin motifs are incorporated into his attacks. There’s not much else to his character, but Johnny’s always been style over substance. Just look at his supers. You can’t get cooler than turning your opponent into a playing card (which changes depending on gender!) and cutting them in half. The only big change in his gameplay from “Xrd” is that he can no longer level up his Mist Finer attack for more damage, but his new Deal move Guard Crushes on the block, giving him plenty of options. He wasn’t cut down like Baiken was, but rather streamlined to fit the faster pace of “Strive.”
Then there’s his theme, the anthemic “Just Lean.” Most themes dive into the character’s backstory or personal struggles, but Johnny’s is just bragging about how badass he is, calling him the man “hated by the god of failure.” Now that’s confidence.
7. Slayer
If you don’t think a gentleman vampire who loves his wife and writes haiku is awesome, you’re playing the wrong game. Like Baiken and Johnny, Slayer is one of the faces of “Guilty Gear,” which is why fans were overjoyed when he came to “Strive” as the last character of Season 3. And boy, was it worth the wait.
Slayer retains the high-damage boxing style he’s known for. The only notable changes from his “Xrd” gameplay are a new Dandy Step follow-up, the loss of his unblockable and Bloodsucking Universe now granting Counter Hit on any move instead of just specials. With how much damage everyone does in “Strive,” Slayer hits harder than ever, sometimes doing 50% of the opponent’s health in a single combo. That can be frustrating, but Slayer’s limited movement and defense stop him from feeling too strong. And it’s hard to get mad when watching him fight is such a treat. Many of his attacks have Looney Tunes rubberiness, while others shine with a neon purple effect. Not to mention his classic smug demeanor: in his crouch pose, he lounges and smokes a pipe.
“Ups and Downs” stands out from other themes because of its jazz flair, including a sax solo and big-band vocals, which is just right for Slayer’s elegant presence. His supers are great, too. Super Mappa Hunch is so strong it tears his clothes right off, and Last Horizon does 70% damage in a single hit and gives a glimpse of Slayer’s hot younger self. These make him one of the characters with the most fanservice in the game, which is saying something when I-No exists.
6. Elphelt Valentine
It might be a surprise that Elphelt is this high, given how much I ragged on other characters for their drastic gameplay changes. I do have problems with how Elphelt plays in “Strive” compared to “Xrd,” but I love her redesign and the additions to her character so much I almost don’t care.
Elphelt was one of the most complex characters in “Xrd,” with her different guns providing ranged pressure, cross-ups, command grabs and more. In “Strive,” she’s arguably the easiest character, and while she still has gun moves, they’re simple projectile and rush attacks. She was given the rekka Chain Lollipop to make up for the losses, but it has limited versatility and is easily countered. Whether these changes are good or bad is more contested than in the case of Jack-O’ or Baiken. While “Xrd” Elphelt was highly unique, many players found her frustrating to fight. Going against her in “Strive” is less irritating, but many “Xrd” fans are disappointed she’s lost so much identity.
But a character is more than just their gameplay, and in Elphelt’s case, gameplay is the only thing I have problems with. Making her a death metal vocalist is the best move Arc System Works could have made with her after “Xrd.” The silliest character in the franchise growling her head off is hilarious, and so is her desperately asking people to go to her concerts like she desperately asks men for their hand in marriage. I also love her punkish redesign: the chokers, the mascara, the bob cut with a nod to her classic bunny ears. It’s the perfect blend of cute and edgy, and while her old bridal gown was great, I prefer her new look. And I can’t help singing along to the soaring chorus of her theme, “Extras,” or screaming along with the guttural “DIE!” she belts out in her super.
5. Bedman?
Nobody expected this thing to show up. After Romeo, the original Bedman, died in “Xrd,” the mechanical bed frame he was strapped to awakened to protect his sister Delilah. It still carries the name, but now sports a question mark, as it’s technically a different character.
Everything about Bedman? is weird. It’s the only character that doesn’t speak, it shudders like it’ll break at any moment and Delilah runs around the stage as it fights. It’s a welcome addition to the roster, though, because it captures a horror vibe no one else does. A big part of that is its theme, “The Circle,” which combines eerie choir vocals with bass breakdowns. Also helping is its design, which retains the spindly limbs and Tim Burton color palette it had in “Xrd.” One of its eyes is now exposed, and that plus the teeth seen when Bedman? is hit by Faust’s super indicate it’s made of both metal and organs. Creepy.
Bedman? still has some moves of its “Xrd” counterpart, such as Spin and an eight-way airdash, but its Déjà Vu mechanic has been replaced with the Error system, in which Bedman will perform automatic follow-ups after specials. This change makes Bedman?’s pressure easier for opponents to handle, but it’s still a force to be reckoned with. Its relationship with Delilah also has to be mentioned. Her concern as it gets hit and relief, when it wins, are heartwarming, especially considering the reveal that it was Romeo who programmed the bed frame to look after Delilah in the event of his death. While he was a villain in “Xrd,” at the end of the day, he just cared about his sister.
4. Testament
Testament was the first queer character of the DLC cast (paving the way for someone to come) and showed that Arc System Works’s representation goes beyond the surface. Testament’s agender identity is woven into their theme, “Like a Weed, Naturally, as a Matter of Course,” whose lyrics switch between male, female and non-gendered pronouns to refer to them. Fighting games are strapped for LGBTQ+ representation, and the queer characters that are present can have problematic elements, such as Poison from “Street Fighter.” That makes the celebration of Testament’s identity all the more refreshing.
But that’s not the only reason Testament places so high. They’re also oozing with style. Their outfit has been updated to go full Gothic, complete with a dainty top hat and skull adornments. What better for someone who fights with a scythe, has a pet crow, and loves to drink tea? Testament’s return to the series has also been long awaited. Every character on the list so far was in “Xrd” (except Goldlewis and Happy Chaos, who debuted in “Strive”), the final version of which was released in 2017, only four years before “Strive.” But Testament was last playable in “Accent Core,” which was released almost a decade before “Strive.” As the first “Accent Core” character to return, Testament showed us that the possibilities for “Strive” DLC are limitless.
Many of Testament’s moves from past entries have been replaced with new ones, but their play style hasn’t been completely changed like Jack-O’ or Elphelt. They’re still a zoner, just now focused on projectiles rather than traps and set-ups. Some of their new moves are similar to their old ones too, such as Grave Reaper (similar to EXE Beast) and Possession (similar to Warrant).
3. A.B.A.
Some might say a sentient bed frame is the wackiest “Guilty Gear” characters can get, but A.B.A. begs to differ. First appearing in “Guilty Gear Isuka,” 11 years before Bedman’s debut, she’s a homunculus who fights with a giant living key named Paracelsus, whom she’s also madly in love with. The feelings aren’t mutual.
What’s so impressive about A.B.A. is how she’s basically two characters. Arc System Works had to design attacks and movement for both her normal state and her Jealous Rage mode, which activates when she does enough damage with Paracelsus, and the animations sell the difference. Her normal mode is apathetic: she throws out weak slaps and struggles to lift Paracelsus. In Jealous Rage, she smashes him around with ease, all while shaking like a rabid dog (Paracelsus also takes on a demonic appearance). Attacks in this state look both fluid and angular, and its version of her first super is some of the most mesmerizing animation in the game. Voice actress Riho Sugiyama also gives a fantastic performance. In normal mode, she’s mopey and depressed, while in Jealous Rage she’s howling every word. I haven’t mentioned performances so far because every actor knocks it out of the park, but A.B.A’s deserves special praise.
Like Testament, A.B.A was last playable in “Accent Core,” so her return was an extra big deal. “Symphony,” her theme, feels like an appropriate celebration. It’s piano power metal that switches moods even faster than “Drift” does. The song feels like it should collapse under the weight of its ambition, but it somehow doesn’t, giving us a peek into A.B.A’s demented mind.
2. Asuka R. Kreutz
It can’t be understated how big a deal it was when Asuka was released. Sol’s quest for revenge against him has been the focus of the story since the very first game, and on the series’s 25th anniversary, he was made playable for the first time. The impact was slightly undermined by the reveal that Happy Chaos was responsible for many things we thought Asuka did, but Asuka is still a highly influential character. He turned Aria into Justice and Sol into a Gear, destroyed Japan, inadvertently started the Crusades, and created Jack-O’. While the new reveal can seem like a bait-and-switch, Asuka is a character the story wouldn’t be complete without.
Meeting 25 years’ worth of expectations is no easy feat, but Arc System Works somehow pulled it off. Asuka’s design is striking: he has a cloak with a view of the cosmos that changes as he moves around and some fresh-as-hell sneakers. His theme is “The Gravity,” which has an operatic quality and lyrics exploring his guilt over his actions. Finally, the default option for him on the character select screen isn’t even him, but a clone he created named Asuka R♯ (it’s possible to select the real Asuka, and the only difference is what name is displayed on the health bar). Even after joining 25 years late, the bastard still pulls one over on us.
But the main event is his gameplay. With Asuka, Arc System Works has created the most complex moveset in fighting game history, bar none. Here’s a summary: He has access to four Spells at a time, which include everything from projectiles to status buffs. Spells are randomly selected from one of three pools the player can switch between, each specializing in different things. Using Spells costs Mana, which can only be refilled with the Recover Mana move, and if Asuka runs out of Mana, he’s unable to cast Spells and takes double damage until it is restored. Head exploding yet? Not only is the ambition admirable, it somehow works. Asuka is pretty well-balanced, able to do serious damage if you take the time to master him but not immediately crushing simpler characters with his options.
1. Bridget
Putting the by-far most popular character in the franchise at number one might feel like a cop-out, but there’s a good reason for it. Bridget is perhaps the most important character in “Guilty Gear” history, not in a narrative sense, but in real-world impact. The reveal of her gender transition in “Strive” has resonated with transgender gamers everywhere, bringing many new fans to the series and further defining “Guilty Gear” as one of the most queer-friendly video game series. Her popularity is evident: she easily has the most merch out of any character and definitely had a hand in “Strive” hitting three million players. Plus, her identity isn’t just prominent in the story and promotional material; it gets cute nods in gameplay, too. Johnny has special dialogue when fighting a female character, which Bridget is counted as, and when Bridget wins against May or Dizzy, she asks them how they like the “new her.”
But it’s not just her real-world significance that makes Bridget special. She’s also a well-designed character. Her animations are fun and fluid, with her grinning as she bludgeons her enemies with her yo-yos. Even her idle pose (where she dances to the background music) and her win animations (one has her high-five her teddy bear) are cuteness overloads. Her theme, “The Town Inside Me,” is one of the most powerful in the game. It’s a heartfelt tale of discovering one’s gender, and when it’s not making you tear up, it serves as a triumphant battle anthem. Her updated design does what all the best in “Strive” do: simplify while adding subtle elements to keep things fresh.
Simply put, “Guilty Gear” wouldn’t be where it is today without Bridget. Sorry, Jack-O’. This perfection can please me.
