A classic in fighting video games and arcades, Tekken has produced iconic characters, from powerful players like Kazuya Mishima to downright oddities like Mokujin or Kuma. The series has even sparked championship tournaments involving professional Tekken players from all over the globe.
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PostsTekken bosses, however, are what make the series memorable in every sense of the word. Not only are they notoriously hard to defeat, but some are also designed to strike fear in your very heart.
Updated on March 10, 2024, by Gonçalo Santos: Tekken 8 brought a new campaign to the series and, with it, some fearsome new bosses. As the stakes reach literal stratospheric levels, characters attain unimaginable powers and need new challenges to test them. With Resurrected gods and mortals ascending to god-status, the enemies that the Tekken series throws your way never fail to impress, and Tekken 8 is absolutely no exception here.
12 Tekken 8 Azazel
As Seen In The Dark Awakens Store Mode
Azazel, The Rectifier, makes his return to the series in Tekken 8. Resurrected by Kazuya Mishima, the "original devil", as Reina Mishima puts it, takes his most intimidating form. He seems even bigger here than he does in Tekken 6, and the Unreal Engine 5 render shows us in glorious detail how gruesome he truly is.
Although he is the most visually fearsome boss in the series, the ease with which Kazuya Mishima dispatches him shows that, although his power level is still impressive, he has not kept up with the series' main characters when it comes to hitting the lab.
11 True Devil Kazuya
Tekken 8's Main Antagonist
If Devil Kazuya and Azazel are both intimidating enough to be featured on this list, what do we get when we mix them? We get True Devil Kazuya, one of the most intimidating enemies in the entire series. Kazuya Mishima's strongest form is a fearsome foe.
This form is the result of Kazuya having control of his own Devil, and absorbing Azazel's power simultaneously. He feels utterly invincible when fighting any character that isn't Angel Jin, and with good reason. This is likely the strongest in-universe boss in the Tekken series.
10 Azazel
Tekken 6's Final Boss
The final boss in Tekken 6, Azazel is perhaps a beast of Ancient Egyptian origin, although his true origins are unknown. Ensconced in his temple, Azazel is probably the most difficult boss to defeat in Tekken history.
With his ability to summon crystal spikes from the ground and send his scarabs to swarm his opponent, Azazel still has many tricks up his sleeve. Not only can he shoot lasers from his eyes, but his sweeping attacks and rolling toward you like an armadillo deal massive damage. It's best to be wary when facing him.
9 Nancy-MI847J
Fought During Tekken 6
Although merely an extra round for you to face, this massive robot is a tough nut to crack. Nancy-MI847J's health bar is far larger than the other bosses in this list, so you're going to take much longer than usual to defeat it.
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PostsFrom sending missiles with its Rocket Fist to firing a Gatling Gun, Nancy can even shatter the glass floor, and it's game over for you. Timing and knowing when to sidestep and jump is crucial when fighting this challenging foe. Despite not being a main boss, Nancy is one for the history books.
8 Jun Kazama/Unknown
Our Enemy In Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Featuring first in Tekken Tag Tournament and its sequel Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Unknown first appears with a Wolf Demon controlling her movements. There was controversy concerning her relation with Jun Kazama, since they had similar move sets and physical appearances.
However, this was confirmed in Tekken Tag Tournament 2, with Jun Kazama mutating into Unknown after you defeated her the first time. As an opponent, both Jun Kazama and her darker counterpart Unknown are absolute beasts. With the ability to counter every attack you make, Unknown can even one-shot you by putting you in a trance and summoning a large hand to smash you to bits.
7 Jinpachi Mishima
The Final Fight In Tekken 5
The first Mishima patriarch and father of Heihachi, Jinpachi, serves as the final boss in Tekken 5 and Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection. Once a wise and respectable figure, Jinpachi has been consumed and possessed by an evil spirit, hoping that someone might put an end to him before things get out of hand.
Sharp spikes grow out of his spine and along his arms, as well as a giant maw in his abdomen that can shoot out deadly balls of flame. The latter can take out nearly all of your health bar if you're not careful; he can even regain his health if he performs a certain attack. Also, Jinpachi can paralyze his opponent, which allows him to continue with an attack combo and utterly decimate you.
6 Kazumi Mishima
Tekken 7's Final Boss
Wife to Heihachi and mother to Kazuya, Kazumi is featured as the final boss in Tekken 7. She was killed by her husband after revealing herself to be the progenitor of the Devil Gene, and thus was not fully human.
As with Jun Kazama/Unknown, Kazumi turns into her devil form after losing the first round. Her devil form gives her fiery wings and white hair, as well as horns and glowing, red eyes. Along with her loyal pet tiger, Kazumi deals massive damage with her sweeping attacks, and her Lunging and Rolling Tiger moves. Knowing when to duck or sidestep is essential when fighting her.
5 Akuma
Fought During Tekken 7's Campaign
Yet another crossover with Street Fighter, Akuma strolls into Tekken 7 as both a playable character and an alternate main boss. Tekken 7 sees Akuma enter the fray on a mission to kill Heihachi and Kazuya, in order to fulfill a vow he swore to Kazumi before her death.
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PostsAkuma has immense physical strength that's intensified by his innate power, his attacks dealing devastating damage. He nearly wipes the floor in his fight with Devil Kazuya in the Epilogue, launching a powerful punch that eats up large amounts of HP. Based on how difficult it is to defeat Akuma, one thing is clear: his fists know no equal.
4 Heihachi Mishima
Tekken 1's And 4's Final Boss
A staple character in the Tekken series, Heihachi is both a playable character and the final boss for Tekken and Tekken 4. Technically, Heihachi was responsible for beginning the Mishima family war since he declared war on his own father, causing his wife to try and kill him and setting off a chain of disastrous events.
Although agility is not the first thing that comes to mind when speaking of Heihachi, his sheer power is nothing to scoff at. With iconic moves like Lightning Hammer, Heihachi lets his fists do the talking in his quest for supreme domination.
3 True Ogre
Fought In His Final Form During Tekken Tag Tournament 2
True Ogre is the final transformation of the Ancient Ogre after the latter robbed Heihachi of his power in Tekken 3. This hybrid beast has a long and bloody history with Jin Kazama, since he's responsible for (supposedly) killing his mother.
Appearing as a sub-boss in Tekken Tag Tournament 2, True Ogre is certainly not a creature of speed, but of pure physical power. Although you'll notice that his moves aren't much different from those in Tekken 3, this chimera still remains a notorious foe.
