Balance.txt

EDITOR'S NOTE:
These are measurements of how balanced every fighting game is. This means how close or far every matchup in the game is to 5:5, perfectly even. Lower percentages means closer to balanced. A character being high or low percentage has absolutely nothing to do with how high or low tier the character is, or how good they are as a character. The most observable trait is that the most unbalanced character is the strangest in the game, forcing the weirdest matchups, and the most balanced is the most normal. In games with tier lists that are clear progressions from good to bad characters (instead of lots of alternating good/bad matchups), the most unbalanced are usually the worst and best characters in the game, as those characters are furthest from having even matchups.

The methodology used is that a 5:5 = 0, 0:10 = 5. The totals for each character are added up and compared to the maximum total possible, and that the subtotal and maximum total are divided to make a percentage.

To make this more clear, balanced games don't necessarily have a lot of viable characters, or vice versa. Overall rating of balance doesn't have much to do with how many characters are actually viable. A character's balance has little to do with their power level, it could mean they're weak, strong, or mid-tier with a polarizing matchup spread.

I didn't calculate these, I'm just publicizing them, as they are a useful tool for understanding relative game balance.

YOMI'S BALANCE (waterd)

Rook: 13.3%
Lum: 12.2%
Midori: 12.2%
Grave: 11.1%
Setsuki: 11.1%
Jaina: 10%
Argagarg: 10%

Geiger: 7.8%
Degrey: 7.8%
Valerie: 6.7%

Yomi - 10.2% imbalanced


COMMUNITY OPINION ON YOMI BALANCE (OCTOBER 2012)
15.6%	Rook
15.6%	Midori
14.4%	Geiger
13.3%	Argagarg
12.2%	Jaina
12.2%	Setsuki
11.1%	Lum

8.9%	Grave
8.9%	Degrey
7.8%	Valerie

12.0%	TOTAL IMBALANCE

-------------------------------------------

SUPER SMASH BROS IMBALANCE

Pikachu		34.5%

Fox		30.9%

Samus		25.5%

Luigi		23.6%

Link		21.8%

Ness		20.0%

Kirby		16.4%
Donkey Kong	16.4%
Jigglypuff	16.4%

C. Falcon	14.5%
Mario		14.5%

Yoshi		12.7%
_____
TOTAL_IMBALANCE	20.6%


------------------------------------------

SUPER SMASH BROS MELEE IMBALANCE

(2007 META)
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Melee and Brawl matchup charts don't use standard notation (not even consistent with each other) and this skews them by a lot, as small imbalances are exaggerated.

Bowser		55.0%

Pichu		48.3%

Zelda/Sheik	45.4%

Ice Climbers	38.8%

Kirby		37.5%
Mewtwo		37.5%
Mr. Game&Watch	37.1%
Marth		36.7%

Peach		35.8%

Falco		34.2%
Roy		34.2%

Fox		32.9%
Samus 		32.9%
C. Falcon	32.1%
Ness		31.7%
Yoshi		30.8%
Pikachu		30.4%

Jigglypuff	28.3%
Mario		27.9%
Young Link	27.9%

Donkey Kong	26.7%

Ganondorf	25.4%

Dr. Mario	23.3%
Link		22.9%

Luigi		17.9%

TOTAL_IMBA	39.9%
---
SAME CHART WITH ZELDA AND SHEIK SPLIT

Bowser		55.2%

Pichu		46.4%
Sheik		46.0%

Ice Climbers	39.6%

Mewtwo		37.6%
Kirby		36.8%
Peach		36.8%
Marth		36.0%
Falco		36.0%
Mr. Game&Watch	35.6%

Fox		34.0%
C. Falcon	33.2%
Roy		32.8%
Samus 		32.4%

Pikachu		30.8%
Ness		30.4%
Yoshi		29.6%

Jigglypuff	28.0%
Mario		27.6%
Young Link	27.6%
Zelda		27.2%
Donkey Kong	26.4%
Ganondorf	26.0%

Link		22.8%
Dr. Mario	22.4%

Luigi		17.2%

TOTAL IMBALANCE	41.0%

---------------------------------------------------------

GUILTY GEAR ACCENT CORE BALANCE

Anji		15.0%

A.B.A.		14.1%

I-No		11.8%

May		10.9%

Eddie		9.5%
Chipp		9.5%
Dizzy		9.5%
Testament	9.1%
Bridget		9.1%
Potemkin	8.6%
Jam		8.6%
Johnny		8.6%
Slayer		8.6%
Zappa		8.6%
Axl		8.2%
Venom		7.7%
Robo-Ky		7.7%
Holy Order Sol	7.7%
Baiken		7.3%
Faust		6.8%
Sol		6.4%
Millia		6.4%

Ky		5.5%

Total imbalance:8.9%

-----------------------------------------------

GUILTY GEAR ACCENT CORE #RELOAD IMBALANCE

Eddie		47	23.5%

Jam		42	21.0%

Zappa		40	20.0%
Millia		39	19.5%
Bridget		38	19.0%
Venom		38	19.0%
Chipp		38	19.0%
Potemkin	37	18.5%
Baiken		37	18.5%

Ky		35	17.5%
Anji		35	17.5%
Dizzy		34	17.0%

Slayer		32	16.0%
Faust		31	15.5%
May		31	15.5%
Axl		30	15.0%
Testament	30	15.0%
Robo-Ky		29	14.5%
Johnny		28	14.0%

Sol		26	13.0%

I-No		24	12.0%

TOTAL		721	17.2% imbalance

-----------------------------------------------
SOUL CALIBUR V's IMBALANCE

Dampierre	32.0%

Cervantes	28.0%
Aeon		27.2%

Devil Jin	24.8%
Ivy		24.8%
Astaroth	24.8%
Mitsurugi	24.0%
Alpha Patroklos	24.0%
Natsu		24.0%
Z.W.E.I.	24.0%
Raphael		24.0%
Viola		23.2%
Pyrrha		22.4%
Siegfried	22.4%
Nightmare	21.6%
Patroklos	21.6%
Ezio		20.8%
Xiba		20.0%
Tira		20.0%

Pyrrha Omega	18.4%
Hilde		17.6%
Yoshimitsu	16.8%
Yan Leixia	16.8%
Algol		16.8%

Maxi		15.2%
Voldo		15.2%

TOTAL_IMBA:	21.9% imbalance
-----------------------------------------------

STREET FIGHTER III: 3RD STRIKE'S BALANCE

Sean - 41.1%

Hugo - 40.0%

Chun - 38.9%

Q    - 34.4%
12   - 34.4%
Yun  - 34.4%

Oro  - 27.8%

Alex - 26.7%
Ken  - 26.7%
Remy - 26.7%

Elena- 25.6%

Makoto 24.4%
Yang - 24.4%
Akuma- 24.4%

Dudley 23.3%
Necro- 23.3%

Ryu  - 22.2%

Urien- 18.9%
Ibuki- 18.9%

TOTAL - 28.2% imbalanced


LESS REPUTABLE BUT MORE RECENT 2008 TIER LIST
Sean	40.0%

Hugo	37.8%

Chun	36.7%

Q	34.4%

Twelve	33.3%

Yun	31.1%

Remy	28.9%

Alex	27.8%

Ken	26.7%

Makoto	25.6%
Dudley	25.6%
Ibuki	25.6%

Yang	23.3%
Akuma	23.3%
Oro	23.3%

Ryu	21.1%
Necro	21.1%

Elena	20.0%

Urien	18.9%

TOTAL	27.6%



---------------------------------------

GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES IMBALANCE

2000 Arcadia Matchup Chart
Kevin		67.7%

Grant		52.3%

Tizoc		38.5%

Jenet		36.9%
Hotaru		36.9%

Rock		33.8%

Hokutomaru	32.3%

Gato		30.8%

Kain		27.7%
Donghwan	27.7%
Freeman		27.7%

Terry		26.2%
Butt		26.2%
Jaehoon		24.6%

TOTAL		34.9%



2007 Howard Arena Matchup Chart
Griffon		23.1%

Grant		21.5%

Rock		20.0%

Kevin		18.5%
Jenet		18.5%
Gato		18.5%
Jaehoon		18.5%

Kain		16.9%

Donghwan	13.8%
Hokutomaru	13.8%

Terry		12.3%
Hotaru		12.3%
Freeman		12.3%

Marco		10.8%

TOTAL		16.5%

-------------------------------------------------


Street Fighter 4 - Japanese Arcade Release - 2008

Sagat		20.0%

Bison		17.5%
Vega		17.5%

Zangief		15.0%

Chun-Li		13.8%
Guile		13.8%

Rufus		12.5%
C. Viper	12.5%
E. Honda	12.5%

Abel		11.3%
El Fuerte	11.3%

Ryu		10.0%
Ken		10.0%

Blanka		8.8%

Akuma		7.5%
Balrog		7.5%

Dhalsim		6.3%

TOTAL IMBALANCE	12.2%

---------------------------------------

Street Fighter 4 - Japanese Arcade Release - 2009

Sagat		22.5%

El Fuerte	16.3%
Vega		16.3%

Zangief		15.0%
Rufus		15.0%
C.Viper		15.0%
Guile		15.0%

Chun-Li		13.8%
E.Honda		13.8%

M.Bison		12.5%
Blanka		12.5%

Ken		11.3%
Abel		11.3%

Ryu		10.0%
Balrog		10.0%
Akuma		10.0%
Dhalsim		10.0%

Total Imbalance 13.5%

--------------------------------


SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 ARCADE EDITION v2012's BALANCE

22.1%	Dan

21.1%	T.Hawk

19.5%	Zangief

17.9%	Dhalsim

15.3%	Cammy
14.7%	Seth
14.7%	Guile

13.7%	Rufus
13.7%	Sagat
13.7%	Rose
13.7%	E. Honda
13.2%	C.Viper
13.2%	Hakan
12.6%	Blanka
12.1%	Gouken

11.1%	Juri
10.5%	Akuma
10.5%	Abel
10.5%	Ryu
10.5%	Oni
10.0%	Yun
10.0%	Chun-Li
10.0%	Guy
10.0%	Yang
10.0%	Evil Ryu
9.5%	Balrog
9.5%	Makoto
9.5%	Sakura
9.5%	Cody
8.9%	F.Long
8.9%	Ibuki
8.9%	El Fuerte
8.4%	Adon
8.4%	M.Bison
7.9%	Dee Jay
7.9%	Vega

6.8%	Ken
6.8%	Gen
6.3%	Dudley

11.6%	TOTAL IMBALANCE

------------------
JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE - ARCADE BALANCE

PETSHOP  49.5%

MARIAH  38.1%

JOSEPH  35.2%
YOUNG JOSEPH 34.3%
DEVO    33.3%
KAHN  33.3%
KAKYOIN  32.4%

JOTARO   30.5%
DIO    29.5%
RUBBER SOUL 29.5%

VANILLA ICE 26.7%
ALESSI  25.7%
MIDLER  25.7%
IG  24.8%
NEW KAKYOIN  24.8%
SHADOW DIO  24.8%
ABDUL  23.8%
BLACK POLNAREFF 22.9%
CHA -   21.9%
HOLHORSE 21.9%
HOLHORSE BOINGO 21.0%
POLNAREFF 20.0%

Total Imbalance - not calculated


------------------------------------------------
MORTAL KOMBAT 9 Imbalance (2/17/2012)

Sub-Zero	23.0%

Baraka		20.7%
Sheeva		20.3%

Jade		18.7%

Kung Lao	17.7%
Kabal		17.0%
Kenshi		17.0%
Freddy Krueger	16.7%
Smoke		16.0%
Noob Saibot	16.0%
Mileena		15.7%
Sonya Blade	15.7%
Sindel		15.7%
Jax		15.3%
Reptile		15.3%
Cyrax		15.0%
Quan Chi	15.0%
Kitana		14.7%
Raiden		14.3%
Johnny Cage	13.7%
Skarlet		13.7%
Liu Kang	13.3%
Stryker		13.3%
Ermac		13.0%
Cyber Sub-Zero	13.0%

Nightwolf	12.0%
Shang Tsung	11.3%

Scorpion	10.3%
Kano		10.0%

Sektor		9.0%
Rain		8.7%

Total		14.8%

------------------------------------------------


DISSIDIA 012'S BALANCE

Ultimecia  40.7%

The Emperor  34.8%
Exdeath   33.8%

Bartz Klauzer  32.4%
Laguna Loire  31.7%

Cecil Harvey  28.3%

Sephiroth  26.2%
Shantotto  25.9%
Kuja   25.2%
Kefka Palazzo  24.8%
Cloud of Darkness 23.8%
Firion   23.4%
Onion Knight  23.4%
Prishe   22.8%
Garland   22.8%
Jecht   22.8%
Gabranth  22.1%
Terra Branford  21.0%
Lightning  20.3%
Golbez   19.3%
Kain Highwind  19.0%
Tidus   19.0%
Gilgamesh  18.3%
Tifa Lockhart  18.3%
Cloud Strife  17.9%
Squall Leonheart 17.6%
Zidane Tribal  17.2%
Yuna   16.6%

Warrior of Light 15.2%

Vaan   12.8%

TOTAL_IMBALANCE  23.2%

------------------------------------------------------------

GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES'S BALANCE

Griffon  23.1%
Grant  21.5%
Rock  20.0%
Gato  18.5%
JaeHoon  18.5%
Jenet  18.5%
Kevin  18.5%
Kain  16.9%

DongHwan 13.8%
Hokutomaru 13.8%
Hotaru  12.3%
Freeman  12.3%
Marco  10.8%
Terry  10.8%

TOTAL_IMBALANCE - not calculated yet

-------------------------------------------------

TOUHOU SUIMUSOU (Immaterial and Missing Power)'s Imbalance

China	18.0%

Remilia	14.5%

Yuyuko	13.0%

Alice	11.0%
Youmu	11.0%
Suika	10.5%
Marisa	10.0%

Sakuya	9.0%
Patchy	9.0%
Yukari	9.0%

Reimu	7.0%

TOTAL	11.1%
----------------------------------------------
Touhou Hisouten (Scarlet Weather Rhapsody)'s Imbalance

Patchy	12.6%
Youmu	12.2%
Yuyuko	11.4%
Tenshi	11.4%
Marisa	11.1%
Reimu	11.0%
Sakuya	10.7%
Alice	10.2%
Iku	9.9%

Aya	8.9%
Reisen	8.1%
Suika	8.1%
Komachi	8.1%
Yukari	8.0%
Remilia	7.3%

TOTAL	9.9% imbalance
----------------------------------------------

TOUHOU HISOUTENSOKU'S BALANCE

Sakuya		22.1%
Suwako		22.1%

Yuyuko		17.4%
Utsuho		17.4%
Tenshi		16.8%
Komachi		16.3%
Alice		15.8%
Reisen		15.8%
Iku		15.8%

Sanae		14.7%
Yukari		14.7%
Patchouli	14.2%

Meiling		13.2%
Reimu		12.6%
Cirno		12.1%
Suika		11.6%
Youmu		11.1%
Remilia		11.1%
Marisa		10.5%
Aya		10.5%

Total imbalance:	14.8%


---------------------------------------------------
BLAZBLUE: CALAMITY TRIGGER BALANCE

Tager		29.1%

Arakune		22.7%

Rachel		18.2%

Nu		14.5%
Carl		14.5%
Ragna		13.6%
Taokaka		12.7%
Bang		12.7%
Hakumen		11.8%
Noel		10.9%

Jin		7.3%
Litchi		6.4%

TOTAL		14.5%

---------------------------------------------------
BLAZBLUE: CONTINUUM SHIFT BALANCE

Tager		23.3%

Rachel		20.7%

Lambda-11	19.3%
Bang		18.7%
Hakumen		18.0%
Mu-12		17.3%
Litchi		16.7%
Tsubaki		16.7%

Arakune		14.7%
Noel		14.7%

Hazama		13.3%
Taokaka		13.3%

Makoto		11.3%
Carl		10.7%
Ragna		10.0%
Jin		9.3%

TOTAL		15.5%

---------------------------------------------------
BLAZBLUE: CONTINUUM SHIFT 2 BALANCE

Tager		16.5%

Lambda		12.9%

Hazama		11.2%
Arakune		11.2%
Makoto		10.6%
Taokaka		10.6%
Mu		10.6%
Bang		10.6%
Platinum	10.0%

Jin		8.8%
Rachel		8.8%
Ragna		8.8%
Valkenhayn	8.2%
Carl		7.6%
Tsubaki		7.6%
Hakumen		7.6%
Litchi		7.1%
Noel		6.5%

TOTAL		9.8%

---------------------------------------------------
BLAZBLUE: CONTINUUM SHIFT EXTEND imbalance (1-18-2012)

Makoto		12.2%

Carl		10.0%
Mu-12		10.0%

Tager		8.9%
Ragna		8.3%
Noel		8.3%
Rachel		8.3%
Lambda-11	8.3%
Hakumen		7.8%
Hazama		7.2%
Arakune		6.7%
Valkenhayn	6.7%
Platinum	6.7%

Taokaka		5.0%
Bang		4.4%
Relius		4.4%
Tsubaki		3.9%

Litchi		2.8%

Jin		1.7%

TOTAL		6.9%

---------------------------------------------------

Super Street Fighter II Turbo's balance
44.7%	EHonda

40.0%	Dhalsim
40.0%	Cammy

36.7%	Blanka
36.0%	Guile
35.3%	Sagat
34.7%	DeeJay
34.0%	FeiLong

32.0%	Ryu

30.0%	T.Hawk
29.3%	Zangief

28.0%	Boxer
28.0%	Dictator

26.0%	Chun-Li
25.3%	Claw

18.7%	Ken

32.5%	TOTAL WITHOUT AKUMA

------

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix's imbalance.

Eventhubs matchup chart (2009)

Zangief	30.0%

Akuma	25.0%
E.Honda	25.0%

Cammy	21.3%

Dhalsim 18.8%
FeiLong	18.8%
T.Hawk	18.8%

Ryu	17.5%
Blanka	17.5%

Vega	16.3%
Sagat	16.3%

Balrog	15.0%
Dee Jay	15.0%
M.Bison	15.0%
Guile	15.0%

Ken	13.8%

Chun-Li 8.8%

TOTAL	18.1%
---

Thelo (SRK HDR forum)'s matchup chart (2010)

E.Honda	26.7%
T.Hawk	26.0%

Zangief	22.7%

Ryu	21.3%
Cammy	21.3%
Ken	20.7%
DeeJay	20.0%
Blanka	20.0%
FeiLong 20.0%
Guile	19.3%
T.Hawk	18.7%
Dhalsim	18.7%

Balrog	17.3%

Sagat	14.0%

M.Bison	12.0%
ChunLi	11.3%

TOTAL	19.4% imbalance without Akuma

---------------------------------------------------

DARKSTALKERS 3 (Vampire Savior) Imbalance
Lord Raptor	35.0%

Victor		32.9%
Anakaris	32.9%

Bishamon	29.3%
Sasquatch	28.6%
Rikuo		27.9%
Felicia		27.9%

Q-Bee		26.4%
Talbain		26.4%
Lilith		26.4%

Jedah		24.3%
Hsien-Ko	23.6%
Demitri		23.6%
Morrigan	23.6%

B.B.Hood	21.4%

TOTAL		27.3%

---------------------------------------------------