The 20 Best Characters of the "SoulCalibur" Series

Does the soul still burn?

Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Even though the Soulcalibur series wasn't the first historical weapons based fighting game out there (that distinction goes to Samurai Shodown), it's definitely the most consistent.

And what makes it so distinctive is its diverse cast of characters, which range everywhere from a samurai to a sadomasochistic freak show. Over the years, the characters haven't been nearly as interesting as the initial batch, but there are still some winners in the crop. And even though you might hate some of our choices and ridicule us in the comments section, our souls will still burn. Now on with the list!

20. Lizardman

First Appearance: Soulcalibur
Year: 1999

While yes, Lizardman is essentially just Sophitia without boobs, we still dig him. With a sword and shield combo, he's a defensively strong character who can go all about the screen with dexterity and speed. Plus, we just like playing as a bipedal lizard. Could you really fault us for that?

19. Seong Mi-na

First Appearance: Soul Edge
Year: 1996

Ah, the beautiful and deadly Seong Mi-na. She's been our go-to girl since the very first game. While she's a rod character, much like Kilik, what separates her is the blade at the end of hers, which is capable of doing a great deal of damage in the right hands. Beautiful and powerful, Seong Mi-na is our special lady.

18. Tira

First Appearance: Soulcalibur III
Year: 2005

Tira weilds what is possibly the scariest hula hoop we've ever seen. We've seen elite players absolutely dominate with the "Misguided Angel of Death", but we've never completely fallen in love with her playstyle. It's lethal, but not the most fun to use. She's good to use at the big tournaments, though.

17. Hilde

First Appearance: Soulcalibur IV
Year: 2008

Hilde is something else. With both a short sword and a lance at her disposal, you get two weapons for the price of one, which is always nice. What we love about the Soul series is the diversity of the characters, especially in the female department. Some of the females have boobs out to here, while others are simply just badasses. Hilde is in the latter category. This knight kicks some ass and we love her for it.

16. Hwang

First Appearance: Soul Edge
Year: 1996

Quick with the blade and quick with the kicks, Hwang was a character we severely missed in Soulcalibur V. Back in the old Soul Blade days, we seriously had a hard time deciding who our favorite character was, Mitsurugi or Hwang. Unfortunately, Hwang hasn't been as consistent as the former, which is why he's so low on this list.

15. Maxi

First Appearance: Soulcalibur
Year: 1998

Rocking the Elvis Presley look, Maxi is seen by many as a cheap, button-masher of a character, but we disagree. Sure, his nunchacku is pretty much the equivalent of people pounding the kick buttons with Eddie Gordo in Tekken, but true Maxi masters know that button mashing is not the answer to get ahead with him. It's all about quick strikes and retreat tactics. Controlled restraint is much better than being overly flashy with this character. We know it's hard, but it's highly effective. Vintage Soulcalibur.

14. Patroklos

First Appearance: Soulcalibur V
Year: 2012

The main character of SC V and the son of Sophitia, Patroklos is a nice mix of offensive and defensive destruction. Sure, we're not too fond of his voice or taunts ("Prepare for justice!"), but his playstyle is open to a lot of different approaches. We really like his music, too. Fear his skill.

13. Amy

First Appearance: Soulcalibur III
Year: 2005

Amy or Raphael, Amy or Raphael? Hmm, well, given that we much prefer seeing girls cosplay as Amy than dudes cosplay at Raphael (Do any dudes cosplay as Raphael?), we're going to go with Amy here. Using a rapier just like her foster father, Raphael, Amy's distinctive poke and retreat style is just what we need to frustrate our foes and win competitions. Gotta love those curls.

12. Kilik

First Appearance: Soulcalibur
Year: 1998

Beloved by some and despised by others, Kilik has always been an easy pick up and play character, so we understand the disdain for him. He's almost like the Eddie Gordo of the series (or maybe that would be Maxi). Whatever he's considered, one thing is certain--with his rod and great reach, he can keep most opponents at bay and look snazzy doing it. If you don't like Kilik, then tough noogies. He's the shit.

11. Zasalamel

First Appearance: Soulcalibur III
Year: 2005

With his deadly scythe in hand, comparisons of Zas being a black Grim Reaper aren't too far off. And with a get-up that some might confuse with Assassin's Creed, Zasalamel is that dude you know is going to be a bitch to cosplay as (Note to you AC fanboys and girls out there, Zas pulled it off first). Zasalamel is deadly all over the place, and his weapon is super intimidating. We love Zas.

10. Astaroth

First Appearance: Soulcalibur
Year: 1998

Sure, Astaroth is basically just a bigger, scarier version of Rock, but there's one major difference between the two that can't be denied. Astaroth has his freaking heart beating outside his chest! Besides that, Astaroth is just plain nasty, using his battle axe to send victims flipping into the air with a well-placed strike. Plus, he's just plain badass. Look into those eyes of his. Soul calibur? Astaroth has no soul.

9. Yoshimitsu

First Appearance: Soulcalibur
Year: 1998

Out of place in sister-series, Tekken, but a nice fit in the Soul universe, Yoshimitsu is one of the Soul series' greatest characters. Newbies might be frustrated by his unorthodox moveset, but those who put the time in will find a rewarding character that can travel all over the screen. He's a force to be reckoned with, to be sure.

8. Talim

First Appearance: Soulcalibur II
Year: 2002

Probably the only character from the Philippines we can think of in a fighting game, Talim is straight up nasty. With her speed and elbow blades, she can keep any Soul player on their toes at the risk of her chopping them up or knocking them out of the ring. Our souls shall always burn for Talim.

7. Ivy

First Appearance: Soulcalibur
Year: 1998

Unfortunately, we haven't seen many women cosplay as Ivy, but we'll admit that it would be pretty damn impossible to actually fit into a get-up like hers and not get arrested. Oh, well. The platinum blond dominatrix deals out punishment from afar and near with her sword-whip. It's an unconventional weapon in an unconventional series, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Gotta dig those boots. (And yes, we said boots. We didn't miss the b button).

6. Taki

First Appearance: Soul Edge
Year: 1996

We didn't know they had breast enlargement surgeries back in the day. Taki, who has been there from the very beginning, went from a modest C cup to a, gee, we don't know, an F cup over the course of the series. Breasts aside, though, Taki is an unstoppable force. Being a ninja, she moves with a quickness and strength unmatched by any of the other character in the series. We love Taki!

5. Cervantes

First Appearance: Soul Edge
Year: 1996

The pirate with a black heart is one of the few characters to actually wield two weapons. And early on, those two weapons were actually Soul Edge itself (themself?). Besides the undeniable cool factor of controlling a ruthless pirate, Cervantes can also be a menace both far away and near. His long reach makes him a dangerous combatant in every iteration of the series.

4. Voldo

First Appearance: Soul Edge
Year: 1996

Voldo is Soulcalibur's resident freakshow. With his sadomasochistic get-up, deadly blades, and creepy walk, he's definitely one of the characters that comes to mind when you think of the series. And his attacks are so all-over-the-place that a master player can sneak up on you like no other. That said, he's also quite accessible, so even beginners and novices can have fun with the monster. Khhhhhhhh.

3. Link

First Appearance: Soulcalibur II
Year: 2002

Now we're courting some controversy here. The best of the special characters introduced to the series (though, Yoda was pretty cool, too), Link from Nintendo fame actually felt like he belonged in the Soul universe. With a crazy fun arsenal (bombs, a bow and arrow, a boomerang) and his trusty master sword, Link was a formidable character and definitely one of the best the series had to offer. Who could be better?

2. Mitsurugi

First Appearance: Soul Edge
Year: 1996

The resident samurai of the series, Mitsurugi is another character who has been there since the very beginning. He's as versatile as he is deadly. He's not too slow, and he's not too quick, either. He's straight, down the middle balanced, and we wouldn't have it any other way. He's the Soulcalibur series' Paul Phoenix. Think about it. He is.

1. Siegfried/Nightmare

First Appearance: Soul Edge
Year: 1996

The duality of man is a frequent topic in literature and art, so why can't it be in video games, too? Siegfried/Nightmare is the epitome of that concept. Siegfried wants nothing more than to destroy Soul Edge, while Nightmare only wants to indulge in its limitless power. This makes for one of the most fascinating characters in the entire series, and he was there from the very beginning. Now isn't that something? (Though, yes, we know they became separate entities by game III). With his huge range and strong attacks, he can be a menace all around the playing field. For us, there is no better character than Siegfried/Nightmare. Hell, many would consider him to be the main character of the entire series. You don't get much better than that.