In the realm of Tekken, the duo of Kuma and Panda proves to be quite the challenge. While they share separate character slots, their similarities are striking, diverging only in heat where Kuma gains Heihachi’s EWGF, and Panda acquires Xiaoyu’s shooting star alongside distinct heat smashes. Towering over their opponents, their sizable frames contribute to a potent range, particularly from their powerful arms, forming the backbone of a robust keepout game. Bolstering this defensive strategy is the formidable df21, among the game’s premier whiff punishers, allowing them to assert dominance and control over their adversaries.
The Bears’ signature stance, Hunting Bear Stance (HBS), opens up a world of chargeable mid options for + frames, enabling them to chip away at opponents strategically. Another stance, ROL, introduces a mixup dynamic, featuring a guard break in heat for those passively blocking. Navigating the Bears’ playstyle requires keen conditioning and astute reading of opponents.
Highlighting their unique traits, the Bears boast noteworthy punishment capabilities, standing out as the only characters wielding a 10f CH launcher with 111. However, their distinctive anatomy presents challenges and advantages—their retracted hurtbox makes hitting their legs a daunting task, yet their leg attacks suffer from limited range. The Bears’ size makes them susceptible to Bear-exclusive combos and starters, compounded by a subpar backdash and sidestep, rendering them vulnerable to relentless pressure.
Pros:
- Strong range and keepout game
- Versatile mixups in stances
- Premier whiff punishers
- Chip-heavy playstyle
- Noteworthy punishment capabilities
Cons:
- Vulnerable to bigger combos and unique starters due to big hitbox
- Weakest backdash and sidestep in the roster
Recommended for players who appreciate:
- Characters with substantial range
Difficulty: Easy
Perfect Legend 