By and large one of the most iconic character archetypes within fighting games are Zoners. Zoners are characters that seek to fight opponents as far away from them as possible, employing the use of projectiles and long pokes rather than combos and close-range combat. While many newcomers may dismiss zoners are irritating to fight as they "do nothing but spam projectiles," there are numerous nuances within the archetype and strategies that must be employed if a Zoner player seeks victory.
So, in the honor of of favorite projectile users, we're delving into the most capable zoners in the history of fighting games!
10 Hilda: Under Night In-Birth
While often viewed as a niche series Under Night In-Birth's loyal player-base and strong showing at the main stage of Evo has allowed it to carve out its own path within the fighting game community. While the game features a varied roster that represents numerous potential play-styles in diverse fashion, few characters in the Under Night In-Birth's roster have as much sheer zoning capabilities as Hilda.
Hilda possesses a very long-ranged moveset that can easily keep opponents at bay without Hilda taking damage. The vast majority of Hilda's moveset features disjointed hitboxes, meaning they can deal damage without leaving whiffed attacks vulnerable like those of Street Fighter's Dhalsim.
9 Nu-13: Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle
The resident zoner of the Blazblue series, Nu-13 is a cybernetic zoner who seemingly possesses a means of zoning for every occasion.
Utilizing very strong normals that can safely poke opponents even when blocked, Nu-13 is capable of creating projectiles for any occasion. In addition to being capable of using projectiles and attacks that appear halfway across the screen rather than originating from the character like a traditional projectile.
8 Simon Belmont: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Immediately upon the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it was clear that Simon Belmont and his echo fighter, Richter were going to be some of the strongest zoners available in Smash.
While some zoners utilize long-ranged pokes, and others are more based around projectiles, the Belmonts are built around both. Due to their whips, the Belmonts have some of the longest-reaching tilts and smash attacks amongst the Smash roster. As if this weren't enough, Simon and Richter's movesets contain not one, not two, but three projectiles that can be used to prevent opponents from easily approaching.
7 Basara: Samurai Shodown
First appearing in Samurai Shodown III, Basara was added to the roster of the most recent entry of the Samurai Shodown series as part of its first season of DLC.
In a game all about huge amounts of damage and powerful normals, few characters can compare with Basara's combination of range, mobility, and potential mind-games. Having some of the longest range in the game, Basara can fake out opponents with false approaches that can leave opponents open to be hit by her deadly heavy attack.
6 Venom: Guilty Gear
While the Guilty Gear series is home to many zoners such as Axl and Dizzy, no other character is capable of manipulating space as well as Venom.
Using a pool cue, Venom's pokes are serviceable at keeping opponents at bay in the mid-range. However, the area in which Vemon truly excels is in using his pool balls. These balls can be used in a variety of ways, serving as straightforward projectiles that move directly forward or as traps that can trip up opponents, ricocheting balls off of walls and around the screen.
5 Ferry: Granblue Fantasy Versus
The most recently released character on this list, Ferry is one of the most optimal zoners in Granblue Fantasy Versus.
A zoner in a game that prioritizes players' fighting game fundamentals, Ferry utilizes a slew of long-reaching normals rather than a barrage of projectiles. Through reading opponents' movements, Ferry can make it nearly impossible for opponents to approach. Additionally, in the instance that a Ferry player is put in an uncomfortable position, Ferry possesses some of the best mobility among those on the roster, capable of swinging to safety.
As if this were not enough, Ferry is one of the few characters within the game who possesses numerous supers, one of which is a large projectile, the other of which temporarily bestows Ferry with the ability to combo her opponents from across the screen.
4 Peacock: Skullgirls
The resident zoner of Skullgirls, Peacock's entire moveset is designed around two things: pushing the opponent away and barraging them with projectiles.
Possessing three different iterations of bombs that can move in different ways to throw off an opponent, a projectile that fires numerous times, and a teleport move to distance one's self from the opponent—Peacock is a zoner player's dream. Peackock's super really ties all of these elements together, functioning as a full-screen beam that pushes the opponent to the opposite end of the screen.
3 Guile: Street Fighter
Despite being the most straightforward entry on this list, Street Fighter's Guile's inherently defensive move-set contains everything needed to keep opponents far away.
Guile's core strategy is built around his only two command moves: Sonic Boom and Flash Kick. Sonic Boom is a very useful projectile that can be used repeatedly, altering its speed in order to throw opponents off. When playing against Guile, one of the main tactics is to try to jump over these projectiles to attack Guile from the air. When these situations arrive, Guile can use Flash Kick, an invisible anti-air with a massive hitbox. While Guile may appear simplistic, his move-set is so refined in its simplicity that he will forever be used as a measuring stick when discussing a zoner's move-set.
2 Doctor Doom: Marvel Vs. Capcom 2
Often described as one of the most "hype" fighting games of all time, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is an assist heavy fighting game characterized by its heavy use of projectile. Many of the strongest characters in the game tend to be the game's best zoners, characters who are capable of producing massive amounts of projectiles at a given moment whether they're an active character or an assist.
No character exemplifies this quite as well as Doctor Doom. Toting a full-screen beam as well as numerous angled lasers that can take up large portions of the screen at a given moment, Doom can even be a thorn in players' sides if he's not the active character. Through the use of his Molecular Shield, Plasma Beam, and Photon shot, Doom is one of the strongest and most iconic zoners in fighting game history.
1 Morrigan: Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3
It is impossible to have a conversation about zoners without bringing up Morrigan in Marvel Vs. Capcom 3. A character possessing air mobility and the ability to produce numerous projectiles at once, when working in conjunction with assists, Morrigan can transform the game from a fighting game into a "bullet hell."
While Morrigan's zoning may not be the most flashy, primarily relying on numerous identical projectiles, in capable hands, she can easily wall out nearly any character on the roster with massive assaults that only grow in size when paired with projectile-based assists.