You know that feeling when you load up a fighter from 2015 and realize the community is still arguing about frame data? That’s the vibe with Dead or Alive Last Round characters. It’s been years since Team Ninja officially "finished" the game to move on to the sixth installment, but if you hop onto any active Discord or Steam forum, you’ll find that the roster of Last Round is still the gold standard for many fans. Honestly, the character balance in this game is a weird, beautiful mess. Some fighters are absolute nightmares to deal with in the right hands, while others are just... there.
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round was the peak of the series for a lot of people. It brought together characters from Virtua Fighter, weird guest stars like Naotora Ii, and a massive legacy roster. But who actually stands out? If you're looking to play seriously, or even just casually with friends, understanding the nuances of these fighters is the difference between getting a "Counter" hit and getting launched into a danger zone for 40% of your health bar.
The Absolute Powerhouses of the Roster
Kasumi is basically the face of the franchise for a reason. She’s fast. Like, annoying fast. Her frame data in Last Round allows her to pressure opponents relentlessly. If you aren't ready for her teleports or her "Sakura" strings, you're going to spend the whole match blocking until your guard breaks. Most high-level players agree that Kasumi remains one of the most consistent Dead or Alive Last Round characters because she doesn't have many "bad" matchups. She can adapt.
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Then there’s Ryu Hayabusa. He’s the "cool" choice, but he’s actually incredibly technical. You can’t just mash with Ryu. You have to understand the Izuna Drop timing. If you miss that input, you're wide open. But if you land it? It’s one of the most satisfying things in fighting games. His movement is erratic, making him hard to pin down, but he requires a level of execution that casual players often find intimidating.
Why Guest Characters Changed Everything
Remember when Akira Yuki showed up? It was a huge deal. Bringing Virtua Fighter characters into the DOA engine changed the pace of the game. Akira, Sarah, Jacky, and Pai brought a "stiff" but precise style that clashed with the fluid, bouncy movement of DOA. Akira, specifically, is a beast in Last Round. His inputs are famously difficult—some of his best moves require frame-perfect execution—but his damage output is terrifying. He doesn't need long combos; he just needs to hit you three times.
Phase 4 is another story. She’s basically a "glitchy" version of Kasumi. Playing against a good Phase 4 is like fighting a ghost. She disappears mid-string and reappears behind you. It’s disorienting. For players who enjoy high-mobility and "mix-up" heavy styles, she’s often the go-to. However, she’s notoriously difficult to master because her timing is so different from the rest of the cast.
The Heavy Hitters and Grapplers
Most people ignore the big guys. They think they're too slow. They're wrong. Bayman and Leon are absolute tanks in Last Round. Bayman, specifically, is a defensive master. His "Offensive Holds" are the bane of any aggressive player's existence. In DOA, the triangle system (Strikes beat Throws, Throws beat Holds, Holds beat Strikes) is everything. Bayman subverts this by having holds that act like attacks.
Bass Armstrong is the pure grappler. If you let him get close, the round is basically over. His throws do massive damage, especially if he gets you near a wall. The complexity of his move list comes from the chain throws. You have to guess which "break" to use, and if you guess wrong, you're taking another pile driver. It’s a psychological game.
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The Rise of the Newcomers
Marie Rose and Honoka were the "new generation" introduced around the Last Round era. At first, people dismissed them as "fan service" additions, but they actually have very distinct playstyles.
- Marie Rose: She’s tiny and has a very short reach. To win with her, you have to be a counter-hit specialist. Her "Minuet" stance is tricky, allowing her to dodge under high attacks and punish with weird, dance-like movements.
- Honoka: She’s a "copycat" character. Her moveset is a "Best Of" compilation from other fighters. She has Bass’s power, Kasumi’s speed, and Hitomi’s strikes. The trade-off is that she has lower health than most of the roster. She’s a glass cannon. If you can’t manage her stances, she’s useless. If you can? She’s a nightmare.
Nyotengu is the other standout. She’s slow but has incredible reach and the ability to fly—literally. Her gust attacks can keep opponents at bay, and her dive kicks are some of the best in the game. She’s a "space control" character. You don't want to rush her; you want to bait her into making a mistake.
Understanding the "Hold" System with Different Characters
You can't talk about Dead or Alive Last Round characters without mentioning the Hold system. Every character has a basic 3-point or 4-point hold, but some have "Expert Holds."
Leifang is the queen of this. She can parry almost anything. If you’re playing against a Leifang expert, you’ll feel like you can’t even throw a punch without getting redirected. Her style is Taichi Quan, which is all about using your opponent's momentum against them. It’s frustrating. It’s also brilliant.
Then you have characters like Rig or Jann Lee. They are pure strikers. Jann Lee’s "Dragon Cannon" is legendary for its knockback. He’s all about "Kiai" and explosive forward momentum. If you play Jann Lee, you aren't waiting for the opponent to move; you're forcing them to react to you. His speed-to-power ratio is arguably the best in the game.
The Characters Nobody Talks About (But Should)
Brad Wong is a mess. I mean that in the best way possible. His "Drunken Fist" style makes his hitbox shift constantly. He lies on the ground, he turns his back, he stands on one leg. Fighting Brad Wong is a test of patience. You have to wait for him to stop rolling around before you can actually land a hit.
And then there's Mila. She’s a mixed martial artist. She doesn't have the flashy ninjutsu or the magical powers. She just has solid boxing and great takedowns. Her "mount" game is unique in Last Round. Once she gets you on the ground, she can rain down punches, and you have to guess the right escape. She’s a "ground and pound" specialist in a game full of ninjas.
Competitive Tier Reality vs. Casual Fun
Look, if you're looking at a tier list from a 2017 tournament, you'll see Hayate, Kasumi, and Akira at the top. But for 90% of players, tiers don't matter as much as "feel."
- For Beginners: Hitomi or Mila. Their moves are straightforward and they don't rely on complex stances.
- For Technical Players: Akira or Phase 4. Be prepared to spend hours in training mode.
- For Trolls: Brad Wong or Zack. Their movement is so weird it’ll drive your friends crazy.
Why the Last Round Roster is Still Relevant
The reason we still talk about these specific characters is the variety. Dead or Alive 6 actually cut some features and changed the feel of certain fighters. Many purists stayed with Last Round because the character expressions and "Weight Classes" felt more impactful. In Last Round, a heavyweight like Raidou feels significantly heavier than a lightweight like Ayane. This affects how high they are launched and how long your combos can be.
Raidou is an interesting case. He’s the "final boss" character who was brought back as a cyborg. He has massive, screen-clearing moves and incredible reach. He’s slow, but his "mimicry" allows him to use some of the best moves from other characters, similar to Honoka but with way more raw power.
Maximizing Your Performance
If you want to actually get good with your chosen Dead or Alive Last Round characters, you need to stop mashing P+K. The game is won in the "Stun" phase. Most characters have specific moves that cause a "Sit-down Stun" or a "Stagger." Learning which moves do this is key.
For example, Christie is a speed demon. Her goal is to get you into a stun state and then use her "Snake" stance to keep you there. She’s one of the few characters who can effectively "loop" pressure if you don't know how to "Slow Counter" (rotating the d-pad to recover faster).
Practical Steps for Character Mastery
To move from a casual masher to a decent player, follow this logic:
- Find your "Poke": Every character has a fast jab (usually 7-9 frames). Know yours. It’s your "get off me" button.
- Learn the Launcher: You need to know which move sends the opponent into the air. This is where the big damage happens. For many, it’s 3K or 8K.
- Respect the Walls: Last Round has interactive stages. If you’re playing as a character like Rachel, use her weight and power to slam opponents into walls or electrical fences. The environmental damage is often higher than the combo damage itself.
- Practice the Tech Roll: When you get knocked down, don't just lie there. Use the roll to avoid "ground hits."
The legacy of these characters lives on because the game's mechanics—the "Triangle System"—allow for a level of depth that many modern fighters have traded for simpler "auto-combos." Whether you’re playing the free "Core Fighters" version or the full game, the depth is there if you’re willing to look for it.
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Final Tactical Considerations
Don't ignore the "Move List" in training mode that shows frame data. It looks boring, but it's the DNA of the game. If a move is -15 on block, it means you can be punished by almost anything. If you’re playing a character like Kokoro, who has a lot of mid-range palm strikes, knowing which ones are "safe" on block will keep you alive against aggressive Kasumi players.
Ultimately, the best character is the one whose rhythm matches your own. If you like being a defensive wall, go Bayman. If you want to be a blur of purple hair and kicks, go Ayane. The balance in Last Round is good enough that skill almost always trumps character choice at a local level.
To take your game to the next level, start by picking one character and mastering their "Critical Bursts." These are specific moves that leave the opponent completely defenseless for a short window, allowing you to land your Power Blow (the cinematic super move). Every character has a different input for this, so head into training mode and look for the move marked with a green icon in the command list. Master that one setup, and you'll immediately see your win rate climb against anyone who isn't a seasoned veteran.