Look, it's 2026. We've got Storm Connections and a bunch of newer anime fighters taking up space on our SSDs. But if you hop onto any competitive discord or check the Steam charts, you'll see people are still sweating over Naruto Storm 4 characters. It’s kind of wild. You’d think a game from 2016 would be dead and buried, but the roster balance—or lack thereof—keeps it feeling more "alive" than the sequels.
People often ask why. Honestly? It's the mechanics. Connections tried to simplify things, but it lost that technical "bite" that makes a perfect Mitsuki bait-and-switch feel so satisfying.
The Broken, The Busted, and The God-Tier
When we talk about the roster, we're looking at over 100 fighters. That sounds like a balancing nightmare because, well, it is. If you're playing for keeps, you aren't just picking your favorite anime character; you're looking for specific hitboxes and frame data.
Edo Minato is basically the "final boss" of the online lobbies. If you see him on the loading screen, prepare to sweat. His tilt—the one where he teleports—is still one of the most obnoxious tools in the game. It isn't just that he's fast. It’s the fact that he can punish you for literally breathing.
Then you have the Uchiha lineup. It’s an Uchiha world; we’re just living in it. Sasuke (The Last) and Rinne Sharingan Sasuke are staples for a reason. Their reach is absurd. Their jutsus, like the Almighty Push or Inferno Style: Fire Ball, cover so much ground that they essentially force the opponent to play a guessing game with their substitutions.
The Support Meta You’re Probably Ignoring
You can't just pick three "cool" guys and hope for the best. Not if you want to win. Support types in Storm 4 are actually more important than your main in high-level play.
- Dash Cut: Characters like Han or PTS Gaara (the little guy from the Chuunin exams). They’ll jump in front of a dash and save your life. It’s the ultimate "get out of jail free" card.
- Strike Back: This is where Naruto (Six Paths) shines. If you knock an opponent away, your support kicks them back to you for a free combo. It turns a 20% damage string into a 50% nightmare.
- Charge Guard: Underused, but Mei Terumi and Hashirama are goats here. They protect you while you're charging chakra. In a game where chakra is everything, that's huge.
What Most People Get Wrong About Puppet Masters
I see this all the time. Someone picks Kankuro or Sasori, tries to mash the attack button, and gets absolutely washed.
Puppet masters are the most difficult naruto storm 4 characters to master, period. You aren't playing a fighting game; you're playing a micromanagement simulator. If you can keep the puppet between you and the enemy, you're invincible. If they get past the puppet? You're a wet paper bag.
Chiyo is the secret sauce here. Her grab has deceptive range, and her "Three Champions" awakening can overwhelm almost anyone who doesn't know how to sub properly. But seriously, don't pick her if your hands are slow. You’ll just get frustrated.
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The "The Last" Power Creep
There’s a reason why the versions of characters from The Last: Naruto the Movie dominate the tiers. They were the final major additions before the Road to Boruto expansion, and CyberConnect2 clearly gave them a little extra "oomph."
Naruto (The Last) has a move pool that flows better than almost any other version of the character. His air combos are sticky, meaning they track the opponent even if they try to move slightly out of the way. Compare that to Part 1 Naruto, who is fun for nostalgia but lacks the utility to survive a modern 2026 lobby.
And don't get me started on Hinata (The Last). Her Air Palm is one of the fastest projectiles in the game. You can spam it to chip away health, and if they dash in, her defensive rotation jutsu is an instant "no."
Hidden Mechanics: The "Tilt" and "Cancel"
Most casual players forget the "Tilt." You flick the analog stick and hit circle (or B). For some characters, it’s a waste of time. For others, it’s their best move.
Itachi’s crow clone tilt makes him invincible for a few frames. It’s a literal cheat code if you time it against an Ultimate Jutsu. Shisui Uchiha has a similar flicker move that makes him almost impossible to pin down. If you aren't using tilts, you aren't really playing the character; you're just playing a skin.
Road to Boruto: Is It Actually Better?
The Road to Boruto expansion added characters like Mitsuki, Momoshiki, and Kinshiki.
Momoshiki is a beast. His ability to absorb jutsus and fire them back changes the entire flow of a match. It forces the other player to stop relying on fireball spam and actually engage in taijutsu. Kinshiki, on the other hand, is a big-body character. He’s slow, but he hits like a freight train.
Honestly, while the Boruto era characters are flashy, they often feel a bit "lighter" than the Shippuden legends. There’s something about the weight of Madara (Six Paths) or Guy (Eight Gates) that the newer kids just haven't matched yet.
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Why 2026 is the Year of the "Niche" Pick
We’ve reached a point where the meta is so defined that people are starting to get bored. That’s why you’re seeing a rise in Zabuza and Haku teams.
They aren't S-tier. Not even close. But their synergy is crazy. Haku’s speed combined with Zabuza’s massive sword reach can catch people who are too used to fighting Uchiha #452.
If you want to actually improve, stop looking at the top of the tier list. Pick a "Maybe" category character like Darui or Yugito Nii. Their move sets are weird. People don't know the timing to substitute against them. That confusion is your biggest weapon.
Actionable Tips for Dominating the Roster
If you're looking to climb the ranks or just stop losing to your younger brother, here is exactly what you need to do:
- Stop Mashing: It sounds simple, but Storm 4 rewards patience. If you mash, you’ll trigger a "sub-trap" and get punished.
- Master the "Chakra Dash Cancel": Use your dash to get in, but hit the block button immediately to stop. It baits out the opponent's substitution.
- Learn Team Ultimate Timings: Don't just fire your Ultimate Jutsu whenever. Use it at the end of a combo after your opponent has used all their substitution logs.
- Watch the Support Gauge: Never let both your supports be on cooldown at the same time. You’re a sitting duck.
The beauty of the naruto storm 4 characters is that even a decade later, there’s still something to learn. Whether it's a specific guard-break setup with Pain or a weird infinite combo with Rock Lee, the depth is there if you’re willing to look for it. Go into practice mode, turn on the hitboxes, and see why this game refuses to die.