Dead or Alive 6 Last Round launches with 29 fighters in its base roster, two more available through paid DLC on day one, and a free-to-play Core Fighters edition that gives you just four of them to start. That's a lot of ground to cover if you're trying to figure out who you get, who costs extra, and what the free version actually includes. This guide breaks it all down.
Who is in the Dead or Alive 6 Last Round base roster?
Every character from the original Dead or Alive 6 carries over to Last Round. That's the full 29-fighter lineup, no one left behind. The roster spans series veterans, guest fighters, and some characters who have been around since the earliest entries in the franchise.
Here's the complete base roster at a glance:
Full base roster on select screen
What does the Core Fighters free edition include?
The Core Fighters edition of Last Round is free to play, but it only unlocks four characters: Kasumi, Marie Rose, Honoka, and NiCO. Everyone else in the 29-fighter base roster sits behind the full game purchase. If you're trying the game out before committing, those four give you a decent spread of playstyles, but the roster depth is obviously limited.
This is a good way to test the game's mechanics before spending anything, especially if you're new to fighting games and want to see whether the combat clicks with you first.
Core Fighters free character options
How do you unlock Mai Shiranui and Kula Diamond?
Mai Shiranui and Kula Diamond both appear on the character select screen from the start, but they're locked behind a purchase. The only way to add them to your playable roster is by buying the Dead or Alive 6 Last Round x The King of Fighters XIV collaboration DLC. Each character is sold separately, and each comes with five bonus costumes included in the purchase.
The frustrating part for returning players: if you already paid to unlock Mai and Kula in the original Dead or Alive 6, that purchase does not carry over. Licensing restrictions mean you'll need to buy them again specifically for Last Round. That's a real annoyance for anyone who already spent money on the King of Fighters crossover content the first time around.
Mai and Kula DLC purchase screen
Are more DLC characters coming after launch?
The base 29-fighter roster is confirmed as the starting point, with more characters set to arrive through DLC post-launch. Mai and Kula are the only paid additions available at launch, but the game's DLC roadmap extends beyond them. Exact future additions aren't confirmed at this stage, so checking official Team Ninja channels is the best way to stay current on what's coming.
Post-launch DLC content planned
Which characters should you pick first?
If you're coming in fresh and want to get moving quickly, the Core Fighters four are your starting point by default. Kasumi is the series' face for a reason: her moveset is approachable, her speed is good, and she teaches you the fundamentals without punishing you for experimenting. Jann Lee rewards aggression and is worth picking up early if you like pressure-heavy play. Hayabusa has more depth and a steeper learning curve, but players who put in the time consistently get results.
For players who want to go deeper on combat systems, builds, and boss encounters, the Dead or Alive 6 Last Round strategy guides at GAMES.GG cover the mechanics in detail.
Full roster breakdown by style
The 29 base characters cover a wide range of fighting disciplines. Here's a quick reference for how they break down by combat approach:
- Striking-focused: Kasumi, Ayane, Hayabusa, Hayate, Jann Lee, Hitomi, Eliot, Rig, Diego
- Grapple-heavy: Bass, Tina, Bayman, Mila, La Mariposa
- Technical/mixed: Helena, Christie, Leifang, Kokoro, Brad Wong
- Unique/supernatural: Nyotengu, Phase-4, Raidou, Rachel, Momiji
- Versatile: Marie Rose, Honoka, NiCO, Tamaki, Zack
- DLC (KOF XIV collab): Mai Shiranui, Kula Diamond
This breakdown is a rough guide to playstyle, not a tier list. Every character in Last Round has enough depth to be viable at high levels, and the roster is balanced well enough that personal preference matters more than picking the "correct" fighter.
For players who want a deeper look at how the game plays beyond just knowing who's on the roster, the Dead or Alive 6 Last Round beginner combat and upgrade guide is a solid next step for understanding the systems underneath the fighter selection.