Street Fighter 6 is in a strong place right now, but Capcom still has plenty of fan-favorite fighters waiting outside the roster. Year 3 already has Sagat, C. Viper, Alex, and Ingrid, which gives the game a strong mix of classic power, long-awaited returns, and one deep-cut surprise.
Capcom cannot only chase nostalgia, and it cannot only add wild cards. The best DLC lineup would bring back characters who fill clear gameplay gaps, add personality to World Tour, and make the roster feel broader without repeating what is already there.
Sakura feels like the safest pick because she checks almost every box. She is popular, easy to market, and still missing from a game that already leans heavily into the idea of new fighters learning from older legends.
She started as Ryu’s biggest admirer, but Street Fighter 6 could show her as someone older, sharper, and more confident without losing the energy fans remember.
She would also give Capcom a clean crowd-pleaser whenever it needs a DLC reveal that lands instantly.
Ed already covers part of the boxing space, but Balrog would not feel redundant. Ed is stylish and strange, with Psycho Power shaping the way he moves and attacks. Balrog is simpler in the best way: heavy punches, forward pressure, and the feeling that one mistake can put you in the corner.
That kind of direct aggression still has room in Street Fighter 6. The roster has plenty of technical characters and flexible all-rounders, but Balrog would bring a harsher rhythm that fits the game’s Drive system well.
He also keeps the older Shadaloo flavor alive without needing to carry the whole story himself.
Makoto’s case is built on years of fan noise, but it is not only nostalgia. Her fighting style would genuinely stand out in Street Fighter 6.
She is not flashy in the same way as many modern characters. Her appeal comes from explosive movement, heavy hits, and the threat of closing distance before the opponent feels ready. In a game with Drive Rush, that kind of character could be terrifying if Capcom gets the balance right.
Alex joining Year 3 may make another Street Fighter III pick less immediate, but Makoto still feels like one of the strongest future choices.
Menat is the kind of pick that makes a DLC season feel less predictable. She is stylish, technical, and built around a completely different pace from most of the cast.
Her orb control gives matches a more patient rhythm, and her animations would look fantastic in Street Fighter 6’s expressive style. She also brings back the mystical side of the series without needing Rose to return first.
Capcom usually likes at least one character in each pass who changes the texture of the roster. Menat would do that better than almost anyone else.
Kimberly already gives Street Fighter 6 a fast ninja character, but Ibuki still has a lane of her own. The two share speed and trickery, but their identities are very different.
Kimberly is loud, modern, and built around street style. Ibuki is sharper, more classic, and tied to a very different kind of movement and deception.
That contrast could help her return instead of hurting it. Capcom could use Ibuki to give players another quick, tricky option without making her feel like Kimberly’s replacement.
If Capcom wants another boxer but not Balrog’s brute force, Dudley is the cleanest alternative. He brings precision, counters, sharp timing, and a personality that would shine in Street Fighter 6.
Dudley’s appeal is not only how he fights. It is the whole package: the gentleman attitude, the clean punches, the confident animations, and the way he turns boxing into something elegant.
He may have a harder path if Capcom chooses Balrog first, but he remains one of the most interesting returning candidates from the older roster.
Vega is not the safest pick, but he is the kind of character who can sell a reveal quickly. The claw, the mask, the wall movement, and the theatrical cruelty are all still instantly recognizable.
He would also bring a different kind of villain energy from Bison or Sagat. Vega is not about raw boss power. He is about flash, movement, and style.
The only question is timing. Capcom may want to avoid stacking too many classic villain-side returns too close together, but Vega still feels like a strong option when the roster needs more visual drama.
The best prediction group right now is Sakura, Balrog, Makoto, and Menat. That lineup gives Capcom a massive fan favorite, a classic bruiser, a heavily requested return, and a technical wildcard.
Ibuki, Dudley, and Vega are close behind, and any of them could easily move up depending on what Capcom wants the next pass to feel like.
For now, Sakura feels like the hardest name to avoid. Capcom can wait, but sooner or later, Street Fighter 6 will need one of its most obvious missing stars.
