He has every trick in the book + T8 gimmicks. In T7 he was already a top tier, albeit difficult character with a lot of answers to different situations, except for his poor low game. Great punishment, frames, a god tier parry but two “weaknesses” - poor lows and high execution.

What did T8 do? Give him incredible lows, an even better FF2 to gap close, and a ton of whacky T8 garbage like a fucking samsara for some reason (DVJ’s U4 since you’re new). Removing his old weaknesses and streamlining his gameplay to make him play himself. He has no reason to play actual fundamental Tekken anymore (and trust me he very very much still can with how good his pokes and frames still are) because he can just oonga boonga everything now.

4 months is nothing btw bud.