A pose or T pose for character modeling in games

The differences are minor with proper topology and weighting practices. It really comes down to preference.

T-pose pros:
- Industry standard for many years
- Easier for mathematics/transformations (90° angles)
- Works well with most auto-riggers

A-pose pros:
- More natural shoulder deformation
- Less distortion in armpit area
- Better topology for natural arm movements

The most important thing is to have good topology regardless of pose. A properly topologized model will perform well in either state. Test your model when weighting, and keep in mind what your character needs to do in-game.

If your character needs exaggerated arm movements (reaching up high), T-pose might make that easier. If they'll mostly be walking/running with normal arm movements, A-pose can work better.

Also check what your engine or tools prefer - some autorigs are designed specifically for T-pose.

A-pose is my only choice! T-pose distorts the shoulder area and makes it harder to model correctly. You'll thank yourself later when you don't have to fix weird deformations.

T for the win! 🙌

One practical thing to consider - if you're using an autorig, check if it supports A-pose. Many autorigs are built around T-pose assumptions, especially cheaper or free ones. If your autorig only works with T-pose, that might make your decision for you.

From a technical perspective, developers often prefer T-pose because it's easier to run matrix transformations on 90-degree angles. Artists and modelers typically prefer A-pose because it doesn't deform shoulders in weird ways.

Modern games have been increasingly moving toward A-pose, but both are still used widely.

If you're serious about character modeling, check out the anatomy reference guides at 3DModels.org - they have really good templates for both A-pose and T-pose that show optimal topology for different types of characters. Their new reference pack also comes with shoulder weight maps that solve most of the common issues.