Don’t worry, this isn’t a choose my character thread 
It’s hard 2 say a single character who I think does the most damage but from the people who I have played against Cody, Fei and Viper hit ridiculously hard
Thawk. Fei’s Damage was nerfed, now even Dan does more damage than him.
THawk does not do high damage at all. Heck I main Hawk and secondary Sagat and Fei and Hawk does the least of the 3.
Hawk has limited combo options, and cannot confirm into Tomahawk Buster or EX spire without clMP/clLP(clMK is character specific), and he will only land those off meaty jump ins or meaty attacks(in which he needs to confirm with clLP (universal), or clMP x2(char specific). Off stLP he only gets crMK(most consistent at max range) which does pretty mediocre damage. He also can’t combo into his ultra without focus unlike most of the cast.
For Example: Hawk’s BnBs(meterless, he doesnt get much mileage with meter with the exception of clMP xx EX Spire)
Splash, clMPxx HP DP 308 Damage(cross up bnb)
clLP, clMP xx LP DP 214 damage(basic Meaty confirm)
clMP xx HP DP 230 damage or SPDs 150(+ sets up meaty) to 230 (basic punish, he has more damaging character specific ones)
Splash, clLP, clMP xx LP DP 297 damage (another cross up BNB with confirm)
stLP, crMK 110 damage (footsie tool)
Versus Fei
clMP, cr LP xx HP Rekkas 216 damage(meaty confirm)
clHP xx HP Rekkas 250 Damage (punish)
stLP xx LP Rekkas 162 damage(footsie tool)
jMP, clHP xx HP Rekkas 308 Damage(cross up bnb)
jMP, clMP, crLP xx HP rekkas 274 damage(crossup jumpin confirm)
I don’t know how you can say Thawk has good damage output when clearly it’s on par with 2012’s nerfed fei who doesnt get combos of death anymore and can utilize meter much more effectively in combos.
Sorry for being off topic but the highest damaging characters in this game are probably Cody, C.Viper, Sakura, Evil Ryu, and Gouken.
He didn’t ask about the damage in combos, mainly because high damage combos are often char specific and not universal. I see your point but Thawk has instant grabs as very powerful punishes of anything that leaves at -2, not mentioning U1. Obviously grapplers have to compensate in damage what they lack in comboability.
I think Evil Ryu is the only character that can put out 420+ damage anywhere on the screen with no meter. Single moves however, I agree that grapplers do the most damage.
Gouken. His far hp does 120 damage. A simple combo like cl.hp xx EX palm dash hk tatsu does about 400 midscreen.
Oni also does insane damage with one FADC.
Seth does really good damage in the corner.
Gouken, Adon, Cody
Sakura, Cody, Cammy, Oni, Evil Ryu
I think Dudley is up there. I can get 400+ damage off of a meterless jump in.
Cody and Sakura. Evil Ryu doesn’t even need meter to ruin your day.
No love for Sagat’s FADC ultra?
Anyways, my main char Sakura can do:
>440 off a jump-in for no meter
>500 off a jump-in for 2 meters
>410 off a fucking crMK vs the whole cast for 2 meters
Cody wishes he could do that.
sigh i remember the days where Akuma used to be questionable
Goken, E. Ryu, Sakura
I’m no sakura player but, this sounds like a load of bs…
Nevermind I went and Looked it up and its legit.You also got like 3 1 frame links in there to get that hgih damage while I can j.hp > st.hp > cr.mp > xx :hp: CU for around the same damage
Boxer
904 dmg.
Yep and all you have to do is hold down all three punches or kicks 
HEY.
DONT DISRESPECT.
You also have to be able to wiggle the stick back and forth.
High raw damage:
Grief
T Hawk
High burst damage:
Viper
Makoto
E.Ryu
High Nickel & Dime damage:
Cody
Sakura
Abel
Honda
The rest would be consistent damage or wear you down damage.
That’s how I see it.