Mastering Zangief: Unleash Devastating Moves in Street Fighter 6
Learn how to dominate in Street Fighter 6 as Zangief, the fierce grappler Unleash devastating close-quarters combat moves and master the powerful SPD Utilize heavy normals, mind games, and tick throws to overwhelm opponents Discover the best combos, from beginner to advanced, and gain essential tips for victory Defeat Zangief's opponents by countering his unique playstyle Get ready to conquer the ring with this ultimate guide to playing as Zangief in SF6
Zangief, the perennial grappler of Street Fighter, excels in close-quarters combat and specializes in devastating command grabs. As a professional wrestler, he constantly seeks out formidable opponents to demonstrate the superiority of his fighting style.
Known by the moniker "The Red Cyclone," Zangief has been a staple character in most versions of the franchise. Although Street Fighter 6 introduces new moves and removes some from his repertoire, he still maintains his two iconic techniques: the Double Lariat and Screw/Spinning Piledriver. This guide will provide an in-depth overview of Zangief's playstyle and the unique assets he brings to each fight.
Zangief Strategies
Although many characters in the game have flashy and elaborate combos, Zangief focuses more on the impact and effectiveness of his attacks against his opponents. Despite being one of the slower characters, Zangief is far from being a weak opponent. His 2-3 hit combos possess incredible power and have the ability to significantly deplete the HP bars of his enemies when executed accurately.
As a grappler, Zangief poses the greatest threat when he is in close proximity to his opponent. The mere presence of his command grab creates a constant sense of danger, causing most players to panic when they find themselves within grappling range of Zangief. For this reason, players must strategize and maneuver their way into grappling range in order to initiate the mind games.
Master the SPD
Zangief’s Spinning Piledriver, also known as SPD, is not only his signature move as a professional wrestler but also the primary source of his destructive power. This move has gained a notorious reputation for swiftly turning the tide of battles, particularly when perfectly timed by a skilled Zangief player.
Executing the SPD command in Street Fighter is widely recognized as a challenging input. Players must become proficient in the 360-degree movement input in order to effortlessly execute SPDs. In Street Fighter 6, there is an option to perform a 225-degree motion instead of a complete circle to execute the move, but it still requires practice for those who wish to specialize in Zangief.
Fortunately, Modern Controls have made it more accessible for beginners to perform SPDs. However, to truly unleash its destructive potential, the Classic controls remain the preferred choice.
Patience is Key
It is important for players to keep in mind that Zangief is a powerful and bulky character, which results in his attacks being relatively slower compared to other fighters. However, this also means that his attacks pack a greater punch when they do connect. To effectively use Zangief, players must practice patience and wait for the right moments to capitalize on and overpower their opponents.
To gain an advantage, players should take the time to analyze their opponents and understand their playstyle. Do they rely heavily on projectile attacks or anti-airs? Do they frequently jump around? Evaluating these tendencies is crucial as it helps players determine whether it is safe to close in for a grapple or if they should go all-out in their offensive approach.
Using Heavy Normals
Outside of his command grabs, Zangief's Heavy Normals inflict significant damage on opponents. This becomes advantageous for Zangief as it allows him to close the distance between himself and his opponents. One of his notable tools is the down+Heavy Kick, which serves as an excellent sweeping move with surprising range and the ability to knock opponents down. Additionally, Zangief's Headbutt (forward + Heavy Punch) is deceptively swift and provides a plus on block advantage. Furthermore, players can efficiently Drive Cancel this move to execute a quick SPD.
Tick Throws and Mind Games
When Zangief gets within range of his opponent, he has multiple choices to inflict maximum damage. Although opting for the SPD is the usual approach, in many instances, utilizing a Tick Throw (Light Punch + Light Kick) serves as a viable alternative, as most players anticipate an impending SPD.
Zangief possesses a diverse range of Throws that serve multiple purposes, such as strategically positioning opponents near a wall or aiding players in escaping being cornered. By executing a specific movement away from the opponent (either by moving Back or Down Back) and then performing a Throw, Zangief is able to seamlessly switch sides with his opponent upon successful connection. Furthermore, the Hard Knockdown effect resulting from these Throws enables Zangief players to effectively employ the SPD mind games and maintain control over the match.
Zangief’s Move List
In Street Fighter 6, Zangief boasts an impressive arsenal of 24 Uncommon Moves. His fighting style revolves around Pro Wrestling, with a wide range of devastating chops, dropkicks, and various throws reminiscent of the world of professional wrestling. Additionally, Zangief possesses 9 Unique Attacks, 6 Special Moves, 3 Super Arts, and 6 Throws in his repertoire.
Move | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
Hellstab | Upwards throat thrust | Unique Attack |
Knee Hammer | Hopping knee strike | Unique Attack |
Heatbutt | Forward headbutt | Unique Attack |
Cyclone Wheel Kick | Forward rolling kick | Unique Attack |
Smetana Dropkick | Low dropkick | Unique Attack |
Flying Body Press | Body press from a jump | Unique Attack |
Flying Headbutt | Headbutt while jumping | Unique Attack |
Machine Gun Chops | Three hard chops | Unique Attack |
Power Stomps | Three hard stomps | Unique Attack |
Double Lariat | Spinning two-armed attack | Special Move |
Screw Piledriver | Spinning piledriver grapple | Special Move |
Borscht Dynamite | Spinning aerial tombstone piledriver | Special Move |
Russian Suplex | Double driving suplex grapple from behind | Special Move |
Siberian Express | Running spinning powerbomb grapple | Special Move |
Tundra Storm | Counter move that punishes specific horizontal kicks | Special Move |
Aerial Russian Slam | Jumping anti-air powerbomb grapple | Super Art 1 |
Cyclone Lariat | Multiple rotation lariat ending with either a slam or knock up | Super Art 2 |
Bolshoi Storm Buster | Vicious Screw Piledriver preceded with Pro Wrestling flair | Super Art 3 |
Body Slam | Scoops an opponent to a slam: can be held to have Zangief drop an elbow | Throw |
Capture Suplex | Powerslam that throws opponent behind Zangief | Throw |
German Suplex | Grab the opponent from behind and drives their head and back | Throw |
Spinebuster | Lifts opponent and slams them back first | Throw |
Russian Drop | Swift stomach kick followed by driving the opponent's head to the ground | Throw |
Brain Buster | Side switch suplex | Throw |
Best Combos for Zangief
Zangief excels in dealing damage at mid to close-range, utilizing combos that may not be overly flashy but typically consist of 3 to 5 hits. However, the real power lies in well-timed SPD or Air SPD moves, which often inflict significant damage. Therefore, it is crucial for Zangief players to familiarize themselves with the attacks that provide frame advantages and help close the distance to engage in grappling with their opponents.
Beginner Combo: Zangief's Double Lariat BnB
Classic Controls | Modern Controls |
|---|---|
Crouch Light Kick, Crouch Light Punch, Light Punch, Light Punch+Medium Punch+Heavy Punch | Hold Down, Assisted Combo + Light Attack, Light Attack |
Zangief's classic Bread and Butter (BnB) combo, which does not require SPD, is a simple and efficient combination that inflicts considerable damage. By utilizing the Overdrive version of Double Lariat, Zangief can deliver a few additional strikes at a faster pace compared to the conventional Double Lariat. Due to its ease of execution, Zangief users in online matches often resort to employing this combo at least once.
The Modern control version is much easier to pull off, however, it doesn't deal much damage, nor is the Double Lariat the Overdrive version.
Beginner Combo: Headbutt to Machine Gun Chops
Classic Controls | Modern Controls |
|---|---|
Forward Heavy Punch, cancel to Drive Rush, Medium Punch + Medium Punch + Medium Punch | Forward Heavy Punch, cancel to Drive Rush, Medium Punch + Medium Punch + Medium Punch |
A powerful combo in Street Fighter 6, Zangief's Headbutt followed by Drive Rush and Machine Gun Chops serves as an effective pressure tool. The Headbutt grants Zangief players an advantage, and if the opponent is unaware of the three chops, they are likely to be hit by the final one and be knocked down. This maneuver enables Zangief players to control the battlefield and initiate strategic SPD mind games.
Intermediate Combo: Neutral Jump Borscht Dynamite
Classic Controls | Modern Controls |
|---|---|
Jump, Up + Heavy Punch, Circle Light Kick + Medium Kick | Jump, Up + Heavy Punch, Special Button |
This combination is primarily effective against opponents who frequently jump. In order to counter these jumping opponents, Zangief can engage them in the air, executing a headbutt, and then swiftly following up with his formidable Borscht Dynamite air throw. The Overdrive version, available in Classic Controls, inflicts greater damage, whereas the Modern Controls version is more reliable as it only requires pressing the Special Button for executing Borscht Dynamite, albeit with slightly less damage dealt.
Advanced Combo: Corner Juggle Borscht Dynamite
Classic Controls | Modern Controls |
|---|---|
Drive Impact, Down Forward + Medium Punch, Light Punch + Medium Punch + Heavy Punch, Circle + Light Kick + Medium Kick | Drive Impact, Down Forward + Medium, Down Super + Light, Jump + Super |
Zangief can execute another situational but highly damaging combo when he corners his opponent. He can use Drive Impact to unleash a wall combo. In Classic Controls, he can perform Borscht Dynamite on the ground by quickly inputting the 360 and timing it just as the opponent is about to land. However, in Modern Controls, this may be more challenging as using SP on the ground is limited to Screw Piledriver. Players can choose to do a micro-jump and press Super to activate the Borscht Dynamite input, but the timing for this maneuver is quite precise.
Tips for Winning with Zangief
To succeed with Zangief, one must focus on engaging in close combat and utilizing his SPDs to inflict significant damage. However, closing the distance between opponents can be challenging, making it crucial to identify Zangief's unique attacks that aid in closing the gap.
While Zangief's flair lies in executing SPDs and Level 3 Super Art to deal massive damage, his Heavy Normal attacks also pack a punch when properly spaced. Players should therefore experiment with Zangief's Heavy attacks to determine which ones suit their playstyle the most and integrate them into their SPD repertoire.
Here are some other advanced tips:
Master inputting SPD while standing (for Classic Controls): This can be done via move buffering during certain moves on neutral such as Forward+HP or Forward+MK
Zangief's command grabs can be enhanced with overdrives to increase their execution speed. This is particularly important for his air grab, ensuring a more consistent landing.
It is essential to familiarize yourself with the moves that can be canceled into Drive Rush. As Zangief tends to be slower when it comes to closing the distance with opponents, Drive Rush becomes his primary method to bridge the gap. By knowing which moves can be canceled into Drive Rush, you can catch opponents off guard and surprise them.
Avoid unnecessary use of Drive Rush as it can lead to Burnout, which is especially risky for Zangief considering it is his main approach to close the distance.
How to Counter Zangief
Like many other grapplers, Zangief's main objective in matches is to close in on his opponents. By doing so, he can fully utilize his command grabs and execute swift combos. However, Zangief faces significant challenges when going up against zoners and fighters like JP and Dhalsim who have the ability to shoot projectiles. These opponents pose a strong threat to Zangief as they can effectively impede his game plan by keeping their distance.
To add to the challenge, Zangief relies heavily on getting in close to his opponents. Unfortunately for him, he lacks quick moves that can bridge the gap between him and his adversaries, apart from his unique Drive Rushed attacks.
In Street Fighter 6, players must stay vigilant when a Zangief player jumps or initiates an attack, as they could be setting up for their SPDs. To counter this, it is recommended to either jump away or perform a jumping attack to potentially catch them off guard and execute a swift combo. Street Fighter 6 can be played on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms.
