The Red Cyclone FAQ
Version 2.00
Last Updated Jun. 23, 2010
Dustin M. Kulwicki
kwix29@gmail.com
AIM: L kwix L
PSNID: k-wix
No 360, sorry.
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Version History
2.00
- Updated FAQ for SSF4!!
- Movelist section seperated for Super, Ultra 1, and Ultra 2
- Spinning Piledriver Updated for SSF4
- Powerbomb Move updated for SSF4
- Ultra 2 Tested and approved!
- More on the 'Closing the Gap' section.
- New Strat added 'Zief on the Jump in, Do's and Dont's!
- New Strat added/redone 'The Wakeup game. The Pinnacle of Zief Combat'
- Updated Strat for SSF4 'The Lariat Priority Game.'
- New Strat added 'The Magical Green Hand of Justice!'
- New Strat added 'Zangiefs monstrously strong poke game.'
- Adon Section Added
- Cody Section Added
- DeeJay Section Added
- Dudley Section Added
- Guy Section Added
- Hakan Section Added
- Ibuki Section Added
- Juri Section Added
- Makoto Section Added
- T. Hawk Section Added
1.20
- Fixed a few Typos
- New Strat added 'Block - And THEN throw'
- Added more info to the Lariat sections.
- Major updates to Match-Ups section.
- Abel Section Touched Up
- Added Akuma Section
- Added Balrog Section
- Added Blanka Section
- Added & Fixed Cammy Section
- Fixed up Ken Section (why do they always Shoryuken?)
- Added Ryu Section.
- Added Sagat Section.
- Fixed up Vega Section.
1.10
- More added on the Spinning Piledriver.
- Found some interesting details about his Headbutt.
- Changed Opinion on Jumping Sideways MK.
- Added new strategy 'Doing A 360'.
- New Combo 'Banishment' added.
- A Few characters better detailed in the Matchups section.
1.00
- Faq is completed
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Contents
1:  Intro
1.1: Why Play The Red Cyclone?
2:  Movelist
2.1: Basic Moves
2.2: Unique Moves
2.3: Special Moves
2.4: Super
2.5: Ultra 1
2.6: Ultra 2
3:  Strategies
3.1: General Strategies
3.2: Combos
4:  Original SF4 Match-Ups
4.A: vs. Abel
4.B: vs. Akuma
4.C: vs. Balrog
4.D: vs. Blanka
4.E: vs. C. Viper
4.F: vs. Cammy
4.G: vs. Chun Li
4.H: vs. Dan
4.I: vs. Dhalsim
4.J: vs. E. Honda
4.K: vs. El Fuerte
4.L: vs. Fei Long
4.M: vs. Gen
4.N: vs. Gouken
4.O: vs. Guile
4.P: vs. Ken
4.Q: vs. M. Bison
4.R: vs. Rose
4.S: vs. Rufus
4.T: vs. Ryu
4.U: vs. Sagat
4.V: vs. Sakura
4.X: vs. Seth
4.Y: vs. Vega
4.Z: vs. Zangief
5:  New SSF4 Match-Ups
5.A: vs. Adon
5.B: vs. Cody
5.C: vs. DeeJay
5.D: vs. Dudley
5.E: vs. Guy
5.F: vs. Hakan
5.G: vs. Ibuki
5.H: vs. Juri
5.I: vs. Makoto
5.J: vs. T. Hawk
6:  Credits and Legal
1:  Intro
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Hey all - So im writing this faq for two purposes, the first is to educate and
help out all new and aspiring Zangief players. The second is to help myself
learn and understand how to play Zangief better. One of my favorite things
about the Street Fighter series is that its a lot like chess - easy to learn
and impossible to master, writing this FAQ helps me be one step closer to
mastering the ins and outs of The Red Cyclone.
This FAQ assumes you have a basic rudimentary understanding of how SF4 works.
I'm not going to go through and list out all the terms like QCF+P, I'm not
going to explain the focus system, EX moves and how they function. I'm
assuming you've already played the game and want to learn how to play
(or beat) Zangief. If you seriously find yourself at any point in this FAQ
having a hard time understanding a specific combo or how i am explaining
things then just ask me.
Another small note, This Faq was made entirely while playing the PS3 version.
1.2:  Why Play The Red Cyclone?
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Zangief is one of the original powerhouses of the street fighter universe and
he is arguably at his best in SF4. He is primarily a throwing character and
has an extremely strong presence in the fight.
Advantages:
- Powerful and unique throw options
- Intimidating and commanding presence
- Easy to use
- Great anti-projectile game
- Strong defense
- Impressive damage output
- Immune to most forms of Crossover game
Disadvantages:
- Easy to setup and counter
- Slow and Obnoxious
- 360 motions are a pain
- Only strong when very close
- Easily predicted
- Weak combo game
- Has to deal with projectiles
2:  Movelist
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2.1:  Basic Moves
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I'm going to list all of Zangiefs basic moves and rate them between 1 and 5
stars. This rating is very general and just works as a basic guidline. ANY
move can be used well in proper circumstance, but still - I feel that (and
especially with Zangiefs moves) a rating system might help newcomers. This
general rating system takes combo potential, the base move, damage output, and
any other properties of the move and tries to score it based on those.
LIGHT PUNCHES
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Standing LP (***)
he throws out a quick sideways jab. This is one of Zangiefs quickest and
most efficient attacks. Easily spammable into a 4-hitter that deals about 112
damage. Another thing to note is the range - his jab has an amazing reach.
(for a jab, that is)
Close LP (***)
another simple jab - this has a shorter range and he chops down instead of
sideways. again - also chain and spammable. Nothing much else to note.
Crouching LP (**)
Pretty much a mirror image of his standing LP. The biggest thing to note is
that it deals 10 less damage then his standing LP so try to use the standing
one whenever possible.
Jumping LP (*)
Another mirror image of his standing and crouching lp - In my opinion this
move is not very good - its damage is small and its hit zone is also small.
Since your already vulnerable once your in air, i think your better off doing
something else to try to trade hits with someone.
Jumping Sideways LP (**)
A downwards chop that deals little damage, again - I think this suffers from
the same problem as Jumping LP - There are better moves to be done here.
LIGHT KICKS
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Standing LK (**)
So fast it looks odd, this move outranges his Standing LP but only by a tiny
bit. Beyond that, his lp actually deals more damage and is more combo
friendly. I'd suggest sticking to that.
Close LK (*)
Another one of Zangiefs bad moves. This move has pathetic range and deals
very little damage. Beyond that, you can't combo it with much either. Stay
away from this one guys.
Crouching LK (***)
Just fast enough to be spammed, his crouching LK is probably the best of his
light kicks in general. It has the reach of his Standing LP and because of
its spammable nature, it's a safe move to execute.
Jumping LK (**)
Not quite the damage of his Jumping LP, but solid reach and it has a slight
delay on it while it can still connect to the target. Not a bad move.
Jumping Sideways LK (**)
Slightly better then his Jumping Sideways LP but there are still loads of
better moves to be doing with Zangief, the hit is so small that you really
can't link it to much. There are some clever throwing strategies by hitting
your opponent with a weak attack so he can act sooner so you can throw him
easier, but more on that later.
MEDIUM PUNCHES
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Standing MP (****)
Zangiefs Standing MP is very solid. It has a decent reach, and comes out
almost as fast as his LP. Whats even better is that properly timed you can
combo his standing LP into his standing MP which deals more damage then
his 4spam jab combo.
Close MP (****)
About the same speed as his Close LP and yet connects almost as quick with
little downtime. You can combo this into either of his Lariats but it wont
connect with everyone. Ryu is short enough to where it will not combo, but
it nails Sagat everytime. Not exactly combo friendly, but nice for mixups
against aggressive opponents. They may try to attack into the lariat after
the medium punch.
Crouching MP (***)
He shoots an anti air fist almost straight up. This move has little reach
but decent anti air properties. if your in a pinch with someone coming down
on you, this move can serve you well.
Jumping MP (**)
Better in every way then his Jumping LP, tactics aside. This move still
isn't very effective for Zangiefs air game. It works well if you predict
them to jump to you, but even then, you still have better options then
this.
Jumping Sideways MP (**)
Not bad, It's good for jumping backwords expecting them to jump after you.
But again i feel that in most situations there are better moves to use.
MEDIUM KICKS
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Standing MK  (**)
It has a surprising range going for it, but thats about it. Has a decent
wind up and is very combo unfriendly. Still, that range is surprising.
Close MK (****)
A strong, quick, fast attack that deals solid damage and combo's into his
Lariat for about 210 damage. Very nice.
Crouching MK (***)
This move pulls Zangief forward a good amount and keeps him pretty low to
the ground. You can use this to advance on Sagat and dodge his high
fireballs. That being said, Zangiefs Crouching HK does the same thing and
trips the target. His Crouching MK does pull him faster across the ground
however.
Jumping MK (***)
This move has a slight wind up, but hits a wide arc and does it quickly.
Its a solid air-to-air game move that zangief always has.
Jumping Sideways MK (****)
A great opener to many of Zangiefs combos. While not quite the damage of
his Jumping Sideways HK, it has great priority and stuffs quite a few
moves like Guiles flash kick.
(Thanks to Robin Palm on this one)
HEAVY PUNCHES
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Standing HP (**)
Deals respectable damage and has a rough windup, but the fact that it is
so hard to combo means that most Zangiefs will pass this up in favor of
Linking to other special moves. Pass it up.
Close HP (**)
Quick and generally safe, It's combo unfriendly nature makes it very
difficult to recommend to anyone but newbie Zangiefs who have trouble
with combo moves.
Crouching HP (*)
Has about the same range as his Crouching HK and has significantly more
wind-up time without the trip effect. I'd pass this up in favor of
Crouching HK every time.
Jumping HP (***)
Short reach but a great lead in if your jumping straight up above a
target that just got up.
Jumping Sideways HP (***)
Good reach, but has a large windup, I'd drop this in favor of his
Jumping HK every time.
HEAVY KICKS
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Standing HK (****)
This is one of Zangiefs best moves for a few reasons. #1: It has an
extremely long reach and great priority. #2: It pulls Zangief forward
very quickly, arguably quicker then his forward dash. It has a bit of
wind up, but the reach makes up for it.
Close HK (**)
Surprisingly similar to his Close HP in terms of how it works. It's
not a bad move, but again - most skilled Zangiefs will drop these
big 1-hitter moves in favor of medium->special combos that deal more
damage and are exceedingly easy to perform.
Crouching HK (****)
Pulls the Cyclone forward a bit, and is pretty standard for how trips
work. Zangief has some unique advantages to employ when a opponent is
fallen, so the trip effect is a big deal. That alone makes this move
worth using.
Jumping HK & Jumping Sideways HK (*****)
In my opinion this is one of Zangiefs best air moves. It has some wind
up, but it has increadible reach, works well as both anti air and as a
lead in to start a big combo. You really can't ask for more.
BASIC THROWS
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Forward Throw (**)
Zangief grabs them, picks them up - and throws them forward. At any
point in the game where Zangief can connect with this throw, he could
be doing one of his Special throws, making this move almost worthless.
Theres a certain percentage of Zangief players who can do the 360
motion without jumping. If you can't do this, then you can use these
to nail those hard-to-throw opportunities.
Back Throw (**)
Picks them up, and drops them backwords over his shoulder. Very cool
looking throw. This throw is just like his forward throw in terms of
game mechanics - if your doing this you should be using his special
throws.
2.2:  Unique Moves
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Flying Body Attack (*****) ~Down+HP (During Angled Jump)
Zangiefs FBA is one of his best air moves. The first big deal is that it deals
almost as much damage as his Jumping HK/HP attacks yes comes out FASTER then
his Jumping LK/LP moves. Thats a huge deal. The second big thing is priority.
Did you know that this move cancels a LOT of special attacks? Sagats Super
Combo can be completely nullified by a single Flying Body Attack. As if that
was not enough, the third thing is that its one of Zangiefs few air moves
that has a HUGE crossover property. you can jump right over most targets and
use this as your coming down and string it into a big combo. A wonderful move.
Double Knee Drop (*****) ~Down+LK (During Angled Jump)
Most early players and even some Zangief pro's will quickly dismiss this move
as worthless in favor of the Flying Body Attack, However, this move has a
unique property that makes it very tricky. but it hits very low and stuns for
a very short period of time. It's possible to jump in with this attack, then
throw them AFTER they have recovered. If timed properly, you can fake out a
lot of people with this move. The more you understand how throws work, the
more you will see the advantage of this move.
Headbutt (***) ~Up+MP or Up+HP (During Verticle Jump)
It is a respectable air defense and has good priority in general. The big deal
about this special move is it deals a monstrous amount of stun damage to the
target. It deals about 600 stun damage - to put that into perspective, the
move deals as much stun as three of Zangiefs SPD. That means it can stun just
about anyone in the game in 2 hits initially. That being said, its not an easy
technique to use and can lead to problems if you try to lure an enemy into
your jumps. I suggest experimenting with this only if your an advanced Zangief
player.
(Special thanks to Damon on the headbutt stun effect. Robin was also nice
enough to point this out - thanks!)
Long Kick (***) ~Down+Forward+HK
This move is a simple mirror of his Crouching HK. The difference is that it
pulls him forward much farther if your holding forward while you do it. This
is a fairly quick way for Zangief to advance while avoiding certain high
projectiles. (Re: Sagat & Juri)
Focus Attack (*****) ~MP+MK (Charge)
Zangiefs Focus Attack is slow but potent. He charges up and delivers an
overhand choke slam. About the focus attack itself, the move has a great
range, even uncharged - it has an awesome range to it. The real strength is
that you can link ANY throw to Zangiefs focus attack. Even his Super Guage and
Ultra Revenge combo's can be chain linked right into his focus attack. Anytime
you land one of these on a target, its an automatic Throw.
2.3 Special Moves
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SPINNING PILEDRIVER ~360+P (Throw Range)
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***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES***
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A Staple of Zangief since the beginning, The spinning Piledriver is the single
most damaging throw in the entire game. At any point you and your opponent are
standing within throw distance to each other, you should consider this move.
The first major thing to note about the SPD is that the range and power of
each version changes quite a bit. Zangiefs Light SPD deals the smallest amount
of damage (200) but has the longest reach. His Hard SPD deals the most damage
(about 240) but has the smallest reach of all 3. It's worth noting that all 3
of these outrange Zangiefs normal throw reach, and the normal throw reach of
any other character. Make sure you spend some time using the light and hard
versions of this special and make special notes of the distance and power that
each one deals. There are many times when the light version is better to use
then the heavy. One last thing, This is a great defense against focus attacks.
He can interrupt every single one of them with this throw.
The typical Zief will only use light and heavy SPD, the basic tactic is to
use light SPD to throw when your opponent is outside your traditional throw
range, but is still fairly close. It's absolutely critical to learn the
distance Zief can Light SPD, It outreaches MANY characters jabs. Seriously,
if you intend to play Zief and don't know this yet, go practice and learn.
The EX Version of his SPD has the range of the range of the medium SPD but
looses a bit of damage, the big thing to note is that it has an even faster
start up than his normal throws. Ziefs EX SPD can be used to stuff a lot of
attacks simply because of how fast it comes out.
ATOMIC SUPLEX ~360+K (Throw Range)
Dealing slightly less damage then the SPD (230), the Atomic Suplex has other
advantages going for it. the range is the same as the Heavy SPD, but the big
thing to note is that instead of pushing the opponent far away after its
completed, it literally leaves them right next to you. This is a very
advantageous position for Zangief. One last thing, This is a great defense
against focus attacks. He can interrupt every single one of them with this
throw.
The EX version of this move actually outdamages the SPD. A very good move to
EX.
BANISHING FIST ~DP+P
One of Zangiefs best moves, it stop projectiles if timed right and allows
Zangief to *RAPIDLY* close distance on a target. It moves him so quickly that
many Zangief tactics are made around this single move. It's also worth noting
that a common Zangief tactic is to attempt a Banishing Fist into one of his
two special throws. While this is a 'solid' tactic, there are many, many
weak spots.
The EX version has many increased benefits. the first is that it covers more
ground and comes out a lot faster. It hit's twice and the EX property allows
it to be stringed to many of Zangiefs normal attacks, creating some strong
combo patterns for him. The last, and most important thing about the EX
Banishing fist is that it makes Zangief immume to just about everything when
he activates it. If your low on health or your opponent is low on health, the
EX Banishing Fist becomes increadibly important.
DOUBLE LARIAT ~PPP
Another one of Zangiefs great moves, the Double Lariat has a high priority
when it is initiated. It is also one of Zangiefs best combo moves. When he
begins the turn and brings that shoulder up, that hit can smoke a lot of
people out of whatever they are doing. The other great property of the DL and
one of the main reasons why Zangief has such a good anti-fireball game is
that this move bypasses all projectiles while it is active. Another big thing
is that you can move forward or backword while your spinning. Its a great way
for Zangief to close distance against fireball spammers, and the fact that
his arms swing so high makes it a fantastic choice for anti-air. All that
being said, A smart opponent can trip you out of it pretty easy and if you get
spammy with it and they predict you, its an easy move to counter. You cannot
EX this special move. One last thing to note, This move is very potent for
anti-air. If you find yourself having trouble dealing with enemies that jump
in at you, learn to crouch and throw out the double lariat JUST as they are
about to touch you with an attack. This is also highly useful for enemies
that like to crossover.
QUICK DOUBLE LARIAT ~KKK
Very similiar to the Double Lariat, but it comes out a lot quicker. It only
lasts about half as long and that makes it difficult to use against very slow
moving projectiles. It has all the properties of the Double Lariat but deals
slightly less damage. The real advantage is the difference in speed. You can
throw off predictions by mixing up your Lariats and coming out of them with
fast moving attacks like a EX Banishing Fist. Just like Double Lariat, you
cannot EX this move.
FLYING POWER BOMB ~360+K
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***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES***
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Zangiefs Flying Power Bomb definitely has its uses. Once executed he raises
his arms and blindly runs towards his opponent to give him a hug. Each kick
goes a slightly different distance that he runs but he generally travels about
half the screen. If he at any point reaches his opponent and they are unable
to be thrown (like being on the floor, blocking, or jumping) he will
immediately stop his run and hug the air, as though he missed. If at any point
during his run he is attacked, he will take the damage and the move is
stopped. If he catches his opponent, its a special throw in which he picks
them up and slams them into the floor. In SSF4 this move did sub-par damage
and was quite difficult to land, in SSF4 the damage of the move was overhauled
and it seems like this is now Zangiefs strongest throw.
The EX version of this move is MUCH more useful then its normal counterpart.
It comes out a little quicker but the big deal is that Zangief can absorb one
attack (much like a focus attack) before he stops running. The move also deals
extra damage, making it his most powerful throw short of the ultras in the
game. The power bomb is difficult to land but the rewards now make it worth
the risk sometimes, It's especially useful against the likes of Makoto and
Balrog. (Boxer.)
2.4:  Super Move: Final Atomic Buster
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Super Combo
Final Atomic Buster ~720+P
Zangiefs Super Combo is basically an enhanced version of his SPD. It follows
most of the rules of his normal SPD, but it comes out instantly, basically if
you execute the move and your opponent is standing or attacking and within
throw range, you will pretty much always connect with this attack. It deals
massive damage but can be difficult to build up due to many of Zangiefs EX
attacks being desirable.
2.5:  Ultra Move 1: Ultimate Atmoic Buster
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Ultra Revenge Combo 1
Ultimate Atomic Buster ~720+PPP
Basically the same as the one above - he's a bit more showy with this move,
but the rule of thumb is the same, if your opponent is within reach and is
standing or attacking, you can interrupt and destroy them with this attack.
2.6:  Ultra Move 2: Siberian Blizzard
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***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES***
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Ultra Revenge Combo 2
Siberian Blizzard ~720+KKK (In Air Only)
Zangiefs new Ultra is one of the coolest looking in the game, and also very
strong. Basically it's a move that you can only activate in the air that spins
zangief around a bit and actually floats him within his jump slightly, If at
any point an enemy comes into contact with Zief and is in the air, the throw
happens instantly. On a basic level, its a difficult-to-land throw that
requires both players to be in the air and the damage is solid, but nothing
special. Newbie Zief players will probably do better with his Ultra 1. However.
The real strength of this ultra is the mind game you can play with your
opponent. You can literally start leaping at them and if they attempt an air
counter that puts them IN the air, like a Shoryuken or a flash kick? you can
activate this ultra and punish them HARD. It basically gives Zief the freedom
to jump in a lot more. There are also some tricks and tactics to force enemies
into the throw, but more on that later.
3.  Gameplay
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Here is where i explain some basic strategies for using Zangief effectively.
How to line up his throws, what not to do, how to close on targets, all that
stuff is covered here.
By this point you should have a basic understanding of all of Zangiefs moves
and how to perform the properly and in a pinch.
3.1:  General Strategies
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- Closing the Gap, How do you do it?
- Zief on the Jump in, Do's and Dont's!
- Okay! I'm Close! What do i do now?
- The Throw Game - Want to win?
- Throws interrupt EVERYTHING!
- The wakeup game. The Pinnacle of Zief Combat
- The Lariat Priority Game
- The Magical Green Hand of Justice
- Zangiefs monstrously strong poke game.
- Block and THEN throw.
- Doin' a 360'
- Closing the Gap, How do you do it?
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***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES***
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Generally, one of the most common Zangief questions asked is 'how do you get
close' Zangief is a power thrower - so obviously his strongest power game
only gets applied when you are next to or close to a target. Getting close is
absolutely critical for the Zangief player.
In short, there is no easy answer for this question. Every fighter is unique
and each one can emply different attacks to stop Zangief. That being said,
however - The Cyclone has 2 'general' tactics to close the gap.
The first tactic is the jump game. Jumping avoids fireballs and a lot of
ground-based attacks. Whats better is that if you land next to your opponent
you can *instantly* throw them. Many players initiate the throw game by
jumping to a target and getting an initial throw off and closing the gap from
there. The jump game is easily counter'd. Any general anti-air move will take
him down quick and his jump is average - its really easy to see commin and
since the tactic is so commonplace - most basic players will see it coming.
when jumping in and you get the opportunity to get somewhat close, but not
close enough to throw, your typical best option lies with Jumping MK. It has
a long reach and trades with MANY anti-air moves, trading is usually good for
zief as he has a large amount of life. Not only that, but if you connect
with your MK, you can go into other moves and setups. (More on that later.)
The 2nd tactic is the Lariat/Banishing fist setup. Alternating those moves to
Nullify any projectiles your opponent has and how to get close. Popping an
EX Banishing fist at an Ideal time can cover more then half the distance, if
you can bait your opponent into jumping forward - all the better. A lot of
times you will end up banishing fisting into them. From there you can attempt
a throw, or if you think your opponent might try a quick interrupt, try
a focus attack or a jump, then a throw.
A Third option stands in the Focus Attack. Properly timed you can use it to
dash right past fireballs as though they weren't even there, the downside is
that you absorb them and if you get hit, you still take some of the damage,
so abusing this tactic is typically a bad idea. Another issue is the effect
of off-timed fireballs and EX Fireballs. These are options that enemies have
to make your life more difficult and force you into error, it's especially
easy to do if you abuse the focus attack.
In the end, all 3 of these strategies are more or less effective based on who
you are fighting, and in truth - You should practice and learn how to do all
3 fairly effectively and see which ones you can do the best.
- Zief on the Jump in, Do's and Dont's!
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***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES***
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As Zangief, its a pretty decent strategy to jump in against many opponets.
Some more than others. But there are some tricks and tactics you can do to
maximize your potential jump in damage.
On the way into an opponent from the air, your go-to move should be Medium
Kick. It has amazing priority, great reach, and strings into most
combinations. If your deep enough, you can also consider the Knee Drop or
Body Slam.
After you land, you have some options.
TACTIC 1 - BASIC
-Follow through with a combo, in my experience, 4 Jabs into an EX Banishing
Fist can work wonders here, in some cases you wont be able to hit 4 because
of distance, so maybe just 2 or 3, depending. the big thing about the EX
Fist is that if it connects it puts you in the wakeup game position. (yay!)
TACTIC 2 - ADVANCED
-If your opponent blocks your jump in, and your deep, you can use this dirty
trick to surprise him. Perform 2 jabs, he should block, now execute a Light
SPD. Even if he tries to stuff it with a jab, or counter your potential
throw, he's out of range, and the real beauty is that he's in the sweet spot
for your LSPD, this tactic is scary but tough to perform because its hard to
get a clean deep jump with Zief.
- Okay! I'm close! what do i do now?!
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Throw them!!! Seriously though, this can be a tough question, especially when
your going up against someone who knows Zangief in and out. The real trick
here is to try and predict your opponent if he's bunny-hoping all over the
place (obviously does NOT want to get thrown) then emply combo & anti-air
moves to stop him. (Re: Lariat) Once he gets comfy on the ground, start
throwing again. Another very good strategy is to attempt a focus attack, it
puts up a barrier that may get you through and if you DO manage to land the
attack, its automatic throwing time, which is great. Another popular
technique is the Light Punch Spam. It can throw someone off if you just jab
at them from a decent distance and even better - you can EX Banishing Fist
it into a big high-damage combo.
- The Throw Game - Want to Win?
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Its very important to understand when someone can be thrown in SSF4 and when
someone can NOT be thrown. Especially with a character like Zangief. Trying
to blindly throw whenever you close with Z will get you punished. You must
be sure your throws will hit.
Anytime a character is being attacked, or blocking, they cannot be thrown.
This means you cannot do a light punch into a throw, unless they can act
again JUST before the throw. The only exception to this rule is focus
attacks. You can throw someone who is charging a focus attack. You can also
throw someone after you focus attack them as a followup with any character
in the game.
If a character is JUST getting up, they have throw priority. That means if
your trying to throw someone right over them as they stand up, they can
interrupt with you something like a Dragon Punch. If a character is JUST
landing from a jump, they are vulnerable to throws. Anytime a character
jumps or does an air move and lands next to you - if you have free control
of Z you can throw him no questions.
- Throws interrupt EVERYTHING!
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seriously. This kinda goes hand in hand with The Throw Game, but you can
interrupt just about any move in the game with a throw. Ryu's Fireball,
Kens Hurricane Kick, Adels Roll, More then Half of Balrog's Moves? All of
them can be interrupted by a simple SPD. Even focus attacks can be totally
100% interrupted by a throw.
Another big thing is a lot of moves leave people vulnerable to a throw.
Rose's Soul Spiral, if blocked and she's deep enough, you can immediately
throw her after. Ken's Hurricane kick, if you block it, you can
immediately throw him after he touches the ground. Vega's Low slide. Any
Special move that ends with them touching you. Fei Long is another one.
Wait for those special moves and HAMMER them for using it.
- The wakeup game. The Pinnacle of Zief Combat
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***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES***
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So you got your opponent on the floor, and your standing over them. This is
the absolute best position you can be in with Zangief, you hold all the
cards and have all the options, every single thing you perform with Zief
should usually be aimed to put you in THIS position. The following tips
will explain Zangiefs rediculously strong wake-up game and how to employ
mind-tricks and tactics to devastate opponents. Proper use the wakeup game
can give you multiple perfects in a row.
-The first step to the wakeup game is realizing your opponents options. They
are limited when they get up and your next to them. They will typically
either jump, special move, throw, or possibly ultra. While they are on the
ground your mission is to try to predict what they will do and counter it.
The following strategies will explain what counters what and what you want
to be doing.
TACTIC 1 - BASIC
-As they stand up, execute an Atomic Suplex, EXing it will add damage and
buffer through a jab or in rare cases a specific super move. Timing is
absolutely critical here, you want to perform the throw the INSTANT they are
standing and can throw. If they are holding back or attempting a normal
attack they will pretty much get thrown, THey can jump, ultra, or special
move out of it. If this succeeds and you nab them, the Suplex will set you
up to for the same thing again, but this time they will be THAT much more
likely to attack, so you should switch to a new tactic typically.
TACTIC 2 - BASIC
-Similar to Tactic 1, but instead of throwing, simply crouch block and wait
for them to perform a special attack, after the finish the attack, punish
hard with another Atomic Suplex. You wan't to avoid a SPD because it pushes
them away from you so you can't set up another wakeup game immediately
after. If they jump, your still safe, but this setup is easily countered by
throwing and basic attacks. Most experienced players will see this tactic
coming and attempt a throw. so be aware.
TACTIC 3 - BASIC
-Again, just like Tactic 1, but instead of Suplexing, we want to activate
our double lariat (PPP) here. The Double Lariat will counter most standing
attacks, it pushes them away if they block high, and if they attempt a
special move you will almost always trade if not beat them outright. The
other big deal here, and what's most important is that if they attempt a
jump of anykind, they will be hit, and fall again, and be ready for yet
another wakeup setup. There are a few special moves that counter this,
but they are few and far inbetween. The best counter to this is crouching
in SSF4 just about every crouching character can sweep Zief out of his
Double Lariet, so if they see it coming, you will be sweeped.
Between these 3 basic tactics, you can destroy a lot of players. The real
trick is to abuse them in turn, and try to predict what your opponent will
do when he wakes up and employ the proper tactic to counter it. On a basic
level, i will typically start with Tactics 1 or 3, depending on who i am
fighting, and then maybe switch to 2. The beautiful thing is that im not
done yet - there are EVEN MORE tricky setups to Ziefs amazing wakeup game
and im going to give you the goods on advance setups and tricks. These are
what you see more advanced and expert-level Ziefs using.
TACTIC 4 - ADVANCED
-Just as they stand up, jump straight up. The biggest thing here is that it
counters the throw, but a lot of other potential special moves, ultra
combo's and even jab setups. As you land your best option is to go for a
headbutt if they are NOT blocking, or wait it out and throw again as you
land. You can expect a lot of opponents to jump with you, and if this
occurs, you should Head Butt pretty much immediately after jumping or even
a Jumping HK will do the trick.
TACTIC 5 - ADVANCED
-Crossover #1. Pretty much as soon as they hit the ground jump over them and
perform a Knee Drop. This is a light attack that deals little damage, but it
has amazing priority and can stuff a lot of enemies out of a potential super
move and if they jump, it also hits them. The the thing is, timed properly,
the hit ends as soon as you land, so as you land after performing your knee
on the other side of them, you'll want to throw them with a Suplex. This
throw works if they get hit OR block the attack. This tactic is devastating
and requires a block, then a well-timed jump to counter. It's worth noting
that if your opponent jumps, you should delay the timing of your throw until
they land.
TACTIC 6 - ADVANCED
-A Play on Tactic 5, If they get privy to this and start blocking and jumping
your knee, as soon as you land instead of throwing, Start performing a
Lariat. This forces them to refrain from jumping or they get railed and your
in the wakeup game position again.
TACTIC 7 - ADVANCED
-Crossover #2. Jump over them as soon as they hit the ground and your next
to them, instead of the Knee Drop go with the Body Slam, after the you land
perform a medium punch into a Lariat, this is a three hit killer combo that
deals a lot of damage and is an easily doable crossover. It has a weakness, it
can be blocked and punished, usually with a sweep.
TACTIC 8 - ADVANCED
- This tactic involves Ultra 2, you'll need it to do it. You'll want to
perform a cross-over jump on them a slight bit later then usual, enough to be
just a bit over them as they stand up, but enough far enough in to where they
fear a throw or a crossup hit. Activate your ultra 2 at the last possible
so they really think your going for a crossover. You will see a lot of
opponents try jumping or specialing right into your hands. If they crouch or
stand-block, this tactic will not work, so its best employed when your sure
that they are fearing your throws.
- The Lariat Priority Game.
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The initial shoulder hit has a high priority against a lot of moves. One of
the best uses of the Double Lariat is that it works as excellent anti-air.
There is a bit of a trick to it. You want to be crouching as they jump in
towards you, and employ the Double Lariat as soon as they are about to hit
you with the jump in attack. If timed you can beat out MANY air moves, if
your timing is 'close' or 'weak' you will usually end up trading with them.
- The Magical Green Hand of Justice!
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Here's some tricks to help you use your Banishing Fist in the right way.
- Using the Light version allows for a much faster recovery and still can
stop fireballs, but travels less distance. As you close the distance on an
opponent who is trying to stay away, the light BF has more presence and works
better because its harder to punish (but is STILL punishable.)
- Using the Heavy version when your far away works well, as it covers a lot
of distance quickly without the use of a Special bar.
- If your opponent blocks your Green Hand, its usually not good for you, 9
times out of 10 your going to get punished, this also gives them time to get
farther away, effectively resetting your 'distance' to them. However, you one
very advisable tactic is to perform a normal Banishing Fist, and then Focus
Cancel out of it into a back dash, this stops them from being able to counter,
and closes the gap significantly. You can even Focus Cancel out of your EX
Green Hand so be sure to remember this when you NEED to get close, but safely.
- Zangiefs monstrously strong poke game.
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***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES***
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Zangief has 4 solid poke attacks that come out quick, have surprising reach
and solid priority. Poke game occurs when Zief is close enogh to jump into an
opponent, but has yet to do so, that 'middle-ground' is risky territory for
both players, a jump or special attack could get punished, so both players
kinda sit, afraid to do much of anything. That's where the poke game comes in
These are ideal attacks to use in that situation because they have good reach
and can surprise an opponent.
I'll discuss all 4 of them in order from safest to most risky.
- Ziefs Standing/Crouching LP
It's a great tool to use for poking. it comes out like lightning and can do
the job, the big advantage here is while other moves are better for poking,
none are as safe as the jab.
- Ziefs Standing MP
Outranging the LP by a bit, the MP deals more damage and comes out nearly as
fast, it takes slightly longer to recover, but the added range and damage
make this Ziefs typical 'go-to' poke attack.
- Ziefs Standing HK
Strong and Surprising this kick will stuff a lot. It's a risky move, but man
does it hurt and look hilarious. The Recover is fast, but Ziefs body has a
long stretch to it, so it can be punished. Another big thing to note here is
the damage. Ziefs Standing HK deals a ton of damage.
- Ziefs Crouching HK
The Sweep. It deals good damage, and will force your opponent to fall,
putting you in the 'wakeup' game mode. This has the biggest benefit of all the
poke attacks, but is easily punishible. It also comes out fairly slow and has
an extended recovery time, so be careful with this.
- Block - and THEN throw!
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One of the biggest advantages of Zangief is his ability to capitalize on
opponents who don't perform full, fluid combos. If at any point in a match, an
opponent jumps in or gets close and starts a simple 1-3 hit combo that pushes
you away, you may be able to throw them as the combo ends, before they can
even do anything. Even better, once you get comfortable, you will come to find
that you can even interrupt certain combo's and setups with a huge Piledriver.
The basic idea here is to learn the distance of your Light Spinning
Piledriver, In all honesty - it has some Amazing distance for a throw that
deals as much damage as it does. After that, its simply a matter of learning
what combo's and when its a good idea to use it. One immediate example is that
many amature kens and ryus will jump in with a HK, then go for the crouching
HK sweep. If they throw the kick early enough, you can block it, and then
throw them as they attempt to sweep, even before they get through.
Be wary though, certain combinations of attacks will simply push you too far
away or come out just too fast for you to slip in a Piledriver maneuver, its
a matter of trial an error, but its worth noting that certain characters are
MORE vulnerable to this style of play then others. For example, If you block
Cammys Cannon Spike, you can dash forward and hit her with a Light SPD if
your fast enough.
This strategy also works very well on Chun-Li, Rufus, and Makoto they both
have a lot of oddball close-quarters combo's that can easily be punished -
in many cases even if you get hit by the combo.
- Doing A 360'
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Zangiefs 360 motion can be daunting - especially to new players who aren't
very experienced with Zangief or Street Fighter in general. A lot of new
players end up doing random jumps hoping to land next to a target and throw
them instantly. This isn't precisely a terrible strategy in all cases, but
many times you can be punished for it and its such a common tactic that just
about everyone expects it.
There are a few tricks to allow you to do a 360 on the gamepad without even
touching up. (WHAT?!) yea, here's a huge piece of advice. If you find
yourself jumping instead of piledriving, then go into training mode and try
this trick out.
Instead of thinking of the command as a 360' motion, instead think of it as
a 7-motion-direction-based input. What i mean by that is you don't actually
have to do a full 360 to actually trigger his throw moves. You only have to
hit 7 out of 9 directions to do it.
So, Try going from Forward, to Down-Forward, to Down, to Down-Back, to Back,
then just very quickly slide your thumb to Up-Back then hit punch super quick
to cancel your backwords jump into a throw. Practice makes perfect in this
regard, especially in laggy online matches. Just so you guys know, this trick
doesn't really work for his ultimate and super guage attacks, since they are
720'.
3.2 Combos
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I'm not going to list lots of Zangief combos, as i feel he is not a very combo
friendly character but also because i like seeing others develop there own
combos and techniques. I will list the basics, and once you understand what
chains into what, you can go nuts with him and pick out what you like best.
The 4 Spam Jab Combo ~LP+LP+LP+LP
(140 Damage) ~Difficulty: *
One of Zangiefs simplist and easiest combo's. Just spam the LP button for a
4-hitter. It deals very little damage but has solid range and is very safe.
The Chop Chop Combo ~LP+LP+MP
(152 Damage) ~Difficulty: ***
A simple variation on the Spam Jab Combo, this deals more damage but is
significantly harder to do.
The Red Lariat ~MP(or MK)+PPP
(210 Damage) ~Difficulty: *
You can link either of Zangiefs standing mediums into his lariat for some
pretty big numbers. You can also tag a lariat onto his chop chop combo if you
want, but it may not hit as smoothly, depending on who your fighting.
Not Done Yet! ~PPP+Focus Cancel+EX Banishing Fist
(200 Damage) ~Difficulty: ****
this is a tough one, but if you hit an opponent on the shoulder of a lariat,
you can EX Cancel it with a forward dash into an EX Banishing Fist and follow
it up for some big numbers. You can even take the Chop Chop Into The Red
Lariat and finish them off with the Not Done Yet. Huge damage.
Banishment
~FBA+Crouching LP+Crouching LP+Crouching LP+Standing LK+EX Banishing Fist
(322 Damage) ~Difficulty: ***
A medium difficulty combo with impressive results. As a general rule of thumb
linking any light attack to Zangiefs Banishing fist is a great damage combo.
Beyond that, it knocks them down and puts you in that good position.
(Thanks to Robin on this one)
Focus Throw ~Focus Attack+360+P(or K)
(362 Damage) ~Difficulty: **
This easy-to-do combo simply involves following up a focus attack with any
throw you want. The damage listed assumes you use his basic Spinning
Piledriver. If you use it with something like his Revenge Throw, it deals
about 590 damage.
The Jumping Cyclone ~Jumping HK+MP(or MK)+PPP
(306 Damage) ~Difficulty: **
An extremely easy-to-do combo that yields devastating results. More then
either of his special grabs.
More to come later....
4.  Matchups
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I've tried to rate opponents on difficulty. 3 stars means a pretty even match
in my opinion. 5 stars mean its a hard fight and so on. Im only offering a few
tips for each character. More to come as I play.
4.A: vs. Abel (***)
Abel is a very even match for Z in my opinion, Abel is a bit more combo
friendly and also has a devastating throw. Most Abel characters will attempt
to outmaneuver you by playing a range game and taking careful shots and using
some unique jump patterns. Remember that you can punish quite a few of Abels
Super moves and can easily throw him right out of his roll as he is going past
you. Beware his throw that catches you out of the air and don't forget your
Banishing fist as it can really help you close the gap here.
-You can throw Abel while he is rolling.
-You can punish his Change of Direction if you block all three hits.
-You can punish his wheel kick if you block it, and he's deep enough. This
really depends on which one he uses, and where you are standing, so learn
your distance.
-Beware his throw, understand how throw priority works and only engage him
there when you have the advantage.
-Abel has a weak keepaway game that works to Zangiefs advantage. Be patient
and take your shots when he throws them.
-If you corner him, watch for the roll and catch him out of it.
-If he plays a range game with you, tiptoing in and out of your throw
distance, then switch to your Light SPD or EX SPD and throw off his game.
4.B: vs. Akuma (****)
Akuma fighters are very difficult for Zangief. He has some of the best
keepaway game of all the fighters and has plenty of airial maneuvers to keep
even the best Zangief guessing. Generally speaking they will jump backwords
and volley you with air fireballs until they are more then half a screen away,