Zangief

Chains into 5LP/2LP/2LK with no gap on blockstring; 4f startup when chained into; sets up a true mixup on block between strike and command throw

Great poke due to its range and hitbox; TC follow-up is extremely lenient, but only works after counter-hit, Punish Counter, or Drive Rush; can perform TC follow-up on whiff; 6f blockstring gap when canceling to 5MP~MP

Can combo from 5MP on counter-hit, Punish Counter, or Drive Rush with lenient confirm timing; combos into a third MP with no counter-hit required; can perform TC on whiff; 2nd hit may whiff if 5MP connects from too far away; 6f blockstring gap between 5MP~MP hits

Combos naturally from 5MP~MP; can be performed on whiff; 7f blockstring gap between 2nd and 3rd hits of TC; puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state

Button can be held up to 22f for armored partial charge (armor loses to hitboxes that connect on Zangief's lower body); 10f startup after button release (total startup 16-32f); 2 extra recovery frames on whiff; counter-hit also gives KD +32; puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state

Very long range for a light normal (slightly longer than 5MP)

Strong poke due to its range and hitbox priority

Cannot hit crouching opponents; puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state; Punish Counter puts grounded/airborne opponents into free juggle state; extends a hurtbox 1f before active that is vulnerable to projectiles; good anti-air but slow to startup

Armor loses to hitboxes that connect on Zangief's lower body; button must be held 23f for full charge; 2 extra recovery frames on whiff; Counter-hit gives HKD +40; Punish Counter causes opponent to slide far along the ground

Chains into 5LP/2LP/2LK with no blockstring gap into 2LP/2LK; 3f startup when chained into; topmost hurtbox on frames 1-7 is vulnerable only to aerial strikes (preventing its use as an anti-air)

Useful in combos due to its cancelability, especially into SA2; decent hitbox priority in neutral; topmost hurtbox is vulnerable only to aerial strikes on frames 1-7 (preventing its use as an anti-air), and is projectile invincible on frames 1-15 to avoid High Tiger Shot (frames 16-26 are still vulnerable)

Active frames 4-8 cannot hit grounded opponents, but can anti-air cross-ups; useful anti-air with slow startup; puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state; Punish Counter puts grounded/airborne opponents into free juggle state, followed by OTG bounce which can be followed up with Drive Rush buttons midscreen or an auto-timed 3MP in the corner

Chains into 5LP/2LP/2LK with no blockstring gap into 2LP/2LK; 3f startup when chained into; Zangief's only 4f normal

Long-range low poke with incredible hitbox priority; can confirm into 3MP after a Drive Rush starter

Long-range sweep; has some natural juggle potential without Drive Rush; Punish Counter causes a Hard Knockdown

Low Crush 5-9f; 2f blockstring gap between 22MK~MK TC hits; cannot perform the second hit of the TC when the first hit whiffs; acts similar to a short-range 2MK; has synergy with 5[HP] since it can counter lows at a range where they would interrupt Zangief's armor

Combos from 22MK naturally, but requires counter-hit to continue into 3rd hit of TC; counter-hit/Punish Counter bonus advantage does not carry over from initial 22MK; can be performed on whiff; 2f blockstring gap between 22MK~MK hits

Special cancelable, allowing Drive Rush extensions and safety on block (meterless Lariat will not combo on final cancelable frame); requires counter-hit on 2nd hit of 22MK~MK to combo into this attack; 2f blockstring gap between 2nd and 3rd hits of 22MK~MK~MK TC (can catch opponents trying to take back their turn, or use Drive Rush after 3rd hit to bail out safely); special/DR/DI cancel is delayed until after 2nd active frame

2 extra recovery frames on whiff; great oki tool due to frame advantage, cancelability, and high active frame count; puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state spike knockdown; special/DR/DI cancel is delayed until after 3rd active frame

Better advantage if well-spaced; final active frame has more range, making it easier to space at max distance for best frame advantage; low crushes during lower body invuln frames 7-23, but not airborne; extends a wide hurtbox from frame 2 onward making it susceptible to counterpokes

Long range overhead with high pushback (moves back during recovery and can be hard to punish at max range); low crushes during lower body invuln frames 13-28, but not airborne; active frames 1-2 can only hit airborne; active frames 3-4 whiff on crouching opponents unless they extend a vertical hurtbox, making it effectively 26f vs. crouching; +2 better KD Adv. vs. crouching; Punish Counter puts opponent into OTG free juggle state; puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state; has some juggle potential

Forces stand; puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state; lenient cancel window (final cancelable frame will not combo to meterless Lariat); the arm anti-air invincibility is not very useful due to Zangief's large head hurtbox (will only work against long range jumps with extended hurtbox); special/DR/DI cancel is delayed until after active frames

Low crushes during throw/lower body invuln frames 5-26, but not airborne; great hitbox priority, but long recovery makes it a risky counterpoke; puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state; has juggle potential; Punish Counter causes wallsplat after tumble if it reaches the corner; wallsplat keeps opponent grounded and throwable (strikes still put opponent into limited juggle state)

Decent air-to-air

Puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state on counter-hit/Punish Counter; lower body projectile invuln 8-21f except around attack hitbox (cannot be used to avoid the 2nd hit of JP's OD Amnesia bombs)

Causes spike knockdown vs. airborne opponents; lower body projectile invuln 9-23f except around attack hitbox (cannot be used to avoid the 2nd hit of JP's OD Amnesia bombs)

Cross-up; can be used as a fuzzy instant overhead

Good jump-in with long horizontal and vertical reach; can be used as a fuzzy instant overhead vs. JP/Marisa/Zangief only (requires deep j.2HP or opponent in Burnout for true blockstring); lower body projectile invuln 8-25f except around attack hitbox (cannot be used to avoid the 2nd hit of JP's OD Amnesia bombs)

Can be held for a powered up version (holding less than 20f gives a regular j.HK with delayed timing); long horizontal range; lower body projectile invuln 10-21f except around attack hitbox (cannot be used to avoid the 2nd hit of JP's OD Amnesia bombs)

Cross-up; can be done from any jump direction; spike knockdown on counter-hit/Punish Counter vs. airborne opponents; more recovery on landing than other air normals (always punishable when Perfect Parried even at latest timing); legs (behind Zangief) are projectile invuln 9f~land

Combos to j.360+KK when canceled; puts airborne opponents into limited juggle state; short range but good air-to-air hitbox

Button must be held for 20f; wall splats on hit; wall bounce on PC allows follow-up juggles; KD Advantage depends on height and distance from corner; projectile invulnerable on Zangief's body (not legs) while active until landing; landing recovery on whiff is 20f if fully charged, or 12f if only partially charged; whiff landing recovery is cancelable into attacks (but not movement) starting on 2nd frame; if active frames 2-6 connect right as Zangief lands, he does not bounce away and the landing recovery becomes cancelable into attacks (-1 oB if not canceled); lower body projectile invuln 32f~land except around attack hitbox

Switches sides; recovers too far away for any follow-up oki; a successful Throw Escape builds 0.5 Drive bars for the defender; Throw Escape is awarded to a random player if input simultaneously

Switches sides; no follow-up throw oki after putting opponent into corner, but can connect with meaty strike; a successful Throw Escape builds 0.5 Drive bars for the defender; Throw Escape is awarded to a random player if input simultaneously

Gives access to corner throw loop, but less damaging throw overall; can still give decent oki even midscreen (but no throw loop without Drive Rush); a successful Throw Escape builds 0.5 Drive bars for the defender; Throw Escape is awarded to a random player if input simultaneously

Switches sides; after back throwing opponent into the corner, can mix between SPD and ranged strike; a successful Throw Escape builds 0.5 Drive bars for the defender; Throw Escape is awarded to a random player if input simultaneously

() refers to follow-up attack used by holding Throw buttons; by omitting the follow-up attack, Zangief can manually time a corner throw loop; a successful Throw Escape builds 0.5 Drive bars for the defender; Throw Escape is awarded to a random player if input simultaneously

High damage, but poor oki; a successful Throw Escape builds 0.5 Drive bars for the defender; Throw Escape is awarded to a random player if input simultaneously

Counter is active 6-55f; only activates vs. kick attacks that connect with the hitbox between Zangief's arms (can work against normals, specials, and Drive moves); cannot counter low-hitting kicks; on successful counter, the attack uses a throw hitbox, causing it to whiff vs. airborne or throw invincible opponents

Can be input up to 6th jump frame; () refers to Punish Counter damage; highest damage for meterless SPD but shortest range

Can be input up to 6th jump frame; () refers to Punish Counter damage; longest range SPD but least damage

Can be input up to 6th jump frame; () refers to Punish Counter damage; middle ground for range and damage

Can be input up to 6th jump frame; () refers to Punish Counter damage; highest damage SPD, slightly less range than LP version

Only activates from close proximity; switches sides on hit; () refers to Punish Counter damage

Activates from beyond ~1/2 screen; 2-hit armor lasts until throw becomes active; startup increases at farther range; Zangief throws his arms up at the beginning, creating a noticeable visual cue; () refers to Punish Counter damage; immediately transitions to grab animation after absorbing a strike; Run Speed: 0.045 (28-30f) / 0.094 (31-37f) / 0.090 (38f~) / 0.099 (close proximity or after absorbing strike)

Activates when out of Russian Suplex range but within ~1/2 screen; less damage than Suplex but better KD Adv. and no side switch; () refers to Punish Counter damage; Run Speed: 0.086

Can be activated from close proximity with LK/MK or from any range with HK; switches sides on hit; HK version deals 300 less damage but can connect from a range where Siberian Express would normally be triggered; () refers to Punish Counter damage

Activates from beyond ~1/2 screen; armor lasts until throw becomes active; startup increases at farther range; Zangief throws his arms up at the beginning, creating a noticeable visual cue; () refers to Punish Counter damage; immediately transitions to grab animation after absorbing a strike; Run Speed: 0.094 (31-37f) / 0.090 (38f~) / 0.099 (close proximity)

Activates when out of Russian Suplex range but within ~1/2 screen; less damage than Suplex but better KD Adv. and no side switch; () refers to Punish Counter damage; Run Speed: 0.086

Can be performed on first airborne jump frame (very low to the ground); grabs airborne opponents only; () refers to Punish Counter damage; Zangief is in a crouching state during landing recovery; juggle-only hitbox expands to match the OD version in combos

Can be performed on first airborne jump frame (very low to the ground); grabs airborne opponents only; can be juggled into; () refers to Punish Counter damage; Zangief is in a crouching state during landing recovery

First hit can anti-air but cannot hit cross-ups; head hurtbox disappears on frames 1-5 of startup, then further shrinks hurtbox on frames 6-16; all hits (except 1st) whiff vs. crouch (only connects once on hit); can hold left/right to move during animation; cancel into SA3 is only useful vs. armor; final hit puts opponent into free juggle state (useful combo starter after stun); canceling into Lariat causes Zangief to move forward more quickly and expands the 2nd hit's lower hitbox for combo consistency

First hit can anti-air but cannot hit cross-ups; head hurtbox disappears on frames 1-5 of startup, then further shrinks hurtbox on frames 6-13; can hold left/right to move during animation; connects twice on hit, 5 times vs. stand block (true blockstring), or 3 times vs. crouch block (1f gap between final 2 hits if not in Burnout); fairly strong chip-out tool on burned out opponents (high pushback on block makes it very difficult for most characters to punish when the final hit is spaced out); 1st hit crumples grounded opponents (allows SA3 combo); faster startup makes it more consistent than meterless Lariat in combos; in juggles, can combo into j.360+KK or SA1 if the juggling hits are staggered; 1st active frame of 2nd hit only connects on grounded opponents

Can only hit airborne opponents; cannot anti-air cross-ups

Switches sides on hit; can hold forward/back on hit to move in that direction, dealing 100 less damage; holding forward keeps opponent on the same side with 4f worse KD Advantage; too slow to work as a reversal against many attacks, but half-screen suction makes it powerful as a projectile counter; can hold button for a fully charged launching version; plays out the held version on block or when juggled into; active frame distribution: vacuum 91f, juggle 1(4)2(7)2(8)2(7)2(8)2(9)2(7)2(9)2(8)3 starting on frame 33

Launches opponent into free juggle state on grounded hit, limited juggle state if juggled into; too slow to work as a reversal against many attacks, but half-screen suction makes it powerful as a projectile counter; 25f recovery on hit, 52f recovery on whiff/block; active frame distribution: vacuum 94f, juggle 3(5)2(7)2(8)2(7)2(8)2(9)2(7)2(9)2(8)3 starting on frame 33

Command grab Super; opponent cannot jump after the freeze; can only be comboed into with OD Lariat (1st hit), Punish Counter 3HK wall splat, or grounded crumple state; cinematic time regenerates ~2.2 Drive bars for Zangief; Range: 1.56 (2nd active frame, jumpable: 1.60)

Command grab Super; opponent cannot jump after the freeze; can only be comboed into with OD Lariat (1st hit), Punish Counter 3HK wall splat, or grounded crumple state; available at 25% HP or below; cinematic time regenerates ~2.7 Drive bars for Zangief; Range: 1.61 (2nd active frame, jumpable: 1.65)

Performed by inputting 6HPHK during blockstun; 5f extra recovery on hit; freezes the screen for 4f during startup; see Drive Reversal.

Performed by holding 6HPHK on wakeup; 5f extra recovery on hit; does not have any screen freeze except for a 12f freeze when interacting with the opponent's throw hitbox (this also refunds 1 Drive bar after punishing the throw); see Drive Reversal.

See Drive Impact. Airborne connect gives spinning juggle state on Punish Counter or corner Wall Splat with variable height.

See Drive Parry. Perfect Parrying has only 1F of recovery and disables the opponent from canceling their attack. Perfect Parrying projectiles puts you into fixed 11 frames of recovery. After a Perfect Parry, all Super Gauge gain is reduced by 20% and Drive Gauge gain/damage is reduced by 50% for the entire punish combo.

See Drive Rush; 3-bar version performed on hit/block from a cancelable normal; can also be performed on whiff from cancelable light normals; startup refers to minimum time before an attack can cancel the Drive Rush animation; the first 15 recovery frames are cancelable into any attack; the final 22 recovery frames are cancelable into any attack or movement option or blocking (except Parry); only Normal and Command Normal attacks are enhanced with +4 frame advantage and improved juggle properties

See Drive Rush; 1-bar version performed out of a Parry; startup refers to minimum time before an attack can cancel the Drive Rush animation (if performed immediately after a successful Parry, only 1+8 startup); the first 15 recovery frames are cancelable into any attack; the final 22 recovery frames are cancelable into any attack or movement option or blocking (except Parry); only Normal and Command Normal attacks are enhanced with +4 frame advantage and improved juggle properties; Distance: 0.327 (min/throw), 1.455 (min/block), 3.040 (max/final DR frame)

"The power of Zangief is limitless!"

"You're lacking, just bring it!"

"My beautiful body is built better!"

"You'd be right at home in the ring!"