
Zangief
Known as the "Red Cyclone" in his home country, Zangief is the paragon of country pride. Trained by fighting grizzly bears in Siberia, Zangief uses his extremely powerful wrestling techniques, including the Spinning Pile Driver (which was said to have been learned when he got caught in a tornado while wrestling bears), fighting for the pride of Russia has become Zangief's main goal in life, especially after being noticed and hired by the Russian government to represent them in the world Street Fighting circuit.
In a nutshell
The quintessential grappler. Zangief is a power character designed to take hits and deal that damage right back at the opponent once he gets in close. Grapples, however, are not his only forte. He does not need to get up close to instill fear - just him being Zangief immediately sets off warning signs to the opponent. While the fear of his dreaded Spinning Piledriver is natural, Zangief players must also make their opponents fear his other useful tools, such as the Banishing Flat, which eats up non-EX/Super/Ultra/flaming fireballs and sets him up for a free Jab Piledriver if within range. He can also play footsies surprisingly well with his Lariats and sweeps. As a grappler, his only true weakness is being full-screen distance away from his opponent. Characters with good zoning tools or fireballs, such as Dhalsim and Ryu, especialy pose a major threat to the Red Cyclone.
Ultra SFIV Changes
Close Stand LK
- Now Special-, EX Focus-, EX Red Focus-, and Super Combo-cancellable
Close Stand MK
- Recovery reduced by 5 frames (15F → 10F); advantage on hit increased by 5 frames (±0F → +5F); advantage on block increased by 5 frames (-3F → +2F)
Far Stand MP
- Hurtbox slightly expanded; hurtbox in front sticks out 1 frame before active
Far Stand MK
- Advantage on hit increased by 4 frames (-7F → -3F); advantage on block increased by 3 frames (-10F → -7F)
Crouch LK
- Advantage on hit increased by 1 frame (+4F → +5F)
Diagonal Jump HP
- Hurtbox slightly expanded
L Spinning Piledriver
- Throw range reduced by .05 (1.75 → 1.70)
L Banishing Flat
- Start-up reduced by 3 frames (11F → 8F); advantage on hit increased by 3 frames
M Banishing Flat
- Start-up reduced by 2 frames (13F → 11F); advantage on block increased by 2 frames (-8F → -6F)
H Banishing Flat
- Start-up reduced by 2 frames (16F → 14F); advantage on block increased by 2 frames (-9F → -7F)
Final Atomic Buster (SC)
- Throw range increased to match range of M Spinning Piledriver
Frame Data (At A Glance)
More detailed Frame Data Table at bottom of page.
Moves
Standing Close Normals
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | Close lp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | Close mp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | Close hp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | Close lk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | Close mk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | Close hk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Standing Far Normals
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | lp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | mp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | hp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | lk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | mk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | hk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Crouching Normals
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | d + lp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | d + mp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | d + hp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | d + lk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | d + mk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | d + hk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Neutral Jump Attacks
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | u + lp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | u + mp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | u + hp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | u + lk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | u + mk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | u + hk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Angled Jump Attacks
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | ub / uf + lp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | ub / uf + mp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | ub / uf + hp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | ub / uf + lk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | ub / uf + mk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | ub / uf + hk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Unique Attacks
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | df + hk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | d + hp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | d + lk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | (during Neutral Jump) u + mp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | (during Neutral Jump) u + hp |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Focus Attacks
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | mp + mk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | mp + mk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | mp + mk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Throws
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | f or n + lp + lk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | b + lp + lk |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Special Moves
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | 360 + p ex |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | dp + p ex |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | 3p |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | 3k |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | (near opponent) 360 + k ex |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | (far from opponent) 360 + k ex |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Super Combo
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | 360 360 + p |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
Ultra Combos
Name | Nickname | Command | Notes | |
File:No image.png | 360 360 + 3p |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ | ||||
File:No image.png | (in air) 360 360 + 3k |
(No uses/strategies) |
{{{6}}} | |
~~ Uses and Strategies ~~ |
The Basics
Combos
Strategy
Matchups
Frame Data