Zangief is a close combat grappler character,his objetive is about to get closer to the opponent using his now movable Double Lariat in medium-long rage combat and then made a Spinning Pile Driver,don't be afraid about taking damage,he can use the SPD as a counter.
Normal Attacks had short range but are heavy hitters,his jump is slow but had a lot of options,Headbutt is your main attack for stun damage and Body Press for crossups,use diagonal Roundhouse if you want attack projectile spammers,it had a decent range and its his most damaging jumpin attack.
He can evade projectiles with Double Lariat and also can be used as a keep away anti air,but its vulnerable to sweeps and low attacks,use it wisely,but now you can 2-in-1 his crouching Short or Forward into Double Lariat or after a Cross up Body Press.
Spinning Pile Driver in the American "First revision" had the World Warrior damage but is buffed in Japanese and later one,also now he jumps back and can made wake up games of crouching Roundhouse or Double Lariat pressure game.
As is a grappling character,he had varied ones and also you can use your holds for Sweep set ups,Spinning Piledriver had block traps,use it when your standing or crouching Short is blocked.
Zangief's match-ups according the "official" SF2CE Tier List:
- against Ryu: 5
- against Ken: 5
- against Chun Li: 6
- against E. Honda: 3
- against Zangief: 5
- against Blanka: 5
- against Dhalsim: 4
- against Guile: 3
- against Balrog: 7
- against Vega: 5
- against Sagat: 3
- against M. Bison: 6
Vs. Ryu
Your main worry in fighting Ryu is his foot sweeps. He can knock you out
of anything except the 360 with his jab kicks and his roundhouse sweep has a
very deceptive range. If your opponent uses lots of jab kicks it is best to
try to execute a 360 from maximum range, or if this is hard for you to time,
try using the air-plane punch to inch in closer and then 360 just as the
airplane punch wears off. This tactic also works good against an opponent who
throws lots of spiritballs and then walks in behind them and foot sweeps. A
good way out of his lethal helicopter kick is to either 1- block the hits and
360 him as he lands, or 2- duck under it and just after he goes over you and
the computer turns you around use the fierce punch, a guaranteed hit.
Vs. Ken
Fight much as you would Ryu but watch his dragonpunch and jump in
terminator combo that not only stuns but takes off massive damage. Except for
that he is almost identical to Ryu as far as Zan is concerned. Finally and this
also goes for Ryu don't try 360's to often, break them up with some of your
foot sweeps, this will keep them guessing.
Vs. E.Honda
Honda's massive sweep range is Zan's only problem here. You can
however counter his sweep with yours ( you both get hit ) or you can jump over
it and most likely execute a 360. When you jump in over the sweep make sure that
you are as close to the max of his sweep range. Any closer and he will most
likely fierce chop you before you land. You can knock him out of his headbutt
if you execute the air-plane punch right as he hits you (about 1/2 inch away).
Your best defense if he jumps in is the air-plane punch or take his hit (it is
difficult to combo with Honda) and 360 him. If you get him down use combo 1 or
2 .
Vs. Chun Li
Her forward sweep and good ground game are Zan's worst problem. Walk in
360's are the key here as they are with most characters. Don't be afraid to
jump attack her for she isn't that capable as far as air defense goes, and even
if she does hit you it does very little damage. Zan's 360 can override her fake
throwing skill if you execute it correctly. (when she jumps over don't bother
to turn around just walk under her and do the 360 motion as she starts to land
behind you. Do the motion as if she were in front of you, this will save time
that turning around takes.) Your air-plane punch is also a very effective air
defense as far as she goes ( only the headstomp hits) and if she does head
stomp it is simply a matter of walking in behind her and 360ing. Lastly you can
easily knock her out of the neck kick with a head butt.
Vs. Blanka
Blanka is one of Zangief's hardest opponents to stop chiefly because of
his speed and effective combos. A famous Blanka pattern is to use fierce
punches and forward kicks to keep you back and ball you if you jump. The bestÔbehind his fierce punch and 360. If you are at a large distance (1\2 the screen
or so you can foot sweep him out of his ducking fierce punch. You have to time
it so that you boot only goes under his fist as he extends his arm. Graphically
your limbs won't touch but the computer gives you a sweep. You can knock him
out of the ball with a well timed airplane punch just as you do Honda
(sometimes you both take damage but he losses more) If he use the straight up
jump and roundhouse kick style use your jab punch (jump towards and use jab
swat attack this hits him out of everything) and it also gets you close. When
you jump in on him try to do so from far away and aim your kicks so you barely
hit his face. Up close the body press will work well.
Vs. Zangief
The key to beating another Zangief player is not to rely to heavily on
the 360. Use lots of foot sweeps and defense to stop your opponent cold. If
they jump in on you as you stand or any time for that matter the airplane punch
is very effective. The jump in punch attack also works well. All in all don't to
hard to force a 360, this could be your downfall.
Vs. Guile
This with the exception of Dhalsim is Zangief's hardest opponent. His
sonic boom forward kick pattern is very hard to stop. Your best beat is to try
and back him into the corner so he doesn't have room to run. This can be
achieved by timing his footsweeps and using your roundhouse sweep( this will not
only take off more damage but will knock him down and send him closer the
corner. Another pattern to watch out for is his sonic boom roundhouse as you
jump over, try to avoid falling into this for it is very hard to stop. Another
thing that works well is learning to 360 him just as he starts to throw a sonic
boom. Once you are on him don't let up. Use combo 2 for it is very effective
and can sometimes counter his axe. Finally try not to use the airplane punch
through sonic booms for he will probably kick you and you will get hit by both.
One good time to use the airplane punch however is if you are within his foot
sweep range and he throws a sonic boom. If you airplane punch he will most
likely footsweep and you will get hit by this if not by the sonic boom as well
but this will leave you close enough to 360 him, a more than fair exchange.
Vs. Dhalsim
Without a doubt this is Zangief's hardest opponent. Dhalsim's range
and fireball kick pattern is almost unstoppable. Try to lure him into throwing
out his low fierce punch for you can foot sweep him out of it. You can also
ducking punch him out of any of his standing kicks. The best advice if fighting
Dhalsim is to 360 him any time he makes a mistake and lets you get near. The
best opportunity is when he jumps, walk in take the hit and hopefully you will
be close enough to start to use combos, #2 is best. One attack that seems to
work quit well in general when jumping in is the body press. (Pull down on the
joystick and press fierce. This will almost always grant you a double hit with
him taking more.
Vs. Boxer
Balrog can be either very easy or very hard to stop. If he attacks a lot
he can be knocked out of any charging punch with the air-plane punch( this also
works on the super punch if you hit him before he extends. When jumping in your
fierce punch attack is best. If he plays defensive he can be a problem.Your
best chance is to handle him like a Blanka. Get the timing of his ducking
roundhouse and walk in behind it much as you would on Ryu.
Vs. Claw
A non stop ground attack with occasional jump attacks is best here. Your
airplane punch is perfect for knocking him out of his claw attack at close range
as well as his roll. The only problem with relaying on this to much is it leaves
you open for foot sweeps. You can also knock him out of his stabs with standing
punches (jab is best) if you just barely hit his claw. When he comes of the wall
your head butt (up and strong punch while holding up) works wonders. Be careful
not to stay to close as he stands up or he might slam you.A good counter to his
air attacks is the jumping jab punch that works so good against Blanka.
Vs. Sagat
This is another unfair matchup for Zangief, Sagat's standing fierce punch and low tigers make him a most annoying foe. The best way to stop his main high attacks such as tigers.)
The key to jumping over his low tigers without getting uppercuted is to jump from a good distance (2 or 3 body lengths) and roundhouse kick just as you near the ground. You can airplane punch through the high tigers or if you are close enough duck under them and 360 Sagat as he recovers.
Once inside on him treat him much as you would Dhalsim.
If he starts jumping up and down and roundhousing you as he comes down the best counter is to just lariat if he tries to cross up you, or walk into the hit and 360 him.
Vs. Dictador
A great match for him,Psycho Crusher and Special Stomp can be defeated with your Double Lariat and Double Knee Press can be countered with a crouching jab,Dictador players main game will be poking you and to evade Spinning Piledriver,be careful about use your Double Lariat to push your opponent,Dictador crouching kicks can counter you easily.
My strength is much greater than yours.
