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.
Players to Watch
SnakeEyez, Itazan
Moves
Unique Attacks
Throws
Special Moves
Super Combo
Ultra Combos
AE ver. 2012 Changes
Light Spinning Piledriver
Increased stun from 100 to 150.
EX Banishing Flat
Changed damage from 80 + 50 (130 total) to 90 + 50 (140 total). Increased stun from 50 + 50 (100 total) to 100 + 50 (150 total).
Crouching Heavy Kick
Shrunk mid-move hurtbox.
Crouching Light Punch
Expanded strike hitbox for deep hit.
Far Standing Heavy Punch
Made opponent get knocked down on a hit.
AE Changes
- Increased range on Far Standing Hard Punch
- Light Punch and Hard Punch Spinning Piledrivers damage buffed
- Increased range on Light Punch Spinning Piledriver
- EX Banishing Flat, when it hits a grounded opponent, will no longer knock down but you will have advantage.
- Alter Siberian Blizzard's traveling distance by putting in a forward/backward input between Ultra freeze and start-up.
Forward direction can travel much further than before, so it's easier to grab backdashing opponents.
Ground recovery on whiff has increased.
The Basics
Combos
Strategy
Matchups
Frame Data
| Block | Super Meter | Frames | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move Name | HL | Damage | Stun | Gain | Cancel Ability | Startup | Active | Recovery | On Guard | On Hit | Notes | |
Close 
|
HL | 40 | 50 | 20 | ch/sp/su | 4 | 6 | 7 | -1 | +2 | Frame advantage based on 2nd active frame | |
Close 
|
HL | 90 | 100 | 40 | sp/su | 5 | 2 | 14 | -2 | +1 | ||
Close 
|
HL | 140 | 200 | 60 | - | 7 | 4 | 20 | -6 | -1 | On crouching opponents, -2 on hit | |
Close 
|
HL | 30 | 50 | 20 | - | 4 | 2 | 10 | -1 | +2 | ||
Close 
|
HL | 90 | 100 | 40 | sp/su | 5 | 2 | 15 | -3 | 0 | ||
Close 
|
HL | 140 | 200 | 60 | - | 7 | 4 | 21 | -5 | -1 | ||
| Far
|
HL | 30 | 50 | 20 | ch/sp/su | 4 | 2 | 7 | +3 | +6 | ||
| Far
|
HL | 70 | 100 | 40 | - | 4 | 2 | 10 | +2 | +5 | ||
| Far
|
HL | 140 | 200 | 60 | - | 12 | 3 | 18 | -3 | - | Knockdown | |
| Far
|
HL | 30 | 50 | 20 | sp/su | 4 | 2 | 7 | +2 | +5 | 5~6f cancellable (translate) | |
| Far
|
HL | 90 | 100 | 40 | - | 7 | 6 | 18 | -10 | -7 | ||
| Far
|
HL | 140 | 200 | 60 | - | 11 | 4 | 16 | -2 | +2 | ||
| Crouch
|
HL | 20 | 50 | 20 | ch/sp/su | 4 | 3 | 6 | +2 | +5 | ||
| Crouch
|
HL | 80 | 100 | 40 | - | 8 | 5 | 12 | -3 | +3 | Forces stand | |
| Crouch
|
HL | 120 | 200 | 60 | su | 12 | 4 | 16 | -2 | +2 | ||
| Crouch
|
L | 40 | 50 | 20 | sp/su | 4 | 3 | 7 | +1 | +4 | ||
| Crouch
|
L | 90 | 100 | 40 | - | 9 | 4 | 15 | -5 | -2 | ||
| Crouch
|
L | 120 | 200 | 60 | - | 9 | 5 | 18 | -5 | - | Hard Knockdown | |
| Jump Up
|
H | 60 | 50 | 20 | - | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Up
|
H | 90 | 100 | 40 | - | 7 | 4 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Up
|
H | 140 | 200 | 60 | - | 10 | 6 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Up
|
H | 50 | 50 | 20 | - | 7 | 4 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Up
|
H | 90 | 100 | 40 | - | 9 | 5 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Up
|
H | 120 | 200 | 60 | - | 9 | 6 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Forward
|
H | 60 | 50 | 20 | - | 6 | 5 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Forward
|
H | 90 | 100 | 40 | - | 7 | 3 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Forward
|
H | 120 | 200 | 60 | - | 11 | 6 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Forward
|
H | 50 | 50 | 20 | - | 7 | 4 | - | - | - | ||
| Jump Forward
|
H | 80 | 100 | 40 | - | 9 | 10 | - | - | - | 1~4f legs projectile invincibility | |
| Jump Forward
|
H | 120 | 200 | 60 | - | 9 | 6 | - | - | - | ||
 +(air)
|
H | 100 | 150 | 60 | - | 6 | 7 | - | - | - | ||
| +(air)
|
H | 50 | 50 | 20 | - | 8 | 6 | - | - | - | ||
 +(air)
|
H | 100 | 500 | 40 | - | 4 | 6 | - | - | - | ||
| +(air)
|
H | 120 | 600 | 60 | - | 6 | 12 | - | - | - | ||
 +
|
L | 120 | 200 | 60 | - | 14 | 7 | 22 | -11 | - | Hard Knockdown | |
| Focus Attack LVL 1 | HL | 90 | 100 | 20 | - | 10+13 | 5 | 32 | -21 | -21 | ||
| Focus Attack LVL 2 | HL | 120 | 150 | 40 | - | 18+15 | 5 | 32 | -15 | - | ||
| Focus Attack LVL 3 | - | 170 | 200 | 60 | - | 65 | 5 | 32 | - | - | ||
| Forward Throw | 0.94 | 160 | 180 | 40 | - | 3 | 2 | 20 | - | - | Hard Knockdown | |
| Back Throw | 0.94 | 160 | 180 | 40 | - | 3 | 2 | 20 | - | - | Hard Knockdown | |
| Spinning Piledriver
|
1.75 | 180 | 150 | 40/100 | - | 2 | 2 | 52 | - | - | Hard Knockdown | |
| Spinning Piledriver
|
1.45 | 200 | 150 | 40/100 | - | 2 | 2 | 50 | - | - | Hard Knockdown | |
| Spinning Piledriver
|
1.35 | 250 | 200 | 40/100 | - | 2 | 2 | 48 | - | - | Hard Knockdown | |
Spinning Piledriver 
|
1.35 | 200 | 150 | -250/0 | - | 4 | 2 | 47 | - | - | 1~5f strike and projectile invincibility, Hard Knockdown | |
| Banishing Flat
|
HL | 120 | 100 | 30/30 | su | 11 | 2 | 21 | -7 | -5 | 6~20f Forward body projectile invincible, projectile hitbox, knockdown on [air hit] or [counterhit] | |
| Banishing Flat
|
HL | 130 | 150 | 30/30 | su | 13 | 2 | 22 | -8 | -6 | 8~22f Forward body projectile invincible, projectile hitbox, knockdown on [air hit] or [counterhit] | |
| Banishing Flat
|
HL | 140 | 200 | 30/30 | su | 16 | 2 | 23 | -9 | -7 | 9~25f Forward body projectile invincible, projectile hitbox, knockdown on [air hit] or [counterhit] | |
| Banishing Flat
|
HL | 90*50 | 50*50 | -250/0 | -*su | 13 | 1*1 | 27 | -9 | +1 | 1~13f strike and projectile Invincible, 14~22f projectile invincible, projectile hitbox, 2nd hit can juggle, [air hit]1st hit knocks down, knockdown on [counterhit] | |
Lariat 
|
HL | 120*140 | 150*200 | 30/40 | su*- | 4 | 2(4)7(2)7(3)9(2)8(4)3 | 14 | -44 | - | 1~5f upper body strike and projectile invincible, 4~5f legs projectile invincible, 6~54f feet projectile invincible and torso projectile and strike invincible, knockdown, (additional notes) | |
Lariat 
|
HL | 110*130 | 100*150 | 20/30 | su*- | 4 | 2(4)5(3)8(4)3 | 14 | -22 | - | 1~32f legs strike and projectile invincible, knockdown, (additional notes) | |
| Double German Suplex | 1.00 | 220 | 200 | 30/140 | - | 2 | 2 | 45 | - | - | Hard Knockdown, (additional notes) | |
| Double German Suplex
|
1.00 | 240 | 200 | -250/0 | - | 2 | 2 | 45 | - | - | 1~? Armored, Hard Knockdown, (additional notes) | |
| Running Bear Grab | 2.92 | 200 | 150 | 30/80 | - | 1 | 2 | 45 | - | - | Hard Knockdown, (additional notes) | |
| Running Bear Grab
|
5.06 | 220 | 200 | -250/0 | - | 1 | 2 | 45 | - | - | 1~? Armored, Hard Knockdown, (additional notes) | |
| Super Combo | 1.24 | 450 | 0 | -1000/0 | - | 1+0 | 2 | 46 | - | - | 1f~ invincible, Hard Knockdown | |
| Ultra Combo 1 | 1.44 | 520 | 0 | 0/0 | - | 1+0 | 2 | 46 | - | - | 1f~ invincible, Hard Knockdown | |
| Ultra Combo 2 | 0.95 | 450 | 0 | 0/0 | - | 0+3 | Until Landing | After Landing 58 | - | - | 1f~Until Landing Invincible, Hard Knockdown, (additional notes) | |
| Block | Super Meter | Frames | ||||||||||
| Move Name | HL | Damage | Stun | Gain | Cancel Ability | Startup | Active | Recovery | On Guard | On Hit | Notes |