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. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 2.1: Basic Moves -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=- 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 -=-=-=-=-=- 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=- 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 -=-=-=-=-=- 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 -=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SPINNING PILEDRIVER ~360+P (Throw Range) **************************************** ***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES*** **************************************** 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 **************************************** ***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES*** **************************************** 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 **************************************** ***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES*** **************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= - 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? **************************************** ***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES*** **************************************** ---------------------------------------- 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! **************************************** ***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES*** **************************************** ---------------------------------------- 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?! ---------------------------------------- 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? ---------------------------------------- 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! ---------------------------------------- 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 **************************************** ***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES*** **************************************** ---------------------------------------- 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. **************************************** ***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES*** **************************************** ---------------------------------------- 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! **************************************** ***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES*** **************************************** ---------------------------------------- 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. **************************************** ***NEW SUPER STREET FIGHTER 4 CHANGES*** **************************************** ---------------------------------------- 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! ---------------------------------------- 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' ---------------------------------------- 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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, then they will resort to standing fireballs. A combination of clever jumping, lariats, and banishing fists will eventually put Akuma in the corner. At this point, Most akuma's will either try to jump over you with a crossover, or teleport. Be ready to punish either of them. -Beware Akumas Dragon Punch, its one of the only moves i've seen that can interrupt Zangiefs ultra and super guage throws. That being said, block it and throw the sucker. -Akuma is extremely vulnerable to Zangief as far as damage and health is concearned, only 3 throws and He is basically out. Remember that even when things look bad, keep a cool head and get some hits in when you corner him. -If he attempts to teleport out of the corner, immediately back up with a crouching HK. It will almost always catch him if your timing is right. If your close enough to throw, you have priority here. Do it. -Learning to time and dodge Air fireballs is tricky, especially with Zangiefs odd jumping curve. Practice makes perfect. -Beware that if you Lariat through a fireball, Akuma may close the gap and 
  trip you while you are still spinning. Even worse, he can usually jump in
  with a HK and follow it up however he wants. Because of this, try to use 
  the Double Lariat often so that you can recover fast enough to block the
  followup attack.
-If Akuma begins his Ultra or Super, and you are free to move, Simply Jump up
  or Backwords (Distance depending) and time it so you land next to him. Once
  you do this - you need to throw him. 


	4.C: vs. Balrog (Boxer) (**)
Balrog is a pretty easy win against Zangief. Time your throws proper and you
can take away just about every special move he has. you can throw him before
he reaches you and sometimes if he's deep enough, you can throw him after
blocking.

-You can throw Balrog right out of his turn punch. It goes through attacks,
  but not throws.
-Many of Balrog's special punches can literally be interrupted with throws 
  if you move into them and execute either a normal throw or a SPD. Take some 
  time and learn the timing. 
-Many of Balrog's special punches are punishable by a light SPD after you
  block the initial attack. Some of them put you a bit to far out of reach, it
  really seems to depend on distance and the type of punch used. Gauge your
  distance carefully, and if he is close enough, throw him. 
-Beware his Rising shoulder, It has High priority and deals plenty of damage,
  but if you block it, He is totally punishable. Try to fake him with jumps,
  as it is his only air game. 
-Remember that Balrog is a charge character, put pressure on him with a
  Banishing fist or just advancing and he will typically come at you.
-Your Flying Powerbomb is a great move to use against his charge and turn
  punches as the moment you both touch, you instantly throw him. It's a great
  tool to throw him off his game. 
-Balrog's Ultra is very easy to combo and experienced players can nail it
  right into most combo's. Be careful when Balrog has his Ultra bar filled
  even to half and play a wait game with him - Especially if you have more
  life then he does. 


	4.D: vs. Blanka (*****)
A well played Blanka is an extremely tough opponent to deal with, his Electric
Shock destroys a LOT of your close game and since many of his charge attacks
put him in the air he's immune to throws. Beyond those simple things, Blanka
is quick and has a lot of unique attacks that are hard to judge and time. The
first thing i can tell you is that a well-timed Lariat and Banishing fist will
be your best friend here. His forward spin can be completely stopped with a 
simple Lariat if you time it right. Always remember that Blanka is a charge
character and needs a bit of time before he can come spinning at you. Putting
pressure on him is easy, simply Banishing fist as soon as you block either of
his spins and watch the distance fade almost instantly. 

-Beware Blanka's Electric Thunder, it can destory a lot of your throw game and
  Z has a hard time in general dealing with it. If you can lead him into it,
  it is punishable with a crouching MK or HK, depending on distance. Attacking
  to close will get you zapped.
-Banishing Fist is your best friend, use it to quickly close the gap and put
  pressure on Blanka, if you get close, throw him. 
-If you knock down Blanka, Advance and see what he does. If he goes into his
  Electric, You can punish him with a Trip attempt, A Crossup is also a solid
  tactic here, as it evades many of his spin attacks. Again though, watch out
  for that lightning. 
-If your quick enough with the timing, you can Blast Blanka Right out of his
  Rolling Attack with a properly timed Lariat. It puts him right on the ground
  infront of you which is perfect. 
-If lariats aren't your thing, Another sneaky manuever is to jump backwords as
  he performs his Rolling attack. Time it right and you will land together. 
  You can give him a nice big hug afterwords. 
-Watch out for his Sliding HP 'Amazon River Run'. It's a tricky move that goes
  under your lariat and it can interrupt you as your attempting a SPD. That
  being said, if your on your guard and block this attack, he is completely
  punishable. 
-If Blanka switches to his air roll in an effort to throw you off your game,
  you can use your focus attack to punish him big time. 
-Beware the speed changes that occur when Blanka EX's his roll moves, they are
  one of the reasons he is so good against zief, they throw off your timing
  and deal a significant amount of damage and are generally very safe for him
  to perform on you. 
-His Ultra move is very tricky, but really, all you need to do is keep your
  cool and make sure you block high, after he is finished, dash forward into
  YOUR ultra, or a regular SPD. 

	4.E: vs. C. Viper (***)
I really haven't played many smart Vipers yet, but generally i've noticed that
most of her moves tend to leave her pretty open. you can EX Banishing Fist 
right up to her and get away with a throw a lot because she's busy trying to
set up a special combo. 

(I'll update this once i run into a few decent Vipers, do they exist?!)


	4.F: vs. Cammy (***)
A well played Cammy can be a big challenge, but Z has a lot of answers for
all of her moves, It's simply a matter of timing. The trick is a strong
defense and punishing answers to scare her into submission. Because you
have a strong throw, If Cammy at any point in the match uses Spiral Arrow,
block it and throw her. Repeat if necessary, eventually she will stop using
it and depend on her other moves. The hardest move to deal with is Cannon
Spike without question. It comes out super quick, has about as much
priority as a Dragon Punch and if blocked, it puts her safely out of your
throw distance. Even better then all of that, she's in the air while using
it so you can't throw her. Learning on dealing with this move will make you
very good at dealing with even the best of Cammy players. 

-If at any point during the match, she uses Spiral Arrow, block it and
  throw her afterwords.
-Her Spin Knuckle is also punishable, you can Lariat her out of it, or if
  you want, you can even throw her as she touches the ground after her
  short hop but before she throws out the punch. (This can be Risky!)
-Your Focus Attack is one of the best counters to her Cannon Spike, one of
  the hardest moves for you to deal with, the trick is to start it when you
  predict the move, and as soon as the hit absorbs it, let it fly and you
  will be right next to her when she lands.
-Your lariat can sometimes trade blows with her Cannon Spike, and will 
  interrupt a good portion of her air game if timed correctly. 
-Be aware that her Cannon spike has priority over your Banishing Fist, so
  you can be popped with it if you try to close the gap too obviously.
-The best way to deal with Cannon Spike is to block it, then dash forward,
  and execute a light SPD. You can actually punish her if you are quick
  enough and you time it right. 
-Keep a sharp eye on her Ultra bar, and expect it when it pops, Most cammys
  will play it defensively since it can be somewhat difficult to combo into
  and they will simply hope it rails you with the distance. If you block 
  it, you can punish her easily.


	4.G: vs. Chun Li (***)
Chun Li is deadly in the hands of an expert, but absolutely terrible in the
hands of an average skilled player. She has a lot of oddball and unorthodox
combo's, but even against expert chun-li players, realizing that you can
throw her out of a large portion of her combo's is critical. Stick close
and keep the pressure on her. 

	4.H: vs. Dan (**)
Dan's Air Hurricane Kick is a solid defense against Zangief's throws, but
properly blocked - you can punish it to a rediculous degree. His fireball
is terrible so that makes it all the easier for you to close in on him. 

	4.I: vs. Dhalsim (****)
I have yet to fight a solid Dhalsim, but i've learned him quite a bit and
I think he would be a very tough fight in the hands of an expert. His keep
away game is extremely good - possibly better then akumas. Smart Dhalsims
will throw ranged attacks at you and fake you out by teleporting all the
time. Try to track his jump and predict where he will land, If he tries
to do any of his special air attacks that send him a certain direction, 
just throw him when he lands.

	4.J: vs. E. Honda (****)
A Honda expert can wreck Zangief. His specials have a certain air property
to them that make it extremely hard to throw a skilled Honda player. Fight
him evenly and try to use your combo's in this instance. E-Honda is very
dangerous when you get close.

	4.K: vs. El Fuerte (*****)
I honestly believe El Fuerte is like the Anti-Zangief, he has a few setups
he can do to chain-link throws on Zangief. Since many of his throws put him
in the air, it makes it that much harder to counter him. 

	4.L: vs. Fei Long (***)
Depends on skill, smart Fei longs will stutter flame kick and bait you with
it. Dumb ones will spam the three punch combo that you can throw them out
of. Try to avoid focus attacks here, his fast attacks and guard break
attack will tear you right out of it every time.

	4.M: vs. Gen (***)
A well played Gen is hard to find, but he has some great specials and some
sick combo moves that you can't punish him out of with a throw. Try to play
a steady combo game here and only throw when your sure it will connect.

	4.N: vs. Gouken (****)
Gouken has some sick anti-air game and has quite a few moves that are hard
to punish, He can give you quite a hard time with his charging fireballs.
You have to stay close on him and maximize your throw potential.

	4.O: vs. Guile (***)
Well played Guile's can be tough to counter, they have a lot of very good
ground combo's and the Flash Kick ensures you can't throw them openly. You
gotta try to fake them out and throw them after the fact. you can lariat 
through the fireball but a smart guile can follow that up with a trip or
something you can't counter while your spinning. 


	4.P: vs. Ken (**)
Everybody loves Ken. And as far as i can tell, everybody loves beating Ken. In
my experience, Ken is one of the easier matchups for Zangief, he has a low
damage output and relys on flashy combo's and Super moves. Ken is easily one
of the most punishable characters in the game. For some reason every Ken is in
love with the Dragon Punch maneuver, as such, wait for it, and punish him for
it. The same applies with his Hurricane Kick. Once he learns he can't do
either of those moves, he has to rely on his combo's and fireballs which means
you can easily corner-trap him and play mind-games with him. 

-Lariat/Jump over his fireballs to corner him. If you get predictable or too
  close, you can get hit with a Dragon Punch or a Crouching Sweep, so be
  careful and try not to let him predict you.  
-His Hurricane kick is punishable if you block it OR if you get hit by it. as
  SOON as he starts hitting you, just start doing 360 motions and throw him as
  soon as the special move ends. 
-When Ken is on the floor, Get close and Block. When he dragon punches, wait 
  for him to come down and rail him for it. if he changes up his gameplan, and
  STOPS Dragon punching, go ahead and throw him as he gets up, or Lariat can
  do wonders here too. 
-If he starts throwing you or trying to get close, take advantage of this and
  throw him with your Light SPD, which outranges a lot of his jabs and throws.
-Try to avoid jumping, just keep getting close by bypassing his fireballs to
  put pressure on him. Once you get him in a corner, he'll have to figure out
  how to get past you. 
-If Ken Jumps in and Starts a combo, its best to block the super, which will
  probably be a Dragon Punch, then throw him as he lands. 
-Kens Ultra is pretty predictable, if you see it coming, simply block, and
  throw him when he lands - just like the Dragon Punch. His Super is more of
  the same, just remember to block the second Punch. 
-Another strategy for dealing with his fireballs is your focus attack. Many
  Zangiefs forget that you can start a focus just as the fireball touches
  you, then dash forward, like it didn't even touch you. This is a great
  strategy to put pressure on a ken that likes to fireball. That being
  said, you should be careful as if he follows it up before you regenerate,
  it can hurt. 

	4.Q: vs. M. Bison (***)
A well played Bison can give you a hard time. You can usually punish his
Scissor Kick, But his Psycho Crusher is harder to deal with. Play safe and
wait for him to make a mistake. If He abuses his specials too much then start
putting pressure on him by simply walking towards him. A lot of Bisons love
the low sweep, this is also completely punishable. 

	4.R: vs. Rose (**)
Rose is an easy fight. Her Soul Spiral can be blocked and then you can throw
her if she's deep enough, Her low sweeps are also easily punishable. You do,
however need to watch out for her Soul Throw, which can be very good against
a hoppy Zangief, but use Banishing Fist and Lariats to close and you should
be fine.

	4.S: vs. Rufus (**)
Being an extremely flambouyant combo-friendly character, Zangief has an easy
time crushing him. You can even jump into his specials and throw him out of
them. Most of his specials are punishable. 


	4.T: vs. Ryu (***)
Ryu is a classic, and still remains one of the most potent characters in SF4.
In my experience, he is much harder to deal with then his buddy Ken, This is
because Ryu has a bit more focus on simple, short, high-damage combos. 

-Lariat/Jump over his fireballs to corner him. If you get predictable or too
  close, you can get hit with a Dragon Punch or a Crouching Sweep, so be
  careful and try not to let him predict you. 
-His Hurricane kick is punishable if you block it. You can also attempt a low
  HK sweep if he sails over your crouchin guard and generally be safe. 
-When Ryu is on the floor, Get close and Block. When he dragon punches, wait 
  for him to come down and rail him for it.
-If he starts throwing you or trying to get close, take advantage of this and
  throw him with your Light SPD, which outranges a lot of his jabs and throws.
-Try to avoid jumping, he can almost always punish you with a Dragon Punch if
  he isn't throwing a fireball. If your going to lead in with an attack here,
  Jumping MK is your best bet. 
-Beware His Air Hurricane Kick and Jumping HK. They both have great priority
  and can really put the hurt on Zangief. 
-Remember that you can Lariat through his Special Guage and ultra Fireballs.
  Ryu is extremely punishable if you jump his Ultra, it takes him a very long
  time to recover from it. 
-Another strategy for dealing with his fireballs is your focus attack. Many
  Zangiefs forget that you can start a focus just as the fireball touches
  you, then dash forward, like it didn't even touch you. This is a great
  strategy to put pressure on a Ryu that likes to fireball. That being
  said, you should be careful as if he follows it up before you regenerate,
  it can hurt. 

	4.U: vs. Sagat (*****)
It's really hard to close and throw a well played Sagat player. Don't forget
about the low sweep trick to close faster while he high fireballs. Between
Tiger Uppercut, his Fireballs, and his Tiger Knee - He can bypass all of your
defenses if he's sharp and paying attention. your best bet is to try to bait
them into making mistakes here. EX Banishing Fist probably your best bet. Use
it to suprise him and get close, force him to make mistakes.

-Sagats Fireball game is fast and furious, they come out fast and are easily
  spammable, this makes it difficult to deal with. It's worth noting that you
  can crouch the high ones, you can even low HK while holding forward to inch
  closer, but generally - they come out so fast, that this is a difficult
  tactic to advance with. Once you get close to him, expect a Tiger Knee, or
  a Tiger Uppercut. Block and Punish is key here. It's also worth noting you
  can substitute MK instead of HK for an easier way to press the gap.
-Once you start closing the gap, or get him into a corner, watch and see how
  he gets away, if he uses Tiger Knee/Uppercut, Simply block it and throw him
  as he lands from either move. If he tries to jump towards you, you can
  attempt a lariat, block+throw, depending on the combo he attempts, or try a
  counter-jump and hit him with a HK or Headbutt. 
-Banishing Fist is a great way to break up his fireball pattern. Once you get
  it down, and as your landing from a jump, toss out a Banishing Fist and 
  you will close the gap even further. 
-When Sagat is on the floor, Get close and attempt a Block, most Sagats will
  rise with the classic Tiger Uppercut or Tiger Knee, you can easily punish
  either of these. If he gets smart and starts throwing or attacking, Simply
  Throw him as he's getting up with a SPD and show him why thats a bad idea.
-His Special and Ultra are extremely damaging, but easy to predict - much
  like Kens moves, and while fighting a Zangief, most Sagat Players throw it
  out in a defensive process, just like a Normal Tiger Knee, hoping you will
  be jumping and get railed with it. Remember that both of his specials are
  completely punishable if you block. 
-Sagats Standing HK is an extremely good anti-air defense against a Jumping
  Zangief. You can attempt a Jumping MK or Banishing Fist. If your close
  enough and predict it, you can typically sweep him out of it too. 
-Another strategy for dealing with his fireballs is your focus attack. Many
  Zangiefs forget that you can start a focus just as the fireball touches
  you, then dash forward, like it didn't even touch you. This is a great
  strategy to put pressure on a sagat that likes to fireball. That being
  said, you should be careful as if he follows it up before you regenerate,
  it can hurt. 
 
	4.V: vs. Sakura (***)
It's a close fight. Sakura has a lot of sick combo's that are hard to punish.
Conversely, a few good throws and she's going down. Her Hurricane Kick is a
real bane to Zangief because of its combo potential and guard break property.

	4.X: vs. Seth (****)
Play Safe and predict his teleports and take advantage of his oppenings. He
has a piledriver like you, but his deals significantly less damage. Don't be
afraid to get close and rail him. 

	4.Y: vs. Vega (***)
Vega vs. Zief is always a fun mashup. It's usually a close fight as tactics
get constantly changed when one player figures out how to stop the other.
The key to beating Vega lies in countering his leaping wall manuevers. The
big problem is that he has so many options that it can become difficult to 
figure out how counter each one. (Note: I don't fight very many good Vegas,
SO i will update this when i get the time) 

-Smart use of Zangiefs Focus attacks can stop a large portion of vegas wall
  leaping special moves. Its a great tactic against good vega players.
-Ziefs Headbutt move is a great way to counter some of Vegas leaping moves.
  It has great priority, its good anti air, and if you hit him with it more
  then once, you will probably stun him. 
-Most Vegas will attempt a Cross-up with the wall leap, if you block you
  can usually punish him, the trick is watching for it and blocking the
  right way. 
-Beware the backflip. If you miss a throw, try closing with EX Banishing
  Fist or even a low sweep to counter him. 
-His low sliding sweep is very, very punishable. throw him after you block. 

	4.Z: vs. Zangief (***)
-Combos are your friend here, try to mix things up and don't get predictable.
-Remember your throw priority and ensure that you have it more then he does.

5.  New SSF4 Matchups
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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. Adon (***)
Adon is an even match for Zief, he's still new so players are still
figuring him out, but they newb ones will spam his Jaguar Tooth and attempt
to string it into his Rising Jaguar, or maybe sometimes into a throw.

-If Adon Relies on his special moves too much, you can block and punish most
  of them. Including Jaguar Tooth. Just watch out for his Speed.
-Another great strat against Adon is the Vertical Jump, you can land as he
  finishes his Jaguard Tooth or other special moves and if your close enough
  you can almost always throw him.
-Beware jumping in against Adon, you will get hammered by the Rising Jaguar if
  you do it blindly, the trick is advancing slowly and predicting his fast
  special attack game, then punishing when he leaves himself open.
-Don't use Focus Attacks against Adon, he can break them easily and has many
  options to do so.

	4.B: vs. Cody (****)
Cody is a tough fight because he has a decent fireball game but excellent 
keep aware game due to his rediculous Criminal Upper. 

-You can Throw Cody right out of his Bingo Punch, if you expect it, simply 
  do not attack and throw instead. 
-Between Codys Ruffian Kick and Criminal Upper, he has amazing keep-away game
  from throwing-type characters. Be extremely careful jumping in and try to 
  put pressure on him with pokes. Your Jump-in MK can slip through his Upper
  if he's late on the timing, but don't rely on it. 
-Don't use Focus Attacks against Cody, he can break them easily and has many
  options to do so.
-Cody has a weak jump-in game, so be ready to lariat him out of any potential
  Jump-ins that come your way. 

	4.C: vs. Dee Jay (****)
Dee Jay has some sick zoning and pressure game. Similar to the difficult 
Guile in many ways. He has a lot of strong pokes and combo's but his fireball 
is pretty easy to spot and once you get him down, it's a lot harder for him 
to win.

-You want to corner Dee Jay initially, work through his fireballs and get him
  to the corner. Be wary of Pokes, Fireballs, Specials, and Jump ins. 
-His Dread Kicks are difficult for Zief to deal with because they armor
  break and have solid priorty, they can also be difficult to punish so
  be careful. If you see it coming you can jump and throw him.
-His Jackknife Maximum has great priorty and comes out fast. again, try to
  keep pressuring him into the corner. If you see it coming, block and
  punish.

	4.D: vs. Dudley (***)
Big Combos, ways around fireballs, a general move for every situation, Dudley
is an awesome all-rounder with very little in the way of disadvantage. 

-His Machine Gun Blow works against him here, the light versions can be
  punished by a LSPD if he's deep enough and the heavy versions you can
  verticle jump and punish over. 
-Beware the Jet Uppercut, it basically works just like a Shoryuken.
-His Cross Counter is an interesting move that helps him against Ziefs poke
  game, but ultimately, once you learn to predict it, just throw him and you'll
  be fine
-You can zing Dudley out of a lot of combo's if he is not fluid enough with
  them so always be ready to LSPD if the Dudley is slow on reaction or timing.


	4.E: vs. Guy (**)
his combo's and setups deal a large sum of damage, but they are difficult and
in many cases cumbersome to land, an experienced Zief player can deal huge
punishments to the experienced guy. 

-The real trick here is to watch for his Special moves, they come out quick
  but if your on your game, and predict them, you can throw him.
-A Great mind-game to play on Guy is the Verticle Jump, it can counter his
  Run entirely if timed properly, you can throw him as soon as you land. 
  This puts Guy into a scared position, as he relies on that as a big part 
  of his setup game.
-Watch out for his air throw. 
-Watch out for his Flip Throw and elbow Drop, you can easily counter the Elbow
  drop with a Focus Attack, but the Flip throw is a great tactic against Zief.
  The Headbutt or Jumping HK works well here, and it adds to your 'Vert Jump'
  strategy here.

	4.E: vs. Hakan (***)
One of the two new throwing characters, Hakan is tricky and technical when
compared to Zangief. 

-WATCH for his ultra, when he gets it, do not jump. Ever. 
-You can block his slide and punish it with a throw of your choice.
-Keep pressure on him so he can't oil up without a Standing HK to the face.
-As a Thrower, remember the rules for throwing and how it works, you outrange
  him in the world of throws - especially if he is not oiled so use that to
  your advantage.
-You can still throw him when he lays down.
-Watch out for his air throw and be careful with your jump-ins in general.

	4.F: vs. Ibuki (***)
Quick and potent, Ibuki plays a good 'get in and get out' game making it
difficult to throw and punish her. Stay on your guard and put her in a
in a corner will help you against ibuki greatly.

-Advance slowly and watch out for her Dagger Toss and Neck Breaker. Both of
  these moves are used from far away to surprise and slow an opponent down. 
-You can block and punish her neck breaker with any throw.
-Ibuki's Jump Flip is very difficult to deal with, it keeps her in air and
  deals good chip damage and keeps her away. Remember that you can counter
  this with a vertical jump then a throw. 
-If Ibuki ever jumps in with a Dagger Toss, you can focus attack and cream
  her for it. 
-Watch out for her Grab special and her Ultra Grab.

	4.G: vs. Juri (*****)
In my opinion JUri is one of the most difficult opponents for Zief, she has
amazing keep-away game between her fireballs, and her Pinwheel kick counters
a lot of your wakeup game strategies and is VERY difficult to punish.

-Juri is increadibly difficult to advance on. Between her dive kick and
  Fireball kick, she holds all the cards here. You can duck her mid Fireball
  but advance slowly. 
-If she Dive Kicks, block and throw, be careful with the extra kicks she
  can toss in.
-the Pinwheel kick is difficult to counter and stops most all crossover
  tactics so expect it.
 
	4.H: vs. Makoto (**)
Makoto is a technical powerhouse, relying on a tricky command grab to destroy
blocking and turtling characters. Her options are limited when dealing with
throwing characters though, especially Zief.

-Timed right, your Power Bomb run can drop her RIGHT OUT of a Dash Punch.
  The EX Version is even better.
-You can focus block her Dash Punch and destroy her for using it.
-Watch out for her Karakusa, it leads into devastating setups, but requires
  super-precise timing, if you find yourself caught in a makoto setup, start
  spamming your LSPD move to throw her out of the setup if she fails the
  timing
-Her Fukiage or Upward Punch is solid crossover defense, but it's too slow to
  work against your crossovers if you begin when she's down, so dont' fear
  the move too much.
-Her Axe kick is strong, and can lead to lots of unique combo strings and
  attacks, but ultimately keeps her in close range with you, which is exactly
  what you want.

	4.I: vs. T. Hawk (***)
The new Zangief, as many would say. he is easier to use and more user
friendly, but ultimately if you can predict him he is very easy to stop. 

-Watch out for the Rising Hawk - It's basically a Shoryuken, Unlike Ryu and
  Ken, T.Hawk cannot cancel out of this move, so its easily the most 
  punishable move in the game if you block.
-Blocking his Condor Dive is easy, a Standing HK will punish well here.
-Condore SPire is a scary move, expect a command grab after he finishes, you
  typically want to jump up and come down with a Headbutt or Throw.




6.  Credits and Legal
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Thanks to Kyle, Joe, Tyler and all my opponents online who helped me discover
all these strategies and tricks. Also thanks to Gamefaqs.

This may not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, 
private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed 
publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide on any other 
web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a 
violation of copyright.

Copyright 2009 Dustin M. Kulwicki