[SF6] Zangief Countermeasures Guide [Win Just by Reading]

Neutral (Awareness Priority)

• Aim for Impact against HP
  • If you stare at it, it’s not impossible to aim for, so if they’re mashing it a lot, make time to go for it
  • If Impact is too scary, place a 2MK to catch HP
• Against 63214789P, aim for neutral jump OR forward jump OR backstep
  • Back jump can’t get a Punish
  • Neutral jump risks getting anti-aired from a patient wait
  • Backstep is low risk, but 6HP hits during string gaps, so it’s dangerous
  • Switching between neutral and forward jumps based on distance is important
• Go for cross-up jumps
  • LPMPHP is weak to cross-ups, making cross-up attacks very effective
  • Also, since the Startup is 12F, mix in empty jumps too
• No OD invincible, and SA2 is also slow, so go on offense with Oki
  • Playing too passively risks eating a reversal 63214789P
  • Apply Oki and drain their Drive Gauge

Recommended Counter

• Neutral
  • Can’t anti-air cross-ups, so cross-up attacks are a very strong pressure option
  • Startup isn’t fast either, so always keep empty jump as an option
• On PP Hit
  • Back Rise gives almost no Oki
    • HP and 2HK reach but aren’t meaty
    • If you see Rush, fastest mash or Drive Impact is the easy option
    • Zangief knows this too, so he’ll go Rush→forward jump
    • Recommended: 2HK fastest mash + watch for anti-air
      • The video has the following recorded:
      • Rush→forward jump
      • Rush→HP (HP recorded at the range where it barely reaches)
      • Rush→(Hold) HP

• On LPMPHP Hit
  • Back Rise makes Command Grab no longer reach
  • Even with Back Rise, 6HP, HP, and 2HK are meaty
  • Compared to PP, he can meaty with plus-on-Block strikes, making it a real rock-paper-scissors
    • Zangief’s situation is good, so this is a prime spot for OD invincible reversal

Recommended Counter

The post-Hit situations are as follows:

• 63214789LP
  • +30F Advantage
• 63214789MP
  • +28F Advantage
• 63214789HP
  • +28F Advantage
• 63214789PP
  • +28F Advantage

Oki from there:

• Rush→LK
  • Meaty, but requires another cancel Rush to combo
    • From there, various mixups exist so responding to everything is impossible
      • True blockstring
        • Rush→MP
      • Mash punish
        • Rush→6HP
      • Command Grab
        • 63214789P
  • When you see LK, Drive Reversal has very high expected value, so go for it
    • Mainly used when Drive Gauge is at 5~6 bars, so check the opponent’s D Gauge
  • The video has the following recorded:
    • Rush→2HK
    • Rush→LK→cancel Rush→MP
      • True blockstring

• Rush→2HK
  • Meaty, but Impact is guaranteed
  • Due to distance, active frames can’t be meaty, so it’s always -9F on Block
  • Punish with a long-range 9F or faster move

• Rush→2MK
  • Meaty, but no combo followup
  • Just an approach Oki
• Rush→6HK
  • Overhead option
  • Impact is guaranteed
  • On Block it’s -5F but due to distance there’s no Punish
  • After 63214789LP there’s a 5F gap, so fastest 4F mash wins
  • After 63214789LP and others there’s a 7F gap, so fastest 6F mash gives higher return

• 63214789LP
  • Not meaty
  • Can also whiff it by walking back
  • If only meaty strikes are selected, Fuzzy jump is possible, so try it
  • The video has the following recorded:
    • Rush→2HK
    • Rush→LK→cancel Rush→MP
    • Rush→63214789P

Recommended Counter

• Confirm Rush and press an invincible reversal with 7F or less Startup and good range
  • Check which move is guaranteed for your character
    • Juri SA1
    • Manon SA2

Recommended Counter

Unlike after 63214789P, the situation is very strong:

• Invincible reversal is not guaranteed even with Rush
• 63214789P is meaty
• Strike options are also meaty

It’s a real rock-paper-scissors, so do your best.

Recommended Counter

Sequences like 2LK→2LP light cancel are true blockstrings. When you think you’ve Blocked 2LP, 2LK, or LP, mash 4F – it may look sloppy but do it.

• Mash 4F light
  • It’s a true blockstring, so your 4F only Counter Hits when Zangief goes for 63214789P or cancel Rush

Recommended Counter

• When you get hit by Headbutt
  • Basically it becomes 63214789P, 3MP, and 6HP mixup
    • Backstep gets hit by 6HP→6HP
    • Neutral jump risks LPMPHP anti-air
    • Back jump risks 236236K for return
  • If you read 63214789P and 6HP, forward jump
    • It’s difficult for Zangief to apply risk

• When hit by Rush→6HP
  • Forward jump is also recommended here
    • HP results in a damage escape
    • For other strike options, it’s a true blockstring so the jump doesn’t leak
    • 63214789P can be avoided
    • The video has the following recorded:
      • 6HP
      • 63214789HP
      • 3MP

Recommended Counter

• On LPLK and 3LPLK Hit

  • Play the mixup between Quick Rise and Back Rise

• On any throw other than LPLK and 3LPLK

  • If Rush is used, invincible reversal is guaranteed
  • Always take Back Rise after getting hit
    • Not taking Back Rise often strengthens the Oki

Recommended Counter

• During Oki
  • Use a move with throw-whiff properties for Oki

• During safejump
  • When a jump attack is about to connect, input up or backstep
  • If you have that input ready, you can avoid it when Zangief activates SA3