vs. Zangief

Zapping Zangief

Screw Pile Driver is terrifying, and you must respect its reach and damage. However, it has a five-frame startup (like grounded normal throws), and even the EX version isn’t strike- or projectile-invincible. Unlike in previous SF titles, leaving a two-frame to four-frame gap in your offense isn’t an automatic ticket to get grabbed if an opposing Zangief is “churning butter” on defense. Zangief players trying to SPD their way out of solid blockstring pressure are just asking to get counter-hit in SFV.

Double Lariat is extremely punishable on block or whiffed. Get close and be ready to hit Zangief during his recovery after the third spin. He’ll definitely go for lots of Screw Pile Drivers and aerial Borscht Dynamite grabs, all of which also have loads of very punishable recovery. Bait his misses, watch for them, and make your punishes count.

EX Siberian Express, charged standing , and Iron Muscle have intimidating pseudo-parry potential, but you can partially solve this the same as countering parries, Focus-absorbs, or Alpha Counters in previous games. If you’re worried about your foe fishing for absorbs, poke with quick, cancelable normals, and be ready to unleash a high-priority (preferably invincible) special. Armor-absorb effects tend to be distinct enough so that you can learn to consistently react to an absorbed hit with your own powerful counter-measure. An obvious example is a Ken or Ryu poke canceled into MP Shoryuken when necessary.

Cyclone Lariat gives Zangief deadly combos and mix-ups. Don’t be careless with ground movement near him when he has V-Trigger; if you’re not already jumping or crouch-blocking as Cyclone Lariat begins its suction, you’ll be helpless once you’re pulled in close. The best way to avoid his mix-ups is simply not being in Cyclone Lariat’s suction zone to begin with.

Thanks to Rashid’s mobility, versatile pokes, and the angle of his wind projectiles, he can harass Zangief like no one else. Dhalsim and F.A.N.G. also present obvious matchup problems with their projectiles and mobility specials. Chun-Li’s assortment of far-reaching pokes like standing and + (along with Kikoken) makes her an ideal candidate for fundamental, old-school zoning of Zangief.