~B
SAGAT Character Guide version 1.0
Street Fighter Alpha 2 (SATURN/PLAYSTATION)
By John Culbert ( tigeraid@geocities.com )
INTRO:
======
Sagat has always been by far my favorite fighting game character (along with
Zangief)--first of all, he uses my favorite fighting style, Muay Thai, which
is a type of kickboxing (I am studying American Kickboxing myself). More
importantly he has that great "I'm gonna kill Ryu and I'll beat the shit
outta anyone that gets in my way" attitude.
Anywho, Sagat is a great character--he was in his prime in Super SF2, and
was pretty good in all the other SF2 games (especially in the hands of a
player like me). In SFA, he was buffed up to look like he truely should,
however at the same time the general consensus was that he was weakened. I
too believe he was weakened, but NOT to the point of uselessness. He must
now be played more carefully, and rely on different moves than he did in
SF2.
I had a FAQ out for Sagat in SFA1, and although there isn't THAT much of a
difference between him in SFA1 and SFA2, I feel I need to elaborate more on
his tactics, so that you can hear it from a true Sagat player! :)
NOTE: this FAQ should get a lot more in-depth than my other SFA2 FAQs... (and
boy are they ever starting to get numerous!)
*******
LEGEND: BUTTONS
*******
.-------------Jab
D-PAD | .-----------Strong
| | .---------Fierce
U/B U U/F | | |
\|/ | | |
B--o--F | | |
/|\ O O O
D/B D D/F O O O
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | ----------Roundhouse
| ------------Forward
-------------Short
QCT= Quarter Circle Toward (roll the joystick from D to F)
QCB= Quarter Circle Back (roll the joystick from D to B)
HCT= Half Circle Toward (roll the joystick from B to D to F)
HCB= Half Circle Back (roll the joystick from F to D to B)
+ = enter commands simultainiously
N = Neutral (return D-Pad to center)
C. = Crouching
S. = Standing
J. = Jumping
CU.= Cross-up (jump over opponent and hit back of neck with attack)
(Note: the graphical legend applies to default arcade settings; the Saturn or
other platform systems can be set up in many different ways)
Some Short Forms Used in This FAQ:
----------------------------------
SF2= Street Fighter II: the World Warrior (may also refer to it as Classic)
SF2CE= Street Fighter II: Champion Edition (may just be CE)
SF2T= Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
SSF2= Super Street Fighter II: the New Challengers
SSF2T= Super Street Fighter II Turbo (may refer to it as Super Turbo)
SFA= Street Fighter Alpha: Warrior's Dreams
SFA2= Street Fighter Alpha II
L1, L2, L3= Alpha Meter levels
DP= Dragon Punch- can be referring to Ryu's, Ken's, or Akuma's Special move,
or to the similiar joystick/D-Pad motion (F, D, D/F)
HK= Hurricane Kick- can be referring to Ryu's, Ken's or Akuma's Special Move,
or to the similiar motion (QCB+any kick)
FB= Fireball- can be referring to Special Move possessed by many characters,
or to the similiar motion (QCT+any punch)
SC= Super Combo- pertaining to Super Combos from SSF2T or SFA2
CC= Custom Combo- pertaining to Custom Combos from SFA2
FK= Flash Kick- Guile's and Charlie's move, or similiar motion (charge D,
U+any kick)
SB= Sonic Boom- Guile's and Charlie's move, or similiar motion (charge B,
F+any punch)
HHS= Hundred Hands Slap- pertaining to E. Honda's Special Move (tap any punch
repeatedly)
YF= Yoga Flame- pertaining to Dhalsim's Special Move or similiar motion
(HCT+any punch)
SBK= Spinning Bird Kick- pertaining to Chun Li's pattened move (charge D,
U+any kick)
TAP= Turn-Around Punch- pertaining to Balrog's pattened move (charge all 3
punches or kicks, release)
TU= Tiger Uppercut- pertaining to Sagat's pattened move (F, D, D/F+any punch)
TK= Tiger Knee- pertaining to Sagat Pattened move (QCT, U/F+any kick or
F, D, D/F+any kick in SFA2)
SPD= Spinning Pileriver- Zangief's pattened move, or similiar motion (roll
360 degrees)
FAB= Final Atomic Buster- Zangief's SC
A Throw or Grab (including Special Move Throws, eg. Zangief's SPD) must be
done right up close, and is unblockable; they can only be avoided. For grabs,
repeatedly tap the button used and shake the joystick or D-Pad to make the
repeated hits last longer. Do the same thing if you are caught in a grab to
escape early. Sagat has only one grab.
TAUNTS:
To taunt or tease your opponent with Sagat, press the button you designated
as "Chouhatsu" in the controller config screen (I recommend L if you use it
at all, though it's better to have all three punches or kicks on the trigger
buttons). Note that taunts cannot be stopped, and you are totally vulnerable,
so choose where to do it wisely. With the exception of Dan, Taunts can only
be done once per round. IMO this is the only thing that the PS version has
over the Saturn version (i.e. the Select button for the Taunt).
TECH HITS:
In SFA2 the Throw soften was renamed the "tech hit", and it was given a
little more freedom. To perform a tech hit, hold B or F and hit Strong or
Fierce just as the opponent grabs you; in SFA2, you can now escape ALL
regular Throws, including presses and grabs! It is still impossible to tech
hit Special Move Throws (eg. Birdie's Bandit Chain).
BUFFERING:
This is a technique used in 90% of all fighting games out today. To buffer
means to do the motions of one move while the animations of another move
are still being performed. I will use Sagat's 8-hit combo as a model:
-S.Strong buffered into Fierce Tiger Uppercut
This combo can be done either of two ways for it to count as a true combo:
a) hit Strong, then F, D, D/F+Fierce
b) F+Strong, D, D/F+Fierce
Both cases have their advantages. A is much easier to time and more
difficult to screw up, but you must have FAST fingers. The second can be
confusing, but EXTREMELY effective if you can get the timing off. Just
remember that the idea is to pull off the Uppercut BEFORE the Strong Punch
is finished its animations ("cancelling" the animation.) In addition, the
second technique will also cause Sagat to Throw the opponent if they block.
Eg. 2- (same button buffering)
-crouching Short buffered into Short Tiger Knee
a) hold D and hit Short, F, D, D/F+Short
b) F, D+Short, D/F+Short
c) press and HOLD Short, F, D, D/F, release Short
The latter is MUCH easier to time and requires less button presses. But in
that case the D-Pad motions have to be done faster, but it is easy to get
used to. I personally use b.
ALPHA METER:
At the bottom of the screen there is a meter called the Alpha Meter. This
fills up when a) Sagat is hit by the opponent with any attack, or he hits
them with any attack, b) using any Special move or c) hitting any Fierce or
Roundhouse. When the meter begins to flash it's outline, Sagat is cabable
of a level 1 Super Combo. If you continue to build his meter to level 2,
Sagat's cabable of a level 2 Super Combo. A level 2 Super of Sagat's must
be done with TWO buttons (for example, Sagat's Tiger Genocide is done QCT,
QCT+any kick; to perform a level two, do the same motion with TWO kicks).
When the meter fills to level 3, Sagat is cabable of his most powerful
Super Combos. These must be done with all THREE buttons. NOTE: I only list the
SCs with one punch or one kick; to perform their level 2 and 3, substitute
2 and 3 punches or kicks...
ALPHA COUNTERS:
Immediately after blocking an opponent's attack, Sagat can immediately
retaliate with an Alpha Counter. To do this, perform the motion B, D/B, D,
and any punch or kick; a kick will perform a counter for ground attacks, and
punch will counter air attacks (in most cases) Note: you need at LEAST a
level 1 Alpha Meter to do one.
BLOCKING:
To block an oncoming attack, hold in the opposite direction. To block a low
attack (i.e. the enemy hits low), hold D/B to crouch and block. In addition
to blocking on the ground, it is possible in Alpha 2 to block attacks in the
air. Attacks that cannot be blocked include most DPs, Super Combos, and
ground-based uppercut/high kick attacks (eg. Ken's standing Strong, or Ryu's
S.Roundhouse).
OVERHEAD STRIKE:
In addition to any jumping attack, there is an attack, introduced in SFA
(actually, back in SSF2T with Ryu's), that can hit ducking, blocking
opponents. Sagat does NOT have an Overhead Strike.
SAFETY ROLL:
To avoid a lot of meaty attacks, Capcom added a roll to every fighter's
repitiore. By rolling from B to D in one motion and hitting punch just as you
land from a knockdown, Sagat will roll forward along the ground to a
standing position. You will not lessen any damage taken, but you can avoid
meaty attacks in this fashion. Bear in mind that because of this added
technique, meaty attacks are more difficult to cheese with in Alpha 2; if you
are close enough to an opponent when you knock them down, wait a split second
to see if they'll roll, then start your meaty tactic.
SUPER COMBOS:
Each Super Combo is a powerful attack that can be powered up to three
different levels. You will know a character has executed a Super Combo
because the screen will grow dark for a moment as they gather "chi" (spirit),
and the game will pause for a second.
If you finish your opponent with one of Sagat's SCs, the screen will flash
brightly.
CUSTOM COMBOS:
Replacing Chain Combos from SFA, Custom combos allow you to chain ALL normal
moves and even SPECIAL MOVES together into combos (it speeds the move up so
their recovery is faster and you can throw another one emmediately). To
perform a CC, you must first fill the Alpha meter at the bottom of the
screen, then activate the CC with any two punches+any kick. Sagat will get
blue shadows behind him. A time meter will appear right above the Alpha
Meter; depending on how much Alpha Meter energy you have when you initiate
the CC, the timer will count down for a period of time. Once the CC is
activated, Sagat will slide forward and CANNOT be stopped until you attack.
If you activate the CC in the air, they will fall at a normal rate, then
start sliding forward. You CANNOT stop a CC once it is activated, and even if
the opponent switches sides with you (i.e. jumps over you, or teleports), you
will keep going in the same direction. BTW, the CCs I have listed to help out
require a level 3. It is my opinion that this is the only time worth doing
CCs, if at all...
TICKS:
The definition of a tick is basically this; a tick is an attack that, if you
connect with it, you can go into a combo of your choice, and if blocked, you
will recover in time to throw another attack before your opponent can; but,
note that they also recover from their blocking animations at relatively the
same time, so they will also be able to block the follow-up. But, since
Throws are unblockable, you can nail them with a Throw!
This tactic has been refined by many players, and in SF2: the World Warrior,
Guile had the ability to Throw a Jab, and if blocked he could Throw
emmediately (this was remedied in the later version--still possible, though,
but can be avoided quickly) This tactic was used to win a popular SF2
tournament in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and ticks were to forever be
considered extremely cheesy by anyone who loses (in some arcades they have
gone so far as to BAN ticks!). If, however, the people you play against are
okay with ticks, they are great in Sagaty's up-close game.
REVERSALS:
When a fighter is knocked down, there is a small window of opportunity for
them to get up faster and attack at the same time (about 1/60 of a second).
If a move is performed during this time, it becomes almost totally
invulnerable unless the opponent is able to connect with a meaty attack first
(see below.) See Tactics for more info on Reversing with Sagat.
MEATY ATTACKS:
A meaty attack allows you to hit an opponent who is recovering from a
knockdown (i.e. getting up) without them connecting with a reversal move (see
above); for example, normally it is possible for Ken and Ryu to do a DP JUST
as they begin to rise, and it can surprise many enemies. But, using a A VERY
WELL-TIMED meaty attack will prevent them from doing that, even more so in
SFA2 with their altered, vulnerable DPs. I'm not sure about the exact timing
of a meaty attack, but I do know it has to be what I refer to as a "constant"
attack, in other words an attack that is thrown without stopping and
withdrawn without stopping; fireballs will not work as meaty attacks because
they flicker in and out as they fly, and the opponent will be able to block
them as they rise. Basically, you have to use good timing for it to connect
just as they get up. If you connect with a meaty attack you can perform
combos you cannot normally perform, because the stun put on the opponent when
hit is longer than normal.
SAC-THROWING:
"Sac-Throwing" (short for sacrifice Throwing) put in loose terms is
countering with Throws. In previous versions, I included blocking and
Throwing, as well as Throwing the enemy from a missed attack in this
section. However, as one of my replies to this FAQ pointed out, a sac-throw
is ONLY considered a true sac-throw when you have been HIT, then throw the
enemy while they are still in their recovery frames. My explanation was a
little clouded, sorry for the mix-up. As far as blocking and Throwing, or
Throwing a missed attack, I suppose these are just "Counter-Throws".
A loner and a fighter, Sagat trained under many great Muay Thai masters and
succeeded in becoming the world reknowned "King of Fighters". At heart he was
an honorable man who lived for the fight, and since he had never lost one, he
sought a true challenge. When the first Street Fighter tournament was held,
his only pupil, Adon, enters to prove to Sagat that he is as powerful as his
master. Sagat also hears of two never-before seen contestants blowing away
the competition; Sagat takes this lightly until Adon too is defeated. He then
takes it upon himself to truly destroy this one newcomer. The battle with
this newcomer, a young boy named Ryu, was fast and furious; unfortunately,
just as Sagat was about to finish the boy off, Ryu unleashed the full power
of the legendary Rising Dragon Punch (Shoryuken), scarring Sagat beyond
belief (SF1).
---
(It is believed that after the first SF tourney, Bison approached Sagat and
offered him the Shadawloo position, but at this point Sagat was way too
pissed off to care. BTW, I believe that before he was scarred by the DP, he
was like Ryu, living for the fight, and at heart not this big evil dude. It
was the trauma from the scar that supposedly turned him into the brooding,
hateful Sagat...)
---
After recovering, Sagat wanders in search of the "Lucky boy", Ryu. He enters
another tournament, beats a few opponents here and there, then succeeds in
finally finding Ryu. Unfortunately, he was again beaten. It is at this point
where he is believed to have joined Shadowloo, but still yearns to find Ryu
(SFA).
---
(This part is kinda cloudy--some believe that the SFA and SFA2 storylines
happen at the same time, but I believe they were two separate tournaments,
with Sagat having joined Shadowloo before SFA2... this is apparent from his
SFA2 ending; he is talking to Bison like he's been with him for a while,
whereas in SFA he is offered his position... kinda obvious, huh?
Note: some also believe that Sagat never even made it to Ryu in SFA1, and
was in fact beaten by Ken, then meets Ryu in SFA2.)
---
Sagat, full of even more rage then before, again seeks a re-match with Ryu.
His former pupil Adon confronts him, declaring that he is the greatest Muay
Thai fighter. Out of a vengeful rage for Ryu, Sagat totally obliterates Adon
(presumably killing him). On top of that, some guy named Dan shows up and
demands vengeance on Sagat for killing his father. Sagat finds that his
father was the one who destroyed his eye, and destroys Dan in the same
fashion as Adon.
He again finds Ryu, who he finally succeeds in beating! However, as he stands
over Ryu he notices a look of pity on the boy's face. He suddenly realizes
that Ryu was not fighting to his full potential, that he is in fact mocking
Sagat! At this point Sagat takes a leave of absence from Shadowloo, and
returns to Thailand to train harder (SFA2).
---
(As in his SFA2 ending, it is believed that he learns to master his more
powerful, single-hit TU during this training)
---
From this point on is SF2, and it is still inconclusive wether or not Sagat
beats Ryu (since this storyline is for some reason dropped in SF3!!!)
Background: ANOTHER view of that woman's statue in Thailand, this time with
pillars leading to it. Quite beautiful, actually.
Mid-Boss: Adon
End-Boss: Ryu
Taunt: rubs his chin with his hand, studying his opponent, then grins.
Start Pose: laughs and drops his arms to his side
Win Pose #1: rubs his chin with his hand, then grins.
Win Pose #2: crosses arms on chest and laughs manically :)
Note: if he fights Ryu, he will begin the round by putting his hand to his
chest and his scar glows. :)
Sagat utilizes my favorite fighting style; Muay Thai. Muay Thai is a form
of kickboxing originating in Thailand, of which many different fighting
styles have evolved from (including American kickboxing, which I study
myself).
Muay Thai is a heavily offensive-based style, stressing the Knees,
Shins and insteps of the foot to attack the opponent fast and furiously.
Punches are also utilized (but no open-handed strikes, at least to my
knowledge), as well as Elbows and Forearms. The prefered recieving points are
usually the Shin/Calf area as a weakening technique, and the sides and
ribcage are targeted as well. When a large blow must be landed, of course,
the face, temple and jaw are preffered points of attack. For the most part it
is not a finesse art, but focuses on hitting fast and HARD.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SFA1 AND SFA2:
**********************************
-higher priority on jumping punches
-slightly more priority on TU
-added fake-out S.Forward
-over-all speed increase
When standing or crouching Sagat throws quick jabs. These are fast attacks
that are great up close when things get hot (see tactics); they are also
comboable and can be used as ticks up close... J.Jab is no big deal.
Short-
S.Short is a decent low-directed shin kick; however, because of Sagat's size
it sticks out annoyingly far and therefore has slow recovery compared to most
Short kicks. For this reason, use it rarely. C.Short is an awesome low kick,
with good range and bufferability. It should be your main tick up close, and
is the easiest attack to buffer into the Tiger Raid in combos. J.Short is a
jumping knee, which is a great jump-in for snuffing some air counters,
crossing up and ESPECIALLY ticking (see tactics).
Strong-
S.Strong is a great side uppercut, one of Sagat's many air counters--use it
on opponents close in the air or above your head. It is also a good up close
move and is Sagat's best bufferable attack to be used in combos. The C.Strong
is a basic crouching punch, bufferable and good in combos. Fairly fast and
decent in up-close combat, but no big deal. J.Strong is a jumping uppercut
that's great in the air against big jumpers like Chun Li or Guy.
Forward-
S.Forward is Sagat's best standing attack, period! The side kick has AMAZING
range, speed, damage, recovery AND priority--it should be your most used
attack on the ground. Great for poking, snuffing FBs and low attacks, and
many other things. See tactics for MUCH more info. C.Forward, to the dismay
of all Sagat players, is no longer bufferable. :( However, it still has great
range and priority, so you can mix it into your up close game if the enemy
uses an excess of high attacks. J.Forward is GREAT jump kick, with awesome
horizontal range--good in both air-to-air and jumping in.
Fierce-
S.Fierce and C.Fierce are slow, powerful punches with little priority. Use
rarely. J.Fierce is a good air-to-air move, but J.Strong seems to be faster.
Roundhouse-
S.Roundhouse as we all know is Sagat's best friend. It is THE best air
counter in the game--as far as I know, the only thing that can defeat it is
a mid-air CC. Use it primarily as an air defense, but remember that it will
hit twice up close against most larger characters. If it does, it is his most
powerful regular move, so if you can, do it! One thing to note about the
close S.Roundhouse is that it actually has higher priority than the far one;
this is because he first brings his knee up--since the enemy is close, that
allows the knee to hit earlier than the kick normally does, so it is much
faster for snuffing attacks up close.
The C.Roundhouse is Sagat's only knockdown regular attack, and does good
damage. It has less range than the S.Forward, but is probably the easiest
thing to do after ducking a long-range high attack. A lot of standing kicks
can take it out with some anticipation however (like Adon's S.Roundhouse, for
example).
The J.Roundhouse is a powerful jumping kick, that has less horizontal range
than the J.Forward--it is however more powerful and is better for jump-ins
if you are closer.
TIGER WAVES (HIGH AND LOW):
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Sagat rears back, then thrusts his arms forward exclaiming "Tiger!" and
releasing a wave of energy)
Using the Tiger Wave with a punch throws it high, and with a kick he will
crouch and throw it low; strength of attack determines speed. The High Tiger
Wave can be ducked but it is possible, because of Sagat's height and the
size of the projectile, to hit the enemy out of the air. The Low Tiger Wave
cannot be ducked, and allows Sagat to duck under high attacks; although, it
cannot hit an airborne opponent.
These moves are to be used VERY carefully. Even moreso than in SF2, Sagat's
recovery, combined with his outstretched arms, make him a very easy target
for counterattack with this move. From full screen is where these are best
used, mixing up speeds and levels to confuse the opponent--then, once you get
the chance, follow them by moving into mid-range, where Sagat plays best.
They CANNOT and should not be used in FB traps ala Ryu, only for pressure to
get in close. In addition, the Low Tiger Wave can be used to duck under some
high attacks from mid-range if you anticipate them; although personally I
would use a Tiger Genocide, C.Forward or C.Roundhouse.
As a whole, stick with them from a distance, because Sagat's strengths are in
his counterattacks, and mid-range moves, not projectiles (unlike in SF2...)
Remember that these FBs, like most, will not knock down, so the closer you
are to your opponent when they hit, the less the chance that you can follow
them up properly. The Tiger Waves can be used in combos, but he has better
options in this case...
TIGER UPPERCUT:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Sagat stoops low, then exclaims "Tiger Blow!" and rises into the air, turned
to the side, with his fist raised in an uppercut)
First of all, I REFUSE to call it "Tiger Blow" because that sounds extremely
faggoty. Strength of the punch affects height of the uppercut (and therefore
recovery too), horizontal range, and number of hits (and therefore damage as
well). The Jab version hits only once, the Strong version hits 5 times for
SLIGHTLY more damage, and the Fierce hits a whopping 7 times for good damage.
Note that like other DP moves, the first, deepest hit does the most damage.
Which means, if you miss the first hit and hit the enemy with the last 6 or
so hits, you will do very little damage.
This move is best used in combos or to duck under VERY slow high attacks from
a few steps (use the Jab version to be safe in case they block it or it
misses). It is also ideal as an air counter as long as you hit the enemy low
to the ground--the Uppercut has lower priority than other DPs, so it is best
to wait for the enemy to stick out their jumping attack first, then counter.
Hitting them as late as possible also ensures that you hit them with the 1st
hit, for the most possible damage. An alternative to this is to use the Jab
version as an air counter, which has high priority; it does however have
little horizontal range and does slightly less damage.
TIGER KNEE:
^^^^^^^^^^^
(Sagat stoops low, then exlaims "Tiger Crush!" and flies forward and into
the air with his knee extended)
Called the Tiger Crush in SFA1 and 2 (I prefer Knee), it is one of Sagat's
most important moves. The strength of the kick button used determines the
horizontal range and hits (once with Short, 2 hits with Forward and
Roundhouse).
This move has many useful applications; firstly, it will pass through the
majority of projectiles in the game to snag the enemy. It is also good in
combos, and depending on range it is a good air counter for deep jump-ins.
It can also be put well into combos. However, probably its most useful
application is as a fake-out; from mid-range, the Short (and sometimes
Forward) TK is good for psyching out the opponent. Time it so the Knee will
just whiff in front of the opponent (they will probably anticipate the move
actually reaching them), and they may try to counter with a Jab DP or some
other short-range move; if this occurs, you can then easily counter their
attempted counter-attack with whatever you like (best a SC)! If they try to
block the TK, try for a Sweep (C.Forward to push you back if they block
low...)
The Tiger Knee also has excellent recovery, so it's not too bad as a general
poking move (except of course against ACs...)
NOTE: rarely use the Roundhouse version against Chun Li (possibly Guy and
Sakura too), because the 2nd hit will whiff over their little heads and they
have a short time to counter.
FAKE-OUT SIDE KICK:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Sagat begins a side kick, but quickly draws back at the knee)
Not overly useful, actually. From mid-range, if the enemy has found a good
counter for your S.Forward, you may want to fake it a couple of times, then
counter their whiffed move... (additions?)
GRAB `N' KNEE:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Sagat grabs the enemy's HEAD in ONE HAND and holds them up; he grins, then
proceeds to bash their face repeatedly with his Knee)
If you really wail on the buttons and joystick to get maximum hits, the
damage isn't all that bad. More importantly, this is a very intimidating move
and seems to have slightly more range than most other's Throws. This is a
VERY important move in Sagat's up-close game, allowing him to get a quick,
damaging attack in and toss the enemy back to roughly mid-range, where he can
again work his magic. SEE TACTICS FOR MORE INFO.
(Sagat blocks an opponent's attack and counters with a deep Tiger Uppercut)
Like most ACs, this is totally useless and a waste of valuable Super energy.
It is best used against jumping attacks, but why do this when you have the
invincible S.Roundhouse, or the S.Strong, TU or Tiger Knee? Pure silliness.
KICK ALPHA COUNTER; SIDE KICK:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Sagat blocks the enemy's attack and smacks 'em with a powerful side kick)
Unlike most ACs, this is quite useful and part of Sagat's mid to close-range
game. This is one of the few ACs I actually use on a frequent basis. It comes
out instantly so it is impossible to counter, and has AMAZING range; it can
be used to take out blocked FBs from a short distance, or poking kicks like
another Sagat's S.Forward, or Adon's S.Roundhouse. It is also a good move if
you block a Special or Super Move with fast recovery (eg. Charlie's L1
Crossfire Blitz). Basically, if you are at mid-range and you're fighting a
compulsively offensive opponent, who pokes as much as you do, just stay calm
and AC him. A great attack for getting out of the corner, and looks real
painful... a good time to follow with a Taunt! :)
SC 1; TIGER CANNON:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Sagat rears back as energy swirls about him, then shoves both arms
straight out, exclaiming "Tiger!" as a HUGE ball of energy surges from his
fists)
Doesn't look like much, but it does GREAT damage (especially at L3) and of
course goes through normal projectiles. Its only real disadvantage (other
than slow recovery) is that, unlike most other SC projectiles, it can be
ducked. Note that this can juggle the enemy in the air for up to 2 hits
(though you shouldn't actually TRY for this, 'cause it's a waste and does
little damage). Basically, use it rarely except against persistant projectile
throwers, or if you actually find a good enough opening from a distance where
the other two SCs will not reach.
SC 2; TIGER RAID:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Sagat performs a series of standing kicks, then surges straight forward
with a flying kick; at level 3 this kick is flaming)
IMO one of the coolest moves in the game (that's why I named myself after
it! :), and an effective and powerful SC. The most notable thing about it is
the recovery--if blocked it is very difficult to counter, except with ACs,
some buffered SCs and SPD moves (eg. Zangief's SPD). You can sometimes catch
slow opponents who have blocked it with a Grab `n' Knee or another SC! The
other great thing about it is that it takes GREAT priority over low attacks,
especially sweeps and slides, so it's a great reactionary move if the enemy
throws a lot of these. You can usually snag the enemy from about the same
range as the S.Forward or C.Roundhouse...
Note that I have seen it trade hits with projectiles and standing punches...
NOTE: it is possible to actually juggle after the Tiger Raid in the corner!
See combos!
SC 3; TIGER GENOCIDE:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(Sagat stoops low as energy swirls around him, then exclaims "Tiger
Genocide!" and flies forward with a Tiger Knee followed by a Tiger
Uppercut. At level 3 he performs a Tiger Knee then a Tiger Uppercut
followed by ANOTHER Tiger Uppercut)
A devastating and powerful SC that is visually stunning. It has about the
same range as a Forward TK, and it will take priority over ALL regular
attacks (there may be a few exceptions), so it is best used as a reactionary
move when you're JUST out of the range of the Tiger Raid. Its other redeeming
feature is that it passes through projectiles--use it FREQUENTLY in this
case. The big problem with it is the recovery if blocked or missed, so make
DAMN sure it connects.
As Sean Hoyles (hoyles@nfld.com) says, the CCs are what make Sagat truly
deadly. Actually, I don't totally agree with this, but the CCs Sagat can
perform certainly are worth doing. At L3, Sagat has the potential to take off
over 50% damage with a CC! Here are some examples from Sean Hoyle's CC FAQ:
1. S.Strong -> Jab TU -> Roundhouse TK -> Fierce TU -> Fierce TU (can
be used as an air counter or on the ground)
2. C.Roundhouse -> S.Roundhouse -> Fierce Tiger Wave -> Fierce
Tiger Wave -> Roundhouse TK -> Fierce TU
2. J.Roundhouse, S.Strong XX Fierce Tiger Uppercut
Comments: should be your most used combo; decent damage and easy to perform.
9 hits.
3. J.Roundhouse, C.Strong XX Roundhouse Tiger Knee
Comments: good damage, remember not to use this on the smaller characters!
4. J.Roundhouse, C.Short XX Low Tiger Wave
Comments: a good combo to push the enemy away when they block.
5. CU.Short, C.Strong XX Tiger Genocide
Comments: you can of course use any Special or SC to finish, but the Genocide
works best.
6. J.Forward, S.Forward
Comments: only two hits and little damage, but it is the best thing to do if
you jump in from maximum range and nothing else will connect
(perhaps after jumping a FB). This is also a good combo for
surprise if the enemy blocks the J.Forward from its maximum range--
they may not expect a follow-up from such a distance.
7. J.Roundhouse, C.Strong XX Tiger Genocide
Comments: probably the best SC combo you can do. Good damage.
8. J.Forward, C.Short XX Tiger Raid
Comments: easy and good recovery as well.
9. (corner) J.Roundhouse, C.Strong XX Tiger Raid, juggle w/Fierce Tiger
Uppercut or L1 Tiger Genocide
Comments: you can choose to do a L3 Tiger Raid and finish with a difficult
TU, or you can use the L2 Raid and juggle with a L1 Genocide. Note
that I do not recommend juggling with a high level Genocide, as you
will get the same damage anyways.
This range used to be a great place for Sagat; however in SFA2, the speed
and recovery of his Tiger Waves make this a useless (although not
neccessarily dangerous) place for Sagat to be. From a far distance,
especially full screen, throw a few alternating Tiger Waves, but do NOT think
you can keep your opponent pinned back with this, because they'll get through
this "defense" easily. Instead, try to follow them in (best after the Jab
Tiger Wave) and get into proper range where you can work more effectively. If
the opponent comes in hard offensively from a far distance, smack them back
with a S.Forward or the like (blocked or not) and follow in--if they come in
jumping (over your projectiles), hopefully you'll be in such a position that
they will not be close enough to land a hit as you recover from a Tiger Wave;
if they land a short distance away, snag 'em with a S.Forward, or possibly
S.Roundhouse if they're still in the air.
You can also follow in your Waves with jumping attacks, though this is more
risky. If the enemy jumps to meet you, you have the J.Strong and J.Fierce to
work with, but that's about it. For the most part, only go offensive jumping
when you're sure they've left themselves open.
MID-RANGE:
Definetely where Sagat plays best. His best move, the S.Forward is stressed
HEAVILY here; from this distance, counter the enemy's high regular moves with
the C.Forward (or C.Roundhouse, if you're sure you'll connect) and snuff
their low regular moves, projectiles and some Special Moves (see vs.
strategies) with the good ol' S.Forward. Once they have a level charged, stay
a little more defensive and cease the constant S.Forward peck, because they
can AC, or if they anticipate it, can frequently snuff it with a
high-priority SC (eg. Ken's Shoryureppa).
If from this range they still throw projectiles constantly, focus on the
Roundhouse TK and the Tiger Genocide (or the more risky Tiger Cannon) and
above all else, don't jump often. If they press offensively a lot and you
have a level, counter their pecks (or fast projectiles) with the Kick AC...
If the enemy starts countering your S.Forward, try the fake-out and maybe
they'll miss enough for you to counter. Also, don't forget your Short Tiger
Knee fake-out, if the opponent thinks it is becoming predictable.
For the most part this mid-range game is a reactionary game, focusing on
anticipating the enemy's attack and snuffing a lot with the S.Forward.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL:
Sagat can handle himself well up close, though he is still better at
mid-range. If the enemy tends to poke a lot with high or mid-range attacks
(eg. Sakura's S.Roundhouse), time a Jab TU to snuff them, or just a
C.Forward. Remember the supreme priority of the 2-hit S.Roundhouse on large
characters; this combined with their slow speed makes it almost a sure hit.
By far your most important technique up close is the Grab `n' Knee. It is not
overly powerful, but has decent Throw range and knocks them back far enough
for you to position yourself back to mid-range. Peck at them with the Jabs or
the C.Short; if either connect, you can follow into a quick combo, and if
blocked, go for the Throw--remember to ram the buttons and wiggle the
joystick for as many knees as possible! If they tech hit the Throw, toss out
a S.Forward to push them back as they land. If they Safety Roll persistantly
you can frequently grab them as they rise, or hit 'em with a C.Roundouse!
GETTING UP AND REVERSALS:
I have numerous times gotten into a bad situation with the Safety Roll,
especially vs. grapplers. Your opponent can hit you out of it with a low
move, SPD move (in the case of the grapplers) or even worse, a Super Combo.
IF they end up right beside you when you fall, by all means do it, because
you'll roll behind them and be virtually safe to set up an attack (unless
they anticipate). Otherwise, just let yourself fall and then try a reversal
as you rise.
As far as reversals, they can be good or bad. The big thing about them is
that they surprise well, and also have increased priority. Probably the best
reversal for Sagat is the Tiger Uppercut; if the opponent tries to pester you
as you rise from close, the Fierce TU does great damage and usually connects.
If they try to jump in, a Jab TU is more appropriate. If they try to pressure
you as you rise with a FB, you MAY be able to go through it with a Roundhouse
TK, but this isn't guarenteed. Another possible reversal is to Throw the
enemy if they come in real close, possibly to meaty Throw you...
The best reversal Sagat can do is of course a Super Combo--The Tiger Genocide
is your best bet, and will reverse any regular attempted meaty attack, and go
through FB from the proper range.
Just remember, SOMETIMES it may in fact be better to just stay put...
CUSTOM COMBOS:
I never used to use CCs, until a guy named Sean Hoyles (hoyles@nfld.com)
showed me the "Way of the Custom Combo", so to speak. Sagat in particular has
totally DEVASTATING CCs, and is capable of draining massive amounts of life
with a L3 Custom.
Here are sections from Sean Hoyles' "The Art of Custom Comboing", which can
be found at Gouki's Page of Whatever (link on my homepage; see URL in
credits):
"There is apparently a lot of confusion as to the mechanics surrounding
custom combos. I have experimented with the technique and generally I have
found the following to be true (although I, too, could be wrong here!):
1) regular attacks (particularly on the ground) will hit many times but take
off next to nothing! Therefore, you can easily get off a twenty hit combo
using ducking sweeps but the damage you do to the opponent will be laughable.
2) attacks which juggle an opponent in the air will generally do more damage
than will ground attacks. Thus, if you keep pushing the opponent into the air
with ducking fierces you will do a little more damage than if you did an
equivalent number of ducking roundhouses.
3) special attacks generally take off the most damage but tend to take the
longest amount of time to execute. In other words, you will do more damage
per attack but you will be able to do so a significantly fewer number of
times.
4) it obviously follows from the above that you will be able to do the most
damage using attacks which are both special and juggle the opponent in the
air. Almost every character in the game has at least one such attack to use
to their advantage.
5) The damage level for special attacks tends to be highest at Level One for
custom combos. However, at the higher levels, you can usually tack on several
more hits which will mean significantly more damage overall.
6) Ducking roundhouse sweeps are perfect for setting your opponent up for a
juggling custom combo. The opponent's animation after a sweep automatically
has them reeling back into the air which sets them up for further hits before
they hit the ground. You should also note, however, that some of these
sweep/juggle combos will not work consistently (if at all) when you sweep
your opponent in the corner. You should experiment with each custom combo to
see which ones are practical everywhere and which ones are not."
WHEN TO USE A CUSTOM COMBO:
***************************
The best overall place for Sagat to utilize the Custom Combo is on a jumping
opponent. As you should already know, Sagat's air counters are deadly, and
the CC just adds a more damaging version. In addition, his S.Strong, a GREAT
way to start a juggling CC, has awesome priority over jumping attacks, as
long as they're not too deep. From this Sagat can devastate the opponent with
a CC doing over 50% damage!
The next best, and most obvious place, to use a CC is when the enemy leaves
an opening. The prime example is of course a whiffed DP. Another great place
is after the Short TK fake-out. NOTE HOWEVER: I find it is MUCH better to
counter in the ground-to-ground case with a L3 SC instead of a L3 CC--Sagat's
L3 Tiger Raid OR Genocide will do around 70% damage as opposed to the approx.
50% damage a good L3 CC will do (although I have yet to FIND a CC for Sagat
that may do more... additions?)
The last, and most difficult place, to use a CC is to pass THROUGH an air
counter. Yes, it IS possible to time a CC as you fall from a jump to pass
through the opponent's uppercut, or the like--note that as far as I know you
can only pass through regular air counters (eg. Shoto-bros. C.Fierce, Chun's
S.Roundhouse, etc...), but it is nonetheless a BIG surprise for the defending
opponent, if you can get the timing down pat. Idealy, you want the screen to
turn dark JUST as they begin the initial frames of their attack.
NOTE: I am FAR from an expert on this idea, and I've only done it a few
times. Anyone with more info, PLEASE MAIL IT TO ME!
Ryu is still pretty tough, but you can take him if you're calm and careful.
Firstly, the Ryu you will most likely play is the ol' FB/DP crap. From a
distance ONLY, jump his FBs, and occasionally if your a fair distance back,
you can counter them with your Tiger Waves. Once you get into mid-range, STAY
THERE! This is not the best place for Ryu, that's for sure; from here, snuff
attempted FBs with the S.Forward, and if you have a level charged you can
pass through them with the TK, Tiger Genocide, a FAST Tiger Cannon, or you
can block and use the kick AC. He will most likely get scared and either jump
in, in which case hit 'em with a Jab TU, or the S.Strong (a good place for a
CC air counter!); or, he will jump away, in which case toss out a FIERCE
Tiger Wave, which may catch him on the rebound. ABOVE ALL ELSE, don't jump
unless you're SURE you will hit him recovering from a projectile. When he has
a level charged, don't throw Tiger Waves (Shinkuu-HADOUKEN!), and from close
range, don't throw a lot of crouching attacks, or he'll take 'em out with the
Vacuum HK.
VS. KEN:
^^^^^^^^
IMO as hard, if not harder, then Ryu. His FB is slower and weaker (counter
appropriately), but his mid-range game is good because of his S.Roundhouse,
Roll and Shoryureppa SC. Just remember that if they throw a lot of FBs ala
Ryu, it's an easy fight. :)
If you play the offensive, reactionary Ken, it's a little more difficult. The
best way to defeat him is again at mid-range; you must have VERY fast
reflexes here! You can usually snuff his S.Roundhouse with your S.Forward if
you anticipate (or peck), and of course the same goes for the FB. If he uses
a lot of low attacks, he will most likely be ready for a Roll (he can Roll
under your S.Forward), so again be watchful of patterns and try to make sure
your S.Forward isn't stuck out when he can Roll. From this range, also
remember your Tiger Genocide and Tiger Raid to take out his normal attacks.
Once he has a level charged, watch all YOUR regular attacks, as he can take
them out with his SCs. If you manage to block his HK, counter FAST with a
Throw, SC, or best with an AC.
VS. CHUN LI:
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Shouldn't be too difficult, especially if she likes to jump; the big mistake
Chun players make a lot is jumping too often--her jump is fast, but because
she goes so high she has big hang-time and allows you to set up a good air
counter in time (CC!). If she stays grounded, she can be a problem--she will
peck away at you with her high-priority C.Forward which, with GOOD timing,
you can snuff with your S.Forward (or SC if you're REAL fast). Try to stay on
the ground primarily, because she can jump up to counter you, use her
S.Roundhouse OR the Kikosho if she has a level charged. Again, stay primarily
mid-range, however from a long-range you can coax her into making a mistake;
from this distance, she has to get in close to do any damage, because her
Kikoken FB has a SLOW start-up. If you see it coming, jump if you're far, or
counter appropriately from mid-range (snuff with the S.Forward, TK, or Tiger
Genocide). Do NOT try to counter the Kikoken with the Tiger Cannon; as I
recall, she bend over so far that the Tiger Cannon whiffs over her head!
Once she has a level, don't throw out regular attacks a lot, at least not low
ones, or she'll snuff 'em with the TBK easily.
VS. ADON:
^^^^^^^^^
Your former pupil is even more of a pecker than you! :) From mid-range both
your S.Forward and his S.Roundhouse have relatively the same priority, so
they may trade hits. Don't use crouching attacks a lot, the Jaguar Kick can
take them out (especially the C.Roundhouse; you may recover in time to block
if you use the C.Short or Forward). Stay on the ground and peck with the
S.Forward, and wait for him to make a mistake with the Jaguar Kick or Tooth,
and counter with whatever you wish (best with a Super Combo or Throw). Above
all else don't throw Tiger Waves AT ALL, because with your recovery he will
hit you every time.
VS. GUY:
^^^^^^^^
He's a fast hoser, but like Chun Li, is actually worse in the air than most
think. His long hang-time will make it easy to counter him in the air with
one of your many air counters (CC!). Again mid-range is your best position,
and if you stay at the MAXIMUM range of the S.Forward, you can usually snuff
his poking attacks. If you see him coming in for the Bushin Run moves, the
S.Forward will usually surprise him even if he's doing the QCT+Short
fake-out. You can also take it out with a well-timed Tiger Knee, or of course
the Tiger Genocide or Tiger Raid :). Note however that the S.Forward is your
best bet, because you won't know until the last minute if he'll do the Jump
Kick or Slide, which have to be blocked high and low respectively. If you see
him start the Bushido Leap, attempt a Forward Tiger Knee or a WELL TIMED
Tiger Uppercut (a CC works well here too). Try not to throw too many Tiger
Waves, especially Low ones, because he can easily Bushido Leap+Air Throw
right over them. Refrain from jumping because he has air defenses as good as
yours, including the Bushin Jump SC!
VS. DHALSIM:
^^^^^^^^^^^^
A good Dhalsim will zone you with S.Roundhouse, C.Strong, Yoga Fires and the
Teleport. The best way to defeat him is to stay grounded; his air defenses
are great, and he also has good priority in the air with the Yoga Mummy. You
can counter his HIGH long-range attacks with a very well-timed TU (eg. he
sticks out a S.Roundhouse, you can uppercyt the leg from underneath). Counter
his Yoga Fires from a distance with your own Tiger Waves; once you're in mid
range, stress the S.Forward to snuff his slow long-range attacks, but watch
for the Yoga Flame and Inferno! BTW, don't try using the Short TK fake-out
often, because he will very rarely whiff his attempted counter because of his
great range.
VS. GEN:
^^^^^^^^
If he stays in Crane style, he's not that difficult. If he's in the Mantis
Style, he can be annoying. In this style he will peck you from mid-range with
his kicks, and up close with all those little finger-pecking moves. You can
usually put up a fight at mid-range with the S.Foward or Tiger Genocide,
however. Jumping in is usually fairly safe if you do it REAL deep, which will
often snuff his Mantis Kick if you're fast--don't jump in often if he's using
the Crane Style, because he not only has that awesome upward C.Roundhouse,
but also that Rising Air Throw SC! In the Mantis Style, refrain from throwing
out ANY regular attacks often except the C.Forward, or else he'll take you
out in a FLASH with the Omega Dash (hey that rhymes! :). In the Crane Style
he's easy to beat if you stay grounded; 90% of his regular ground moves are
delayed at the beginning, giving you plenty of time to snuff them with
whatever you choose. Likewise, do not throw any Tiger Waves, or high attacks
often, and you can block his Rolling Punch with ease and counter.
VS. SAKURA:
^^^^^^^^^^^
Like playing a faster, pecking version of Ryu. Her C.Forward and S.Roundhouse
will annoy you from mid to close range, but you can handle them with the
S.Forward and the TU respectively. Her regular FB is pretty fast, but you can
counter it accordingly. If she actually wants to try one of her other FBs,
you have plenty of time to cook up a counter. Don't throw out a lot of low
moves liberally, because her HK is great for dealing with them; if you block
it, ACing is your best bet, but you can USUALLY Throw her. Once she has a
level charged, do NOT throw anything out; she can take out the Tiger Waves
with her Super FB, she can take low moves out with her Violent Dragon, and
high moves with the Super Hurricane! Basically, remain defensive for the most
part, and the S.Forward is fairly safe to use still.
VS. ROLENTO:
^^^^^^^^^^^^
If he's hopping and leaping around everywhere, he can usually be dealt with
using the TU or S.Strong. Up close, he's no problem, and from mid-range, peck
with the S.Forward easily. Just don't jump in often or meet him in the air,
because he has amazing priority in both cases. Perhaps more on this later.
VS. ZANGIEF:
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Don't get too close and you should be all right. Both of you have fairly
short jumps, and I find you both have good priority in the air with the
punches, so stay grounded mostly. Throw Tiger Waves from a distance, but
remember he can Clothesline or Banishing Punch them with ease (if you see him
about to do the Banishing Punch to your FB, JUMP IN!), and for this reason,
don't throw them anywhere BUT full screen. If you see the wrestler coming in
with the Running Bear Grab, quickly snag him with a S.Forward or Tiger Raid;
a Roundhouse Tiger Knee works as well. Up close, he is FAST with SPD, so you
don't want to stay their long. Try to tick with the C.Short for a Throw to
knock him away, or the S.Roundhouse (he's big so you'll get both hits).
VS. CHARLIE:
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Be prepared for a barrage of Sonic Booms. You will likely not snuff the SB
often because of its speed, but you can still peck from mid-range because he
has no high-priority regular moves at this point. Try not to jump at Guile's
buddy unless he's recovering from a Boom, because he LOVES to counter with a
Somersault Kick or any of his other great air counters.. If Charlie goes
offensive, he will likely try to jump in at Sagat; either counter with your
S.Roundhouse, or block; when he lands, he'll most likely go into a
crouching combo (but watch for a Throw!!)--after blocking that counter with a
C.Roundhouse or crouching Short buffered into whatever. Once you've
charged up, buffer the Tiger Cannon as he swings his arm to release the Sonic
Boom. If you're close, go through a Boom with the Tiger Genocide. Whenever
you block a Somersault Kick counter with a combo just as he lands or if you
like to keep it simple, just a well-timed Tiger Uppercut.
VS. BIRDIE:
^^^^^^^^^^^
Birdie has GREAT air counters and can be a VERY difficult fight for Sagat, so
try and stay on the ground. He has no projectiles to jump over, and his other
Special Moves will cause him to fly under an airborne Sagat anyway. Another
problem with fighting him is that his Hopping Chain Grab Super Combo will
travel over ALL of Sagat's projectiles, even the Tiger Cannon. So forget
altogether about projectiles when Birdie has at least one level on his meter.
You basically have to wait for him to make the mistake; counter his Headbutts
at EVERY opportunity with a combo or SC, and other than that wait for him to
jump and counter with your S.Roundhouse. Up close try and stick with
crouching Shorts to tick for a Throw to put him back at mid-range, where you
can peck with the S.Forward, because he'll try at every opportunity to Chain
Grab you to put a world of hurt on our favorite kickboxer.
VS. ROSE:
^^^^^^^^^
Few Tiger Waves should be used in this fight, because she can absorb and
reflect them much too easily. A lot of Rose players will jump in to do her
big J.Fierce, C.Fierce XX Soul Spiral combo; either counter with a standing
Roundhouse, or block and and then counter with any combo when she's done.
Don't throw high attacks out of the blue, because her Slide comes out WAY too
fast to block in time. One big mistake Rose players do is throw too many of
her Soul Sparks; her recovery is horrible and her arm and scarf stick out
quite far, making her a considerably larger target; if you're a little ways
away and jump in, the only combo that should hit will be a jumping
Roundhouse, C.Roundhouse 2-hit (or J.Roundhouse, S.Forward). Be very careful
in the air otherwise, because if you're jumping all over the place she can
easily grab Sagat with a Soul Catch or Super Soul Catch. When she starts up
her Soul Images Super Combo, keep your distance so she doesn't start that
Sliding cheese. A good Rose player knows not to waste their time defensively
while they have the Images, but a lot of those players tend to go a little
overboard with that idea and will attempt a jump-in to start off a seemingly
big combo; stay calm and try not to let her confuse you, and when she jumps
in counter with good ol' Roundhouse. If you block her level 3 Super Soul
Catch, wait until she goes up in the air for the final hit then counter with
whatever you want. If you block her Super Soul Spark anywhere close, counter
with a S.Roundhouse or Tiger Raid; or, if it is a level 1 Super Soul Spark,
you can time a jump over it an combo. If you're a good distance away and she
throws a regular Soul Spark, whip off a Tiger Cannon if your meter is up.
VS. SODOM:
^^^^^^^^^^
As long as you don't get close to him, you should be alright. When jumping
in try to make it as a counter to a missed Butsumetsu Buster (the Power
Bomb) or Daikyo Burning ("Carpet Burn"), otherwise he can counter pretty
easily with his C.Fierce or Strong Jigoku Scrape. Try your best to counter
his jump-in attacks with your Roundhouse or S.Strong, because if you block he
can land and usually surprise you with a Butsumetsu Buster or worse, a Super
Butsumetsu Buster Super Combo. From mid-range he can peck you with his
S.Forward and S.Roundhouse, so you have to be fast; the former also acts as
a tick for the Butsumetsu Buster... Don't stay close to him once you've
knocked him down to try and hit him as he rises, because he'll do that damn
Tengu Walk to surprise you. As with the jump-ins, be careful up close with
him when you're blocking, because he'll do some big combo and before you can
get out of your blocking position he'll pull off a Butsumetsu Buster out of
nowhere. Note that in SFA2, the priority in the Jigoku Scrapes his HUGE now,
so don't throw out a lot of regular attacks, especially low ones; stick with
the S.Foward. If you block his Daikyo Burning counter with a combo, Roundhouse
Tiger Knee, Tiger Raid or Tiger Genocide. If you block a Jigoku Scrape, you
may be able to Throw him afterwards, otherwise the Alpha Counter works well
here.
VS. SAGAT:
^^^^^^^^^^
Hey, you know his weaknesses by now, so this should be an easy fight! Just
remember, try and be faster than him! :)
VS. AKUMA:
^^^^^^^^^^
You'll find a lot of Akuma players staying in he air and whipping a lot of
Fireballs, there and on the ground. His Air FB has been weakened from SFA1,
and has a much steeper angle, so he can only throw it if really close.
Sometimes if you block it from this range, you can snag him with a S.Forward
or Roundhouse TK. As with Ryu, if he pulls off any Fireballs from a distance,
counter with your own or the Tiger Cannon, or up close with Genocide or TK.
From mid-range peck with the S.Forward as you would against Ryu to snuff FBs
and regular moves. NOTE: see Ken for strategies on the Ground Roll!
VS. BISON:
^^^^^^^^^^
I'm not even going to fill this out, because nobody plays him, and he sucks
anyways!
VS. DAN:
^^^^^^^^
Hey, it's Dan, eh? But seriously, I've met a few good Dan players, and he
can be a pain. Pester him constantly with Tiger Waves of all strengths and
heights, and move into mid-range to peck with the S.Forward. If he's stupid
enough to jump out of the blue, counter with your Roundhouse, and if you
manage to block his Gale Kick, counter with whatever you like. Remember too,
that it is VERY difficult for him to go over your High Tiger Wave with his
Short Gale Kick, because of its height. The only place to really be careful
is when he has a level charged; he can take out your regular attacks up close
with the Violent Dragon or Desperation move; so, stick only with the
S.Forward from here on.
Thanks to Capcom for a great game, and thanks to the following FAQ writers:
Dan Wells
Gene Leong
Tyler Oswald
and Sean Hoyles
For their great FAQs.
Also thanks to the guys over at the arcade for getting me started on the game
and convincing me to rent it a year ago (After reading the newsgroup's
put-downs). Also a Special Thanks to Jason Jamieson, who proved that
Dhalsim's Teleport is a REAL pain in the arse, and JD Baptie, who convinced
me through force that Ryu's FB traps can still be effective! ;-)
This and other FAQs can be accessed at my new homepage:
