- "Rotate at high speeds to pull in an opponent and grab them before slamming them into the ground with a powerful throw. You can choose what direction to throw your opponent by inputting left or right during the throw."
- —Street Fighter 6
The Cyclone Lariat (サイクロンラリアット Saikuron Rariatto?) is Zangief's first V-Trigger in Street Fighter V and second Super Art in Street Fighter 6.
| Street Fighter V |  + (Changes when holding button) |
|---|---|
| Street Fighter 6 (Classic) |
 + (Changes when holding button) |
| Street Fighter 6 (Modern) |
 + + (Changes when holding button) |
Description
Zangief activating Cyclone Lariat.
Executed by pressing Heavy Punch and Heavy Kick simultaneously, Zangief spins around, pulling the opponent in. By tapping the buttons, Zangief spins quickly to bring his opponent closer towards him. By holding Heavy Punch and Heavy Kick, Zangief continues to spin for a multi-hitting attack.
In Street Fighter 6, Cyclone Lariat is now a Level 2 Super Art executed by performing two quarter-circle forward motions and pressing punch. Without holding any buttons, Zangief lifts the opponent up for a Jackhammer that can be directed by tilting either back or forward, while holding the button has Zangief continue spinning for a launcher.
Tactics
This move requires 3 bars of V-Gauge, which means Zangief may have to take a decent amount of damage to use it. However, he becomes even more powerful when it's activated. While Zangief is spinning, he is invincible to most projectiles. It also brings the opponent closer to him. If Heavy Punch and Heavy Kick are tapped, it puts the opponent next to him and creates a mix-up situation where they have to guess whether they should block an attack or escape an attempted command grab. Zangief can also cancel into his Critical Art, making it hard for the opponent's to escape and taking massive damage at the same time.
If Heavy Punch and Heavy Kick are held, this allows Zangief to hit the opponent multiple times with the Cyclone Lariat, launching them in the air at the end of the move. This can be followed up with his EX Screw Pile Driver for maximum damage. Another option for Zangief is to hit the opponent with a Flying Body Press as a meterless follow-up. This also acts as a reset and forces the opponent puts the opponent in another mix-up situation. However, the range for this move is about half screen.
Zangief slamming Cammy to the ground with Jackhammer during Cyclone Lariat.
In Street Fighter 6, this move can be cancelled from Zangief's normals or OD Double Lariat. Cyclone Lariat's utility as a reversal is limited, and the main routes into it are either a contextual juggle or a cancel from either Hellstab or Crouching Medium Punch. It can be used to punish projectiles due to its long projectile invincible period. Cyclone Lariat has up to four variations. The default Jackhammer ender does the most damage out of all of Zangief's meterless options. During the grabbing portion, the Jackhammer can be steered left or right depending on directional input, letting Zangief either send the opponent to the corner or switch sides in exchange for slightly less damage and advantage. The held version deals less damage than the slam itself, but can be followed up with various juggles into an OD Borscht Dynamite or an Aerial Russian Slam if he is able to spend the resources.
Gallery
Trivia
- The Jackhammer is based off of a professional wrestling move known as the Vertical Suplex Powerslam. First performed by Japanese wrestler Jaguar Yokota, it would later be adopted by Dean Malenko before being popularized by Bill Goldberg under the Jackhammer name.