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- "A headbutt that can be canceled into a special move and lets you act before your opponent, even if they block it."
- —Street Fighter 6
The Head Butt is one of Zangief's unique attacks, introduced in Ultra Street Fighter IV's OMEGA Mode as Chrome Head. It was renamed to its current name Street Fighter V onwards.
| Appearance | Move | Input |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra Street Fighter IV (OMEGA Mode) |
Chrome Head |  +
|
| Street Fighter V Street Fighter 6 (Classic) |
Head Butt |  +
|
| Street Fighter 6 (Modern) |
Head Butt | +
|
Description
Executed by pressing forward and Heavy Punch (or pressing forward and Heavy Attack for Modern Control in Street Fighter 6), Zangief steps forward and unleashes a monstrous headbutt.
Tactics
This attack is a good way to apply pressure to the opponent. Even if they block the attack, Zangief is still safe. In fact, he can easily link this move into other normals, and even Critical Art, on hit.
While it doesn't have much range horizontally, it does have a decent vertical hitbox, giving Zangief a tool to stop the opponent's jumps. If it is used as a meaty attack on an opponent's wake up, he can catch them trying to back dash or jump away from him. If Zangief hits the move when the opponent is in the air, spiking them back down to the ground. Regardless, this move isn't the best anti-air attack for Zangief to use.
As stated before, this move is Zangief's go-to move because the situation is mostly in his favor. On block, Zangief is +2. It's also very effective to use Head Butt as a frame trap to go for an Screw Pile Driver; since the opponent have only 3 frames to react. Also, this move can negate one hit of any projectile. If timed correctly, Zangief's head can hit the fireball without him taking any damage.
By using this unique attack in combination with frame trap command throws, Zangief can be scarier up close, giving the opponent very little options and time to defend.
In Street Fighter 6, Head Butt is a vital tool in Zangief's arsenal. It is +4 on block and +8 on hit, making it an extremely powerful pressure tool, especially when in range for a Screw Pile Driver. If Zangief can afford to, he can even perform a Head Butt, Drive Rush cancel it on block, then perform a second Head Butt to continue draining his opponent's Drive Gauge. On hit, Zangief can perform either a Hellstab or a crouching Medium Punch, leading to some strong combos afterwards. However, Head Butt scales Zangief's combo a considerable amount, making it somewhat less rewarding if used repeatedly in a combo.
Gallery
Trivia
- This move is arguably based off the professional wrestling move of the same name. It's mainly used by large wrestlers who use their size and strength to overwhelm their opponents.