Sagat’s return in Street Fighter 6 marks a clear shift from his long-standing identity as the master of zoning. His trademark low Tiger Shot, once the foundation of his game, has been heavily reworked. Now locked at a single speed with a slow 50-frame total animation, it’s quick enough for opponents to parry on reaction, only gives +2 to +3 on block from mid-range, and is unsafe up close at -7. This means the old fireball trap game that kept opponents locked down is effectively gone.
His anti-air game has also changed. While the light uppercut still delivers at a sharp 5-frame startup, the medium version now comes out at 10 frames, and the heavy takes a sluggish 18, making them unreliable against empty jumps or well-timed aerial approaches. Instead, Sagat now makes his stand in the mid-range. His standing heavy punch stretches across the screen like a Dhalsim normal, while his standing and crouching mediums offer strong pokes and hit-confirmable target combos. These lead to solid knockdowns, heavy damage, and aggressive corner carry, an area where Sagat now excels.
Offensively, this is a Sagat built for pressure. Forward light and heavy kicks give plus frames on block, spaced light Tiger Knees can be safe or even plus, and Drive Rush enables him to close space and maintain momentum. His Level 2 super can carry an opponent with a full screen corner carry, and OD Tiger Shots not only challenge other projectiles but often convert into supers, giving him some of the strongest counter-zoning tools in the game.
Up close, his crouching light kicks and jabs chain well into each other, and his +2 standing medium punch lets him trade favorably against 4-frame jabs, leading to high-reward combos. While his zoning has taken a hit, his mid-range harassment and whiff-punish game have never looked better.
This Sagat isn’t about sitting back and building a wall of fireballs, he’s about dominating mid-screen with long limbs, calculated pressure, and punishes that hurt. Long-time fans may need to adjust their approach, but once you embrace his new rhythm, The King still stands tall, just with a different crown.
