Character Discussion: Sergei Dragunov

This is xFur24/Furholden/Winston here today and i'm going to introduce you to Sergei Dragunov, a russian commando. Dragunov's gameplay does not involve a stance. However, he posseses one of the most sleek and sneaky, not to mention arguebly the fastest crouchdash in the game. He has relatively fast movement if you are able to implement the crouchdash in your forward movements. He also has a number of variations from his sidestep attacks.

In order to play Dragunov, you will need to rely on his pokes a lot. The wall-game is one of his greatest strengths in the game as he gets very deadly mixups at the wall. Although you will not be using much of his crouchdash near the walls, fff+2 is guaranteed to cover any amount of distance you desire as long as you make haste with your inputs of multiple fowards.

Dragunov has a very heavy arsenal of mid attacks that often cause knockdown or frame-locks. First off, one of his best spacing moves is d/f+4. This move will keep any opponent at bay if used correctly. On hit you are able to follow up with most of his other mids like b+4,2,1, or b+4,3 which causes wallsplats. Often, i would use b+4,2,1 as it gives me a +6 on block. But note that the last hit is a high so don't spam too much of this as the last hit can be ducked and launch-punished. His main tracking move is b+3. This can track any angle but this is a high. His main fast low would be d+2. This is extremely unseeable and should be used at all levels of gameplay. His heavy low is d/b+3 which trips for short juggle.

Dragunov has considerable output damage from his pokes. He has an even more frightening damage off his juggles if done well. Dragunov has 2 different types of launchers depending on your situation. He has qcb+2 which rushes backwards and foward with an elbow. This is often used in situations where you know that there would be an obvious opening for that to happen even when the opponent is attacking. His other launcher would be qcf+2. This covers an amazing distance forward, has high crush, and launchers for heavy juggle afterward. There is also another counterhit juggle which i shall not go too much into detail today. fff+2 is one of his best moves. It gives +0 on block but it has a large hitbox, and can give a juggle on counterhit.

Here is one of my favourite selections off a CH fff+2.
> fff+2, CH, ff, cd, x, iws4, ff+1, ff+1, 1,3,2, B!,  and ender of your choice.

Here are his top 10 moves.
d/f+4- This is one of his best spacing tools and should always be used as a spacing tool.
d/f+1, (CH hit confirmable), 4- This gives heavy damage off a CH, and a guaranteed stomp afterward.
d+2- This is one of the unseeable lows in the game. Good damage and leaves you in FC position. Tap up to cancel FC.
b+4- This can be branched into either b+4,2,1 which gives +4f on block and is an NCC or it leads into a b+4,3 which is an NC wallsplat.
d/b+3- As slow as this might seem, this leads into a fairly damaging short juggle. This move is able to transition into a grab with 1+2 pressed which grabs anyone who tries to block this move. The grab is unable to be broken.
u/f+3- This is a safe low-crush move which leaps forward for a kick. This move is very good at setting up ideal distances for a iwr2 or it may be used as a wallsplat tool. This can be jumped on the spot, jumped forward, or jumped backwards. Depends on distance required in the situation. I love this move and this is definitely one of my top moves for Dragunov.
b+3- This move is Dragunov's main tracking move and should always be used from time to time to keep sidestepping opponents in check. Do note that this is a high though. Nevertheless, still a top move for me.
d+1- This move gives you neutral frames on block and leaves opponents in FC. Good pressure tool and good for baiting mistakes.
iws4- This move is good and it comes out from a cancelled crouchdash, innately granting it massive range and you can calibrate it to be executed at any range you desire as long as you cancel it. Good distance cover tool.
iwr2- This move is one of Dragunov's highlights. And one of the game's most catchy juggles can be executed following a CH launch with the use of ff buffer, crouchdash-cancel iws4. Style, no? ;)


I recommend Dragunov to anyone who wants cool juggles yet desires very deadly pokes. Dragunov has everything to anything you would want in a character. He may be stuck in situations but he has the tool to get out of any. A whiffed opponent will always look like a chicken under the chopper. Trust me.