Dating back to his first appearance as one of the original four bosses, Sagat’s (Isaac C. Singleton Jr., Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3) power and presence have made him a towering personality through the years. With his return in Street Fighter 6, all of the classic character‘s strengths are present, with a wide variety of ways to bring them to bear against his opponents.
The first thing unwary players will note about the Emperor of Maui Thai is his incredible reach, a standout that he brings to the start of Street Fighter 6 Season 3. With arguably the longest legs in the game, Sagat can dominate the neutral with ease, reaching out to strike foes before they can hope to punch back. Joined by his myriad projectile options, Sagat can be a challenging foe to approach.
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Combining his reach with it is an impressive amount of destructive force. When Sagat hits you, you feel it. Each punch, kick, or special move can quickly add up, taking chunks out of opponents’ life bars. He also sports a Drive Impact that combines both his reach and power, together with a surprisingly fast execution, as it lacks the longer wind-up of other Drive Impacts.
The speed of Sagat’s Drive Impact is the only shining example of the virtue you’ll find in his kit. Sagat is noticeably slower than most fighters, making learning the ins and outs of his move set vital if you want to climb up the ranks with the Maui Thai master. Though his reach and power are enough on their own that casual players just looking for a good time should also be able to get some distance out of Sagat.
Street Fighter 6 Season 3 brings Sagat’s long reach to the meta.
The final element that makes Sagat attractive as a character is the options he brings to the player. Some of his abilities offer multiple paths to take as they play out, letting players adapt to the circumstances of the moment. Also, while these options require skill to properly implement, they are mechanically simple to execute. This makes him a great choice for new players looking for a new challenge, but not something that’ll overwhelm them.
At the center of Sagat’s kit are his specials. And illustrating the above comment about his adaptability is the character’s iconic fireball: Tiger Shot. When fired as a medium or heavy, it travels as one might expect. However, given the extreme height Sagat boasts, his standing fireball can be ducked. However, when used with a light punch, Sagat crouches. Allowing him to mix up his range arsenal against opponents.
When the Overdrive versions are used, Sagat’s Standing Tiger Shot cannot be ducked, making up for its biggest shortcoming. The low version moves faster and hits more times when Overdrive is used.
Sagat’s versatility with his range attack isn’t its only strength. At each power level, his projectiles do more hits than those of every other fighter currently in the game. This means that if he and anyone else fire a projectile of the same level at the same time, he will always get through to his target.
Sagat’s Tiger Knee Crush takes precision and timing.
The second special is Tiger Knee Crush. A lunging strike, each level will launch Sagat at different distances. While landing an attack is always the most important element, Tiger Knee Crush rewards precision. If the player hits their opponent at the optimum distance, they will have an advantage on block.
Advantage on block means that even if blocked, Sagat will be ready to strike again before his opponent. This makes the move a great means to approach and pressure if you can execute it properly. Taking the risk out of the move even further is the Overdrive version. Here, it is completely unpunishable on block, and can be used to set up powerful combos against foes who have been backed into a corner.
The third special is Tiger Nexus. Opening with a powerful knee strike, the move can follow three different paths depending on what the player inputs after the initial strike. The trio of follow-ups all have strong use cases, but also can fall short if implemented at the wrong times. Learning when to use each is critical. The Overdrive for Tiger Nexus adds nothing new, but amplifies the effects of the chosen follow-up attack.
Sagat’s final special is Tiger Uppercut. Like most moves of this style, the uppercut serves as a great anti-air deterrent. Invincible to jump attacks, the maneuver allows Sagat to punish those who seek to close the gap on him from above.
Street Fighter 6 Season 3 opens with an approachable character but doesn’t sacrifice depth.
The light version allows him to react quickly to close in jumps, while the heavier strikes lose speed but add punching power. If the heavy button is held when doing that version of the attack, a follow-up kick will happen in mid-air, adding a powerful knock-back to the attack. When the Overdrive version is used, the entire move becomes invincible, making it a potent force to turn a losing fight.
The first of the character’s Super Arts is the Tiger Cannon. The mother of all Tiger Shots, this projectile will cut its way across the screen, punishing anyone unprepared for it. Not only is the attack highly effective, but the wind-up animation is also stellar. The pose and movement of Sagat as he channels the power for this grand attack lean hard into the imposing nature of the character.
The Second Super Art is Savage Tiger. A leaping knee strike that can be followed up in several ways, depending on a simple directional input by the player. Whether the player is looking to do max damage, create a strong opening for a follow-up combo, or change sides with their opponent to escape a corner, this move creates the opportunity to shift the tide of a fight in the direction the player chooses.
When it comes to his Modern Control Scheme implementation, Street Fighter‘s newest fighter manages fairly well. The only omission is the absence of his Low Tiger Shot from the quick entries. This isn’t a surprise; something couldn’t be there, but players using this control will need to manage some fireball motions if they want to activate this strong element of Sagat’s kit.
Street Fighter 6 Sagat may look different than previous iterations, but it all fits his fight style.
Sagat’s visual design in Street Fighter 6 is also great. While he’s less bulky than some iterations, the character’s presence is fully delivered in his look and animations. His lean muscles look slightly gaunt, and his new costume fits with the self-isolation the story finds him undertaking.
Also, leaning into Sagat’s current mindset is his arcade mode setup. Traditionally, fighters travel the globe taking on the best they can find. Hence, the old moniker of “The World Warriors.” But since Sagat is looking for reflection and self-improvement rather than adventure, everyone must come to him. Every fight takes place on his stage. Challengers bring their background music with them, but if they want to fight Sagat, they must go to his house. Even his old boss must make the trek in the final match.
Sagat delivers another great addition to the Street Fighter 6 roster. Both in terms of playability and design, Sagat brings a powerful presence that is instantly recognizable and a strong opening character for Street Fighter 6 Season 3. While casual players will feel empowered by his great reach and hard hits, more serious players will find much to master as they seek to optimize the adaptability of his kit.
Street Fighter 6 is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
