Tekken 8 Dragunov guide – move list and beginner combos

Ever since his introduction in Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, Sergei Dragunov has perpetually been one of the most played characters in the series, including Tekken 8. The White Reaper specialises in Sambo, the martial art of the Russian military, and has the leg locks and arm breaks to take anyone down.

And as one of the top-tier fighters in Tekken 8, he’s routinely been the single most played character since release with plenty of players looking to pick him up. So if that sounds like you, we’ve put together his full move list and some beginner combos to help you get started.

Dragunov overview

Dragunov has some excellent fundamentals and is a very well-rounded fighter. His strong pokes can keep opponents under huge pressure and consistently chip away at them. But more than that, he has plenty of options to deliver huge damage, with great punishes, a great throw game, and some massive combos. Mastering all aspects of his kit will make you a formidable opponent and one that is guaranteed to dominate in ranked.

Tekken notation

Before you can start learning moves and combos, it’s important to know Tekken notation. This helps quickly explain specific inputs in one or two characters instead of having to write out the full thing every time. Our move list and combos use the notation below, so make sure to refer back to it to know exactly what to do.

Notation	Action
1	Left Punch (Square / X)
2	Right Punch (Triangle / Y)
3	Left Kick (Cross / A)
4	Right Kick (Circle / B)
N	Neutral (Pressing nothing)
f	Forward
b	Back
u	Up
d	Down
d/f, d/b, u/f, u/b	Down Forward, Down Back, Up Forward, Up Back
qcf / qcb	Quarter Circle Forward / Quarter Circle Back
SS / SSR / SSL	Sidestep / Sidestep Right / Sidestep Left
FC	Fully Crouched
WS	While Standing / While Rising
WR	While Running
()	Rapidly press one after the other

Tekken 8 Dragunov move list

Dragunov has a solid move list with some great tools, but at the end of the day his gameplan revolves around his throws and baiting your opponent into them. Here is Sergei Dragunov’s full move list in Tekken 8:

Heat System

1. All moves will deal chip damage on block
2. A Heat Dash can be used when a Heat Engager hits or is blocked (after activation, Heat will end)
3. Heat Smash, a move that causes critical damage, can be activated (after activation, Heat will end)
4. Cannot throw escape Feint & Catch or Ambush Tackle
5. Ambush Tackle can be used from some attack sequences

Heat Moves

6. Heat Burst: (When Heat activation available) 2+3
7. Salvo: 1, 2, 1
8. Crushing Blizzard: f3, 1+2
9. Tundra Slash: b4, 3
10. Ignition Switch: (During Sneak) 4
11. Cold Fate: (Approach crouching opponent) d1+3 (or d2+4)
12. Feint & Low Catch: (Approach crouching opponent) d/b3, 1+2
13. Russian Hook Special > Ambush Tackle: (During Heat) WR2, 1+2
14. Hail Slicer > Ambush Tackle: (During Heat) FC d/f1, 1+2
15. Ultra Russian Sickle: (During Heat) 2+3
16. Ultra Russian Sickle > Ambush Tackle: (During Heat) 2+3, d/b1+2

Rage Moves

17. White Angel of Death: (During Rage) d/f1+2

Normal Moves

18. Eye Gouge > Hilt: 1, 1, 3
19. Salvo: 1, 2, 1
20. Hammer and Sickle: 1, 3, 2
21. One Two Scud Kick: 2, 1, 3
22. One Two Mine Kick: 2, 1, 4
23. Disconnector Combo Middle: 3, 1, 2
24. Disconnector Combo High: 3, 1, 4
25. Karnov Hook: 4, 1
26. Karnov Kick: 4, 3
27. Karnov Avalanche: 4, 4
28. Bloodhound Strike: 1+2
29. Iron Flail: 3+4
30. Stun Gun: f2, 4
31. Step-in Mantis: f3, 3
32. Crushing Blizzard: f3, 1+2
33. Falcon Combination: f4, 3
34. Cougar Combination: f4, 4, 3
35. Orca Combination: f4, d4
36. Scabbard: f1+2
37. Switchblade Ripper: d/f1, 4
38. Scimitar: d/f2
39. Mantis Heal: d/f3
40. Reaper Kick: d/f3+4
41. Bunker-buster Elbow: d1
42. Razer: d2
43. Avalanche Hammer Rush: d3, 2, 1+2
44. Detached Kick: d3, 4
45. Separator: d4, 1, 3
46. Stiletto: d4, 4
47. Death’s Door: d/b2, 1, 2
48. Clipping Sweep: d/b3
49. Feint & Low Catch: (Approach crouching opponent) d/b3, 1+2
50. Deadly Scorpion: d/b3+4
51. Pommel Fling: b1, 2
52. Eye Gouge > Stingray: b2, 1, 3
53. Serrated Edge: b3
54. Tundra Strike > Ear Grab: b4, 2, 1
55. Tundra Strike > Ambush Tackle: b4, 2, 1+2
56. Tundra Slash: b4, 3
57. Blizzard Hammer: b1+2
58. Inertia Kick: b3+4
59. Counterstrike: u/b2
60. Sub-Zero: u/b1+2
61. Eye Blast: u/f1
62. Under Pressure: u/f2
63. Breaching Charge Kick: u/f3
64. Slicing Sobat: u/f4
65. Delayed Rising Toe Kick: u/f, N, 4
66. Russian Sickle: f, f2
67. Feint & Catch: f, f2, 1+2
68. Stinger Kick: f, f3
69. Rolling Thunder: f, f4
70. Russian Hook Special: WR2
71. Snap Knee Assault: WR4
72. Death’s Fragrance: (During opponent wall stun) WR4
73. Chernobog Sweep: WR (two steps or more) f3
74. Mass Elbow: qcb2
75. 10 Hit Combo 1: 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 1, 4, 1, 3, 2
76. 10 Hit Combo 2: 1, 3, 1, 2, 4, 1+2

Special Move

77. Ki Charge: 1+2+3+4

Moves While Crouching

78. Qullion: WS1, 2
79. Double Hilt: WS1, 3
80. Ballistic Upper: WS2
81. Glacial Hilt: WS3
82. Gelid Smash: WS4
83. Frost Tackle: WS1+2
84. Hail Slicer: FC d/f1 (on hit) 4
85. Hail Slicer > Ambush Tackle: (During Heat) FC d/f1, 1+2

Moves during Sidestep

86. Integral Slicer Clutch: (During sidestep) 2, 3
87. Integral Blitz: (During sidestep) 2, 1+2, 4
88. Integral Blitz > Ambush Tackle: (During sidestep) 2, 1+2, 1+2
89. Pigeon Roll: (During sidestep) 3+4

Moves While Down

90. Clipping Heel Hook: (By opponent’s feet) while down and facing down 3
91. Living Dead: (While down and facing down) 1+2
92. Living Dead > Ambush Tackle: (While down and facing down) 1+2, 1+2

Moves While Facing Backward

93. Cane Stab: (Back facing opponent) d3

Moves during Sneak

94. Sneak: qcf
95. Cocked Hammer: qcf1
96. Stinger Elbow: qcf2
97. Slay Ride: qcf3
98. Needle Hold: qcf3 (Counter Hit)
99. Ignition Switch: qcf4
100. Snap Knee: qcf3+4

✓

Alex’s Advice

While not an out-and-out grappler, Dragunov has an excellent throw game. It gives him some great mixup potential, just make sure not to rely on them too heavily as better opponents will be able to break your throws.

Throw

101. Volk Clutch: (Approach opponent) 1+3
102. Purge Slam: (Approach opponent) 2+4
103. Tarantula Sting: (Approach opponent from left side) 1+3 (or 2+4)
104. Reverse Fracture: (Approach opponent from right side) 1+3 (or 2+4)
105. Absolute Silence: (Approach opponent from behind) 1+3 (or 2+4)
106. Reverse Victor Clutch: (Approach opponent) f1+4
107. Victor Clutch: (Approach opponent) f2+3
108. Blizzard Rush: (Approach opponent) u/f1+2
109. Cold Fate: (Approach crouching opponent) d1+3 (or d2+4)
110. Scorpion Scissors: u/f3+4
111. Pigeon Roll > Ambush Tackle: (During sidestep) 3+4, 1+2
112. Frost Bite: (During takedown) 1
113. Achilles’ Hold: (During takedown) 2
114. Iron Curtain: (During takedown) 1+2

Attack Reversal

115. Red Alert: (Time with opponent attack) b1+3 (or b2+4)
116. Pit Fall: (Time with opponent low attack) d1+2
117. Low Parry: (Time with opponent low attack) d/f

Moves While Opponent is Down

118. Six Feet Under: (While opponent is down) d3+4

Moves While Opponent is Down

119. Six Feet Under: (While opponent is down) d3+4

Tekken 8 Dragunov combos

While his strong throw game will give you a lot of damage when playing him, Dragunov also has a decent combo game, with some high damage combos to learn. Here are a few bread and butter combos to get you started:

• Combo 1: WR2 (Counter Hit), d2, WS4, b1, 2, 3, 2, 4
• Combo 2: WS2, f4, 4, 3, b1, 2, 3, 1d/f, (during Sneak) 1+2
• Heat Dash Combo: d/f2, f4, 4, 3, (during Heat) b4, 3f, 3, 1d/f, (during Sneak) 2, f, f3

Tekken 8 Dragunov strategy

Dragunov is at his best when using his strong mixups and great frames to pile the pressure on your opponent. His WR2 is plus on block and is an easy way to get your opponent on the back foot, backing them into a corner. Additionally, it launches on counter hit, so don’t be afraid to abuse this, though be aware that more accomplished players will know to sidestep it.

As well as that, his b1+2 is also plus on block, and is a great frame trap to catch weaker opponents off guard. If your opponent is mashing buttons, throw out one of these and catch them with a counter hit punish to launch them into a damaging combo.

Lastly, don’t forget about Dragunov’s excellent throw game. Only King has a stronger one, and it’s an excellent mixup tool to break through your opponent’s defences. This is especially true at lower ranks when players likely won’t be able to consistently break throws, so go nuts.

Tekken 8 Dragunov FAQs

What fighting style does Sergei Dragunov use in Tekken?

Dragunov fights using Sambo, the martial art of the Russian military.

Is Dragunov good in Tekken 8?

Dragunov is one of the best characters in Tekken 8 thanks to his high damage combos and throws, and his excellent frames.