Summary
- Dragunov's powerful moveset and accessibility make him a fan favorite in Tekken 8.
- His Rage Art, "White Angel of Death," provides a deadly finishing move with brutal damage.
- Tekken 8 upgrades have solidified Dragunov's top position in the meta, with improved mechanics.
Tekken 8 has multiple characters that rise to the top based on their strong kits and ability to dominate the meta. The game has evolved a lot in the form of new fighting mechanics and improved characters. Fans have seen how adding Lidia Sobieska as a second DLC character injected new life into the roster. Despite the latest additions to Tekken 8, several early-released characters have stayed nearly perfect from the start. They needed no adjustments or overhauls to maintain their place in competitive play.
Among these top contenders, one fighter has become a fan favorite with his unique set of Rage Arts and Drives — Sergei Dragunov. His sneak stance and extremely offensive moveset are two primary reasons fans love him. Dragunov is also less complex and challenging to play with compared to other characters. But he comes with plenty of tools in his arsenal that have retained his popularity even after the release of two new Tekken DLC characters. Additionally, his new gameplay updates keep the fighter firmly positioned at the top of the meta.
What to Expect From Tekken 8 in 2024
2024 is set to be a big year for Tekken fans, with the release of Tekken 8 marking the first mainline entry in the series for almost nine years.
Dragunov's Cool Moves Give Him A Remarkable Competitive Edge
Many players use Sergei Dragunov as a main because of his aggressive Sambo fighting style. For instance, JDCR played many ranked matches using Dragunov in Tekken 8. The character's toolkit is highly versatile and perfectly balances speed, precision, and damage. In Tekken 8, one of his most reliable attacks is the Scimitar (d/f2). It is a mid-launcher that creates perfect openings for follow-up combos. Another key move is Counterstrike (u/b 2), which is a high attack that crumples opponents on counter hit.
Another important move associated with Sergei Dragunov is his Cocked Hammer attack during Sneak stance. It is a high combo starter in Tekken that causes some severe damage. Russian Sickle (fF 2) and Bloodhound Strike (1+2) are other mid-attacks that act as a base for Dragunov's offensive gameplay. His Sneak Stance (d d/f f) also allows for a variety of follow-up attacks. All these moves make him an unpredictable fighter and one of the top choices for competitive players.
Rage Art Is Dragunov's Perfect Deadly Weapon
Rage Arts in Tekken 8 can only be used when a player's health is 25 or lower. It makes these combos a decisive finishing move against opponents. Dragunov has an alias in the game — White Angel of Death — and his rage art is also given the same name. This particular move knocks opponents down and delivers a brutal overhead slam. The move has a damage output of 11 points if combined with a combo. But it is worth remembering that Rage Art can only be used once per match, so timing is everything.
Tekken 8 Major Upgrades Made Dragunov Almost Perfect
When Dragunov first appeared in Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, he was a solid addition to the roster. However, his moveset and abilities improved with the installments that followed. By the time Tekken 7 rolled around, Sergei Dragunov became a difficult character to master because of his unsafe moves and lack of reliable "tools." However, Tekken 8 made Dragunov more accessible to play by revamping his moveset with some new mechanics. The developers also made the damage output slightly higher, which nudged the character's offensive playstyle.
All these upgrades helped Dragunov's popularity skyrocket. Since then, the character has secured the most popular position in various player polls. For the Rage Art, Tekken 8 improved camera angles and added some special snow effects, but there were no actual changes in the mechanics. While Tekken 8 didn't introduce new Rage Art Moves for Dragunov, the subtle improvements made it feel more satisfying to land. Sergei Dragunov is a great character, and if these upgrades stay, he'll not step down from the top spot anytime soon!
Tekken 8
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- January 26, 2024
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment, Arika
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S
WHERE TO PLAY
Tekken 8 brings the fight to the latest generation of consoles, powered by Unreal Engine 5. Feel the power of every hit in Tekken 8, the latest entry in the legendary fighting game franchise from Bandai Namco. Utilising the power and realism of Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 pushes the envelope for fighting games by taking full advantage of the power of the latest generation of consoles. Ground-breaking new features, breathtakingly detailed character models and dramatic environments make this one of the most visually stunning and immersive titles in the genre yet. Tekken 8 picks up after the gruesome battle that ended in Heihachi Mishima’s defeat in Tekken 7, focusing on a new rivalry, pitting father against son as Jin Kazama stands in defiance against Kazuya Mishima in a city-shattering face-to-face showdown.
- Franchise
- Tekken
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
