BBCF/Iron Tager/Strategy

General Tactics

TL;DR (For Beginners)

Check this Guide to Tager Basics for whenever you want a more thorough look at Tager's kit. This section takes information from there and condenses it even further.

Important Moves

5A: Fastest normal, can set up command grabs
2A: Low risk antiair
j.C: Helps move Tager faster
j.2C: Baits anti-airs
4D: Applies magnetism, good way to end blockstrings
22D: Oki tool, sets magnetism
236B: Useful for approaching zoners and blowing up slow attacks
360A: Fast command throw, especially with good defense
720C: Amazing Command Grab Super for punishing even 1F gaps
41236D: Punishes slow attacks, destroys projectiles, only way to apply magnetism at range

Above all else, Tager requires patience. Spark Bolt is essentially his only fullscreen option, and his lack of mobility means he can't close the gap aggressively. Thankfully, with good defense Tager can transition into offense with his command grabs. With instant block, Tager can punish many gaps with 360A. Each of his command grabs (aside from 720C), lead to Gadget Finger Oki. This is his strongest oki option because it keeps the opponent close, has solid frame advantage, and applies magnetism. On offense, Tager's magnetism plays a big part in his combos and pressure. It enables more damaging punishes on the cast from a higher range. Tager's offense shines when he's up close, and magnetism can pull in opponents for command grabs and trap them in new ways.

Blockstrings

Tager doesn't have many extensive blockstrings. They're often short and try to find ways to mix in a throw or set up magnetism. Most of the time you'll be fishing for counterhits with 5D (still valuable to land on block), ending short strings with 4D, or setting up a tick throw. These are some ideas to take and integrate into your game:

5A > 5B > 5C > 6A > 4D

A basic way to set up magnetism on the opponent. Most strings into 6A can set up magnetism or a command throw.

5A > 5B > 5C > 236A

Leaves Tager quite minus, but helps keep him in after 5C. You can threaten a sledge followup, back off, or command grab.

2A > 5B > 360A

Basic setup into a command throw. With magnetism, you can drag them in. 360A won't special cancel, so you need to recover from 5B before inputting it.

Okizeme

2D Oki

In the corner, Tager can set up air hit 6Bs in order to get a hard knockdown. This route is done off of many corner routes including his corner 6C->5D loop and 6C > 5D > 236B routes. Afterwards, he can gatling 6B > 2D. After 2D, 2B catches any rolls or no techs, and lets Tager recover in time to either block DPs, use 360A, or 5B to meaty. If 2B picks up any rolls/no tech attempts, then it loops back into 6C > 5D loops with 2B > 5B > 5C > 5D.

There's variations of this as well; You could just end in 6BB, 6B > 236A, or 6BB > 22D (explained below). If you've already used 236B in the combo, you can safe jump with j.B instead. Keep in mind that in order to set up this safe jump, you'll have to cut some filler from your combo.

You can even combine this with hitstop OS! You can buffer a 5B in case the 2B lands. If the 2B whiffs it is very likely they have used emergency tech. In that case, you can quickly input a 360A/B to catch them out, then proceed to set up with Gadget Finger!

Examples of 2D Oki

Gadget Finger (GF/22D) Oki

This is one of Tager's most well known oki options. There are a few major benefits to Gadget Finger oki:

Sets up Magnetism
Increases Magnetism time if already applied
Leaves Tager at +10 (less notable at midscreen)
Versatility: GF can be reasonably setup on most confirms.

Many of Tager's gimmicky resets also work from this oki:

A Helpful Video featuring Gimmicks using Gadget Finger Whiff

Atomic Collider (AC) Oki

Another prominent oki option at midscreen. Atomic Collider generally leads to safe jump j.B or Gadget Finger. You also have many options if you don't want to go into safe jump or GF. If you end on Atomic Collider outright, Tager can...

236B to catch rollers.
6BB or 236A to catch no/delay techs.
4D to pull in people who emergency tech and mixup with a 5B low or 360A

Video Examples For All Techs

Crimson Punisher Oki

Crimson punisher is Tager's go-to air combo ender. The following are some options he has from this:

5A > 4D to catch backward rolls. Common option.
- 5A > j.A and loop back into crimson punisher.
Meaty delay tech with 5B or 360A, for example.
Catch no tech with 5B.
Delay 5B to catch the end of forward roll. This will hit them while they're in crouching state.

5A > 4D is a strong tool for magnetizing the opponent. It works whether or not the opponent is magnetized. Very useful because many people like to try and roll away from Tager. You can combine this with hitstop OS. Hit 5A > 4D quickly. If they roll, Tager will combo into 4D. If not, 5A will whiff and you have time to react to whatever they did! The rest of the options are relatively cut and dry.

Examples of Crimson Punisher Oki

Tips and Tricks

You can create somewhat gimmicky resets by ending combos early at certain points. Depending on how they react, you can reset with an unblockable Atomic Collider or Wedge Catapault.
Don't rely too much on using Sledgehammer as a gap closer, it's unsafe on block and easily punishable with crouching moves.
Use j.C, j.2C and j.63214A to alter your air momentum to make yourself harder to predict in the air.
Use IB and IBB to create gaps so that you can command grab them in the middle of their pressure! Tager is particularly good at beating stagger pressure.
Learn how to do standing 360 spins. You actually don't need to do a full 360 motion. In layman's terms, you only actually have to input a 270 motion. You can also use grounded specials during jump startup. This means you can input 4123678A to get a standing command grab (360A) without using anything to buffer.

Fighting Tager

Jump startup is invulnerable to throws. Certain setups lose to jumping, though Tager can call jump outs with a standing button or Atomic Collider.
Certain safejumps do not cover Wedge Catapault attempts, practice and see what works
Be aware of both Tager's heat gauge and his spark bolt availability. Both of these lead to nasty surprises if you aren't aware that Tager has these options!
Try not to be predictable yourself, or you'll find yourself eating the same command throws each time.
- Sometimes this means not teching combos in certain situations or using different wakeup options