GGST/Zato-1
< GGST
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
 |
Notice:The contents of this page are out of date. This can be due to patches to the game, or developments in the metagame. You can help by updating it. Content may be written for Battle Version 1.09, while the game is currently in Battle Version 2.00. |
Overview
Zato-1 is a puppet master who controls his alter-ego: Eddie. Zato and Eddie’s attacks can be used independently of each other, allowing the duo to launch deadly, coordinated attacks.
Eddie can be summoned or recalled at will or summoned directly into an attack with certain special moves. The Eddie Gauge depletes when Eddie is out and when he attacks, and refills when he’s recalled. If Eddie or Zato take damage the gauge is completely drained, unsummoning Eddie. An empty gauge refills slower than usual, so try to recall him before it empties.
The duo fight by using their moves in ways that cover each other. Zato’s 2S is a good poke due to its speed and range. Combine it with Eddie's "Leap", which attacks air space, to cover massive sections of the screen. Eddie’s "Pierce" is a double-hit poke. Zato can cover the gap between the hits with strikes like c.S or his command grab, Damned Fang, for a strike/throw mix-up. "Oppose" allow Eddie to absorb an attack from the enemy, letting Zato punish with powerful counter hit moves like 2H. During okizeme, setting up Eddie’s lockdown move, "That's a lot!", gives Zato a strong mix-up opportunity. Drunkard Shade can be used to reflect projectiles or to position Eddie behind the opponent, allowing Zato and Eddie to attack from both directions.
Zato struggles on defense due to his slow pokes, poor defense value and lack of reversals. While blocking, Zato can’t summon Eddie to cover for him, which leaves him quite vulnerable. Fret not, as their combined attacks make for great offense and space control, allowing you to stay out of defensive positions if you play your cards right.
Perhaps the most complex character in the roster, Zato and Eddie reward players who can master their unorthodox control scheme by providing a terrifying tag-team assault.| Lore: | The former leader of the Assassin's Guild, now revived after once experiencing death.
Before his resurrection, he was a calm and thoughtful person. However, after all he went through, he ended up unable to feel an emotional response to anything. He no longer finds significance in anything in his life, be it good or bad, nor can he feel joy or anger. The closest he gets to feeling emotion would be his feelings for Millia. |
Playstyle
 Zato-1 , classified as a Technical type, is a shadow wielder who can pressure his opponent with simultaneous attacks. |
|
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Eddie Gauge
Zato has a gauge above his tension gauge for Eddie. The gauge signifies Eddie's health (3000 HP). When Eddie is summoned, it will gradually decrease by 3 HP every frame when idle, and each of Eddie's attacks use up a certain amount of the gauge.
If Eddie is unsummoned before the gauge runs out, the gauge will turn white, and quickly recover (55 HP recovered each frame until full). Eddie can be summoned again at any time during this.
If Eddie or Zato is hit by an attack, or the shadow gauge is depleted fully, the gauge will turn red and will recover at a slower rate (15 HP recovered every frame until full, 200f duration). During this time, Zato cannot summon Eddie until the gauge is full again. Avoiding this as much as possible is important to preserving Eddie.
Teal Eddie Gauge image
White Eddie Gauge image
Red Eddie Gauge image
Controlling Eddie
When summoned with either 214H, 632146S, or 236X, Zato will summon Eddie. Eddie can be moved backwards or forwards with the 4/6 directions respectively (you can also use 1/3 if you only want to move Eddie while keeping Zato stationary). To have Eddie attack, you can release P, K, S, or H, or doing 236X for the respective Eddie attack. Eddie attacks can be canceled into each other by using 236X, even into themselves, but makes Zato vulnerable as he does a clapping animation for a short period of time. To master Zato, you will have to master holding and releasing specific buttons while Eddie is out.
For more information on how to practice controlling Eddie, refer to novriltataki's How to Zato video below. (While the video uses Xrd for the example, most tips stated in the video are applicable to Zato in Strive.)
Normal Moves
| StartupThe time before an attack is active including the first active frame. For example, an attack with 10F startup means the attack will do nothing for 9 frames, then hit the opponent on the 10th frame. frames | Toggle Chart Off Toggle Chart On
| |
| ActiveThe active frames of an attack refers to the amount of time an attack can hit the opponent. Frames | ||
| InactiveFrames in the middle of multi-hit attacks which cannot hit the opponent, but are after the move has become active at least once. Frames | ||
| RecoveryThe recovery of an attack refers to the amount of time an attacker must wait before he may perform another action, even blocking. Frames | ||
| Special RecoveryThe recovery of an attack refers to the amount of time an attacker must wait before he may perform another action.Recovery frames which happen under abnormal conditions, such as after landing. Frames |
5P
- Zato's fastest button
- Large range for a 5f
- Can link into a HKD on counterhit at close range.
Most commonly used in staggerLeaving gaps between attacks in block pressure. Can be used to condition and bait the opponent to try and attack at a bad time or do something risky to stop it. pressure or to mash out of gaps in the opponent's pressure. On block 6P can be used to frametrap the opponent, this can sometimes allow you to get away with Eddie Summons that can normally be interrupted. On hit you can either go into repeated 5P/2Ps or 6P when close enough. If this move counterhits from close range, it can link into 2K > 2D, from further ranges only 6P will connect.
Also has usage as an anti-air against larger air normals that are hard for Zato to 6P. If an airborne opponent is counterhit by this move 236P will often combo for a full juggle.
Gatling Options: 5P, 2P, 6P, 6K, 6H
5K
Zato kindly showing you the gatlings.
- Standing low
- Is jump / dash cancelable.
- Can cancel into 6P or delay 2D for a frametrap.
Can combo into 2D after for a knockdown, allowing you to summon Eddie safely and start your okizemeApplying offense while the opponent is getting up from being knocked down.. Most commonly used for its jump cancel and dash cancel properties to do Blue Roman Cancel mix or flight mix with Eddie covering the gap.
Gatling Options: 6P, 6K, 6H, 5D, 2D
c.S
- Combo / blockstring filler
- Is jump / dash cancelable
- Good meaty option
- Low range both horizontally and vertically
When blocked, you can go into 5H > 22H or 236P to create a frametrap, the latter of which is a great way to summon Eddie safely in pressure. A properly delayed 5H can lead to big reward on CH and deter the opponent from challenging after c.S allowing you to go for more risky options such as c.S > 236P or c.S > dash throw.
c.S can also be used in "Leap"
Guard:
AllStartup:
13Recovery:
34Advantage:
- loop combos (c.S > 2S > 2H > -S-...), but generally, doing 2S > 2H > -S- nets more damage. Use c.S in "Leap" loops to build more meter and gain more time for Eddie to recover and be moved.
Gatling Options: 6P, 6K, f.S, 2S, 5H, 2H, 6H, 5D, 2D
f.S
Active frames 1-3
Active frames 4-6
- Long range 2 hit poke.
Not used often due to having slightly more recovery when whiffed compared to 2S and susceptibility to being low profileMoves that shift your hurtbox downwards to avoid higher hitting attacks., but can be useful to beat armored attacks like 
Potemkin's Hammer Fall/Slide Head, or moves that high profileMoves that shift your hurtbox upwards to avoid lower hitting attacks. Also referred to as "low crush". 2S. Also has niche usage as an anti-air vs the larger characters like Goldlewis, Potemkin, and Nagoriyuki.
On Counterhit can combo into 236P, with both hits comboing and allowing for a juggle if the opponent is hit crouching.
Gatling Options: 5H, 2H
5H
Active frames 1-3
Active frames 4-6
Active frames 7-9
- High Attack LevelAn attack attribute that determines the default value for hitstun, blockstun, hitstop, damage, etc.(varies by game) of a move. makes this the strongest way to summon Eddie on block.
- Very active, gains more range in later active frames.
- As a result, an excellent move in neutral to contest an opponent running at you with buttons.
- Hits low to the ground as well as decently high in the air.
- On grounded counterhit, causes Stagger State
On hit, can combo into 22H for a soft knockdown. On block, you can cancel it into either 22H or 236P for a frametrap, the latter being a great way to summon Eddie in pressure safely. On counterhit, the slowdown allows both hits of 236P to combo, making a variety of CH 5H > 236P combos possible.
Due to the stagger property on CH, dash 623S will also combo from close range.
5D
6K? I've never heard of her.
- Uncharged Dust
- Fast overhead
- Uncharged dust on-hit is 0 or neutral frame advantage and causes float
- Causes 80% proration on-hit
Universal overhead attack that's pretty fast. Can gatling from 5K, 2K, and c.S for a mixup. Zato is one of a few characters that can combo from this move without meter. Combined with 2D this move makes up a core part of Zato's mixups. With Eddie out 5D can combo into ]P[ or ]S[.
- Charged Dust
- Charged dust leads to soft knockdown (+36).
- Holding up during the hitstop frames of charged dust will activate homing jump:
- Doing a homing jump will cause an area shift and put the opponent into a unique high damaging air combo state.
- Pressing any attack twice without jump/dash cancel will activate the homing jump finisher causing a hard knockdown (+23).
- Homing jump combos can sometimes increase meter balance enough to activate positive bonus.
Similar to uncharged but is slow enough to be reacted to, but if connects it gives a decently damaging combo.
2P
- 1 frame slower than Zato's 5P, but with slightly more range.
- Large range for a 6f button.
Most commonly used in stagger pressure or to mash out of gaps in the opponent's pressure. On hit you can either go into repeated 5P/2Ps or 6P when close enough, allowing you to meaty with 236P. Does not hit low profile moves like 
I-No's 236H
Guard:
LowStartup:
28Recovery:
16Advantage:
-2.
Gatling Options: 5P, 2P, 6P, 6K, 6H
2K
- Solid low poke for close range.
- Great for stagger pressure with Eddie already out.
Can combo on normal hit into 2D, granting a hard knockdown to set up okizeme. On counterhit, can link into 2K > 2D for HKD. Gatling into 6P for a frametrap as 2D cannot be delayed enough to frametrap. Also used in high/low mixups with Eddie as a low option. Good option for poking against low profile moves as well as punishing -6 or greater on block moves that leave the opponent relatively close.
Gatling Options: 6P, 6K, 6H, 5D, 2D
2S
- Zato's prime poking normal
- Hurtbox extends before the hitbox becomes active
Fairly fast for the range it covers. Can cancel into 5H, 22H, summon Eddie, or do nothing and see how the opponent responds after. On Counterhit can combo into 236P, with both hits comboing and allowing for a juggle if the opponent is hit crouching.
Gatling Options: 5H, 2H
2H
Active frames 1-4
Active frames 5-6
- Vertically long range, predictive anti-air.
- Extends Zato's hurtbox so it can trade or lose to many when not used properly.
- Hitbox and animation do not line up well, hits more vertically than it appears.
- Incredible reward on counterhit
While it does not have any upper body invul like 6P, 2H it can be useful as a prediction anti air and during RC slowdowns. Additionally, this move has very high reward on counter hit, allowing "Leap"No results. loops anywhere on the screen, or a j.D if hit high enough for a solo conversion. On normal hit, can combo into 22H for a soft knockdown, but can also be used as an ender to summon Eddie and go for oki. Also an integral combo filler piece in many of Zato's combos incorporating Eddie.
2D
The win condition.
The win condition.
- Low sweep
- Hard knockdown on grounded hit.
- Essential tool to safely bring out Eddie and start your Okizeme.
Connecting this attack without Eddie out allows Zato to bring him into play safely, as well as strong oki. Used as the low compliment to 5D in some of Zato's mixups. Combos into ]P[ if Eddie is out. On counterhit 236P will combo for a full pickup.
6P
Active frames 1-4
Active frames 5-8
- Universal anti-air with invul from the first frame until halfway through the active frames.
- On counterhit, causes hard knockdown
- On normal hit, causes soft knockdown
- Very active, with low recovery
One of the best anti-airs and counterpokes in the game. Due to having a large amount of active frames and a lot of disjoint, even after the upper body invul ends, it will beat many long range pokes such as 
Sol's 6S
Guard:
AllStartup:
15Recovery:
20Advantage:
-7. On normal hit, you can follow up with 22H to meaty and gain plus frames. On counterhit, it will cause a hard knockdown allowing you to cancel into 214H (Empty Summon
Guard:
-Startup:
21Recovery:
36 ZatoAdvantage:
-) or 214S for extremely strong oki.
This move has long startup making it a subpar anti-air against large jump-in moves such as May's j.H
Guard:
HighStartup:
12Recovery:
15Advantage:
- and Millia's j.H
Guard:
HighStartup:
8Recovery:
25Advantage:
-, however it makes up for this by having very low recovery making it harder to whiff punish as a grounded counterpoke. Use this move in combination with 22H and various Eddie Summons to control neutral and hold your space.
6K
Only used on accident
- Overhead command normal.
- Special cancellable.
Very bad move. Can be blocked easily on reaction, doesn't combo into anything worthwhile without meter or already having Eddie out. There are very few circumstances in which this move should be used over 5D. The primary usage being to force an opponent to stand in order to have to block both hits of ]S[, which grants sizeable frame advantage. However, even that usage can be accomplished using j.D, rather than this move.
6H
Active frames 1-2
Active frames 3-4
- Command normal in which Zato leaps into the air and puts out an attack.
- Airborne frames 8-33
- Hard knockdown on air hit.
- Can be canceled with flight on hit/block.
Primarily used as a throw bait and to stall for time. Flight cancel allows for tricky options on block like a 66 > j.K overhead that can be contested or a 11 > 5H that can catch mash attempts on the overhead. Grants a full combo on counterhit, even when flight cancelled.
j.P
First hit
Second hit
Third hit
- 3 hit aerial attack with solid range
Quick and horizontally long ranged air attack. Long total recovery on whiff, only use this button while superjumping or falling to mitigate this.
Gatling Options: j.P
j.K
- Quick air-to-air
- Zato's fastest air normal.
Useful as a air-to-air, j.K > j.D is a powerful gatling that can be lead to a combo on air hit, but will often result in Zato flying over the opponent with j.D and leave him in a bad position when j.K is blocked.
Gatling Options: j.D
j.S
- Multi-purpose air normal
- Hits all around Zato, making it strong when unsure about what side of the opponent you will land on.
Very solid air normal that can be used for both air to ground and air to air situations. Interchangeable as an overhead with j.H in Zato 236K oki, j.D can be used as a double overhead from all but the lowest heights.
Gatling Options: j.H j.D
j.H
Active frames 1
Active frames 2-4
Active frames 5-7
Active frames 8-14
- Great air to ground
- Very large and active
Zato's staple jump-in, the hitbox starts below him but moves to be in front, allowing it to hit very deep. Use this air normal when you want something slower but more active than j.S. Can gatling into j.D for a double overhead.
Gatling Options: j.D
j.D
- Aerial biting attack that quickly moves Zato forwards
- Can be used as an alternative airdash
- On grounded counterhit, causes stagger
- On grounded block, flight cancel is ~+4.
- Punishable on block and hit unless flight cancelled, so use with caution.
- Cannot hit crouching opponents outside of blockstun or hitstun.
Used in a variety of setups for left/right or high/low mixups. Can also be used to stall in the air, making it more difficult for your opponent to punish your landing. Hitting airborne opponents with this move will launch them upwards, allowing Zato to combo off it if he's close to the ground - especially on Counterhit. Counter hitting grounded opponents guarantees a hard knockdown with 2K > 2D or a 623S command throw.
When combined with PRC, it can carry Zato across the screen very fast, which is very useful in matchups where he can have trouble approaching as easily, such as 
Axl.
Universal Mechanics
Ground Throw
6D or 4D
- Can throw the opponent either forward or backwards.
- Hard knockdown on hit.
- 75% forced proration before all damage is dealt, 50% forced proration after all damage is dealt.
- If Eddie is already summoned, can be converted into a meterless combo with moves like "Leap"
- Range of 90000
Great opportunity to summon Eddie afterwards. If you can't summon, you can go for a safejump with j.66 > j.S.
Air Throw
j.6D or j.4D
- Can throw the opponent either forward or backwards.
- Hard knockdown on hit.
- 75% forced proration before all damage is dealt, 50% forced proration after all damage is dealt.
- If Eddie is already summoned, can be converted off with moves like "Leap"
- Range of 200000
Solid anti air option. Advantage depends on how close you are to the ground. If close enough to the ground on grab, can be used to safely summon Eddie and start your okizeme.
Special Moves
Flight
Dash in any direction (Air Only)
By inputting the same direction quickly twice while airborne or pressing the dash button while holding a direction, Zato will fly in the specified direction (e.g. 66 to fly forwards). If you dash directly up, Zato will fly in place. While flight is activated, Zato can be move around freely in 8 different directions and ends either when an attack is inputted during flight, Zato lands, a Faultless DefenseA special type of blocking in Guilty Gear that negates chip damage and pushes the opponent back further than usual. This type of blocking comes at the cost of a resource. cancel is used, or Zato has been flying for too long. Zato can cancel 6H and all air normals into flight on hit or block as long as he still has an air action available.
Flight as a replacement to a normal airdash is both a strength and a weakness for Zato. Flight allows Zato to have very tricky air movement that can be used both offensively and defensively as well as enabling him to mix in ways not available to any other character. However, Flight is slow compared to a normal airdash and when combined with his slow dash speed Zato can have a very tough time getting in and chasing down quick characters and Zoners.
Summon Eddie
214H
First startup frame
First frame with Eddie vulnerable
- Summon/Unsummon Eddie
- Integral move to playing Zato
- Consumes 3 HP (of 3000 total) of the Eddie gauge per frame Eddie is summoned.
- When summoning, Eddie becomes actionable on frame 21
- When unsummoning, Eddie disappears on frame 1 as long as he is not locked in an attack.
Zato summons Eddie, which can then use all of his following attacks by releasing P, K, S or H, or by doing 236P/K/S/H, the latter input allowing you to cancel Eddie attacks into other attacks (e.g. ]P[ > 236S), but locks Zato into an animation and has 4 additional frames of startup over the normal versions of 236P/K/S/H.
Use this summon after a knockdown to set up your okizeme or if you want to summon Eddie in neutral without doing an attack immediately, so you can decide how to respond to what the opponent is doing after.
Note that Eddie becomes actionable before Zato does. This little gap allows you to move and input attacks for Eddie without having to worry about negative edge while still being able to act freely as Zato once the animation is over.
To unsummon Eddie, input 214H while Eddie is already summoned, allowing you to preserve Eddie's longevity and summon him again much faster.
"Pierce"
]P[ when summoned or 236P
Active frames 1-3
Active frames 4-5
- ]P[ only works when Eddie is already summoned, whereas 236P can be done regardless if Eddie is summoned or not.
- Quick, long ranged, two hit pressure starter and grounded space control tool.
- {} refers to the value when 236P is performed with Eddie already summoned.
- ]P[ and 236P use 500 HP of the Eddie gauge for each attack (1000 HP total). If Eddie is already summoned 236P uses 325 HP of the Eddie gauge for each attack (650 HP total).
- Between the first and second hit there is a 6f gap on block, 3f on hit. On block 5f or faster normals can hit Eddie and kill him in this gap.
- Zato is +4 if the first hit of 236P is blocked, meaning at close range the gap can be filled to frametrap the opponent.
- Zato is +19 if the first hit of ]P[ is blocked, making if significantly easier to fil the gap between hits.
- On grounded opponents the first hit does not combo into second hit, but can on airborne opponents and after some counter hit starters.
Can be used to push your offense on grounded opponents from neutral. Also an essential move in Zato's pressure strings. You can use 236P after a blocked 5H to create a frametrap for slower than 3f buttons while summoning Eddie.
There is RPSA situation wherein an attacker and a defender have options that only beat certain responses from their opponent. For example, on wakeup a defending opponent may use a reversal to stop an attacker from using an attack, but the attacker can also block to defeat the reversal. If the attacker blocks, the defender can use the opportunity to take the offensive. around the gap in "Pierce" that is very important to play correctly. Using "Clap Cancels" like 236P(1) > 236P/K/S/H and 214S can all beat different options your opponent might attempt. It's very important to identify whether your opponent tends to attack, jump, dash, or do nothing during the gap. If they do not attempt to contest the gap simply letting both hits of "Pierce" come out is often your best option.
When using ]P[ you are at much more frame advantage after the first hit and it's much easier to fill the gap with large buttons, from range such as 2S and keeping your pressure going. Filling the gap in "Pierce" also has the benefit of often comboing both hits of pierce.
"That's a lot!"
]K[ when summoned or 236K
Tendies!
Tendies!
- ]K[ only works when Eddie is already summoned, whereas 236K can be done regardless if Eddie is summoned or not
- {} refers to the value when 236K is performed with Eddie already summoned.
- Uses 375 HP of Eddie gauge for each attack (upwards to 1500 HP). If Eddie is already summoned 236K uses 281 HP of the Eddie gauge for each attack (1124 HP total).
- Staple okizeme, zoning, and pressure tool.
Eddie creates 4 lingering drills that, one after the other, go across the screen horizontally. Because of the attack's long duration, it's an effective tool to lock an opponent in blockstun, allowing Zato to close distance or create a variety of ambiguous mixups. In neutral it can be used to cover a lot of ground, denying your opponent space and allowing Zato to take it. This move also makes it very tricky for certain characters, such as I-no, to approach Zato.
Unsummoning during this move is also safer than usual, since the lingering drills will continue to cover the space in front of you during the unsummon recovery.
"Leap"
]S[ when summoned or 236S
Active frames 1-2
Active frames 3-5
Active frames 6-11
Active frames 12-17
Active frames 18-26
- ]S[ only works when Eddie is already summoned, whereas 236S can be done regardless if Eddie is summoned or not
- {} refers to the value when 236S is performed with Eddie already summoned.
- Uses 1500 HP of Eddie gauge. If Eddie is already summoned 236S uses 1125 HP of the Eddie gauge.
- Devastating Anti air and combo tool.
- First hit whiffs on crouchers.
- Second hit causes hard knockdown.
Anti air attack that drags the opponent back to the ground when blocked, allowing you to continue your offense. If the second hit hits, it will cause a hard knockdown, allowing you to dash up and continue the string with 2S > 2H > ... Very plus on block. Use this move to make your opponent think twice about jumping and airdashing. Do keep in mind that opponents can use anti-airs to hit Eddie out of it if a gap is left.
Also a staple in Zato's higher damage combos, as Zato can loop into this move so long as he has enough Eddie gauge available.
While Eddie is off the ground, you can input any 236X Eddie move or 214H and the action will be "buffered" - causing Eddie to perform it the moment he lands. 236S/]S[ > 214H in particular is incredibly useful since Leap will cover the entire unsummon animation, even leaving Zato plus on block if both hits of the move are blocked, allowing him to continue his pressure and summon again.
"Oppose"
]H[ when summoned or 236H
Guardpoint
Attack
Guardpoint
Active frames 1-3
Active frames 4-6
Active frames 7-10
Active frames 11-13
Active frames 14-18
- ]H[ only works when Eddie is already summoned, whereas 236H can be done regardless if Eddie is summoned or not
- {} refers to the value when 236H is performed with Eddie already summoned.
- Uses 20 HP of Eddie gauge each frame the move is active and each hit from the attack portion uses 500HP (upwards to 1500 HP). If Eddie is already summoned 236H uses 15 HP of the Eddie gauge each frame the move is active and each hit from the attack portion uses 375 HP (upwards to 1125).
- Key part of Zato's neutral and offense.
- Can guardpoint nearly everything except throws, supers, burst, and RRC.
Eddie enters an armored stance while very slowly advancing forwards. Almost any attack Eddie comes into contact with during this stance is nullified, making it an incredible neutral tool with many applications. After a set period of time spent in the armored stance, Eddie attacks.
You can use this move in response to predictable approaches or overly aggressive opponents. Examples include anti-airing blocked aerial attacks with 2H, usually to be followed up by a damaging Leap Combo, or taking advantage of blocked grounded attacks by using 623S or 2S > 214S > Leap. Taking advantage of blocked hits will often net you a counter hit, allowing you to do your most damaging combos.
Other applications include moving Eddie forwards and then activating "Oppose", allowing Zato to safely take space, or cancelling the first hit of 236P into "Oppose" to protect Eddie from harm if Zato isn't in range.
In most situations you want to avoid letting Eddie do the attack of this move as it will result in Eddie dying, leaving you without him for the maximum amount of time. Aim to "Clap Cancel" into another Eddie move or unsummon Eddie. Bear in mind as soon as you input the cancel or unsummon, the guardpoint of "Oppose" ends; smart opponents will target this. Try to force your opponent to block a normal before cancelling oppose if your opponent is in range to threaten.
Note that supers, bursts, RRC, and Happy Chaos' gunshots cannot be armored. Opponents can also still grab you, so don't get too comfortable when Oppose is covering you.
Invite Hell
22H
Tallest point
Widest point
Tallest point
Widest point
- Very active grounded projectile
- Solo combo and blockstring ender
- Combo and blockstring filler when Eddie is in play
- Soft knockdown on hit
Good move for controlling neutral. This move has a ton of active frames, which make it easy to meaty people on wakeup and can be very advantageous if it meaties on later active frames. Often cancelled into after a blocked 2S and 5H. 2S > 22H cannot be jumped, the opponent will be forced to block in the air or take a hit. 5H > 22H is a true string or can be delayed for a frametrap. This attack is also often used to cover a blocked Eddie attack from afar, allowing Eddie to continue his onslaught.
Cancelling this move with Drift PRC can also allow Zato to cover the ground while being able to react to what the opponent is doing, such as anti airing someone who jumped over the drill.
Break The Law
214K (Hold OK)
VANISH INTO DARK
- Values in [] refer to when the move is fully held down
- Situational alternative movement tool that turns Zato invulnerable
- Often used to shorten the recovery of certain normals such as 2H
Zato sinks into the ground, becoming invincible as long as 
is held. The longer Zato spends invincible, the longer the move's recovery becomes once he resurfaces. Zato will resurface once is released or after a set period of time.
This move synergizes well with Eddie out, as you can continue to control him while Zato is safe from any danger. This becomes particularly useful during blockstrings in which the opponent is between Zato and Eddie, allowing Zato to cross up the opponent between the hits of "Pierce", creating an ambiguous left/right mixup.
Other applications include cancelling normals such as 2H into this move. This allows Zato to recover quicker from 2H than normal, as the total duration of this move is shorter than the active frames + recovery of some normals. Additionally, Zato can use bait bursts, reversals, and YRC with this move in combos and in blockstrings. The invulnerability when the move is not held is still longer than the active frames of YRC and Burst. Baiting this way rather than by blocking allows for better punishes as the recovery of Break the Law is shorter than the blockstun of Burst and YRC and you aren't pushed away. Note that YRC does not kill Eddie unless it connects with Zato, so if you bait YRC with Break the Law Eddie will remain out and ready for a punish.
You can also PRC while Zato is inside the ground, which reduces the recovery to only the startup of the PRC allowing you to catch an opponents by surprise.
Damned Fang
623S
"I love shark week!" - Eddie
"Ah..." - Zato
- Command grab
- Animation is long enough to recover an empty Eddie gauge to full.
- Hard knockdown on hit, +7.
- Range of 12000
A command grab with more damage and range than Zato's regular throw. When it connects, Eddie is unsummoned and a long attack animation plays, giving the Eddie Gauge plenty of time to refill. With a full Eddie Gauge and 50% of tension. You can RRC for better okizeme midscreen or for a wallbreak at the corner. See the Combos section for more information.
While this command throw has mediocre oki midscreen, the distance it leaves you from the opponent after it connects in the corner is very favorable. See the Oki section for more info.
Mix this in your pressure to punish opponents for committing to blocking.
Drunkard Shade
214S
Ky somehow never expects this
Eddie Dash
Ky somehow never expects this
- Anti-projectile and Eddie-repositioning tool
- Reflects projectiles starting Frame 3
- Surprisingly active
- On aerial hit, causes hard knockdown
- On grounded counterhit, launches opponent and causes hard knockdown
Attack that covers the space in front of Zato - mostly vertically. Often trades with opponent's attacks leading to a CH, this is almost always in Zato's favor. Can reflect a variety of non-overdrive projectiles such as Sol's Gunflame or Ky's Stun Edge.
In addition, if Eddie is summoned and nearby while this move is performed, Eddie will swiftly dash forwards with a bit of invulnerability. This will cancel whatever Eddie is doing. If the opponent is within Eddie's dash range, Eddie will cross them up and stop dashing, making it a great way to sandwich the opponent between Zato and Eddie, allowing for the duo's scariest pressure.
Note that Eddies invulnerability only lasts for a short duration at the start of his dash - smart opponents will kill Eddie for free if you just throw him at them without much thought.
| Character | Move |
|---|---|
 Anji Mito
|
|
| Axl Low
|
|
 Baiken
|
|
 Chipp Zanuff
|
|
 Faust
|
|
 Giovanna
|
|
 Goldlewis Dickinson
|
|
 Happy Chaos
|
|
| I-No
|
|
 Jack-O'
|
|
 Ky Kiske
|
|
 Leo Whitefang
|
|
 May
|
|
 Millia rage
|
|
 Nagoriyuki
|
|
| Potemkin
|
|
 Ramlethal Valentine
|
|
| Sol Badguy
|
|
 Testament
|
|
 Zato-1
|
|
Overdrives
Amorphous
632146H
- Costs 50% tension
- Damage Super
- Hard knockdown on hit.
- Hits pretty high
- No Invulnerability
Zato creates a shadow projectile that moves forward along the ground. Once it's under an opponent it will activate, dealing solid damage while also reaching very high. Moves very slowly, characters with moves that travel forward quickly such as Sol Night Raid Vortex can avoid it. However, Zato recovers very quickly and even if he is hit after the super flash, Amorphous will remain out.
Great for securing knockdowns before a wallbreak when you don't need to refill the Eddie Gauge with 632146S or for closing out rounds.
Sun Void
632146S (Air OK)
Zato's one true weakness is posing dramatically
- Costs 50% tension
- Utility Super
- Mediocre damage, but refills the Eddie gauge and allows you to continue your pressure
Zato launches Eddie in the form of a sword towards the opponent. If Eddie is already summoned he will track the opponent from his current position. If he isn't summoned, he will appear over Zato and track the opponent from there. On hit, block, or if the sword whiffed the opponent and a certain amount of time passes, Eddie will turn into a small black ball, falling onto the ground. After landing, Eddie will be in his normal form with a full Eddie gauge.
On block, ]P[ is true string and ]K[ is a frame trap. On hit, ]P[ and ]S[ combo.
Use this super to continue your offense with Eddie, end a combo will a full Eddie gauge, whiff punish long recovery fullscreen moves, or to revive Eddie when you really can't wait for the gauge to refill. Be aware: the way Zato poses during this move extends your hurtbox, meaning it can be interrupted from further away than you'd expect on reaction to the super flash.
External References
Zato-1
|
To edit frame data, edit values in GGST/Zato-1/Data. |
Click [★] for character's full frame data
System Explanations
• HUD • Controls • Frame Data & System Data • Patch Notes •
• Movement/Canceling • Offense • Defense • Damage/Combo • Attack Attributes • Gauges • Misc •