Dragunov is an incredibly strong character as of the current patch of TEKKEN 8. His damage, mixups, pressure, and tracking are all significantly above average in a way that makes him feel like a better version of every other character. Nonetheless, matchup knowledge goes a long way even if much of beating Dragunov consists of better play of solid Tekken fundamentals.
Effective Range (Keeping Dragunov Out)
Though Drag isn't exactly lacking in mid-range pokes and checks, the range at which he is absolutely the most devastating is right in your face. When he gets in, he can threaten constant use of his myriad of plus moves—whether it be a plus on block mid or a plus on hit low—to chip away at your health bar. Since Dragunov has incredibly strong tracking on his moves, including both of his best lows, the main counterplay is typically to backdash out of his range to safety... and being close to him removes that possibility. The closer you are, the more lows you'll have to eat before being able to get out of range, so it's understandable that you simply don't want to be in range of his devastating pressure.
Countering WR2
Sidewalk his WR2, run up, then back throw him.
Now, it's clear Drag wants to be up close, but how does he get there? Surely, most players can answer this one. His WR2 is a fast, plus on block running move that knocks down on hit if you happen to be crouching or fail to step correctly. Fortunately, this move has pretty clear counterplay once you get the hang of it and has far more whiff recovery than Azucena's equivalent. The best thing to do when anticipating it is to sidewalk right (SWR), run up, and go for a backturned punish. A simple, universal backturn punish is doing a throw from behind, which deals 50-60 non-recoverable damage and is not techable by any means. Though some characters may get more off of a launcher or jab string, it's a bit riskier to go for and difficult to lab in training mode.
Key approach and mid pressure tool, explained more above.
b1+2
SSR
Key mid pressure tool. Typically for when Drag is already in his range and wants to vary between mids and lows that keep his pressure going.
SNK.4
SWR Works even after getting hit by most strings
Hugely plus mid pressure tool that Drag usually does off of moves that transition into his Sneak Step, such as 3,1 or b4,2. If you see him enter this step off of these moves, it's a safe bet to try to start stepping, as his Sneak moves tend to be linear.
b4,2,1
Duck third hit and launch
A highly abusable mid-mid-high pressure string if not ducked correctly.
db3+4
-31, launch OR Backdash
A threatening hatchet kick low that is hard to react to. The prime move you want to be out of range of, as it also deals pretty significant damage that you can't recover. If you can't react, all you can really do is guess the low and launch or backdash each time it hits you to get to a safer range. After backdashing, because it is only +3 after the nerf, a second db3+4 will no longer land, so this is generally a safe bet.
d2
Low Parry OR Backdash
A lower risk, lower reward low with even better tracking than db3+4. Completely unreactable and puts Drag in a crouching state, which may be worth noting as it can limit his options in some scenarios.
Punishment
-15 or more standing
NameThe name of the move in the English localization.Most often directly from the in-game movelist, but can also be a community name.
AltOther inputs that also perform this move, written in notation.
NumThe move number as it appears on the full move list of the given character in the game.
InputThe input to perform the move, written in notation. This is often used as the move's name.For strings, the input of the previous moves in the string is shown but washed out.
Hit levelThe hit level of the move.Capital letters mean it hits grounded.For strings, the hit level of the previous moves in the string is shown but washed out.
DamageHow much damage the move does without any modifiers.For strings, the damage of the previous moves in the string is shown but washed out.
RangeThe maximum range recorded of the move hitting Lars on-axis. (For Tekken 7, it's vs Heihachi.) Assume an error of about ±0.03.For strings, this is the range of the whole string.This measurement shouldn't on its own be used to compare characters: larger characters get more "range" by this measure, but their opponents do too.
Left TrackingThe tracking score to the attacker's left.Roughly speaking, when up close, if the defender sidesteps or sidewalks right for no more than this many frames, the move still connects.
Right TrackingThe tracking score to the attacker's right.Roughly speaking, when up close, if the defender sidesteps or sidewalks left for no more than this many frames, the move still connects.
BlockThe frame advantage on block.Blank if the move can't be blocked (e.g., an unblockable or an aerial attack).For breakable throws, this is the frame advantage when the throw is broken.
HitThe frame advantage on hit.Blank if the move is not an attack, e.g. is a stance transition only.For throws, this is the frame advantage after the throw.
CHThe frame advantage on counter hit.Blank if this is the same as on normal hit, i.e. there is no special behavior on counter hit.
StartupThe active frames of the attack. The "i" stands for "impact", i.e. impact frame.If there is more than one hit, a comma indicates that frame 1 is now the frame after the last active frame of the previous hit.For strings, therefore, this usually has a leading comma.
RecoveryThe total number of frames, the recovery frames, and what stance the move recovers in, if any.The "t" stands for total and "r" for recovery. If no stance is listed, the move recovers in the default, standing position.For strings, the total frame count is from the start of the string with no delays.
NotesAnything that doesn't fit elsewhere.Many common move properties, such as whether a string can be delayed, go here.See Movelist#Notes for standard wording of common properties.
NameThe name of the move in the English localization.Most often directly from the in-game movelist, but can also be a community name.
AltOther inputs that also perform this move, written in notation.
NumThe move number as it appears on the full move list of the given character in the game.
InputThe input to perform the move, written in notation. This is often used as the move's name.For strings, the input of the previous moves in the string is shown but washed out.
Hit levelThe hit level of the move.Capital letters mean it hits grounded.For strings, the hit level of the previous moves in the string is shown but washed out.
DamageHow much damage the move does without any modifiers.For strings, the damage of the previous moves in the string is shown but washed out.
RangeThe maximum range recorded of the move hitting Lars on-axis. (For Tekken 7, it's vs Heihachi.) Assume an error of about ±0.03.For strings, this is the range of the whole string.This measurement shouldn't on its own be used to compare characters: larger characters get more "range" by this measure, but their opponents do too.
Left TrackingThe tracking score to the attacker's left.Roughly speaking, when up close, if the defender sidesteps or sidewalks right for no more than this many frames, the move still connects.
Right TrackingThe tracking score to the attacker's right.Roughly speaking, when up close, if the defender sidesteps or sidewalks left for no more than this many frames, the move still connects.
BlockThe frame advantage on block.Blank if the move can't be blocked (e.g., an unblockable or an aerial attack).For breakable throws, this is the frame advantage when the throw is broken.
HitThe frame advantage on hit.Blank if the move is not an attack, e.g. is a stance transition only.For throws, this is the frame advantage after the throw.
CHThe frame advantage on counter hit.Blank if this is the same as on normal hit, i.e. there is no special behavior on counter hit.
StartupThe active frames of the attack. The "i" stands for "impact", i.e. impact frame.If there is more than one hit, a comma indicates that frame 1 is now the frame after the last active frame of the previous hit.For strings, therefore, this usually has a leading comma.
RecoveryThe total number of frames, the recovery frames, and what stance the move recovers in, if any.The "t" stands for total and "r" for recovery. If no stance is listed, the move recovers in the default, standing position.For strings, the total frame count is from the start of the string with no delays.
NotesAnything that doesn't fit elsewhere.Many common move properties, such as whether a string can be delayed, go here.See Movelist#Notes for standard wording of common properties.
NameThe name of the move in the English localization.Most often directly from the in-game movelist, but can also be a community name.
AltOther inputs that also perform this move, written in notation.
NumThe move number as it appears on the full move list of the given character in the game.
InputThe input to perform the move, written in notation. This is often used as the move's name.For strings, the input of the previous moves in the string is shown but washed out.
Hit levelThe hit level of the move.Capital letters mean it hits grounded.For strings, the hit level of the previous moves in the string is shown but washed out.
DamageHow much damage the move does without any modifiers.For strings, the damage of the previous moves in the string is shown but washed out.
RangeThe maximum range recorded of the move hitting Lars on-axis. (For Tekken 7, it's vs Heihachi.) Assume an error of about ±0.03.For strings, this is the range of the whole string.This measurement shouldn't on its own be used to compare characters: larger characters get more "range" by this measure, but their opponents do too.
Left TrackingThe tracking score to the attacker's left.Roughly speaking, when up close, if the defender sidesteps or sidewalks right for no more than this many frames, the move still connects.
Right TrackingThe tracking score to the attacker's right.Roughly speaking, when up close, if the defender sidesteps or sidewalks left for no more than this many frames, the move still connects.
BlockThe frame advantage on block.Blank if the move can't be blocked (e.g., an unblockable or an aerial attack).For breakable throws, this is the frame advantage when the throw is broken.
HitThe frame advantage on hit.Blank if the move is not an attack, e.g. is a stance transition only.For throws, this is the frame advantage after the throw.
CHThe frame advantage on counter hit.Blank if this is the same as on normal hit, i.e. there is no special behavior on counter hit.
StartupThe active frames of the attack. The "i" stands for "impact", i.e. impact frame.If there is more than one hit, a comma indicates that frame 1 is now the frame after the last active frame of the previous hit.For strings, therefore, this usually has a leading comma.
RecoveryThe total number of frames, the recovery frames, and what stance the move recovers in, if any.The "t" stands for total and "r" for recovery. If no stance is listed, the move recovers in the default, standing position.For strings, the total frame count is from the start of the string with no delays.
NotesAnything that doesn't fit elsewhere.Many common move properties, such as whether a string can be delayed, go here.See Movelist#Notes for standard wording of common properties.
