Gigan Guide: Buzzsaw Mix-Ups and Fast Pressure

Gigan is the remaster's speed character. He moves fast, his buzzsaw gives him a close-range threat, and his chest laser lets him poke from a distance. He is also fragile. A Gigan player who runs into every exchange will lose to a patient Godzilla, and a Gigan player who never commits will lose to a zoner.

The character is a test of restraint. His tools are designed for mix-ups, not for prolonged trades. If you can pressure for a few seconds and then reset, Gigan is one of the most annoying characters in the game. If you cannot, he is one of the easiest to punish.

The toolkit

Buzzsaw. Gigan's signature close-range tool. It is a fast, multi-hit attack that punishes an opponent who is holding block or standing still. It is not a long-range opener; you need to be close.

Chest laser. A ranged poke that covers the space in front of Gigan. It is useful for forcing an approach or for punishing a whiffed move at mid-range. Do not treat it as a full-screen zoning tool.

Movement. Gigan's speed is his defense. He can circle, sidestep, and reposition faster than most of the cast. The challenge is using that speed to avoid damage, not to run into it.

Grab. His grab is fast enough to punish a blocking opponent, especially after a buzzsaw string. Use it when the opponent stops pressing buttons.

Rage Mode. His Rage state enhances his pressure and makes his mix-ups more threatening. Activate it when you have the opponent cornered or when you have just landed a knockdown.

The neutral game

Gigan wants to be at close-to-mid range, where he can threaten the buzzsaw and the laser. At long range, he is a worse zoner than King Ghidorah. At close range, he can be grabbed or swatted by a bigger monster.

The basic loop:

1. Move in and out of the opponent's range. Do not stand still.
2. If the opponent backs away, fire the laser to claim space.
3. If the opponent attacks, sidestep and punish with a fast string.
4. If the opponent blocks, use the buzzsaw or the grab.
5. If the opponent is bigger and slower, stay at an angle, not directly in front.

The key is unpredictability. Gigan's speed lets him choose the angle of approach. If you run straight at the opponent every time, you are wasting the character's main advantage.

Using Rage Mode

Gigan's Rage Mode is a pressure window. Activate it when:

• The opponent is cornered.
• You have just landed a knockdown.
• You need to steal a round and the opponent is respecting your movement.

Do not activate it at full health in neutral. The opponent will back off, and you will waste the duration. During Rage, use the buzzsaw and the grab more aggressively. The enhanced damage makes a short string lethal, and the threat of the grab forces the opponent to guess.

Matchups

Vs. Godzilla. Godzilla is slower but more durable. You want to dictate the pace and avoid the beam. Use sidesteps, close in bursts, and punish his slow recovery. Do not stand at mid-range.

Vs. King Ghidorah. Ghidorah's wide normals and beams control the space you want to run through. Use the laser to cover your approach, close in bursts, and punish his slow normals. This is a difficult matchup.

Vs. Mechagodzilla. Mechagodzilla's armor can absorb your first hit. Use the grab more often, and do not autopilot the same string. If he backs away, close with a sidestep, not a straight dash.

Vs. Kiryu. Kiryu's freeze tools can stop your pressure. Avoid running into a setup, and do not fire the laser when he is waiting for it. The matchup is about patience.

Vs. Gigan. The mirror match is about reads. The player who blocks better wins. Do not try to out-speed the other Gigan; punish their commitments.

Vs. Rodan. Rodan attacks from the air. Use the laser to cover his landing and your speed to avoid his dives. Do not chase him into the air.

Vs. Megalon. Megalon's grabs beat your blocking. Sidestep more and avoid the corner. Your speed lets you escape his pressure if you do not panic.

Vs. Destoroyah. Destoroyah hits harder, but he is slower. Use your speed to bait his commitments and punish the recovery. Do not trade.

Vs. Orga. Orga is stable at every range. You want to overwhelm him before he settles. If the match goes long, his stability becomes an advantage.

Vs. Anguirus. Anguirus is short and can make your high attacks whiff. Use low attacks and grabs, and do not assume your string will connect.

Vs. Mecha-King Ghidorah. His traps require setup. Stay mobile, avoid the cables, and punish when he commits.

Vs. Godzilla 2000. A fast mirror-style matchup. Both characters want to mix up. The player who blocks better wins.

Beginner mistakes

Trading hits. Gigan cannot win a damage race. Avoid trades.

Running in a straight line. Use angles and sidesteps. A predictable Gigan is an easy target.

Ignoring the grab. A blocking opponent will stop your buzzsaw. The grab is the answer.

Using Rage at range. Activate it when you are already close.

Chasing Rodan. Do not follow an aerial character into the air. Punish the landing.

A simple game plan

• Round start: move at an angle, do not run straight in.
• If ahead: keep the pressure, but reset after a blocked string.
• If behind: use Rage after a knockdown, then pressure with buzzsaw and grabs.
• In the corner: block, sidestep, and look for a laser punish. Do not try to out-mash a grappler.
• Last hit: use a fast buzzsaw string, not a slow heavy.

Gigan is a character who rewards players who can move and punish. He is not the easiest pick, but he is one of the most expressive. If you like fast characters and you are willing to learn the matchups, he is a strong choice. The tier list places him in the specialist tier for his execution cost.

Official source: Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered Trailer Reveals Full 12-Kaiju Roster

For the next read, compare the tier list and the unlock route.

Sources and verification

• The official Godzilla roster article confirms Gigan as one of the 12 playable kaiju.
• Steam confirms the Rage Mode and the single-player campaign structure.
• TOHO Kingdom's original specifics provides the 2002 Gigan context.
• Wikizilla tracks the remaster's roster.

The exact frame data and move inputs may differ from the 2002 release. Check the in-game move list for the final values.