Mortal Kombat Primer Guide
By
Kurtis Seid, Game Guides Editor
Get over here for a new Outworld tournament. Our Mortal Kombat Primer Guide gets you ready for battle with move lists, info about story mode, and Krypt unlockables.
The Basics
Basic Attacks
There are four types of basic attacks: Front Punch (
), Back Punch (
), Front Kick (
), and Back kick (
). Basic Attacks are the basis for stronger moves such as Command Attacks and Combos. Which arm or leg you attack with depends on your current stance. In standard matches where you have access to all of your limbs your stance selection won't matter.
Command Attacks
Command Attacks are performed by holding the movement stick while pushing an attack button. Every character has access to two Command Attacks: The Uppercut (
+) and Sweep (
+). Each character also has a number of unique Command Attacks in their arsenal.
Combos
Combos are strings of Basic and Command Attacks that need to be executed quickly. They are good for dealing constant damage and keeping your enemy momentarily stunned. Most Combos on their own last between three to five hits. To increase damage you can start with a Combo and link it into a powerful Special or X-Ray.
Flip Stance
The Flip Stance button (
or +) will switch which hand and foot is used for attacks. This is typically not needed in most matches. However, during matches with kodes, Test your Luck, and the Challenge Tower you may find various limbs disabled or severed. In these cases you'll want to flip stances in order to attack with your working body parts.
Blocking and Breaker
Blocking (
) can be used to protect yourself from Attacks and Combos, but will leave you open to an enemy's Throw. When you have gained two levels in your Super Meter you can unleash a Breaker by hitting Block and Forward (
+). A Breaker will interrupt long Combos and stop powerful Specials. You'll need to decide if it's worth it to execute a Breaker, or hold off and wait for a X-Ray.
Throw and Escape
Throws (
or +) can be used to get by an enemies Block attempt. Most characters must be on the ground to throw, but some fighters can perform Air Throws as a Special Attack. By defualt a Throw will flip your position with the enemy, however if you hold forward (+ or +) you can push the enemy towards the direction you are currently facing. If you're caught in a throw you can Escape by quickly tapping Front Punch () or Front Kick ().
Special Attacks
Special Attacks are moves that require two or more direction inputs before hitting a Basic Attack Button. These attacks are powerful and have ways of being Comboed together by various means.
Enhanced Attacks
Enhanced Attacks are Special Attacks that are further boosted by expending one charge of your Super Meter. To perform an Enhanced Attack you will need to tap Block () at the end of the input. Not that not all Specials can be turned into Enhanced moves, so be sure to check each character's move list. An Enhanced attack will either increase the amount of damage or add in an extra hit. Other times it can make a Special faster or prolong its effects.
X-Ray Attack
X-Ray Attacks are brutal moves that drain three charges of your Super Meter. For all characters they can be used by hitting Flip Stance and Block at the same time (+ or ++
). Most X-Rays come in the form of a full body charge, but others may be a projectile, grapple or counter. Some of the more deadly X-Rays can even be used from a jump.
Finishing Move
You can end the match with one final spectacular beat down that rewards you with extra Koins. The distance for a Finisher includes Touching where you must be very close to the enemy, Sweep where you are allowed medium distance, Jump where you must be a good ways away, and Fullscreen that can be done from even the other side of the battlefield. The most common form of the Finisher is a Fatality that will completely kill your foes.
Most characters have two or three normal Fatalities and a special input for use in specific stages. There are also less extreme attacks such as Babalities. Each character starts with one Fatality and can unlock the second in the Krypt. Other inputs can be discovered in the various floors of the Challenge Tower.
Tag Specials
When using two fighters together you can spend a bar of your Super Meter to call in your ally. Pressing down, back and Tag Partner (+
) will use a Tag Assist where the reserve member will jump in, make an attack, and leap back to saftey. Down, forward, and Tag Partner +) will instead use a Tag Attack where the active fighter will switch out while making their assault.
Fast Tags and Tag Combos
Fast Tags are means of switching the active character following a Combo. In most cases a Fast Tag is completed by tapping the Tag Partner button () just as a standard Combo, Command Attack, or Special is ending. During a Tag Combo the second character will not only switch in, but will finish the Combo with their own strike. Typically Tag Combos use different inputs than other established moves.
By
Kurtis Seid, Game Guides Editor
Kurtis Seid is a sadomasochist for games. He’s clocked over 200 days in a Final Fantasy entry but isn’t sure if he’s actually a fan of the series. His ideal game would somehow involve the harshest elements of King’s Quest, Team Fortress, River City Ransom, Ogre Battle, and Dark Souls.
171 comments
mortal comat is the most finist game this year.scorpion is the best one yet.sub zero aint bat nether.but scorpion is the best of them all.he can hav the star.and he has the best fatalites ov them all to.and he as a cool 3d vison to.
@clima3x Well about Raiden vs Shao Kahn what I did to win is that I got close to him, and right before his hammer hit me I teleported behind him and I kicked him down with back+kick. get close to him again and rinse and repeat. this is the best way to beat him, he's a cheesy ass boss. He will keep trying to hit you with his hammer when you're close. If you time your teleport right, you'll be fine.
Since they haven't updated this I know my fellow MK fans need some help. mksecrets.net all you need to know in Mortal Kombat
I'm confused how can I use this !? I'm looking for target range and else for new fatalities and a hint to beat shao khan with Raiden , is it something obvious I'm missing ?!
@clydecardi Scarlet is a DLC, Goro can only be used in one of the tower challenges (as far as i know) and Shao Kahn can only be AI controlled (as far as i know).
This guide as it is doesn't provide anything that can't be found inside the game. They could include information about the nature of each attack, such as start up and cooldown times, distance, and region targeted.
@matok there is one outside of the guide but still made by gs... next time pls look b4 you complain
This guide lacks lots of stuff: The secret kombatans battles...king of the hill avatar moves.. Secret treasure Chest locations Kombat kodes lists alt costume colors.. Please update guys :)
@LilJayV10 My thoughts exactly bro. Why waste my hard earned koins to unlock button combinations I can get here. I'll get 100% unlock later. I only beat SK once and it was with Scorpion. They fixed my MK3 method (P P Spear Uppercut) I still did that but what I mainly did was spam Scorpions Hellfire. SK has always been a cheap boss that requires cheap tactics to beat. Whhat really shocked me was I beat Goro in one try (spammed Hellfire :P) but it worked. All the techniques Im hearing for Raiden seem good, now I just gotta figure out other characters.
@jakcul, You don't have to unlock the fatalities you just have to do them. I used the guide on here and went through with each character and did them. I used my koins to unlock all of the costumes. I didn't see the point in spending the money right now if I didn't have too. However I don't remember once you do the fatality if it unlocks it automatically in the krypt. If you are wanting to get 100% unlock in the krypt you might still have to buy them which is not my main concern at the moment. Hope this helps. As far as beating SK with Raiden, duck the arrows he throws. When he starts to throw a hammer teleport and uppercut. Everyonce in a while you can get him with the flying across the screen move, forgive me I can't think of the name. I was so pissed the first night I fought him. I tried to go toe to toe with him and couldn't win. It's a shame you have to resort to something so cheap to beat a boss.
Do you have to actually unlock the fatalities or does the Krypt just tell the button combinations? If its the latter, I'll start with all the costumes first
Hurray for Noob Saibot and Jax; the two worst characters in the game! Both characters really leave themselves extremely vulnerable when doing most of their specials.
I wanna figure out how to get all the hidden costumes...I have all the krypt ones the CT one and Kratos's yet no trophy I wonder if i need to get the classis costumes......since i didn't preorder i didn't get those.
shao kahn is pretty easy when you get the hang of it. if you haven't gotten to 300 on challenge tower yet just wait for it thats exciting times. With Raiden you can get a flawless victory with some practice. basically just teleport and do a quick combo or just hit your low kick button circle on ps3 if you don't know any kombos when your done just teleport again youll catch him from behind everytime as long as you are good at hitting down up. I personally avoided any moves that put seperation between me and kahn because it prompted him to use moves his multi shoulder charge more often which can throw off the teleport gameplan.
The way I beat Shao Khan with Raiden was to use Raiden's Teleport move and quickly use A A B and go into the electric fly to catch him mid-air. Works best while SK is using a projectile, especially that annoying hammer throw. Teleport is also the best way to avoid SK's X-Ray.
Best way for me to beat SK with Raiden was stand close and block, and then after he gets blocked he is vulnerable then I just did Raidens A B A combo I think. Worked well considering I literally tried everything else 100 times and could not beat him.
"You forgot to mention that if you beat arcade ladder with someone, you get the alt costume, that is the ONLY way you get Kratos alt attire since his alt attire is not in the krypt." youre absolutely right.....i forgot that this message board is both versions (ps3 and 360). For me, it was self-evident, that one of the first standard missions for every player is to beat arcade mode with every fighter....besides the story mode, of course
The main reason I bought the PS3 version is because the D-pad on the 360 sucks. I have both so I'm not a fan boy. I just beat story mode last night. It's quite obvious there will be a part 2 coming via DLC. I highly doubt they are going to make another game to continue the story. They are going to make a killing on this game. I can't wait till Friendships come out!
"you unlock alternate costumes in the crypt and select your fighter by pressing start" You forgot to mention that if you beat arcade ladder with someone, you get the alt costume, that is the ONLY way you get Kratos alt attire since his alt attire is not in the krypt.
I just hate how sensitive the controls are. It's a 4-axis, so if you dont EXACTLY press the direction you want on the control stick, it changes it to an entirely different direction. I find using the control pad makes for a little less frustraion when you're trying to pull a time sensitive and delicate move like a fatality.
And why can't they list the fighters in alphabetical order on the side of the screen? It would be much easier to find someone when I'm looking for a move.
I actually found standing toe-to-toe with Shao Kahn was the best way to beat him, but you can only counter attack as he is invincible for the start of every move. Especially as Raiden (or any teleporter), SK's moves are so slow to develop, I used only uppercuts and teleport to pummel him mercilessly. Mind you, it took me about 30mins to figure that out, but once I did, it was cake.
I just brought mk9 before couple of days and seriously it is the best fighting game i have ever played i am happy that they finally knew how to make a mortal kombat game
you can also do the toasty fatality if you press down, up ...(jump and wait until scorpion is almost back on the ground) ... then you press up, Y. The alternative with holding block works, too.....If you dont have a preordered version of mk, you have to wait for the dlc with the third costumes. Rumors say that the dlc will come wednesday...but i dont believe this as it is mentioned in an "toys r us" advertisement....hm lets see
@MarioKovacic11 When doing scorpions retro fatality, hold down block (R2) while doing down, up, up. Then let go of block and press triangle.
i also thought shao kahn was very hard until i found out that he mostly taunts when you keep the full screen distance. otherwise he will try to come close and attack....always keep him in full screen distance and spam shots.
one u figure the way to beat shao kahn u can get him...i keep my distance...and shoot stuff at him then sometimes while hes throwing spears i'll go toward him...took me for ever to beat him in story mood...how far do u have to go till you get stage fatalitys
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Table of Contents
Mortal Kombat
Not Following
-
X360, PS3, VITA
- Publisher:
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Category:
- Action
- Release:
- Apr 21, 2011
- PEGI:
- 18+
