Mortal Kombat 2 FAQ

Strategy and Tactics

Here are some basic things you can do while fighting the computer or a human opponent. Let me emphasize basic. You experts allready know all this stuff. The following are just some suggestions that you can apply if you are a novice or just learning the game. Not all the known tactics are included for the sake of space and my sanity. Go to your arcade and watch a few pros to see what to do in different situations. Around here, I've noticed that different areas of town have different tactics that are used. Once you get used to playing a different style, you can use that knowledge to your advantage.

Fighting Computer Opponents

The computer is very easy to defeat once you get used to the patterns it uses. To counter this ease of defeat, the computer behaves cheaply: it can throw you at all times, and do missile weapons faster than possible. The inability to block computer throws forces you into a pattern of jump kick combos. Why can't you block computer throws? Perhaps to force you into more offensive attacks.

• Use sweeps a lot, and sweep multiple times. Time them so they hit the feet of the opponent at your fullest range. Otherwise the computer will walk through your sweep and throw you. It is possible to beat the computer using nothing but sweeps.
• Use early jump kicks a lot. Jump away from your opponent as far a you can. Then jump towards them and kick early. The computer will either walk right into your kick, jump back, or try to retaliate. Most often as retaliation they will do a straight up jump kick that will usually not connect.
• Time your jump kicks. If you are far away from the computer, stand still. The opponent will walk halfway across the screen then stop. It will then start to fire a missile weapon. At this point walk forward a bit then jump towards them. Their missile attack should go under you, leaving them vulnerable to a jump kick then combo. If you jump too soon or too late you will get hit.
• Avoid all close in fighting. Don't try to walk up and punch the computer unless on a low difficuly setting. They will either throw you or punch you then throw you. Only punch the computer as retaliation.
• Walk the computer to the corner. Sometimes when you jump towards the computer oppoenent, they will start to walk backwards. Keep walking towards them until they reach the corner. When they do, walk back to a good jump kick range. Wait for the computer to start to fire their missile, then jump in and do the combo of your choice.
• If you jump in and the computer blocks, walk back a few steps then jump away. If you jump back immediately, the computer will hit you with a missile or a straight up hop kick.
• Using which joystick determines some computer actions. Playing on the right side usually makes it easier to defeat the computer. Playing on the left side allows you to trick the computer into jumping towards you. Let the computer walk towards you. When they are getting within sweep range, jump away. Sometimes the computer will stand there for a moment then jump towards you without kicking, leaving them vulnerable to the combo of your choice. Of course playing on the left side makes the computer more difficult, somehow.
• If you are fighting the first opponent on medium or less difficulty, you can just use the crouching punch the entire round and the will not be able to throw you.

Fighting Kintaro

Kintaro is actually a challenge to beat. His moves are very powerful and he is fast for a big guy. Stay away from that scorching fireball blast and you should be OK. Don't let the crowd get to you either, they are definately biased.

• Use footsweeps a lot, he is a sucker for them. Time your sweep so that you hit him with the end of your foot just as he walks into range. He will stagger back and groan. Duck, then repeat.
• Jump kicks work sometimes, but don't use them a whole lot. Kintaro will most likely block then grab you or punch you. If he does block, you can try to jump away and run the risk of the fireballs. Or try a standing block. If he punches or uppercuts you, it hurts, but at least you won't go flying. Hop kicks work the same way.
• Kintaro is a cocky, four-armed Tony the Tiger. If he leans back, growls, and flexes, uppercut him. Missile him. Jump kick and combo him. Hurt him.
• Kintaro is easiest to hurt when he hops towards you. It is easy to spot when he will do it because he hops in place first. If you see him do this, align yourself to be in the best position to retaliate. When he hops towards you, uppercut him or whatever.
• If Kintaro spits fireballs at you, duck.
• When Kintaro jumps into the sky, get out of the way. The best things to do is jump away and kick. This will usually hit. If you are good, you can uppercut Kintaro as he is coming down. If you are trapped in the corner, try jumping away from the corner while punching.
• Always do your missile after you knock Kintaro down. It will usually hit him unless you are on the far side of the screen.
• After Kintaro jumps on you from the sky, he will always lean back and growl. When he does this you can either walk up and uppercut him, use your missile, or use a jump kick - combo.

Fighting Shao Kahn

Shao Kahn, like Kintaro, is a challenge to beat. You can not fight him 'normally' because he is immune to jump kicks, walks faster than you, and has devastating moves. Stay away from his spear, and never get hit by his shadow charge.

• When the round begins, chances are Shao Kahn will charge you or throw his spear at you. If this happens, jump away from him quickly. If you can't jump in time, duck and block, then jump away. You will be forced to take blocking damage, which hurts.
• Shao Kahn is a taunter. If he says things like 'You will die' and 'I will destroy you', he is taunting you. He is also vulnerable then. Walk up and uppercut him, missile him, etc.
• One tactic to use is to jump right in front of Shao Kahn and immediately duck. He will either charge you (in which case you take damage), or uppercut you. His uppercut will miss and you will have a chance to uppercut him, or do whatever. Repeat this throughout the round.
• If you do hit Shao Kahn, be sure to fire your missile while he is getting up. He will always get hit if you are at the right distance.
• Another tactic is to go all the way into the corner. Let Shao Kahn get close. If he charges, block then uppercut. Follow the uppercut with a missle. Then duck and block again and hopefully he will do the same thing.
• The easiest way to beat Shao Kahn is to use Kitana. Let Shao Kahn walk close to you then do the fan lift. He will walk right into it. Do the jump kick - fan throw - aerial punch combo. Allow him to walk towards you again and repeat. This tactic also works well on Kintaro.

Fighting Human Opponents

• Play defensively. Always allow your opponent to make the first move. When they do make a move, capitalize on their mistakes. Learn how to retaliate effectively to take off the most damage.
• Master close fighting. If you can handle an opponent at close range, this will force them into jumping or long range attacks which you can counter. Use a series of low punches, rounhouses, sweeps, crouching punches, and crouching kicks to throw them off balance. Your opponent will always expect you to throw jabs at them, but when you mix in a crouching punch or a roundhouse, that will throw them off, and they will react hastily. Learning how to block properly (down + away) is also very important.
• Never jump. Especially towards your opponent. Unless you are playing Baraka or Shang Tsung, it is very easy to retaliate against. Stay on the ground as much as possible. Always walk towards your opponent and engage them in close fighting.
• Never use missile weapons at close- to mid-range. It is too easy to retaliate against at close distance. At mid-distance, it is very easy to do a jump kick over the missile weapon. Missle weapons at long distance is good of course, unless you are playing a Scorpion or a Mileena who can get you with a special move.
• Learn other tactics by watching or playing someone else. Learning by experience is the best way to go, and you can pick up different strategies that are not listed here.

Original text form written by Paul McElroy.
HTML conversion (and new stuff) by Daryle Walker.