Mortal Kombat 1 is out and it’s critically acclaimed by fans and critics because of its bone-breaking gameplay. Our favourite so far is Arctic Sub-Zero because of his winning mentality. However, the game’s Kameo system is innovative, allowing you to call for help during fights. Every reviewer at Player.me agreed that it’s a revolutionary feature that lets you extend your combo indefinitely with the help of other fighters’ moves.
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Beating Arctic Sub-Zero and 5 Other Tough Fighters in Mortal Kombat 1
There are many fighters in Mortal Kombat 1 and whenever they appear as your Kameo fighter, they’re each equipped with three moves. However, what happens when you’re on the receiving end of the Kameo system? Quick and consecutive losses. Below, we’ve highlighted the toughest adversaries in Mortal Kombat 1 and how to beat them.
#1: Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage might have been nerfed in previous Mortal Kombat games, but he’s a monster in the new entry. We joke not; This is likely the only universe where he’s foremost a fighter and not an actor. That said, he’s not difficult to beat once you learn his strings of moves and punish him accordingly. Johnny Cage alternates between low overhead kicks, so memorise the pattern to gain an edge.
Also, expect Shadow Kicks whenever Johnny hangs back and isn’t moving. The best Mortal Kombat 1 characters you should choose are the likes of Kenshi and Scorpion because they use other weapons besides their fists. Just maintain a reasonable distance from Johnny and you’re good. Also, always block whenever you’re standing. Every Johnny Cage iteration in Mortal Kombat 1 is tough as nails.
#2: Arctic Sub-Zero
The regular Sub-Zero is a troublesome fighter in the ring because of his ice mastery. He can glide across the screen to surprise opponents, throw ice spikes, or even form weapons of ice. Some players would recommend gear such as Frostfart and Ethereal Talismans. However, we prefer straightforward solutions such as:
- Omni-Man and Homelander are great choices because of his two moves, which are Viltrumite Stance and Around the World. They cancel Arctic Sub-Zero’s most devastating attacks.
- Reiko is another good choice because you can spam her Shurikens to cheese the fight with any version of Sub-Zero. Just equip her Shurikens beforehand and learn any related abilities.
- Play the slow game, waiting for Arctic Sub-Zero to start his moves. Attack during his slow buildup, especially for his more powerful moves, is key to winning fights.
#3: Li Mei
Li Mei is an extremely agile fighter who prefers spinning kicks and a projectile-based ball of energy. Her signature moves are Flying Flurry, Flipping Heel Kick, and Carnival Spin. To beat her starters, always block her while standing and crouching. Punish her whenever she overreaches. Just look for gaps between her moves and you’re good to go. To be specific, watch out for her Nova Blast and Carnival Spin, where she flips backwards while kicking you in the chin.
#4: Kenshi
Kenshi is fully committed to slashing his opponents into pieces with both his mind and hands. He’s a blind swordsman from hell and you should watch out for his impressive reach. He’s similar to Arctic Sub-Zero in the sense that he can fight at close and long-range. He’s capable of evading attacks but you can look for gaps between his combos. That is, block and patiently wait for the build ups before Kenshi executes his moves. Having mentioned that, you should only attack when he’s trying to use special moves with slow build ups.
#5: Liu Kang
Liu Kang is the new god and protector of Earthrealm and he can wield both fire and thunder. He’s also a fan favourite, so seeing him overpowered in Mortal Kombat 1 isn’t surprising. Liu Kang’s go-to attacks are:
- He hurls fireballs at you.
- He favours bicycle kicks if you give him too much space.
You can beat Liu Kang by blocking low and dishing out uppercuts whenever he pauses in between combos. On the flip side, don’t let him pressure you because his combos always bring the heat. Rather, give Liu Kang the heat.
#6: Kitana
Kitana’s combos are crazy fast and they deal decent damage. Moreover, her reflexes are sharp, so catching her off guard is easier said than done. She’s as slippery as Arctic Sub-Zero, who also goes through the effort of leaving behind an ice clone. That said, she’s also weak against uppercuts, which you can execute after she’s done with her power moves. Using special moves is another way to deplete her health but always keep your distance when fighting Kitana.
After all, she also wields a pair of battle fans that are devastating because of their wide area of effect. Also, block low if you’re playing online and Kitana starts glowing pink, an indicator that she has armour on. In fact, hang back and wait until she stops blowing pink to begin your onslaught of attacks.
The reason we’re advising you to hang back is that she can dish out a free combo upon contact. So, here’s a major tip; Avoid attacking fighters who glow pink in Mortal Kombat 1 with a passion. They’re simply bad news until they stop glowing.
Our Final Say: Even Arctic Sub-Zero Is Weak Against Uppercuts in Mortal Kombat 1
Nobody is above an uppercut in Mortal Kombat 1, including Arctic Sub-Zero. We can’t count the number of times we’ve played the patient game and just threw in a sudden uppercut. It’s always hilarious to see them dazed and offended in online matches because they were probably preparing a combo. The best part is that even AI fighters are susceptible to uppercuts. All you have to do is mix it with special moves and you’re good to go.