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Baraka Match Ups

Reserving this for when we get the matchups worked out.

Match ups are shown as Baraka vs X, so (X - 6-4) is baraka's favor. Just clarifying for anyone who is unsure.

Shao Khan = 6-4
Frost = 5-5
Johnny Cage = 5-5
Sonya Blade = 4-6
Cassie Cage = 5-5
Jax = 5-5
Scorpion = 4-6
Noob Saibot = 5-5
Raiden = 5-5
Jacqui Briggs = 4-6
Sub Zero = 4-6
Kano =6-4
Kabal = 5-5
Liu Kang = 5-5
Kitana = 5-5
Kung Lao = 6-4
Jade = 6-4
Skarlet = 5-5
Erron Black = 4-6
D'vorah = 6-4
Kotal Kahn = 6-4
Geras = 4-6
Kollector = 6-4
Cetrion = 5-5
Shang = 3-7
 
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Jump back df1 after 112 and f212 is a good way to catch characters who challenge you after these strings because of the pushback after the strings. I’m curious if he has any losing matchups because his buttons are so good. Baraka barrage is underrated.
 
Not gonna post a number, but i play against my friends kotal kahn and it feels incredibly one sided in barakas favor. Barakas buttons are better up close, his damage is higher and his projectile is arguably better. Same thing goes for shao kahn.
 
The only characters I play against regularly are Lao which I think is 6-4 in Barakas favor and Noob/Scorpion which I think are probably both 5-5.
 
I'm still trying to figure out the Scorpion matchup.
Up close death spin (DF4) is -20 so you can punish on block with F4, but at mid range and beyond I don't know what to do about this move. I also don't know what the proper response for full-screen spear is
 

Snake Sound 222

Tonight, Tarkata feasts
I'm still trying to figure out the Scorpion matchup.
Up close death spin (DF4) is -20 so you can punish on block with F4, but at mid range and beyond I don't know what to do about this move. I also don't know what the proper response for full-screen spear is
As of right now, I would use Blade Spark at far/fullscreen. At mid you might be able to use F44 and catch them with the second kick. You'd probably want to turn on the KB hold check so you don't waste it on one kick though. You might also be able to use a JiK at mid.
 

Zoidberg747

My blades will find your heart
Don't take any of this as definitive, but here are my thoughts so far on Marauder (not sure Bone Picker would change any of these, but let me know if you have a different opinion):

Sub: Worst matchup to me thus far. He outfootsies Baraka completely and controls the pace of the match. If you block a D4 you are out of range for any followup. Not to mention his vortex and 50/50 shenanigans. Baraka's saving grace is he can punish commitments to the vortex hard but tbh I don't really think Sub needs to go for those in this MU as he outfootsies Baraka so hard. I'm pretty confident this is a bad MU, but we'll see.

Erron: Not as much experience, but also feels like a bad MU. His zoning is annoying, you can;t punish him for doing much and His F4 makes it hard to really play footsies against him. Not impossible by any means (whiff punishing is a must) but still feels like he is at a disadvantage most of the time.

Frost: Feels even. I don't know why people call her bad, maybe I just don't know the MU idk. Most of her good moves are safe and she actually has pretty good zoning and footsies. Nothing too overwhelming and Baraka can definitely outfootsie her and outdamage her, but she has the tools to compete imo. Might be something i'm missing.

Kollector: Feels in Baraka's favor so far. Most of his footsie strings and pressure is punishable and with F44 you can outfootsie him pretty hard, not to mention we outdamage him too. I would put this in 6-4 territory based on my current experience.

Noob: Feels pretty even. Noob has great footsies but if you use F44 smart he won't be able to whiff punish you. This is basically a footsie battle, Noob can't keep Baraka out that long. Could even be in Baraka's favor, I might just need to mix up my pressure more. But Noon does solid damage and can punish any missteps hard enough that it feels even to me.

Scorpion: Really hard to decide between even and slightly bad. The teleport shenanigans are obnoxious but if he commits Baraka punishes really hard. If he cancels we can usually check with D1 or reposition. THrow teching the cancel into throw (or D2ing if you read it) helps too. Scorp has pretty good buttons though and he does control the pace of the match for the most part which is why I was leaning toward bad, but Baraka's damage and better footsie game could make it even.

KL: Feels in Baraka's favor, at least a little. I feel like when I lose to KL it's mostly me being dumb or having bad reactions. Most of his tele options are punishable on reaction and his footsie tools aren't that great. His 21121 or whatever is punishable when ducked (takes some practice) and anytime he commits to anything he gets punished hard.

Shao Kahn: Probably in Baraka's favor. Shao isn't as bad as everyone says he is but Baraka hits pretty hard and when you have so many highs it can be really risky to go for them against Baraka. His footsie tools are ok but he just doesn't have enough to warrant it being even, although I haven't gotten to play the MU offline yet.

Kabal: I feel like this is pretty much an even footsie battle. Whoever can play neutral the best tends to win. Nothing Kabal does seems that oppressive, he just has really good footsie tools which Baraka can match.
 
Don't take any of this as definitive, but here are my thoughts so far on Marauder (not sure Bone Picker would change any of these, but let me know if you have a different opinion):

Sub: Worst matchup to me thus far. He outfootsies Baraka completely and controls the pace of the match. If you block a D4 you are out of range for any followup. Not to mention his vortex and 50/50 shenanigans. Baraka's saving grace is he can punish commitments to the vortex hard but tbh I don't really think Sub needs to go for those in this MU as he outfootsies Baraka so hard. I'm pretty confident this is a bad MU, but we'll see.

Erron: Not as much experience, but also feels like a bad MU. His zoning is annoying, you can;t punish him for doing much and His F4 makes it hard to really play footsies against him. Not impossible by any means (whiff punishing is a must) but still feels like he is at a disadvantage most of the time.

Frost: Feels even. I don't know why people call her bad, maybe I just don't know the MU idk. Most of her good moves are safe and she actually has pretty good zoning and footsies. Nothing too overwhelming and Baraka can definitely outfootsie her and outdamage her, but she has the tools to compete imo. Might be something i'm missing.

Kollector: Feels in Baraka's favor so far. Most of his footsie strings and pressure is punishable and with F44 you can outfootsie him pretty hard, not to mention we outdamage him too. I would put this in 6-4 territory based on my current experience.

Noob: Feels pretty even. Noob has great footsies but if you use F44 smart he won't be able to whiff punish you. This is basically a footsie battle, Noob can't keep Baraka out that long. Could even be in Baraka's favor, I might just need to mix up my pressure more. But Noon does solid damage and can punish any missteps hard enough that it feels even to me.

Scorpion: Really hard to decide between even and slightly bad. The teleport shenanigans are obnoxious but if he commits Baraka punishes really hard. If he cancels we can usually check with D1 or reposition. THrow teching the cancel into throw (or D2ing if you read it) helps too. Scorp has pretty good buttons though and he does control the pace of the match for the most part which is why I was leaning toward bad, but Baraka's damage and better footsie game could make it even.

KL: Feels in Baraka's favor, at least a little. I feel like when I lose to KL it's mostly me being dumb or having bad reactions. Most of his tele options are punishable on reaction and his footsie tools aren't that great. His 21121 or whatever is punishable when ducked (takes some practice) and anytime he commits to anything he gets punished hard.

Shao Kahn: Probably in Baraka's favor. Shao isn't as bad as everyone says he is but Baraka hits pretty hard and when you have so many highs it can be really risky to go for them against Baraka. His footsie tools are ok but he just doesn't have enough to warrant it being even, although I haven't gotten to play the MU offline yet.

Kabal: I feel like this is pretty much an even footsie battle. Whoever can play neutral the best tends to win. Nothing Kabal does seems that oppressive, he just has really good footsie tools which Baraka can match.
I think frost may even be in baraka's favor but it is close. kollector is 6-4 imo as well. noob im not quite sure yet.
 

smile

Noob
is everyone talking in terms of marauder? cause i think there could be some mu's where bone picker would be the better choice. especially against a character/opponent that plays very safe so there isn't much opportunity to get a big punish. also baraka can punish erron black mb drop kick with f212, f21-gutted/spine burst whiffs though :(
 

Wallach

Noob
is everyone talking in terms of marauder? cause i think there could be some mu's where bone picker would be the better choice. especially against a character/opponent that plays very safe so there isn't much opportunity to get a big punish. also baraka can punish erron black mb drop kick with f212, f21-gutted/spine burst whiffs though :(
You can also get F21 xx Spark (Amp) for more damage if you want to spend the bar (say to close a round), or F21 xx FB if you have it available.
 

Red Hood MKX

Mercenary dog
The lui kang match up is kinda tough. He can zone baraka and his pressure is really good. Anyone got any tips in this match up would greatly appreciate it
 

Circus

Part-Time Kano Hostage
IMO people need to start really using 5.5s and 4.5s when describing some matchups in this game.

I understand that some matchups feel slightly unfavorable, but calling it a 4-6 sounds wrong to me.
 

Marski

Noob
The lui kang match up is kinda tough. He can zone baraka and his pressure is really good. Anyone got any tips in this match up would greatly appreciate it
Pick Marauder variant. Most Liu Kang players will rely on his f43u3 string to pressure you. When he does his f43u3 string, you can interrupt him between the f43 and u3 part with 122 KB or 112 and cancel into whatever combo you want. Doing this once or twice will force him to start parrying or low fireballing you, in which case you want to instead block the string and wait for him to do one of those specials, and then punish him for it with a similar combo. There's a chance you'll get hurt in these trades, but you'll hurt him way more when you guess right. He might start blocking after his f43 string to make it safe, at which case there's nothing special about the match-up anymore. Your buttons and combo damage are somewhat better, so I'd say Baraka has a slight advantage in this match-up. As for his zoning, there's no real special trick to beating it, you'll just have to get past it. Once you're close enough to do a f4, you're in

is everyone talking in terms of marauder? cause i think there could be some mu's where bone picker would be the better choice. especially against a character/opponent that plays very safe so there isn't much opportunity to get a big punish. also baraka can punish erron black mb drop kick with f212, f21-gutted/spine burst whiffs though :(
I arrived at a similar conclusion while spamming games as marauder. It's just very hard to get a good combo in against someone like Kabal who rarely does anything unsafe and likely doesn't try to trade hits with you either. Bone Picker seems like the solution for match-ups like that, but I'll have to get some more games in to say for sure
 

Zoidberg747

My blades will find your heart
is everyone talking in terms of marauder? cause i think there could be some mu's where bone picker would be the better choice. especially against a character/opponent that plays very safe so there isn't much opportunity to get a big punish. also baraka can punish erron black mb drop kick with f212, f21-gutted/spine burst whiffs though :(
Yep, he's one of the few characters whose variations cover up each other. I think against zoners Bone Picker is probably better because his oki can keep people up close, and spines stops any jumping out. Need more experience though.
 

HapHaxion

"Knowledge" - Taio Cruz
From another thread regarding some Baraka MUs:
This is just my take, a lot of these aren't with a lot of experience but w/e it's early and subject to change:

  • Erron is probably close to even. He can punish any F4 with F21 and can flawless block it. Erron doesn't lose to anyone imo but Baraka can hang. I could see it leaning in Erron's favor though.
  • Cassie is prob even. Her zoning is annoying but she doesn't have anything that he can;t really deal with. He just has to play pretty patient.
  • Cetrion is prob even or maybe even advantaged for Bone Picker at least. Once he gets in she'll have a hell of a time keeping him off. Spines will also force her to not use air lasers once he gets close enough.
  • Skarlet i'm not particularly sure. But her flawless gaps can be hella exploited in Marauder and her zoning won't keep him out forever. I predict at the highest level this would be in his favor, but that assumes highest level execution.
  • Liu Kang he might go even or maybe wins. Most of Liu's pressure can be interrupted and Baraka outfootsies him. Liu's zoning is good though which is why I think it's even.
  • Jade I don't have much experience but I think he wins. Her zoning isn't as good as other characters and he outfootsies and outdamages her.
  • He might lose to Sonya. Her zoning is really good and once he gets in she is still so much of an offensive threat. IIRC he can't really punish her for going for 50/50s and her footsies are legit.
  • I could see an argument for him losing to Kabal. Kabal's buttons are amazing and his zoning is a pain to deal with. I don't know if that is enough to make him win because of the damage Baraka can do but I can see an argument.
  • You didn't mention it but i'm pretty sure Marauder loses to Sub Zero. If he blocks sub's d4 he is out of range of everything. He gets outfootsied, cannot use sparks or risk getting ice ball counterzoned, and Sub's walk speed makes it really hard to bait a whiff punish.
Although I've also heard he loses to Cetrion.