Sub-Zero - Ice Clone is too good when used with a brain, disables a ton of your opponents options, gives pressure, meter, space, air control, can be 2 in 1 clone to make unsafe strings safe, etc.
is the best string in the game, hitbox covers Sub's entire body so you can't even jump over him, comes out fast, lots of range, can hit confirm into freeze on reaction.
is the best in the game, too fast, safe on block, goes through projectiles, armor, can be charged, barey any damage scaling, etc. What does his
not have? B+
can be used as a reset after freezes for unbreakable damage and cause situations that lead into insane amounts of damage.
Raiden - Superman is one of the best punishers in the game, :en has armor so you can't even use a projectile or you will eat :en everytime on reaction, superman can be used to retreat and turtle in air to build meter, control air, escape corners, etc. Teleport is one of the best wake-up moves, can 2 in 1 off strings to gain advantage, counter zoning, etc.
and B+
are some of the best strings in the game for pressure.
Johnny Cage -
F+
one of the best pressure strings in the game, moves cage forward, can check people after the first two hits with a safe overhead pop-up. Flashkick is one of the best reversals in the game, safe against majority of the cast, extremely good as wake-up, between pressure strings to check people, solid anti-air, etc. Shadow kick punishes almost everything on whiff and block, threat of :en must be respected from even full-screen. :en low forceball gives advantage on hit and block, can be 2 in 1 to cause pressure loops and gain massive amounts of meter, or just to get in in general.
causes the most pressure in the game, best defensive mechanism, gets people to play defensive which gets you killed VS cage cause you're giving him opportunity to continue attacking. Nutpunch disables wake-up and gives cage safe jumps into continued pressure.
Nightwolf - Shoulder rapes stand blocking and builds meter, controls space heavily, can be 2 in 1 from his overheads for guranteed pressure and meter, one of the best punishers in the game, :en version catches people who jump back on reaction, :en threat of full-screen, shoulder conditions people to crouch constantly. :en lightning guranteed off of shoulder in most cases, :en lightning extremely hard to escape if you're caught crouching, pops them up and leads to more damage. Relfector shuts down projectiles, :en reflector gives Nightwolf health. :en arrow very good at ending games with almost guranteed chip. F+
one of the best normals, come out quick and picks up people on the ground, gives lots of pressure off on block because it can be delayed into
and hatchet. Hatchet can be 2 in 1 from any normal which will make any string 100% safe.
Reptile - Run is the best punisher in the game, no recovery on whiff, can be used to close space, escape pressure, elimiate the threat of cross-up jumps, :en version is sage on block, :en can be used to escape being walled with no risk, can combo off :en in open space with slide or against wall with full combo, etc. Spit is one of the fastest projectiles in the game. Forceballs give great zoning, great for trades, :en slow forceball sets up lots of messed up situations.
shuts down all projectile zoning from the opponent. Acid hand makes any string and poke safe on block and is an overhead.
Kung Lao - Spin is very fast, can be used to escape pressure, great anti-air, gives pessure off wake-up, rapes cross-up jumps, etc. Ground hat is good for zoning, can be 2 in 1 to give pokes and strings more oki, :en ground hat sets up lots of wall pressure, etc. Dive kick counters most zoning on reaction, can be used for mobility, combo against wall, etc. :en teleport good for wake-up and escaping pressure.
Top 6, in my opinion, I tried to make it as breif as possible so I know I left a ton of things out.
