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Match-up Discussion MK2 Liu Kang VS Mileena

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
VS


Rules of this discussion:
  • You may contribute anything that will further the interest and understanding of the matchup. This includes strategies, videos, combos, etc.
  • Feel free to answer the default questions posed in the first reply, though you are not required to do so.
  • Please keep the discussion focused on the two characters in question.
 

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
This is arguably the most common tournament matchup you will run across (other than Mileena/Mileena.) Anyone who considers themselves a high level player needs to know and understand this matchup thoroughly. Both characters are considered top tier and, in the right hands, can be unstoppable forces of nature.

(UPDATED 11/14/16)

LIU KANG
Be prepared to block and block often in this match. A blocked roll or telekick will lead to big damage setups, most notably aaHP, bicycle kick. Mileena will likely be blocking a lot as well in fear of the bicycle kick, so be prepared to unleash one when her guard is down from sweep range forward. The low fireball obviously works well against sai spam, but whatever you do... do NOT use it up close. This is easy bait for a roll combo. Use a healthy barrage of fireballs, but mix them up and be careful not to get predictable.

MILEENA
The key to taking the fight out of Kang and simply dominating this matchup is being able to evade the low fireball consistently. If Kang wants to play keep away, let him. Get a life lead via sai, let him shoot fireballs, and duck. If he wants to low fireball, Mileena's ducking LK will slip underneath the attack. This forces Kang to attack Mileena and play into her hands. A stupid Kang will jump in and get countered with an uppercut. A smart Kang will walk in, where you can nail him by buffering the roll from a ducking position. Counter all special kicks with a roll combo or uppercut. If you can correctly anticipate a non -IAF then you can apply JK + roll combo. Mileena can also return fire in the spam war with instant air sais, but of course don't be a moron about it or you will get low fireballed.

My old assessment was that this was 5-5 or slightly favoring Kang, but I firmly favor Mileena now in this contest by a nice margin of 6-4 or better.
 
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mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
Well said, an elite Kang or Mileena can destroy pretty much the entire cast of MK2, with a few exceptions. This is an extremely fun match, whether you are Liu or Mileena.

I have to disagree that Kang has the edge though. btbb99 and I did 20 matches last year of Kang vs Mileena, where we each used Kang for 10, then Mileena for 10. we both whomped each other's Kang 9-1 with Mileena. I've played the best Kangs out there, and when there's no lag, I don't have too much trouble beating Kang with Mileena. Overall I say it's a 6-4 matchup in Mileena's favor, and I think that's being a little generous to Kang. Liu is the best counter in the game to Mileena though. His low fireball takes care of her sai spamming, and his bicycle kick forces her to play more defensive than normal.

I think Kang's best bet is mixing it up, and staying away from Mileena. If he uses high fireballs, it's almost impossible to hit him with Mileena's teleport kick. It's the low fireballs that get him in trouble- Mileena can block them, and then roll within sweep distance, or JK/sai him. Only use low fireballs from a safe distance.

Mileena must stay close, try to apply jab, and be aggressive with crossover kicks, sweeps, etc once she is in close. Limit the air sai, as they aren't as effective in this match as her sais from on the ground are. Throw a few ground sai, goad Kang into low fireballing, then JK/sai him.
 
1) Milenna has the edge here, no sais required.
2) Liu Kang really needs to be unpredictable in my opinion.
3) Once Milenna gets close, fireballs are forsaken.

Liu has 2 threats.
a) A crouching attack that can be followed with an unblockable bicycle.
b) An unpredictable fireball assault.

A well adjusted Milenna player with situational awareness will paralyze both perceived threats though. Plus, Milenna can slip fireballs with a low kick compelling Liu to be more assertive.

Personally, I'd use sai attacks only intermittently or in conjunction with combinations against lesser opponents. More outstanding Kang combatants take more flair to defeat. I'd say hesitation is Milenna's greatest ally here.

One final thought is that the CQC game is dangerous here. Neither player dominates, though Milenna's roll can be quite persuasive.
 

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
Yes, CQC is not easy in this match, because Kang is always worried about getting rolled, and Mileena's worried about getting bicycle kicked. when I play Scorpangel's Kang, I use alot of ground sai to try and get him to low fireball me, so I can block and roll. Ground sai are safer because it stops the flying attacks, and does more damage than a high fireball if you trade projectiles.
 
what do you think this matchup is? 5-5? 6-4?
Idk man. It's hard to say. I honestly think if I was a little bit better with Liu I could give any Mileena a run for his or her money. I'm gonna have to say it's 5-5. I used to think it was in Liu's favor, but I'm not so sure anymore.
 

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
Idk man. It's hard to say. I honestly think if I was a little bit better with Liu I could give any Mileena a run for his or her money. I'm gonna have to say it's 5-5. I used to think it was in Liu's favor, but I'm not so sure anymore.
Mileena players who have mastered the analog controls for the roll have a definite advantage, unless of course they run up against the Liu Kang player who has mastered the analog controls for the IAF, then it becomes 5-5 again.
 

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
What can Milenna players do with the analog controls for roll?
Same thing as Scorpion. Walk forward with the stick while buffering the roll with the D-pad. It's more deadly here because there is virtually no startup sequence for the roll and comes out so fast.
 
Have to admit that I haven't seen this performed, or, if it was done to me it was so fast I didn't even know what was happening.
 

MKB

Forum General Emeritus
Have to admit that I haven't seen this performed, or, if it was done to me it was so fast I didn't even know what was happening.
IMHO, this move alone is what sets players like Mike and Jason above everyone else. They have this mastered to the point where they know exactly when to use it. It almost always catches me off guard.
 
IMHO, this move alone is what sets players like Mike and Jason above everyone else. They have this mastered to the point where they know exactly when to use it. It almost always catches me off guard.
Tbh, I hardly ever use analog tricks. The only character I really use it with is Scorpion because people just sit in a crouch way too much against him, but as soon as I start walking foward they wanna get up and walk back.
 

mortal_jason

Kitana's Bodyguard
Have to admit that I haven't seen this performed, or, if it was done to me it was so fast I didn't even know what was happening.
Aww you've seen it a million times... it's really easy for me to do on og MK2, which is the version we always play. You probably just assumed I did the input for the roll super fast, but they're really walk-forward rolls. It comes out so fast that it's super hard to read.

Anyway, rolls of any kind against Kang are always a risky thing to try (unless you're blocking a low fb up close). You give Liu a 40% combo if he blocks it and HP/bicycle kicks you. But... for some reason, when I do use walk forward rolls against Kang, I almost always land them. I'm not sure why that is.