Hello, I am new to TYM, but certainly not to MK! I would like to share my combo guide for Baraka, one of my favorite characters. I think he is very underrated and underused; in the right hands Baraka can destroy ANYBODY. Here's some combos and tips to help get there. I know there is much more Baraka information than I included here, but it should be enough to help get a better idea how to handle the Tarkatan. Here it is...I hope you all find it helpful:
BARAKA
Special Attacks:
Blade Spark: D, B, 2
Chop Chop Blades: B, B, 1
Blade Charge: D, F, 2
Spinning Blades: D, B, 3
Slicer: D, F, 1
COMBOS:
1, 2, Slicer: 5 Hits, 17%
1, 2, EN Blade Charge: 3 Hits, 19%
1, 2, EN Blade Spark: 3 hits, 20%
1, 2, EN Spinning Blades: 6 Hits, 22%
1, 2, Chop Chop, EN Blade Charge: 10 Hits, 29%
F+4, 4, EN Blade Charge: 3 Hits, 23%
B+3, 1, Dash, Uppercut: 3 Hits, 21%
B+3, 1, Dash, 4, Blade Spark: 4 Hits, 23%
B+3, 1, Dash, 4, Blade Charge: 4 Hits, 23%
B+3, 1, Dash, 4, Slicer: 6 Hits, 24%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, Uppercut: 5 Hits, 27%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, F+2, 4: 6 Hits, 29%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, F+2, Slicer: 8 hits, 31%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, F+2, EN Blade Charge OR EN Blade Spark: 7 Hits, 32%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, EN Chop Chop: 14 Hits, 32%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, B+1, 1, EN Blade Charge: 7 Hits, 35%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, 4, EN Blade Charge OR EN Blade Spark: 6 hits, 33%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 2, EN Blade Charge OR En Blade Spark: 7 hits, 33%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, Uppercut: 7 Hits, 33%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, EN Blade Spark OR EN Blade Charge: 8 Hits, 38%
B+3, 2, EN Blade Charge: 3 Hits, 21%
B+3, 2, EN Blade Spark: 3 Hits, 22%
B+3, 2, EN Slicer: 6 Hits, 22%
B+3, 2, EN Spinning Blades: 6 Hits, 24%
B+3, 2, Chop Chop, EN Blade Charge: 10 Hits, 31%
B+1, F+2, EN Blade Charge: 3 Hits, 23%
B+1, F+2, EN Slicer: 6 Hits, 24%
B+1, F+2, EN Blade Spark: 3 Hits, 24%
B+1, F+2, EN Spinning Blades: 6 Hits, 26%
B+1, F+2, EN Spinning Blades, EN Blade Charge: 7 Hits, 33%
B+1, F+2, Chop Chop, EN Blade Charge: 10 Hits, 33%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, Uppercut: 5 Hits, 24%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, F+2, 4: 6 Hits, 26%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, EN Spinning Blades: 8 Hits, 27%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, F+2, EN Blade Spark: 6 Hits, 28%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, F+2, EN Slicer: 9 Hits, 28%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+1, 1, EN Blade Charge: 7 Hits, 32%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, 4, Slicer: 8 Hits, 27%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, 4, EN Blade Spark OR EN Blade Charge: 6 Hits, 30%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, Chop Chop, Blade Charge: 13 Hits, 30%
2, 2, 2+1, Chop Chop, EN Blade Charge: 11 Hits, 33%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, 2, Spinning Blades: 8 Hits, 28%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, 2, EN Blade Spark OR EN Blade Charge: 7 Hits, 30%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, 2, EN Slicer: 10 Hits, 30%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, 2, EN Slicer, EN Blade Charge: 11 hits, 36%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, Uppercut: 7 Hits, 30%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, 1, EN Blade Charge: 7 hits, 30%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, 4, EN Blade Spark OR EN Blade Charge: 8 Hits, 35%
CORNER:
2, 2, 2+1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 2, EN Blade Charge OR En Blade Spark: 11 Hits, 39%
2, 2, 2+1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 2, EN Spinning Blades: 14 Hits, 40%
2, 2, 2+1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 2, EN Chop Chop: 19 hits, 41%
2, 2, 2+1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, 1, EN Blade Charge OR Blade Spark: 11 Hits, 41%
2, 2, 2+1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, 1, EN Spinning Blades: 14 Hits, 42%
2, 2, 2+1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, 1, EN Chop Chop: 19 Hits, 42%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 2, EN Blade Charge OR Blade Spark: 9 Hits, 38%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 2, EN Spinning Blades: 12 Hits, 39%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 2, EN Chop Chop: 17 Hits, 40%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, 1, EN Blade Charge OR Blade Spark: 9 Hits, 40%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, 1, EN Spinning Blades: 12 Hits, 41%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, 1, EN Chop Chop: 17 Hits, 41%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, F+2, EN Blade Spark OR Blade Charge: 9 Hits, 40%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, F+2, EN Spinning Blades: 12 Hits, 41%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, F+2, EN Chop Chop: 17 Hits, 41%
X-RAYS:
1, 2, X-Ray: 6 Hits, 38%
F+4, 4, X-Ray: 6 Hits, 40%
B+3, 1, Dash, 4, X-Ray: 7 Hits, 41%
B+3, 1 Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 2, X-Ray: 10 hits, 45%
B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, 4, X-Ray: 11 Hits, 48%
B+3, 2, X-Ray: 6 Hits, 38%
B+1, F+2, X-Ray: 6 Hits, 40%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, F+2, X-Ray: 9 Hits, 41%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+1, 1, X-Ray: 10 Hits, 42%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, 4, X-Ray: 9 Hits, 41%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, 1, X-Ray: 10 Hits, 43%
2, 2, 2+1, Dash, B+3, 1, Dash, 4, X-Ray: 11 Hits, 45%
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 2, X-Ray: 12 Hits, 48% (Corner)
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, F+2, X-Ray: 12 hits, 49% (Corner)
B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, 1, X-Ray: 12 Hits, 49% (Corner)
2, 2, 2+1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+3, 2, X-Ray: 14 Hits, 48% (Corner)
2, 2, 2+1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, 1, X-Ray: 14 Hits, 48% (Corner)
2, 2, 2+1, B+3, 1, B+3, 1, B+1, F+2, X-Ray: 14 Hits, 49% (Corner)
2, 2, 2+1, Chop Chop, 4, X-Ray: 16 Hits, 51% (Corner)
Baraka enters the Mortal Kombat tournament as Shao Kahn’s trusted enforcer. Shao Kahn has little to fear, for the Tarkatan warrior is armed with a variety of vicious tactics and specializes in close kombat. Baraka is not a finesse character; some of his animations are rather slow, he lacks many lengthy or very damaging combos, fancy teleports, or any aerial attacks, and most of his special attacks are multi-hit (meaning that unless the enemy is trapped in the corner, not every blow will always land). What he does possess are many short, quick, medium-damaging combos, great air defense, multiple overhead combo strings, and an arsenal of speedy special moves well suited to rushing his adversaries and mauling them when in close. Adjusting to Baraka’s more methodical pace is vital for succeeding as the violent Outworld mutant.
Baraka should usually stay in close against most opponents. His previously mentioned lack of a teleport makes him vulnerable to aggressive projectile throwing, and his own projectile, the Blade Spark, is powerful but long on recovery, thus making projectile trading not in his best interest. His Ex Blade Spark is both extremely damaging and armored thankfully, so he isn’t entirely helpless at long range. The Blade Spark is best for ending combos, however, so attempt to save it for those situations.
If you do find Baraka being pinned down by projectiles, fear not; his Blade Charge is his saving grace. It is a surprisingly fast attack, and the Ex incarnation is armored and travels across the entire screen, giving the Tarkatan an effective method of closing distance and countering zoners. The Blade Charge is a first-rate wake-up tool and a good combo finisher as well. If there is one move in Baraka’s arsenal to enhance, this is it.
The next two moves on the mutant’s menu are his Spinning Blades and Chop Chop Blades maneuvers. These attacks double as both combo enders and anti-air counters; they combine to give Baraka one of the absolute finest air defenses in the entire game. Both moves are high-hitting and damaging, but the Chop Chop is the more powerful of the two. Chop Chop is the one special move for Baraka that can begin or continue a combo, rather than merely finishing one. Always follow up a Chop Chop with his Blade Charge. This nifty little combo is good for 19% damage (more of the Charge is enhanced) and should be your first option for full frontal anti-air defense. As for the Spinning Blades, reserve them more for air defense, for your go-to wake-up attack, or to finish a corner combo, where you are guaranteed to land every hit of the blades. Spinning Blades will also level the playing field against teleporters like Ermac, Smoke, and Scorpion, as it will defeat every teleport attack in the game (Ex Spinning Blades will even beat an Ex Teleport attack from any other character).
Though it is not technically a special attack, Baraka’s U+4 kick deserves special mention. With this attack, Baraka sticks a blade into the ground and uses it to catapult into the air and blast his enemy with a pro wrestling-style dropkick. This move is a medium strike and has surprising range, as well as being nicely damaging. It is another option for both closing distance and dealing with turtles. It must be used wisely, however for it can be severely punished. Use it to nail crouching enemies who are otherwise too far away to be thrown or overhead attacked.
Rounding out his specials is his Slicer move, which is excellent for ending combos and knocking back your opponent. It covers a lot of ground and can effectively halt enemy rush-down attempts. Ex Slicer deals more hits, extra damage, and launches the foe into the air. This can be especially useful in or near corners, where it can be followed up with a Blade Charge.
As for his X-Ray, the Outworld enforcer has a very fast one, with one of the MK roster’s higher damage outputs. It has very good range and much combo potential, though truthfully it will most likely be only rarely used. More often than not, Baraka’s meter will be needed for enhancing his Blade Charge and therefore driving through projectiles and getting in close to his opponent. If an opportunity to end the match rises, use it in a combo or when a foe attempts to jump away from Baraka during any zoning shenanigans.
Baraka also has several good combo starters, with his best being 2, 2, 1+2. It is a combo which will pop the opponent into the air and set up many of the Tarkatan’s strongest combos. The final hit is a useful overhead attack, so low blocking will be of no use to your adversaries.
2, 1, 2 is high hitting combo that is very fast, covers ground and can cancel into any of Baraka’s special attacks after the second hit. It is great as a pressure tool, for even if all the blows are blocked, Baraka can land a regular throw nearly every time. It also covers quite a bit of ground.
F+2 is yet another starter that strikes mid. Like the previously mentioned combo, it is a pressure and rush-down tool. It can be followed by either 2 or 4 for a damaging two-hit combo, or cancelled into any special attack, including the X-Ray.
B+3 is a quick starter which strikes low, which can throw foes off because most of Baraka’s attacks hit high. It can result in either a very damaging pop-up combo or a ground assault eventually finished by his devastating Chop Chop, Blade Charge combo finisher.
Baraka is a unique fighter with a unique set of challenges. He is vulnerable to projectile firestorms, has difficulty extricating himself from tight spots, and his special attacks that cannot just be blindly used. He also has many methods of compensating for these. His combos are generally shorter than most other fighters, but they are quick, do good damage, and can be performed in quick succession. His many medium and overhead attacks mean that turtling will get opponents nowhere fast. He has amazing defensive weapons, particularly in the anti-air department. When playing as Baraka, be patient. Don’t be afraid to hang back and let the opponent come to you at first. Wait for a mistimed leap or teleport, then use your potent anti-air counters. Enhance your Blade Charge to get in close, then let loose a varied array of combo starters, with (B+3), (F+2), (2, 1, 2), and (2, 2, 1+2) playing a featured role. Incorporate these tactics into a game plan that is equal parts offense and defense, and you can rest assured that Baraka will pose a daunting obstacle for every single kombatant and show why he ranks among Shao Kahn’s finest and most dependable warriors.
no way! (sorry joking)