HI super noob here in need of help

[sparkytiz]

Just like the title says I've never really played fighting games but have been watching some mkx streams and was referred to this site. Have been looking pretty much all day and have kinda got a feel for loose combos and characters I like, with that being said like I really don't know what characters are good for new players and such. I have been playing off and on with kenshi in kenjustu and scorpion in ninjutsu haven't really found much on scorpion in that variation. Been thinking of trying kung jin since he seems cool from the story but basicly I'm just looking into some advice for noobie characters since I have basicly just been playing practice mode. Just trying to learn how to land some simple combos and see what works and what doesn't. Thanks for taking the time to read this and if you do help out thanks a ton and also I'm sorry and apologize in advance since I'm sure there are millions of threads like this.

 

[countrypistol]

If you're new to fighting games, a good place to start is with First Attack by UltraChenTV. Most of it is Street Fighter specific as SF has the larger following, but there are plenty of videos that are about learning fighting games in general. A good starting point is 'Losing Sucks'. I've linked the entire series as there is a good chance they'll do an MKX video series soon (especially as UltraDavid has just posted a bunch of Kotal Khan vids).

As for actually playing, practicing combos is fine, but there is no substitute for playing against other players, be it live or online. Don't expect to win much at first, or be landing combos. I'd say more on the matter, but the videos I've recommended cover it far better than I could.

 

[Deadly Torcher]

Forget combos, learn the defensive side of the game 1st, the combos come later. I know a lot of good combos but there's no chance of trying them when you're getting rushed down & battered. I use Scorp inferno & he's got a lot of weaponry & his demon grab is brilliant against turtling players.

 

[BloodyNights]

Forget combos, learn the defensive side of the game 1st, the combos come later. I know a lot of good combos but there's no chance of trying them when you're getting rushed down & battered. I use Scorp inferno & he's got a lot of weaponry & his demon grab is brilliant against turtling players.

While the defensive side is good in most games, I don't think it's very good in MKX these overhead and low strings are nearly unreactable to even seasoned veterans of the series. So I'd focus on blocking random things like teleports, and slides, but for the most part being mobile, and always active during the fights.

 

[Deadly Torcher]

I was speaking from personal experience, I'm sure it differs from player to player but I just find it difficult that there's no invincible wake ups any more, I have to just roll & block & hope but that doesn't mean I still don't try to teleport out of pressure still & I always get caught. For me, that's the difference in me winning & losing, how I defend.

 

[Airvidal]

Add me on PSN, I'll teach you.

GT: Airvidal17

 

[GLoRToR]

Just like the title says I've never really played fighting games but have been watching some mkx streams and was referred to this site. Have been looking pretty much all day and have kinda got a feel for loose combos and characters I like, with that being said like I really don't know what characters are good for new players and such. I have been playing off and on with kenshi in kenjustu and scorpion in ninjutsu haven't really found much on scorpion in that variation. Been thinking of trying kung jin since he seems cool from the story but basicly I'm just looking into some advice for noobie characters since I have basicly just been playing practice mode. Just trying to learn how to land some simple combos and see what works and what doesn't. Thanks for taking the time to read this and if you do help out thanks a ton and also I'm sorry and apologize in advance since I'm sure there are millions of threads like this.

These are the things that every noob needs to know to be even classified as a noob:
- Punishing (aka block and hit back. Fastest move into combo, poke into combo, or in lack of that, when you can throw after blocking)
- Footsies (Spacing, pacing and why the crouching low punch is the most powerful move in any fighting game)
- No such thing as spam. If you're eating it over and over, you're either not punishing it, or are doing something that gets punished.
If you've got these down you're ready to call yourself a total flappin' noob and you're ready to get wrecked by players you'll barely touch. lol.
Welcome to fighting games!

 

[countrypistol]

I agree with learning to defend, but defence isn't just blocking. Evasion, anti-airs, deciding whether to wake up reversal, wake up block or wake up throw tech; these are all defensive elements that noob players need to build on first to buy them the mental breathing space during a match to allow them to begin planning offence.

Focusing on defence first also teaches new players to stop mashing and actually think about their button presses. That said, I agree that just holding block and trying to anticipate the high/low order your opponents strings is too much for a beginner, especially with chip damage being a factor. Evasion is the preferable approach, but riskier and harder to learn. For noobs, block first and look for patterns in your opponents play, then try and figure out which can be evaded and how.

 

[sparkytiz]

Yoooo thanks a bunch for all the replies! Means so much to me guys and also for the scorpion inferno is good since I see jwong play him I just don't think he's thst cool and that the sword play in ninjutsu. But thanks so much for replaying on this thread like this has made my day lol

 

[chrisisnice]

- No such thing as spam. If you're eating it over and over, you're either not punishing it, or are doing something that gets punished.

This is good to know... but people get really angry!

I'm TERRIBLE at this games and have only played four online games. I am trying hard to learn. I play Kitana and my first game was against Kano. I won the first round and used all my meter and I was getting my ass kicked up close. I got full screen and spamed fans to build meter, the guy just ducked, so I kept spamming fan after fan. He got salty and quit then trash talked me in the room. So you are saying what I did was fine right?

Also, I am having trouble picking a good starter character to practice with. Does anyone know a character who has easy starter combos (no running etc), fairly safe and simple to pick up?

 

[GLoRToR]

This is good to know... but people get really angry!

I'm TERRIBLE at this games and have only played four online games. I am trying hard to learn. I play Kitana and my first game was against Kano. I won the first round and used all my meter and I was getting my ass kicked up close. I got full screen and spamed fans to build meter, the guy just ducked, so I kept spamming fan after fan. He got salty and quit then trash talked me in the room. So you are saying what I did was fine right?

Also, I am having trouble picking a good starter character to practice with. Does anyone know a character who has easy starter combos (no running etc), fairly safe and simple to pick up?

Yes, they do get angry but if you can beat somebody with footsweep, there is no reason not to use it. You are doing both of you a favour: him for teaching him an important lesson in blocking and punishing, and you for being on the other side of the "spam" and seeing what it's like.

I'm terrible at it too. You wouldn't believe the kind of beating I take from tournament level players, but I'm happy if I can manage to make them change pace or figure out one of their strategies and force them to beat me horribly in another way.

Bottom line is this:
Try to have fun instead of trying hard. You can't cheat the time it takes.

Look up videos and learn the above fundamentals in your own pace. Remember that some of these guys play this with their friends regularly, many of them on a daily basis! People like REO or Tom Brady or PerfectLegend, to name a few of the top contenders, have spent a substantial amount of their time in the past 10+ years sharpening their Negative Edges..

EDIT: Oh, and for newbie-friendly characters. I'm not sure. Whichever fits your style. Kitana is not easy at all, and she's not in a good place as of now compared to some others. Here are a few though:

Rushdown: Johnny, Cassie, Sonya
Spacing: Kung Jin, Takeda, Subzero, Kenshi
Pacing: LiuKang, Kunglao, Kotal
Crazy Mixup: Scorpion

Come to think of it, the easiest would be Kung Lao in my opinion. He's a no-bullshit godtier faceroller but the no-bullshit part ensures that you do get to work for your money.