MKX Character Tools

[Azmodeus]

For everyone out there who has trouble nailing down a character to pick or simply doesn't know what some characters can do, I am here for you. This is a living list of some of the biggest tools that characters have access to, If I missed something, you think of another tool that's not on the list, or I missed a character in a category, then let me know and I'll edit the post. The list also contains variations where it is necessary, and the meter mark (M) is present when meter can be used to achieve whatever tool it is under, sometimes a character has multiple tools to gain the desired outcome, such as A-List Johnny Cage, who can either run cancel or use EX Forceballs to get block pressure. Please don't make this a salt thread, I try not to favor any characters in this, so if you disagree with the placement of any characters just either message me or comment it.

(M) = Requires Meter

Assume All Variations unless otherwise Mentioned

Chars with Command Throws

• Erron Black
  
• Jax (Wrestler)
  
• Kotal Kahn (Sun God)
  
• Ferra/Torr
  
• Cassie Cage (Brawler)
  
• GORO!
  
• Jason
  
• Kano (Commando)
  
• Sonya (Covert Ops)

Chars with Block Pressure

• Johnny. Fucking. Cage. (kinda what he does.)
  
• Jax
  
• Kotal Kahn (War God)
  
• Erron Black
  
• Tanya (Kobu’s)
  
• Kano
  
• Kung Jin
  
• Kung Lao
  
• Liu Kang
  
• Predator
  
• Sonya Blade
  
• Takeda (Especially Ronin)

Chars with Strong Zoning (Y’all knew this was coming)

• Quan Chi (All Day Erryday)
  
• Kenshi
  
• Ermac
  
• Jacqui Briggs (Full Auto)
  
• Shinnok (Necromancer)
  
• Kitana
  
• Kung Jin
  
• Liu Kang (Dragon’s Fire, Flame Fist, and Dualist?)
  
• Predator (HQT)
  
• Scorpion (Inferno)
  
• Tanya (Pyromancer)
  
• Tremor (Metallic Mostly, but All are capable)

Chars with 50/50’s Leading to Combos

• Cassie Cage
  
• Ermac (MoS, Spectral)
  
• Erron Black
  
• Ferra Torr
  
• Jacqui Briggs (, but Slow)
  
• Jason (Slasher)
  
• Jax
  
• Johnny Cage
  
• Kano (Cutthroat)
  
• Kenshi (Kenjutsu)
  
• Kung Jin (Bojutsu/Ancestral)
  
• Kung Jin (Shaolin)(M)
  
• Kung Lao
  
• Liu Kang
  
• Mileena (especially Ravenous)(M)
  
• Predator (Hunter, HQT, and kinda Warrior)
  
• Quan Chi
  
• Raiden
  
• Reptile (Kinda)
  
• Scorpion
  
• Shinnok
  
• Sonya Blade (especially Covert Ops)
  
• Sub Zero
  
• Takeda
  
• Tanya
  
• Tremor

Chars with A Teleport Attack

• Ermac
  
• GORO!
  
• Kung Lao
  
• Kenshi (Possessed)
  
• Mileena
  
• Quan Chi (it’s there but it’s bad)
  
• Scorpion
  
• Takeda (Shirai Ryu)
  
• Tanya (M)

Chars with Defensive Specials (Chars with “Get Off Me” moves)

• Cassie Cage (, Flip)(M)
  
• D’Vorah (Ovi Rush)(M)
  
• Erron Black (but mostly Outlaw)(M)
  
• Ferra/Torr (Lackey/Vicious)(M)
  
• Jacqui (Forces Charge)(M)
  
• Jason (Too much Armor)(M)
  
• Jax (Dash Punch)
  
• Johnny Cage (Shadow Kick)
  
• Kano (Up Ball)
  
• Kenshi (Spirit Charge)
  
• Kitana (Throat Slice, Assassin Charge (Assassin), Rising Blades)
  
• Kotal Kahn (War God/Sun God)
  
• Kung Jin (Flying Kick)
  
• Liu Kang (Flying Kick)
  
• Raiden (Superman)
  
• Scorpion (Takedown)
  
• Shinnok ( Shoulder Charge)
  
• Sonya Blade (, Arc Kick)
  
• Sub Zero (, Slide)
  
• Tanya (, Cartwheel/Drill)
  
• Tremor (, Regular Punch)

Chars with Offensive Specials (Chars with Specials that grant Combos)

• Cassie Cage
  
• Erron Black (Outlaw)
  
• Ferra/Torr (Ruthless/Lackey)
  
• GORO! ( #PUNCHWALK)(M)
  
• Jax (M)
  
• Johnny Cage (M)
  
• Kano (M)
  
• Kenshi (M)
  
• Kitana (M)
  
• Kotal Kahn (War God)(M)
  
• Kung Jin
  
• Kung Lao
  
• Liu Kang
  
• Mileena
• Quan Chi
• Predator
  
• Shinnok
  
• Sonya
  
• Sub Zero
  
• Raiden
  
• Reptile (M)
  
• Scorpion (M)
  
• Tanya (M)
  
• Tremor

Chars with High Meter Building

• Cassie Cage
  
• D’vorah (Especially Swarm Queen)
  
• Erron Black
  
• Jacqui Briggs (Especially Full Auto)
  
• Jax
  
• Johnny Cage
  
• Kano (Knives, Man)
  
• Kenshi
  
• Kitana
  
• Kotal Kahn
  
• Kung Lao
  
• Liu Kang
  
• Quan Chi
  
• Raiden
  
• Scorpion
  
• Shinnok
  
• Sonya Blade
  
• Takeda
  
• Tremor

Chars with Space Control Tools (Slow Projectiles, Bombs, Independent of Character)

• D’Vorah (Brood Mother)
  
• Erron Black
  
• Kotal Kahn
  
• Kung Lao
  
• Liu Kang (Dualist)
  
• Predator (Hunter)
  
• Quan Chi (Summoner/Sorcerer)
  
• Raiden (MoS/Displacer(M)/Thunder God(M))
  
• Reptile
  
• Sonya (Covert Ops)
  
• Sub Zero (Grandmaster)
• Shinnok
  
• Takeda (Ronin)

Chars with Long-Range/Advancing Normals

• Cassie Cage
  
• D’Vorah
  
• Erron Black
  
• Ferra/Torr
  
• Jason (Slasher)
  
• Jax
  
• Johnny Cage
  
• Kenshi
  
• Kitana
  
• Kotal Kahn
  
• Kung Jin
  
• Kung Lao
  
• Liu Kang
  
• Mileena
  
• Predator
  
• Quan Chi
  
• Raiden
  
• Scorpion (Ninjutsu)
  
• Shinnok (Boneshaper)
  
• Sub Zero (Cryomancer)
  
• Takeda
  
• Tanya (Dragon Naughty-Naughty)

Chars with Hurtbox-Free Attacks (Not Projectiles)

• Cassie Cage
  
• D’Vorah
  
• Ferra/Torr
  
• Jason (Slasher)
  
• Kenshi
  
• Kitana
  
• Kotal Kahn (War God)
  
• Kung Jin
  
• Quan Chi
  
• Scorpion (Ninjutsu)
  
• Shinnok (Boneshaper)
  
• Sub Zero (Cryomancer)
  
• Takeda
  
• Tanya (Dragon Naughty-Naughty)
  
• Tremor

Chars with Air Control (Strong Anti-Air/Air-to-Air/Air-to-Ground attacks)

• Cassie Cage (Hollywood/Brawler)
  
• Ermac
  
• Ferra/Torr (Fukin NJP man)
  
• Kenshi
  
• Kitana
• Kung Jin
• Kung Lao
  
• Mileena
  
• Jacqui Briggs (Full Auto)
  
• Scorpion
• Shinnok
  
• Takeda (Lasher)
  
• Tanya
  
• Tremor (Aftershock)

Chars with Vortex’s (Que the salt, also not including EX Throw)

• Cassie Cage (Hollywood)
  
• Ermac (MoS/Spectral) *Check out the Spectral one, it’s filthy
  
• Ferra/Torr (Lackey) *This one is iffy, but it exists. It’s called the “Torrvex”
  
• Jacqui Briggs (Shotgun)
  
• Kenshi (Possessed)(M)
  
• Quan Chi (A.K.A Quan Cheese for this very vortex)
  
• Raiden
  
• Scorpion
  
• Shinnok (Imposter, MU changes this a little)
  
• Sub Zero (Another iffy one, free mix up but OH doesn’t loop)

Chars with Restands

• Cassie Cage (Hollywood)
• D'Vorah (Venomous)
  
• Jacqui Briggs (Shotgun)
  
• Jax (Pumped Up/Heavy Weapons)
  
• Johnny Cage
  
• Kano (Cybernetic)
  
• Kenshi (22 String)
  
• Quan Chi
  
• Ermac (MoS)
  
• Raiden
  
• Scorpion (GET OVER HERE!)
  
• Shinnok (Imposter)
  
• Takeda (Ronin)
• Tremor (Metallic *Lava Skin only)

Chars with Run-Cancelable Specials

• D’Vorah (Brood Mother/Swarm Queen)
  
• Erron Black (Marksman)
  
• Ferra/Torr (Ruthless)
  
• Jacqui Briggs (High Tech)
  
• Johnny Cage (A-List)
• Jax (Heavy Weapons)
  
• Liu Kang (Dragon’s Fire)
  
• Predator (HQT)
  
• Raiden
  
• Scorpion (Hellfire)
  
• Tanya
  
• Takeda (Shirai Ryu)
  
• Tremor

Chars with Next-Level Defensive Tools (Not attacks, Parries/Armor/etc.)

• Ermac (MoS)
  
• Jacqui Briggs
  
• Kotal Kahn (Sun God/Blood God)
  
• Quan Chi (Sorceror)
  
• Reptile (Deceptive)
  
• Sub Zero (Unbreakable)
  
• Tremor (Crystalline)
  
• Kano (Commando)
• Kitana (Assassin/Royal Storm)
  
• Sonya Blade (Covert Ops)
  
• Mileena (Ethereal)
  
• Liu Kang
  
• Predator
  
• Raiden (Master of Storms)
  
• Erron Black

Chars with Next-Level Offensive Tools (Not attacks, buffs/debuffs)

• Cassie Cage (Spec Ops)
  
• D’Vorah (Brood Mother)
  
• Erron Black
  
• Jacqui Briggs (High Tech/Full Auto)(M)
  
• Jason (Relentless)
  
• Kotal Kahn (Blood God)
  
• Kung Lao (Tempest/Hat Trick/Buzzsaw(M))
  
• Liu Kang (Flame Fist/Dualist)
  
• Predator (Warrior)
  
• Quan Chi (Summoner/Sorcerer)
  
• Raiden(M)
  
• Reptile(M) (No meter in Noxious)
  
• Scorpion (Hellfire)
• Sonya Blade (Tactical/Demolition)
  
• Tanya (Pyromancer)
  
• Tremor

Chars with Damage Over Time (Guaranteed, but can’t kill)

• D’Vorah (Venomous)
  
• Erron Black
  
• Kotal Kahn
  
• Reptile(M)
  
• Scorpion (Hellfire)

Chars with Self-Buffs (Damage/Regen/Meter)

• Ferra/Torr (Ruthless)
  
• Jacqui Briggs (High Tech)
  
• Jason
  
• Kano (Cutthroat)
  
• Kitana (Assassin)
  
• Kotal Kahn
  
• Kung Jin (Ancestral)
  
• Liu Kang (Flame Fist/Dualist)
  
• Quan Chi (Sorceror)
  
• Reptile (Noxious/Nimble)
  
• Scorpion (Hellfire)

Chars with Unblockables (Non-Throws or DoT)

• GORO!
  
• Jax
  
• Kotal Kahn (War God)
  
• Tremor

Chars with Block Damage (something to link block strings)

• D’Vorah (Swarm Queen/Brood Mother)
  
• Erron Black (Outlaw(M)/Gunslinger(M)/Marksman)
  
• Ferra/Torr (Ruthless)
  
• Jacqui Briggs (High Tech)
  
• Johnny Cage (Fisticuffs(M)/Stunt Double/A-List)
  
• Kano(M)
  
• Kitana (Mournful(M)
  
• Kotal Kahn (Sun God/Blood God/War God(M))
  
• Quan Chi
  
• Scorpion (Hellfire) (Nerfed, so not guaranteed, but still useful)
  
• Shinnok
  
• Sub Zero (Grandmaster(M)/Unbreakable(M))
  
• Takeda (Ronin)
  
• Tanya (Kobu Jutsu(M))
  
• Tremor(M)

Chars with Projectile Parries/Reflects

• Jacqui Briggs
  
• Kenshi
  
• Kitana (Royal Storm)
  
• Kotal Kahn
  
• Sub Zero (Unbreakable)
  
• Takeda (Ronin)

Chars with Physical Parries (Not Flash Parries)

• Kano (Commando)
• Kitana (Assassin)
  
• Kotal Kahn
  
• Liu Kang
  
• Sonya (Covert Ops)
  
• Sub Zero (Unbreakable)

Chars with Chip Damage Increases

• Quan Chi (Sorcerer)
  
• Tanya (Pyromancer)
  
• Johnny Cage (Fisticuffs)
• Liu Kang (Flame Fist)
• Kotal Kahn (Blood God)

Chars with Full-Screen Conversion Ability

• D’Vorah
  
• Ermac
  
• Erron Black(M)
  
• Jax
  
• Kenshi
  
• Kitana
  
• Kung Lao
  
• Mileena
  
• Predator
  
• Quan Chi
  
• Scorpion
  
• Shinnok (Almost Fullscreen)
  
• Sub Zero
  
• Tanya

Chars with Next-Level Footsies (Long Range fast pokes)

• D’Vorah
  
• Ferra/Torr
  
• Jason (Slasher)
• Johnny Cage
  
• Kenshi
  
• Kitana
• Kotal Kahn (War God has the most options, but all are good)
  
• Kung Jin
  
• Kung Lao
  
• Quan Chi
  
• Scorpion (Ninjutsu)
• Shinnok (Boneshaper especially, but all have Hellsparks)
  
• Tanya (Dragon Naughty Naughty)

 

[FinalBoss_FGC]

Interesting thread!

I'd put Kung Jin in the anti-air department tho.

He has one of the best njp, a 5 frame divekick, u1 is good for anti-air into combo and he has a decent d2. Even his standing 1 can anti-air. Not to mention reading jumps with Shaolin's up kick.

EDIT - Flame Fist Kang gets chip damage boost, too! And Venomous D'Vorah restands

 

[Renzokuken]

Interesting thread!

I'd put Kung Jin in the anti-air department tho.

He has one of the best njp, a 5 frame divekick, u1 is good for anti-air into combo and he has a decent d2. Even his standing 1 can anti-air. Not to mention reading jumps with Shaolin's up kick.

I came here surprised to see that Jin isn't in the AA/air-to-air tool section (an area in which he excels at) too.

 

[Azmodeus]

I came here surprised to see that Jin isn't in the AA/air-to-air tool section (an area in which he excels at) too.

Fixed, spaced him working through the list, thanks to bot of you guys @Renzokuken @Killa CoRzz

 

[Gh0sty]

When you say "Sonya : spec ops", I'm assuming you mean Covert Ops.

 

[Azmodeus]

When you say "Sonya : spec ops", I'm assuming you mean Covert Ops.

Fixed and you had it right, thanks dude

 

[shmatka]

@Azmodeus doesn't Imposter Shinnok have a teleport?EDIT: actually just noticed the word "attack" in that subtitle. Might explain the lack of Raiden also. Carry on.

 

[Genei Jin]

Characters that can not read this list: Kenshi

 

[Undergroundepict]

Jax also has some fairly strong zoning tools, particularly in Pumped Up.

 

[The_Tile]

Very good idea for a thread, if this is something you wanna work on though I'd try and format it a bit better and refine some of the categories as stuff like characters with block pressure and characters with block damage are pretty much the same thing in this game.

 

[n1kosh]

Chars with Run-Cancelable Specials

You forgot Jax Heawy
Tyrant reaction -

 

[buyacushun]

I started scrolling and then realized how much faster my fingers needed to move to get through that list. My god man. If you want I started a similar thread to break down characters into certain playstyles. Some of their tools got discussed there if you'd like to read through it. Not much though, for whatever reason a general help thread got left alone. I got to search it up, it was from a while ago.

 

[Eddy Wang]

I started scrolling and then realized how much faster my fingers needed to move to get through that list. My god man. If you want I started a similar thread to break down characters into certain playstyles. Some of their tools got discussed there if you'd like to read through it. Not much though, for whatever reason a general help thread got left alone. I got to search it up, it was from a while ago.

Your thread was pretty good, but since the Kenshi buffs, the majority realized there is no point in grinding MU as much or learning characters as much, since MU will continue to change as long as patches exist, if your character is weaker it might be good to start pondering buffs for the next patch.

I don't blame anyone, it is what it is, its a consequence of patches as long as they exist, and i seriously doubt we've dissected the current patch to the bone, so the majority gets turned off by grinding out MU as much as needed cos a patch for your character might be around the corner, but i do believe in order to have a pretty balanced game, we need to keep grinding, as much as we can, so we can actually have an idea of what needs to be toned down, up and so on, no just Yomi, everyone, all variations, as much as some of them feel imbalanced.

So props to those who are currently grinding unpopular variations.

 

[Hidan]

@Azmodeus nice stuff, but you double posted the list

 

[Azmodeus]

@Azmodeus nice stuff, but you double posted the list

Yeah I messed that up when i fixed one of the past errors, its all good now. Thanks tho!

 

[Dankster Morgan]

This is a really cool thread. Just a few things, cage doesn't have a 50/50, and I would add sub to the footsies category because of his great d4 and f4 which is a safe Klone cancel. Also cage to footsies, because he probably has the best d4 in the game, and f3 is one of the best(if not the best) mid advancing normals in the game. D4 might have a dissapering hurtbox but I'm not entirely sure. Thanks for making this thread.

 

[Invincible Salads]

scorpion doesnt have a legitimate vortex btw. He does have a 50/50 though.

 

[IrishMantis]

Yeah Cage ha much of 60/50 as KL andLK he technically dies have a mix ups per se but not a true 50/50

Yeah Cage should be 100% in Footsies that F3 and D4 bruh

But in anyway the idea of this thread is godlike and props for doing it with A few adjustments from feed back you can tune this into something really reliable

Edit: just noticed you already have KL and Kang ,never mind lol
Topic can be misleading and make people think these chars have true mix ups as in non fuzzy/reactable 50/50s

 

[buyacushun]

What is the specification for a next level offensive/defensive tool?

What is cassie's disappearing hurtbox move? D/F+1?

You should specify that Raiden's run cancel is only available in TG.

Your thread was pretty good, but since the Kenshi buffs, the majority realized there is no point in grinding MU as much or learning characters as much, since MU will continue to change as long as patches exist, if your character is weaker it might be good to start pondering buffs for the next patch.

I don't blame anyone, it is what it is, its a consequence of patches as long as they exist, and i seriously doubt we've dissected the current patch to the bone, so the majority gets turned off by grinding out MU as much as needed cos a patch for your character might be around the corner, but i do believe in order to have a pretty balanced game, we need to keep grinding, as much as we can, so we can actually have an idea of what needs to be toned down, up and so on, no just Yomi, everyone, all variations, as much as some of them feel imbalanced.

So props to those who are currently grinding unpopular variations.

I get what you're saying but mine wasn't really about MUs. More about the basic idea of what each variation does. To help people pick a character.

 

[ArmedCalf]

There are a few things where Shinnok definitely fits the bill but he isn't listed

 

[Mighty Durpyena]

Tanya doesn't have a teleport. Let's be serious, it's an air dash

 

[Blewdew]

Good work man. A few things though:

-Dvorah's ovi isn't a good defensive tool it's actually pretty ass

-ferra torr can appeal block pressure anything that ends with the OH is + enough on block that 121 after it is a true blockstring and after ferra is thrown 6f d1 leaves you in a great spot to continue pressure.
Also space Control and zoning is pretty good in vicious and ruthless

 

[BornThroughAshes]

Great thread man! Can you please elaborate why do you think ermac has good zoning though? I don't think that's the case (at least in MoS) but I might be missing something.

 

[QUAN-FUSION]

Johnny doesn't have a 50/50.
And Ferra/torr doesn't have a vortex.

 

[The_Tile]

Johnny doesn't have a 50/50.

F2 to full combo D4 for more pressure, so he kinda does. Not a traditional 50/50 though.