Here's my Ermac guide from a while ago MKO/early MKU days...
I've made a few additions to it, hopefully everyone likes. He was my second favorite guy after Fujin in MKA and also first choice in MK D on xbox way back
and want to say that I won't be listing AC combos at all....never been a big fan of them.
Ermac:
Want to play Ermac at high level? Then read this brief guide which will help you use Ermac. This guide will definitely help your game with Ermac or if you're just a nooby looking to master Ermac or for a few tips to get the basics down on him, this will also help you out a lot.
First off here's the chart for you.This way people know what I'm talking about concerning buttons and combos.
1=X for xbox or square for ps2
2=Y for xbox or Triangle for ps2
3=A for xbox or X for ps2
4=B for xbox or circle for ps2
Ermac is about baiting your opponent, catching them off guard with the telekinetic slam and doing combos. He's a range fighter/character but can hold his own up close. Unfortunately he loses a bit losing his Chua Chuan to Stryker(as he had some nice combos and set ups with this style in Deception, but sadly not as much in MKA....still with that being said, Ermac is still a good character to use. I'd stay in his axe more then anything is his best style in MKA but Choy Lee is still good too. In Axe, His 1, 3, 4, 4, 4 combo is great but be careful the 1, 3, in between 4, 4, 4 can be parried. A high level move SOME players not all can do. You can Parry in between the changing in punches. If you're playing someone that can parry well in between certain combo inputs then I recommend you DON'T use 1, 3, 4, 4, 4 against them/don't spam it....
What I do is just narrow it down and use 4, 4, 4 then go for the free throw if I'm facing someone who parry's well in between 3 and 4 in his five hit auto combo.Example of this:1, 3, (parry ) 4, 4, 4 they can parry in between the combo.I was only countered with a parry once with just 4, 4, 4 but was also facing someone with massive lag which I have no doubt was the exception in that case.It's never happened again after that time with just 4, 4, 4 in Axe. Mix it up between Choy Lee and Axe, if you're fast enough switch styles and buffer into his sweep, then back to Axe again just to play head games....trust me, if you can master this tactic it WORKS
But I tend to mix that up with D+1 in Axe that's down and X or whatever it is on PS2. It works well, all about mixing it up.Your 50/50's.
D+1 is his poke in Axe style, one of the best in the game and CAN'T be parried by your opponent. Mix this up with his axe combo also, mix up with just 4, 4, 4 in axe your opponent won't be able to parry it since it comes out fast then if you want there's a glitch in MKD and in MKA called a "free throw" meaning after certain moves you can get a free throw literally as in your opponent CAN'T block it or parry it. Mixing up the pokes with his 4, 4, 4 and Choy Lee moves can be devastating and annoying for your opponent to predict as long as you aren't predictable with it.
Another good low move is his D+3 in Axe, a little spin kick that is also unable to parry.His sweep, D+3 in Choy Lay Fut and D+1 in Axe are all moves that your opponents can't parry. Keep that in mind.
Immediately after the 4, 4, 4 despite whether you get the whole 1, 3, 4, 4, 4 or just 4, 4, 4 you can get a free throw after the last 4 in that combo.Throw immediately, your opponent will be stunned and won't be able to move therefore you can take the free throw if you want, thus increasing the damage for your opponent.At high level play or playing to win especially if going to play online I highly recommend you use this tactic.
Just about every character has them, some more then others. Ermac has a few.
Also, IF you're near a corner you can get free 46% damage with a great combo that's unbreakable hehe.To some they call it a partial infinite, compared to the other flaws in this game I hardly think it's that personally.It was in MKD and it's in MKA, however the difference is you can't do this anymore in MKA at midscreen.You must be NEAR a corner or IN a corner to pull this off.Near the corner say you get off a TK slam, immediately do this combo it's great in axe style and it's easy damage.
D+2(uppercut), TK slam, D+2, telethrow= 5 hits for about 45% at least.
A good mix up is his Sweep in Choy Lay, then immediately change styles into Axe and mixing up D+2 or Up+2 for combo opportunities of your liking.
This will only work near a corner however, it used to be able to be done in MKD anywhere on the screen but they fixed it so that it's not as easily done.Now in MKA it can only be done near a corner or in a corner.
Now in Choy Lay Fut, his sweep which is D+4, use this often but not constantly.Mix it up with his Axe style.It's a great sweep that most of the time your opponent won't see coming.
He also has some nice combos in Choy lay such as:
1, 1, back+2(launcher) TK slam, 1, 1, 2, telethrow for about 32+% or so
Or here's another one I like but takes practice doing.
It's mixing up both styles which some characters and players do:
In Choy Lay Fut 1, 1, back+2, TK slam, (switch styles here into Axe fast), 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, telethrow= 10 hits for around 40% or 42% or so.Great combo
Also, he has a free throw in this style too hehe.Do 1, 1, then immediately throw.It'll be a free throw and your opponent won't be able to escape it.He also has a free throw after 1, 1, 2 in choy lay fut.1, 1, 2, free throw.
Another one is this that I like
AXE style:
TK slam, D+2, TK Slam, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, telethrow= 9 hits or so about 42% or so.
Another is AXE style:
TK Slam, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, TK Slam, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, telethrow=50% or so or 48% around this is a really powerful combo but tough to pull off, online there's lag that will most likely mess this combo up but can be done I've done it and definitely guaranteed offline.
Another one I use often is this:
TK slam, 1, 3, 4, 4, 4, TK slam, 4, 4, 4, telethrow=46% around there.It's easier then the previous one.
Fireball:is practically useless, it's slow and not that great.Use it ONLY if you're far away from your opponent and ONLY if they don't have a teleport.
Levitating Float move: is good, nobody uses it nearly enough online or as well as I do from what I've seen.Mix this move up wisely while you're in the air, most of the time the second you're in the air with this move your opponent will most likely jump away from you anticipating you'll do the ground pound(unblockable) yet a great tactic is to do the dart kick they'll still be jumping back and immediately do the TK slam.You'd be surprised how many time I've caught opponents with this "unique" tactic online.I like to call it the "Bait levitating tactic" it's a great tactic when done correctly and wisely.
Use it while in the air while you're away from your opponent say mid screen, stay there and when they go to jump kick(a charging opponent) you nail them with the levitating dart kick, it takes them out every time.At worst you'll trade hits with them but most of the time you'll take them out before they can take you out.
While in Levitating Float: Dart Kick is performed by hitting >+3 in midair once you're in the levitating float move.
His other move while in the air with that move is the ground pound, also great for mixing up with the dart kick and playing mind games with your opponents.
Ground Slam move in Levitating Float:Is done by hitting D+3 and it's unblockable.But be careful not to use this one too much, a simple jump kick can take you out or they'll jump it and attack you since the recovery off of it is slow.Also, note if you're fast enough you can get a free hit immediately after you use a breaker by doing the levitating move and doing the Ground Slam.It can be escaped if they're fast enough.I've escaped it myself but it's difficult.
But it's important to mix up these moves if you're going to use this move.
This is why It's important to mix this up with the dart kick if you're going to do the levitating move. Most don't use it but I do and it's won me close matches for me and my opponents don't know what to do so they jump constantly thinking I'll do the ground pound so when they get close to me jumping, I nail them with the dart kick or use the "bait levitating tactic" as listed above. You'll see what I mean try it out.Also, for the record it's a great move to run down the clock if you're winning.Your opponent most likely won't go near you as the clock is ticking. ; )
TK slam: is a great move, but use it wisely and only if you have an opening or after any launcher by Ermac, on block you're left wide open for attack.But this is his best move, once you nail your foe with this you're open to do combos of your own liking.Ermac's best move.
TK throw: is also great, only use this after a TK slam or to end a combo.You can use it normally but like the TK slam, you're left wide open for attack if blocked.It's a good move when done because it gives you distance between your opponent and yourself.
His Throw: is great too, but be careful if you throw someone near the corner they'll nail you with the wake up game kick or punch.Don't worry though, in most cases you won't throw near a corner and only a high level player will use the wake up on you.
His throw is good though, for 16% damage.This is why I recommend taking the free throw after the axe combo or after Choy Lay jabs that I listed before.
If you're playing to win, you'll have to take advantage of free throws because chances are your opponent will take advantage of theirs.He does have some AC(air cancel) combos too but I won't list them nor will I endorse them.I own with Ermac well enough without them. ; )
I've listed some of the best tactics for Ermac for you, good luck to all who read this.
Also, the lag will get to ya it sucks on ps2 but also on xbox.It's worse on ps2 though but you'll adapt to it.You'll experience slowdown, camera shifts etc you'll see for all here who are starting to play online.MKA online isn't the best.This will effect some of these combos online.He has some other combos, in fact he has countless combinations but I've listed some of the best.
Remember, another trick to playing Ermac well is to play defensive, be a little patient wait until you get an opening and use the TK move for combos after it.Bait them with his sweep, levitating moves and Mix up the Axe with Choy Lay Fut, use his pokes and take advantage of his free throws.He's an upper mid tier character.Definitely top 25 character for sure in this game.When used correctly can compete with just about anyone in this game(excluding bosses and KAKs) but I've even taken out KAK's and Sareenas with him just to give you an idea how good Ermac really is.If you get in close he's always a threat.And I also recommend him for Blaze, Molochs at times as his D+1 poke in axe mixed up with his Axe auto combos are great for beating blazes, molochs up close.You won't have to worry about this most of the time though concerning the bosses. Overall Ermac is a good mid tier character, IMO upper mid just for him being capable of competiting against higher characters but not quite as good as he was in Deception due to him losing Hua Chuan, but still even without that style Ermac is still a force to be reckoned with. I would rate him a 8 out of 10 honestly.
Good luck and have fun with Ermac, remember Ermac owns when used well and carefully!
I hope you all enjoy my little guide, advice and tactics on how to play/use Ermac in MKA
