Circus
Part-Time Kano Hostage
Base Terminator:
1. Terminator has a slow but practically unfuzziable overhead/low mixup with F2(overhead) and F3(low).
The issue is the F2 is super punishable and F32 (the launchable version of the low) has a pokeable gap. You could do F34 instead, but it is just a mid.
2. F4 is his only reliable mid at 16f
It is very good though. At -1 on block, you could abuse his 6f D1 which'll make his F4 feel like it's 0 or +1 on block against most characters.
3. His command grab is 11 frames and has crazy range that outspaces D1s and many other low pokes.
It also leads into a restand which is really good.
4. his D4 is a 10f poke with good range and advantage.
It seems like D4 and F4 will be his go to moves during footsies
5. 121 is a great string that resembles Jade's poke because the second hit goes WAY far.
This means Terminator could possibly toss out his jab at mid range to scare the opponent with his far reaching 12.
6. 212 is +2 on block.
Very nice
7. His F3 tick grabs
This will really help his mixups A TON because people will be scared to try to poke out of F32.
8. B2 is a solid Anti Air option that juggles
9. D2 has nice vertical range, but practically no forward range at all
10. B3 is 10f but has very little range.
11. His walk speed is sllllooooooww.
12. Both his normal throws don't give any great setups.
13. His anti-projectile absorb is ONE FRAME STARTUP
It does recover in 56f though lol.
14. The recovery and startup on his shotgun are very slow.
15. F4 is +18 which makes it so you could get a guaranteed mixup on hit.
Destroyer Terminator:
1. He gets more depth with his mixup because he has a low special move that he could use after his overhead F2 for a risky mixup.
He could also use F2xxSpecialOverhead too which is -6 on block. The overhead has slow startup though and would have a pokeable gap. Still though this adds a ton of mental pressure on the opponent because they have a ton to think about.
2. Destroyer does a BOAT LOAD of damage
3. Destroyer keeps Terminator's restand off his command grab
4. B1 becomes a reliable mid at 13f!
Normally B1 is a single input move that automatically goes into an airgrab that whiffs on crouching opponents and leaves Terminator very vulnerable.
With Destroyer, he could mix in his B1xxLowproctile or B1xxSpecialOverhead(safe) for a mixup.
Dark Fate Terminator:
(imo his best atm, because wow)
1. F4 becomes an INCREDIBLE mid
F4xxRunningMan3 is a safe Mid-Mid with no flawless blockable gap.
F4xxRunningManTackle is a mid grab that ticks
F4xxRunningManCancel is -6
F4 by itself is a great move to start pressure on hit or block. VERY GOOD
(the best part of all of this is that F4xxRunningMan into any options is COMPLETELY HIT CONFIRMABLE. If they block you could go for a cancel, RunningManTackle, or RunningMan3 and if it hits you could do something else)
2. B1xxRunningManCancel is a confirmable -3 mid option that goes into full combo and gives Terminator a 13f mid option that has range.
3. He could cancel his overhead and low options into Running Man for more options and safety.
4. His Backbreaker command grab is HUUUUUUUGEEEE
This command grab in Dark Fate goes practically jump distance, way outside of the range of all D4s. At 11 frames, this is down-right INCREEDIBLE.
This command grab also gives great loopable setups on knockdown.
Final Judgement:
1. Doesn't have a solid option to make B1 reliable so his fastest safe mid is 16f
2. His overhead/low options remain risky but could be used to setup stuff with ion grenade if you catch the opponent off guard
3. The ion bombs are very plus on block and launch on hit.
These could lead to some very MKX-like setups.
4. Incapicitator makes it so the opponent can't use defensive meter
This means that there could be some pretty nasty setups for this too.
5. This is a setup based variation so time will tell how good it is.
Summary:
I'd honestly say that Terminator is looking really nice atm. He isn't braindead by any means because of his slow attacks and movement, but if he gets going, he could melt a health bar.
People who love grappler playstyles are going to go crazy over Dark Fate. This is the most dedicated grappler MK11 has at the moment and he is very interesting.
Even though he isn't as pick up and play as Nightwolf is, I'd say in the right hands, this character is going to an absolute beast.
1. Terminator has a slow but practically unfuzziable overhead/low mixup with F2(overhead) and F3(low).
The issue is the F2 is super punishable and F32 (the launchable version of the low) has a pokeable gap. You could do F34 instead, but it is just a mid.
2. F4 is his only reliable mid at 16f
It is very good though. At -1 on block, you could abuse his 6f D1 which'll make his F4 feel like it's 0 or +1 on block against most characters.
3. His command grab is 11 frames and has crazy range that outspaces D1s and many other low pokes.
It also leads into a restand which is really good.
4. his D4 is a 10f poke with good range and advantage.
It seems like D4 and F4 will be his go to moves during footsies
5. 121 is a great string that resembles Jade's poke because the second hit goes WAY far.
This means Terminator could possibly toss out his jab at mid range to scare the opponent with his far reaching 12.
6. 212 is +2 on block.
Very nice
7. His F3 tick grabs
This will really help his mixups A TON because people will be scared to try to poke out of F32.
8. B2 is a solid Anti Air option that juggles
9. D2 has nice vertical range, but practically no forward range at all
10. B3 is 10f but has very little range.
11. His walk speed is sllllooooooww.
12. Both his normal throws don't give any great setups.
13. His anti-projectile absorb is ONE FRAME STARTUP
It does recover in 56f though lol.
14. The recovery and startup on his shotgun are very slow.
15. F4 is +18 which makes it so you could get a guaranteed mixup on hit.
Destroyer Terminator:
1. He gets more depth with his mixup because he has a low special move that he could use after his overhead F2 for a risky mixup.
He could also use F2xxSpecialOverhead too which is -6 on block. The overhead has slow startup though and would have a pokeable gap. Still though this adds a ton of mental pressure on the opponent because they have a ton to think about.
2. Destroyer does a BOAT LOAD of damage
3. Destroyer keeps Terminator's restand off his command grab
4. B1 becomes a reliable mid at 13f!
Normally B1 is a single input move that automatically goes into an airgrab that whiffs on crouching opponents and leaves Terminator very vulnerable.
With Destroyer, he could mix in his B1xxLowproctile or B1xxSpecialOverhead(safe) for a mixup.
Dark Fate Terminator:
(imo his best atm, because wow)
1. F4 becomes an INCREDIBLE mid
F4xxRunningMan3 is a safe Mid-Mid with no flawless blockable gap.
F4xxRunningManTackle is a mid grab that ticks
F4xxRunningManCancel is -6
F4 by itself is a great move to start pressure on hit or block. VERY GOOD
(the best part of all of this is that F4xxRunningMan into any options is COMPLETELY HIT CONFIRMABLE. If they block you could go for a cancel, RunningManTackle, or RunningMan3 and if it hits you could do something else)
2. B1xxRunningManCancel is a confirmable -3 mid option that goes into full combo and gives Terminator a 13f mid option that has range.
3. He could cancel his overhead and low options into Running Man for more options and safety.
4. His Backbreaker command grab is HUUUUUUUGEEEE
This command grab in Dark Fate goes practically jump distance, way outside of the range of all D4s. At 11 frames, this is down-right INCREEDIBLE.
This command grab also gives great loopable setups on knockdown.
Final Judgement:
1. Doesn't have a solid option to make B1 reliable so his fastest safe mid is 16f
2. His overhead/low options remain risky but could be used to setup stuff with ion grenade if you catch the opponent off guard
3. The ion bombs are very plus on block and launch on hit.
These could lead to some very MKX-like setups.
4. Incapicitator makes it so the opponent can't use defensive meter
This means that there could be some pretty nasty setups for this too.
5. This is a setup based variation so time will tell how good it is.
Summary:
I'd honestly say that Terminator is looking really nice atm. He isn't braindead by any means because of his slow attacks and movement, but if he gets going, he could melt a health bar.
People who love grappler playstyles are going to go crazy over Dark Fate. This is the most dedicated grappler MK11 has at the moment and he is very interesting.
Even though he isn't as pick up and play as Nightwolf is, I'd say in the right hands, this character is going to an absolute beast.
Last edited:
