Sorry for the long wait yall...
**Intro**
Well, playing to win goes for every character in every fighting game. This part of the guide does not necessarily apply to just Sub-Zero, which is why I feel this part will be a favorite among readers and very helpful for those who feel their overall psyche going into a fight is flawed. Here we go....
1. Pitcher’s Memory = You know the saying "A Pitcher never forgets?". Well, if you don't, basically it means that a pitcher never forgets how he got somebody out. Whether it was with a curveball, a fastball, a change up or a slider, he always remembers what it took to strike out the big boys like Manny Ramirez, and even the scrubs like Mark Bellhorn.. He also never forgets when he gives up a home run or a RBI single/double/triple. I feel this goes for any fighting game as well.
Reading your opponent goes without saying, but with the players in this game being 80% shitty, you wouldn't think this is the case. To be successful with any fighter/sport, you need to know your opponent close to as well as you know yourself. Remembering your opponent's style and how they react to the situations you put them in is key to success. For example, Dan always stands up blocks when in a 50/50 lock when there's less than 10 seconds left in the match and the fight is close, so most the time I throw him. Quik quick recovers more than anyone I've ever faced, so I time my attack with him quick recovering and I normally connect(unless he quick recovers and blocks, at which point I adapt to it and throw him). Delerium always stays blocked in a certain position for about 2 seconds then transitions to a crouching block or a standing block, so I respond by walking up faking a throw, waiting for him to duck, and then do a mid attack. If he ducks I do the exact opposite. When me and Alexei do Sub vs Scorp he normally uses moi fai: d+1 to eliminate my dragon poking game, so to counter that I fake walking up to attack in dragon and quickly switch to kori and do 1 or b+2(they both beat low attacks).
I'm not saying you need a notebook and a pencil to write down everyone's habits and their reactions to certain situations, but knowing what to do and when to do it is the key to being good with Sub and any other fighter in any other game. After all, Roger Clemens didn't become the greatest pitcher of all time(arguably, mind you) by just throwing fast balls down the middle....
2. Wah Wah Wah = Don’t worry about what people think about you. People are for the most part whiners and babies. If you beat them a certain way that they feel is not fair they will complain. To some people winning has no boundaries. They will do what they need to do to win. My opinion on the matter is irrelevant, but the saying goes “don’t get mad..get even” so handle your shit. If they’re going to infinite you, infinite them back. If they’re going to glitch you, glitch them back. But if glitching and infiniting is your cup of tea I would strongly suggest staying away from Sub because he has none that work online.
Playing a low tier character like Sub-Zero means suffering a lot of losses to people who aren’t as “skilled” as you. Live with it. It comes with the territory and if you can’t handle a loss or two you shouldn’t be using such a bad character anyway. Learn, Remember, Adapt, Win, Take your losses with your wins. If not, stick to Kobra, Bo, Darrius or any of the other better, easier chars to win with.
Also, realize that the whole point of playing is the ultimately win more than you lose. Playing a low tier character like Sub-Zero means it requires more smarts and a lot more working with what you’ve got and not what you wish you had. For example, if there’s 10 seconds left on the clock, it’s round 3, you’re up by a lot, but you have no breakers left, why continue to fight? Why bother trying to kill them off when there’s 10 seconds left on the clock and they’re down by a lot? Why put yourself in a position to lose when you can put yourself in a situation to win? Turtle. Back dash, clone, whatever it takes to get away. Who cares what they think? I’ll tell you right now that if they’re playing someone like Kobra that you should give a rats ass what their opinion is on the matter because they should’ve won the fight regardless. Feel shitty winning with the time out? Bet you’d feel shittier losing a fight you could of won by eating Raiden’s 35% into unavoidable free throw with no breakers left trying to fight to the death instead of turtling up.
Point here is not just to turtle, because sometimes it’s not in your favor to do so(when you’re down, when you have an opportunity to attack and you don’t). The point here is to do what it takes to give you the best opportunity to win. The best people who use low tier chars don’t give a fuck. I know I don’t. Tell someone who plays Kuma in T4 not to use his f,f+2 into JFSH and they’ll laugh in your face. Tell someone who uses Yunsung in SC2 not to whore out his BB and they’ll do the same. Do what it takes and WHAT YOU FEEL IS RIGHT. Fuck the critics.
3. Don’t Be A Dumbass = Like I said earlier, there are very few games where a low tier character can realistically beat a top tier char consistently at the highest level of play. So when there’s something on the line or the fight is considered to be serious, no matter how good you are with that low tier character, the wise thing to do would be to switch up to your top tier alternative. If you don’t have one, learn one. I’d recommend NS since they’re in the same vein as Sub-Zero in that they are both defensive forces, but Shujinko, Kobra and of course BRC are all great choices. There’s nothing wrong with feeling a little ballsy and playing Sub vs an elite Bo or Dairou just for kicks, but when it’s a serious fight, stay away.
4. Relax = This is something I’m personally working on myself. Being tense and nervous is part of being competitive, but try to calm yourself down. You will find your execution to be crisper, your decisions to be wiser and your reaction time to be sharper if you just chill the fuck out. Afterall, it’s just a game baby! K...enough of the waiting..time for the guide....
**Specials**
I feel this section needed to be made first since Shotokan, Dragon and Kori Blade all involve plenty of cloning and freezing for them to be used to their highest potential. Here are all 3 of Sub-Zero’s specials and my description of how they should be used overall.
1. Freeze = Overall this move is pretty good, and it has it’s uses vs the majority of the roster, making it a must use in certain situations.
One thing I can say confidently is that Sub has the best projectile exchange game in the entire roster. Anytime there’s an exchange between two fighters(as long as it’s not sub on sub) and both connect, Sub-Zero has the upper hand due to his projectile freezing them. Personally, when I freeze I aim to take damage and have them frozen. If they have a breaker, they lose one, and if they have none, they lose half their bar.
Never try to throw your projectile out after you see a projectile animation. The freeze is one of the slower projectiles in the game and most of the time you’ll end up taking damage and they will not be frozen. Anticipation is key. Toss a freeze out here and there at long distances to test the waters.
Another great thing about the freeze is that..it freezes. Normally the best you can do to punish another Sub if they clone or a Smoke if he clouds is to take about 10% of their bar by using your projectile. However, if Sub-Zero freezes them if they do that, he has the potential to deal out 50 or ATLEAST get rid of a breaker. Take advantage of this. Feel the Sub/NS player out and try to read their cloning/clouding patterns. When you anticipate them doing so, punish with the freeze. Just remember that Smoke can punish you with his telepunch if you’re too predictable. To counter that, anticipate when YOU think THEY are anticipating YOU anticipating THEM clouding, block it, and punish. More on anti Sub and NS later on in the guide.
Lastly, backdash, freeze works fairly well. For example, if you anticipate them punishing your Dragon 1,1,backdash(which you really can’t too well unless you’re bo) then you can try to freeze right after the back dash. However, more than likely if the freeze would hit them, the clone would of connected as well, which is the better move and the safer option, so go for it instead.
Overall, the move has it’s uses vs every character except Bo Rai Cho, but then again, what does Sub have that works vs Bo anyway? Use it, but don’t abuse it, for it can be stepped and if blocked up close it can be punished. Be smart about it.
2. Cold Shoulder = Well, I hear a lot of Sub-Zero players are fond of this move, but I am not one of them. I can’t help but say “yuck” when looking at this move. The only time to use it is when their bar is no longer visible. At that point if you’re outside of attacking range use the cold shoulder to kill them. However, you better make sure it tracks(tap up before doing it), cuz if they step it(and the best of the best will try to), YOU ARE FUCKED. If you’re feeling mentally dominant enough you can set this move up, but I think of it this way. The Cold Shoulder is a mid hitting attack that is unsafe on block and only does 9 damage. Pretty much anytime this move would hit at mid range, Kori Blade: b+2 would hit as well. One gives you 9 damage while the other gives you 50 damage? Why bother with the cold shoulder?
3. Throw = I know it’s not a special, but where else do I put it? Anyway, throwing is essential with Sub-Zero like it’s essential with everyone else. His throw is nothing special, and very run of the mill, but it puts the opponent in a bad enough position for Sub to make something happen. Here are a few things I do after a successful throw with Sub-Zero.
A. Turtle Up = Depending on who I’m facing and how the tide of the match is. This is the safest way to go if you have a healthy lead and don’t want to take many risks, but if you’re down it’s not really the wisest choice.
B. Walk Up, Clone = For over aggressive opponents this works wonders. Simply throw, walk up about sweep range as if you were going to attack and then clone right away. If you catch them, punish.
C. Throw Them Again = If you’ve trained them to expect a clone from your current fight or an earlier fight, throwing them again works wonders since they normally block.
D. Step Forward, Kori B+2 = People figure that Sub is far enough way from the opponent, and sometimes they don’t block, but rather try to back dash or move forward. If you step forward quickly and do Kori: b+2 and they do anything but block high they will eat it. This also works for people who try to buffer in certain specials such as the smoke cloud.
E. Cold Shoulder = Well, if you throw them and they have basically no health left, tap up to make it auto track and then do the cold shoulder. There is nothing they can do about it and they will die. However, if you’re facing another Sub or NS I would not suggest doing this since you may cold shoulder your ass right into a buffered cloud or clone.
F. Start A Combo = Right after throw if you start a combo they’re, for the most part, forced to block high because if they try to crouch the transitional blocking will turn Sub-Zero’s high attacks into mid attacks.
G. Sidestep Into Wall Trap = This is only if you’re at a certain angle with Sub-Zero and near a wall. When you’re at these particular angles, if you throw with Sub-Zero he’ll be right in their face after the throw is done. At this point you can go for a 50/50 or side step. Most people block regardless of what you’re doing right after they get up, so side step so that you’re right in front of them and begin a wall trap 50/50. Dragon is the preferable stance to do this in since it gives you quicker entry to Kori Blade than Shotokan. Some of my favorite wall trap 50/50s are Dragon: d+1,d+1,d+1,d+1,d+1,cs,b+2/d+1,cs*fake doing a kori mid then switch quickly back to dragon*,d+1,d+1,throw,walk up to sweep distance, clone or d+1,switch to kori, 1,free throw,etc,etc,etc. The possibilities are endless once you have them near a wall. However, vs NS it’s wise that you don’t do this very much since as soon as Smoke blocks once of your lows he can quickly buffer in a smoke cloud so that your next attack has Sub-Zero coughing. Watch out for that.
H. Freeze = This is only truly useful vs another Sub-Zero players or Smoke. If you walk up to them and you expect them to go for a clone or cloud, immediately freeze. It will hit them and you can sidewalk around the cloud/clone and punish them with 50% or a breaker loss.
4. Ice Clone = The reason why Sub-Zero is not the worst in the game(well, that and the fact that he does way more damage than Kira) is right here. This move, in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing, is deadly. This move is easily his most versatile move. It creates defense when there is no way to defend. It creates offense when it seems they’re untouchable. Hell, it even has a mini back dash in it if the clone itself doesn’t come out because you’re too close. However, abuse it the wrong way and you will lose to the best players in this game. Every clone needs to be thought out before used. Here we go...
Alright, first and foremost, to be truly good with the clone you need to be able to take advantage of the lag. I’m not an internet wiz, but I hear the lag in this game is anywhere from 9-20 frames. That makes the clone deadlier online than offline because if you do it fast enough it appears on your side of the screen a few mini frames before it appears on they’re side. To them it looks like it shouldn’t of come out because by the time they’re frozen it looks as if they were too close. You can blame the choppy animation and poor testing for that one. Anyway, the faster you do it, the better chance you have of it coming out when it really shouldn’t.
Buffering the clone off of moves is also another essential. Some of my favorite clone buffering moves would be Shotokan d+3~clone, Dragon d+4~clone, Kori:1(blocked),clone, Shotokan 1,1,3~clone,etc. It goes without saying that the less predictable you are with your clone placement and your clone buffers the more you’ll trick them into attacking into it.
One thing I’d like to get quickly out of the way is by setting a pattern with your clone INTENTIONALLY you allow your opponent to react how you want them to. For example. Suppose you’re feeling your opponent out and you walk up and clone. After the clone disappears you walk up and clone again. Now the third time they’re thinking “projectile time”, so you side step, walk up, and punish with kori b+2 or throw. An example of this was when I fought my boy Yoza a few weeks back. We had a series of Sub vs Kabal and during one of them I was conditioning him to expect a clone by cloning, then turtling up, walking up and cloning again, but the third time instead of cloning I anticipated a projectile and went to the freeze. Surely enough he went for it, got frozen, and lost half his bar. Being smart about your cloning and using it not just to freeze them but to set them up for other things is key to not only being good with that one move, but Sub-Zero in general. Execution, Anticipation and Mental Dominance. Those are the keys to him.
Anyway, the things you do when the clone is out is just as important as the things you do to set it up. If they block the clone up close, you can walk in front of the clone and go for a throw or a mid, if it’s avoided and they punish you back, they’ll attack into the clone(if it’s still out). The common thing to do when you do a clone is to turtle up, which is probably my favorite as well. It gives you time to think about your next attack and try to feel them out by looking at how they react to the clone. By seeing how they react to your clone the first few times you’ll know how to respond later on. Another thing I like to do is throw out a freeze when behind the clone. Not all the time, but enough times so that they know they shouldn’t try to projectile me unless they want to risk losing half their bar on a freeze/fireball exchange.
Using Sub’s pokes to set up the clone are essential. An example of this would be walk up dragon d+4, back dash, walk up, dragon 1,1,backdash,walk up to sweep distance, clone. Test their patience, mental toughness and their predictability.
That’s really all there is to it. People are like “gee how do you clone like that?” and “oh man no else gets me with it like that” and all that stuff, but it’s not like I’m some supernatural being. People just don’t use the move the right way. The most effective cloners I have seen outside of myself are Alexei, BNR and D-PAC. Perhaps they can show some insight on their cloning techniques as well.
This pretty much covers the specials section. Up next I will be covering Shotokan, Dragon and Kori Blade. I will not post them up until they are all complete for I feel you can’t begin your play without learning how to use ALL stances the right way. Until then...TA TA!
**Shotokan**
In my opinion, Shotokan is Sub-Zero’s best stance for creating space. It’s quick low pokes and good priority make it a must use in certain situations. It is not a stance that should be used to create an offense, but rather to poke and interrupt offensive pressure.
Note that in all of these stance sections that I will not cover every single move Sub-Zero has. There is no need for that. This is not Tekken or Virtua Fighter where almost every move has some kind of use. Some moves are just there to be there..period. With that in mind, here are the moves with Sub-Zero in Shotokan that I find to be truly useful in one way or another.
1. 1,1,3 = First off, make sure you hold up when doing all moves that don’t involve the up button so that they track. If they involve holding down then they should track regardless. Anyway, this move is very good. It comes out very quickly and has great priority. I use this to counter moves such as Shujinko’s mantis 1,1,1 and Jade’s full branch from first stance. However, the key to being good with this move is to ANTICIPATE and not to interrupt! This game is very glitchy and laggy so interruption is not a likely occurance, so you must do this move a second or so before you expect an attack. It’s use is to penetrate attacks and to still be offensive while being defensive. Here are the follow ups..
A. On Hit
1. Throw = A throw is guaranteed after 1,1,3 connects for a total of 32 damage. As far as what to do after the throw connects, check out the Specials section of my guide for help.
2. Switch To Kori and Do B+2 = For some reason beyond me, some players actually try to duck after this move hits. For those who are dumb enough to do that, punish them with this. However, it is a very risky thing at high level for if b+2 blocked at that close of a range, you will get raped.
3. Continue the combo with b+2 = If you have fast enough reaction time after 1,1,3 hits and they have no breakers left, this is the best option.
B. On Block
1. d+1/d+3/cs to dragon d+1/d+4 = A good thing to do if 1,1,3 is blocked is to quickly follow up with a low attack to interrupt most of the moves they try to punish you with.
2. Clone = 1,1,3 on block is clone city baby! It spaces them out just the right amount for you to get a clone out. If they attack into it..bye bye 50% of their bar!
3. b+2,f+3,2 Extension = If you’ve owned them with the 1,1,3 on block~clone set up they’ll more than likely(at the highest level atleast) try to punish you before you can get the clone out..DONT THINK SO! Punish those smartasses by continuing the 1,1,3 into b+2,2 or f+3! B+2 is the most rewarding one since it gives you a full juggles on hit. However, there is a slight delay between the 3 part of the 1,1,3 combo and the actual b+2, so they still have a slight chance to interrupt. 1,1,3,f+3,however, is uninterruptible for most part, but that gives you the least damage. 1,1,3,2 is for those who want guaranteed damage, since 2 as far as I know is unbreakable, so if they let the 1,1,3 part connect the 2 cannot be avoided, and neither can the guaranteed throw afterwards if you decide to walk up and go for it.
4. Backdash/Block = If you wanna play it really safe, this is the way to go.
1. d+1 = A solid low poke out of Shotokan, but a move I rarely use due to Sub having much better low pokes out there. Use it if you like it, but I don’t.
2. d+3 = One of the best moves Sub-Zero has in his arsenal. This move has priority that is indescribably good. Interrupts ALL high attacks, comes out blindingly fast and is a perfect set up for the clone. On block it’s pretty safe as well. Don’t abuse it, but in close ranges its about as useful as any other move Sub has.
Shotokan is a very situational stance. Since almost all of the stance’s attacks hit high, you have to anticipate either an incoming attack or a low block transition(to turn 1,1,3 into a mid attack). If you’re smart about it’s use it’s a very powerful and rewarding defensive stance.
**Dragon**
When I’m feeling my opponent out, planning my next attack, turtling or rushing, I am normally in Dragon stance. I think Dragon is important because it’s Sub’s only “athletic” stance. With Dragon Sub has speed, priority, power and most importantly, a gateway into the core of his damage(kori blade). Dragon is a stance that I prefer for offense, but it is also a must use for defense as well due to it’s spacing tools and great low pokes. Here are the moves I use in Dragon stance.
1. 1,1 = This move is extremely versatile in that it can be used to create space to continue your defense OR create an offensive. It’s safe because you can instantly back dash afterwards, making it a favorable move if you’re trying to dish out damage and stay safe. Make sure to hold up then doing 1,1 to make it track. Also, it is very useful to use 1 by itself to shorten the combo or 1,1,2 to extend the combo to throw their block timing off. If 1 by itself is blocked or connects you can do the same things I tell you to do below if 1,1 connects or is blocked. If 1,1,2 is blocked, more than likely you’ll have time to block or clone. If 1,1,2 connects, quickly switch to Kori Blade and do 1,b+1 to get your plant then walk up and 50/50. Here are the things to do when 1,1 connects or if it’s blocked.
~On Block~
1. d+1 = I don’t use this often after 1,1 on block, but if your opponent is big on starting their offense through a high attack, this will go under their attack and punish them for 4 damage. As for what to do after d+1 connects..we’ll get to that a bit later.
2. clone = depending on where the last 1 connected you can buffer in a successful clone after 1,1 being blocked. Look quickly at where Sub-Zero feet are after 1,1 is blocked. If there’s a tad bit of space between his feet and the opponent’s, go for the clone. If not...
3. backdash,clone = This is for the people who are a bit slow on the reaction time. If you notice they are trying to punish you after 1,1 and you’d like to make them pay, this is the way to do it. They’ll end up comboing right into a clone. If they’ve become used to you doing this and try projectiling you the best thing to do is to fake a clone after the back dash, but instead of cloning, side step, walk up and punish their projectile.
~On Hit~
1. Backdash = This is what you do if you just want to deal a quick 12% while still being in turtle mode. This is what I mean by Dragon: 1,1 being offensive as well as defensive. An example, time is running out and it’s a really tight game. You’re barely up by a bit of health and they’re hunting you down. You’ve trained them to be used to your cloning patterns. After careful placement of the clone and steady defense, you randomly out of nowhere dragon:1,1~back dash clone and continue to turtle till time runs out. Now the chance of you winning is higher since your lead is larger. Sounds gay and lame, but trust me, it’s worked vs the best..lol.
2. Throw = One of the better options after 1,1, connects is to throw. The human brain(for the most part) thinks to block after being hit with an attack like that, so take advantage of that by throwing. However, if they become used to this and begin to duck....
3. CS,Kori:1,free throw/b+2 = This is for the people who like to duck after 1,1 connects. If you want to be safe when going for a mid I would suggest Kori: 1,free throw. Even if it does not connect, you have plenty of set ups if it’s blocked(get to that later as well). However, if you’re down by a lot and your opponent is not familiar with the “if you’re winning by a lot, don’t duck because the mids do more damage than throws” rule, and they have no breakers left, slap them with Kori: b+2 go for the 50%.
4. d+1 - If you’re near a wall. Why? Get to that in a bit.
2. 1,2 series = Your basic 50/50 string. If you anticipate them standing, do 1,2,4. If you anticipate them ducking do 1,2,u+4,free throw. However, a lot of people do not know that u+4 is a free throw, so you can use the free throw opportunity as a 50/50 opportunity. Be careful about these mix ups, however, for if 1,2,4 is blocked, you will be punished by the better players in this game. Even 1,2,u+4 isn’t safe for those with fast enough reaction time. Be wise about your choice. Feel them out and read their blocking patterns.
3. d+1 = Probably the most important move in dragon. This move has it all. Tracks well, hits low, comes out fast, is good for defense and is even better for starting an offense. Whore this shit out
4. because most characters have no answer to it. Here are the things to do if this hits and the things to do if this is blocked.
~On Block~
1. Do It Again = d+1 is a move that is fast and with great priority. Most of the time if this move is blocked, they will try to create an offense by doing a high attack. Another d+1 will go under any high attack they do, and will even beat most mid attacks they attempt as well.
2. Back Dash = Ok, so you’re poke was blocked? So? It more than likely will not be punished so backdash and plan your next means of attack.
3. Clone = My personal favorite(just ask Dan..lol). After d+1 is blocked, impatient players(or offensive minded..which ever) will try to get in your face. D+1, if blocked, gives you just enough room to quickly clone and try to catch them. If you do, switch to Kori and punish.
~On Hit~
1. Walk Up, Throw = This tactic is very effective..ESPECIALLY if you’ve punished them time after time with the Kori Blade and they fear mids. When they are in this state of mind, most of the time after d+1 connects you can walk up and get a throw. If not.
2. Switch to Kori and 1 = If they like to duck after d+1 connects, quickly switch to Kori Blade and do 1 and take your free throw. Teach them cats not to duck..lol.
3. Backdash = If you’re using d+1 as a spacing tool to continue your defense this is probably what you will do after d+1 connects.
4. 1,1 = Use this as a way to feel out how they react to d+1 on hit while still staying safe. If you see them ducking, quickly back dash and the NEXT TIME you do d+1 and it hits..follow up with the mid hitting Kori: 1,free throw. If it’s blocked or ducked, follow up with any of the stuff I told you to follow up with if dragon: 1,1 is blocked, and if it connects, follow up with what I told you to follow up with as well.
5. Wall Pressure(if near wall) = One of the most fun parts of playing Sub-Zero is his deadly wall game. If d+1 connects by a wall, feel them out. d+1 them a few times. 3 times, 4 times, 6 or 7. Players fear the big hit. They will not duck unless they really have to, but d+1 does 4 damage. 4 damage over and over again adds up very quickly, and once you feel they are going to duck, switch to Kori and go for the big hit. Whether it be b+2,d+2,d+2(guaranteed 30% damage unbreakable) or 1,free throw(guaranteed 26% damage unbreakable). People always ask me why I’m so good with walls and how I know when they’re going to duck. I’ve heard things as funny as I use gameshark or that I have psychic powers, but I assure you it is not that. What people need to do is use the past as a reference. If you’re in a fight at which point earlier you d+1ed them 7 or 8 times, then you can expect them to duck a lot earlier(usually around the 3rd or 4th time, but anticipation is key). Another useful tip is that if you are using d+1 over and over again and you see them block it after a while you can do 1 of 2 things. You can either IMMEDIATELY switch to Kori and bust out the big hitting mid attack, OR you can switch to Kori, stand there to make them think you’re going to do a mid, then quickly switch back to Dragon and continue the low rush, or throw. Being good with the walls comes with time. Once you got it I think it’s easy though.
6. switch quickly to Kori and b+2 = OUCHY! If they do anything but block or side step after d+1 hits this is guaranteed to hit. This means if they try to back dash, move back, move forward, attack, etc, etc, all recipes for b+2 ownage. One of my favorite set ups and one that has won me many matches. Why does it work? Well, simply put, they don’t expect much after d+1 hits because it’s low attack that spaces kinda far so they don’t expect a follow up and worry about doing a whole lot of shit OTHER than blocking. BAD MOVE!. Of course if b+2 connects go for the full damage.
4. d+4 = This is fairly essential only because of it’s range. It hits when d+1 won’t because it cover a fairly good amount of space. If this move hits or is blocked you should back dash most the time UNLESS you are feeling real confident about your clone game.
Dragon is Sub’s movement’s stance. Kori Blade is only so deadly because of Dragon’s speed and it’s set up abilities. Without Dragon Sub cannot control fights on the defensive end like he does.
**Kori Blade**
It was a pleasant surprise seeing how they updated the Kori Blade in MKD. Considering the trash it was in MKDA, it’s nice to see they made it(whether intentional or not) an extremely deadly stance in the right hands. It only has about 4 useful moves, but these moves can have a serious impact if used the right way. In this part of the guide I will explain the correct way to use the Kori Blade. Here are the must use moves.
1. 1 = Arguably Sub-Zero’s best move because it hits mid, is relatively safe, beats out most low attacks in the game and has above average priority. The fact that it guarantees you a throw on hit makes it even more devastating. Use it whenever you think it will hit, and even when you think it will be blocked to condition them to eat throws. If they block your Kori: 1 and you’re feeling mentally dominant enough, go for a clone. You’d be surprised at how many people fall for this, especially in fast paced fights where you have very little time to think or correct your errors. Another thing you can do if 1 is blocked is to throw. They normally expect you to follow up with b+1, so if you don’t they’re surprised.
2. 1,b+1 = Use this when you’ve trained them to block 1 by itself and you anticipate them letting go OR when you want to guarantee yourself a 50/50 mix up after 1 connects. I personally go for 1,b+1 rather than 1,free throw when I’m losing by a fairly large amount so I can at least assure myself a 50/50 between throw and another Kori: 1. A very important move, but don’t abuse it for while it’s safe on block, it can be interrupted in between the 1 and the b+1 and forces you to block a 50/50 if they block it entirely.
3. b+2 = You better know this move very well if you have any plans of trying to beat a good Kobra player. This is my favorite move besides the clone and the key to most of Sub’s damage. Keep in mind that this move is not safe, so whoring it out and using it randomly is not wise if you plan on hanging with the top players, but when used as a punisher or after a set up, it becomes an extremely deadly attack that guarantees either a breaker being lost or your opponent losing half their bar. Anytime you could use Kori:1 you can use this move, but of course with the extra damage comes the fact that if Kori: b+2 is blocked you are in for a world of pain unless they have horrible reaction time. Anyway, here are the best times to use to b+2 to maximize your chance of it connecting.
A. After clone/freeze = DUH!
B. After d+1 hits = Read the dragon section for more on this.
C. Do it as soon as the announcer says fight - Not the wisest thing but it does work sometimes. If you’re in Dragon, quickly switch to Kori and b+2 as fast as possible.
D. After Throw = Read about this in special moves section above.
E. During a 50/50 = For example, if you walk up after Kori: 1,b+1 connects you have a free 50/50 between a throw/low attack and a Kori mid of your choice(or cold shoulder if you want to be a dumbass). If you’re REALLY sure that they will duck, go for it, but if they block, well, you know the rest.
F. Randomly throw it out in the middle of you turtling = One of the most effective ways of catching them with Kori: b+2 is while turtling in dragon. The reason why is because they are so focused on hunting you down that they don’t expect you to do anything from mid range/long distance but clone, so when they don’t see a clone out they feel they are free to pursue without worry. What they forget most of the time, however, is that b+2 has big time range and will catch most pursuers. A great set up and it’s one that works a lot, but I would suggest having a breaker or two to lean back on in case they block it
4. d+3 = Basically imagine Dragon: d+1 without the set up potential but even more priority. This move hits a lot because most of the time people don’t duck when you’re in Kori Blade(well, good players at least) which makes this even more effective as a spacing tool and a match ender. I love this move and I admittedly don’t use it enough. Make it part of your arsenal if it’s not already.
5. d+2 = The fact that this move is unbreakable makes it a must use in certain situations. In crunch time when you clone someone or catch them with a freeze and they have breakers and you only need about 15% damage to take the lead..this is what you use. This move is also a must during wall traps. After you connect with Kori: b+2 in a corner do d+2 and then another d+2. This move is also great if you duck a throw or high attack.
That’s it? Yes, it is. Kori Blade’s complexity(if you wanna call anything in this game complex, anyway) is in how you use it, not the amount of moves it has.
So that covers his stances..now for how to actually beat these fuckers..lol.
**Sub-Zero vs The World**
In this section I will cover Sub’s fights and how I go about handling that particular character. Keep in mind that I’ve faced most of the best players that particular character has to offer with Sub-Zero and I’ve come on top vs the majority of them on several occasions. The exceptions of course are Bo and Dairou(I’ve never beaten Moe or Dave with Sub-Zero if they’re using them), since Sub-Zero when played at the highest level possible still can’t beat those dudes consistently. I have plenty of experience in this game and hope this part of the guide enlightens those who are having difficulty with some of the tougher fights like Liu Kang, Scorpion, Shujinko and Noob-Smoke. I tried to make this section in a way that it not only helps Sub-Zero, but anyone who has a hard time with that particular fight. A few things I wanna cover before getting into this...
Difficulty = How hard it is for Sub to win this particular fight.
Favorite To Win = Who has a better chance of winning the fight overall in a series if an elite Sub-Zero goes against an elite player with that particular character. Realize that just because I say Sub-Zero has the upper hand in a particular match up that it does not mean he’s a better character. Raiden, Jade, Li Mei etc are all better character overall than Sub-Zero, but at the highest level Sub-Zero beats them all in series most of the time.
Here we go..
~Sub-Zero vs Jade~
Difficulty = 2/5
Favorite To Win = Sub-Zero
Gameplan = A good joke to me is when I’m on the server and some playboy wants to talk big game and say something stupid like “Jade owns Sub hard” or “Jade counters Sub”. Wrong. If anything this fight favors Sub-Zero because Sub’s strength(outside of defensive prowess) is his ability to punish unsafe moves with big time blows. Jade needs to take a certain amount of risks with her moves to be succeed.
Most jade players are looking to start a full branch combo if they hawk around mid range/long range in her first stance. The beginning of the branch starts high, so punish interrupt her offensive attempt with pokes such as Shotokan: d+3, Dragon: d+1 or Kori: d+3. If Jade players go full branch and you feel they will go all the way, wait for her to do the final part of the branch(the weapon u+3) and punish that hard. Outside of that nasty branch her first stance isn’t much of a threat.
Jade’s second stance is good because it’s the easiest stance for her to set up her big damage. She has the wickedly evil b+1 which leads to a whole lot of pain if it connects. She also has 3, which is a quick, damaging low attack that can be a pain in the ass if you don’t read the Jade player properly. However, both attacks are unsafe on block and can be punished with Kori: b+2. Feel the Jade player out. Try to look out for patterns and defend accordingly. D+3 is safe and incredibly annoying, but they normally set themselves up for punishment if they keep doing it over and over and then switch up to b+1. Feel them out by letting them have their d+3s and hunt out the b+1 change up, block it, and punish. After that, Jade players tend to go for a throw after a few d+3s to keep your blocking honest. Take the throw if you want, but if you know they’re going for it then duck them and throw them back. It’s very rare that Jade players win from just using low pokes and throws. The better Jade players put themselves at risk to get the damage. This is when you capitilize.
Her weapon is a pain in the ass to defend, but incredibly unsafe. 1,1 is a powerhouse and deal out damage like nothing, but if you block it, ouch for Jade. Her low pokes cover great distance but are all unsafe and very punishable if blocked.
Outside of her stances, just play a safe game. Don’t put yourself at risk too much because Jade is a powerful bitch and you don’t want to set yourself up for something you will regret. Poke around with her. Feel her out with Dragon rushing(1,1/1,2 series/d+1/etc) and make her do things you want to do, which should set you up for a clone or at least some throws. I like to fish out in Shotokan vs her since it’s very good at interrupting her teleport. Simply hold up and press 1,1,3 as soon as you see her teleport and it will hit and so will your free throw.
Jade is more annoying to beat than difficult. She’s not to be taken lightly because she can destroy you if you don’t play a fairly safe game and take advantage of her damage attempts being blocked. I believe Sub-Zero has the upper hand in the fight, but only if you’re very good with him. He’s a superior character defensively and equally devastating offensively and a hell of a lot safer. I would suggest playing these guys if you want some good fights to get your Sub adjusted to some solid Jade players .
1. BMB/Bombs(best Jade)
2. DNBHead
3. Boston
4. Jade-Own
5. M2Dave
~Sub-Zero vs Kenshi~
Difficulty = 3/5
Favorite To Win = Sub-Zero
Good Kenshi’s are a rarity, but he sure is a pain in the ass when used by the right player. However, if you are patient and don’t walk into all of his tele set ups and sword u+2 bait you will do ok.
The first stance isn’t used a lot by Kenshi players, and when it is, it’s normally to set up a throw. Tai Chi: 2,pause, 2, pause,2,2,throw,etc,etc. It’s painfully obviously most of the time when they are going for a throw, so just duck and throw them back or interrupt that BS with a low poke of your choice. I don’t fear this stance at all and neither should you.
The second stance(judo) is incredibly annoying with d+4 on hit giving him a free 50/50 and his command throw back dash cancels are great bate for the telefury. The best way to go about handling this stance is to stay about mid range and control the fight with a defensive mind set. Punish d+4 abuse with Kori: 1 and take your free throw. Kenshi’s command throws(judo: 1 and 2) do not do a lot of damage and should not be feared at all since they cannot set him up for real damage on hit outside of maybe a telefury. If d+4 hits, he’s either going to go for u+2 or a throw, so feel them out. If they go for a throw and you feel they will, duck and throw them back, if they go for u+2, block it and quickly go for a 50/50 between Kori: 1 or throw.
Kenshi’s sword is a pain in the ass and drastically toned up when compared to his MKDA iteration. U+2 is 100% safe on block, so if you block the best thing to do is go for a 50/50 between throw and kori: 1. Don’t go for b+2 unless you’re sure they’re going to do duck because if they block it you’re in trouble. His low pokes in Sword keep you zoned out, but are punishable on block OR at least allow a decent 50/50 opportunity.
Kenshi’s telepowers are what makes him good(besides sword u+2), but they can be punished. The telethrow sucks and shouldn’t be used by any Kenshi player, but believe it or not, some actually use it. If it’s blocked, punish it..hard. Same goes for the push, fury and slam. If you anticipate any of them from mid or long range go for a freeze, but be wise about this because Kenshi can actually punish your blocked freeze with a telefury.
Kenshi’s teleport doesn’t pose much of a threat to Sub-Zero. If you anticipate it go for a Clone or freeze and it’ll stop him right in his tracks. If you cannot do that in time, either duck(for throw) or stand block for u+2.
Kenshi’s throw is weird in that it leaves you and your opponent in a really odd position compared to other throws, similar to Sub-Zero’s throw. The 3 options Kenshi players like to take after his throw is to walk up and throw, walk up and sword u+2 or telefury if he predicts you’re going to try to back away or move closer.
Outside of all of that, I’m not really big on playing a poke type of game with Kenshi. Kenshi is not a poker, but he excels at punishing pokers. I prefer to play really defensive vs him. Go for big hits and throw a LOT. Only poke if you feel you need to the create space or an offense.
This fight is very boring, but very winnable for Sub. Sub hits harder, defends almost as well and sets up his damage more effectively. Be patient and don’t rush into anything. Good Kenshi players to face are.
1. Jade Own(best kenshi)
2. Quik
3. Buffy S
4. Molson
5. Chimage
~Sub-Zero vs Scorpion~
Difficulty = 4/5
Favorite To Win = Scorpion
The classic match up of Mortal Kombat hasn’t been much of a match up lately. In Deadly Alliance Scorpion destroyed Sub-Zero and he was significantly better in UMK3 as well as MK4. However, thankful I am that Sub-Zero has been given the tools to needed to fight Scorpion in this game.
Scorpion’s Hapkido stance is his best stance to start pressure. Scorpion is most effectively used at the highest level using both Hapkido AND Mogai Ryu on contrary to popular belief, so you need to fear this stance almost as much as you fear his sword vs the best Scorpion players this game has to offer. Hapkido: 2 is tricky in that it comes out fast, is relatively safe on block and guarantees a hellfire on hit. However, it hits high, so you can crush under it with low pokes and even interrupt pressure with Shotokan 1,1,3 if the Scorpion likes to do 2 over and over. His Hapkido: 3 axe kick is one of his better moves and not punishable on block. Read the Scorpion out, don’t rush into being offensive because Scorpion beats Sub-Zero in an offensive duel most of the time. Good Scorps like to train your blocking by doing 2 then 2,3 and then 2,3,4. Stuff like that. Read them out. Take some risk to feel out their blocking and go for a throw when you feel they will block, or fake going for a throw and then switch into Kori and 1,free throw. His double sweep(f+3,b+3) is extremely annoying, but you can punish or atleast force a 50/50 mix up if you block both. If it hits, the Scorpion will either switch to Sword and go for a 50/50, 50/50 in hapkido with 3 and throw or hell fire. Don’t let it happen. Auto Recover(tap df or db as soon as you hit the ground) as soon as you hit the ground and go for a throw or something damage. Most players don’t expect it and you should be able to get out a quick clone as soon as you pop back up. Scorpion’s like to use the hell fire off sweeps because most players block low or high after the sweep to block a mix up, only to get burnt. If you anticipate this, punish the Scorpion by side walking as soon as you get up and then let him feel your Kori Blade.
Scorpion’s second stance is garbage and not worth wasting time talking about since no one good really uses that stance. However, d+1 is a great poke that can give Sub-Zero trouble. Counter it by using Kori: 1,free throw to beat it out.
Mogai Ryu(sword) is one of the better stances in the game because it’s extremely safe and leads to moderate damage if you f+1 connects. Shotokan and Dragon are both very ineffective vs the sword. D+1 and f+1 have way too much priority over the moves in both stances. The only time I’d suggest using one of them is to throw out a random Shotokan: 1,1,3(make sure to hold up to make it track) to interrupt pressure and get a free throw, but outside of that you need to be in Kori Blade to fight this stance. Turtling is essential. The best position to be in is right outside of Scorpion’s sword f+1 range. You must use your movement to toy with the Scorpion’s head. Turtle up, walk up, Kori:1. Turtle up, walk up clone in anticipation that they may f+1 right into one. If the scorpion player likes to whore out f+1 over and over again you can step around that or simply block one f+1 and then IMMEDIATELY follow up with Kori: b+2 or something quick to make them pay for being a faggot..lol. Another thing you can do is block f+1 and in between the blocking throw out a Kori:1 or try and walk up and quickly throw. It’s all about anticipation and timing. D+1 is a great move, but Kori: 1 beats it out priority wise at the right range, so take advantage of that. Side walk a lot to avoid f+1 pressure and the hell fire. Don’t be afraid to take a few throws and d+1 in the process. It’s a lot less painful when compared to eating f+1,spear,cs,cs,b+2,hellfire,50/50..trust me. D+3 is somewhat effective vs the sword because it has priority over d+1 and f+1 at close range. Be sure that whenever Scorpion blocks one of Sub-Zero’s unsafe moves that you’re mashing on f+block to breaker the f+1 because after that the entire combo is unbreakable(the one that all the good Scorps use at least). Mogai Ryu is very diffuclt to fight, but it is beatable. Regardless of what the Scorpion player does you need to be on the turtling side. Whether it be a complete defensive match up of Kori vs Mogai or him trying to pitbull you down(bad move if you’re sick with the clone) you need to be reading and anticipating to stand a chance.
Using the clone as a bate for the spear is one of the better techniques vs the better Scorpion players. You need to be smart about your usage and not being predictable about it unless you intend to. Purposely being predictable to get a reaction out of the Scorp is key for not just the spear, but the Sword and Hapkido as well. Whenever you block or side step the spear, punish him with Kori b+2.
Overall, this fight was considered a joke until I started playing, but it’s still extremely difficult and annoying. Nothing pisses me off more than outplaying my opponent and still losing to 4 moves(d+1,f+1,hell fire and throw), but I rarely lose series anymore to Scorpions. You can’t outpriortize him, but you can make him pay a lot harder for his mistakes than he can for your mistakes. Take advantage of your breakers and space well. Here are some people to check into if you want to fight some good Scorpions.
1. Alexei(best scorpion I’ve faced)
2. M2dave
3. ScorpN1
4. Chingon
5. Myself
~Sub-Zero vs Mileena~
Difficulty = 5/5
Favorite To Win = Mileena
It always makes me chuckle when I recall that people thought Mileena was low tier when the game first came out. “She doesn’t do enough damage” they said..lol. This bitch is tough. She takes priority to whole different level and can do one thing amazingly well that Sub-Zero cannot, and that’s maintain a solid offense while remaining fairly safe.
As one of the better Mileena players online, I know that the best Mileena players use the second stance almost EXCLUSIVELY, however, her first stance has an EXTREMELY good low poke in d+4. This move spaces out sub-zero perfectly and is completely safe. The best way to handle this move is to Kori: 1 it and take your free throw on hit.
Mileena’s second stance is one of the best stances in the game. That cannot be argued, but it is beatable if you’re patient. With Sub-Zero you need to turtle harder than you do vs any other character(well, besides Bo and Kobra) to succeed. Maintain a range that is way outside of her 4,1 range, because that’s the core of her damage. Test her patience with random clones and constant defense. Lure her into throwing Sais and punish her by anticipating it and freezing her. The Ice Clone is always an effective move, but it’s at it’s best vs Mileena because she’s pressure character. Lure her into clones by walk up and acting like you’re going to attack. Good Mileenas know that besides Kori: 1, Shotokan: 1,1,3 and Kori: b+2 that there are no moves Sub-Zero has that has priority over her second stance, so they will try to attack you with 4 or go for d+4 to interrupt your pressure. Both of these moves are candidates for clone owning because she lunges forward when she does them. Those are the situations where you need to take your damage. Random low pokes in Shotokan, Dragon and Kori are a must. I would recommend Shotokan: d+3, Dragon: d+4 and Kori d+3 the most because they have great priority and two of them hit at mid range. Get her damage down by forcing her to take breakers, agitating her with low pokes and punishing 4,1 at close range with Kori: b+2. What do you do when you have a lead? Run. Turtle like it’s about to be played out. Mileena has a VERY hard time catching Sub-Zero because he can clone to his heart’s content for the most part and only have to worry about her slow as Sai, which can be punished with a freeze if you anticipate it like I said earlier. 50/50 with cloning and throwing ice. Side walk while running the clock down and force her to either chase you or throw a Sai. If she throws a Sai and you side stepped around it, immediately clone. Mileena can’t follow up with another Sai for about 2 seconds to do the special timer in MKD. They normally start getting desperate around the 10 seconds left part and begin to really become aggressive. This is when the clone becomes your Ace. Whore it out, and don’t worry about the Sais because if you’re up by enough there’s no amount of sais in the world that can give her the lead.
Mileena’s roll is a bitch sometimes, but nothing to really fear. You can see it coming from a mile away and it’s incredibly unsafe on block. If you block her 4,1 a lot of Mileena players will try to roll under you before you can punish her. Look out for that.
Sub-Zero vs Mileena is EXTREMELY boring to watch. Dan is my MK Rival and we both hate Sub-Zero vs Mileena because it’s just extremely gay and boring on both sides, but it’s very winnable for Sub-Zero. If you attack the right way and read the Mileena out while playing HARDCORE defense then the fight becomes very balanced, though it still favors Mileena by a bit. The best Mileenas to fight to train your Sub are.
1. Dan(best Mileena)
2. Me
3. Boston
4. Wicca/Li Mei Fan
5. Your Death/Master Malone
~Sub-Zero vs Baraka~
Difficulty = 3/5
Favorite To Win = Sub-Zero
Baraka is one annoying bugger if used the right way, which is defensively. It becomes a chess match of when to attack, when to defend and how to attack and how to defend when an elite Sub goes again an elite Baraka. The match slightly favors Sub-Zero due to the clone and more damage, but it’s a very even fight overall.
The one thing Baraka has is extreme damage and priority off simple combos and strikes. He’s a not a juggling type of character so don’t expect to use a lot of breakers outside of his notorious Blade: 3,3,2,1,1 combo. His first stance’s main moves are 2 and b+4. Silat: b+4 is a good sweep, but you can see it coming if you’re quick enough on reflexes. Quickly 50/50 between a throw and a mid(if you’re in Kori..if not just lay down a poke or conitnue to feel the opponent out) after it’s blocked. Silat: 2 is annoying because it does good damage and hits mid, but it is not safe. Make Baraka pay for everytime you block it.
Hung Gar is annoying with it’s b+3 sweep and it’s 1/1,b+2 pokes. The best way to go about handling Hung Gar is by not trying to punish it directly. You need to trade pokes with him. Dragon is key vs Baraka. Mess with the Baraka’s head like he messes with yours. Use 1,2 change ups and and 1,backdash/1,1,backdash variations. D+1 is always a great options for starting an offense as well. Overall the stance is very annoying, but if you use Dragon correctly it’s bot too much of a threat.
Mutant Blades is the core of his damage as well all know, so this is the stance you’ll eat lots of throws and low sweeps in. However, one thing people don’t realize is that one of Baraka’s main strengths(his range) can be his weakness! Baraka rarely needs to be really close to anything, especially in blades, so you know for the most part that if they walk really close to your face that they’re more than likely going for a throw, so try to duck and throw them back. With that said, though, the better players will take advantage of this by walking up and then waiting for you to duck and doing a mid. Don’t let this happen. Use Sub-Zero’s high priority low pokes to get them out of your face and to set up clones. Anyway, Blades are very straight forward. They’re ultimately trying to land 3,3,2,1,1 for always be on the look out for that. The last hit of that combo is a kori: b+2 waiting to happen if it’s blocked, but most good Baraka don’t finish the combo if it’s blocked. Look out for when he stops attacking and then quickly go for a throw or a mid once you’ve conditioned them to duck.
One fault Sub-Zero players have with Baraka players(and I’m guilty of this one myself sometimes believe it or not) Is that we’re afraid to attack because we fear the insane priority of f,f+3 and d,u+3. They both do big time damage and come out very quickly, but they’re both extremely unsafe on block and hella punishable. Condition the Baraka to defend your pokes while still keeping an eye out those two moves. Don’t be too defensive and don’t be too offensive. Have an equal balance and know what to do under certain conditions depending on who you’re facing. The best Baraka players to face are.
1. Dan(best Baraka)
2. Thug
3. Alexei
~Sub-Zero vs Sindel~
Difficulty = 3/5
Favorite To Win = Sub-Zero
Sindel, in some ways, is very similar to Baraka. They both aren’t played a lot by the better players, they both don’t depend on juggles to deal their damage and they both have great priority. The difference is that Sindel can be played a lot safer than Baraka and is a better defensive character as well. Sub-Zero vs Sindel is one of my favorite match ups because it’s really balanced.
Sindel’s first stance blows. It’s used mainly for variety or when you suck so much that you’re not even worth being played seriously. Good Sindels don’t use it, so I won’t bother talking about it much, but walk up for that overhead slap. It launches and I believe it hits mid. On block it it’s punishable though.
Fu Jow Pai up close is Sindel’s best stance. B+2 is her best move for several reasons. It hits mid, comes out faster than most low pokes, has amazing priority and spaces Sindel out so she can do the one thing she does better than most: turtle. The best way to go about handling this move is to use shotokan d+3 and kori: d+3 to stuff it. Both moves have a tiny bit of priority over it. I personally prefer d+3 because you can set the clone up with it on block OR hit, but both are good options. I would not recommend d+1 in dragon because for some reason b+2 totally obliterates that move on the priority front(no clue why) For the most part, Sindel’s normally block if this move is defended against, so take advantage of this by throwing, using kori mids or atleast creating an offense with Dragon. Watch out though, because she can follow up b+2 with another b+2 by using a special notation that I forget at the moment. Ask Dan about that. D+4 is annoying as fuck. It’s one of the better low attacks in the game and interrupts a lot of shit. However, like all other low attacks, it’s a victim to Kori: 1 at mid range. In close if you eat one I’d suggest blocking low the next time and then trying to back out of it and lay out a clone. Don’t be afraid to take a b+2 after d+4 being blocked. It’s a great move and all, but ultimately it does not do THAT much damage. Sindel players LOVE to follow up a few d+4s with her slide. Why they do that is beyond me(much smarter to just continue d+4 and b+2 mix ups), but who cares? If you anticipate that, block it and make her eat the Kori.
Before talking about Sindel’s Kwan Do I’d just like to point out real quick that Sindel’s throw is garbage. Easily the worst throw in the game, but good Sindel’s know it’s a must use in certain up close pressure situations. If the move hits do not breaker it unless you have no choice. Instead, Auto Recover as soon as you hit the ground and walk up and force a 50/50. If you anticipate the Sindel using b+2 or a move of that nature to get you out of her face, walk up and then lay out a clone...ownage..lol. If the Sindel player throws you near a wall you can quickly auto recover and have a guaranteed cold shoulder, but you must be quick about it.
Kwan Do isn’t as good as FJP on the defensive end, but it’s a stance used to contain the opponent at mid range. 4,4 is an extremely effective move because it’s fairly safe on hit and has great range. You can’t really punish it, but Sindels love to extend the combo(4,4,1) after conditioning you to block 4,4 to make you eat the pop up. If you block this, punish with Kori: b+2 or another pop up because that shit is not safe and must be punished. Another move to look out for with Sindel is 1. Sindel players love to use her 1,b+3(mid,low). If it is blocked Sindel is in trouble so take advantage of that. U+2 is a great move, but you can see it coming from a mile away. Look out for it, block it and punish it because the last thing you want is a guaranteed 50/50 after that baby hits. The last move of importance that I feel needs to be covered is u+3. This is Sindel’s FJP: b+2 equivalent. It launches and comes out very quickly. It can be punished however, but be quick about it because due to online Lag they can cancel out the recovery time by doing another u+3 and another and another..you get the point.
Sindel’s fireball is a very difficult move to deal with at long ranges, but remember that it hits high, so at the longest range you can stay crouched and Sindel can do no harm to you. They will try to anticipate your clones and fireball you out of the, but you need to counter that by anticipating them using it and trying to freeze them so you guys both take the hit. This move is also used as a spacer for turtling so side step here and there while trying to get in her face if being offensive is your desire.
Her scream is a bitch to handle, but all one needs to do is block it and walk up and punish. Though she is still screaming, the animation will no longer stum Sub-Zero. However, this move can be extremely glitchy and work when it shouldn’t, so your safest bet is to freeze her during the animation.
I have plenty of experience vs Sindel because I play the best Sindel player all the time(my nigga Dan). She’s not difficult to beat, but in the right hands she can be a TRUE pain in the ass. She’s susceptible to the clone in both FJP and Kwan Do so use that to your advantage. Use Kori d+3,1 and b+2 as spacers and punishers to her low attacks and ladtly, throw Sindel a LOT! They love to block and most of them are good at it, so make them pay or atleast make them consider ducking, which ultimately as a Sub-Zero player that is what you want. The best Sindels to face are.
1. Dan(best sindel)
2. Skaven
3. Me
4. IV-Death
~Sub-Zero vs Havik~
Difficulty = 2/5
Favorite To Win = Sub-Zero
Havik is a very solid character. He has priority, power, a great throw and one of the better 50/50 games in MKD. However, he lacks range and anytime you lack range vs a good Sub-Zero he dictates the pace of the match.
Snake is a simple stance in that it’s two most effective moves are u+2 and 4,b+2. 4,b+2 is good, but it’s range is poor. It’s safe on block, but you can start an offense on block or throw in a poke. U+2 is the most powerful single strike in the game, and guarantees a 50/50 on hit as well, so look out for that. It’s range is great and so is it’s priority, but on block you can punish it very hard. It’s also very easy to set him up with the clone if he abuses that. 4,b+2 is somewhat tricky to deal with in it comes out very quickly and does good damage, but you just need to defend well against it.
Tang Soo Do is at it’s most effective when used randomly, but ultimately it all comes down to one mix up: b+1,4 and b+1,3,3. More often than not I block low after b+1 for the simple fact that after 4 hits Havik gets a free throw. I’d rather take the 13% or so from eating 3,3 than eating 4, then a free throw and then a juggle which plants into another mix up. That doesn’t mean to duck block all the time after b+1, but you need to pay careful attention to eating that as little as possible. Both are punishable on hit, especially b+1,4 so make sure you capitalize on him fucking up with some Kori Blade love.
Morning Star is ultimately his best stance and very annoying to deal with. Firstly, d+1 is a great poke, but what do I keep on preaching about when it comes to handling lows? Kori: 1! It’s Sub-Zero best move for a reason! Anyway, Moon Star: 3 is a bitch to handle, but you just need to be patient. Unless you’re in really close, it’s very diffuclt to punish, so maintain your distance. Some Haviks like to give him the SSS(sword scorp scrub) treatment and whore out 3 over and over again. Remember that this move is very sidesteppable and you can interrupt in between 3s with your own assault..preferably Kori: b+2.