Oh, I've experienced it. A LOT of times over the years. But I can whip the computers now, because I've practiced so much. MK2KungBroken will probably tell you some strategies, but I'm too lazy to.

mkfan_2002 Wrote: I was wondering if anybody else has experienced the computer being able to scout your moves before you do them. In MK3, every time I do an Ice Ball, the computer blocks and counters. Same with Scorpion's Spear attack. In MKT and UMK 3, Jade uses her Invincibility right when you throw a projectile. Just wondering if you have experienced it or not.

Thats not just MK3. The freeze and spear just thrown outright in MK1 or MK2 is worthless against the comp as well. You have to know how to catch them in any game.

MK2KungBroken does know many strats for that. I dont know so many because I dont like 1 player MK, its just not designed for it so the AI sucks in every version.

Like most MK games ,all you have to do is figure out how the AI works. Sure the AI is cheap but at the same time very dumb like most AI in games in general. I've learned how to take advantage of it. Easy AI overall.....

So can we get some good tactics posted? Sadly, 1-player MK is the only kind I can play. I haven't played against someone in 2D Mortal Kombat since... 1996... Wow.

UMK3 and MKT the easiest is to pick a character with a teleport, jump away and kick in air, they throw a projectile, teleport, attack. Pretty much most of the time if you do a scorpion-esque teleport you can get them with stuff as they stumble from it and the comp won't block even though it can. Similarly, if you play as human smoke and do his lk, d+lp, pause, d+hp, jump kick, teleport, speer, repeat, they will never block even though it breaks between the d+lp and the d+hp.

In regular MK3 I would just let them get in near me and capture them with sindel or cyrax. Inside sweep the comp doesn't like to block really.

I forget MK2, I think I just roundhoused everyone or did projectile lock down with Shang ot Reptile or something.

In UMK3 1.2 the computer doesn't fall for Scorpion, Ermac and Smoke's AI break strategy nearly as much, but there are so many different strategies for beating them.

Characters with containments:
Land a combo, sweep, CPU jumps away, and runs in, throw your containment move as they run in, but don't wait to long because they jump.

Sindel:
CPU cannot block the scream, at least, they just don't, however they will stay outside of it's range, however some characters with throw a projectile and still get caught, after this, pop up combo, jump kick, then buffer her scream as they get up. You can also set them up by jumping straight up and air fireball, if they jump back or get hit, they usually run and jump in, perfect set up for a scream.

Smoke/Sektor
Jump away, kick teleport punch on projectile, combo, repeat.

Jax:
Sweep, sweep, sweep, if they jump back, throw a missile, if they jump over you, straight up jump, backbreaker, repeat, they will jump backwards but towards you and back breaker again.

Jump away kick or punch, duck projetile, jump straight up, CPU runs in, HP or HK starter to auto combo.

Jump away, deep jump kick, as in you don't even see the kick but hear the sound, land, projectile protection, run in, 4 hit stick combo, sweep, sweep, they jump away, run in, straight up jump kick or punch, to stick combo, sweep, sweep, you get the idea.

Sheeva:
Jump back deep jump kick teleport stomp on projectile, only needs two HP starter combo openings as well to win.

Kabal:
jump back, kick or punch and cancel to air fireball at head height of most characters, allows you to hit them and block their projectile isntantly, allow the computer to get in close and start chipping you, after a couple hits they will jump over, do a crouching spin as they jump, then run in, HP, HP, JK airfball, you can also do a similar strategy like Jax by sweeping and spinning out of air.

Kung Lao, block CPU jump kicks (on most characters) and counter with a spin, to creative air combos, or simple concept, jump back kick, teleport, HP or HK starter to 7 hit combo.

Mileena
Jump back kick or punch, roll under projectile, juggle combo repeat.

Kano
Similar to Jax

For anyone, land an uppercut, run in to sweep range, jump straight up and punch as they are getting up, they will jump into the punch repeatedly.

If the CPU throws you, or juggles with punches they often jump in with an early HP, so be ready with an uppercut counter. Knowing mini patterns is good too because in many different situations the computer has openings, for characters who don't have specific ways of beating the CPU, it's good to exploit all of the mini traps.

Remember this stuff is a cause an effect, but the computer doesn't always follow these rules 100%, but when conditions are correct they have to.

Character-specific counter strategies (MKT tested):

Cyrax: For some reason, he seems compelled to use his slow-moving teleport every time you toss out a projectile. Upon arriving behind you, he'll toss out a net. Block, and do with him as you wish.

Jax: Jump in at him. Half the time, he will use his ground pund, which you can easily knock him out of with a jump punch into auto-kombo or jump-kick into juggle combo.

MKII Jax: Likes countering your jumps with air waves. Be close enough, and you can hit him out with a jump kick.

Kabal: Same.

Kano (Charactervs. Character specific strategy): For whatever reason, CPU Kano cannot duck under Sub-Zero's freeze. Abuse this. This also applies to MKI Kano, and MKI Raiden.

Kung Lao: Tosses out a hat whenever you jump at him. Punish him for it.

Liu Kang: SeePrevious air fireball startegies. Timing is tougher though.

Nightwolf: (character specific) Get in close and use a spear. He will use project. reflection, and you should have JUST enough time to be able to hit him.

Noob Saibot: Jump back with a kick, and allow the incoming block disabler to connect. Repeat, and watch as he disables his own blocking. hee hee.

Sektor/Cyber-Smoke: If you can perform a jump kick towards them from just past sweep distance (roughly), they'll tend to use a teleport uppercut which will miss. Take advantage.

Stryker: Same as Kung Lao, just be close enough to hop over the grenades.

Sub-Zero (unmasked): He will try to counter every one of your jump kicks with an upward ice blast, which you will hit him out of.

Goro: Get in close and duck. He'll try to attack, and you can uppercut as it misses. Repeat for a flawless victory.

Kintaro (Character-specific): Jump kick. It will be blocked, but IMMEDIATELY follow up with a spear as he tries to use a teleport stomp. Got 'im!

All ninjas: Not certain whose work, but using certain characters, rapid in-close LP's will hit male ninjas as they try to sweep. Again, flawless victory!

And one of my favorites: Upon knocking down any regular character, jump immediately up with a kick or punch. Assuming they are close enough, they will attempt to jump kick. You will hit the ground first, and have more than enough time to punish them with an uppercut/high kick/HP juggle combo of your choice. Have fun.

Thanks guys, I will give these tactics a try.

my fav UMK3 arcade cpu cheapness is when scorp or ermac do 2,3 and even 4 straight tlpts; same with robo smoke & sektor. or when liu kang hit a bike kick, then another one (u can't block or do anything), jk and another bike kick. it's insane! kabal sometimes when he lands a jk, he'll do spin, he waits a sec and then jk and spin again. WTF? cpu will ALWAYS trhow you, no matter if you're holding back, up-back... jax can kill u in the korner with the multithrows, and u can't never do anything! but I like that. in fact, that's just fair for the cpu. the listed strategies earlier by dreemer & kungmk2 will work on 98% of the cases, so cpu NEEDS that cheap shit, so u don't become bored so quickly.

cheapest shit UMK3 cpu has done to me? ermac or klassic sub-zero doing an ANIMALITY. they go to their winning pose, and the animality letters appear, announcer says "animality", like everything is normal. What the fuck is that? they don't even have animalities on that version!!!

other cpu strats: with any char that has air fireball, (liu, kabal, kitana, mileena) sweep 'em, then hop and air fireball. cpu will ALWAYS throw a fireball as well, so land and hit with a kombo of your choice. hope that helps...

lol Yeah, I think the computer randomly picks a fatality or no fatality at all and the trigger for Animality was still in there even for chars that didn't have them. You could cause stuff like that with 1 button fatalities on for the home versions.