I read your post and went into practice mode to mess with Stryker. I played him before, but never really bothered to go into any details.

The reset is pretty sweet and thanks to you sir, I'll be using it from now on. You can do even more damage before the f3 reset:

jip - b1, 2, 2 - njp - 2 ~ gun shot - f3 (31% damage, no meter)

If you delay the f3 just a little, the opponent will end up closer to you. You can then mess with d4, his d4 is good in that it has little recovery so you can "fake combo" into his special moves (it doesn't really combo, but the special move comes out fast so you can catch the opponent off guard).

My favorite follow up is the throw though. Works really nicely.


Another thing I incorporated into my Stryker game is his 1, 2 string. This string is fast, recovers quickly and stuns the opponent for a short time. I use this string to set up a mix-up. You can:

1, 2 - dash in and throw
1, 2 - d4
1, 2 - b3, 2 (the low, mid string that pops-up)
1, 2 - neutral 4 (this one, like d4 can be used for fake combos)


The b3, 2 string can be followed up with a dash and f3 for a reset as well, however, the opponent will not end up as close, so it's a bit less effective.


Anyway, thank you good sir for inspiring me to go to practice mode and mess with Stryker a bit more. I immediately played some matches online with friends and I had some good success with his 1, 2 string into mix-ups and a little less success with the reset. I had a few chances, but messed it up.



Will keep working on it though.


::: ::: :::

As for some other tricks, I really like the Sindel trick this guy I play with uses. He does the 2, 1 string and cancels it into her levitation and then immediately cancels the levitation and goes for a throw. Caught me numerous times with it.

I have some ideas for Jade and Kitana, but I'm yet to try them out.

I want to finish Jade's juggles with purple glow instead of any other special move (I usually go for the staff grab) to take away the wake-up game from my opponent and continue to pressure. Not sure if it's going to work at all or is it a good idea at all, but will give it a try.

For example:

jip - b1 ~ staff overhead - b2 - dash in - b3, 2 ~ staff grab

This is a typical juggle I do with Jade (when I get the chance), so I'll try to replace the staff grab at the end with her purple glow. The b3, 2 knocks the opponent down close to you, so you won't have to chase them down when you're glowing purple, they'll be right next to you and we'll see if they'll go for any wake-up moves while I'm glowing purple. LOL, whish me luck with this, I have a feeling it will end up being an epic fail.

With Kitana, I wanna mess with her 3, 3, 3 string. It's a rather fast string and has good range. So, I wanna see what I can do with it after my f4, 1 string gets blocked. If I'm not mistaken (and I think I'm not), that string slightly pushes the opponent backwards when blocked. I often catch the opponents after the blocked f4, 1 with her b3, 3 (after a dash in) string, but I think 3, 3, 3 is faster so I wanna mess with that a little. Maybe the dash in won't be necessary which means I can act faster. The idea is to connect the first 3 and cancel it into her enh. fan which then can lead to massive damage combo. This is all at the idea stage at the moment, I'm yet to test it. Hopefully something comes out of it.

I've been also messing with some Sektor's "fake combos"- like 1, 2, 4 fake combo into flamethrower for example. Also, his d4 is good and can be used for "fake combos".


As you can see, I'm currently obsessed with strings that can be followed up with special moves for fake combos. The inspiration came from watching Mr. Mileena at Devastation where he successfully created fake combos with Kitana's 1, 1, 2 string (like 1, 1, 2 into cutter or 1, 1, 2 into fake kicks).




Oh, oh. Another thing I did today (successfully, yay!) was square boost with Kitana behind the opponent and then do the enh. fan lift. It caught them on my first try! I was so happy lol! I think I picked up this trick as well from Mr. Mileena.







EDIT: Just tried it in the practice mode. Jade turned out an epic fail in the end as she can't even cancel into her glow from a combo string. WTF?!

As for Kitana, I was wrong. The b3, 3 string has greater reach because she moves forward as she's doing the kicks, while she hardly moves at all during the triple 3 string. For the 3 from the 3, 3, 3 string to connect you need to do f4, 1 ~ cutter. Now the 3 (from the 3, 3, 3) can hit the opponent after they blocked the previous string that ended with cutter, but it needs to be done quickly. If you wait just a little bit, it will whiff. If you do f4, 1 ~ pretty kicks then the 3 will connect even with a short delay, but I'm not sure about using pretty kicks.

So maybe some mix-ups could be: 3 into enh. fan after a blocked f4, 1 ~ cutter string and dash + b3, 3 into fan lift after a blocked f4, 1 string (no cutter) or just an enh. fan after a blocked f,4 1 string. When you don't use cutter the opponent will be pushed a bit further back giving you extra space to possibly sneak in an enh. fan. Will try it out in matches and see how it goes. I guess it's better to do it when the opponent has no meter so I don't need to fear fast armored enh. special moves which would beat the 3 from the 3, 3, 3 string or the b3 from the b3, 3 string.

EDIT II: Turns out Kitana's standing 2 has even greater reach, so it's best to mix it up with that one. f4, 1 / f4, 1 ~ cutter (blocked) followed by standing 2 which can be used as a combo starter. Damn.

Cool, I'll have to try that out next time I play. No I haven't learned any tricks, I don't spend time in practice mode trying to learn new tricks, takes too much time I could spend on playing.

@ Nephrite, glad I could be of help, Stryker's a lot more viable than I think he gets credit for, I'm glad you're taking a great interest in him too, the more well liked he is, the better chance we have of seeing him again

Will make a reply to the rest of your amazing post tomorrow after I get in from school




Any of my really dirty stuff I've learned with my mains I learned while fighting other people, I hate being in practice mode too lol. I was playing tag ladder with Stryker and Jade if I recall and after I landed Jade's really lengthy chain, I tagged in Stryker with a roll for 38%, then I jumped over Kabal's wake up ground saw and accidentally hit forward 3, the best discoveries happen by accident

I haven't played MK9 in a while because I'm now playing Killzone 3 lol but I remember doing b+1, step up with Sindel and people would always fell for that, not really a trick I think though but it's a very good mixup. IMO low/medium is the best mixup in the game.

Other low/medium special mixups:

Kabal: 1, 1, b+4 (or f, don't remember), tornado slam.
Reptile: d+4, acid hand.
Mileena: b+3, EX rolling thunder.

^ It's b4 for Kabal and shame on you for dropping MK.



LOL, there's definitely truth in that, Alexander Fleming's penicillin discovery is the proof.

Btw, I'm so glad Stryker is more viable now, his design is so badass that it would have been a real shame not to use him. I used him against every opponent I fought yesterday.


I've been playing a bit more with Sonya as well. There's one thing that annoys me when playing with her. The timing for her cartwheel is so weird. It's like you need to do it differently from all the other special moves inputs for it to come out. I often do 2, 1 ~ cartwheel or dive kick - 4 ~ cartwheel, but very often the cartwheel doesn't come out, it's like negative edge doesn't work for that move. I don't know, just feels strange and very frustrating when you realize you could have done a 35% combo had it worked.

I also like doing her f1 move from the Military Stance and cancel it into her arc kick, this is something I picked up from an online buddy. It can be cancelled into other specials as well.

The reason you can blow people up after a blocked f+4,1 is that it's neutral on block but it doesn't look like it should be. It's an overhead launcher, players unfamiliar with Kitana assume it's their turn to attack.

JIP 1,1,2~cutter is really good. I also took this from Mr. Mileena. But the beauty of it to me is in mixups after you've established it. Like once you've done it enough and they're always blocking it cut it short with just 1,1 and then throw or loop back into 1,1,2 or do 2,1~cutter or a crossup or whatever. Once they start trying to interrupt after blocking JIP 1,1 then you can go back to finishing the string or do 1,1~cutter.

Be careful of using b+3,3~lift It's not a real combo. They can eat the b+3,3 and still block the lift.

I suck at fragmenting lengthy quotes, so I'm just going to review each character you mentioned.

STRYKER- Good eye on the neutral jip, I just usually don't do it because I never time it right, but anything to make the reset better is a huge win

Oh and I'm impressed, you know all the great Stryker mix ups and pressure tactics after the reset, I'm so proud of Neph lol


SINDEL-That Sindel trick sounds ridculous, I always fall for that mix up comno for some reason, I didn't realize how useful her levitation cancels were until that video another user posted and this info you posted here, to keep the game fresh I might pick up Sindel next.

JADE- I was shocked when you said that you were going to attempt the glow cancel as it was something I never thought of and was really intrigued by that ingenuity, it would have been a great pressure tool, I'm disapppointed that as you reported, it doesn't work, that would instantly help her pressure game immensely by shutting down wake up options or at the very least making them full combo punishable.


KITANA- her 3,3,3 combo is good, I usually cancel into the pretty kicks after the first two kicks as it usually catches even skilled opponents off guard. Keep us posted on this, hopefully it works out for you

SEKTOR- The King of trickster combos, my goodness he scares me, I always dread getting hit with anything he has The fake combos are the most fun to me, it's such colossal trolling.

I might try Sektor out, one of the few I haven't bothered with at all.


My fake Rain combo I like to do is 4,3 roundhouse, it's safe on block with the pushback and if you cancel it enough times you can get your opponent to unblock to attack and land a roundhouse to string into any combo of your choice, love it. I also love how all of Rain's preset combos are safe on block, the only way they become unsafe is if you cancel them into the lightning, geyser kick, or water bubble, so that's a huge help for Rain.

lol good on Mr. Fleming

This makes my day that you've taken such an interest in Stryker as of late and try incorporating his gun cancels into your gameplay, the troll effect is really great, it can help you get in on your opponent or make them hesitant to jump at you, so fun to use.



Oh and I have some great tech for you on Sonya.

Her 2,1 cartwheel combo is a pain for me to pull off as well and she's a primary choice for me, especially online, I think it's the button set up, but I have a couple Sonya combo strings (with and without resets) that I find much better, much easier to do and much more effective.

Try out her JIP 1,1,1,4 into cartwheel, then you can follow that up with 1,1,2 reset o do 1,1 leg grab for nearly 30% damage.


Try her back 2,1, forward 2 combo, do it two times in a row then do her 1,1,2 combo which is a reset and give you a satisfying 35% damage off it.

Another option if you want your opponent grounded do back 2,1,forward 2 then 1, cartwheel into 1,1, leg grab which also does 35% damage, giving you two options depending on whether you want your opponent reset or grounded.



Her military stance cancels are great, makes me wish Stryker could cancel his gun so easily into rolls, grenades baton trips or whatever.


Sonya's miltary stance with the down forward 1 is a nice mix up and I like doing her military stance 3 as it goes through non-armored wake up attacks and knocks the opponent down, it also is a shocking move because opponents don't often expect it. My only complaint about Sonya is that her kiss seems to be too slow, too situational, but aside from that she's all good, great combos, many safe on block, amazing launcher, fast projectile, top notch rush down, pretty good mix ups, and stellar resets.

Oh wow! So much to reply to and we're in the Strategy Zone lol.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

@16-bit:

I read your PM, will check it out and reply back! Can't wait to see Slips gettin' salty lol!

The 1, 1, 2 string is really golden. My biggest problem with it is that I'm not used to using it, but I'm trying to keep myself aware of it as I'm playing. My mind is still stuck with the 2, 1 and f4, 1 strings for pressure. Can't believe that f4, 1 is neutral on block, that's a pleasant surprise. Something I want to experiment with is I'll be trying to go for 2 into enh. fan after it gets blocked to hopefully catch the opponent by surprise for a lovely 40%+ combo or force them to break. I tried 2, 1 too, but it seems like the "1" whiffs because of the previous push back from the blocked f4, 1.

I know that the b3, 3 doesn't combo, but the thing is I would mostly accidentally do it because I would commit to it after the f4, 1 string. I guess my opponents tried to jump and ended up being caught in the b3, 3 juggle which can be linked into the fan lift. Lucky me lol.

I've been also a bit more patient with her recently. I'm trying to walk forwards-backwards at cca. jump distance with her and bait the jump-in attempt so that I can catch them with standing 2 into fan. I picked this up from you.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

@Espio:

I definitely suggest going for the NJP with Stryker after the b1, 2, 2 string. It is easier to connect it than some other mid-combo NJPs, trust me, just practice it a bit. I'm glad I made you proud lol.

Btw, call me crazy, but I think I actually rush down with Stryker more than I zone lol!


I still haven't incorporated those Sindel tricks in my Sindel game, will try it out eventually. I also noticed she can fire two consecutive air fireballs very quickly (not the enh. air fireball), but I don't know how they do it. Probably something to do with levi-cancels again.


As for Jade... Oh... My... I was sooooo disappointed that it doesn't work. I have no idea why she can't cancel combo strings into green/purple glow. I thought the idea was really cool, but did I hit the brick wall hard lol. Shame...


You still haven't tried out Sektor? Hurry man, he is so much fun! Well, to me at least. I do confess that I have read quite a few comments from people saying that they just couldn't get anything to work with him. I'm lovin' him! Once you get used to his timing (he has some slow, but also some fast strings and his normals are really good) you'll love him! He definitely hits hard lol, can dish out massive damage.

My fave thing with Sektor is to finish his tele-uppercut juggle combos with b2 into one of the up-missiles. The missile itself doesn't combo but it keeps the pressure on, it's so dirty, I love it! I picked this up from Sektroll. What a troll lol!


I haven't played with Rain as I still didn't buy any DLC characters, but I did get bodied a few times by Rain players lol. Sometimes I have no idea what the hell is going on. Does he too have some kind of extra stance that can be cancelled-out of?


As for Sonya, whenever I connect the cartwheel I go for:

"dash - b2, 1 - dash - 1, 1, 2" for a reset OR "dash - b2, 1 - 1, 1 into leg grab"

Thanks for those other tips. I definitely need to check out that 1, 1, 4 string, the b2, 1, f2 string as a starter and MS 3. I haven't been using those at all. She's lots of fun to use (love the dive kick as a combo starter), I'm still working on her. I'm pretty much at the baby stage with her still lol.

Just found this out tonight, although I doubt I'm the only person to do it, and I'm probably far from the first. BUUUUTTT

Jax's midscreen 46%(i think??) one bar combo:

F413, Medium Ground Pound, Dash, 12 Overhead Elbow, Enhanced Ground Pound.

And then after I follow up with a Far Ground Pound sometimes for some extra damage/pressure.

Its pretty savage, and already known or not I'm proud that I came across it on my own.



EDIT: Oh and I can't remember if I'm adding a JIP to the damage percentage, its 3 am here and i already turned off my xbox


ALSO, the sexiest, most enjoyable block string in the game...

Sheeva's

212F1, Grab 'n' Pound, 4, Grab 'n' Pound, 4, Grab 'n' Pound, 4, Grab 'n' Pound (at least i'm pretty sure you can do three "4, Grab 'n' Pound's" in a row, might just be two tho)

It builds a shit ton of meter and comes out super fast. It can be crouched I think, but I swear 4 hits crouch block as long as the opponent isn't directly in front of you. Honestly though I need a lot more practice with this string, its still a rough draft, lol.

Heh, I hardly play with Jax at all. I just couldn't get anything going with him, but to be honest I didn't really try too hard. But, I do confess that while I practiced with him it never occurred to me to use his ground pound in the middle of the combo lol.





I heard some talk on the last Valley Stream Monsters stream that Sheeva has a corner infinite.

The last time I used Noob Saibot was when his MKII attire released and I mained him for a few weeks since then.

Today I randomly picked him in regards of the milestone time trick in tag practice. Later on, I picked up the controller and thought I'll do a few simple combos before I exit the mode.

All I did was 2,1.
I was just studying on how his shadow comes out and hits the opp as Noob cocks his hand back.
I was amazed on the animation of that, because if you press 2 after that, Noob carries on with the punch.
At the same time, I was just studying the illusion of this combo. Because the illusion is that, you see Noob hit once, and then cocks back and hits again. The illusion is that you're so focused on Noob, you barely notice the Shadow performing the second hit of the combo, and because of that, it looks like you can block as soon as Noob cocks back but you can't.

And it looks so interesting.

As I was doing that, I was trying to remember the combo where you can Shadow UpKnee into Shadow Slide.
Which was only possible with Enhancing Shadow Upknee.
Then I notice something.
His Enhanced Shadow Upknee delivers a lot of air time.

So I'm trying my damndest to dash and continue a combo but it's impossible.

So I thought "....the corner!"
The thing was, I didn't even try Enhancing first...

So I experimented with it. The later results made me giddy as fuck and made me remember why I love this fucking game more than other fighters out there.

It started with this: 2,1, shadow upknee.

"I wonder if I can repeat the combo in the corner twice?"
"Nope, what about neutral jump punching?"

NJP, 2,1, shadow upknee, 2,1, shadow upknee, 2,1 shadow upknee, OMG I'M CUMMING! 2,1, shadow upknee.

With good timing, you can do 31% dmg.
Average timing, you can do 28% dmg.

And it looks so fucking rape!

*continues to do this same combo for the next 5 minutes*

NJP 2,1, shadow upknee, Accidentally hit 1,2, shadow upknee

NEPTUNES FUCKING BEARD WHAT THE FUCK DID I DISCOVERED?!

*MIXES THE FUCK OUT OF THE 2,1 and 1,2 with Shadow Upknee*

32% dmg. It's better than just 2,1ing all day!

*Drops the controller to take it all in of the awesomeness he discovered on his own*
I said to myself out loud, this is the type of shit that would make someone ragequit.

*continues doing that combo for the next 5 minutes or so*

"OMG, I wonder....I wonder what would happen if I enhance this bitch up?"

NJP, 2,1 En.Shadow Upknee, 1,2, En.Shadow Upknee, 2,1, En.Shadow Upknee. [37% Dmg].

OMFR and I can still attack afterwards?!

NJP, 2,1 En.Shadow Upknee, 1,2, En.Shadow Upknee, 2,1, En.Shadow Upknee, 1,2 Shadow Tackle [44% Dmg]

ME GUSTA!

I just went crazy with the experiment:

NJP 2,1, Shadow Upknee
2,1, Shadow Upknee
2,1, Shadow Upknee
1,2, En.Shadow Upknee
1,2, En.Shadow Upknee
1,2, En.Shadow Upknee
2,1 or 1,2 Shadow Tackle
[39% Dmg; nothing but a flashy combo due to dmg scaling]

In my opinion, visually it looks ridiculously raping awesome.

I haven't played the game in the last weeks (too busy), but this topic makes me want to get right into practice to try this things and see what can i create by myself. Sadly i'll have to wait at least one more week.... Dam it!

I've recently improved my Reptile game with mix ups and baiting. Improved my Liu Kang and play with him more now. Also been learning more combos with Cyrax. Picked Noob back up as I discovered I can zone pretty well with him which helps me a lot against some matchups. Been helping my girl learn Sheeva so I've been learning her some too.

Really recently like past couple days I've been exploring Jade. I've learned she is pretty bad actually but I still like to use her.