The WORST Moves In EVERY Mortal Kombat Game
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
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...I had forgotten Scorpion even had the leg takedown in MK2.
No, scratch that - I hadn't even SEEN the damn move before this video.
Same here
I only foubd out about it after playing the fanmade balance patch. Never once saw it even while playing on my Genesis.
I'm pretty sure it didn't even got listed with his other moves in old magazines, had to google it and even gamefaqs genesis guide doesn't list it. So growing up I had all cheat codes for the genesis version but I never saw scorpion scizor leg grab lol
the fact it also looks way goofier than every other move makes me feel like im being pranked
Probably because they didn't even bother programming the AI to use the move, which says it all, really.
One more thing to note about the MK nut punch. It doesn't give you another free hit like the Spear and Ice Ball. Effectively when the animation ends, it just acts as a reset. So it not only has zero range and slow, it doesn't even cause a stun like it would in MK2 onward.
Also, Sonya, the best character in the game, was immune to it.
@@jamariirobinson725wow Lmaoo that’s just overkill
It has always been a restand/reset kind of move. It's never given you a free hit. You can block during the animation. In MK1 (the new one) the move causes a knockdown, and you spend two bars for the restand
@@yaladhotshot3805 I think the commenter knows that, but they are bringing it up because two other moves in the original mk game, ice ball and spear, give the player a free hit, and work at range. Therefore, when comparing what moves are the worst in mk, you need to bring up the fact that there is no reward for landing the attack besides damage, whereas other specials in the same game do have reward.
That really is bizarre the more you think about it. Like that of ALL moves should give you a free hit…
15:04 I just noticed that Kano was pushing Quan Chi's head down. That's so hilarious. Something only Kano would do
Ha! You're right! That's amazing, a shame he isn't a main roster character XD
I just noticed that too, in most Kameos appearances the main characters just stand aside doing a pose XD
Kano holding your head down is such a nice touch, he's just like "careful, mate!"
Its the reason I love the eye laser move! If we cant have Kano in the game, at least he can shove your character's face in his crotch. Very Kano.
I can’t believe you never noticed that but yeah it’s great
Great, it only get better if Kano does the Benny Hill slaping old bald dude head routine.
My favorite thing about MK3 Stryker is that Baton Trip has so many end frames that it just seems like Stryker forgot what he was doing. I always think he's going *Baton Trip* "Wait... Did I turn the stove off?"
Don't forget about the double grenades too in Trilogy!
"Did I feed the cats today?"
literally me
Yeah that recovery cycle is tremendously horrendous.
@@yofyoyou sound like you just wanna choke me and use me inside my tesla zaddy and never call or text me again papi!!
shocked you didnt go with MK11 Terminator's weird endo rebirth that basically just gives your opponent a victory lap
That move had so much potential that they wasted
@@blockayethe2nd220 Seriously. Thematically it's so awesome but it's beyond useless.
The fact that move exist only makes Rolling Thunder even worse lmao.
@@stevenx2523 they could’ve made it where he’s invincible for a certain amount of time and u have to survive until that time runs out
That and dvorahs bug move cool concepts. Atleast dvorahs you get a little more mobility. Terminator is screwed. It should’ve been like Jason’s resurrection depending on how much meter you have the health you get
The nut punch cannot be used against Sonya Blade in the first MK game either.
It is the only attack in the game that is completely restricted against a specific opponent in that game.
It doesn't work on female characters in all the 2D games, and doesn't exist in the 3D games iirc. It's only been since the NRS era that it became usable on females.
you also couldn't do it on johnny cage himself in the first game
as we know, only men feel pain in the groin area
@@WhitePointerGaming It's meant to emphasize the utter restrictiveness of the move in the first game. Not only is it kind of bad, but the BEST character in the game is immune to it. It's a tiny roster so its flaws are more glaring. MK2-MK4 had larger rosters and more intricacies so it's less of a burn, especially since the nut punch itself is improved by being a stun. And yeah, the nut punch was absent in DA and Armageddon
Mountain Goat to the Cooch shows that Johnny Cage could use it against women.
Personally I think the worst move in MK11 is Terminator’s Endoskeleton. Not only does it take up two slots, which already is a massive blow to your versatility, but it only takes effect when you’re close to losing the whole match, meaning you have to be intentionally losing to use it. Even worse, even though it grants armor, your movement and attacks are so limited that any half-decent players will just run back and hit you with projectiles since you’re so close to death’s door that one or two hits will kill anyway. So this move not only requires you to lose, but also gives you no benefit to doing so.
It also makes you completely immune to finishers, which is pretty lame.
It is a very niche ability that saves you in very very very few matches, where both of you are at the death’s door.
But yeah, it does not grant any consistent value at all - just some minuscule damage when close to death.
Still, it is lore accurate and looks cool. So, who cares?
@@kingol4801people who care about balance and usable aspects for characters in fighting games.
I thought it would work more like Jason's MKX revive, but nah
Kai's handstand deadass went through Liu Kang. IT DIDNT EVEN DO ANY DAMAGE!
It probably has a hitbox just on the legs and they didn't think about the legs reaching past the opponent.
Ok so today was the first time I’ve seen MK2 scorpion leg take down. I’m old enough to remember MK2 in arcades, and my mind was just blown
Same. I'm "got original MK for SNES for my birthday" years old, played probably a thousand hours of MK2 and I have never seen that move.
@@makokx7063 gosh. i grew up in era of MK1 etc and always knew about and used that move. scorpion also had three fatalities in MK2.
@@enochthewitness-2023Yeah, no idea. My cousin and I were like 9 years old but we played it religiously and even though it was like 30 years ago I'm pretty sure I've never seen it. Scorpion was of course a favorite too and I even remember having the strategy guide. Weird.
I know right? I thought that move was from MK9 (
I remember thinking the animation was cool so I would occasionally try. I remember it being hard to pull off.
They really gave Hsu Hao in Armageddon Mario’s fireball in smash bros and called it a day
i forgot Scorpion even had that leg takedown in MK2
I think Raiden's cloud WOULD be good if it wasn't an optional move. He absolutely needs every ability slot. BUT if it were in his base moveset you could use it to either close off a round or to bait a jump (he has a full-screen anti-air)
also Raiden's 0 damage move (db2) in MK1 is a bit mind-boggling as to why it exist
Yeah the DB2 in mk1 makes no sense, as a raiden main. Maybe give it armor on ex for a wake up, since it’s not a launcher, but even then idk. Just a weird attack in general
When I was a kid who didn't know any better mashing buttons against my cousins, I used to think some moves were just bad and should never be used. As I grew up and started actually learning fighting games, I came to evaluate each move more clearly and with more context. These games are made by professional developers often with years of experience after all. Some of those moves I thought were terrible as a kid were actually some of the best moves in the game, just for reasons I didn't understand or couldn't make effective use of. I began to believe at one point that every move has a place (however niche) and that if you aren't making use of your character's entire kit you're doing something wrong.
Now after even more time and practice...after over a decade in the fgc I've finally realized...nah some moves are just bad and should never be used.
I love that curve of realization. I went through it too. I still try and use said moves because dammit, I paid for the whole movelist so I'm going to use the whole movelist
Skarlet's unblockable move that kills you faster than your opponent, and takes ages to set up is the worst mk11 move to me. At least Raiden's doesn't kill you 😂
For me what stinks, is the MK1 Kameo eye laser from Kano I freaking love the animation for cause it just looks funny. Kano holding down the head of your main character never doesn't give me a laugh.
"Never doesn't"...? You mean.......... "always". 😐
Never doesn't is stronger than always
Back in the day scorpions leg takedown was a sign of disrespect. Basically calling your opponent an amateur or nearly beyond free.
Didn't even know Scorpion had the leg takedown in MK2 and I played that as a kid.
I never understood cassie’s salute in mkx, outside of the brutality! And robocop’s self electric move costing bar for its base version is surely among the worst in the game. Great video though
Apparently, Cassie's salute was used to continue restand combos when you canceled out of some moves. I could be wrong, though,
I remember being 9 years old, seeing MK2 in the arcade (total surprise!) and telling my friends all about it the next day, all the new moves and characters I saw. Being a child who had just seen the brand-new game and telling them Scorpion had this weird foot sweep that didn't make any sense because the regular sweep was better. It was that obvious right from the beginning.
I knew MK11 Raiden's Rolling Thunder Cloud would come out before the video started .
A move SO FAST IT TRAVELS AT THE SPEED OF EVOLUTION !!
Bro, people are sleeping on the Shujinko- Nitara matchup (MK1) just because it looks so different than the other combo starters that Shujinko can steal.
Most of the best setups from Nitara come from jumping.If you get used to reading jumps, Shujinko's full bar is really good. I mean, it's a totally unique angle for a projectile that counters her main game plan, and it leads to a 400% combo using Li Mei.
Kano laser has more than 120 frames of block disadvantage 💀💀💀
The frame data when you pause used to straight up lie, and still might. It claimed something like a 15 frame startup and 0 on block but its actually like 30 frames and -125.
For some reason the frame data on it is split into multiple parts, when kano runs in, when he shoots the laser, and then when he runs out and your main character has to stand back up.
Okay, but Cyrax's R1 backflip has helped me dodge match ending sweeps. Im grateful for it
3:11 the stryker takedown i liked because unless you know better most people couldn't tell the difference between the takedown and the baton toss, so they never know to block down
It's also worth noting that Low Blow wasn't even a low attack until later games.
"I'm sorry to pick on you, Hsu Hao"
I'm not 💀
😂😂 💀💀
Nether are the people that made him apparently lol
MK2 - that disappearing move by reptile, MK3 - that flying move by Sindell
Another thing to add about MK1/2 nut punch is that it can't hit females, who are some of the best in the game, like MK1 Sonya and MK2 Kitana.
I will be fair on Cage's low blow in MK1 since this was during the time when combos were still just being fabricated. Special moves in general weren't really used to chain combos jalf the time.
I’m surprised Lao’s spin wasn’t just generally mentioned for MK1. I don’t understand what the purpose of that move is at all and Lao is one of my mains. Haven’t found a single way to incorporate it effectively into Lao’s gameplan in a match
What are you talking about, Kung Lao wasn't in the first Morta...
This will never stop being confusing.
His spin draws in and strikes nearby enemies. How can you not know that? You need to be close or they need to jump in on you spinning.
Also keep in mind for the first Mortal Kombat game, Johnny can’t land the low blow on Sonya because she’s a female. Funny, in later games, they allowed it to happen. Also, in the first game, he couldn’t land on Goro
Baraka's Hop, Mk Deception, Hung Gar ⬆️🔼
I’ve hit the low blow in OG MK before when people were still playing on XBL. I used to try it sometimes when I wiff a jump kick and land over their head.
Used Scorpions leg grab too. Wasn’t that hard to catch people with it. But usually you can only get them once. No one expects it but once you do it, then they do.
I didn't even know scorpion legdown existed in MK2 😮
*_EXCUSE ME!!!_* But I think Sindel's levitation in UMK3 and MK3 is the most worthless move out of all. You lose time going into levitation and it's hard to perform any attack while doing it. Another one is Sheeva's little jump that shakes the stage a bit, 'cause it's easy to avoid only by jumping and... it's pretty slow.
I agree!
I'd argue Terminator's endoskeleton is the absolute worst move in mk11
I think if you were to look at it including the fact that it costs 2 slots it's definitely the worst. My guess is that it wasn't even considered due to it being tournament banned, and irrelevant at competitions.
The Scorpion leg take down is cool but rarely used, the air throw though is great.
Stryker had the most awkward and ugly looking roundhouse kick in the game's history
Raiden slow cloud is good when you've got the corner combo going as it adds pressure
The most legit way to use kai's handstand is to integrate it into a combo. I got the inspiration from getting comboed by ai. I actually like the move
4:34 cursed hitbox
I found this channel this morning and despite never really playing Mortal Kombat I have to say, great content dude! Even without a connection to these games your videos are still interesting, and the fact this was uploaded on my birthday only makes it feel even more like I was fated to meet your channel. Keep it going 😁
2:10 So all these years, I thought that was his crouch kick??!!!! That's insane, I've played hundreds of hours in MKII across different versions and never knew that
Reptile df1 is my non-kameo pick for MK1. I think the whole reason it exists is because the amped version is quite useful.
Nice list though I would possibly disagree with a few in the 3D era, Deception's Ashrah is bad and Hsu Hao's being the worst projectile in Armageddon. Yes they're bad but I think Ermac's Deception and Armageddon projectile is good competition on that one. This ridiculous squiggly little thing that's so slow and slow start up and I don't think I've ever seen anyone get hit with it in a serious match, as someone who was known for Ermac on Xbox during the Deception, Armageddon days and I never used it lol, full screen I may have used it a few times eary on in the games life cycle and my opponent dodged it every time lol. I just never understood what they were thinking with that projectile.
Surprised not to see a mention of Kabal’s ground saw in either umk3 or trilogy. I basically never see that move competitively because the frame data is so bad. Such a bummer because it might be the coolest looking move in the game, and one of the most unique attacks. Doesn’t matter for Kabal tho, being broken in umk3 and hi tier in trilogy
Really? Maybe I’m thinking of a different version but I’ve seen tons and tons and tons of kabal combo videos using that move 🤷🏽♂️
Somehow Kabal in MK3 had the best Buzz Saw.
@@Angrymonkey2489Ya I wonder if it was slowed down for UMK3? Which is weird because that was Kabal's strongest title for competitive
@@danielemondmusic After Kabal hits the opponent with the Nomad Dash it disables the Buzz Saw, which ruins his combo potential.
Happy 2024 to you guys. Would love to see the best move in every game now too.
Jesus, I've played quite a bit of MK2 in my life, but I didn't know that Scoprion had a leg takedown in that game, until now:D guess that only proves your point
Dude same here. I mean I only really played the game when I was a kid but still I have never seen that move a day in my life.
I really do love alll these retrospective analysis and always look forward to them all time. Thanks for the great content ...
PS: hopefully Kompetitive of MK2 still in the works
I'm going to do more mk meta and comp history this year. I'm going to make sure of it.
I always wonder why in MK2 the computer NEVER did Scorpion's leg takedown or Johnny Cage's nut punch or shadow uppercut.
I like how most of the newer stages are just updated MKII backgrounds. MKII and MK3 are absolutely beautiful games. They’re like playing a horror movie fighter
Interesting. I though you were gonna pick cyrax’s self destruct for M1K, since I never see the move get used at all
When it becomes ambush then maybe we can see it. It's nonsense it being summon
self destruct has some legit setups. its not bad.
@@PNDKM So does Kano lazer, the pushback on it is insane
These are the worst for competitive play, but I say the worst in single player mode involves most of the time Reptile is in a game: invisibility. It's notoriously difficult to figure out where you are once you do it, and the AI in the sprite era at least never seemed to be programmed to take it into account, always knowing where you were regardless.
Also, the spin-off games deserve some love, and especially Shaolin Monks, since it had a one-on-one mode. I mean, worst move in Special Forces would be buying the game, but that's a meta answer.
yall might as well be pndmk cuz i can't tell ur voices apart. i genuinely thought this was a one man show for a long time
That Scorpion take down in MK2 really makes you scratch your head and ask “Who thought this was a good idea…?” He should’ve had the forward teleport punch that for some odd reason he didn’t get until MK: Trilogy.
It was awesome. You used it as a proto troll move against players who really sucked. And it looked cool.
what about a vid about hardest fatalities to do? in childhood, i was trying some mk4 fatalities and couldn't do because they were hard to make. idk the other games, never played them until 2023, and after 14 years, i played an original mk game which is 11th game of the franchise. it is kinda~ easy to make fatality here
Soooo. Count me as the one Stryker player that actually used the baton trip. Was very nice after that flying baton overhead throw that he had.
If you read your opponent right, you could use the baton trip to devastating effect. Overall it wasn't a great move, but when you used it just right, it was really quite effective.
For MK1 I'd argue the worst move belongs to Reptile and it's the Acid Spit, it just kinda exists. Another I can think of is pre patch ex invisibility, literally used your bar for nothing
I was really confused because Reptile uses both Scorpion and Sub-Zero's moveset in MK1… but then I remembered the last game is also called MK1. Damn you NRS.
I thought the same thing. Acid Spit is pretty useless right now. There's so much wrong with it, but what really gets me is how I can't even use an assist to continue the combo if I landed it raw. Just why?
You mean MK12
The only use it has is with motaro, you can land some good damage if you cancel the spit into teleport
@@Kitsune986you can combo with motaro Tele at least but yeah it's meh
Talks about how bad Strykers take down is, ABSOLUTELY DOMINATES WITH IT.
The fact that Raiden can feel the nut punch is so funny to me for some reason
haha the handstand!
Counterpoint about the kano eye laser: it looks really cool
the Kano Eye Laser comes in clutch when the opponent tries to jump
I agree with all of these but I wanted to name one more bad move in mk11, Jax's buckshot move. It replaces his mid hitting grenade launcher move Thumper of which you can amplify and aim upwards for the occasional anti air with a projectile that only hits in front of him and cannot be amplified and hits for measly damage. From years of playing Jax i've still yet to find a use or see anyone use it ever. There are worse moves I agree but it just feels so pointless like it was just a place holder to fill up the special move slots. Thanks for all the MK Kontent as always!
In the first Mortal Kombat on Super Nintendo i used to love doing Johnny's low blow then following up immediately with an uppercut. My cousin's and bro hated that
As i have been playing MK since i was a kid in the Arcades, i didn't even know that scorpion had a leg takedown in MK 2. Guess for good reasons, i didn't know.
I literally do not even play MK, I'm a tekken guy, and yet this is super enjoyable to watch lol.
Raiden's rolling thunder is so laughably pathetic that your opponent might actually get confused by it.
its okay you don't need to apologize to hsu hao
kano laser makes working your way back in after being zoned so insanely difficult
I find my self bursting out in laughter everytime I see every bad move for each game because it’s so damn accurate 😂 Like seriously, how could anyone disagree with this 😂
Great video ketchup, more stuff like this!
Personally I loved scorpion leg takedown and mid air throw.
I didn't even know Scorpion had a leg take down in mk2
MK1 Sindel’s amplified Hairball is probably the worst in the game. Deals the same damage as normal and has the same amount of frames. Only benefit is more chip damage?
Rambo bug eat is the "Yeah I know this move sucks, but so do you and that's why I'm using it" move
Forgot to mention that Cage in the original MK can't nut punch Sonya (obviously) and anothet Cage in a mirror match.
Scorpion mk2 take down with FDB+BLK if i remember correctly, only can be blocked standing. If you sit in block, move works. Similar with Stryker - the attack is low, so you break opponents that block standing
Happy new year. I'd like to assume this inspired by your time on Lord Knights channel 😊
As someone who hasn't played mk11, I saw Raiden's slow moving cloud and I was like "oh but slow moving projectiles that last a long time put so much screen pressure, how is this so bad?" And then it hits for almost no damage and NO HITSTUN. "Oh, I get it".
I’ve always thought it was interesting to see what moves were used and which ones weren’t lol
I didn’t even know the MK2 Scorpion leg takedown even existed. Also I didn’t know Stryker’s baton trip existed until I saw the “How good was Stryker?” Video. I played these games extensively as a kid and remember reading guides that explain how to do all of the specials. Pretty sure the AI was programmed never to use those moves.
Its funny cus Kano’s eye laser has one of the best animations in the game
outright the best. I just wish they didn't make him look so much worse than previous games.
I honestly never knew that MK2 Scorpion had that leg take down move and this is the first time I've seen it. This really feels like a Mandela effect moment for me.
The MKII Scorpion scissor kick takedown is a flex on the opponent, I love it.
The king of bad moves in MK11 was Terminator’s Endoskeleton.
Endoskeleton*
@@HeirofDacia haha, yes, thank you, will edit
I would have guessed Raiden's Razzle Dazzle (Down Back 2) would have been the worst move for MK1. It actually does 0.00 damage unless you enhance it and its -16 on block. It's worse than shocker in almost every conceivable way even after it's enhanced.
I've been playing Raiden since launch and still have no idea why it exists. It reminds me of MK11's Raijin variation and the move quick charge. Where he would take less chip and able to do 4 frame punish.
Consider my tinfoil hat officially on cause Raiden has a chip reduction passive in this game (Once he blocks 10 or so hits he takes 50% less chip). It's so strange cause I don't know any other character that even has a passive in this game. Maybe something shuffled around in development?
Sorry, thanks for coming to my TED talk.
It's pretty incredible that Reptile didn't win the MK2 prize for either his horribly slow force ball or his nearly useless turning invisible.
This channel is so underrated!!!!
Scorpion's leg takedown is just a "glorified sweep move". Like I'm not busting this out whether it's on an official or a fan game.
The leg takedown by Scorpion in MK 2 is the example of a move they did not put a lot of tought. A cool idea but it isn't just put it there and its done. You can see on some combo (or glitch) videos how in some revisions the takedown can hit the opponent in the air and he will lay down, get up and stand on his feet for a moment IN THE AIR, at the same place. And, if it counts, id like ot add two moves from MK Sub Zero. One is Polar Blast, the move we use to kill monster Shinnok to get the secret ending. Its supposed to freeze every enemy on screen but i cant remember any time we got more than two, and the whole mp bar isn't worth it. The other is that move where he runs and freezes every enemy he touches on the way; the first problem is we get this move way late into the game and at this moment we spend more time into dangerous jumps than walking. If you use the regular run for more than a few seconds you will fall in a void, lose one life and once again watch Sub Zero fall into the nothingness of AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. One can argue this freeze-run can be used on the labyrinth stage to go faster from on place to another, but it also uses the whole mp bar so you will use here and then wait 5 minutes to use again.
I will say! I also thought kung lao spin was useless until I learned its a projectile shield! being a summon kinda defeats the purpose of it though
Cage's nut punch is actually good as the final move in a round from my experience. Otherwise, not great.
"FINISH HIM!"
*Cage sacks Kano in the nads*
@PNDK&M Scorpions leg takedown from MK2 is not completely worthless but extremely situational. You can use the move as an anti-air and the game semi-glitches out when you hit an airborne opponent with it. The move has a very high hitbox and when it connects in the air, the opponent goes into a sweep fall animation, followed by another sweep fall animation after pausing in mid-air. This means you actually have enough time to either follow up with another sweep as they hit the ground, or in some cases if you are close enough, a spear to uppercut combo.
Johnny Cage's nutpinch was actually amazing. It left your opponent speechless or tilted.
Framecounts had nothing to do with it.
Alternative title: Moves to hit your opponent with for psychological damage.
The leg takedown works great after a knockdown lol
I think it's really neat that you acknowledge not just how bad the move is, but how it fits into the overall character's kit and strategy. I think a good counterexample to that is, say, Little Mac's aerial moves in Smash 4 and Ultimate. They are very bad moves, by design, and if you stack any given Little Mac aerial against nearly any other character's aerials, Mac is going to suffer by comparison... but you're still gonna use them, because as much as they suck, if you find yourself in the air and aren't dead yet, then throwing out one of those laggy little punches is still probably the best thing you can do.
can’t wait to see Kai in this video!
If I may ask (as I haven’t played most of these games), where is the BGM in this video from?