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.

15:04 I just noticed that Kano was pushing Quan Chi's head down. That's so hilarious. Something only Kano would do

...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.

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?"

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.

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.

shocked you didnt go with MK11 Terminator's weird endo rebirth that basically just gives your opponent a victory lap

Back in the day scorpions leg takedown was a sign of disrespect. Basically calling your opponent an amateur or nearly beyond free.

Kai's handstand deadass went through Liu Kang. IT DIDNT EVEN DO ANY DAMAGE!

i forgot Scorpion even had that leg takedown in MK2

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

They really gave Hsu Hao in Armageddon Mario’s fireball in smash bros and called it a day

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 😂

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

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.

Didn't even know Scorpion had the leg takedown in MK2 and I played that as a kid.

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 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

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.

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 !!

"I'm sorry to pick on you, Hsu Hao" I'm not 💀

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.

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.

It's also worth noting that Low Blow wasn't even a low attack until later games.

Okay, but Cyrax's R1 backflip has helped me dodge match ending sweeps. Im grateful for it

I'd argue Terminator's endoskeleton is the absolute worst move in mk11

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

I didn't even know scorpion legdown existed in MK2 😮

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.

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.

Reptile df1 is my non-kameo pick for MK1. I think the whole reason it exists is because the amped version is quite useful.

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

Raiden slow cloud is good when you've got the corner combo going as it adds pressure

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 😁

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.

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

Interesting. I though you were gonna pick cyrax’s self destruct for M1K, since I never see the move get used at all

Counterpoint about the kano eye laser: it looks really cool

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

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

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

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.

kano laser makes working your way back in after being zoned so insanely difficult

Forgot to mention that Cage in the original MK can't nut punch Sonya (obviously) and anothet Cage in a mirror match.

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.

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

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 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!

Happy 2024 to you guys. Would love to see the best move in every game now too.

Happy new year. I'd like to assume this inspired by your time on Lord Knights channel 😊

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

the Kano Eye Laser comes in clutch when the opponent tries to jump

Its funny cus Kano’s eye laser has one of the best animations in the game

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.

I think that Kai's vertical fireballs would have been useful in a non 3d action mk with also a better hitbox.

"FINISH HIM!" *Cage sacks Kano in the nads*

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

@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.

haha the handstand!

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

After watching many video game comparisons, i realize how ahead of its time Streetfighter was. And how it destroys MK on every level. I grew up with both.

can’t wait to see Kai in this video!

Alternative title: Moves to hit your opponent with for psychological damage.

Johnny Cage's nutpinch was actually amazing. It left your opponent speechless or tilted. Framecounts had nothing to do with it.

The MKII Scorpion scissor kick takedown is a flex on the opponent, I love it.

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.

The leg takedown works great after a knockdown lol

The fact that Raiden can feel the nut punch is so funny to me for some reason

Nice video as always my dude, I expected a MK character move in MKvDC and a Main roster character move in MK1 tho.

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 literally do not even play MK, I'm a tekken guy, and yet this is super enjoyable to watch lol.

I’ve always thought it was interesting to see what moves were used and which ones weren’t lol

I always wonder why in MK2 the computer NEVER did Scorpion's leg takedown or Johnny Cage's nut punch or shadow uppercut.

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

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.

perfect thumbnail given the video title.

I didn’t even know that mk11 raiden thunder cloud existed lol I would have nominated JC sunglasses throw but yeah that was hard to watch lol

Raiden's rolling thunder is so laughably pathetic that your opponent might actually get confused by it.

I didn't even know Scorpion had a leg take down in mk2

Johny's ball crusher move in the first MK doesnt have any advantahe on hit as well as in mk4 or gold.

Personally I loved scorpion leg takedown and mid air throw.

IMO I think Kotal Kahn's anti air is worse than rolling thunder, because at least the damage rolling thunder does is unblockable, and it's a hazard for the opponent, but the KK anti air is genuinely useless. It's too slow to reliably hit an airborne opponent, and you can't even combo into it outside the corner.

The king of bad moves in MK11 was Terminator’s Endoskeleton.

MK2 Scorpion take down 🤔 I love that move. I love using it as a final it & perform finishing moves during the take down 😅

I didn't even know scorpion had that leg trip in mk2. I've never seen it even from the cpu. Lol

20 years ago Spawn appeared in Soul Calibur 2..it really highlights what a masterpiece that gane was, in terms of fluidity, depth, MD animation. The characters move so robotically in this game. In SC,Spawn didn't get crazy woth his cape or powers, both games are great, but SC was fluid, visual poetry compared to most modern games.

I don't know why but I ikind of like the little cloud Raiden uses in MK 11. I found it kind of adorable and funny.

Hsu Haos bouncy ball doesn't move as slow as Ashrah's vertical projectile so I'd say the latter is worse

I also agree that Stryker leg takedown is still the most useless in Trilogy. I LOVE Stryker and really wish the move had more going for it because the range and concept of it are rad, but yea, again, youre on point.

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".

lol I'm mostly familiar with the new MK games; 7:06 had me like "oh, Ashrah is from this game I guess." then 7:27 - "Oh, Li Mei too, I guess"

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.

I kinda know Scorpion can use leg scissor takedown from an NES bootleg game where it had actual button command, but I didn't know that it was in his MKII movelist because for a time I was playing the SNES version, CPU Scorp never use that move even once. I thought it was just because the game is a bootleg copy, so a weird choice was made by the maker. It was just as ineffective and weird as the original, where it will only do damage if your enemy stands really close to you while doing this, and it was not even a takedown because of the animation limitation of the bootleg copy. I only found out it was supposed to be a takedown from this video.

...I was surprised MKX didn't mention MKX Kitana's stupid-looking crouching kick; then again I realized that this video was about the Worst Moves in terms of mechanics, not aethetics 😆 🤣

I've seen more people use Styker's baton sweep than Sindel's flight in Mortal Kombat 3 to Trilogy

I've been playing MK since MK 1, and I'll be honest, I didn't know that Scopion had that leg takedown move in MK2. I don't remember seeing that move, at the very least.

Scopions trip kick was his best i used to kill fools with that in mk9

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!

On the plus side, Kano's eye laser coming out by accident in MK1 means that no one will expect it.

Now can you do a list for the best moves in every game?