Scorpion's Lair

With Shao Kahn's defeat the fallen elder god Shinnok has managed to escape from the netherealm where Raiden had banished him centuries ago. A battle which has been fought before is being fought again, only this time.........
It can be won by mortals

General Strategies

The AI in this game is very good, it won't let you get away with a whole lot. However, the computer obviously can't do anything while in a stall from a move, so the best thing to do is counter the computer's moves. Usually the best time to counter is after you block the move. The best moves to counter against are:

Character	Moves	Counter Move
Scorpion	Spear, Teleport punch	Spear: Long-range attack Teleport punch: Uppercut
Sub-Zero	Slide, Ice ball	Slide: Short-range attack Ice ball: Long-range attack
Liu Kang	Flying kick, Bicycle kick, Fireball	Flying kick, Bicycle kick: Middle-range attack Fireball: Short-range attack
Reiko	Teleport throw, Throwing stars	Teleport throw: Uppercut Throwing stars: Fast long-range attack
Reptile	Acid spit, Low charge, Ground crawl	Acid spit: Long-range attack Low charge, Ground crawl: Short-range attack
Shinnok	None	None
Jarek	Rolling attack, Throwing blade	Rolling attack: Middle-range attack* Throwing blade: Long range attack
Raiden	Superman attack, Lightning	Superman attack: Middle-range attack* Lightning: Fast long-range attack
Sonya	Blast, Square wave punch, Cartwheel	Wave punch, Cartwheel: Short-range attack Blast: Long-range attack
Kai	Jumping fireball	Fast long-range attack
Jax	Blast, Bionic rush	Blast: Long-range attack Bionic rush: Short-range attack
Johnny Cage	Green flame, Shadow kick	Green flame: Fast long-range attack Shadow kick: Short-range attack
Tanya	Ground flip, Fireball	Ground flip: Short-range attack Fireball: Fast long-range attack
Fujin	Wind lift, Knee charge	Wind lift: Long-range attack Knee charge: Middle-range attack*
Quan Chi	Air stomp, Skull projectile	Air stomp: Uppercut Skull: Long-range attack

KEY:
Short-range attack: Any normal kick or punch, or any attack that doesn't reach any farther
Middle-range attack: Any attack with a weapon or any attack that covers sweep distance
Long-range attack: Any attack that reaches farther than sweep distance, such as a projectile
* -- These can be countered with an uppercut (which is actually defined as a short-range attack) provided you move forward a step or two after blocking and before throwing the uppercut.

Bear in mind that a computer character will usually throw a projectile at medium range, which allows you to smack him or her with your weapon or run up (if you're quick enough) and perform a combo.

Another thing you can counter is a weapon being drawn. If you see the other character drawing his or her weapon, you can hit them before they fully bring it out and while they are still in a stall. This also works for the stall after a weapon or rock is thrown. Incidentally, if a computer-controlled character is standing over a rock he or she will almost definitely throw it, and if it's a weapon the character is standing over the chance is only slightly less of a pick up and throw. So when you see that you can anticipate what they'll do, and you can jump kick them and hit them as they throw.

Fatalities

Almost everyone plays MK games for the fatalities. In Revision 3 of this game, each character has two normal fatalities and two stage fatalities. The stage fatalities are on the prison stage (fan fatality) and Goro's Lair (the dungeonesque setting). In Revision 2 there's only Fatality #1 and the fan fatality.

Character	Fatality 1	Fatality 2	Fan Fatality	Goro Fatality
Scorpion	Toasty B,F,F,B,BL	Scorpion sting B,F,D,U,HP	F,F,D,D,LK	B,F,F,LK
Sub-Zero	Spine rip F,B,F,D,HP+BL+RUN	Freeze & shatter B,B,D,B,HP	D,U,U,U,HK	D,D,D,LP
Liu Kang	Dragon snack F,F,F,D,BL+HK+LK	Fireball toss	F,F,B,LP	F,F,B,LK
Reiko	Torso kick F,D,F,LP+LK+HK+BL	Mulitple Shurikens B,B,D,D,HK	D,D,B,LP	F,F,D,LK
Reptile	Face chew Hold HP,HK,LP,LK, press U	Acid puke	D,F,F,LP	D,D,F,HK
Shinnok	Head squeeze D,B,F,D,RUN	The clapper D,B,F,D,BL+RUN	D,D,F,HK	U,D,B,HP
Jarek	Heart rip F,B,F,F,LK	Eye laser U,U,F,F,BL	F,D,F,HK	B,F,F,LP
Raiden	Electrocute Hold BL, F,B,U,U,HK	Staff shocker	D,F,B,BL	F,F,D,LP
Sonya	Kiss of death D,D,D,U,RUN	Torso rip	D,D,B,B,HK	F,D,F,HP
Kai	Rip in half Hold BL, U,F,U,B,HK	Fireball decapitate U,U,U,D,BL	F,F,D,BL	B,F,D,HK
Jax	Arm rip Hold LK (3 sec), F,F,D,F, release LK	Head smash B,F,F,D,BL	F,F,B,LK	F,F,B,HP
Johnny Cage	Torso rip F,B,D,D,HK	Heads up D,D,F,D,BL	D,D,F,F,HK	B,F,F,LK
Tanya	Kiss of death D,D,U,D,HP+BL	Neck breaker D,F,D,F,HK	B,F,D,HP	F,F,F,LP
Fujin	Tornado blast Hold RUN, press BL five times	Skin rip D,F,F,U,BL	D,D,D,HK	B,F,B,HP
Quan Chi	Beat to death Hold LK (5 sec), D,F,D,F,LK	Impersonation U,U,D,D,LP	F,F,D,HP	F,F,B,LK

Weapons

The coolest part of this game is the weapons, they majorly rock. Here are the sequences to pull out each character's weapon:

Character	Weapon	Sequence
Scorpion	Sword	F,F,HK
Sub-Zero	Ice staff	D,F,HK
Liu Kang	Jagged sword	B,F,LK
Reiko	Spiked club	D,B,HP
Reptile	Axe	B,B,LK
Shinnok	Bladed staff	B,F,LP
Jarek	Scimitar	F,F,HP
Raiden	Sledgehammer	F,B,HP
Sonya	Spinning blade	F,F,LK
Kai	Short sword	F,D,B,LP
Jax	Spiked club	D,F,HP
Johnny Cage	Sword	F,D,F,LK
Tanya	Boomerang	F,F,HK
Fujin	Blaster	F,D,HP
Quan Chi	Spiked ball	F,D,B,HK

Character-specific Strategies

Scorpion

The easiest way to win against anyone except Shinnok is to wait until your opponent executes a counterable move, after which you throw your spear (B,B,LP) and perform some energy-draining moves (the best I've found so far are combos consisting of HP,HK,D+HP, follow with an uppercut; and HP, HP, HK, B+HK).
Against Shinnok is much tougher, but you can use the "run like hell" strategy. Basically if you jump back and hit LK repeatedly, he'll eventually run into your outstretched foot. However, this strategy isn't as effective as it could be, as he occasionally jumps up to meet you in the air rather than running right into your attack. If that happens toss your spear and let him jump kick you again, then throw it again and you'll catch him as he jumps back. The damage you take out of him with a combo will be more than he took out of you.

Sub-Zero

Slide, slide, slide. The key to winning as Subby is to counter attacks with slides (LP+LK+BL), then following with an ice ball (D,F,LP) VERY QUICKLY. If you're fast enough the computer won't even be fully up to be able to dodge. Unfortunately, if their legs are perpendicular to the ground the only attack you'll be able to perform on someone in that position is a throw, but you can follow that with another slide against some characters. If you get lucky and they're either standing or their legs aren't perpendicular to the ground when frozen you can unleash a combo (three high kicks, first one in the air, followed by a slide).
Beating Shinnok is easy. Just perform an ice clone (D,B,LP) and Shinnok will run right into it. Perform your combo and repeat until he's history.

Liu Kang

Against everyone but Shinnok the most effective strategy is to counter mid to high moves with a flying kick (F,F,HK) and follow with a high fireball (F,F,HP). If the opponent blocks it or if it hits him or her, throw another (and another and another if they continue to strike). If they jump the fireball and you're out of their kicking range, throw another high kick and follow again with the fireball. If they dodge or if they jump it and you're in their range, hold block and pray for dear life.
By the way, the two characters I have the most trouble against as Liu are Tanya and Liu himself. Against Tanya it's not easy to counter...but you can counter with a flying kick when she takes out or throws her boomerang, or when she throws her fireball, the latter requiring you to be lightning fast. And her little ground flip can't be countered with a flying kick, so use an uppercut instead.
Against Liu, the most frequent attack you'll have to counter is the low fireball. Since he'll still be crouching on the ground, below your range, if you throw the kick too early, you'll fly over his head. Therefore you need pretty good timing to be able to, in essence, beat yourself.
To beat Shinnok just use the run like hell strategy, as with Scorpion.

Other Characters

Reiko: Perform a teleport throw after throwing your stars, assuming the opponent jumps into the air to avoid it. The teleport also works if your opponent jumps for other reasons. Counter moves with the teleport throw.
Reptile: Spit your acid then perform a ground crawl or low charge. Counter moves with the low charge.
Shinnok: The best thing to do is change into a different character and use his or her moves.
Jarek: Follow a throwing blade with a rolling attack, if the opponent jumps. Counter with the rolling attack.
Raiden: Follow the lightning with a superman attack if the other character jumps over it. Counter with the superman attack
Sonya: Perform a square wave punch while both you and your opponent are in the air, or fire your blast and follow with a cartwheel. Counter the computer with a cartwheel.
Kai: Perform a jumping fireball while your opponent is in the air. Counter attacks with fireballs.
Jax: Fire your projectile then charge ahead with the bionic rush. Also use the bionic rush to counter moves.
Johnny Cage: Follow a green flame with either a shadow kick or shadow uppercut. Use the shadow kick also to counter.
Tanya: Counter with the ground flip or the corkscrew, and use the air fireball often.
Fujin: Use the knee charge to counter, and use the wind lift whenever convenient.
Quan Chi: Counter with the slide or air stomp, the latter of which can be used earlier if you anticipate an attack in advance.

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