Top 5 Overused Characters in Mortal Kombat 11

Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate’s roster features playstyles that appeal to almost every type of player. Some go for their favorite archetype like zoners, while others prefer top tier picks for seemingly easier wins. However, sticking with popular fighters isn’t always the best choice for individuals or a healthy meta.

Everyone loves an underdog, but what about the characters that feel like they’re in every other match? Let’s explore five of the most overused fighters in Mortal Kombat 11.

Cetrion

Cetrion is the premier zoner in MK11. She has a projectile for almost every situation and can mix-up opponents from full screen. The elder goddess’ strong keepaway game compensates for weaknesses like low mobility and damage. Players also pick this top tier for arguably some of the best Kosmetics in the game.

Cetrion’s normal moves lack range but are incredibly fast for a zoner. They are so quick and effective that she can essentially be played as a rushdown character without fear of getting up-close. Players often hang in close for the knockdown and then backdash to fullscreen.

Cetrion’s special moves are extremely effective zoning tools:

Tendril Pull can connect from any distance and extends combos when amplified.
Bouncing Boulder and Boulder Bash can snuff both grounded and aerial approaches for mix-ups.
Earthquake and Geyser are low projectiles. The latter extends combos when amplified.
Deadly Winds is a short-range mid projectile. It is safe on block and deals immense chip damage.

There are many Cetrion players ranging from mains to pockets and stables. Open Series EU MVP Candidate Alfio Tomasso “Asodimazze” Zacco, the tournament’s definitive Cetrion, dominated the competition in 2020.

Former Evo Champion Ryan “Dragon” Walker is a day one Cetrion main and the blueprint for how to play her at high level. Save for one 9th-place finish, Dragon finished Top 8 at every major tournament.

Erron Black

Erron Black might be the most versatile character in MK11. The Outworld rustler can brawl, zone, or threaten his opponent from neutral. He also typically places top 5 on tier lists. With a host of strengths and no real weaknesses, Erron Black is popular at all levels of play.

Erron Black has a very concise yet effective set of normals.

His 2,1 string deals immense pressure.
Forward 4 Boot Drop is a long-range overhead that triggers a Krushing Blow on two consecutive hits.
The Back 2, 2 string finishes with two overheads and pops the opponent up for an extended combo.
He also has the best Fatal Blow in the game, a full screen projectile.
There aren’t a lot of kombos in his kit.

This mercenary’s arsenal is filled with flexible special moves.

During Locked and Loaded, he pulls out his rifle and can fire from full screen (both high and low) or melee at close range.
He can throw acid on the ground with Zaterrean Spit to deal damage over time.
Rattlesnake Slide is a low that hits from full screen and can be mixed up with Boot Drop.
Scud Shot is a great mind game tool that destroys projectiles in mid-air.
Down Peacemaker is a safe low attack that can create deadly mix-ups even when the opponent is blocking.

Erron Black is very popular with pros. Several top players who specialize in playing numerous characters, namely Dominique “SonicFox” McLean and Sayed Hashim “Tekken Master” Ahmed, use him. Erron Black was once Alexandre “Hayatei” Dube-Bilodeau’s lone main before Fujin’s arrival and SonicFox said he is their favorite character in the game.

Jacqui Briggs

Jacqui Briggs is widely considered the best character in MK11. She has a fast rushdown style, high damage output, and powerful specials at the cost of a steep learning curve. This makes her extremely popular at high level, but less common for casual players.

Jacqui’s normal moves are short-range, fast, and safe on block. She has a versatile array of strings that smother opponents up-close like Energy Overdrive which takes precise input timing in exchange for high damage combos. The uppercut is hard to master, but essential to maximize damage output.

Special moves make this character especially strong.

She leaps into the air during Bionic Bounce, quickly escaping pressure and closing the distance.
Lethal Clinch extends combos for damage or throws opponents in the corner.
Grenade Launcher launches plasma that sticks to the opponent or the ground, dealing damage over time.
Robo Grappler allows you to amplify throw breaks to deal damage on reversals.

Jacqui has been a hot commodity in tournaments since launch. Final Kombat 2020 is a prime example, as five of the sixteen players used Jacqui at least once. Kustom Variations only further cemented her place at the top of tier lists.

Liu Kang

Liu Kang is popular in every iteration of MK and arguably the biggest icon in the series. He is a straightforward rushdown character with great normal buttons and simple combos. On top of that he is also top 5 on most tier lists.

Liu Kang has the fastest normal moves in the game and excels at creating pressure up-close.

He has quick, useful mid options and some of the best lows in the game.
His Forward 4 string is mid, plus on block, and triggers a Krushing Blow on a punish or counter hit.
The only string that isn’t safe on block is Forward 3 after the fourth hit.
Perhaps Liu Kang’s only weakness is that he has no overhead normals, but this doesn’t slow him down much.

Liu Kang’s special moves are balanced and easy to comprehend.

Dragon Kick and Bicycle Kick are his trademark moves. Both come with Krushing Blow conditions.
Fireball and Low Fireball are stifling projectiles that can zone when necessary.
Kusari Slam is a command grab that can catch opponents when they stand-block strings.
Dragon Fire gives him a temporary damage buff and access to teleporting attacks.
Shaolin Stance and Nunchaku Stance can be equipped together as Kustom Variations. Both give Liu Kang more mix-up and pressure options.

There are many Liu Kang mains at all levels of play. Daniel “The Mighty Unjust” Taibot and Brandon “Wize Gemini” Jeremy are notable ones from the PS4 Open Series. Jarrad “NinjaKilla” Gooden, a consensus top-two MK11 player in the world, uses Liu Kang almost exclusively in tournaments.

Sub-Zero

Sub-Zero is one of the poster boys for the series alongside Scorpion and has one of the best character designs in the FGC. This acclaim didn’t transition to MK11 until the COVID-19 pandemic forced tournaments online. Sub is now the most common online menace in the community.

Sub-Zero has a versatile set of normal moves that make him the best mix-up character in the game.

With quick lows and a lightning-fast Forward 2 overhead, he can turn any fight into a guessing game.
Back 2 is a long-reaching mid that doubles as an anti-air against jumping opponents.
Forward 4 has deceptive range and triggers a Krushing Blow on two consecutive hits.
Sub is a nightmare in the corner where he can mix his opponent all day and unleash a Krushing Blow during 8-hit combos.

Sub-Zero has a short list of special moves that are some of the best in the game.

His trademark Ice Ball freezes opponents to extend combos, while Deep Freeze amplifies the projectile so that it moves faster and absorbs incoming projectiles.
Slide can hit from full screen and is seemingly impossible to block on reaction.
Creeping Ice is a low option that keeps any string safe and deals chip damage.
Arctic Trap replaces Ice Clone, creating an orb on the stage that freezes the opponent on contact.

Almost every player keeps Sub-Zero in their stable. He is even a go-to option when facing 0-2 deficits. Brazilian player Wellington “Konqueror” de Castro is the most well-known Sub-Zero main, but UK NRS legend Denom “A F0xy Grampa” Jones recently added the ninja to his arsenal as well.

Will you follow the tier lists and pick an overused character for the Open Series and Evo 2021 Online?

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