Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is a top-tier fighting game for a reason. It’s chock full of strategy, fast-paced combat, and enough depth to keep players coming back into the ring round after round.
However, that doesn’t mean the game is unapproachable or difficult to learn. MK 11 is easy to pick up and play. The more you learn, the more satisfying the experience.
Whether you’ve just downloaded the game for the first time or want to improve, here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Not Picking A Main
Sure, when you start playing you’re going to want to get a feel for different characters to figure out which suit you best, but if you want to play competitively, or at least get better, you’re going to need to pick a main character and stick with them.
Find a player that feels like a perfect fit for your playstyle. The character you enjoy might just be a fighter someone else hates, so mess around with the entire roster before making your decision. If you need help, look no further than MadDoggGames’ Mortal Kombat beginner series:
How to pick a main
Here are a few ways to help you decide which character to pick up:
- The character is easy to use.
- You love their design, aesthetic, personality, or lore.
- Their playstyle gives you everything you want in a character.
- The fighter is high on most tier lists.
Not Learning Your Moves
Every character in Mortal Kombat has unique moves in addition to universal fighting game techniques like blocking, parrying, counters, etc.
Failing to use part of your character’s kit is a major weakness that only creates holes in your playstyle. However, it is easy to fix.
How to learn your character
Spend some time in the tutorial before jumping online or even into any of the single-player modes. MK11 features one of the most extensive in-game guides for the genre. Once you learn the basics common to every character, plus a few tricks for series icon Scorpion, you’ll be ready to tackle individual character quirks.
Next hop into Training mode with your main and mess around with their inputs or buttons before diving into their moveset in the menu. Once you get a feel for the character, it is time for some light reading in the movelist. Go through their different options and take the opportunity to perform every single one.
Getting a feel for the inputs and how everything works in Training mode helps develop consistency since there’s no pressure from an opponent. Mark combos you want to practice so the inputs appear on screen. Eventually you won’t even need the visual aid.
Button Mashing and Repetition
This one kind of goes along with the last mistake, but it’s a cardinal sin throughout all fighting games in general. Don’t button mash. It is a bad habit that opponents can easily exploit to win.
If you don’t know the basic moves and can’t vary your approach, you’re going to have a bad time in competitive play. Doing the same thing over and over is only effective until your opponent adapts. You wouldn’t play chess with someone if you didn’t know how. Don’t do it with MK.
Not Learning Neutral and Footsies
Concepts like neutral and footsies, for example, are necessary to become a better competitive player.
Just because a concept isn’t familiar, doesn’t mean it isn’t important. You might even understand it already without realizing it. If you don’t know how to play neutral you won’t be able to properly vie for position or protect yourself. You also need to know what other characters do in neutral. Deeper knowledge helps you anticipate what attacks to use and what to avoid, as well as give you insight into how your opponent might react in a given situation.
Explore our guide on Neutral and Footsies for a full breakdown.
Jumping Too Much
It can be tempting to jump a lot in MK 11. New players will often jump at an opponent and then try and use a punch or kick on the way down. The problem is that jumps are fairly easy to counter (anti-air) if you know what you’re doing.
A good player will wait for a jump and use an uppercut or combo, and before you know it, you’re stuck in a juggling maneuver. That’s not a place you want to be.
MadDoggGames made this very clear in his video about mistakes people make playing MK 11.
“Jumping is a predictable movement that locks you in a preset arc, limits your offensive options, and eliminates your defensive ones,” MadDoggGames said in the video.
Not Using The Last Breath or Final Block
Veteran MK players know how to get the most out of every situation thanks to an in-depth understanding of the game mechanics. One thing that really helps is the last breath mechanic. It gives the player with almost no health a defense against chip damage, acting as a small come back mechanic. This minor detail allows players to react differently since they can confidently counter knowing certain moves won’t finish them.
Here’s a step by step explanation from MK enthusiast ETCChile.
Misusing Fatal Blows
You only get one Fatal Blow per game, making the extra damage all the more strategic. Instead of using the Fatal Blow when you’re likely going to lose the round or can win without it, wait until you have the momentum to come back. Naturally, there will be times when you almost have to use it since the game will end or you’re about to lose, but otherwise, be smart.
Not Playing Enough
You don't have to play all of the time, although you can't expect to show visible improvements if you don't put in the effort.
The Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Open Series is one of the best places to apply your practice. If visual progress alone isn’t enough, then you can always reap the free rewards.