Kabal made his much-anticipated return to Mortal Kombat 11 after a hiatus in Mortal Kombat X that left fans hungry for more. With the release of Ultimate, the Competition Center looks back on the development infamous Black Dragon member and how you can start on your tournament journey with him.
Character Overview
Kabal is known for shifting allegiances since the release of Mortal Kombat 3. The threatening aura behind his ties to the Black Dragon clan and respirator-clad appearance comes to life through a powerful punish game. In fact, numerous top 8 performances in the Mortal Kombat 9 pro scene popularized the nickname "Kabal Kombat.”
MK11 Kabal is a different beast than the slayer of MK9. His kit is more reactive and less reliant on high-pressure engagements. He thrives in neutral situations and sports a mean footsies game, making him a good pick for those who value the fundamentals. His overall speed coupled with strong mids help him survive in a variety of matchups, particularly when the opponent is kept within range using hooks to close space and execute combos if needed. Kabal’s sweet spot is between jump and sweep distance, thanks to a strong diagonal air projectile. He also has one of the best armor breaks in the game (Hook Slam), and an impressive meterless stun called the Nomad Dash.
You can see a good example of high-level Kabal play by Curbolicious in the clip below.
Digging into Variations
Kabal sits in a tough spot right now on tier lists. EventHubs rates him at 19 out of 37 characters, but with a 16 point increase since the release of Ultimate and the opening of Kustom Variations in tournaments last month. Prior to these changes, Kabal was rated a solid A+ character by Ketchup and Mustard, so he could possibly see further improvement in the hands of a skilled player. The tides may be changing in Kabal’s favor, so let’s dig into his variations and how they work in particular matchups.
Mean Streak
A well-rounded choice with frame traps, hit and air confirms, and a low projectile
- Rolling Buzzsaw ↓ ←◻
- (Air) Straight Buzzin’' ← →◻
- Dash Cancel ← + R2
Clean Cut
Switchup with a high-risk hook and opponent re-stand option
- Low Hook Grab ← → △
- Nomad Spin ↓ ← △
- Extended Hook ↓ ← ×
The Spins
Most popular tournament choice with combo pop-up tools to amplify damage
- Low Spinner ← → △
- Hook Grab ↓ ← △
- Gas Blast ↓ ← ○
Kabal takes a certain level of skill to stand in the Kombat League because of his potential to be zoned out, but with enough dedication, the right player can take him to the top of the competition. Especially with Kustom Variations unlocked, there’s unlimited potential for growth. It’s possible we will see more of him in the Open Series going into 2021. Sign up for the last weekly of 2020 here, and see where your own hook lands.