Mortal Kombat 1/General Shao/Combos

Universal Kombos

• ~ means cancel (including a dash cancel), > means no cancel and simply follow up with the correct timing, + means simultaneous press.

Axe Stance

22, B3, and B1

• All combos from 22 can be done with B3 and B1 as well.
• 22 is listed because it is Shao's most important confirm.

22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > Klassic Kahn (DB3) > 22 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• The most important and common combo by a mile.
• Turns the crucial 22 confirm into solid damage, corner carry, and Unarmed stance offense.

22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 224 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Alternate version that gains a tiny bit of damage and frame advantage for slightly more stringent timing.
• Unless the 224 is done at the earliest possible time, the Klassic Kahn will whiff and you will be full combo punished.
• Don't buffer the whole thing at once, do the 224 and then judge if the enemy is high enough before inputting the Klassic Kahn.

22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 224 ~ Axe Quake (DB4)

• The Unarmed 224 has enough corner carry to put the axe offscreen, but not far enough to disallow Axe Quake (DB4).
• As such, cancelling into Axe Quake instead of Klassic Kahn can be used to surprise the enemy with an offscreen low.

22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > B1 > 22 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)(

• Use B1 to side switch.
• The enemy is still too far to snag with a Reverse Treechopper, so just finish the combo with Klassic Kahn or Axe Quake.

22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 22 ~ Reverse Treechopper (DF2)

• Sacrifices corner carry for less break points.
• Best against enemies who are nearly at breaker, as Reverse Treechopper deals tremendous damage by itself and cannot be broken after the initial grab.

(corner) 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > Klassic Kahn (DB3) > 22 ~ Reverse Treechopper (DF2)

• Corner optimal from 22.
• Reverse Treechopper will keep the enemy pinned long enough for any ambush kameo setup.

(corner) 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 224 ~ Reverse Treechopper (DF2)

• Easier corner combo from 22 that still gives the Reverse Treechopper.

12

12 > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 22 ~ Reverse Treechopper (DF2) or Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Useful combo for when 12 is used as a confirm.
• Reverse Treechopper will give better damage (much more than the non-12 starter), while Klassic Kahn will sacrifice damage to give similar corner carry to the 224 ~ Klassic Kahn combo.

12 ~ Power Strike (DF4) > B32 > B32 > 22 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Meterless combo from 12 with excellent damage and corner carry.
• Takes advantage of the height from the 12 ~ Power Strike cancel to continue with Unarmed B32.

12 ~ Power Strike (DF4) > B1 > 22 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Sacrifices damage for a side switch.

12 ~ Power Strike (DB4) > B32 > B32 > 2 ~ Axe Quake (DB4)

• 22 will put Shao too far away to cancel into Axe Quake.
• In the corner, the Axe Quake will armor break and allow Shao to follow up with D1 ~ Klassic Kahn.

(corner) 12 ~ Power Strike (DF4) > B32 > B32 > 4 ~ Reverse Treechopper (DF2)

• In the corner, replacing 2 with 4 will squeeze out a bit more damage.

F122

F122 ~ Power Strike (DF4) > B32 > B32 > 22 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)
(corner) F122 ~ Power Strike (DF4) > B32 > B32 > 4 ~ Reverse Treechopper (DF2)
(corner) F122 ~ Power Strike (DF4) > B32 > B32 > 2 ~ Axe Quake (DB4)

• Basically the same as the meterless 12 combos, if a little more difficult midscreen due to the extra space.
• F122 creates too much corner carry for even a 2 ~ Axe Quake cancel to work midscreen, so don't attempt it.

B2

B2 > J12 > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 2 ~ Reverse Treechopper

• Basic but high damage combo from B2.
• Air string gives it excellent corner carry.
• If done from the edge of B2 range, Shao can insert another B2 before the J12, but under most midscreen circumstances he will simply walk underneath them.

B2 > Power Strike (DF4) > B32 > B32 > 22 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Meterless combo with less damage, but roughly the same corner carry.

(corner) B2 > B2 > J12 > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 4 ~ Reverse Treechopper

• The double B2 combos are much easier to connect in the corner, and the 2 can be replaced with 4 for slightly more damage.

(corner) B2 > B2 > B2 > B2 > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 4 ~ Reverse Treechopper

• Alternate combo from B2 in the corner.
• Humorous, but unoptimal.

D2

EX D2 > J12 > 22 ~ Devastator (DB3)

• Basic EX D2 combo.
• Shao could EX the Devastator to continue the combo, but the meter expenditure from EX D2 is already very high.

D2 > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 22 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Shao's D2 is a solid antiair, and the long vertical reach allows it to catch the enemy high up for a lengthy suspend.
• The speed and reach of 22 is uniquely suited to catching D2 antiairs, and will allow for continuation into Devastator.

Kameo Kombos

Jax

Axe 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) + Close Backbreaker (BK) > B32 > B32 > B1 + Ground Pound (K), Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Route from Axe 22 that lets Shao attack with Unarmed B32, and then ends with a guaranteed damage armor break unblockable.
• Klassic Kahn will avoid the ground pound, but will not give a pickup.
• Can be avoided with delayed getup.

(corner) Axe B3 ~ Energy Wave (DK) > D1 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 22 ~ Reverse Treechopper (DF2)

• Safe B3 pickup from Jax's Energy Wave.

Motaro

Axe F2 ~ Centaurian Warp (K) > B2 > J12 > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 224 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• The big combo that Centaurian Warp allows.
• Crucial for maximizing the reward (and thus threat) from Axe B2.

Axe F2 ~ Centaurian Warp (K) > B2 > J12 > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > B1 > 22 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Lowers the damage, but mitigates the side switch.

Axe 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 224 ~ Charge! (Block+Stance Switch + K)

• Motaro's alternate Fatal Blow starter is far faster than Shao's, giving him far more ways to combo into it.
• In most situations where Klassic Kahn would land, Shao can instead use Charge.

Scorpion

Axe 12 ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 22 ~ Treechopper (DF1) + Far Fire Breath (UK) > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 2 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Exceptionally rewarding midscreen route with tremendous corner carry.
• Moves the EX Devastator to the end of the combo, maximizing Unarmed time and fully taking advantage of the move's gravity alleviating properties.

Axe 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 224 ~ Axe Recall (DF4) + Far Fire Breath (UK) > 22 ~ Devastator (DB3)

• Scorpion kameo route from a 22 confirm.
• Press the 224, DF4, and UK in sequence as quickly as possible after the Power Strike.

Unarmed B3 ~ Treechopper (DF1) + Far Fire Breath (UK) > B2 > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 2 ~ Reverse Treechopper (DF2)

• With Treechopper, Shao can confirm from his B3.

EX Treechopper (DF1+Block) + Far Fire Breath (UK) > B2 > 22 ~ Devastator (DB3)

• Armored launcher from EX Treechopper, usable on block and in gaps as long as the axe is close.
• Do an EX Devastator at the end to transition back into Unarmed stance, though it adds very little damage and is not meter efficient.

Stryker

Axe 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > Far Grenade Toss (FK) > B32 > B32 > 2 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• Adds grenades to the Axe 22 confirm, allowing Shao to continue with Unarmed B32.
• Do the Power Strike right as Shao pulls the axe out of the enemy, and then call the Far Grenade Toss immediately afterwards.

(corner) Unarmed B3 ~ Treechopper (DF1) + Far Grenade Toss (FK) > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 4 ~ Reverse Treechopper (DF2)

• Confirm from B3, his low combo starter.
• Highly plus on block with significant chip, and gives superb damage on hit.
• Do the Treechopper and the Far Grenade Toss as a single motion: DF, and then 1+Kameo simultaneously.

Sub-Zero

Axe 22 / B1 / B3 ~ Iced Out (FK) > Dark Energy (DF1) > B2 > J12 > 22 ~ EX Devastator (DB3+Block) ~ Power Strike (DF4) > 224 ~ Klassic Kahn (DB3)

• The easiest and most important combo that Sub-Zero gives.
• Massively improves the reward from 22, B1, and B3.