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.

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) > 224 ~ 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 ~ Axe Quake (DB4)

• As 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.
• The Power Strike after the B2 is difficult to confirm.

(corner) 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.

Kameo Kombos

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.
• Massively increases the reward (and thus threat) of Axe F2.

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.

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 increases the reward from 22, B1, and B3.