Mortal Kombat 1/Sub-Zero

Sub-Zero
Base Health	1000
Availability

Introduction

Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei

"As the Lin Kuei's Grandmaster, Sub-Zero leads his ancient warrior clan in the defense of Earthrealm from external threats. For centuries, it has been their solemn task. But Earthrealm hasn't been threatened in generations, and Sub-Zero sees no point in limiting his clan to preparing for dangers that may never come. Under his leadership, the Lin Kuei will come out of the shadows and fight for its place as one of Earthrealm's great nations."

Sub-Zero is a Defensive/Setplay character centered around his Ice Klone (DB1), a versatile tool which serves as a defensive wall, a combo extender, and a setplay trap. The Klone, Ice Slide (BF3, which can be enhanced to add Armor) and his Ice Ball (DF1) give Sub-Zero a degree of Counterzoning gameplay as well; good defensive play will usually give him a freeze from which he can start combos. Add on top of that decently ranged buttons like S2 and F1, a launching Overhead in B2, a Mid projectile (BF2) which negates projectiles, and even a divekick (air DF4) to start combos with and Sub-Zero arguably becomes the character of choice for learning the fundamentals of Mortal Kombat 1. His toolset is well-rounded, easy to understand and teaches skills that translate well to other characters.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Brick Wall: (Enhanced) Ice Klone Charge, (Enhanced) Ice Klone and Enhanced Ice Ball can negate or even destroy projectiles, making him difficult to approach with a life deficit; Deadly Vapors can also put pressure on an opponent within chip kill territory;
Ice Klone Setplay: Cancelling certain meaty attacks into Ice Klone lets Sub-Zero freeze opponents attempting to wake up with armor. Ice Klone also had its duration extended enough so that he can throw out at least one projectile in the neutral. In the corner he can grab people into the Klone for a kombo as well;
Blue Roman Kancel: Deadly Vapors' slowing properties even on block allow Sub-Zero to check his opponent's approach and give him extra time to react to their armored wakeups;
Mid Projectile: While lacking the range of other fireballs, Ice Klone Charge hits Mid for free when most characters need to spend bar to do so;
Dive Kick: A strong mobility tool to get around zoning which can lead to full kombos on hit and can be made safe on block when spaced properly;
Solid Reach: Buttons like D1, S2, D3 and F1 have great range and/or advancing movement for counter-poking and whiff punishes. D2 is blessed with a great range and angle for anti-airs;
Kombo Demon: Sub has a variety of way to starts kombos once he has opened his opponent up: Enhanced Deadly Vapors after a hit-confirm, consistent meterless routes in the corner with the regular Deadly Vapors, (Enhanced) Ice Slide and its Spear extension with their own Kameo conversions, and the removal of the freeze limit on Ice Klones creating new 1 bar routes.

Freezes Scale Hard: Ice Ball and Deadly Vapors incur relatively harsh damage scaling on Sub-Zero's kombos, limiting his damage in his confirms or fireball trades;
Slide Standing Frames: Ice Slide forces him to stand up during its startup, limiting its use as a reaction to incoming fireballs;
Lacks That One Kameo: Sub-Zero currently lacks synergy with the Kameo roster compared to other characters whom receive greater benefits from the system;
Loses the Fireball War: Ice Ball's slow startup even when Enhanced coupled with the shorter stun duration make it difficult for him to win fireball wars and capitalize on trade situations; some projectiles, most notably Reptile's Force Ball, require two hits to break, meaning Ice Klone and Ice Klone Charge outright lose to them;
Covered in Gaps: Many of his basic strings have notable gaps between hits which can be punished with armor, more so than most other characters;
Ice Klone Doesn't Work: Ice Klone has been weakened from previous games with higher recovery frames and an increased cooldown timer; there are few situations in which Sub-Zero can setup Ice Klone and not at least be punished by Armored attacks on reaction. Ice Klone being a part of his kombo theory means if he's already used it in neutral the cooldown restricts him there too.

Normals and Strings

Grounded

1

Clammy Palm

1

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 1 hitbox.png

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1

Standing Front Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
7	3	19	18	20	3	H	+16	0	0	-

Lin Kuei Storm

12

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 12 hitbox.png

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12

FP, BP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
17	2	27	29	30	4.5	M	+11	-7	-7	-

Has an armor gap

Arctic Hammer

122

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 122 hitbox.png

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122

FP, BP, BP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
21	3	25	-	70	10.5	OH	+27 (KD)	-6	-6	-

Has an armor gap

Advancing Frost

F1

File:MK1 Sub-Zero f1 hitbox.png

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F1

Forward + Front Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
15	3	23	-	30	3.5	M	+18	-4	-4	-

Frozen Over

F12

File:MK1 Sub-Zero f12 hitbox.png

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F12

F+FP, BP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
15	2	27	25	50	7.5	M	+9	-7	-7	-

Freezing Point

F123

File:MK1 Sub-Zero f123 hitbox.png

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F123

F+FP, BP, FK

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
20	5	29	-	50	7.5	L	+22 (KD)	-7	-7	-

Has an armor gap

Cold Front

D1

File:MK1 Sub-Zero d1 hitbox.png

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D1

Crouching Front Punch / Crouch Jab

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
7	2	24	20	20	3	M	+11	-9	-9	-

2

Quick Chill

2

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 2 hitbox.png

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2

Standing Back Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	4	18	21	30	4.5	H	+16	0	0	-

Blistering Blizzard

21

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 21 hitbox.png

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21

BP, FP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
20	4	25	30	50	7.5	M	+11	-7	-7	-

Has an armor gap

Whiteout

212

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 212 hitbox.png

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212

BP, FP, BP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
22	2	37	-	70	10.5	OH	+29 (KD)	-7	-7	-

Has an armor gap Scales harder during a juggle than on a grounded hit.

Spinal Tap

B2

File:MK1 Sub-Zero b2 hitbox.png

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B2

Back + Back Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
24	23	37	33	97.5 (50, 47.5)	15 (7.5, 7.5)	OH, H	+57 (Launch)	-23	-23	-

Brain Freeze

D2

File:MK1 Sub-Zero d2 hitbox.png

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D2

Crouching Back Punch / Uppercut

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
11	3	42	-	140	21	H	+26 (Launch)	-3	-13	-

On Kounter or Punish Hit, can be Jump Canceled with any upward direction + Block for 2 bars of Super Meter

3

Heavy Toe

3

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 3 hitbox.png

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3

Standing Front Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	2	31	20	50	7.5	H	+8	-1	-1	-

Slip Slide

34

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 34 hitbox.png

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34

FK, BK

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	8	21	-	70	10.5	L	+27 (Launch)	-7	-7	-

Shin Shatter

B3

File:MK1 Sub-Zero b3 hitbox.png

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B3

Back + Front Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
13	2	27	26	50	7.5	L	+8	-7	-7	-

Permafrost

B34

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 34 hitbox.png

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B34

B+FK, BK

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
16	8	19	-	70	10.5	L	+29 (Launch)	-5	-5	-

Has an armor gap

Low Step

D3

File:MK1 Sub-Zero d3 hitbox.png

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D3

Crouching Front Kick / Low Poke (Short)

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	2	24	24	20	3	L	+12	-9	-9	-

4

Harmful Heel

4

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 4 hitbox.png

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4

Standing Back Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
12	3	26	25	70	10.5	H	+14	+3	+3	-

Hail Damage

44

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 44 hitbox.png

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44

BK, BK

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
18	2	21	-	50	7.5	L	+23 (KD)	-1	-1	-

Chilled Sweep

B4

File:MK1 Sub-Zero b4 hitbox.png

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B4

Back + Back Kick / Sweep

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
13	2	37	-	70	10.5	L	+7	-7	-7	-

D4

File:MK1 Sub-Zero d4 hitbox.png

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D4

Crouching Back Kick / Low Poke (Far)

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
9	2	27	27	30	4.5	L	+14	-7	-7	-

Aerial

J1

Icy Knuckles

J1

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j1 hitbox.png

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J1

Jumping Front Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
7	6	39	24	50	7.5	M	+4	-24	-24	-

Hits Overhead while descending from a jump

Slick Strike

J11

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j11 hitbox.png

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J11

Air FP, FP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
12	4	35	44	27	4.05	OH	+17	-20	-25	-

Polar Plunge

J112

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j112 hitbox.png

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J112

Air FP, FP, BP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	2	40	45	30	4.5	OH	+40 (KD)	-23	-28	-

Menacing Mace

J12

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j12 hitbox.png

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J12

Air FP, BP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
17	2	34	46	27	4.05	OH	+45 (KD)	-17	-22	-

Air Lin Kuei

J13

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j13 hitbox.png

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J13

Air FP, FK

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
13	5	33	44	27	4.05	OH	+18	-19	-24	-

Frosted Frenzy

J134

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j134 hitbox.png

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J134

Air FP, FK, BK

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
16	4	33	-	90	13.5	OH	+19 (KD)	-18	-23	-

J2

Ice Maker

J2

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j2 hitbox.png

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J2

Jumping Back Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
9	4	39	19	50	7.5	M	+4	-24	-24	-

Hits Overhead while descending from a jump

Frostbite

J21

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j21 hitbox.png

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J21

Air BP, FP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
14	5	34	46	81	12.15	OH	+40 (KD)	-20	-25	-

Freezer Burn

J22

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j22 hitbox.png

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J22

Air BP, BP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	3	32	38	27	4.05	M	+20	-16	-21	-

Arctic Blast

J222

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j222 hitbox.png

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J222

Air BP, BP, BP

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
15	8	36	-	90	13.5	M	+19 (KD)	-25	-30	-

J3 / J4

Balanced Boot

J3 / J4

File:MK1 Sub-Zero j3 4 hitbox.png

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J3 / J4

Jumping Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
11	5	39	35	70	10.5	M	+22	-24	-24	-

Hits Overhead while descending from a jump

Throws

Shove

F1+3

File:MK1 Sub-Zero f1 3 hitbox.png

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F1+3

Forward Throw / Shove

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	2	33	-	20 (10, 10)	-	Throw (H)	+11	-	-	-

Performed when Kameo is unavailable
Break with 2 or 4

Negative Zero

1+3

File:MK1 Sub-Zero 1 3 hitbox.png

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1+3

Back Throw

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	2	33	-	110 (10, 30, 70)	-	Throw (H)	+11	-	-	-

Break with 1 or 3

Special Moves

Grounded

Ice Ball

DF1

File:MK1 Sub-Zero df1 hitbox.png

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DF1

Down, Forward + Front Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
39	-	-	-	20	12.5	H	+74 (Freeze)	≥ -11	≥ -11	-

Advantage values derived from point blank hit

DF1+BLK

Down, Forward + Front Punch + Block

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
39	-	-	-	40	15	M	+74 (Freeze)	≥ -11	≥ -11	1 Bar

Destroys opponent's projectiles
Advantage values derived from point blank hit

Ice Klone

DB1

File:MK1 Sub-Zero db1 hitbox.png

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DB1

Down, Back + Front Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
9	70	-	-	20	12.5	M	+59 (Freeze)	-22	-22	-

Negates opponent's projectiles
All versions of Ice Klone share a 3.5 second cooldown after the Klone disappears
Widened hitboxes allow for grounded combo conversions in the corner. May also allow for unusual interactions when blocked in the corner.

DB1+BLK

Down, Back + Front Punch + Block

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
11	-	-	-	20	41.25	M	+52 (Freeze)	-25	-25	1 Bar

Negates opponent's projectiles
All versions of Ice Klone share a 3.5 second cooldown after the Klone disappears
Can be done combined with or independently of the second amplified version.

This Ice Klone has increased duration compared to the normal version.

DB1, Delay, BLK

Down, Back + Front Punch, Delay, Block

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
11	-	-	-	90 (30, 30, 30)	41.25	M	+52 (Freeze)	-25	-25	1 Bar

Negates opponent's projectiles
All versions of Ice Klone share a 3.5 second cooldown after the Klone disappears
Can be done combined with or independently of the first amplified version.

Sub-Zero produces 3 Ice Klones which can each freeze within the same combo.

Ice Klone Charge

BF2

File:MK1 Sub-Zero bf2 hitbox.png

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BF2

Back, Forward + Back Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
20	11	26	-	80	20	M	+31 (KD)	≥ -16	≥ -16	-

Negates opponent's projectiles

BF2+BLK

Back, Forward + Back Punch + Block

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
20	11	26	-	110	23.75	M	+31 (KD)	≥ -16	≥ -16	1 Bar

Destroys opponent's projectiles

Ice Slide

Ice Slide / Ice Slide Spear

BF3

File:MK1 Sub-Zero bf3 hitbox.png

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BF3

Back, Forward + Front Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
14	19	36	-	60	17.5	L	+32 (Launch)	-22	-22	-

Switches sides on hit

BF3+BLK

Back, Forward + Front Kick + Block

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
14	19	36	-	90	21.25	L	+32 (Launch)	-16	-16	1 Bar

Has armor
Switches sides on hit

BF3 (Hold 3)

Back, Forward + Front Kick (Hold)

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
0	N/A	0	-	50 (20, 30)	N/A	N/A	+15 (KD)	N/A	N/A	-

Can be activated when Ice Slide or Enhanced Ice Slide hits

Extends the on hit animation for Ice Slide for extra damage, corner carry, and to avoid switching sides.

Deadly Vapors

DF4

File:MK1 Sub-Zero df4 hitbox.png

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DF4

Down, Forward + Back Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
31	6	10	-	20	12.5	M	-40	-20	-15	-

Slows the opponent
First use in a combo does not enable Auto Block, can combo into S12; this is more consistent in the corner.

DF4+BLK

Down, Forward + Back Kick + Block

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
31	6	10	-	40	15	M	-40	-20	-15	1 Bar

Slows the opponent.

Sub-Zero's primary combo starter.

Aerial

(Air) Ice Klone

JDB1

File:MK1 Sub-Zero jdb1 hitbox.png

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JDB1

Jump, Down, Back + Front Punch

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
4	70	-	-	20	12.5	M	+52 (Freeze)	-29	-29	-

Negates opposing projectiles
Only available while rising from a jump
All versions of Ice Klone share a 3.5 second cooldown after the Klone disappears

JDB1+BLK

Jump, Down, Back + Front Punch + Block

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
4	-	-	-	90 (30, 30, 30)	41.25	M	+106 (Freeze)	-11	-11	2 Bars

Negates opposing projectiles
Only available while rising from a jump
All versions of Ice Klone share a 3.5 second cooldown after the Klone disappears

(Air) Diving Glacier

JDB4

File:MK1 Sub-Zero jdb4 hitbox.png

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JDB4

Jump, Down, Back + Back Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
16	14	24	-	50	16.5	M	+6 to +20	-16 to -2	-16 to -2	-

Frame advantage increases when connecting lower against grounded opponents
Can link to grounded buttons at +7 and higher on hit against a grounded opponent

JDB4+BLK

Jump, Down, Back + Back Kick + Block