Mortal Kombat 1/Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung
Base Health	1000.00
Availability

Introduction

Scheming Sorcerer

"Shang Tsung grew up in Outworld’s backwaters. Too lazy for hard labor and too shifty for honest work, he eked out a living selling quack cures and fake magic. Though his wares were useless, Shang Tsung’s easy charm always closed the deal. Shang Tsung was resigned to this hardscrabble life. But then one day a mysterious stranger came, promising to make Shang Tsung a powerful sorcerer. Though suspicious of the offer, it was one he couldn’t refuse."

Shang Tsung is a form-based Stance/Mimic sorcerer who is able to switch freely between his Young Form (a zoner stance focused on keepaway with straight fireballs) and his Old Form (which is capable of extended unbreakable kombos from his ground fireballs) by inputting “Morph” (Down + Flip Stance) at will during movements; this has a slight startup animation if used in neutral and cannot be performed while in hitstun or knockdown, but will allow him to transition between forms during any attacks and jumps as needed with little restriction. Shang Tsung also retains his klassic ability to transform into the opponent character by using Form Stealer (FDB4) with Enhanced lasting longer and increasing dmg output while transformed, as well as his Old Form EX DB3 which costs 2 bars of meter but is unbreakable and causes a restand while granting the same properties as EX Form Stealer; he also has the ability to morph into the opponent’s Kameo and “Kopy” one of their moves (DB4), with default Kopy typically granting a weaker version of the stolen assist while the EX Kopy grants the regular or advanced version of the assist. Both stances have pros/cons requiring players to swap between them:

The zoning form

Strengths

Weaknesses

Free Form: The ability to switch Forms during kombos and pressure allows you to tap into each Form's unique strengths at will, giving you a more open-ended strategy;
Solid Zoning: He doesn't need meter to access his multi-hitting fireball;
A Decent F4: While not offering as much as Old Form's F4, Young Shang's is still a solid 11f mid whose full string offers a decent knockback to continue playing the range game;
Flying Overhead: F3 is a borderline ignorant Overhead on par with Reiko's F2 with the added benefit of hopping over many Lows; opponents cannot afford to keep neutral ducking Young Shang, opening them up to...
Great Back Throw: His Back Throw carries the opponent over a great distance and leaves them close enough for Shang to dash in and either attempt a throw again or harass with the aforementioned F3;
I'm You, But Stronger: At any time, Shang can use Form Stealer to transform into his opponent, with the Enhanced version giving him a damage buff; this rewards knowledge of the rest of the cast and how they synergize with your Kameo of choice; Khaos Reigns also added a Kameo morph move, giving Shang players even more tools to play with in specific matchups.

Weak Conversion Ability: He needs to either switch to Old Form if he wants to cash out for more damage in kombos or settle for pushing people back into zoning range;
Poor Offense: Young Form's offense is weaker than Old Form's, with fewer buttons or strings that are useful up close;
Duckable Fireballs: A fundamental flaw in Young Shang's zoning is that he has few answers for opponents ducking at range: he has to enhance his fireball or use a Kameo to enforce respect;
Poor Kameo Synergy: Shang Tsung lacks a Kameo that synergizes with his entire kit, as the needs of both forms are too disparate to easily cover; this is because...
Stance Gated: Neither form is a complete character, so juggling between forms is a necessity in a game where other characters have win conditions that are easier to access.

The kombo/pressure form

Strengths

Weaknesses

Free Form: The ability to switch Forms during kombos and pressure allows you to tap into each Form's unique strengths at will, giving you a more open-ended strategy;
Watch Your Feet: With good aim, Ground Skulls can stymie approach attempts from both the ground and the air; if you're especially on the ball, you can even get a decent reward since...
Long, Highly Damaging Combos: Ground Skull allows for long, highly damaging, and potentially unbreakable juggle kombos and Injection is a great kombo ender for transitioning to Young Shang's zoning;
Strong Mid String: Old Form's F4 is 11f on startup and extends into a longer string with easy hit-confirms and stagger opportunities in the earlier hits;
Great Back Throw: His Back Throw carries the opponent over a great distance and leaves them close enough for Shang to dash in and either attempt a throw again or begin pressure with the aforementioned F4;
I'm You, But Stronger: At any time, Shang can use Form Stealer to transform into his opponent, with the Enhanced version giving him a damage buff; this rewards knowledge of the rest of the cast and how they synergize with your Kameo of choice; Khaos Reigns also added a Kameo morph move, giving Shang players even more tools to play with in specific matchups.

Trickshot: Ground Skull is not as easy to fire and forget as Young Form's Straight Skulls; Ground Skull is minus at all ranges and has some blind spots which makes keeping opponents out harder;
Knowledge Checked: Opponents savvy against the F4 string will take advantage of F4121 being punishable and F41214 being a High; any other option will give up your turn;
Poor Kameo Synergy: Shang Tsung lacks a Kameo that synergizes with his entire kit, as the needs of both forms are too disparate to easily cover; this is because...
Stance Gated: Neither form is a complete character, so juggling between forms is a necessity in a game where other characters have win conditions that are easier to access.

Normals and Strings

Grounded

1

Spurned God

1

File:MK1 shang tsung 1.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 1 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

1

Spurned God

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
7	2	18	-	20	-	H	+4	+2	-	-

Die-agnosis

12

File:MK1 shang tsung 12.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 12 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

12

Die-agnosis

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
11	3	25	-	30	-	M	+8	-6	-	-

Pulse Check

124

File:MK1 shang tsung 124.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 124 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

124

Pulse Check

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
12	3	23	-	70	-	M	+23	-4	-	-

Deceptive Slash

young+b1

File:MK1 shang tsung young b1.png

File:MK1 shang tsung young b1 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

young_b1

Deceptive Slash

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	2	26	-	50	-	H	+20	-6	-	-

Snake Oil

young+b12

File:MK1 shang tsung young b12.png

File:MK1 shang tsung young b12 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

young_b12

Sanke Oil

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
16	4	34	-	50	-	M	+49	-	-	-

Quick Cut

d1

File:MK1 shang tsung d1.png

File:MK1 shang tsung d1 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

d1

Quick Cut

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
7	2	23	-	20	-	M	+12	-8	-	-

Spurned God

1

File:MK1 shang tsung 1.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 1 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

1

Spurned God

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
7	2	18	-	20	-	H	+4	+2	-	-

Die-agnosis

12

File:MK1 shang tsung 12.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 12 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

12

Die-agnosis

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
11	3	25	-	30	-	M	+8	-6	-	-

Pulse Check

124

File:MK1 shang tsung 124.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 124 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

124

Pulse Check

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
12	3	23	-	70	-	M	+23	-4	-	-

Spurned Man

old+b1

File:MK1 shang tsung old b1.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old b1 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_b1

Spurned Man

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	2	26	-	50	-	H	+20	-6	-	-

Operation

old+b12

File:MK1 shang tsung old b12.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old b12 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_b12

Operation

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
17	3	31	-	70	-	M	+12	-	-	-

Quick Cut

d1

File:MK1 shang tsung d1.png

File:MK1 shang tsung d1 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

d1

Quick Cut

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
7	2	23	-	20	-	M	+12	-8	-	-

2

Vision Test

2

File:MK1 shang tsung 2.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 2 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

2

Vision Test

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
8	3	19	-	30	-	H	+8	0	-	-

Silent Killer

Young+24

File:MK1 shang tsung Young 24.png

File:MK1 shang tsung Young 24 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

Young_24

Silent Killer

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
18	3	21	-	70	-	H	+33	-2	-	-

Fatal Incision

b2

File:MK1 shang tsung b2.png

File:MK1 shang tsung b2 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

b2

Fatal Incision

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
14	2	25	-	50	-	M	+3	-5	-	-

Lovetap

b22

File:MK1 shang tsung b22.png

File:MK1 shang tsung b22 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

b22

Lovetap

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
12	2	26	-	30	-	H	+10	-6	-	-

Laid Low

b223

File:MK1 shang tsung b223.png

File:MK1 shang tsung b223 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

b223

Laid Low

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
14	3	26	-	70	-	L	+44	-7	-	-

Up Klaw

d2

File:MK1 shang tsung d2.png

File:MK1 shang tsung d2 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

d2

Up Klaw

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	4	42	-	140	-	H	+23	-4	-	-

Reflex Test

old+2

File:MK1 shang tsung old 2.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old 2 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_2

Reflex Test

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
8	3	19	-	30	-	H	+8	0	-	-

Knee Reverser

old+24

File:MK1 shang tsung old 24.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old 24 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_24

Knee Reverser

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
20	3	18	-	70	-	L	+35	+1	-	-

Fatal Incision

b2

File:MK1 shang tsung b2.png

File:MK1 shang tsung b2 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

b2

Fatal Incision

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
14	2	25	-	50	-	M	+3	-5	-	-

Lovetap

b22

File:MK1 shang tsung b22.png

File:MK1 shang tsung b22 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

b22

Lovetap

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
12	2	26	-	30	-	H	+10	-6	-	-

Laid Low

b223

File:MK1 shang tsung b223.png

File:MK1 shang tsung b223 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

b223

Laid Low

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
14	3	26	-	70	-	L	+44	-7	-	-

Up Klaw

d2

File:MK1 shang tsung d2.png

File:MK1 shang tsung d2 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

d2

Up Klaw

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	4	42	-	140	-	H	+23	-4	-	-

3

Sinister Strike

3

File:MK1 shang tsung 3.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 3 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

3

Sinister Strike

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	4	26	-	50	-	H	+6	+2	-	-

A God's Whimsy

f3

File:MK1 shang tsung f3.png

File:MK1 shang tsung f3 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

f3

A God's Whimsy

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
23	4	22	-	70	-	OH	+27	-4	-	-

Femurder

d3

File:MK1 shang tsung d3.png

File:MK1 shang tsung d3 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

d3

Femurder

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

Sinister Strike

3

File:MK1 shang tsung 3.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 3 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

3

Sinister Strike

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	4	26	-	50	-	H	+6	+2	-	-

Goal Kick

old+f3

File:MK1 shang tsung old f3.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old f3 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_f3

Goal Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
19	2	22	-	50	-	L	+13	-2	-	-

Power Manifest

old+f32

File:MK1 shang tsung old f32.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old f32 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_f32

Power Manifest

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
15	4	25	-	70	-	M	+39	-	-	-

Femurder

d3

File:MK1 shang tsung d3.png

File:MK1 shang tsung d3 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

d3

Femurder

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

4

Facebreaker

4

File:MK1 shang tsung 4.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 4 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

4

Facebreaker

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
12	4	21	-	70	-	H	+5	-3	-	-

Kneedler

f4

File:MK1 shang tsung f4.png

File:MK1 shang tsung f4 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

f4

Kneedler

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
13	2	26	-	50	-	M	+6	-6	-	-

Die-V

young+f43

File:MK1 shang tsung young f43.png

File:MK1 shang tsung young f43 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

young_f43

Die-V

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
12	3	24	-	30	-	M	+9	-5	-	-

Spin Kick

young+f434

File:MK1 shang tsung young f434.png

File:MK1 shang tsung young f434 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

young_f434

Spin Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
20	3	26	-	70	-	M	+22	-	-	-

Kareer-Ender

b4

File:MK1 shang tsung b4.png

File:MK1 shang tsung b4 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

b4

Kareer-Ender

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
13	2	30	-	70	-	L	+14	-	-	-

Longfoot

d4

File:MK1 shang tsung d4.png

File:MK1 shang tsung d4 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

d4

Longfoot

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	3	25	-	30	-	L	+15	-6	-	-

Facebreaker

4

File:MK1 shang tsung 4.png

File:MK1 shang tsung 4 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

4

Facebreaker

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
12	4	21	-	70	-	H	+5	-3	-	-

Kneedler

f4

File:MK1 shang tsung f4.png

File:MK1 shang tsung f4 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

f4

Kneedler

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
13	2	26	-	50	-	M	+6	-6	-	-

Board Breaker

old+f41

File:MK1 shang tsung old f41.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old f41 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_f41

Board Breaker

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
17	3	26	-	30	-	M	+5	-7	-	-

Nerve Endings

old+f412

File:MK1 shang tsung old f412.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old f412 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_f412

Nerve Endings

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
11	3	25	-	30	-	H	+10	-6	-	-

Dissection

old+f4121

File:MK1 shang tsung old f4121.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old f4121 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_f4121

Dissection

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
15	2	31	-	30	-	M	+1	-11	-	-

Age Before Beauty

old+f41214

File:MK1 shang tsung old f41214.png

File:MK1 shang tsung old f41214 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

old_f41214

Age Before Beauty

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
16	3	25	-	50	-	H	+23	-	-	-

Karrer-Ender

b4

File:MK1 shang tsung b4.png

File:MK1 shang tsung b4 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

b4

Kareer-Ender

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
13	2	30	-	70	-	L	+14	-	-	-

Longfoot

d4

File:MK1 shang tsung d4.png

File:MK1 shang tsung d4 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

d4

Longfoot

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	3	25	-	30	-	L	+15	-6	-	-

Aerial Normals

j.1

Above you

j1

File:MK1 shang tsung j1.png

File:MK1 shang tsung j1 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

j1

Above you

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
7	4	-	-	50	-	OH	-	-	-	-

Surgery

j12

File:MK1 shang tsung j12.png

File:MK1 shang tsung j12 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

j12

Surgery

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Major Complications

j122

File:MK1 shang tsung j122.png

File:MK1 shang tsung j122 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

j122

Major Complications

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

j.2

Experiment

j2

File:MK1 shang tsung j2.png

File:MK1 shang tsung j2 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

j2

Experiment

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
10	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Festing Wounds

j22

File:MK1 shang tsung j22.png

File:MK1 shang tsung j22 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

j22

Festing Wounds

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

j.3/j.4

Deadly Kick

j.3 or j.4

File:MK1 shang tsung J3 4.png

File:MK1 shang tsung J3 4 hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

J3_4

Deadly Kick

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
9	6	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Special Moves

Morphs

Quick Age Morph

d+flip

File:MK1 shang tsung d flip.png

File:MK1 shang tsung d flip hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

d_flip

Quick Age Morph

Startup	Active	Recovery	Cancel	Damage	Chip	Guard	On Hit	On Block	On Flawless Block	Cost
-	-	-	-	N/A	-	N/A	-	-	-	-

Changes forms between Young and Old

Can be performed during any attack animation without interrupting it. Enables transitions to strings otherwise exclusive to specific forms (ie. Young Shang Tsung can morph during F4 into Old Form to extend into Old Form's F41214)

(air) Quick Age Morph

jd+flip

File:MK1 shang tsung jd flip.png

File:MK1 shang tsung jd flip hitbox.png

Hitboxes Off

Hitboxes On

jd_flip

(air) Quick Age Morph