Reiko's Gameplan & Specials

The thing you need to know about Reiko is that he is a grappler at its core. The character wants to be close to his opponents and, more importantly, stay grounded.

Although he has access to launchers and air combos to follow through, you want to start practicing getting the most out of the few times you have your opponent on the air to set up further pressure or combo into other attacks.

Reiko's normal are nothing to scoff at, he has a lot of range on them with his B3, D3, and B4 being great tools to snipe an opponent out in neutral. Although not all his strings are solid, S1,2 and F1,2 are fantastic tools to strike with when up close.

In case you want to back off and take on a more zoning approach, you have F4, a wonderful kick, with which to push people back and knock them down.

Charging Pain

A handful of Reiko Specials also have slight variations that make them deadlier. Charging Pain (BF3), for instance, is usually a low-hitting attack. Yet you can hold up (or Back) during it to convert it into a mid that also launches opponents. The other alternative is to amplify it to be a low launcher and side switch attack. Not happy with just those? You can also cancel it by pressing down twice or delay the active frames by holding down 3.

Charging Pain is not just a tool to close the gap either. It can also be a gapless special cancel launcher on a hit-confirmed S1,2 string. You usually would complete F1,2,4 to produce a launcher, and although F1 is an excellent normal, its string does have a gap between F1,2 and 4, leaving you open to counters. Thus, S1,2 BF3 become more reliable tools to initiate because S1,2 is safe on block.

Pale Rider

The other major tool in Reiko's arsenal up close is his command grab, Pale Rider (BDF1), which also features two variants. Like all command grabs in MK1, these are true throws that opponents can't escape. The first way to change it is by holding Back during the animation, thus avoiding the side switch. The other is that normally the attack is a high, but by amplifying it at the cost of 2 bars, you can convert it into a mid, meaning it is almost inescapable.

Pale Rider is fantastic, it deals a great amount of damage and its animation is long enough that it can help buy time for kameos to recharge. Its side selection also makes a great threat in the corners. Finally, depending on your Kameo selection, you might be able to get a full combo out of an initial Pale Rider, with for example Darrius' re-standing kick, though it can be a challenge to get the combo out reliably.

Tactical Takedown

Reiko Lunges for the legs, dropping his opponent to the ground and throwing a pair of punches for good measure. Tactical Takedown (DB3) is a solid mid. Although not a command grab, it can be blocked, it does make for an excellent combo ender, and it is also Reiko's go-to armored wake-up. It can be amplified to add armor and some extra damage, but you generally won't want to do it out of the blue.

In contrast to the other specials we've listed so far, the takedown is always a side switch no matter what, so be mindful of that when you go for it. Finally, it the move also leaves you at +15 frames, which is not enough to do a lot after it, but it is perfectly suitable to try to jail your opponent with F1 if they try to wakeup with buttons.

Assassins Throwing Stars & Retaliation

The last two specials we will touch on are Assassin Throwing Stars (BF2) and Retaliation (DB1). Compared to Reiko's other specials, these are pretty straight forward. Throwing Stars is his go-to ranged projectile and a surprisingly good one that often trades in his favor. It can be amplified a well for some extra projectiles and damage which can come in handy when facing opponents with armored approaching moves or when they are using Sub-Zero Kameo's armor.

Retaliation is even more simple. It gives you a short window of time when your opponent's attack will be parried, and they will be knocked down. Its amplified version can be pretty useful, though, as it takes away the knockdown, allowing you to go straight into a combo afterward.

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