Mortal Kombat 1 Smoke Guide Featuring MagicTea

Smoke is a very flashy and exciting ninja character in Mortal Kombat 1, and many player were drawn to him because of the high-execution playstyle that he offers. He one of the most difficult characters to master in MK1, but we have an expert, MagicTea, to teach us how to do it!

Smoke's Gameplay Basics

Smoke in Mortal Kombat 1 is a really flashy mixup character. He has cool-looking regular, special, and overhead attacks, but using them properly can be challenging. A lot of his attack options have gaps that can be flawless-blocked, interrupted, or armored through. On the other hand, this opens up opportunities for him to play mind tricks with his opponents by going for different options. He’s very strong up-close, and his combo damage is decent, but he has no projectiles, so you have to rely on his teleport.

Specials

• BF3: one of his key moves. It’s a mid that goes fullscreen or until it reaches the opponent, and has a projectile immunity. However, it’s -16 on block. Can be canceled by pressing back, and this is crucial for his combos. Use this as your main mixup tool.

• DB1: an anti-air tool that can also be used in combos that launch your opponent in the air. 

• DB2: Smoke’s overhead attack teleport. It’s -14 on block, so you can get full-combod from it if you’re not careful. The enhanced version is armored if it absorbs an attack, or makes him invisible if it doesn’t.

• DB4: his low teleport. Low startup and unsafe on block. Best used on predictions, and allows you to continue with an air combo. Can also be canceled into various states.

Pokes and Strings:

• D3: his best poke. It’s long-range and has a follow-up D3, 4 string 

• D4: it’s shorter, but it’s just as fast and is safe on block.

• D1: a standard 7-frame D1.

• B2: Smoke’s long-range overhead attack that needs you to get used to the distance. B2,3,4 is a good string that can be used with an advantage.

• F4: very plus on block with +8, a nice option for any mixups. Can be canceled into from a teleport, but combos only after the first or second hits.

• B4: a very good and quick low attack.

• F3: a low that can be canceled into a teleport.

• 3,2: a great tool to launch your opponent, it can also be used several times in a row.

• 1,1,1,4: a fastest-starting strong that ends with a low attack with pushback.

• F1,2,2,4: similar to the previous string, but can be special-canceled afterward.

Best Kameos for Smoke

Smoke's Bread & Butter Combos

• F1,2,1+3 D,B,2

• F1,2,1+3 D,B,4AMP 1,1 D,B,4AMP 1,1 D,B,4AMP 1,1,2

• 2,1,2 B+R1 2,1,2 B+R1 F1,2,1+3 D,B,4AMP 1,1,2 (Sareena)

• F3,2 B,F,3 B+R2 3,2 dash 3,2 F1,2,1+3 D,B,2

• F3,2 B,F,3 B+R2 3,2 jump 1,1 D,B,4AMP 1,1,2

• F2,3 B,F,3 B+R2 3,2 4 F1,2,1+3 D,B,4AMP 1,1,2 (corner)

• F3,2 B,F,3 B+R2 3,2 4 L2+R2

Conclusion

Smoke doesn’t have the easiest execution, and you need to practice to consistently nail his cancels to bring out the most of his combo damage. But it’s oh so satisfying when you do it, so it’s very worth it.