Mortal Kombat 11 Kano Guide Featuring Rewind

Lovable rogue or ruthless backstabber, we can all agree that Kano is a rather dangerous individual. Even his moveset has something scummy about it that can make you feel pretty dirty for using it. However, some individuals thrive on this playstyle, and Kano's combative, in-your-face style is perfect for some people. To teach said people more about the art of being scummy, we have Rewind.

He's an Evo and Celtic Throwdown winner and was recently third place in the inaugural WePlay Ultimate Fighting League tournament. His use of Kano at WUFL S1 was especially eye-catching, with opponents absolutely clenching the moment he picked the character. With his vast experience and incredible knowledge, he will now take us through the basics of using the leader of the Black Dragon crime syndicate. 

Rewind's Kano Guide

Kano's Best Buttons

These are Kano's basic moves that help him cause damage to the opponent. He has quite a few of them, so let us look at the very best of the bunch.

• 1- A quick, 8f normal that is easy to whip out and, more often than not, guarantees a punish
• B1- An mid-armor-breaking move that lets you get back on top of a situation while also dealing some good damage
• F1- A great staggering tool. It advances Kano forward and forces the opponent towards the corner.
• D1- A basic poking tool with decent range
• 2- Just like 1, it's a good button to throw out when punishing an opponent. It also does more damage.
• B3- A great button mostly because it has a KB attached to it, which also has fairly easy requirements to activate
• F3- Great at evading projectiles and causes a knockdown on hit
• D4- Another great poking tool. It goes further than D1 and is + on block
• F4- A pretty effective overhead
• B4- An excellent sweep with great range 

Kano's Best Variation

Kano has a set of very decent variations. Of the several at his disposal, Rewind takes us through the most viable ones.

1. Bio-Magnetic Pull- (DB1)
2. Lumbar Check- (DBF2)
3. Chemical Burn- (DB4)

Kano's Best Strings

Kano has a variety of strings for his pressure game. As with every other set of strings, you need to be careful as some of them are unsafe. But this list of strings below are a great option and would elevate your Kano play considerably.

• 1, 1- A great staggering tool that is also + on block
• 1, 1, 2- Also great, but with a flawless block gap, it could be unsafe at times
• F1, 2- This is great for pressure
• F1, 2, B2- This is an amazing string if only it didn't whiff on some characters. If you can get a chance to use this, it is quite rewarding 
• 2, 2- A damaging starter that could lead to so many other combo opportunities
• 2, 4- It's great as it tick throws into his command grab.

 Kano's Weaknesses

Kano's biggest weakness is his F1, 2, B2 string. It is a weakness and a great strength. It is a perfect string as it does damage, is + on block, and can lead to so much more. Unfortunately, a section of the string whiffs on certain characters (Johnny Cage, Jacqui, Kitana, Joker, and Nightwolf) which makes it less useful in those fights. Without this weakness, Kano could easily be a top 5 character in MK11. 

Kano's Bread and Butter Combos

These are Kano's best options for both mid screen and in the corner

•  F1, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, 1, 1, F2, DBF2
• F1, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, F2, DBF2
• 2, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, 1, 1, F2, DBF2
• D2, B1, DB1, AMP, B2, F2, DBF2
• D2, 1, 1, F2, DBF2
• F1, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, F1, BF3

Corner combos

• F1, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, DBF2
• F1, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, 2, 2, DB4, D1, DBF2
• D2, 1, 1, 1, 1, B1, DB4, AMP

• F1, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, 1, 1, 1, 1, B1, DB4, AMP

•  2, 4, DB1, AMP, B2, 1, 1, F2, UD4

• F1, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, 1, 1, 1, 1, B1, DB4, AMP
• F1, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, 1, 1, 1, 1, B1, DB4, AMP, FJ2, F1, 2, B2, D1, DB4
• F1, 2, DB1, AMP, B2, 1, 1, 1, 1, B1, DB4, AMP, FJ2, F1, 2, DB4, FJ2, F1, 2, DB4, FJ2, F1, 2, DB4

Kano Guide Conclusion

Well, there you have it. Kano is a pretty sneaky character, but his fighting style is as gutsy as they come, and in the right hands, Kano is an absolute monster. Practice these tips, and you are sure to be a Kano professional in no time.