Mortal Kombat 11 Sub-Zero Guide Featuring A F0xy Grampa

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate has many elements from traditional fighting games titles. If you are unfamiliar with them, it can be quite a challenge to fully grasp them for a single character, let alone an entire roster. Pro players have been at it for years and even then they still only focus on a small group of characters to play through. Frame data, moves, specials, and more all have to be combined for a character to truly shine. So you might not be looking to get a top 4 finish at Evo this year, learning about them is your first step on that road.

Since everyone at DashFight wants to give you all the tools you will need to improve, we've partnered with the one and only Denom "A F0xy Grampa" Jones to provide you with the best Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Sub-Zero guide. You can view the full video right below and go over any of the individual sections right here in the text guide. 

F0xy Grampa's Sub-Zero Guide

Sub-Zero's Best Buttons

The Best Buttons are the key moves for the character. Either as players or opponents, you are likely to want to use or see these in play since they offer the best neutral, anti-air, and pressure value.

• F2 - Dread it, run from it; Sub-Zero’s F2 will catch up to you. An excellent tool to force opponents to stand block your attacks, giving you openings for grabs.
• FL1/BL1 - Forwards or backward, these two grabs work in tandem with F2 to charge up a powerful Krushing blow.
• 1 2 & 2 1 - These two short strings will confirm into Ice Ball (F1) with great potential to follow up with a combo or string.
• 3 - It will help you check people who are trying to mash their way into you.
• B1 4 - A high hit, with long-range, very potent as a punisher.
• D1 - The fastest in the game, a reliable poke allowing you to follow up with heavier attacks. Unfortunately, it is relatively short, so keep an eye on the spacing.
• D3 - Similar to D1, fast poke, a good opener for other attacks. Again, like D1, short-range spacing is king.
• B3 - A nerfed version of the pokes listed above, but it makes up for it with good range.

Sub-Zero's Gameplan

Gone is the time of smashing buttons and spamming that one combo we learned five years ago. If you want to compete or impress your mates, you have to go into each match with a Gameplan to carry through to victory. Here are your key principles:

• You want to build up your Krushing Blow as it serves as significant damage and a deterrent. You are keeping your opponents guessing as to when you are going to use it.
• Ice Ball (F1) is one of the best tools Sub-Zero has, to the point that you will want to trade with it since you are the one who can get the most value out of their projectile.
• When using the variation shown below, you will be able to use Frigid Storm (DF2) to invite a projectile trade, which you will win, then close the distance for a combo.

Sub-Zero's Best Variation

Since players can now use their custom Variations in tournament settings, there is no excuse not to learn what goes well together. Here is F0xy Grampa's Sub-Zero variation:

1. Rising ice (DB3)
2. Frigid Storm (DF2)
3. Polar Axe (DB2)

Sub-Zero's Bread and Butter Combos

Knowing how to adapt to the changing landscape of a fight is important. That is why Combos play a crucial role in letting you shape it and extract the most out of your inputs. Here are the combos you should be looking to pull off:

Mid Screen Combos:

Good Damage, easy to work into any of the openers, giving you plenty of choices to change up your gameplay.

• 1, 2, DF 1, FJ2, S3, DB3, R1, S2, B1, 4, 3, BF3
• F2, DB3, R1, S2, B2, DF1, FJ2, B1, 4, 3, BF3
• F2, DB3, R1, S2, B2, DF1, WAIT, FJ2, B1, 4, 3, BF3

Krushing Blow Combos:

These are some of the best ways to get the maximum value out of your hard work getting the Krushing Blows set up.

• B3, 2, DF1, FJ2, S3, DB3, R1, 2, F1, 2, 4 KB
• F2, DB3, R1, S2, B2, DF1, FJ2, F1, 2, 4 KB
• F2, DB3, R1, S2, B2, DF1, FJ3, F1, 2, 4 KB
• F2, DB3, R1, B3, 2, DF1, FJ3, F1, 2, 4 KB 
• F2, BF3, R1 KB
• B1, 4, DF1, FJ2, S4, BF3, R1 KB

Corner Combos:

Using the corners is a vital part of maximizing your damage potential. These combos will help you get the most out of your inputs at the close range.

• B3, 2, DF1, FJ2, S4, DB3, R1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, BF3
• B3, 2, BF3, 2, 2, 3, DB3, R1, IA2, 2, 1, 2, BF3 
• B1, 4, DF1, FJ2, B3, 2, BF3, 2, 2, S1, DB3, R1, IA2, 2, 1, 2, BF3
• F2, DB3, R1, 2, B2, DF1, FJ3, B1, 4, 3, BF3
• F3, 2, BF3, 2, 2, 1, DB3, R1, IA2, 2, 1, 2, 4 DB
• F2, DB3, R1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2, 4
• B3, 2, BF3, 2, 2, 2, 3, BF3, R1 KB
• F2, BF3, D1, BF3, R1 KB

Sub-Zero's Guide Conclution:

As F0xy Grampa said, Sub-Zero is a very beginner-friendly character with plenty of ways to learn as you play. At its core, it is all about building those Krushing Blows and unleashing their damage in strong corner combos, which were set up by your mid-range combos and your best buttons earlier in the round. Play with your opponents’ expectations to force a particular response out of them so that your F2, Ice Ball, and other attacks open an opportunity to strike them down.

******************************

Want a different perspective? Maybe you want to learn EVEN MORE about Sub-Zero! Check out this Sub-Zero guide from Conflictus that details more ways to play everyone's favorite Lin Kuei!