Mortal Kombat 1: Master Ashrah‘s Deadly Combos and Dominate Your Opponents
Hey there, MK fans! Get ready to dive into the reimagined Mortal Kombat universe in MK1, where Liu Kang‘s influence has transformed iconic characters and introduced fresh gameplay mechanics. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about pulling off Ashrah‘s most devastating combos and harnessing her unique abilities to crush the competition.
Ashrah Moveset Breakdown
Before we get into the juicy combo details, let‘s review Ashrah‘s basic moveset in MK1:
Basic Attacks:
1 – Punishing Jab
2 – Kriss Swipe
3 – Light Kick
4 – Heavy Kick
Special Moves:
- Voodoo Doll (df2)
- Spirit Charge (db1)
- Spin Cycle (df3)
- Dark Blessing (dd2)
- Judgement (db2)
Character Abilities:
- Dark Stance (df1) – Ashrah enters a stance that applies 1 dark debuff to her attacks
- Voodoo Blast (bf2) – Launches a slow-moving, unblockable projectile
(Button notations: 1/2/3/4 = Square/Triangle/X/Circle on PS | X/Y/A/B on Xbox)
Ashrah excels at controlling space with her long-reaching normals and tricky specials. Her Dark Stance debuffs make her a formidable damage-dealer, while moves like Voodoo Doll and Spirit Charge allow her to quickly close the gap on zoners. However, she lacks a reliable reversal and can struggle against characters with strong mix-ups.
Basic Bread And Butter Combos
Let‘s start off with some easy hit-confirm combos that deal solid damage:
122~bf2
- Works off 22, f2, b3, f3, f4 starters
- Launches into Voodoo Blast for a juggle
222~db2
- Can start with 122, f2, f3, f4
- Applies 3 dark debuffs with Judgement ender
f42~df3
- Usable from 122, 22, f2, b3, f3 starters
- Cancel Spin Cycle into jump-ins like j2 or j1
These simple combos are great for punishing whiffed pokes and ending blockstrings safely. Utilize Ashrah‘s fantastic reach to control neutral and fish for hit-confirms into bigger damage.
Optimal Combos
Ready to step up your Ashrah game? Check out these optimal combos that squeeze out every last bit of damage possible:
22~df1, dash f2~df3 (ex), j122~bf2
- Applies 1 dark debuff with stance cancel
- Dashes up for big damage off an overhead starter
f423~u+k, j122~bf2
- Uses Scorpion Kameo to extend with hellport
- Works off any f423 starter
b31~df3 (ex), j122~bf2
- Applies 1 dark debuff off b3 overhead
- Requires 1 bar of offensive meter
21, df1, f2~df3 (ex), j22~d+k~3, j21~bf2
- Applies 1 dark debuff and uses Scorpion Kameo
- Requires precise jump cancel timing
These advanced combos deal massive damage and give you access to Ashrah‘s nastiest mixups. Start with overheads like b3 and f4 or stance cancel into Dark Stance to rack up debuffs and keep your opponent guessing.
Corner Combos
Once you‘ve got the opponent trapped in the corner, it‘s time to put the hurt on with these brutal combo routes:
f423, f2~df3 (ex), j122k~bf2 [d], j21~bf2
- Requires Scorpion Kameo and 1 dark debuff
- Delays Voodoo Blast to time unblockable setup
b22, 122~df3 (ex), j122~bf2
- Starts with 11 frame mid, applies 1 dark debuff
- Tosses in a j1 before launching Voodoo Blast
b31~d+k, jk, f2~df3 (ex) j223
- Cashes out damage with b3 low starter
- Uses Scorpion Kameo and applies 1 dark debuff
Corner combos allow Ashrah to really shine, with tricky cross-up setups, Voodoo Blast unblockables, and dark debuff shenanigans. Utilize her toolkit to lock the opponent down and secure the round.
Fatal Blow Combos
Ashrah‘s Fatal Blow packs a serious punch – here‘s how to combo into it for spectacular damage:
122~fb
- Works off any starter that links into 122
- Easy to hit confirm into
21, df1 f2~fb
- Applies 1 dark debuff before launching Fatal Blow
- Effective off a poke hit-confirm
f423, f2~fb
- Converts off f423 hit-confirm
- Also applies 1 dark debuff on impact
Ashrah‘s Fatal Blow is a great comeback tool thanks to its fast startup and full-screen range. Use it to punish a whiffed fatal or quickly close out the final round.
Matchup Tips
While Ashrah has the tools to go toe-to-toe with most of the cast, she struggles against characters with strong high/low mix-ups and fast advancing specials. Here are some tips for dealing with her toughest matchups:
Vs. Liu Kang
- Play patiently and avoid his f4 string stagger pressure
- Punish whiffed Flying Dragon Kicks with 122~bf2
- Use d1 or d3 to interrupt his offense and take your turn back
Vs. Sub-Zero
- Don‘t let him comfortably set up Ice Clone zoning
- Neutral duck his b3 overhead and punish with 122~db2
- Trade Voodoo Doll with Ice Ball to close distance safely
Vs. Kitana
- Respect her far-reaching normals and whiff punish with f2
- Block low by default and react to Fan Toss
- Use Spirit Charge to get around her zoning and Ground War
The key to beating top tiers with Ashrah is utilizing her strong neutral tools, whiff punishing effectively, and making hard reads with her dark stance mixups. Stay patient, pick your spots, and let her overwhelming damage carry you to victory.
Conclusion
Ashrah is an incredibly rewarding character to master in Mortal Kombat 1. Her fluid combo routes, deadly dark debuffs, and oppressive corner pressure make her a force to be reckoned with in the right hands.
By drilling her bread and butter combos, exploring her potential for nastier setups, and abusing Dark Stance, you‘ll be well equipped to overtake the competition. Don‘t be afraid to experiment and come up with new interesting ways to land her biggest damage dealers.
Keep in mind that Ashrah‘s success is heavily dependent on winning neutral interactions and baiting the opponent to swing first. Always look out for whiff punish opportunities and use her superior range to chip away at the life lead.
With the combos and strategies outlined in this guide, you‘re well on your way to ascending the ranked ladder and achieving Mortal Kombat greatness. Now get out there and show the realms why Ashrah is a force to be feared!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about Ashrah‘s combo game or matchup-specific advice. I‘m always happy to help fellow Ashrah players level up and dominate online. Till next time, happy fighting!
