Mortal Kombat 1 (MK1) has finally arrived, inviting players to an all-new universe reimagined by the thunder god Liu Kang himself. This alternate timeline puts a fresh spin on iconic characters, with an engaging story mode to flesh out their new motivations and relationships. The game also boasts an overhauled fighting engine, brand new modes, gruesome fatalities, and the innovative Kameo fighter system letting you tag in allies mid-battle.
Amidst this exciting roster of kombatants is a familiar face: Baraka, the fierce warrior of the Tarkatan race. Instantly recognizable by his arm blades and intimidating presence, Baraka has been a fan-favorite since his debut in Mortal Kombat II. In MK1, he‘s back and deadlier than ever, with new combo routes and special moves to terrorize the opposition.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know to master Baraka in MK1. From his basic bread and butter combos to advanced corner juggles and Kameo synergies, we‘ve got you covered. Whether you‘re a tournament veteran or a franchise newcomer, these tips and tricks will help you slice through the competition and leave your mark on the Mortal Kombat 1 meta.
Table of Contents
- Baraka‘s Playstyle & Gameplan
- Basic Bread & Butter Combos
- Advanced Combos & Tactics
- Corner Pressure & Mixups
- Fatal Blow Combos & Comeback Potential
- Kameo Fighter Synergies
- Character Matchups
- Frame Data & Tech Resources
- Costumes & Gear
- Conclusion
Baraka‘s Playstyle & Gameplan
True to his roots, Baraka remains a hyper-aggressive character in MK1 who thrives in close quarters. His arm blades offer excellent reach on normals, allowing him to pressure opponents from a distance that other characters can‘t match. He also has several advancing special moves to quickly close the gap and get in your face.
However, MK1 gives Baraka new tools to crack open the opponent‘s defenses and convert off stray hits. His "Gutted" special (back-forward 3) is now a reliable combo starter that launches enemies airborne for juggle opportunities. He also gained "Leg Kabob" (down-back 1), a low-hitting blade stab that‘s great for catching people blocking high and starting his offense.
| Move | Startup | Active | Recovery | Block Adv. | Hit Adv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gutted (bf3) | 17 | 3 | 20 | -7 | +14 |
| Leg Kabob (db1) | 10 | 2 | 17 | -9 | +30 |
| Blade Charge(bf4) | 15 | 2,2 | 23 | -5 | +2 |
With his oppressive reach, new combo starters, and already insane damage output, Baraka aims to smother you with constant aggression in MK1. Let‘s take a look at some of his basic combos that facilitate this gameplan.
Basic Bread & Butter Combos
These quick, easy combos are essential to playing Baraka at any level. Practice hitconfirming into his special moves to maximize damage off any stray hit:
12>bf3b31>j1>bf321>db1>j1>bf3f4>db1>j1>db1bb31>j1>db1b>j2>bf3bf4>db1b
Remember that Baraka‘s db1b and bf3 are both special-cancelable on block. So if you go for them and see the opponent blocking, you can safely finish the string or cancel into another special to keep your turn going. These "hit-confirm" combos let you maintain pressure safely.
Advanced Combos & Tactics
Now that you‘ve got the basics down, let‘s look at some of Baraka‘s more advanced, damaging combo routes:
bf3>j1>db1+3 (air)db1b>j1>db1b>df13b31>bf4>bf3>db1+3j1>db1b>j2>bf3> airdb1+3throw>dash>jump kick>bf3
The air version of War Banner (db1+3) gives a damage boost for the rest of the combo. Ending with Blade Spark (df13) powers up your next combo if you can land it fast enough, rewarding you for keeping the pressure on.
Baraka‘s throws launch the opponent pretty far away in MK1, but with precise timing you can dash up and combo them before they hit the ground. Practice the throw > dash > jump kick sequence to tack on more damage and stay in their face.
Finally, remember that Baraka‘s bf4 is special-cancelable on block. If the opponent is stand-blocking a lot against your approach, try doing bf4 > db1b to catch them low, or bf4 > bf3 to launch them for more combos. Don‘t be predictable!
Corner Pressure & Mixups
The corner is where Baraka gets downright unfair in MK1. With the opponent trapped, you can loop certain moves together for pseudo-infinite block pressure:
b31>bf4>b31>bf3bf3>j1>db1b>air db1+3bf4>j1>bf3>air db1+321>db1b>j1>db1b>df13
When the opponent is cornered, Baraka has a nasty left/right guessing game with j2 crossups and db1 low stabs. Condition them to stand-block with b31 > bf4 pressure strings, then throw in a cheeky db1 to open them up. Or vice versa—have them looking for lows, then blow them up with j2 > combo.
You can also use the pushback from air War Banner to create some space, then immediately dash back in with more blockstrings. If you keep the opponent scared to press buttons, you can steal turns for days with Baraka vortexes in the corner.
Fatal Blow Combos & Comeback Potential
Like in MK11, Fatal Blows are comeback mechanics you can activate when your health dips below 30%. They have slight startup but deal huge damage, so comboing into Fatal Blow is key for stealing rounds with Baraka.
bf3>Fatal Blow (2+4+blockb31>bf4>Fatal Blowdf13>Fatal Blow
Most of Baraka‘s starters work well for this. bf3 is probably the most consistent, launching them airborne long enough to recover and input Fatal Blow. After staggering someone with Blade Spark (df13), you can also sneak in a quick Fatal Blow to cash out massive damage.
Each character gets access to two Fatal Blows per match in MK1. It‘s very tempting to fire them off as soon as you can, but try to save your second one for the final round if possible. Read your opponent‘s tendencies and see if you can bait them into eating a raw Fatal Blow by backdashing or ducking their pressure.
Kameo Fighter Synergies
MK1 introduces the Kameo system, letting you choose a second character to call in for quick assist attacks during battle. Different Kameos enable different combo extensions for Baraka—here are just a few deadly duos:
b31> Kung Laoj2> Barakaj1>bf3bf3> Jax1+3> dash >bf4>db1bdb1b> Kanob3> Barakaj1>db1b21> Sonyadb3> Barakabf4>bf3f4> Sub-Zero2> Barakadb1b>df13
Generally, you want Kameo fighters with fast-startup assists that can juggle the opponent long enough for you to tag Baraka back in and continue comboing. Kung Lao, Jax, and Kano are all great examples, offering popups that lead right into Baraka‘s bf4 or bf3 launchers.
Of course, Kameo attacks are also good for extending pressure, like calling Sonya‘s glow kick to make yourself safe after a risky teleport or grab attempt. Or tagging in Sub-Zero‘s ice ball to freeze the opponent at a distance while Baraka runs in and starts his offense. Experiment with assist calls to enhance Baraka‘s already scary pressure and damage!
Character Matchups
Baraka is a solid all-around pick in MK1, faring well against most of the cast thanks to his solid damage and oppressive blockstrings. However, he still struggles to get in against some zoners, and has to work hard for his wins against speedy rushdown characters. Here‘s a quick overview of how Baraka stacks up:
- Strong Against: Scorpion, Liu Kang, Kitana, Mileena
- Even With: Sub-Zero, Raiden, Johnny Cage, Sonya, Jax
- Struggles Against: Kung Lao, Shang Tsung, Kano, Frost
As a Baraka player, you want to play aggressively and smother the opponent in blockstrings that they‘re scared to challenge. Your big normals out-range characters like Scorpion and Liu Kang, so you can keep them locked down by controlling space.
Meanwhile, Kung Lao‘s dive kicks and Kano‘s knives give them ways to interrupt your pressure from afar. You need to focus on smart Kameo calls and be more patient against these zoners, waiting for them to hang themselves before going in.
Frame Data & Tech Resources
If you really want to level up your Baraka game, it pays to study his frame data and understand which moves are your safest pokes and pressure tools. Here are his key normals to know:
| Move | Startup | Active | Recovery | Block Adv | Hit Adv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s1 | 7 | 3 | 8 | -2 | +7 |
| s2 | 10 | 2 | 12 | -3 | +3 |
| b3 | 12 | 3 | 16 | -9 | +3 |
| b31 | 12,9 | 3,3 | 18 | -5 | +7 |
| f4 | 14 | 4 | 13 | -8 | +3 |
Generally, s1 and s2 are solid pressure tools that are only slightly minus on block. Use these to close distance safely and condition the opponent to respect you. Meanwhile, b3 and f4 are chunky mids that you can hitconfirm into Gutted combos.
For more frame data and detailed tech guides, check out community resources like:
The Mortal Kombat community is always labbing out new Baraka tech and combos, so get involved! Follow top players on Twitter, join character Discords, and never stop learning if you want to be the best.
Costumes & Gear
Last but not least, let‘s talk fashion. Baraka has a slick selection of outfits in MK1 that you can unlock by playing through story mode, climbing the new Konquest Towers, or spending Time Krystals in the shop:
- Klassic Baraka
- Tarkatan General
- Wasteland Warlord
- Bloody Berserker
You can also mix and match gear pieces like arm blades, headgear, and boot knives to create your own custom looks. Some of these items even come with unique buffs, like dealing more damage in the corner or gaining health back on combos.
Personally, I‘m all about the "Wasteland Warlord" skin with jagged bone arm blades and a spiky helmet. It just screams post-apocalyptic canyon raider and strikes fear into your opponent‘s heart before the match even starts.
Conclusion
Baraka has never felt better than he does in Mortal Kombat 1. With a refreshed moveset, reliable combo starters, and nasty corner pressures, the Tarkatan terror is poised to slice through the competition and score himself a top tier spot on the roster.
MK1‘s new systems all work in Baraka‘s favor, from the Kameo assists extending his juggles to the Fatal Blow mechanic letting him stage last-second comebacks. The key is staying aggressive, smothering the opponent in his reach advantage and scary blockstrings. Pin them to the corner whenever possible and make them guess between high blade swipes and low shin stabs.
Hopefully this guide has given you a solid overview of how to get the most out of Baraka in MK1. Keep practicing those combos, study your frame data, and never stop labbing out new tech—the game is still young, and Baraka‘s potential is limitless.
See you on the competitive ladder, and may your blades always find their mark!
