Mortal Kombat 1: Mastering Scorpion‘s Deadly Kombos
Get over here! Scorpion is back and more fearsome than ever in Mortal Kombat 1 (MK1). This highly anticipated reboot of the iconic fighting game franchise transports players to a reimagined Mortal Kombat Universe, masterminded by the new Keeper of Time and Protector of Earthrealm, Fire God Liu Kang.
MK1 boasts an evolved fighting system, exciting new game modes, a more immersive story campaign, and of course, the series‘ signature Fatal Blows and gruesome Fatalities. The eclectic roster of fighters, both familiar faces and never-before-seen kombatants, have been transformed by Liu Kang‘s influence in shocking ways. And with the introduction of Kameo fighters that can assist you in battle, the possibilities for devastating combo creation are endless.
As one of the most popular and enduring characters in Mortal Kombat history, Scorpion remains a favorite thanks to his badass attitude, hellish powers, and inescapable specials that strike fear into his opponents. Scorpion‘s toolkit is well-rounded with tools for any situation. From his iconic Spear that pulls foes in close, to his fire-imbued swords, teleports, and summoned demonic minions, Scorpion can adapt to any matchup.
In this kombat guide, we‘ll break down the best bread and butter combos, advanced situational combos, and optimal routes to maximize damage with Scorpion in MK1. Whether you‘re a seasoned kompetitor or new to Mortal Kombat, this guide will help you take your Scorpion gameplay to the next level. We‘ll cover basic mid-screen combos, air-to-air juggle combos, corner combos, and how to land fight-ending Fatal Blow combos.
So put on your shirai ryu ninja garb, channel your flames of vengeance, and let‘s dive into the hell-raising combos of Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 1!
Basic Combos
These fundamental combos are essential for any Scorpion player. They‘re great for punishing unsafe moves, hit-confirming into bigger damage, and building meter. Commit these to memory!
12~db3 – 93 damage
Easy two-hit punish combo. Ideal for whiff punishing.
12~bf2 – 120 damage
Scorpion‘s go-to combo for damage at nearly any range. Burn meter for an additional pop-up with bf2 EX when you have the bar.
12~db2 – 144 damage
The Hell Port teleport acts as a combo extender and lets you reposition to either side of your opponent.
21~bf4 – 112 damage
Hitting two swords in a row is an easy hit-confirm. Cancel into Hell Flame bf4 for an additional attack that leaves you safe.
12~bf1, 333~bf2 – 193 damage
This is your money mid-screen combo. The sword attacks link smoothly into a triple kick and the Hell Spear bf2 is great for spending meter to deal big damage.
21~bf1, f32, f32, f32, 4~bf2 – 244 damage
Scorpion‘s optimal damaging mid-screen combo route. The chainable f32 sword swipes build up big damage before launching the opponent with 4 and ending in the Hell Spear EX bf2.
21~bf1, 33~b+k, f32, f32, f32, 4~bf2 – 270 damage
By spending a bar of defensive meter with b+k, you power up Scorpion for increased damage on the next combo. This is your highest damage midscreen route.
21~bf1, f32, f32, j12~db2 ex, jk~bf2 – 316 damage
Using the Hell Port teleport as a launcher lets you combo into an aerial juggle and finish with a jumping kick into Hell Spear EX for huge damage.
Air-to-Air Combos
Surprising foes with Scorpion‘s excellent air-to-air normals is a great way to start big damage. Here are the best routes after landing a jumping attack.
air-to-air j111~bf1, f32, 4~bf2 – 201 damage
Basic air-to-air combo. Chain three jumping sword attacks, cancel into Hell Blaze low sword, link two f32 standing swords, and launch into Hell Spear.
air-to-air j13~bf1, f32, j12~db2 ex, jk~bf2 – 238 damage
After hitting two jumping kicks, transition to the same mid-screen route with the Hell Port EX launcher.
air-to-air j12, 4~bf1, f32, 4~bf2 – 196 damage
Alternative combo using Scorpion‘s jumping spear to start. Cancel 4 into Hell Blaze and end with the same ender.
air-to-air j12~db2 ex, jk~bf1, f32, 4~bf2 – 248 damage
The air-to-air jumping spear can link directly into Hell Port EX for big damage and decent carry toward the corner.
air-to-air j12~db2 ex, jk~db2 ex, j13~bf1, 33~db2 – 286 damage
By double dipping on the Hell Port teleport, you can extend your combo even longer. Burn a third bar to end with the Hell Spear EX.
air-to-air j12~db2 ex, j12~db2 ex, jk~db2 ex, jk~bf1, 33~db2 – 340 damage
Behold the three Hell Port EX combo! This is extremely meter expensive and difficult, but deals enormous damage if you can land it.
Corner Combos
Trapping opponents in the corner is where Scorpion really shines. Mount heavy offense with these brutal corner combos.
air-to-air j24, f32, 33~bf1, 33~db2 – 271 damage
This is a staple corner combo off jump kicks or jump swords. The key is linking a second jumping attack as soon as you land. Transition to sword attacks and end with a simple Hell Blaze into Hell Spear.
21~bf1, f32, f32, j13, 4~bf1 – 225 damage
Tack on jumping sword attacks after your grounded combo for extra damage.
d2 punish, u+block, jk, 4~bf1, f32, 33~bf1 – 251 damage
After a d2 uppercut punish, hold up-back to juggle the opponent higher. Then land a jumping kick to continue your combo.
d2 punish, u+block, jk~db2 ex, jk, 4~bf1, f32, 4~bf1 – 307 damage
Same combo but with a Hell Port EX for additional damage and corner carry.
Fatal Blow Combos
Scorpion‘s Fatal Blow "You Will Burn" is a versatile combo ender that you can tack onto many of his bread and butter combos for massive damage to close out the round. Some of the best Fatal Blow combos include:
starter~fb 288-580 damage
Virtually any combo can be cashed out with the Fatal Blow when your opponent‘s health is low enough. Deals a minimum of 288 damage raw.
21~bf1, f32, f32, 4~fb – 360 damage
A basic mid-screen combo into Fatal Blow. Gives you the most damage anywhere on the screen.
f32, f32, f32, 4~bf1, 4~fb – 375 damage
Optimal combo using the charged 4 sword launcher to land Fatal Blow for big damage.
f32, f32, f32, 4~bf1, 4~b+k, 4~b+k, 4~fb – 480 damage
Activate your Sareena Kameo assist for a damage buff and land the Fatal Blow at the end of this combo for massive damage.
anti-air j12~db2 ex, j12~db2 ex, jk~db2 ex, jk~bf1, 4~b+k, 4~b+k, dash, 4~fb – 580 damage
This is the ultimate Scorpion flex combo. By landing three Hell Port EXs off an anti-air, buffing with Sareena Kameo twice, and ending with the Fatal Blow launcher, you get an eye-popping 580 damage!
Kameo Fighters
Scorpion has access to three Kameo assist fighters that can be summoned mid-combo to extend his attacks and enable new combo routes. Sareena is Scorpion‘s go-to Kameo for increasing damage. By pressing b+k (back and Kameo button), Scorpion will power up and gain a damage buff on his next combo. You can even stack multiple buffs for crazy damage. Combine this with his Hell Port EX combo extenders and you can create devastating combos.
Takeda is great for extending combos by using his whip sword to pull the opponent back in. Activate Takeda after launching the opponent for continued juggle combos and big corner carry.
Scorpion‘s third Kameo is Demon Spawn, a legion of hellish minions that rush the opponent. They‘re better suited as a zoning and pressure tool to lock the opponent down, but can also be used to add a few hits to the end of combos in a pinch.
With the right Kameo assist and meter management, you can take Scorpion‘s combos to the next level and create some frightening damage. Experiment with different Kameo combinations and see what works best for your playstyle.
Wrapping Up
There you have it: everything you need to be an unstoppable force as Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 1! We‘ve covered his essential basic combos, deadly air-to-air routes, high damage corner combos, and round-ending Fatal Blow finishers. Remember to practice hit-confirming your starter pokes and normals into his special cancel combos. Use Hell Port and Hell Spear to extend combos and carry opponents to the corner where Scorpion dominates.
Mix in Scorpion‘s Kameo fighters during combos for extra damage and combo extension. Don‘t be afraid to burn meter for the EX specials and watch your combo damage skyrocket. As you master these combos, you‘ll be able to punish opponents with ease, break their defenses in the corner, and melt their life bar with Scorpion‘s hellfire.
To take your Scorpion play even further, practice mix-ups and set-ups from his hard knockdowns and study frame data to find opportunities to steal turns. Scorpion rewards offensive pressure and excels and controlling space, so always look to be stepping forward and attacking.
We hope you enjoyed this definitive Mortal Kombat 1 Scorpion combo guide. Keep your blades sharp, your fire raging, and always be on the hunt to GET OVER HERE! For more Mortal Kombat character guides, tournament info, and community highlights, stay tuned to the official Mortal Kombat channels.
May your Fatalities be brutal and your combos forever fierce!
