As a dedicated Mortal Kombat fan and tournament player, I‘ve spent countless hours mastering the combat systems of this iconic fighting game franchise. And one character that has always captivated me is the elusive reptilian ninja, Reptile. First introduced as a secret character in the original Mortal Kombat game in 1992, Reptile has become a fan favorite for his speed, stealth, and lethal moveset.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll be sharing hard-earned tips and strategies to unleash Reptile‘s full combo potential in Mortal Kombat 1. Whether you‘re a beginner looking to learn or a veteran seeking to refine your skills, this guide will help you master the deadly art of Reptilian Kombat.
An Introduction to Reptile in MK1
Let‘s start with an overview of Reptile‘s strengths in the first Mortal Kombat game:
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Fast and damaging combos: Reptile has quick punch and kick normals that can easily be chained into damaging combos. His combos may not be the longest, but they hurt!
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Forceball projectiles: Reptile can fling fast-moving forceballs that are great for keeping opponents at bay and continuing combo pressure.
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Invisibility: Reptile can temporarily turn invisible to confuse and disorient opponents, setting up sneaky attack opportunities.
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Acid attacks: Reptile can spit corrosive acid at opponents or leave acidic trails on the ground. The acid gradually damages opponents over time.
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Elusive playstyle: With good use of invisibility and projectiles, Reptile excels at hit-and-run tactics to chip away at foes.
Mastering how to combine these abilities will let you pressure opponents, extend combos, and ultimately drain their lifebar. Now let‘s break down Reptile‘s core combo tools.
Basic Normals and Special Moves
Here‘s a quick overview of the basic buttons and special moves you‘ll be using in Reptile‘s combos:
Punches:
- 1 – Fast high punch
- 2 – Slower high backfist
- F+1 – Advancing palm strike
Kicks:
- 3 – Quick high kick
- 4 – Slower high roundhouse
- F+3 – Forward flip kick
Special Moves:
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Forceball: D,F+1 – Launches a projectile ball of energy
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Slide Kick: D+3 – Slides across the ground hitting the opponent
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Invisibility: D,U – Turns invisible for a short time
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Acid Spit: D,B+2 – Spits acid at the opponent
Now let‘s see how you can chain these together into simple but effective kombos.
Beginner Kombos
If you‘re just starting out with Reptile, these basic kombo sequences will help you get a feel for chaining his special moves together:
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Forceball Kombo – Forceball, 1,1 – Simple and effective punch string after the forceball.
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Slide Kick Starter – Slide Kick, 1,1 – Use the slide to open up your opponent for a quick punch kombo.
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Acid Spit Kombo – Acid Spit, 1,1 – The acid spit sets up additional hits.
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Invisibility Setup – Invisibility, Slide Kick – Turn invisible to confuse your opponent, then open up with the slide kick.
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Forceball Juggle – Jump Kick, Forceball, Uppercut – Pop them up with a jump kick, juggle with a forceball, and finish with an uppercut.
Once you have these fundamental kombo sequences down, it‘s time to start chaining together longer and more devastating kombos!
Advanced Kombos
Here are some more complex kombo sequences to strive for as you continue mastering Reptile:
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Acid Rush – Acid Spit, F+1, 1, Forceball, Jump Kick – Acid spit keeps them standing for big damage.
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Vanishing Kombo – Invisibility, Jump Kick, Acid Spit – Appear from nowhere to strike.
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Reptilian Rage – F+3, 1,1, Forceball, Slide Kick – Use the flip kick starter for a fierce rushdown.
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Korner Trap – Jump Kick, Acid Spit, Forceball, Uppercut – Use the corner to prevent escape.
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Supreme Renegade – Slide Kick, 1,1,2, Forceball, Jump Kick, Acid Spit – A devastating corner sequence.
Don‘t be discouraged if these longer combos are difficult at first. Start with the beginner kombos, then slowly work your way up to extending your punishing reptilian rushdowns!
Komo Strategy Tips and Tricks
Here are some of the key strategies I‘ve learned for optimal kombos as Reptile in MK1:
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Use the slide kick to open combos – The slide can be difficult to block and starts combo pressure quickly.
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Trap opponents in the corner – Limit their movement options to escape or block long kombos.
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Utilize acid attacks – The ongoing acid damage enables extended beatdowns.
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Forceball for pressure – Keeps opponents blocking allowing you to advance safely.
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Invisibility for mix-ups – Confuse opponents and alter combo timing.
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Practice juggle sequences – Maximize air kombos by chaining forceballs and uppercuts.
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Enhance specials – Use the block button to enhance specials like slide kick and acid spit for increased range and damage.
Mastering these core strategies will have you dominating opponents with slick Reptile gameplay. But your journey to kombat mastery doesn‘t end here…
Taking Your Skills to the Next Level
Once you have Reptile‘s fundamentals down and can pull off all his core combos consistently, here are some tips to continues elevating your skills:
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Study advanced players – Watch tournament footage of top Reptile players to learn new tricks.
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Drill your execution – Be able to execute your kombos with absolute precision in real matches.
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Learn optimal punishes – Memorize the best kombo to punish every situation.
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Explore move cancelling – Cancel normal moves into specials for super-fast kombo chains.
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Develop setups – Create situations that bait opponents into punishers.
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Refine spacing and movement – Master getting in and out of range to control fights.
With dedicated practice and study, you can become a Reptile master feared by kombatants across all realms. The path is long, but the rewards of reptilian kombat mastery are immense!
Concluding Thoughts on Dominating with Reptile in MK1
Reptile remains one of my all-time favorite Mortal Kombat characters thanks to his elusive fighting style and vicious kombo game. I hope this guide has provided you with the tips and strategies to begin unleashing his true kombat potential in MK1.
The key is to start simple – drill those beginner kombos until they are second nature. As your skills grow, start chaining together longer kombo sequences and experimenting with advanced setups. Remember to utilize all the tools in Reptile‘s arsenal – acid attacks, invisibility, forceballs, and slide kicks.
With enough dedication and practice, you can become a feared Reptile master who strikes fear into their opponents. Now get out there and unleash your inner renegade reptilian warrior! Let me know if you have any other questions on mastering kombat with Reptile.