Alexis Kestler
Hey there fellow Mortal Kombat fanatic! If you live and breathe spine-ripping fatalities, then you need to master Sub-Zero, the icy ninja assassin from Mythologies. As a frosty streaming gamer who eats AI opponents for breakfast, I‘ve become obsessed with discovering the most brutal combos and kombos for Subby in MK1.
In this exclusive guide, I‘ll showcase the hard-earned wisdom from hundreds of hours perfecting Sub-Zero‘s moveset. You‘ll learn how to unleash devastating kombos to utterly dominate your opponents in both single and multiplayer. From basic BnBs to pro tips, this guide has everything you need to become a master of cryomancy destruction. Let‘s chill out and break down the science of combos!
Sub-Zero‘s Core Strengths and Weaknesses
Before jumping into kombos, it‘s important to understand Sub-Zero‘s strengths and weaknesses as a kombatant. Here‘s a quick overview:
Strengths:
- Devastating up close with fast normals
- Can freeze opponents in place with specials
- Slide attack covers distance quickly
- Ice clone for misdirection
- Multiple combo extenders and launchers
Weaknesses:
- Poor ranged attacks
- Freezing has slow startup
- Launchers leave him vulnerable
- Relies heavily on execution
Keep these attributes in mind when formulating gameplans and combos. Now let‘s break the ice!
Bread and Butter Combos
All good combo guides start with fundamentals. These BnB (bread and butter) kombos are your core toolkit for dishing consistent damage:
1, 2, 1, D2 (9% damage)
A quick 3 hit punish combo. D2 slides knocks them down.
B2, JK, 1, 2, DF1 (13% damage)
Extend with the launcher and freeze for a solid punish.
F2, B2, 2, JK, 1, 2, DF1 (16% damage)
Maximize your close up pressure with this 5 hit juggle.
Once you have these fundamental kombos down, you can start expanding on them:
D2, DBF, B2, JK, 1, 2, DF1 (18% damage)
Add the backfist launcher and juggle after a low slide.
B2, B2, JK, 1, 2, DF1, B1, JK, BF1 (24% damage)
Launcher against the wall bounces for extended beatdown.
As you can see, the core combo structure is similar, with launchers, juggles, and the DF1 freeze mixed in. Master these fundamental sequences before moving onto more complex kombos.
Maximizing Damage in the Corner
The corner is your icy playground of destruction. With nowhere to run, you can kick off the walls and rack up over 30% in damage combos. Abuse these corner krushing combos:
B2, B2, JK, 12, DF1, B1, JK, BF3 (32% damage)
After freezing, chase them into the corner for optimum damage.
DF1 (Enhanced), J2, B2, B2, JK, 12, DF1, B1, DF1 (36% damage)
Double freeze to set up a long corner juggle.
D2, DBF, B2, B2, JK, 21K, DF1, B1, JK, BF1 (30% damage)
Low starter opens them up for punishment.
F2, B2, 4~BF1, B2, JK, 12, DF1, B1, DF1 (34% damage)
Stacking launchers and freezes melts life bars.
Notice how these corner combos utilize wall bounces (JK hits) to extend beatdowns. Always be cognizant of your positioning to capitalize on walls and corners.
Juggle Combos for Serious Air Time
Once you have the corner kombos on lock, it‘s time to look upwards. Juggle combos launch opponents skyward for big air damage:
B3, 4, DF1 (14% damage)
A simple launcher to air freeze. Sets up juggle potential.
B3, 4, JK, 12, DF1 (18% damage)
Extend with air attacks before the freeze. Tricky timing!
DF2, UB, JK, 12, 12, DF1 (22% damage)
UB parry launches them up for a spicy juggle.
DBF (Enhanced), B2, B2, JK, 12, DF1 (28% damage)
Enhanced backfist feeds into a soaring juggle.
F12, DF4 (Enhanced), B2, B2, 2, 1K, DF1 (33% damage)
Double freeze and corner carry juggles pummel life bars.
The key is tapping JK (neutral jump kick) at the peak of your jumps to tack on damage. But the timing is ultra strict, so be patient!
Fatalities and Finishers
What‘s a Mortal Kombat match without gory finishes? Here are some of Sub-Zero‘s sickest fatalities:
Freeze, Jump Kick (Hold Block) – Spine Rip (Easy)
Freeze them up close, jump forward into a Kick while holding Block to rip out their spine! An iconic MK1 fatality.
Back, Back, Down, Forward Kick – Ice Grenade (Easy)
This lethal snowball splatters opponents into a red mist. Just throw it and enjoy the show!
Close Forward, Forward, Down, Up + Punch (Hold Block) – Deep Freeze Uppercut (Hard)
The infamous fatality where Subby rips off their frozen head with an uppercut. Extremely tricky timing!
Back, Down, Back, Front Kick – Sliding Knockout (Easy)
Slide into their legs for a grisly knockout blow, popping their head clean off.
Forward, Forward, Down, Up + Punch – Ice Shower (Very Hard)
Summon a hail of ice shards to turn them into a pincushion. Requires perfect timing and distance.
Learn these fatalities in practice mode to shock and surprise opponents. They‘re extremely specific, so repetition is key.
Advanced Strategies and Tips
Here are some pro gaming tips to maximize your Sub-Zero kombos:
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Use his slides and ice clones for combo extenders and mixups.
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When freezing, immediately dash behind them for crossup positioning.
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If enhanced, his freeze becomes a parry for huge openings.
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Utilize air throws with A+B to tack on free damage.
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Certain stages like the Pit have instant death stage fatalities.
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His freeze has deceptive range. Use it to punish from half screen.
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Stay on top of your opponent and keep up the pressure. Sub-Zero thrives up close.
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If the distance isn‘t right, special moves and fatalities won‘t connect.
With masterful execution, you can chain together 50%+ combos in the right circumstances. It just takes diligent practice to get the muscle memory down. Study videos, grind training mode, and test kombos against human opponents. This knowledge will give you a major edge over the competition.
Parting Thoughts
That covers my top secrets for mastering Sub-Zero‘s kombos in Mortal Kombat 1! Let me know if this mortal guide provided any insights into the chilly depths of his moveset. I‘m always seeking the gnarliest kombos, so hit me up if you discover any spicy new tech. There‘s always room to optimize with the precision of frame data. Okay, time to get back in the lab and theorycraft some new cryo-kombos! Stay frosty my friends 🙂
