Beginner tips

[Zachbram]

Hello there guys! Ive been a longtime fan of watching tournaments of fightinggames, but I have never really gotten into playing them. Just some casual gaming here and there. But now is the time to break the losingcycle and atleast give it a try with Mortal Kombat X - hell now Ive got atleast some spare time for it!

So coming from you veteranfightinggamegods - where should I start? What should my first aim be? I'll take all the tips I can get!

Best wishes
Zachbram(Sweden)

 

[TheGabStandard]

First step I would say is play around with the cast until you find a character that you like/feels that it would suit you. If you already have one or two then spend time understanding how your character moves and ranges of their normals, strings and specials.

 

[Magnum Magpie]

give every character a try, not one variation is bad

 

[BigFred1371]

Practice, practice, practice and more practice. You will lose a lot don't let that discourage you keep playing and you will get better. Play online as much as you can (or against other people in person) and pick a character you like, master that character and then move onto another one. Try to learn the basics of all the characters so you can learn the gist of their moves and you will know what you're going up against when you are mastering that character you chose.

 

[TheGabStandard]

Practice, practice, practice and more practice. You will lose a lot don't let that discourage you keep playing and you will get better. Play online as much as you can (or against other people in person) and pick a character you like, master that character and then move onto another one. Try to learn the basics of all the characters so you can learn the gist of their moves and you will know what you're going up against when you are mastering that character you chose.

I definitely have to reiterate on the practice front and accept that losing a lot is one of the key things required to get better.

 

[Vjeekes]

There is only one thing to do, PRACTICE!!
Choose a character based on your prefered playstyle and stick to it.
Try to understand your character's weaknesses and strengths
Go to the lab and stay there untill you can execute a few combos. (If possible look out for combo's with low and overhead starters)
...

 

[oblivioner]

you already did the right thing asking here, since this is the place to be for mk. Like most people suggested, try all characters and try their moves and specials, see who do you like the most.
Once you have chosen a character, check this forums to learn the character best combos, strategies and moves. Watch as many combats and streams from top players as possible, and don't go online until you can do said combos about 90% of the time.

Also check this to learn how the game works: http://testyourmight.com/threads/mkx-system-guide.49846/

 

[BigFred1371]

I definitely have to reiterate on the practice front and accept that losing a lot is one of the key things required to get better.

A warm up is always good to start off with when you first boot the game up. I usually take about 10 to 15 minutes practicing combos and doing the same special moves over and over and over to work on getting muscle memory.

 

[TheGabStandard]

A warm up is always good to start off with when you first boot the game up. I usually take about 10 to 15 minutes practicing combos and doing the same special moves over and over and over to work on getting muscle memory.

That's also a good way to keep muscle memory intact.

 

[Northern Slasher]

Like everyone else already said, practice. Read the forums, specifically the one dedicated to your chosen character and don't be afraid to lose. Muscle memory some BnBs for midscreen, corner, and punishes and just continue to grow and level up through practice.

 

[Alucard]

When in training mode practice using the pinning option so you can see the combos without having to check the menu everytime. Do that until it becomes muscle memory then try it without the combo pins. Also work on footsies and getting used to abilities/normals before trying full juggles because when you start tryin to do juggles without footsies... uwehagh.

 

[Zachbram]

Thanks guys/gals - guess it will be some months of pure hell infront of me! Which do mkplayers prefer, controller or arcadestick? Ive mostly seen Controllerusers.

 

[Alucard]

Thanks guys/gals - guess it will be some months of pure hell infront of me! Which do mkplayers prefer, controller or arcadestick? Ive mostly seen Controllerusers.

It's preference but people use pad(controller) because it's how NRS designs the layout and works really well, even though stick is normally the best for 2d.

 

[Zachbram]

It's preference but people use pad(controller) because it's how NRS designs the layout and works really well, even though stick is normally the best for 2d.

So, should I just stick with the ps4 basic-controller or are there any better option which have an larger advantage?

 

[Alucard]

So, should I just stick with the ps4 basic-controller or are there any better option which have an larger advantage?

Generally the ps4 pad is definitely better than the xbone pad but only go for a stick if you're already comfortable with one or already know the game. Learning how to use stick and learning the game at the same time is difficult. Neither one gives an advantage over the other. Just stick with pad. I'm kinda bad at explaining

 

[Zachbram]

Neither one gives an advantage over the other. Just stick with pad. I'm kinda bad at explaining

I'll stick with the pad! Really never played with an stick! haha...

 

[Gesture Required Ahead]

One thing that helps me learn a new game is to first learn how to learn.

You can't apply into play things you read/watch but don't understand.

And if something seems off, like let's say, pulling off a certain combo, feel free to look it up or ask here. You can't necessarily benefit off of a set-up that you can't even actually set up.

Only when you grasp the basics the you can learn exponentially by just simply observing other players

 

[gamesun]

Any advice on how to extend combos by running? Having a hard time doing that.

 

[Audit]

A warm up is always good to start off with when you first boot the game up. I usually take about 10 to 15 minutes practicing combos and doing the same special moves over and over and over to work on getting muscle memory.

This. Go to the lab and warm up your BnBs and some situations before you play anyone. If you don't have BnBs stay in training until you do

 

[TheGabStandard]

So, should I just stick with the ps4 basic-controller or are there any better option which have an larger advantage?

PS4 controller is fine. Yeah the early months will be very tough but when you see the improvements you have made it is rewarding. If you have someone to train with that does help greatly

 

[Zachbram]

BnBs

Sorry, but bnbs??

If you have someone to train with that does help greatly

Fighting-games arent that big really in Sweden, not what I have seen anyways.

 

[BigFred1371]

I'll stick with the pad! Really never played with an stick! haha...

I switched to stick a couple months ago and its almost as if you have to start from zero again. It takes some time to learn stick it's a different style of playing and takes some getting used to and a lot of practice just like with anything else.

 

[Noob]

Is it just certain people or just me, but I think I transitioned pretty well from pad to stick. I got the MK9 stick and it works great and I play it somewhat better than just a controller pad. Then again, certain movies with certain players I'm better with the pad, but perhaps that's just because I need more practice on the stick.

I personally enjoy the response and the clicks from a stick just make it more reassuring when pressing buttons, but it's too big to carry around in tournaments. So should I learn on both? Or save up for a Hori stick or something like that for ease of transport?

 

[Desperdicio]

Sorry, but bnbs??

BnB stands for bread and butter, which is an expression often used here to refer to damaging combos. Learning how to play fighting games to a good level takes time. I'm still working at it (and I have definitely improved a lot since the beginning).
I agree with oblivioner: it is better if you start with the basics of the game. Learn the system well. The BnBs can wait. Again: here's the link to Tom Brady's guide: http://testyourmight.com/threads/mkx-system-guide.49846/

While reading that and the posts that you find around here, you'll probably need this: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Glossary_of_fighting_games

I recommend you not to discover your own combos for now, because you will most likely find stuff already found by someone else. Once you have grasped the system, go to practice and find a character which apparently suits you. Come here again and look at that character's forum. You should find a thread with BnBs. Start practicing what more experienced users found and posted there. It will take hours before those BnBs come out most of the time. Once they come out really naturally and don't take effort, start playing the AI on maximum difficulty.

I am still learning footsies, and I recommend you to learn that concept as well, and try to apply it to MKX as best as you can. The most helpful tutorial on footsies that I have found so far is this one:

Spoiler

I know it says "Injustice". The concept of footsies is common to every fighting game, so even if MKX has a different system and different footsies, you can learn the concept from that video.

Another important thing to improve your game is reading and understanding frame data. I know of very good players who don't know a thing about frames, so I would say that you leave this to the end. It has helped a lot my game. I think it helps you build confidence so that you don't get frightened and block all the time when you could be punishing or even pressuring your opponent. I've found two very good guides for understanding frame data on this site:
1) http://testyourmight.com/threads/general-mk9-frame-data-info.15988/
2) http://testyourmight.com/threads/how-to-read-understand-and-calculate-frame-data-in-mkx.49708/

The first one says "MK9". You should just read the first part (until "useful formulas"), and then go on to the second one, which is MKX specific. Or you can go directly to the second one. I think reading both will help you the most, since frame data is one of the most difficult concepts to grasp.

I have been playing "seriously" for three or four years now, and I still do all this stuff that I told you to do. Also, if you have any doubts, you can go to my profile and post some questions there. I will provide the best answer I can.

 

[Zachbram]

I have been playing "seriously" for three or four years now, and I still do all this stuff that I told you to do. Also, if you have any doubts, you can go to my profile and post some questions there. I will provide the best answer I can.

Big thanks for this post! Great information and got me in the mood for really learning! 3 days of work then its of to the trainingpool!