Video/Tutorial - Master of Souls Ermac MoS Combo Guide: Vortex/Basic

[Geoffmeister]

**As of Patch 1.06 most of these combo's are not optimal, will be given an update soon.
In the meantime, refer to Insignis' combo compilation:**

Here's the data I've been gathering of my day 1 main, many of these combo's were found or based on combo's from @zaf and @insignis, as far as credit goes it can go to them.

The list below is what I consider (almost all of) Ermac's best competitive Vortex/Basic combo's, without making use of the b1d2-tech.
My theory on whether or not to go Vortex or Basic is decided on match-ups and that I believe it's the best option whenever there's a 5% difference between Vortex/Basic (this is all debatable since it leaves your opponent standing for either a 50/50, chip-damage/pressure or a throw but at the cost of 1 meter).

Combo Guide Video:

(combo's below are not chronological with the video)

• SAFE MIDSCREEN

BASIC 37% - f21d2 - f4 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - NJP - j4 - TP - f4 - lift (low priority)
VORTEX 33% - f21d2 – b12 – b12 - f4 - Soul Ball - jip - b12
VORTEX 34% - f21d2 – j4 - TP – b12 - f4 - Soul Ball - jip - b12
VORTEX 36% - f21d2 - run cancel f3 - TP - b12 - f4 - Soul Ball - Jip - b12 (low priority)
BASIC 34% - 34 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - j4 - TP - f4 - lift (low priority)
BASIC 34% - B12HitConfirm/TP – d1 – Soul Ball – jip – f21d2 – run cancel d2
VORTEX 32% - B12HitConfirm/TP – d1 – EX TELELIFT – f21d2 – run cancel b12 – Soul Ball - jip - B12
BASIC 40% - B2 (full charged) – run cancel f4 – Soul Ball – jip – f21d2 – j4 – TP – f4 - lift (low priority)
VORTEX 22% -B2 (not charged)13+4 – TP – f4 - Soul Ball – jip – b12 (low priority)
VORTEX 30% - NJP – f21d2 – f4 – Soul Ball – jip – b12
VORTEX 30% - NJP – j4 – TP – f21d2 – run cancel b12 - Soul Ball – jip – b12

• FAST MIDSCREEN (9 frames, high)

222 is an easy-to-hit-confirm combo and you can Levitate or backdash instead of Soul Ball to decrease the chance of a (full) punish.o
BASIC 35% - 222 - Soul Ball - Soul Release - NJP - f21d2 - run cancel d2
BASIC 37% - 222 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - j4 - TP - f43/lift
VORTEX 27% - 222 – TP – d1 – Soul Ball – jip – b12 (male only)
VORTEX 33% - 222 - EX-TELELIFT - f21d1 - run cancel b12 - Soul Ball - jip - b12

• MIXUPS MIDSCREEN

In most situations it's best to always follow up your mixup with a teleport (simply because this is safer), however when your opponent has 2 EX bars, it's best to follow-up with a Soul Ball, you can add 5% extra damage before an inevitable breaker.
BASIC 38% - f4 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - j4 - TP - f43/lift
BASIC 37% - f4 – TP – d1 – Soul Ball – jip – f21d1 – run cancel d2
VORTEX 36% - f4 - TP - d1 - EX-TELELIFT - f21d1 - run cancel b12 - Soul Ball - jip - B12
BASIC 36% - b3 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - j4 - TP - f43/lift
BASIC 35% - b3 – TP – d1 – Soul Ball –Soul Release - NJP – f21d1 – run cancel d2
VORTEX 34% - b3 - TP - d1 - EX-TELELIFT - f21d1 - run cancel b12 - Soul Ball - jip - B12

• JUMPKICK-TELEPORT MIDSCREEN

(Might be common knowledge but) you can still Teleport after any whiffed air-attack. If the opponent is standing/crouching the follow-up is d1 - Soul Ball.
BASIC 36% - j4 - TP - f4 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - run cancel d2
VORTEX 31% - j4 - TP - f21d2 - run cancel b12 - Soul Ball - jip - b12
VORTEX 29% - j4 - TP - b12 - f4 - Soul Ball - jip - b12

• SPECIALS MIDSCREEN

Keep in mind Soul Releasing is the always the best decision when your opponent has 2 bars.
Teleport and EX-Telelift are Ermac's best Reversals.
EX-Teleport is Ermac's best Wake-Up.
Air-EX-Teleport is Ermac's worst use of meter.
BASIC 21% - Soul Ball – Soul Release - throw (unbreakable) (27% with f4) (25% with b3)
BASIC 33% - Soul Ball – jip – f21d2 – j4 – TP – f43
BASIC 35% - Soul Ball – jip – f21d2 – j4 – TP – run cancel b321 (low priority)
BASIC 30% - Soul Ball – Soul Release – NJP - f21d2 run cancel d2
BASIC 33% - TP - d1 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - run cancel f34 (Reversal)
VORTEX 30% - TP - d1 - EX-TELELIFT - f21d2 - run cancel b12 - Soul Ball - jip - b12 (Reversal)
VORTEX 31% - EX-TELELIFT - f21d2 - run cancel b12 - Soul Ball - jip - b12 (Reversal)
BASIC 32% - (air) TP - f4 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - run cancel d2
VORTEX 30% - (air) TP - f4 - EX-TELELIFT - f21d2 - run cancel b12 - Soul Ball - jip - b12
BASIC 36% - EX-TELEPORT – (f4) - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - run cancel uppercut
VORTEX 27% - EX-TELEPORT – (f4) - Soul Ball - jip - b12 (low priority)
VORTEX 31% - EX-TELEPORT – run cancel f21d2 – run cancel b12 - Soul Ball - jip - b12
BASIC 34% - (air)EX-TELEPORT - f4 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - run cancel throw (low priority)
VORTEX 25% - (air)EX-TELEPORT - f4 - Soul Ball - jip - b12 (low priority)

• XRAYS MIDSCREEN

BASIC 52% - f4 – Soul Ball – jip – f21d2 – f4 – XRAY
BASIC 40% - Soul Ball – Soul Release – XRAY (unbreakable)

• ANTI-AIRS MIDSCREEN

Good Anti-Airs for Ermac are considered to be: 1, b1, b12, d4 and d2.
VORTEX 32% - Uppercut (AA) – EX-TELELIFT – f21d2 – run cancel b12 - Soul Ball – jip – b12
VORTEX 30% - J4 – TP – f21d2 – run cancel b12 - Soul Ball – jip – b12
VORTEX 30% - (AA) – b12 – f21d2 – run cancel b12 – Soul Ball – jip – b12
BASIC 35% - (AA) – b12 – b12 – b12 – Soul Ball – jip – f21d2 – d2

• CORNER COMBOS

Ending in a throw cancel (1 EX bar) results in 4-5% damage loss compared to ending with f34.
Opting not to go with Soul Release combo's increases damage by 2-3%, inputs for these: Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - NJP - J4 - F34, I prefer not to do them unless I can safely spend a meter for the double-uppercut combo's.
BOTH 38% - 222 – Soul Ball – Soul Release – NJP – J4 - f21d2 - f34/throw cancel
VORTEX 33% - F21d2 – NJP - j4 - 34 – Soul Ball – jip – b12
BOTH 32% - B124 – d1 – Soul Ball – Soul Release – NJP – f21d2 - f34/throw cancel
BOTH 34% - 34 – Soul Ball – Soul Release – NJP - j4 - f21d2 – f43/throw cancel (low priority)
VORTEX 30% - NJP – F21d2 – 34 – Soul Ball – jip – b12
BOTH 37% - f4 – Soul Ball – Soul Release – NJP – J4 - f21d2 - f34/throw cancel
BOTH 38% - f4 – Soul Ball – jip - f21d2 - NJP - J4 - f34/throw cancel (low priority)
BASIC 46% - f4 – Soul Ball – backdash – jip – f21d2 – NJP – j4 - 222 – EX-Lift – d2 – d2
BOTH 35% - b3 – Soul Ball – Soul Release – NJP – J4 - f21d2 - f34/throw cancel
BOTH 38% - b3 – Soul Ball – jip - f21d2 - NJP - J4 - f34/throw cancel (low priority)
BASIC 44% - b3 – Soul Ball – backdash – jip – f21d2 – NJP – j4 - 222 – EX-Lift – d2 – d2
BASIC 36% - J4 – TP – f4 - Soul Ball – run cross up jip – f21d2 – run cancel throw/f34
VORTEX 30% - IA EX Soul Burst – f21d2 – NJP – b12 – Soul Ball – jip – b12

 

[Geoffmeister]

The combos listed below are outdated

Fastest BnB (8 frame start-up, meterless, easy):
33% 10 hits - 35% with jump-in punch

2,2,2 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - NJP - j4 - TP - f43

Fastest BnB (8 frame start-up, meterless, hard):
40% 14 hits - 41% with jump-in punch

2,2,2 - Soul Ball - j2 - f21d2 - j3 - Teleport - b321

Highest Damage BnB (12 frame start-up, meterless):
37% 11 hits- 39% with jump-in punch

f2,1,d2 - f4 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - NJP - j4 - Teleport - f43

Low Starter BnB (12 frame start-up, meterless)
32% 8 hits - 33% with jump-in punch

b3 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - NJP - j4 - Teleport - f43

Overhead Starter BnB (11 frame start-up, meterless)
34% 8 hits- 36% with jump-in punch

f4 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - NJP - j4 - Teleport - f43

Overhead Jump-Kick-Teleport Starters (meterless):
30% 8 hits

j4 - Teleport - f4 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - Throw

30% 7 hits

j4 - Teleport - f4 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - j4 - Teleport

27% 7 hits

(standing) Teleport - d1 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - NJP - j4 - Teleport

Tele-Lift Starters (1 meter):
29% 10 hits

EX Tele-lift- j4 - Teleport - f4 - Soul Ball - Soul Release - Throw

32% 10 hits

EX Tele-lift - f4 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - NJP - j4 - Teleport - f43

EX-Teleport Starters (1 meter):
29% 8 hits: standing EX-Teleport / Levitating EX-Teleport +

f4 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - Throw

31% 8 hits: air EX-Teleport +

f4 - Soul Ball - dash - Soul Release - NJP - j4 - Teleport

X-Rays:
15 hits 50%:

f4 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - f4 - XRAY

15 hits 48%:

b3 - Soul Ball - jip - f21d2 - f4 - XRAY

12 hits 45% Unbreakable

f4 - Soul Ball - Soul Release - Soul Burst (up) - XRAY

11 hits 40% Unbreakable, Full Screen

Soul Ball - Soul Release - Soul Burst (up) - XRAY

- Ending with f43 gives you the opton to Force-Lift / Pressure / Block or you can shoot a Soul Ball, if they do not respect it they wil get stunned again and you can Soul Release for another 28% damage.

- Ermac is very strong offensively so having a strong defense is essential!

- I did not include an x-ray combo video because you can connect it (almost) anytime with f4+x-ray, however I feel Ermac is optimal without it and should spend meter on breakers and EX Telelift, Soul Ball and Teleports.
edit: uploaded one anyway

- I've added a 40% combo that I feel is very important, it's not 100% reliable but there's no damage loss past connecting j2, f21d2 (you can get punished though). I feel it's important because it might throw your opponent off (if you're switching between Basic and Vortex BnBs right after Soul Ball). Another reason is that if you're playing someone you prefer at a distance will be pushed full screen (and throwing a Soul Ball at this point will also stun)

Once you've mastered these (or you own similar BnB's), head over to the Ermac Vortex discussion if you truly want to learn Ermac to his fullest potential.

 

[YoungScrub91]

Thanks so much for this!!

 

[BoromiRofGeo]

good stuff

 

[Hitoshura]

Nice work, but don't we have a combo thread?

 

[BoromiRofGeo]

this is not a combo vid, its a guide/breakdown.

 

[Wassow]

Wow, These combos are much easier to perform than the other ones I've been practicing, good stuff!

 

[Spooky Deadeye]

Before anyone talks shit to me, what is bnb?

 

[Deadly Torcher]

Does f43 do more damage than 222 db1 at the end of those combos?

 

[Geoffmeister]

Does f43 do more damage than 222 db1 at the end of those combos?

Probably not, it's easy to perform and you need to learn to time Ermacs f4 many many times, it also leaves you options where to go after the f43.

Before anyone talks shit to me, what is bnb?

Bread 'n Butter, just means your basic go-to combo's. So here you have several BnB starters that hit at different areas, speed and ranges.

 

[CallOfWolfy]

Awesome thread! Finally all the BnB's in one place. I have one question.

Would it not be better to do the vortex combos instead? Because you leave your opponent in the vortex state (more options to do stuff)?

 

[Geoffmeister]

Awesome thread! Finally all the BnB's in one place. I have one question.

Would it not be better to do the vortex combos instead? Because you leave your opponent in the vortex state (more options to do stuff)?

Absolutely it would! I made these videos to get people started on Ermacs basic combo's, I believe Vortex is pretty tough if you want to start learning him. I'm working on the best ways to transition from these basic BnB's into the Vortex, there are easy ones and there are hard ones. I just need to figure out which ones are the best to use (and I'll share them asap )

edit:

Percentages below indicate the damage% difference between Basic and (setting up) Vortex combo's. Combo's are in chronological order.
(A throw is 12%, remember chip damage)

Best:
EX Telelift starter: Best -2%
EX Teleport starter (ground): Best -3%

Good:
Overhead jumpkick starter: Good -5%
Highest damage bnb: Good -5%
Fastest damage bnb: Good -6%
Ex Teleport starter (air): Good -6%

Bad: don't use the combo's I show you, use the basic BnB finishers for these starters
Overhead starter: Bad -12%
Low starter: Bad -12%
Soul ball starter: Bad -12%

01:10: Vortex Setup Combos: these combo's end in Vortex
f4 - TP - d1 - Soul Ball - j1 - b12 ends in vortex 6%
b3 - TP - d1 - Soul Ball - j1 - b12 ends in vortex 7%
TP - d1 - Soul Ball - j1 - b12 ends in vortex 8%

 

[Kindred]

Sick vids!

you can update the highest damaging meeterless midscreen combo to this:
JiP, F4, bf2, JiP, F2, 1, D2, JiK, tp, 2, 2, 2, db1 - 40%

And his highest b3 starter midscreen meterless combo is this:
JiP, B3, tp, D1, bf2, dash, bf1, NjP, F2, 1, D2, db1 - 34%


EDIT: oh and a question; what's his highest corner combo?

 

[Geoffmeister]

Sick vids!

you can update the highest damaging meeterless midscreen combo to this:
JiP, F4, bf2, JiP, F2, 1, D2, JiK, tp, 2, 2, 2, db1 - 40%

And his highest b3 starter midscreen meterless combo is this:
JiP, B3, tp, D1, bf2, dash, bf1, NjP, F2, 1, D2, db1 - 34%


EDIT: oh and a question; what's his highest corner combo?

Thanks for posting. However, I won't update this combo-list, they are meant to be easy to perform (while still maintaining high damage and range advantage). I don't have a corner combo (yet) because it will heavily rely on Vortex (and I don't include those combo's in this thread)

 

[Kindred]

Thanks for posting. However, I won't update this combo-list, they are meant to be easy to perform (while still maintaining high damage and range advantage). I don't have a corner combo (yet) because it will heavily rely on Vortex (and I don't include those combo's in this thread)

Why would a corner combo have to rely on vortex? You mean to avoid dealing with the wake up game of the opponent?
What about something that's high damaging to end the match?

I'm thinking something like
JiP, F21B2, bf2, bf1, NjP, B12, 222, bf2
I just thought of this so I have no idea how much it does and I'm pretty sure we can get higher. But Just as an example

 

[Geoffmeister]

Exactly, wake-ups in the corner are actually a lot more useful (and armor can screw you over) so I'm going to figure one out that's utilizing range, pressure, high damage but most importantly keeps the Vortex going. I'll look into it soon.

 

[stevoforce.mk]

I have here 38% meterless, 40% 1bar, 48 % xray

 

[SpideR]

Hello guys, i have 38% meterless to and 50% Xray. Also overhead and low starter.
hope you like it

 

[migosan]

good stuff guys, thanks for all the uploads, these would really help me find my ideal bnb, punisher / starter, side note ive totally decided to replace my jik to teleport to jip to teleport, i just find it super hard to consistently pull of the jik to teleport link, and replacing it with punch is much more easier, and it connects most of the time, still not getting used to the delayed or exact dial of the link, since im used to executing it all at once just like in mk9

 

[VenomX-90]

Good shit man, how do you do that soul release? im trying to do that in the first BnB.

 

[Geoffmeister]

Good shit man, how do you do that soul release? im trying to do that in the first BnB.

back, forward, 1

good stuff guys, thanks for all the uploads, these would really help me find my ideal bnb, punisher / starter, side note ive totally decided to replace my jik to teleport to jip to teleport, i just find it super hard to consistently pull of the jik to teleport link, and replacing it with punch is much more easier, and it connects most of the time, still not getting used to the delayed or exact dial of the link, since im used to executing it all at once just like in mk9

I found that jumpkick into teleport works the same way as MK9 did but it only works online... offline you have to hit-confirm your jumpkick, which is pretty tricky to do, keep trying, you'll get the hang of it.

 

[VenomX-90]

What do you guy leave on when you use Ermac?
Release Check On or Off
Alternative Control On or Off
Input Shortcuts On or Off
or does it really matter or do you feel a difference?

 

[Heartwire]

What do you guy leave on when you use Ermac?
Release Check On or Off
Alternative Control On or Off
Input Shortcuts On or Off
or does it really matter or do you feel a difference?

I have everything off.
Especially release check, it has no place in MK if you ask me, and tends to screw up with almost every combo.

 

[TheGlow]

I have everything off.
Especially release check, it has no place in MK if you ask me, and tends to screw up with almost every combo.

I use it everything but MK. For reasons unknown it seems to trigger off of just about everything.
I have all off now, but wondering about Input shortcuts might help me with teleport, d1 , bf+2 in MoS.

 

[SWonder916]

Awesome thread. Damn near a Combo thread 2.0