Mortal Kombat 1: Best Moves for Scorpion – Air, Ground and Special

Scorpion is among the many iconic characters available in the Mortal Kombat 1 roster. First appearing in 1992, his kit has changed over the years, but Netherealm has made sure to preserve the essence of the character throughout the entire video game series. This is one of the main reasons tons of new and old players want to pick up Scorpion but don’t know where to start. This guide can help serve as a basis to get you started with the best moves Scorpion has in Mortal Kombat 1.

Best Moves for Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 1

To understand the best moves you can use as Scorpion to annihilate your opponent, you first need to know how basic attacks are classified in the game. Moves in Mortal Kombat 1 can be classified into the following categories:

• Basic Attacks
• Aerial Attacks
• Throws
• Special Moves
• Fatal Blows
• Fatalities
• Brutalities

These are all the actions you can perform with Scorpion. Now, everyone’s playstyle differs vastly, so these best moves may not apply to everyone, and it will depend quite a bit on your playstyle. However, for players just starting to learn Scorpion, these are optimal combos to learn. Now that you know all this, let’s get started with the best moves for Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 1.

Best Ground Combo moves for Scorpion

Ground attacks are the basis of every character in Mortal Kombat. While some characters do shine better using aerial attacks more often, Scorpion included, you can’t take a match home without mastering the ground combos.

Krackjaw

Krackjaw (Front Kick, Front Kick, Front Kick) is Scorpion’s bread and butter, a combo you’ll use very often. This combo allows you to kick your opponent three times in succession, creating some distance between you and your opponent. This combo cannot be ducked against. It is also the basis for some advanced combos we’ll talk about later.

Hell’s Hook

You should look to use Hell’s Hook (Front Punch, Back Punch, Back Punch) often whenever you’re getting punished by your opponent. This ground attack is a combination of one front punch paired with two consecutive back punches. Your character also slams the opponent into the ground, giving you some time to stabilize again.

Deadly Assassin

Deadly Assassin (Back Punch, Front Punch, Back Kick) is a nice combo that will cause Scorpion to perform a slice and a kick during this input. If performed correctly and it connects, you will see the difference in your opponent’s health bar. This move also uses Scorpion’s iconic Spear to slice the opponent, which is aesthetically pleasing as well.

Best Air Combo moves for Scorpion

We mentioned before that Scorpion does much better with aerial attacks compared to ground attacks. Let’s take a look at his aerial combos and what they can do.

Deadly Sting

To get your enemy airborne is sometimes crucial to execute better combos, especially with Scorpion. With Deadly Sting (Forward + Up + Back Punch, Back Kick), you can do exactly that by launching your opponent into the air with a back punch followed by a back kick. Do remember that aerial combos have shorter periods, so you’ll need to get the timing just right.

Get Over Here

This is a move people will love to learn, especially after hearing its name. Get Over Here (Forward + Up + Front Punch, Front Punch, Back Punch) is an aerial combo where you punch the enemy three times in mid-air. This ability cannot be blocked as your opponent is incapacitated in the air. Great for getting that extra damage in.

Demonic Slam

We previously talked about getting your opponent airborne with Deadly Sting. Demonic Slam (Forward + Up + Back Punch, Front Punch + Front Kick) does the exact opposite, all the while doing a major chunk of damage. When you input the commands for Demonic Slam mid-air, your character will grab the enemy and slam them into the ground, giving you some time to think about your next move.

Now we’ve given a lot of importance to these basic combos, let’s talk about moves that help extend these combos into much more.

Best Special Moves for Scorpion

When talking about special moves, we talk about combos that make the characters what they are. Their defining characteristics, so to say. These will usually be unique to the character and include perks they use during fights.

Spear

The Spear technique (Back + Forward + Front Punch) is one you’ll need to incorporate in every other turn. This is because it is a great gap closer and helps bind other combos together to make bigger combos. With Spear, Scorpion throws his iconic spear towards the enemy, reeling them in. This combo can be performed mid-air as well as on the ground. One of the best chain-combo moves Scorpion has.

Flame Port

The ability to teleport behind his opponent was Scorpion’s most iconic technique in Mortal Kombat 11. While not as useful in Mortal Kombat 1, it opens up the possibilities of different outplays and surprise attacks. Using Flame Port (Down + Back + Front Kick), the Scorpion will teleport to the other side of the enemy to punch them. You can combo this with a ground combo like Krackjaw to catch the enemy off guard.

Blazing Charge

Blazing Charge (Back + Forward + Back Punch) is used to extend several of Scorpion’s combos. When using Blazing Charge, Scorpion will charge through the enemy, striking them with his spear and pulling them to the ground. You can follow this with Spear or Deadly Sting to constantly pummel your opponent with a flurry of attacks.

Kyo Snag

Kyo Snag (Back + Forward + Back Punch) is a combo that can only be performed mid-air. It uses the same commands as Blazing Charge, but rather than having Scorpion charge through the enemy, it pulls the enemy closer to Scorpion. This can performed from a distance or up-close, both dealing varying amounts of damage.

Devouring Flame

Every character needs a ranged attack to deal that small amount of poke damage. For Scorpion, it is Devouring Flame (Back + Forward + Back Kick). This creates a pool of fire beneath the opponent, dealing damage over time from a distance. If things aren’t looking too good for you, you can always use this ability to create some space between you and your opponent.

For more guides and information about Mortal Kombat 1, check out these related pieces from our team: Mortal Kombat 1 Ending Explained and Mortal Kombat 1 Achievements and Trophies List.