Mortal Kombat 1 Baraka Character Guide by MagicTea

Although it is just early days for Mortal Kombat 1's competitive scene, Baraka has quickly made a name for itself as a potential top-tier pick in the scene. We brought on board expert player MagicTea to help us dissect what makes this character click and how you can get the most out of this fast-paced fighter.

Baraka's Gameplay Basics

Specials

• BF1: Range projectile and can be amplified. More importantly, if it lands, it will deal Damage over time and buff chip damage.
• DF2: Hardest hitting special, it can be amplified to get a launcher and has an overhead.
• J.DF2: good add-on for air combos, or to mix in as a surprise.
• BF3: advancing special, good to punish opponents and will go under high projectiles. can be used as a wake-up, and amplified for armor.
• DB1: Good anti-air, you can choose the side the opponent is thrown and when amplified it will leave blades stuck in causing the same debuffs as BF1.

Pokes

• D4: Good range and safe on block.
• D1: Fastest poke but unsafe.
• B4: Good Sweep.
• F3: Overhead that avoids lows and is a launcher on hit.
• F2: Good range poke.
• B1: flows into a string and can be special canceled.

Strings

Baraka does not have a lot of good solid strings. Many of them can simply be ducked outside of some limited mixups. His F3 is one of the few overheads he has but it is very reactable.

• B3,1: Used in combos, as it contains a launcher. But can be punished.
• 2,1,2: Can be canceled into specials on the second hit and is safe on block.
• 1,2,1: slightly faster than 2,1,2 at 7F instead of 9F but very similar otherwise.
• 4,4,4,4,4,4: Great for chip damage thanks to the multiple hits, you can spend a Kameo to make it safe. However, it's very hard to cancel into specials.

Best Kameos For Baraka

Baraka Bread & Butter Combos

Meterless

• 30% - B3,1, B3,1, 2,1, DF2
• 26% - F3, B3,1, DASH, 2,1, DF2

Meter

• 39% - 2,1, DF2 (AMP), B3,1, 2,1, DF2

Cyrax

• 22% - L1, R1, JUMP, 1,4, DF2
• 40% - B3,1, B3,1, F2,1, DB1, R1, JUMP, 1,4, DF2
• 51% - 2,1, DF2 (AMP), B3,1, 2,1, DF2, R1, JUMP, 2,4, DF2