Here are my partially translated notes from the time I made the Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition TAS, including a complete list of Shang Tsung’s morph combo outcomes and a list of moves that become cut off by diagonal crouch+block. Shang Tsung’s move names are taken from the MK:TE FAQs at GameFAQs (a great asset when testing this stuff), other move names just dubbed myself while testing.
Keep in mind that these were written some time ago already, and I only translated the basic necessities of them to make them readable to non-finnish people. There maybe small falsehoods in the text too. In any case, it’s as good as it gets until I or someone else re-visits this game and updates these lists into a more deserving format. Or maybe I’ll tidy them up a bit later.
Terminology:
* fizzle / fizzlaa = move begins too late to do damage in a morph combo or the morph doesn’t seem to lead to a move.
* komboaa = “can combo” in finnish
* ei komboa = “doesn’t combo” in finnish
* -less = the special move has no effect when done through morph combo
* N/A = you can’t morph into this character here, probably due to old directional button buffers getting in the way. Can’t be helped in some cases.
In the special moves, there may be a “-” mark after a fighter’s name, it means that it is a morph combo out option which can be hard to utilize. You have to at first buffer the special move’s directional buttons, then wait 30-40 frames for the buffer memory to almost run out, then do the special move. Otherwise morphing into this particular character during the move isn’t possible.
With normal move morphs, I sometimes took the time to find out what exactly is the move that occurs after the morph. On occasion you get moves that are normally inaccessible, and they often lack description here…
In the string section, take note that the morphs differ if you buffer the string partially/all the way. Entries after a colon mark need you to buffer hits of the combo before morphing or else they won’t occur.
Double Stab
Bo swing, komboaa
Qu sword whirl, komboaa (!)
Sc sword to feet, fizzle
Jo chuck-hit, komboaa
Ra severe cane attack, komboaa (!)
Sa 2x dagger-hit, komboaa
Ni – kamahit
Ma – downpull with hooks
Hs small hit with the weapon, ei komboa
Cy sword-attack, komboaa
Dr fizzle
Se long-reaching sword, komboaa (!)
No sword to feet, fizzle?
Sword Poke
Bo – top-to-bottom caning, komboaa
Sc 2x sword hit, komboaa
Qu multi-hit, komboaa
Jo some chuck-hit, fizzlaa
Ra feet canehit, komboaa
Sa – multi-hit, komboaa (!?)
Ni – kamahit, fizzlaa
Ma – hooksword attack, fizzlaa
Hs – blade whirl, komboaa (!)
Cy – floor-level blades, komboaa
Dr – fizzlaa
Se – a different sword hit, fizzles if not done quick
No far reaching sword, fizzles if not done quick, may combo
Spinning Swords
Bo flip-flop, komboaa
Qu – double swords, fizzlaa?
Sc slash, fizzles if not done quick, combos
Jo fizzle
Ra – downward stroke with cane, komboaa
Sa – two hit swipe, komboaa
Ni – neck bite (animation) fizzle
Ma – fizzle
Hs – fizzle
Cy – teleport punch?
Dr – swing, fizzlaa? may be hard to hit with
Se teleport punch?
No slash, fizzlaa
Backhand
Bo belly attack, doesn’t seem to combo
Qu heavy punch, osuu
Sc hellfire-less
Jo johnny uppercut, doesn’t seem to combo
Ra – thunder dash, hits if done quick
Sa – fizzle
Ni – evade
Ma – fizzle
Hs – fizzle
Cy – blades, komboaa!
Dr – clock-winding, komboaa!
Se – blades (?!)
No ?? fireball-less
Diving Punch
Bo ground stomp-less
Qu skull-less
Sc spear-less
Jo slide kick
Ra thunder grab fizzle
Sa – skull-less
Ni – unicorn kick
Ma – fizzle
Hs – unknown stomp attack, hits (low dmg)
Cy – projectile fizzle
Dr – earth shake-less
Se (quickly) teleport punch
No spear-less
Fire ball
Bo fizzle
Qu slide, fizzlaa
Sc spear-less
Jo projectile fizzle
Ra fizzle
Sa flip kick end, can combo!
Ni fizzle
Ma rubberbands, komboaa!
Hs projectile-less
Cy rotating kick, komboaa?
Dr oni uppercut, may combo
Se rotating kick, komboaa?
No spear-less
C. u+2
Bo jab, fizzlaa
Qu f+2, fizzlaa
Sc fizzlaa
Jo some kick, fizzlaa
Ra b+2, komboaa if done quick
Sa u+1, fizzlaa
Ni f+2, fizzlaa
Ma N/A
Hs jab? fizzlaa
Cy jab, fizzlaa
Dr spunky kick, doesn’t fizzle if done quick
Se jab, fizzlaa
No fizzlaa
C. b+2
Bo N/A
Qu b+2, elbow
Sc 1, hits but won’t combo
Jo b+1, hits but won’t combo
Ra N/A (Sc morph is in the way)
Sa 1, fizzlaa
Ni 1, hits if done quick
Ma N/A (Ni morph is in the way)
Hs unknown jab, hits if done quick
Cy Sektor’s Sambo b+2 jab, hits if quick but won’t juggle
Dr b+2, ei comboa
Se b+2, combos (and juggles!) if done quick
No 1, hits but won’t combo
C. d+2
Bo d+2, jab, fizzlaa
Qu fizzlaa
Sc d+2, fizzlaa
Jo d+2, fizzlaa
Ra b+2, fizzlaa
Sa some low jab, fizzlaa
Ni N/A (Bo and Sc morphs in the way)
Ma tuntematon low jab, fizzlaa
Hs N/A (Sa and Dr morphs in the way)
Cy d+1, low jab, komboaa
Dr f+2, fizzlaa
Se d+1, low jab, komboaa
No d+2, fizzlaa
C. 2
Bo b+1, tackle, ei komboa
Qu b+2, juggle, ei komboa
Sc u+2, jab, ei komboa
Jo jab (maybe 2)? fizzlaa
Ra 2, fizzlaa
Sa u+2 except heavier, unknown attack, won’t combo
Ni fatality
Ma jab (2), hits if done quick
Hs b+2, ei comboa
Cy 2, hits if done quick
Dr ineffective oni uppercut
Se 2, hits if done quick
No same as Sc
C. f+2, (2), (2)
Bo (kick), b+1, f+2
Qu (f+2), b+2, juggles, stance-switch
Sc (unknown jab), u+1, b+2
Jo (jab, may hit if quick), (jab), (unknown jab)
Ra b+2, 2, u+2
Sa u+2, same unknown heavy jab as earlier, unknown 2-hand jab
Ni stance-switch, evade without movement
(2 frames later) fatality, blood spit-less
Ma nothing, 2, f+2
Hs u+2, b+2, f+1
Cy u+2, 2, f+1
Dr fatality, oni uppercut, earth shake-less
Se 2, f+1
No same as Sc
C. d+1
Bo d+2, fizzlaa
Qu d+1, ei comboa
Sc fizzle
Jo d+2 maybe, fizzlaa
Ra d+2, ei komboa
Sa unknown low jab, fizzlaa
Ni N/A (Bo morph in the way)
Ma d+2 maybe, ei komboa
Hs d+1, ei komboa
Cy some jab, fizzlaa
Dr tackle, ei comboa
Se some jab, fizzlaa
No fizzle
C. u+1
Bo b+2
Qu some jab, fizzlaa
Sc fizzlaa
Jo f+1
Ra 2
Sa 1
Ni b+2
Ma N/A(Hs morph in the way)
Hs 2
Cy 2
Dr f+2
Se 2
No fizzlaa
C. f+1
Bo N/A (Jo morph in the way)
Qu N/A (Jo or Ni morph in the way)
Sc b+1 low kick, ei comboa
Jo some roundhouse, hits if done quick
Ra f+2, knockback jab, ei comboa
Sa 2, fizzle
Ni b+1, low kick, ei comboa
Ma b+2, jab, ei comboa
Hs unknown elbow-attack, hits
Cy f+2, jab, ei comboa
Dr 2, hits
Se f+2, fizzle
No b+1 low kick, ei comboa
C. b+1
Bo N/A
Qu fizzlaa
Sc f+1, (partially) comboes
Jo b+2 fizzlaa
Ra unknnown ‘uppercut’, fizzlaa
Sa b+1 hits
Ni u+1 hits, juggles
Ma N/A (Qu morph is in the way)
Cy b+1 knee, comboaa
Dr fizzlaa (wrong stance momentarily)
Se b+1 knee, comboaa
No f+1, (partially) comboes
C. 1, (u+1)
Bo f+2, b+2
Qu 1, knee, comboaa – unknown hi-jab
Sc fizzlaa
Jo u+1, fizzlaa – f+1, hits
Ra a tackle?, fizzlaa – 2
Sa d+1 fizzlaa – 1
Ni “uppercut”, comboaa, juggle – some juggle punch, b+2, knockback
Ma d+1, taklu, fizzlaa – N/A or fizzle
Hs u+2, fizzlaa – 2
Cy some jab – u+2
Dr d+2, some fizzling kick
Se some jab, fizzlaa – same as cyrax
No fizzlaa
S. u+2
Bo unknown “kick”, fizzlaa
Qu 1, fizzlaa
Sc 2, fizzlaa
Jo f+1, fizzlaa
Ra uppercut, partially (conveniently) comboes, juggle
Sa high kick variation, fizzlaa
Ni f+1, fizzlaa
Hs u+2, precise timing, juggle, ei comboa?
Cy “roundhouse”, fizzlaa
Dr roundhouse, comboaa
Se roundhouse, fizzlaa
No 2, hits if done quick
S. d+2
Bo b+1, tackle, comboaa
Qu fizzlaa
Sc fizzlaa
Jo d+1, comboaa
Ra d+2, fizzlaa
Sa fizzlaa
Ni N/A (Bo or Ra morph is in the way)
Ma fizzle
Hs N/A
Cy d+1, comboaa
Dr fizzlaa
Se tackle, fizzlaa
No fizzlaa
S. f+2
Bo N/A
Qu N/A
Sc 2, fizzlaa
Jo jab, komboaa…
Ra fizzlaa (wrong stance momentarily?)
Sa fizzlaa (wrong stance momentarily?)
Ni b+1, ei komboa
Ma u+2, ei komboa
Hs b+1, ei komboa
Cy u+2, ei komboa
Dr fizzlaa (wrong stance momentarily?)
Se u+2, fizzlaa
No 2, fizzlaa
S. b+2 (2) – (u+2)
Bo N/A, knee – u+2 (difficult to time)
Qu jab, fizzlaa, low jab, may combo (difficult to time) – 1
Sc f+2, jab – 2, comboes as if a part of a string
Jo 2,2 the second kick of the combo, ankle kick – f+1
Ra N/A, 2 – uppercut, juggles
Sa f+1, fizzlaa, u+1 – u+1?
Ni u+1, u+2 – f+1
Ma N/A, u+2? – 2
Hs b+2, fizzlaa, f+2 – u+2
Cy u+2, fizzlaa, Sektor’s Sambo’s u+2 – unknown roundhouse
Dr f+1, fizzlaa, f+1 – b+1
Se hammer-like jab, hits, (u+2) – roundhouse (?)
No same as Sc
S. 2
Bo (u+2) fizzlaa
Qu d+2, low jab, comboaa
Sc fizzlaa
Jo b+1, low kick, comboaa
Ra 2, fizzlaa
Sa u+2, drop kick, comboaa
Ni u+2, knockback, comboaa
Ma u+2, jab, fizzlaa
Hs f+2, jab, comboaa
Cy some jab with a rotating movement, fizzlaa
Dr u+1, fizzles (not necessarily)
Se same as Cy
No fizzlaa
S. u+1
Bo 2, fizzlaa
Qu fizzlaa
Sc fizzlaa
Jo 2, comboaa
Ra u+2, comboes partially (juggle)
Sa some low kick, fizzlaa
Ni 2, comboaa
Hs f+1, roundhouse, comboaa
Cy 2, fizzlaa
Dr 2, comboaa
Se 2, comboaa
No fizzlaa
S. d+1
Bo low jab, fiz
Qu fizzlaa
Sc d+1, fizzlaa
Jo d+1 unknown low jab, comboaa
Ra d+1 low jab, fizzlaa
Sa d+2, roll kick, partially comboes
Ni d+2, fizzlaa
Ma some low jab, ei comboa?
Hs tackle, comboaa
Cy unknown tackle, comboaa
Se low kick, comboaa
No tackle, fizzlaa
S. b+1
Bo N/A?
Qu fizzlaa
Sc lowish jab, hits if done quick
Jo jab, fizzlaa
Ra 2, fizzlaa
Sa jab, fizzlaa
Ni b+2, fizzlaa
Ma N/A?
Hs matala jab, comboaa
Cy matala jab, fizzlaa
Dr d+2, precise timing, comboes (later result: fizzle)
Se d+2 jab, fizzlaa
No jab, fizzlaa
S. 1 (f+2)
Bo b+2 jab, fizzlaa – fizzlaa
Qu fizzlaa – 2
Sc fizzlaa – 2
Jo basic jab, fizzlaa – 2
Ra u+1, fizzlaa – fizzlaa (wrong stance)
Sa kick, fizzlaa – fizzlaa (wrong stance)
Ni jab, fizzlaa – b+1
Ma kick, fizzlaa – jab
Hs uppercut, ei comboa – b+1
Cy jab, fizzlaa – u+1
Dr b+2, jab, comboaa – fizzlaa (väärä stance)
Se unknown jab, u+1
No fizzlaa – 1
Move list
The numbers signify how many frames the moves take before Shang can move again or do new moves. If there’s a slash ‘/’ and two numbers, read the latter number as to how many frames a move normally takes and the former number as to how many frames the same move takes interrupted by the diagonal blocking trick. The frame save is often considerable. Also, there may be a 2-frame error margin here due to some instability in the testing.
Didn’t test combo moves yet, this is just a list of how the basic moves are affected.
Shang Tsung
Crane
1 28 / 40
u+1 62
b+1 58
f+1 54
d+1 50
2 34 / 44
u+2 46
b+2 86
f+2 30 / 52
d+2 46
Snake
1 30 / 36
u+1 34
b+1 34
d+1 30
2 40
u+2 42
b+2 38 / 44
f+2 46
d+2 36
Bo Rai
Drunken
1 42
b+1 38
d+1 46
2 36
u+2 30
b+2 46
f+2 36
d+2 42
Mi Zong
1 36
u+1 30 / 38
20, 50 (30) (<— looking back, not sure what this line is)
b+1 36
f+1 34
d+1 32
2 24 / 30
u+2 28 / 36
b+2 32
f+2 38
d+2 26
Quan
Tang
1 26 / 32
b+1 56
f+1 38
d+1 32
2 24 / 32
u+2 42
b+2 54
f+2 32
d+2 38
E
1 54
b+1 52
f+1 50 / 58
2 50
b+2 34
f+2 30 / 36
d+2 34
Sc
H
1 32
u+1 32
b+1 50
f+1 30 / 36
d+1 52
2 20 / 34
u+2 30
f+2 32 / 48
d+2 32
P
1 46
u+1 44
b+1 42
f+1 62
d+1 40
2 28 / 34
u+2 44
b+2 36 / 42
f+2 50
d+2 38
Cage
K
1 32 / 36
u+1 46
b+1 30
f+1 34
d+1 30
2 26 / 32
u+2 28
b+2 40
f+2 36
d+2 34
J
1 28
u+1 28
b+1 32
f+1 30
d+1 26
2 26
u+2 32
b+2 42
f+2 30 / 36
d+2 32
raiden
n
1 36
u+1 38
b+1 52
f+1 38
d+1 38
2 30 / 34
u+2 62
b+2 50
f+2 18 / 32
d+2 34
J
1 42
u+1 46
b+1 44
f+1 38
d+1 44
2 34 / 40
u+2 26
b+2 38
f+2 52
d+2 38
Sareena
T
1 48
b+1 36 / 42
d+1 50
2 32 / 36
b+2 50
f+2 56
d+2 40
Y
1 32 / 38
u+1 48 / 52
b+1 48
f+1 46
d+1 56
2 38
u+2 42
b+2 40 / 46
f+2 50
d+2 36
Nitara
L
1 42
u+1 48
b+1 42
f+1 48
d+1 38
2 26 / 40
u+2 56
b+2 38
f+2 38
d+2 32
F
1 40
u+1 44
b+1 46
d+1 34
2 28 / 38
u+2 26 / 38
b+2 36
f+2 34
u+2 30
Mavado
L
1 38
b+1 38
d+1 42
2 30 / 36
u+2 38
b+2 50
f+2 32
d+2 40
W
1 30 / 36
b+1 38
d+1 38
2 30
u+2 30
b+2 48
d+2 44
Hsu
S
1 34 / 40
b+1 38
f+1 46
d+1 42
2 28
u+2 28 / 32 (juggle)
b+2 58
f+2 46
d+2 48
W
1 34 / 40
b+1 52
f+1 46
d+1 36
2 34 / 38
u+2 38
b+2 38 / 44
f+2 32 / 38
d+2 48
Cyrax
N.
1 40
u+1 40
b+1 40
f+1 40
d+1 46
2 28 / 36
u+2 32
b+2 26 / 34
f+2 36
d+2 26
S
1 38
u+1 44
b+1 50
f+1 52
d+1 46
2 28 / 32
b+2 40 / 44
f+2 28 / 34
d+2 36
Drahmin
N
1 52
u+1 46
b+1 46
f+1 34 / 40
d+1 44
2 26 / 30
b+2 42
f+2 36 / 42
d+2 36
O
1 46
b+1 44
d+1 42
2 48
u+2 52
f+2 56
d+2 34 / 40
Sektor
N
1 40
u+1 40
b+1 40
f+1 40
d+1 36
2 28 / 32
u+2 32 / 44
b+2 26 / 36
f+2 32 / 34
d+2 26
S
1 40
u+1 46
b+1 52
f+1 54
d+1 48
2 24 / 34
u+2 30 / 34
b+2 46
f+2 30 / 36
d+2 38
What's esoterically new. 