Smoke has been a mainstay Mortal Kombat character since his (playable) debut in Mortal Kombat 3. Now, in Mortal Kombat 1, Smoke has retained many of his moves, with some nice reworks that make the character play out just a tad differently from his previous adaptations. In Mortal Kombat 1, Smoke is a (controversial) very popular character that many fans enjoy using throughout Invasions, local, and online game modes.
Smoke, as a Kombatant, has many moves that primarily act out against enemies in surprise. This shouldn't come as a shock to players because his abilities are, well, smoke-themed. That said, Smoke's arsenal of movies and skills are all incredible, making him one of the best characters in the game. Here's how players can master him.
Smoke's Moves and Special Moves
Basic Moves
PlayStation Input | Xbox Input | PC Input | Nintendo Switch Input | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Quick Cut | Square | X | FP | Y |
Never Submit | Square, Square | X, X | FP, FP | Y, Y |
No Escape | Square, Square, Square, Circle | X, X, X, B | FP, FP, FP, BK | Y, Y, Y, A |
Deep Stab | Forward + Square | Forward + X | Forward + FP | Forward + Y |
Perfect Pierce | Forward + Square, Triangle | Forward + X, Y | Forward + FP, BP | Forward + Y, X |
Missing The Toes | Forward + Square, Triangle, Triangle, Circle | Forward + X, Y, Y, B | Forward + FP, BP, BP, BK | Forward + Y, X, X, A |
Kutting-Room Four | Forward + Square, Triangle, Square + X | Forward + X, Y, X + A | Forward + FP, BP, FP + FK | Forward + Y, X, Y + B |
Phasing Through | Forward + Square, Triangle, Square + X + Back | Forward + X, Y, X + A + Back | Forward + FP, BP, FP + FK + Back | Forward + Y, X, Y + B + Back |
Low Shank | Down + Square | Down + X | Down + FP | Down + Y |
Straight Fist | Triangle | Y | BP | X |
Gushing Gash | Triangle, Square | Y, X | BP, FP | X, Y |
Everywhere | Triangle, Square, Triangle | Y, X, Y | BP, FP, BP | X, Y, X |
Tele-Stab | Back + Triangle | Back + Y | Back + BP | Back + X |
Smoke Damage | Back + Triangle, X | Back + Y, A | Back + BP, FK | Back + X, B |
Violent Tendencies | Back + Triangle, X, Circle | Back + Y, A, B | Back + BP, FK, BK | Back + X, B, A |
Up In Smoke | Down + Triangle | Down + Y | Down + BP | Down + X |
Double Strike | X | A | FK | B |
Smoke Damage | X, Triangle | A, Y | FK, BP | B, X |
Shin Shatter | Forward + X | Forward + A | Forward + FK | Forward + B |
Tricky Karambit | Forward + X, Triangle | Forward + A, Y | Forward + FK, BP | Forward + B, X |
Soaring Assassin | Forward + X, Triangle, Circle | Forward + A, Y, B | Forward + FK, BP, BK | Forward + B, X, A |
Knee Breaker | Down + X | Down + A | Down + FK | Down + B |
Inhalation | Down + X, Circle | Down + A, B | Down + FK, BK | Down + B, A |
Turning Heel | Circle | B | BK | A |
Sweeping Smoke | Back + Circle | Back + B | Back + BK | Back + A |
Face Walk | Forward + Circle | Forward + B | Forward + BK | Forward + A |
Gut Buster | Down + Circle | Down + B | Down + BK | Down + A |
Aerial Moves
PlayStation Input | Xbox Input | PC Input | Nintendo Switch Input | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Downward Stab | Square | X | FP | Y |
Deep Incision | Square, Square | X, X | FP, FP | Y, Y |
Smoked Out | Square, Square, Triangle | X, X, Y | FP, FP, BP | Y, Y, X |
Knuckle Duster | Triangle | Y | BP | X |
Artery Assault | Triangle, Square | Y, X | BP, FP | X, Y |
Cutter | Triangle, Square, Square | Y, X, X | BP, FP, FP | X, Y, Y |
Turn and Burn | X OR Circle | A OR B | FK OR BK | B OR A |
Spin Kicks | X, Circle | A, B | FK, BK | B, A |
Airing Out | X, Circle, Circle | A, B, B | FK, BK, BK | B, A, A |
Special Moves
PlayStation Input | Xbox Input | PC Input | Nintendo Switch Input | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shadow Blade | Down, Back, Square | Down, Back, X | Down, Back, FP | Down, Back, Y |
Smoke Bomb | Down, Back, Triangle | Down, Back, Y | Down, Back, BP | Down, Back, X |
Vicious Vapors | Back, Forward, X | Back, Forward, A | Back, Forward, FK | Back, Forward, B |
Smoke-Port | Down, Back, Circle | Down, Back, B | Down, Back, BK | Down, Back, A |
(Air) Smoke Port | Down, Back, Circle | Down, Back, B | Down, Back, BK | Down, Back, A |
Smoke's Vicious Vapors and Smoke-Port can both be canceled out of during the move. Here's how:
- Vicious Vapors Cancel: Back + (Block)
- Smoke-Port Cancel: Hold Forward
All special moves listed for Smoke can be Enhanced with 1 Meter by pressing the 'block' button with the last button of the move's command.
Smoke Combos
In Mortal Kombat 1, Smoke has a wide variety of moves that can begin a combo string, ensuring that the character has more than enough for gamers to take the character. Aside from strings, Smoke's basic moveset gives him insane combinations that work well enough alone.
Unfortunately, because of that, Smoke, rather than string together special moves, develops a habit of using random patterns of basic attacks to catch opponents off guard. This fact makes Smoke more unique in Mortal Kombat 1's roster. Sure enough though, Smoke still has some very viable combos that fans can pull off. Here are his combos and the inputs necessary to perform them.
Combo Inputs
PlayStation Input | Xbox Input | PC Input | Nintendo Switch Input | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bread-and-Butter | Forward + Square, Triangle, Square + X, Smoke Bomb | Forward + X, Y, X + A, Smoke Bomb | Forward + FP, BP, FP + FK, Smoke Bomb | Forward + Y, X, Y + B, Smoke Bomb |
220 Damage | Forward + Square, Triangle, Triangle, Circle, Shadow Blade | Forward + X, Y, Y, B, Shadow Blade | Forward + FP, BP, BP, BK, Shadow Blade | Forward + Y, X, X, A, Shadow Blade |
1-Bar Aerial Finish | Forward + Square, Triangle, Square + X, Enhanced Smoke Port, Square, Square, Triangle | Forward + X, Y, X + A, Enhanced Smoke Port, X, X, Y | Forward + FP, BP, FP + FK, Enhanced Smoke Port, FP, FP, BP | Forward + Y, X, Y + B, Enhanced Smoke Port, Y, Y, X |
3-Bar Extravaganza | Forward + Square, Triangle, Square + X, Enhanced Smoke Port, Delay, Square, Square, Enhanced Smoke Port, Square, Square, Enhanced Smoke Port | Forward + X, Y, X + A, Enhanced Smoke Port, Delay, X, X, Enhanced Smoke Port, X, X, Enhanced Smoke Port, X, X, Y | Forward + FP, BP, FP + FK, Enhanced Smoke Port, Delay, FP, FP, Enhanced Smoke Port, FP, FP, Enhanced Smoke Port, FP, FP, BP | Forward + Y, X, Y + B, Enhanced Smoke Port, Delay, Y, Y, Enhanced Smoke Port, Y, Y, Enhanced Smoke Port, Y, Y, X |
Juggle-Kick Combo | X, Triangle, Forward-Dash, X, Triangle, Forward-Jump, Square, Square, Triangle | A, Y, Forward-Dash, A, Y, Forward-Jump, X, X, Y | FK, BP, Forward-Dash, FK, BP, Forward-Jump, FP, FP, BP | B, X, Forward-Dash, B, X, Forward-Jump, Y, Y, X |
The best move that will set up Smoke's Fatal Blow to always land is his Kutting Room Four. Activating Fatal Blow immediately after performing Kutting Room Four will always allow Fatal Blow to land.
Smoke's Fatalities and Brutalities In Mortal Kombat 1
Since the game's release, Smoke has had access to two original Fatalities, so long as fans unlock his secret second Fatality through his character mastery. These Fatalities cook the opponent with smoke, utilizing Smoke's unique abilities to manipulate smoke and use it to his advantage.
These Fatalities, and Brutalities, are just as exceptional as previous adaptations of the smoke-themed ninja. To unlock the rest of Smoke's Brutalities, players will need to level up their mastery level by playing as the character in various game modes.
Fatalities
PlayStation Input | Xbox Input | PC Input | Nintendo Switch Input | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(Anywhere) Hazed and Infused | Back, Forward, Down, Square | Back, Forward, Down, X | Back, Forward, Down, FP | Back, Forward, Down, Y |
(Anywhere) Fatality 2 | Down, Forward, Back, Triangle | Down, Forward, Back, Y | Down, Forward, Back, BP | Down, Forward, Back, X |
Brutalities
PlayStation Input | Xbox | PC | Nintendo Switch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Klassic | Down + Hold Triangle | Down + Hold Y | Down + Hold BP | Down + Hold X |
Break a Leg | Forward + Square, Triangle, Triangle, Circle | Forward + X, Y, Y, B | Forward + FP, BP, BP, BK | Forward + Y, X, X, A |
Slice and Dice | Forward + Square, Triangle, Square + X | Forward + X, Y, X + A | Forward + FP, BP, FP + FK | Forward + Y, X, Y + B |
Don't Blink | Down, Back, Triangle | Down, Back, Y | Down, Back, BP | Down, Back, X |
If It Bleeds | Back, Forward, X | Back, Forward, A | Back, Forward, FK | Back, Forward, B |
An Eye For An Eye | Grab | Grab | Grab | Grab |
The Best Kameos For Smoke
Seeing as Smoke is a particularly quick character when it comes to fighting in Mortal Kombat 1, the right Kameo will be able to match his speed. Not only that, but the perfect Kameo for Smoke will need to pick up where Smoke's slowest moves constrict him in the most heated times.
These Kameos will support Smoke's combos, primarily by making them last longer and inflict more damage. Since many of Smoke's moves end a combo string, Smoke needs to be paired with a Kameo that is perfect for fitting 'right in the middle,' such as Sareena or Frost. Here are the best Kameos to pair up with Smoke:
- Sareena
- Frost
- Sub-Zero
- Kung-Lao
- Goro
How to Play Smoke in Mortal Kombat 1
Playing Smoke in Mortal Kombat 1 only requires that players be more aware of their opponent's movements than they would with other characters. That fact is solely guided toward defensive opponents, as Smoke's special moves not only help him to string along destructive combos but also to rapidly punish an overly defensive fighter.
Like Reptile or Li Mei, Smoke players need to be aggressive, and always on the lookout for their next combo string opening that will help defeat the opponent faster. Smoke can go invisible, teleport, and overwhelm opposing Kombatants very quickly, so players should take advantage of those skills. Here are some tips for playing Smoke:
- Play aggressively, especially toward defensive Kombatants.
- Use Smoke's special moves to either make strings last longer or to punish enemies.
- Don't forget about Shadow Blade, which is a great tool to counter aerial enemies, as well as finish out strings that launch opponents in the air.
- If fighting against a character who primarily zones, make use of Smoke's teleport moves more while learning how to string teleportation combos.
- Feint opponents canceling out of special moves, and then performing combos that utilize a type of attack that counters the opponent's defense. For example, cancel out of Smoke-Port and immediately dive into the Violent Tendencies string.
Mortal Kombat 1 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.