Welcome to the 13th episode of the step-by-step MK11 combo series by Mad Dog Games — this time focused on Kitana. In today’s guide, we’ll go over a mid-screen combo that uses a single bar of meter. This combo is effective, tournament-legal, and teaches vital inputs while showing you how to make the most of Kitana’s elegant but tactical gameplay.

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Core Mid-Screen Combo (1 Bar)

This combo is broken into five parts to make it easy to follow and build muscle memory:

Part 1 – Royal’s Welcome

• Input: Back 2, 3, 1
• A strong starter that works as a solid punish or whiff punish.

Part 2 – Fan Lift

• Input: Down Back 2
• Launches the opponent, allowing for an airborne follow-up. Timing is important — wait until the Royal’s Welcome finishes fully.

Part 3 – Edenian Strike

• Input: Jump Forward 2
• This airborne kick acts as your air juggle to extend the combo.

Part 4 – Purge the Weak

• Input: Walk Forward → Back 1, 4
• A key link in the chain. To make it easier, dash before inputting the string for more consistent spacing.

Part 5 – Square Wave (Amplified)

• Input: Back Forward 3 (Amplified)
• Ends the combo with screen carry and strong positioning.

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Bonus Tips & Common Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid

1. Rushing inputs between Royal’s Welcome and Fan Lift – allow the full animation to finish.
2. Missing the link between Jump 2 and Purge the Weak – wait until your opponent is around Kitana’s face height before executing.
3. Overusing Back 2, 3, 1 as a starter – it can be punished if you’re predictable. Don’t rely on it as your only way in.

Beginner-Friendly Adjustments

• Skip Square Wave and extend Back 1, 4 into full string to maintain pressure and corner carry.
• Practice dashing before Purge the Weak for optimal spacing.

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Alternative Combos

• Simplified Variation: Swap out Edenian Strike for a grounded follow-up.
• Universal Mid-Screen: Use Back 2, 3, 1 → Fan Lift → Forward Dash → 1, 2, 1 → Fan Toss.
• Wake-Up Combo: Capitalize off a successful wake-up launcher using Back 3 or Down 1 setups.
• Highborne Variation: Includes endless pressure via Down Back 2 chip strings and corner looping.

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Combo Strategy and Optimization

Kitana excels at mid-to-far-range play. Her combos don’t always do high damage, but her zoning and resets make up for it. Playing her effectively means working between:

• Safe, mid-range punishes
• Zoning with fans
• Positioning combos that carry to the corner

A good example: use Back 1, 4, 2 to push yourself out after a combo and resume zoning. In the Highborne variation, you gain options for pressure via chip setups. Hold Down Back 2 to delay the fan’s second hit — if timed correctly, it leaves you at -1 instead of -9, enabling you to follow up safely with a Down 3 or grab.

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Corner Combos

Kitana becomes even more dangerous in the corner. Here’s a recommended route:

• Starter → Fan Lift → Jump-In → 1, 2, 1 → Back 1, 4 → Square Wave (Amplified) or Purge the Weak into zoning.

This opens the door to extended setups and better pressure. Prioritize corner carry in mid-screen combos to transition to these sequences.

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Finishing Tools

Crushing Blows

• Uppercut KB – Must punish or counter with Down 2.
• Quick Execution KB – End a combo with Quick Execution (Back 1, 4, 2) and land 8+ hits.
• Fearless Variation KB – Land Fatal Blow while it’s on cooldown.

Fatal Blow

• Triggers at 30% health or below.
• Ideal for comeback sequences.

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Pros and Cons of Playing Kitana

Pros:

• Excellent zoning and spacing tools
• Mid-range safe buttons
• Highborne variation grants chip loops and pressure setups
• Multiple combo enders for screen control

Cons:

• Average combo damage
• Limited mix-up game
• High execution for larger combos
• Tournament-legal variations lack upward fan and other tools

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Final Notes

This combo guide helps you understand not just one combo, but how to think like a Kitana player — spacing, zoning, conditioning, and punishing. Use the mid-screen combo as your base and branch out into her defensive zoning, pressure strings, and safe resets.

Thank you all for supporting this series and the journey to 20K subscribers. If you found this helpful, drop a like and stay tuned for the next guide, which will cover The Joker.

Until next time — this is Mad Dog Games signing off!