Welcome to the definitive Liu Kang character guide for Mortal Kombat 11, brought to you by Rewon—a two-time world finalist, EVO champion, and one of the most elite players in the scene. This guide breaks down Liu Kang’s most effective buttons, strings, tactics, and custom variations to help you level up your game and dominate with one of MK11’s most consistently powerful characters.

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Best Buttons for Liu Kang

Liu Kang’s toolkit is packed with fast, safe, and oppressive normals. Here are the top buttons to integrate into your playstyle:

• Stand 1 – 7-frame startup. Great as a stagger and one of the best punishing tools.
• Back 1 – A fast (9-frame) mid with strong hit-confirm potential. Ideal for pressure.
• Down 1 – 7-frame poke. Helps break pressure and start your own.
• Down 3 – Arguably his best anti-air. Low profiles and has deceptive reach.
• Back 3 – Liu Kang’s only low combo starter. Good for staggers, but punishable (-8).
• Back 4 (Sweep) – Longest reaching normal. A solid neutral tool at max distance.
• Forward 4 – One of Liu Kang’s most infamous mids. 11-frame startup, high reward on hit.
• Down 4 – Strong neutral poke with great range. Useful for controlling space.

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Gameplan: Pressure and Throws

Liu Kang excels as a pressure-based, rushdown character who thrives on forcing mental mix-ups:

• Make opponents afraid to get hit. He has high-damage confirms and multiple Krushing Blows that keep opponents guessing.
• Condition with pressure, then throw. Liu Kang’s throw KBs are a core part of his damage. Alternate between pressure and grabs.
• Command Grab (Kasarai Slam) adds another layer. Unlike normal throws, this cannot be teched.

The goal is to make the opponent second-guess everything. If they block, throw them. If they expect a throw, strike. If they freeze, chip them with pressure. Liu Kang always wins the mind game when played right.

He also has strong zoning with Fireballs. Don’t hesitate to chuck fireballs until the opponent closes in—by the time they do, they’ve likely taken a chunk of damage, and now you’re in your optimal range.

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Recommended Custom Variation

The strongest custom Liu Kang build includes:

• Low Fireball – Forces crouch blocks and makes zoning mix-ups more threatening.
• Kasarai Slam – Command grab, untechable, great for throw/strike mix.
• Dragon Fire – Damage buff that enhances all offensive output.

This setup supports every angle of Liu Kang’s playstyle: zoning, pressure, and grappling.

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Best Pressure Strings

Liu Kang’s strings are all about keeping the opponent in a blender. Use these for stagger pressure and hit confirms:

• 1, 2 – Quick, safe, and staggerable.
• 1, 2, 3 – Basic string that ends in a knockdown.
• Back 1, 2, 4 – Start with staggerable B1, end safely, confirm into Bicycle Kick.
• 2, 1, 2 – Tricky 4-hit string. Tough to react to. Great for baiting mashes.
• 2, 1, 2, 1 – Extended version for extra damage.
• 4, 4, 3 – Safe, hit-confirmable mid.
• 4, 4, 3 Up 3 – Plus on block, allowing you to continue pressure.

Pro Tip: After opponents block 4, 4, 3 Up 3, you’re plus. Run it back or follow up with grabs or mid pressure.

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Liu Kang’s BnB Combos (Mid-Screen & Corner)

While exact combo sequences vary depending on matchup, the following are staple BnBs used by top Liu Kang players:

Mid-Screen Combos:

• Starter → Bicycle Kick
• B1 → 2 → 4 → Dragon Fire
• 2, 1, 2 → Dash → 4, 4 → Bicycle Kick

Corner Combos:

• Any launch → 1, 2, 3 → Jump kick → Dragon Fire
• Down 1 → 4, 4, 3 → Up 3 → Bicycle Kick (if spaced properly)

His combos are efficient, accessible, and extremely rewarding. Plus, you can often chain into Dragon Fire or Bicycle Kick for KB build-up.

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Liu Kang’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Great pressure tools and fast buttons
• Multiple Krushing Blows tied to throws and specials
• Powerful zoning game
• Command grab mix-ups
• Excellent corner carry and safety on block

Weaknesses (Minor):

• Can struggle against characters with:
  • Long-range normals (e.g., Noob Saibot, Jade)
  • Low-profile pokes that duck under Liu Kang’s highs

Despite these small disadvantages, Liu Kang is easily one of the most well-rounded characters in MK11.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a character that blends speed, pressure, zoning, and mind games, Liu Kang is a top-tier pick. His ability to open up opponents through fear, force mistakes, and then capitalize on those mistakes with big damage makes him a nightmare to defend against.

“Play patient, play smart, and throw fireballs until they step to you—then show them why Liu Kang runs the temple.”

This wraps up the Liu Kang guide. Master the tools above, and your Liu Kang will be burning up the competition in no time.

Stay tuned—Rewon’s next guide is just around the corner.