Mortal Kombat 1 Punish Guide: Block Recovery, Reach & Testing
Learn how to test a blocked attack in Mortal Kombat 1 and choose a punish that reaches before the opponent can defend.
Mortal Kombat 1 Punish Guide: Block Recovery, Reach & Testing
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Mortal Kombat 1 Punish Guide: Block Recovery, Reach & Testing
A punish is a guaranteed response to an opponent who has not recovered in time to defend. Winning a trade after a blocked move is not enough to prove that your response is guaranteed.
Read the move, then test the situation
Check the current move-list frame information for the attack you blocked and the startup of your proposed response. Negative block advantage describes a recovery disadvantage; it does not by itself prove that your chosen attack reaches at that distance.
Set up a repeatable check
- Record the opponent performing the full attack or string, then defending.
- Block the entire sequence with your main fighter.
- Respond with a fast attack that reaches.
- Repeat at the spacing where the move actually hits your guard.
- Retest if a Kameo, follow-up or different ending changes the sequence.
If the defender can block your response, inspect timing and move selection. If it misses, choose a reaching response or accept that the spacing changes your option. Do not assume a short attack can punish a move simply because its startup number looks suitable.
Separate the full string from a gap
Responding between hits is a different test from punishing the final hit. Keep the dummy's options distinct so you know whether you found a guaranteed ending punish, an interruptible gap or a read on the opponent stopping early.
Convert only after the first hit works
Begin with a compact, reliable follow-up. Add a Kameo extension after establishing the punish and checking assist availability. A larger route is not an upgrade if its opening attack is too slow or cannot reach.
Keep matchup notes current
Record the opponent's move name, your response and the spacing. The official patch notes include changes to startup, recovery, block advantage and move-list corrections; an older video can describe a different version. Retest the affected exchange instead of copying an old frame number into every matchup.