Using Flawless Block

Flawless Block is one of the strongest defensive mechanics in Mortal Kombat 11. When using a Flawless Block Attack, you will need to input U2 or U3 immediately after performing a Flawless Block. This can be quite difficult because by the time you react to whether you Flawless Blocked an attack or not, it could already be too late. This is why Flawless Blocking is mostly done on a read.

A situation where you might want to Flawless Block your opponent’s attack is after doing a move that leaves you at a disadvantage. In retaliation, your opponent will want to attack afterwards. If you know what move your opponent will use and time your block correctly, you will Flawless Block their attack.

Option Selecting 2 or 3

Due to how precise you have to be when trying to Flawless Block, sometimes you will mistime it. For example, if your opponent does a slower attack or decides to not attack at all, then you’ll input your Flawless Block too early. As a result, you’ll end up doing a neutral jump because you will be inputting U2 or U3. This leaves you vulnerable on the way down.

To prevent this from happening, the trick is to input the U2 or U3 differently. While the in-game Move List says to press Up and 2, or Up and 3 at the same time, you can actually press them one after the other. Instead of inputting U+2 or U+3, you can input it as:

U then 2 or 3

or

2 or 3 then U

If you input 2 then U or 3 then U, what’ll happen is that instead of accidently getting a neutral jump, you will do your character’s 2 or 3 attack. This is because you are inputting 2 or 3 before pressing Up.

Option Selecting Hop Attacks

Similarly, lightly tapping U then 2 or U then 3 will make your character do a Hop Attack instead of jumping straight upwards.

Option Selecting Throw Escapes

This will also option select throws. If your opponent tries to throw, inputting 2 then U will tech forward throws, and inputting 3 then U will tech back throws.

Option Selecting Pokes

Additionally, you can option select this so that you get a D3 poke instead of 3. Instead of inputting 3 then Up, you input it as:

D3 then U

This is a little bit trickier but is much better because D3s are quick and hit low.

Using the Flawless Block Option Select

This option select is a very strong tactic because it covers multiple options: Flawless Block to beat attacks, Throw Escape to beat throws, and getting a 2/3/D3 if your opponent doesn’t attack. Flawless Blocking is still a read and can be beaten if your opponent delays their attack or you mistime your Flawless Block. It’s always safer to simply block when you’re at a disadvantage. Therefore, this option select should only be used on a read.

Last Updated: June 16, 2019