Kung Lao is a rushdown character with great offensive pressure and high damaging combos. In Kung Lao’s Lotus Fist variation, he gains the Orbiting Hat which strengthens his offense and defense, however requires a large amount of resources. In Kung Lao’s Hat Tricks variation, he gains the Z Hat which gives him increased setup potential. Kung Lao’s Order of Light variation gives him additional zoning tools to keep opponents away.

Key Moves

+/+, – Fast 10 frame mid, staggerable
+, – Fast 10 frame mid, hit confirmable, -19 on block
+,, – Mid, triggers a Krushing Blow if it is a Kounter or Punish
+ – Mid, hit confirmable, -3 on block
(Spin) – Mid, combo starter and extender
(Hat Toss) – High projectile
+ ((Air) Shaolin Drop) – Mid, Armor Break, Amplified version triggers a Krushing Blow if opponent was hit by Amplified (Air) Shaolin Drop or (Air) Shaolin Drop twice in a row or breaks armor
(Teleport) – Teleport, leads into 4 different attacks

Combo Starters

All of Kung Lao’s combos can be started by using any move and linking it into Spin (). Kung Lao’s Spin is incredibly strong because it does not require meter to combo. If Amplified, Spin will travel farther and yield more damage in combos. Spin must be Amplified in order to combo after attacks such as +,.

Combo Enders

Kung Lao’s combos can be ended with +, for knockdown advantage, or + for maximum damage. Combos can also be ended with + into Oribiting Hat () in Kung Lao’s Lotus Fist variation, or + into Z Hat () in his Hat Tricks variation for a setup.

Step Punch

Kung Lao’s primary move to use in footsies is his Step Punch (+) attack. + is a 10 frame advancing mid attack that can be staggered for pressure. + can lead into 2 different strings. For safety, Kung Lao can use +, which will knock the opponent down and leave Kung Lao at -7 on block. Alternatively, Kung Lao can use +, which can net higher damage as it can combo into Amplified Spin. If +, is blocked however, Kung Lao will be punishable at -19.

There are multiple ways to counter opponents trying to punish +,. If Kung Lao uses +,,+, the final hit can interrupt the opponent out of their attack. Be wary as the last hit can also be interrupted or Flawless Blocked. Another option is to use a Special Move such as Hat Toss () or Spin () after +, and Amplifying it. While unsafe, the opponent must predict the Special Move to be used in order to punish. In Kung Lao’s Lotus Fist variation, using Orbiting Hat () after +, will allow Kung Lao to be safe. If done at maximum range, the Orbiting Hat will whiff and surround Kung Lao, which can then be used for offense.

Order of Light

Kung Lao’s Order of Light (,,) string is a multi-hitting attack that is mainly used up-close. An interesting note about this string is that it does not come out on block. This means that Kung Lao will only use the entire string if it hits, and only use , if it’s blocked. On block, , will leave Kung Lao safe at -5 and can be staggered with Orbiting Hat in Kung Lao’s Lotus Fist variation. It’s important to always input ,, in case the string hits. ,, is best used when mixed with throws as it can be difficult for opponents to both defend against this string and prevent being thrown. Additionally, ,, will allow Kung Lao to switch positions with the opponent. This is useful when done during a combo to reverse positions and put the opponent into the corner.

Straight Poke

Kung Lao’s Straight Poke () is a high attack. is 0 on block and can be staggered. Since Kung Lao’s has a similar animation to his , it can be mixed with ,,.

Twin Kicks

Kung Lao’s Twin Kicks (+) is a 14 frame mid attack. Because + consists of 2 hits, it can be hit confirmed into a Spin for a combo. If + is blocked, it will leave Kung Lao at merely -3. Using a poke such as + after + will beat any attack that is slower than 10 frames.

Throws

When throwing with Kung Lao, it’s best to use his Back Throw as it will leave the opponent close and can trigger a Krushing Blow if the opponent failed to Throw Escape the previous throw. To set up Kung Lao’s throw, use Orbiting Hat in his Lotus Fist variation, or Z Hat in his Hat Tricks variation. If blocked, Kung Lao will be at a heavy advantage, allowing for a free throw attempt.

Flowing Water

Flowing Water (+,,) is an advancing mid attack that is best used to punish attacks on whiff. This can usually be done after knocking the opponent down, then whiff punishing a Getup Attack. +,, triggers a Krushing Blow if it hits as a Kounter or Punish. After the Krushing Blow, Kung Lao can then combo the opponent.

Hat Toss

Kung Lao’s Hat Toss () is a high projectile. Hat Toss can be used in zoning to stop the opponent’s movements. In Kung Lao’s Hat Tricks variation, Hat Toss is replaced with Guided Hat (). Guided Hat allows Kung Lao to direct the hat upwards or downwards by inputting or . Use the upwards Guided Hat to hit opponents out of the air in anticipation to a jump. Most times however, it’s best to use the downwards Guided Hat as it will allow the Guided Hat to hit as a mid projectile instead of a high.

(Air) Shaolin Drop

(Air) Shaolin Drop (+) is a divekick that allows Kung Lao to attack from the air. If jumping forward, (Air) Shaolin Drop can be used to counter opponents attempting to anti-air Kung Lao. If jumping backward, (Air) Shaolin Drop can be used to attack opponents trying to advance. When Amplified, (Air) Shaolin Drop will deal more damage and trigger a Krushing Blow if the opponent was hit by it twice in a row. If (Air) Shaolin Drop is blocked, it is extremely punishable and thus should only be used on occasion.

Teleport

Kung Lao’s Teleport () allows him to approach opponents from behind. This is a great counterzoning tool as it allows Kung Lao to avoid enemy projectiles. Teleport can be delayed by holding , which can make it difficult for opponents to punish it. From the Teleport, Kung Lao can use 4 different attacks:

(Hat Swipe) – High attack that is +4 on block. Hat Swipe can combo when done on the way down.

(Heel Flip) – Overhead attack that is -5 on block. Heel Flip is Kung Lao’s safest option after a Teleport.

(Shaolin Slam) – Throw that will connect against blocking opponents. Shaolin Slam can be used as a mix-up with Kung Lao’s other Teleport attacks.

(Wutang) – Mid attack that is -4 on block. Wutang triggers a Krushing Blow if the opponent was just hit with Shaolin Slam.

Orbiting Hat

In Kung Lao’s Lotus Fist variation, he gains access to Orbiting Hat (). Orbiting Hat will surround Kung Lao with a hat that will protect him from enemy attacks as well as allow him to start his offense. Using Orbiting Hat is extremely resource-heavy as it will use up 1 bar of Defensive Meter and 1 bar of Offensive Meter. On hit, Kung Lao can combo after the Orbiting Hat with ,, or ,,. If used up-close, Orbiting Hat will leave Kung Lao at -4 on block. This is very powerful since it gives Kung Lao a safe combo starter. Orbiting Hat is great when used after pokes as it will beat counterpokes. It will also allow Kung Lao to stay safe after attacks such as +, and +,. If used from far away, Orbiting Hat will allow Kung Lao to approach opponents while shielding himself. If the Orbiting Hat is blocked this way, it will leave Kung Lao at a heavy advantage and allow Kung Lao to pressure the opponent.

Z Hat

In Kung Lao’s Hat Tricks variation, he gains access to Z Hat (). Z Hat is a projectile that is thrown in a Z-motion. Due to the slow start-up on the Z Hat, it should not be used up-close. Z Hat is best used when spaced out. If Amplified, Z Hat is at least +20 on block depending on the distance it’s used. Once the Z Hat is blocked, Kung Lao will be able to start his offense. Z Hat also deals a great amount of chip damage as it hits multiple times.

Hat Setups

By ending combos with + into either Orbiting Hat or Z Hat, Kung Lao will create a setup where the opponent must block the hat. If the opponent does a Getup Attack, they will be hit by the hat. This means that the opponent will have no choice but to block the hat, giving Kung Lao nearly guaranteed pressure on knockdown. If in the corner and using Z Hat, another option is to cancel out of the Z Hat by inputting and going for a throw.

Note: + into Orbiting Hat does not work in the corner.

Vortex

Kung Lao’s Order of Light variation is given Vortex (). Vortex is a tornado created by Kung Lao that when Amplified, will be sent towards the opponent. The distance that Vortex travels is dependent on how long it’s delayed. If the opponent is hit by the tornado, they will be launched for a combo.

Spiritual Guidance

In Kung Lao’s Order of Light variation, he gains Spiritual Guidance (). Spiritual Guidance puts Kung Lao into a stance that can lead into 4 different attacks.

(Soul Burst) – Mid attack that reaches 3/4th screen. It triggers a Krushing Blow after connecting only the final hit. Soul Burst is mainly used for zoning, spacing it out at maximum distance in order to trigger its Krushing Blow. If the opponent is hit by Soul Burst, they will be knocked down and immediately sent back to fullscreen.

(Upward Soul Burst) – High attack that is directed upwards hitting airborne opponents. Upward Soul Burst is used to hit opponents attempting to jump at Kung Lao while he is in the Spiritual Guidance stance. Upward Soul Burst can also be done on grounded opponents as a combo starter.

Note: Upward Soul Burst does not combo after +. If midscreen, Upward Soul Burst does not combo after +, and ,.

(Ground Burst) – Low attack that can be directed close, mid, far or very far. Ground Burst is mainly used in zoning to hit moving opponents. Opponents attempting to jump over Ground Burst will be susceptible to being hit by Soul Burst and Upward Soul Burst.

(End Spiritual Guidance) – Allows Kung Lao to exit out of the Spiritual Guidance stance at the cost of 1 bar of Defensive Meter.