With so many cool characters making a reappearance inMortal Kombat 1, players will want to turn to fan favorites as potential mains. Baraka returns to the roster, sporting his awesome arm blades and unique design, making him an appealing and fun choice for many.

With his powerful close-range moves and multiple combos, you’re able to have a blast while you play as Baraka. He has some straightforward attacks, but if you want to master Baraka, you should learn his special moves, apply the best tips, and see which Kameos will work best with his moveset.

Baraka and Li Mei clashing against each other before they fight in Mortal Kombat 1.

Baraka Overview

Some people love getting in their opponent’s faces and applying pressure, so Baraka is perfect for them. Thanks to all his moves that send him forward while shooting out a hitbox, you canclose the distance with this character and apply some hard-hitting combosto take down your foes.

Baraka has both grounded and aerial options that cover distanceand plenty of specials that allow him to extend combos.This is amplified as you use his powerful normals, which offer an excellent balance of range, damage, and speed.

Baraka using his spinning air attack to hit Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 1.

However, Baraka struggles against opponents withstrong defensive tools and ways to keep him away. You could also face issues against opponents with Armorsince they’ll absorb your attacks and get in some strong hits that’ll lead to combos.

Despite these points, Baraka hasa great dash and walking speed, allowing him to close the distance further.He even has a projectile to apply pressure, soyou can keep your options open and take down your opponents as you learn Baraka.

Baraka pulling out his arm blades as Motaro prepares to help him in Mortal Kombat 1.

He’s a good balance of simple combos to deal good damage without putting in too much time.you may develop powerful combos if you’re willing to practice with him. This combination makes him both beginner-friendly and hard to master, so he can be a solid main for many players.

Baraka Special Moves

Most of Baraka’s moves will help him with close combat, so take some time to get a feel for each one and what they do. That way, you canincorporate them into your combos and maximize your damagewhile pressuring your enemies.

Bleeding Blade

Back, Forward, 1

You shoot a blade as a projectile.Enhancing it deals more damage and causes the opponent to bleed.

(Air) Blade Sparks

Down, Back, 1

You shoot blades downward, dealing damage. If you Enhance it, the move causes the opponent to crumple, allowing you to combo them.

Stab Stab

Youthrust both your arms up and back down, dealing damage both ways.

Stab Stab Chuck

Hold Back after Stab Stab

You catch the opponent in the air, dealing more damage.This version can only be used against aerial opponents. The Enhanced version deals more damage.

Baraka Barrage

Down, Forward, 2

You slash multiple times forward, dealing damage. If you Enhance it,you’ll deal bonus damage and end in a ground bounce, allowing you to combo them.

(Air) Death Spin

Youspin through the air, ending with a ground slam. Enhancing it causes the attack to come out faster, but deal less damage.

Chop Chop

Back, Forward, 3

You thrust forward andstrike the opponent with multiple hits. Enhancing it deals more damage.

Extend Chop Chop

Press Block during Chop Chop

Youspend another Super Meter segment to jump forward and deal even more damagein your combo.

Since this game is available on multiple platforms, you can use the following notation. If you’re not familiar with it, the followingnumbers apply to different button inputs while the directions let you know which way you must pressbased on your character’s current position.

Motaro appearing and shooting tail energy balls at Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 1.

Forward: Toward the opponent

Back: Away from the opponent

Baraka using his first Fatality on Reiko, stabbing him with the arm blades in Mortal Kombat 1.

Baraka Tips

As a general rule,you want to stay in the opponent’s face and apply pressurewhile playing as Baraka.His normals are great for poking opponents and starting combos,allowing you to react and continue them into strings if the opponent doesn’t block them.

However, you need to be careful with Baraka’s attacks, since ending the string while the enemy blocks gives them a chance to punish you. Despite that, yourlonger range will give you the advantage in many situations, so take advantage of that range against your opponents.

Even though you’re a close-range fighter, don’t be afraid touse your Bleeding Blade if opponents stay away from you. The Enhanced version can apply plenty of pressure, causing the opponent to take damage over time and forcing them to approach you if they’re low on health.

You should also take advantage of your various combo tools,saving your meter for these moments to transition into powerful combos. For instance, your Enhanced (Air) Blade Sparks are a great way to start combos and catch your opponent off-guard.

The same applies to comboing into your Enhanced versions of Baraka Barrage sinceyou’ll bounce the enemy and can deal tons of damage while continuing the combo.This becomes even stronger if you canuse Kameos with launchers and similar moves, giving you insane damage potential.

Baraka has a move that functions as a leftover relic of Mortal Kombat 11 andenhances your moves after performing specials, which in turn allows you to react to the situation.If you can combo into your Chop Chop, you have the potential to spend a meter to win a round.

For example, if you land the combo while the enemy has under ten percent health, you can go into the Extend Chop Chop. Doing so will justbarely push the damage over, preventing the enemy from surviving with barely any health, giving them a chance to win.

Baraka Kameo Tips

Since you want to stick to opponents as Baraka, most Kameos will work with his move set, sohaving teleport moves, projectiles, or combo extenders will always be the way to go.If you want a solid range to cover your needs,you should try Motaro, Sareena, and Darrius.

Thanks to Baraka’s rush-down playstyle,he’llwork well with most of the Kameos, so feel free to try out others like Kung Lao, Frost, and Stryker.Kung Lao will give you a teleport, launcher, and projectile, Frost has some awesome combo potential and freeze moves, and Stryker can apply more pressure at mid-range.

Baraka Fatalities

As you play Baraka, you’ll have two Fatalities to use, thoughyou will unlock the second one when you reach Mastery Rank 14with him.If you need help mastering these Fatalities you mustgo to the Learn section and pick Fatalities,which will teach you the inputs and required distances.