Best Reptile Strategies - Mortal Kombat / MK9
Channel: OFIDYAN
Date: 2022-01-01

Best Reptile Strategies MK9 by OFIDYAN
(Openers)
I like to start most of my guides with the openers, so basically the buttons used to open the opponent up.
I’m going to list five openers, these will be the most common buttons you press.
(D3)
It starts off with D3 of course because this is Reptile’s fastest low poke at 8 frames only -6 on block and +4 on hit.
(D4)
Next up is the D4 for the range. At a 12 frame start-up it is great for the distance it covers. It causes Reptile’s hurt boxes to go super low and is usually always cancelled into Acid Hand which is -4 on block.
(321)
The 321 string is the most common string to open with. It goes intro BnB’s and can even avoid counter pokes at the right distance because the 3 is like a high lunge kick and side note has 13 frames of start-up. 
(122)
These next ones I’m going to list are a little more tricky. The 122 string is two highs followed by an Overhead. The reason it qualifies as a good opener to me is because the full string 1221 ending with another Overhead, has a decent conversion which I’ll show later and you can mix-up the end by canceling into slide to get a low in there 
for example: “122~bf4” after “1221” conditioning. Another side note 1 has 11 frames of start-up or execution frames.
(F2B1)
The F2B1 has great range with the F2 being a little slower at 15 frames it is still worth it because the second part of F2B1 hits Overhead. It can also be mixed-up like the 1221 string. For example the slide being done after the F2 to make it a High to Low instead of High to Overhead. Although cancelling into slide is highly unsafe, if you do it enough to condition the opponent to block you will open them up, promise.
(Conversions)
Meter-less combos Midscreen, Corner, and Meter Use.
(321) “All Day”
BnB
321~bf2, NJP.. bb3.. 32~bb1.. 321~bf4
Optimal Meterless (Some Characters aka Sheeva lol) 44% with JiP
321~bf2, NJP.. ff.. 4~bb3.. 32~bb1.. 321~bf4 
Pretty Optimal Meterless (All Characters) 42% with JiP
321~bf2, NJP.. ff.. 2~bb3.. 32~bb1.. 321~bf4
1-bar Midscreen BnB 46% with JiP
321~bf2, NJP.. ff.. 4~bb3.. 32~bb1*.. 321~bf4
2-bar Midscreen BnB (Only for Kill) 49% with JiP
321~bf2, NJP.. ff.. 4~bb3*.. 4~bb1*.. 321~bf4
X-Ray Midscreen Stylin (Only for Kill) 51% with JiP
321~bf2, NJP.. ff.. 4~bb3.. 4~X-RAY
Meter-less Corner BnB 45% with JiP
321~bf2, NJP.. 4~bb3.. 321~bb1.. 321~bf4
Meter-less Corner BnB 42% with JiP “No NJP”
321~db2.. 321~bb3.. 321~bf4
1-bar Corner BnB 50% with JiP
321~bd2*.. 4~bb3.. 321~bb1.. 321~bf4
(122) “Confirms into Force Ball”
Meter-less Midscreen BnB 37% with JiP
122~bb3.. NJP.. ff.. 32~bb1.. 321~bf4
Meter-less Midscreen EZBnB 34% with JiP
122~bb3.. 32~bb1.. 321~bf4
“Honestly best to keep this Meterless due to scaling unless pressuring like 122~Mega Ball is +2 on block, on hit the combo conversion can remain the same after the bb3.”
Meter-less Corner BnB 39% with JiP
122~bb3.. NJP.. 4~bb1.. 321~bf4
Meter-less Corner EZBnB 34% with JiP “No NJP”
122~bb3.. 32~bb1.. 321~bf4
(1221) “Two Overheads Pop-Up”
Meter-less Midscreen BnB 21% with JiP
1221.. ff.. f2b1.. then FORCEBALL SETUP of choice due to long hit advantage
Meter-less Midscreen BnB 23% with JiP
1221.. ff..  f2~bf4
Meter-less Corner BnB 45% with JiP
1221.. NJP.. 4~bb3.. 321~bb1.. 321~bf4
Meter-less Corner EZBnB 41% with JiP “No NJP” Can replace 2 with Standing 1~bb3 for EZ-Mode
1221.. 2~bb3.. 321~bb1.. 321~bf4
1-bar Midscreen BnB 41% with JiP
1221.. ff.. f2~bb3* 32~bb1 321~bf4
(F2B1) “Falls Fast”
Meter-less Midscreen BnB 18% with JiP
F2B1.. bf4
Meter-less Corner Optimal 39% with JiP
F2B1.. 2.. 321~bb3.. 321~bf4
Meter-less Corner BnB 37% with JiP
F2B1.. 1.. 321~bb3.. 321~bf4
(Pressure)
The buttons that are Neutral on Block are as follows:
1, 12, 12b1, 2 has a lot of pushback great for frame trap, 3, 32, 321, above strings can be stuttered with hardly any pushback. Standing 4 is also neutral on block, but has some pushback so usually d4 or Reptilian Elbow (bf2*) comes after this.
Reptilian Elbow *bf2* is +5 on block and it is really the only moment you are going to be this plus on block besides the 2f31&2 ender from a setup. Mega Ball *bb3* is slightly plus on block at +2.
Standing 1 is neutral on hit, but..
Plus on hit and how much..
124 = +3
12 = +4
32 = +5
3 alone is +3 on hit
D4 is +12 vs Standing Opponent on hit so allows for forward dash into d3 pressure.
Also it is good to note the strings that are barely negative on block. 
2f3 = -2 has decent pushback
f3 = -3 avoids some poke backs
b1 = -4 great low
(Setups)
These mainly involve Force Ball variations, Elbow Dash, and also an OFI-FLIP.
In most cases you will want to finish combos with some force ball oki. 
321 Ender setup
321~bf2, NJP.. 32~bb3.. 321~Setup Option 
(Invisibility or last opposite Force Ball use or Mega Ball) 
2f31&2 Setup
321~bf2, NJP.. 32~bb3.. 2f31+2
32 Sleeper Setup
321~bf2, NJP.. 32~bb3.. 32~bb1.. 32~bf2.. hold up and back then JiP..
The OFI-FLIP Setup
321~bf2, NJP.. f2b1.. bf4.. then hold up and back