MORTAL KOMBAT XL – Raiden vs Shinnok Beginner’s Level Gameplay @ 1080p ᴴᴰ

In Mortal Kombat XL, both Raiden and Shinnok bring unique abilities and strong points to the battlefield. Raiden is known for his strong control over electricity and his mobility, while Shinnok excels at manipulating dark forces and commanding powerful abilities. Here’s a point-wise summary of the strong points of Raiden and Shinnok in Mortal Kombat XL:

Raiden’s Strong Points in Mortal Kombat XL:

1. Strong Zoning Tools:
   • Raiden has excellent zoning capabilities, particularly through his Lightning and Electric Fly. His Shock Spark is a long-range projectile that can pressure opponents from a distance, forcing them to engage or retreat.
   • The Electric Fly move can also serve as an aerial zoning tool, keeping opponents on their toes by flying through the air to quickly close the gap or apply pressure.
2. Teleportation for Mobility:
   • Raiden’s Teleport is one of his standout features. He can teleport behind or in front of opponents to avoid attacks and immediately retaliate. This makes him a difficult character to predict or catch off guard.
   • His teleportation helps in punishing opponents’ mistakes and allows him to seamlessly close the distance to take control of the match.
3. Great Combo Potential:
   • Raiden has high-damage combos that can deal substantial damage. His moves flow well into each other, allowing for multiple hits and combo extensions. Electric Fly can be used as a combo extender, adding a lot of damage potential.
   • His quick string attacks and charge-based special moves help Raiden consistently keep the opponent on the defensive.
4. Punishing Power (Lightning-based Attacks):
   • Raiden excels at punishing opponents with his Lightning-based attacks. Moves like Electric Fly and Shocking Grasp can punish opponents who leave openings, whether on the ground or in the air.
   • His back and forward teleports can also allow for lightning-fast punishes, ensuring that even if the opponent attempts to control space, Raiden can get in close with ease.
5. Air Superiority:
   • Raiden is very strong in air combat. His Electric Fly allows him to attack from the air and pressure opponents who try to zone or move in a specific direction.
   • The Teleport can also be used in the air to escape or counter airborne attacks, providing him with full control over aerial confrontations.
6. Strong Special Moves:
   • Raiden’s God’s Wrath and Shocking Grasp provide excellent tools for pressure and punishment. The Shocking Grasp (a quick, shocking uppercut) is great for catching opponents trying to rush in or block too much.
   • His Amplified Lightning attacks can add extra damage and increase the utility of his special moves, making him even more dangerous in long exchanges.
7. Enhanced Offensive Pressure:
   • Raiden can apply relentless offensive pressure, especially with his charge moves like Shocking Grasp and Electric Fly. The ability to quickly adjust his strategy between ranged and close combat keeps his opponents constantly guessing.
   • His pressure game involves constant, quick strikes that can lead into huge damage opportunities, keeping opponents in a defensive position for most of the fight.
8. Fatal Blow and Fatalities:
   • Raiden’s Fatal Blow is a highly damaging and visually spectacular attack that can turn the tide of battle when executed at the right moment.
   • His Fatalities are iconic, adding to his character’s mystique. They typically involve lightning or teleportation effects that make them as devastating as they are dramatic.
9. Variation Flexibility:
   • Raiden has multiple variations that provide different ways to approach combat. Whether you prefer a more zoning-focused or rushdown playstyle, Raiden’s variations like Thunder God, Displacer, and Storm Lord give players the freedom to adapt their strategy to the opponent’s playstyle.
     • Thunder God enhances Raiden’s electric powers and makes him an even stronger offensive force.
     • Displacer offers better mobility through teleportation, giving Raiden additional maneuverability.
     • Storm Lord focuses on controlling space with electric projectiles and zoning.

Shinnok’s Strong Points in Mortal Kombat XL:

1. Powerful Dark Magic and Zoning Tools:
   • Shinnok is a master of dark magic, and his zoning abilities make him extremely dangerous at mid-range. His Hell’s Wrath (a dark energy projectile) can be used to pressure opponents and control space, forcing them to engage or block.
   • Bone Shaper (his Teleport Punch) allows him to bypass certain zoning attempts and create offense, especially in the Bone Shaper variation, which uses his dark powers to manipulate the battlefield.
2. Transformative Power (Bone Shaper Variation):
   • In the Bone Shaper variation, Shinnok can summon minions (such as Creepy Hands) and use dark powers that allow him to control the fight in unique ways. This ability to transform the battlefield is one of Shinnok’s most dangerous traits.
   • Creepy Hands is especially useful for keeping opponents at bay and adding extra damage after controlling space with zoning moves.
3. High Damage Combo Potential:
   • Shinnok can deal high-damage combos through his bone-based and dark magic attacks. Many of his attacks can lead into extended combo chains, especially when utilizing his Bone Shaper minions or dark magic abilities to keep opponents trapped in his attacks.
   • His ability to link combos with moves like Hell’s Wrath or Creepy Hands helps him keep the pressure on and maximize damage output.
4. Strong Control of Space:
   • Shinnok excels at controlling space with his Hell’s Wrath projectile and Creepy Hands. He can use these tools to maintain distance, forcing opponents to stay on the defensive and giving him room to set up his dark magic combos.
   • Dark Hand and Hell’s Wrath give Shinnok a solid advantage in controlling the screen, especially when combined with his ability to summon minions in the Bone Shaper variation.
5. Teleportation and Trickery:
   • Shinnok’s teleport move, particularly in the Bone Shaper variation, allows him to quickly close the gap between him and the opponent or punish mistakes. The teleportation can be used strategically to confuse or catch the opponent off guard.
   • His dark magic teleports can help him reposition quickly and evade certain attacks, making him difficult to pin down.
6. Teleport-Based Pressure and Punishment:
   • Shinnok can use his teleportation to punish overzealous opponents who commit to long or unsafe attacks. His ability to quickly reposition and continue his pressure with Bone Shaper’s Creepy Hands gives him a significant advantage in disrupting the opponent’s offense.
   • Shinnok’s mix-up potential is high, especially when he combines teleports, zoning, and combo setups.
7. Mind Games and Setup Potential:
   • Shinnok’s Bone Shaper variation also allows for mind games and mix-ups, using summoned minions to keep the opponent distracted or trapped while he attacks from other angles.
   • The Bone Shaper variant allows for creative combos and setups, keeping the opponent constantly guessing.
8. Fatal Blow and Fatalities:
   • Shinnok’s Fatal Blow is powerful, dealing significant damage and offering a dramatic finish. It can be an effective tool in turning the tide of a match, especially when Shinnok’s health is low.
   • Shinnok’s Fatalities emphasize his dark magic and bone-based attacks, with highly dramatic and brutal animations that reflect his dark nature.
9. Variation Flexibility:
   • Like Raiden, Shinnok has several variations, each catering to different playstyles:
     • Bone Shaper: Focuses on summoning minions and controlling space with dark magic. Great for zoning and controlling the opponent.
     • Impostor: A trickier variation, where Shinnok can mimic the abilities of other characters, adding a level of unpredictability and mind games.
     • Necromancer: Focuses on summoning the Souls of the Dead to add additional offensive tools and increase Shinnok’s versatility in combat.

Verdict:

• Raiden in Mortal Kombat XL is a highly versatile character known for his zoning, teleportation, and mobility. His electric attacks and quick movement make him dangerous both at range and up close. Raiden’s combo potential, air superiority, and relentless pressure through moves like Electric Fly and Shocking Grasp make him a dominant force in the hands of a skilled player.
• Shinnok, on the other hand, excels at dark magic, zoning, and space control. His Bone Shaper variation allows him to summon minions and create mind games, while his teleportation and combo potential with dark energy and bone-based attacks make him a deadly opponent at all ranges. Shinnok’s variation flexibility offers different playstyles depending on the situation.

If you prefer zoning and mobility with powerful teleportation, Raiden is the ideal choice. If you enjoy dark magic, space control, and powerful summons, Shinnok offers a more strategic and mind-game-heavy approach. Both characters are strong in their own right and excel in different areas, offering players multiple avenues for success.

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