Flawless Blocking

Kano performing a Flawless Block against Skarlet

Flawless Blowing is a gameplay mechanic introduced in Mortal Kombat 11. Flawless Blocking is new type of blocking system in which when someone blocks an attack at the correct moment, it allows for additional properties for attacks, combos and abilities.

Overview

With standard blocking, based on specific attacks, both players are affected by the move or special attack's frame data, which can determine whether or not the person performing the attack or blocking can go or perform another action after. Flawless Blocking, however, can change this.

When blocking an attack in the standard way, players experience Chip Damage. Chip Damage is a small percentage of the attack's original damage due to blocking. A perfect example of this is a standard Back Kick attack primarily will do 7% damage when unblocked, however blocking the attack reduces it to only 1.05% damage, protecting the blocking player from sustaining heavy damage. When the attack is blocked with a Flawless Block, however, the Chip Damage is significantly reduced, dealing only 0.001% damage, essentially negating the damage as a whole. Flawless Blocking also allows the blocking player much more options compared to their opponent.

Kano launching Skarlet into the air for a juggle with a Flawless Block Attack

Every attack can be Flawless Blocked, with the exception of unblockable attacks. When close enough to the opponent, the player that Flawless Blocked the attack can perform two attacks called a Flawless Block Attack. These attacks are identical to Getup Attacks, featuring an invulnerable attack that deals high damage, or a launching attack that deals less damage and does not make the player invulnerable at the expense of launching the opponent for a juggle. Ironically, Getup Attacks can be Flawless Blocked, however it is not the same with Flawless Block Attacks.

Flawless Blocks can also be performed on combos. This is primarily used on combos with Gaps, or Openings. Combos with Gaps or Openings have been in previous Mortal Kombat games, however characters would have to perform different actions to strike the opponent through these Gaps, such as armoring an enhanced special attack or simply backdashing away to avoid the attack. In Mortal Kombat 11, however, this is very different. Combos with Gaps that allow Flawless Blocks can allow the blocking player to use a non-launching Flawless Block Attack similar to an armored special attack as previously stated or allow a launching Flawless Block Attack to inflict much more damage, however in some instances, there is no need to perform any Flawless Block Attack. With some combos, the combo cannot be completed if a specific attack during said combo is Flawless Blocked, leaving the player performing the combo completely open. This can happen with some characters like Shao Kahn, where he cannot complete his Last Breath combo if the second hit of his You Will Never Win combo is Flawless Blocked, which in turn leaves Shao Kahn completely vulnerable to his opponent. Additionally, the start-up of combos can be Flawless Blocked, and if a Flawless Block Attack is performed, completely ignores the incoming combo being performed by the opponent.

Drawbacks of Flawless Blocking

Despite the mechanic being a unique counter to blocking attacks, there are some drawbacks to Flawless Blocking and performing Flawless Blocking Attacks.

As stated above, performing a Flawless Block Attack is identical to a Getup Attack, in this case costing the user both a bar of Offensive and Defensive Meter to perform, therefore if the user has neither enough of these Meters, this in turn can cause mistakes and leave the player Flawless Blocking open to their opponent. Additionally, if the player blocking only has a sliver of health left, this will trigger the Chip Avoided effect, in which they take no Chip Damage at the expense of removing

All characters have different Flawless Block Attacks, including how they are performed and their range. Characters, for example, like Shao Kahn, Sub-Zero, and Kotal Kahn have ranged Flawless Block Attacks, allowing them to strike the opponent from a distance, however some characters, like Cassie Cage and RoboCop have shorter ranged Flawless Block Attacks, causing them to miss in some instances, which again leaves them vulnerable.

Trivia

• When Cassie Cage performs her Flawless Block Attacks, she performs her father's Nut Punch attack and her Getaway Flip from Mortal Kombat X, respectively.
• Erron Black's launching Flawless Block Attack is the only projectile-based Flawless Block/Getup Attack. However, the attack itself is not considered a projectile despite it being used as such.
  • Additionally, the attack can reach the opponent full-screen distance, making it the longest ranged Flawless Black/Getup Attack.
    • It is also the only Flawless Block/Getup Attack that cannot be counterattacked with parries, however RoboCop's Riot Shield ignores the attack in its entirety.