Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
In-Depth Character Guide for Shang Tsung
Version 1.0
Copyright 2003
Written by White_Pointer
[email protected]
Contents of this Guide:
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Legal Information
3.0 Controls
4.0 Shang Tsung's Background Story, Stats and Fighter Introduction
5.0 Shang Tsung's Special Moves
6.0 Shang Tsung's Snake Fighting Style
7.0 Shang Tsung's Crane Fighting Style
8.0 Shang Tsung's Straight Sword Fighting Style
9.0 Shang Tsung's Fatality
10.0 Acknowledgements and Credits
1.0 Introduction
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Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance is the latest addition to the Mortal Kombat line
of games, and in my opinion, one of the best fighting games ever made. This
character guide is for the character of Shang Tsung, who I think is one of the
more underrated characters in the game. Not many people seem to use him because
he seems weak, but I've managed to beat some pretty solid opponents with him,
and hopefully, this guide will help you get skilled at using him too. I've
written this guide as I've been playing the Gamecube version, but X-Box and PS2
owners shouldn't have any trouble reading this as well as I've catered for you
too.
2.0 Legal Information
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This guide is intended for personal use only. No profit can be made
from this guide under ANY circumstances, it is to be used for non-profit only.
This guide will ONLY be hosted on Blood-Sports.net and Gamefaqs, unless you have
my written consent to publish it on your own site and you MUST e-mail me to
request my permission to use it. Please explain in your e-mail what the theme of
your site is, the approximate amount of unique visitors you receive each month
and what materials the site covers. This guide may not be altered in any way,
shape, or form.
3.0 Controls
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Throughout the guide I'll be referring to the Gamecube buttons, so to make this
guide universally compatible, here is a button conversion chart for the three
major consoles (sorry, I haven't provided anything for the GBA):
A1 = Attack 1
A2 = Attack 2
A3 = Attack 3
A4 = Attack 4
BL = Block
CS = Change Style
SA = Special Attack
Gamecube Playstation 2 X-Box
******** ************* *****
A1 = B A1 = Square A1 = X
A2 = Y A2 = Triangle A2 = Y
A3 = A A3 = X A3 = A
A4 = X A4 = Circle A4 = B
BL = R BL = R2 BL = R
CS = L CS = L1 CS = L
SA = Z SA = R1 SA = Black
4.0 Shang Tsung's Background Story, Stats and Fighter Introduction
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4.1 BACKGROUND STORY
The sorcerer Shang Tsung was imprisoned in the depths of Shao Kahn's fortress,
punished for failing to win the Mortal Kombat tournament in Earthrealm.
Periodically he was released to perform tasks for the emperor, until he
eventually regained Shao Kahn's favor and was given his freedom. He remained in
Outworld risking his life to drain the souls of kombatants in order to sustain
his youth. All this changed the day the sorcerer Quan Chi returned from the
Netherrealm.
4.2 IN-GAME STATS
-Status: -Sorcerer
-Alignment: -Evil
-Weight: -210 lbs.
-Height: -5'11''
-Styles: -Snake, Crane, Straight Sword
4.3 FIGHTER INTRODUCTION
Shang Tsung has been a prominent force throughout the entire Mortal Kombat
series, with MK4 being the only game he hasn't made an appearance in. Unlike
previous games however, in MK: DA, he does not possess the ability to morph into
his opponents (excluding the Gameboy Advance version). He is still a powerful
character though, and relies on quick and agile attacks rather than slower and
more powerful attacks. He also has some pretty good moves that can be used very
effectively when used in conjunction with his combos and normal attacks.
5.0 Shang Tsung's Special Moves
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-Straight Fireball -Down, Back, B
-3D Fireballs (near) -Back, Forward, B
-3D Fireballs (far) -Forward, Back, B
-Soul Steal -Down, Back, A
5.1 STRAIGHT FIREBALL
Always a useful move, when you execute this Shang Tsung will fire a fireball
straight at the opponent. In previous games he could actually fire 1, 2 or 3,
but in MK: DA, he only fires one. It'll hit your opponent regardless of whether
they are in the air or not, but it can be easily sidestepped, so make sure you
aren't too close when trying this because it can leave you vulnerable to an
attack if avoided or blocked at close range.
5.2 3D FIREBALLS (NEAR AND FAR)
An excellent new move that will catch your opponents out again and again, Shang
Tsung outstretches his arms and fires a fireball out of each one, which curl
around the arena (one goes towards the screen while the other goes away from the
screen) and come together to hit the opponent from both sides. There's two
versions, one where the two fireballs collide at close range (about half
distance to the other side of the screen) and one where they collide at far
range (the other side of the screen). Both deal a good amount of damage, and
both have their uses. Neither can be avoided, unless you execute the wrong one
(that is, you execute the far range one when your opponent is close and vice
versa), since they come from the left and right simultaneously, they cannot be
sidestepped. They can only be blocked, and sometimes they can be ducked, but it
depends who your opponent is. Use the far range version to hit an opponent
that's backing away from you, and use the close range version to hit an opponent
that is advancing towards you. Be quick and you'll be very deadly. A good time
to use these moves is straight after you have knocked your opponent to the
ground, and they are picking themselves up or trying to come back at you.
5.3 SOUL STEAL
Shang Tsung doesn't have a taunt to give himself back health, but he does have
another way, his soul steal move. When your opponent is just outside the range
of your close 3D fireball and closer, you can perform this move, which sucks out
a part of the victim's soul, causing damage to his opponent, and replenishes
Shang Tsung's health by a small amount. Use it sparingly though so you can catch
your opponents off guard, because it's easily blocked or avoided and you'll be
open to an attack if it is.
6.0 Shang Tsung's Snake Fighting Style
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The Snake Style is hard to trace historically, because it is incorporated into
so many Chinese systems, including Shaolin and Many Chinese family styles.
-Bai She Tu Xin -B
-Cross Fang: -Back + B
-Low Palm: -Down + B
-Viper Strike -Y
-Gut Buster -Back + Y
-Twin Fang -Down + Y
-Qing She Chu Dong -Up + Y
-High Snap Kick -A
-Twin Cobra -Down + A
-Mid Kick: -X
-Quick Bite -Down + X
-Eagle Pecking -Back + X
-Back Flip -Z
-Throw -Forward + Z
-Spiritual Snake Trail -Y, A
-Blinding Strike -Y, Back + B
-Soul Catcher -Y, Back + X
-Serpent Touch -X, Back + Y
-Thrusting Fang -B, B, B
-Rattle Snake -B, B, A
-Hissing Strikes -B, B, Y, A
-Cold Blooded: -B, B, Y, L
-Poisonous Snake: -B, B, Y, Y
-Lethal Venom -B, B, Y, Back + X
-Snake Eyes -B, B, Y, Back + B
-Cobra Revenge -B, B, X, Back + Y
Shang Tsung's Snake style has limited reach, is not very powerful and also not
very versatile, concentrating more on punches than kicks. His combos in this
style are not big but they are fast. Don't worry too much about using low
attacks in this style, because of those he has, you need to be right in your
opponent's face to connect with them. Just concentrate on your high attacks and
combos, and utilise his backflip to get out of tight situations.
7.0 Shang Tsung's Crane Fighting Style
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Although taught and included in many Chinese systems, the Crane originated in
Tibet. Crane is considered one of the oldest "classical" styles and is
incorporated into the Shaolin system of styles. It's considered to be an
internal style.
-Chin Punch -B
-Crane Neck -Down + B
-Crane Wing -Y
-Strong Knee -Back + Y
-Back Fist -Down + Y
-Flapping Wing -A
-Hop Sidekick -Back + A
-Low Peck -Down + A
-Spinning Sidekick -X
-Spinning Crane Kick -Up + X
-Sweeping Crane -Down + X
-Reversal -Z
-Throw -Forward + Z
-Crazy Wings -A, A, Y
-3-Hit Wings -A, A, A
-Sidewinder -A, A, X
-Triple Chin Punch -B, B, B
-Death Bed -B, B, B, L1
-Raging Beak -B, B, B, Up + X
-Final Withdrawal -A, A, A, B, B, B, L1
-Hunt Down -A, A, A, B, B, B, Up + X
In contrast to his Snake style, Shang Tsung's Crane style has longer reach,
stronger hits and a good variety of high and low attacks. It's while you are in
this style where you can really confuse your opponent. Use his "Sweeping Crane"
often, this is a great sweep attack that trips your opponent over. Once your
opponent catches on and starts duck-blocking, whack in his "Hunt Down" or "Final
Withdrawal" combo, or give them a nice big throw or the "Spinning Crane Kick".
Mix up your high and low attacks and you'll confuse the hell out of most people.
Reversals can be difficult to time correctly, but if you can pull them off,
you'll be even harder to beat.
8.0 Shang Tsung's Straight Sword Fighting Style
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Chinese straight sword is incorporated into a number of Chinese styles including
Tai Chi, Wushu, and others.
-Front Swipe -B
-Lifting Swing -Up + B
-Shin Slash -Down + B
-Rising Slice -Y
-Lunge -Forward + Y
-Low 2-Hit Swipe -Down + Y
-Back Hand Lunge -Up + Y
-Foot Sword -A
-Cross Strike -Back + A
-Chest Slice -Down + A
-Spinning Slice -X
-Low Stab -Back + X
-Sweeping Stike -Down + X
-Impale -Z
-Deadly Blade -B, B
-Ancient Strike -X, Y
-Soul Sucker -Forward + Y, B
-Pain -A, Back + A
-Master's Edge -X, Y, A, Back + A
The Straight Sword is quite a versatile weapon, with combinations of low and
high attacks and good combos. Mix up your combos and utilise the low attacks as
much as you can, especially the "Low 2-Hit Swipe" as it's quite damaging. Use
the "Master's Edge" combo often as well, and never underestimate the value of
impaling your opponent. Especially once you have them duck-blocking from
constant low attacks, an impale is the perfect strategy.
9.0 Shang Tsung's Fatality
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-Soul Steal -Up, Down, Up, Down, Y
Shang Tsung levitates his beaten opponent into the air with a green beam of
energy, before slamming them into the ground, splattering blood everywhere and
stealing a part of their soul. He then picks them up and slams them into the
ground again, splattering more blood and guts and stealing a bit more of their
soul. He picks them up and slams them into the ground a third time, before
jumping onto their body, splattering blood and guts everywhere, and raising his
arms to absorb the last of his victim's soul.
This Fatality isn't too difficult to pull off. You don't need to rush it, just
make sure you get the directions right and it'll work.
10.0 Acknowledgements and Credits
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Midway, for making this awesome game! I also got the move names and Fighting
Style descriptions from the game itself.
Myself, for writing this guide :)
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about this FAQ, feel free to
e-mail me.
Don't forget to visit Blood-Sports.net -
http://www.blood-sports.net,
The one-stop source for Fighters!
Copyright 2003 by White_Pointer
