FINAL BATTLE STRATEGY - Raiden vs. Shao Kahn
For most players the story mode will have occasionally difficult battles, but not insurmountable with patience and maybe a bit of luck - until the final battle with Shao Kahn. You cannot luck or spam your way through this one without a strategy. Many players have suggested a distance strategy (reactive approach) but after playing and losing many times, I FOUND A PROACTIVE STRATEGY THAT WORKS BETTER.
To defeat Shao Kahn, you MUST have fast proficiency with Raiden's teleport move (Down, Up) - regardless of whether you use a close or distant strategy. Teleporting will drop you on the other side of Shao Kahn. A teleport should generally only be followed by one of two things: an uppercut (if you have the advantage), or another teleport (if you must dodge).
When scoring a knockdown, your natural instinct may be to fall back and get out of the way (i.e, the distance strategy). If you do this, he is still in control - you will have to try to anticipate and respond to his moves. His ranged behaviors will be random, possibly a dash, hammer, spear, or approach.
When scoring a knockdown, ignore your instincts and APPROACH Shao Kahn as he gets up. By doing so, you are creating a PREDICTABLE RESPONSE and TAKING CONTROL of the fight. He will nearly always try to attack you immediately when getting up. He is is vulnerable from behind when attacking. When he attacks, immediately teleport to dodge and uppercut him from behind (easier to pull off than a combo and ends in a knockdown). Then immediately approach again to repeat the process. Once you get the timing down you can make quick work of him.
A few other tips:
- When the match starts, he will often try to land an early attack. An immediate teleport is usually the best strategy.
- If you find yourself at ranged distance, wait for a projectile attack or taunt and immediately teleport and uppercut. At this point, he is knocked down so you can switch to the close approach strategy I detailed above.
- Avoid jumping, this usually just opens you up for attack. Teleport instead.
- When teleporting, if you sense that your timing is off, immediately teleport again to dodge the inevitable blow.