You're standing there. "FINISH HIM" screams across the screen in that iconic, blood-red font. Your fingers are sweating a bit because, honestly, Smoke is one of the coolest characters in Mortal Kombat 1, but his timing is tricky. You want to trigger that second fatality—the one officially titled Hazier—but you can't remember if you're standing at mid-range or if you need to be practically hugging the opponent.
Getting the Smoke second fatality MK1 timing down is basically a rite of passage for anyone trying to main the Lin Kuei’s resident vapor specialist. It isn't just about pressing buttons. It’s about the distance. If you're a pixel off, you just end up doing a goofy standing high kick while your opponent falls over like a sack of potatoes. It’s embarrassing. We’ve all been there.
The Inputs You Actually Need for Hazier
Let's cut the fluff. To pull off Smoke’s second fatality, you need to be at any distance, but most players find "Down, Forward, Back, 2" (on PlayStation, that’s Triangle; on Xbox, it’s Y; on Switch, it's X) works most consistently at Mid-range.
Wait. I said "any distance," right? Technically, the move list says "Any," but the game's hitboxes can be finicky. If you're right in their face, sometimes the "Back" input registers as a movement command rather than a fatality command.
Here is the breakdown of the inputs:
- PlayStation: Down, Forward, Back, Triangle
- Xbox: Down, Forward, Back, Y
- Nintendo Switch: Down, Forward, Back, X
- PC: Down, Forward, Back, Front Punch (BP)
It’s a brutal sequence. Smoke disappears into a cloud of thick, gray vapor, reappears behind the victim, and... well, let's just say it involves a very sharp blade and a lot of internal organs becoming external organs. It is significantly more gruesome than his first fatality, which is why everyone wants to learn it.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Binding of Isaac Demo: Why This Weird Piece of Flash History Still Matters
Why Smoke is Dominating the MK1 Meta
Smoke isn't just about the flashy finishers. He’s a high-low mixup machine. Players like SonicFox and Rewind have shown that Smoke’s ability to turn invisible—literally—makes him a nightmare to block.
When you combine his invisibility with his teleport cancels, you get a character that feels like he’s playing a different game. But that high skill ceiling is a double-edged sword. If you mess up his cancels, you’re wide open. That’s why practicing the Smoke second fatality MK1 is actually a good way to get used to his rhythmic input style.
The game feels faster than MK11. It’s punchier. The Kameo system adds another layer of insanity. If you’re running Smoke with Sareena or Frost, you have so many opportunities to freeze the opponent in place, making that final execution even more satisfying.
Understanding the Distance Mechanic
In Mortal Kombat 1, "Mid" distance is roughly two character lengths away. Think of it as the starting distance at the beginning of a round. "Close" is within sweeping distance. "Far" is the other side of the screen.
For Hazier, even though the game claims it works anywhere, try backing up just a step from the "Close" position. It guarantees the game reads your "Back" input correctly.
Common Mistakes When Inputting Fatalities
Most people fail the Smoke second fatality MK1 because they're rushing. Modern MK games have a "Fatality Window" that is actually quite generous, but the game won't register the inputs if you're still in the animation frames of a previous punch.
- Stop moving. Let the character settle for a split second after the "Finish Him" prompt appears.
- Precision over speed. You don't need to be a speed-demon. Clean presses are better than fast, messy ones.
- The 'Up' input trap. Smoke doesn't have an "Up" in this specific fatality, but many others do. If you ever see an "Up" in a code, hold the Block button while you press it so you don't jump.
How to Unlock the Second Fatality
If you’re looking at your move list and seeing a bunch of question marks, don’t panic. You don't actually need to unlock it to perform it. If you know the code, you can do it right now.
However, if you want it to show up permanently in your menu, you have to level up Smoke’s Character Mastery. You hit the unlock for the second fatality at Level 14. It takes a bit of grinding in Invasions mode or Tower runs, but it's worth it for the completionist vibe.
The Visual Evolution of Smoke
Smoke has come a long way since his debut as a hidden palette swap in Mortal Kombat II. Back then, he was just Scorpion with gray clothes and a constant "steam" effect. In MK1, he’s Tomas Vrbada, a human member of the Lin Kuei who uses "practical" magic—smoke bombs and chemistry—rather than being a literal demon or cyborg.
This change makes the Smoke second fatality MK1 feel more grounded, if you can call a man exploding out of a cloud of smoke "grounded." The sound design in this game is incredible. You can hear the hiss of the gas and the wet thud of the blade. It’s peak NetherRealm Studios.
Practice Makes Perfect
If you're struggling, head into the Fatality Training mode. It’s tucked away in the "Learn" menu. It gives you a literal visual guide on where to stand and shows your button inputs in real-time. It even puts a timer on the screen so you know exactly how long you have before the opponent collapses.
Honestly, the training mode is the unsung hero of this game. Use it.
🔗 Read more: Why Call of Duty: Ghosts Was Actually Ahead of Its Time
Actionable Steps for Mastering Smoke
To move beyond just knowing the fatality and actually becoming a threat with Smoke, you should focus on these three things:
- Master the Vicious Vapors Cancel: This is Smoke’s bread and butter. It allows you to stay safe on block and continue your pressure.
- Learn the "Anywhere" Distance: Practice doing the Hazier fatality from different spots on the screen in the training lab so you never drop it in a real match.
- Kameo Synergy: Experiment with Kung Lao’s hat or Cyrax’s nets to setup longer combos that lead directly into that "Finish Him" screen.
The "Hazier" fatality is one of the most stylish endings in the game. Once you nail the Down, Forward, Back, 2 rhythm, it becomes muscle memory. Just remember to breathe, wait for the prompt, and don't mash. Smoke is about precision, and his second fatality is the perfect punctuation mark on a well-played match.