You’re standing at the cabinet. The "Toasty!" guy is screaming in your ear. Your palms are sweating because you know the guy next to you is about to pull a 100% Ermac juggle. Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (UMK3) isn't just a game; it's a frantic, beautiful mess of "dial-a-combos" and secret inputs that still feels fresh in 2026. Honestly, most people just mash buttons and hope for a spear, but there’s a massive gap between a casual player and someone who actually knows the ultimate mortal kombat 3 moves list by heart.
The game changed everything. It took the core of MK3 and threw in the ninjas we actually wanted—Scorpion, Reptile, and even Ermac. But it also messed with the physics. You’ve got to understand "Damage Protection" (DP). If you land a jump kick on a standing opponent, your next move does way less damage. It’s the game’s way of saying "don't be a cheap jerk." But if you hit them in the air? Full damage. That’s the kind of nuance that separates the pros from the guys who just want to see a Fatality.
The Moves That Define the Meta
If you aren't using "Run Jabs," you’re basically playing half the game. In UMK3, the Run button is your best friend. By alternating Run and Low Punch (LP), you can keep someone trapped in a corner, eating pixel after pixel of block damage. It’s annoying. It’s effective. It’s UMK3.
Scorpion (The Fan Favorite)
Everybody plays Scorpion, but few do it right.
- Spear: Back, Back, LP.
- Teleport Punch: Down, Back, HP (You can do this in the air too).
- Air Throw: Block (In the air when close).
- Fatality 1 (Hellraiser): Down, Down, Up, HK (Jump distance).
- Fatality 2 (Medusa): Forward, Forward, Down, Up, Run (Close).
Ermac (The Juggle King)
Ermac was a literal glitch in the first game. Here, he’s a god. His Telekinetic Slam is basically a free combo starter.
- Telekinetic Slam: Down, Back, HP.
- Green Bolt: Down, Forward, LP.
- Teleport Punch: Down, Back, HP.
- Fatality (Tele-Slam): Down, Up, Down, Down, Down, Block (Sweep range).
Human Smoke (The Hidden Threat)
To play as Human Smoke, you have to pick Cyber-Smoke and hold Back + High Punch + High Kick + Block + Run until the round starts. It’s a lot of work for a guy who is essentially a faster Scorpion with a better combo game.
- Spear: Back, Back, LP.
- Teleport: Down, Back, HP.
- Fatality: Run, Block, Run, Run, HK (Close).
Finishers: More Than Just Blood
Fatalities are the main event, but UMK3 added Brutalities, and they are a nightmare to memorize. You’re talking about 10-11 button presses in a specific order just to make someone explode. It’s essentially a "flex" on your opponent.
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How to Actually Pull Off a Mercy
You can’t do an Animality without a Mercy. Period.
- Reach the third round.
- When it says "Finish Him," stand at least half-screen away.
- Hold Run, tap Down, Down, Down, and then release Run.
Your opponent gets a sliver of health back. Now, beat them again and use your Animality. It’s the ultimate "I’m better than you" move.
The Best Stage Fatalities
Not every stage lets you drop someone into a pit. You’ve got to be on The Subway, The Pit III, Shao Kahn’s Tower, or Scorpion’s Lair.
- Subway: Throw them into the tracks.
- Pit III: Spikes. Obviously.
- Scorpion's Lair: This is the only one where you can hear Dan Forden scream "Crispy!" if you hold the High Punch buttons on both sides of the cabinet during the animation.
Ranking the Roster: 2026 Competitive Tier List
The meta hasn't shifted as much as you'd think in the last thirty years, but high-level play has reached a point where certain characters are just objectively broken.
- S-Tier: Kabal, Human Smoke, Kung Lao. (Kabal’s "Spin" is essentially a death sentence if it lands).
- A-Tier: Kano, Reptile, Ermac, Nightwolf.
- B-Tier: Robot Smoke, Liu Kang, Sektor, Cyrax.
- C-Tier (The "Good Luck" Tier): Sheeva, Rain, Noob Saibot (Noob is banned in most tournaments because his "Cloud" move is fundamentally unfair).
Secret Menus and "Kombat Kodes"
One of the coolest parts of UMK3 is the VS Screen. You and your opponent can enter six-digit codes using Low Punch, Block, and Low Kick. It changes the rules of the match.
- 999-995: Disables combos.
- 020-020: Disables blocking (This turns the game into a pure button-mashing bloodbath).
- 987-123: No Power Bars. You have no idea how much health you have left.
If you're on the SNES version, there are actually "hidden" menus. On the title screen, pressing B, A, Down, Left, A, Down, C, Right, Up, Down (or variations depending on your controller) can unlock the "Killer Codes" or "Secret" menus. It lets you skip straight to the endings or play as the bosses like Motaro and Shao Kahn.
Mastering the Basics of the UMK3 Moves List
Stop trying to jump-kick everything. In UMK3, a jump-kick is an invitation to get uppercutted into the stratosphere. Instead, focus on Run-Jabbing and Cross-ups.
A cross-up is when you jump over your opponent and hit a punch button so it connects with the back of their head just as you land. This "confuses" the game's block logic for a split second, allowing you to go right into a ground combo. If you’re playing as Kitana or Jade, this is your bread and butter.
Practice These Next Steps:
- Learn one "Bread and Butter" combo: For most ninjas, it’s HP, HP, LP, Down + LP. It’s simple, it works, and it resets the neutral.
- Memorize your Stage Fatality: You only need to know one button combo to look cool on four different stages.
- Master the Run Button: Practice tapping Run right after a knockdown to stay on top of your opponent. Pressure is everything.
Don't worry about memorizing every single Fatality right away. Focus on the movement. In a game this fast, the person who moves better usually wins, even if they don't know how to turn into a giant spider at the end of the match.