Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 remains the definitive competitive experience in the classic 2D era of the franchise. Even in 2026, the technical depth of this title continues to draw players into both casual sessions and high-stakes retro tournaments. Mastering the UMK3 move list requires more than just memorizing button presses; it demands an understanding of frame data, spacing, and the specific timing required for the game’s legendary finishing moves.

This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of every character's arsenal, ensuring you have the exact inputs for special moves, Fatalities, Animalities, and more at your fingertips.

Understanding the Control Legend

To use this move list effectively, you must be familiar with the standard notation used in the fighting game community for UMK3. These inputs apply to the arcade original and most modern emulated versions.

  • HP: High Punch
  • LP: Low Punch
  • HK: High Kick
  • LK: Low Kick
  • BL: Block
  • RN: Run
  • U/D/F/B: Up, Down, Forward, Back

Spacing for Finishing Moves

Distance is critical for Fatalities. If an input says "Close," you must be touching the opponent. "Sweep" distance is roughly two steps back from the opponent. "Far" usually means the opposite side of the screen.

The Ninja Roster: Core Move Lists

Scorpion

Scorpion is a high-mobility character built around punishing mistakes and controlling the mid-screen.

  • Spear: B, B, LP (Stuns the opponent and brings them to you).
  • Teleport Punch: D, B, HP (Can also be done in the air).
  • Air Throw: BL (Press while in the air next to the opponent).
  • Fatality 1 (Toasty!): D, D, U, HK (Jump distance).
  • Fatality 2: F, F, D, U, RN (Close).
  • Animality: F, U, U, HK (Close).
  • Friendship: B, F, F, B, LK (Close).
  • Babality: D, B, B, F, HP.
  • Stage Fatality: F, U, U, LP.

Reptile

Reptile excels at zoning and invisible pressure. His Forceballs are essential for controlling the pace of the match.

  • Acid Spit: F, F, HP.
  • Slow Forceball: B, B, HP + LP.
  • Fast Forceball: F, F, HP + LP.
  • Slide: B + LP + BL + LK.
  • Invisibility: U, D, HK.
  • Elbow Dash: B, F, LK.
  • Fatality 1: B, F, D, BL (Jump distance).
  • Fatality 2: F, F, U, U, HK (Sweep distance).
  • Animality: D, D, D, U, HK (Close).
  • Friendship: D, F, F, B, HK (Close).
  • Babality: F, F, B, D, LK.
  • Stage Fatality: B, F, D, BL.

Ermac (Unlockable)

Ermac is often considered a top-tier character due to his Telekinetic Slam, which sets up devastating combos.

  • Fireball: D, B, LP.
  • Teleport Punch: D, B, HP.
  • Telekinetic Slam: B, D, B, HK.
  • Fatality 1: RN, BL, RN, RN, HK (Close).
  • Fatality 2: D, U, D, D, D, BL (Sweep distance).
  • Animality: (Available via specific patches or codes in modern versions).
  • Babality: D, D, B, B, HP.
  • Stage Fatality: RN, RN, RN, RN, LK.

Classic Sub-Zero (Unlockable)

The version of Sub-Zero without the scar, carrying his traditional ice moves from MKII.

  • Freeze: D, F, LP.
  • Ground Freeze: D, B, LK.
  • Slide: B + LP + BL + LK.
  • Fatality 1: D, D, D, F, HP (Close).
  • Babality: D, B, B, HK.
  • Stage Fatality: F, D, F, F, HP.

The Female Ninjas

Kitana

Kitana's gameplay revolves around the Fan Lift and high-damage aerial combos.

  • Fan Toss: F, F, HP + LP.
  • Fan Lift: B, B, B, HP.
  • Square Wave Punch: D, B, HP.
  • Fatality 1: RN, RN, BL, BL, LK (Close).
  • Fatality 2: B, D, F, F, HK (Close).
  • Animality: D, D, D, RN (One step away).
  • Friendship: D, B, F, F, LP.
  • Babality: F, F, D, F, HK.
  • Stage Fatality: F, D, D, LK.

Jade

Jade is the ultimate anti-projectile character. Her invincibility frames against projectiles make her a nightmare for zoners.

  • Boomerang: B, F, LP.
  • Upward Boomerang: B, F, HP.
  • Downward Boomerang: B, F, LK.
  • Shadow Kick: D, F, LK.
  • Projectile Shield: B, F, HK.
  • Fatality 1: RN, RN, RN, BL, RN (Close).
  • Fatality 2: U, U, D, F, HP (Close).
  • Animality: F, D, F, F, LK (Close).
  • Friendship: B, D, B, B, HK.
  • Babality: D, D, F, D, HK.
  • Stage Fatality: B, F, D, RN.

Mileena (Unlockable)

Mileena’s Teleport Kick and Ground Roll make her incredibly difficult to pin down.

  • Sai Shot: Hold HP for 2 seconds, then release.
  • Teleport Kick: F, F, LK.
  • Ground Roll: B, B, D, HK.
  • Fatality 1: D, F, D, F, LP (Close).
  • Fatality 2: B, B, B, F, LK (Far).
  • Animality: F, D, D, F, HK (Close).
  • Friendship: D, D, B, F, HP.
  • Babality: D, D, F, F, HP.
  • Stage Fatality: D, D, D, LP.

The Cybernetic Warriors (Lin Kuei)

Sektor (Unit LK-9T9)

A zoning powerhouse with homing missiles.

  • Straight Missile: F, F, LP.
  • Homing Missile: F, D, B, HP.
  • Teleport Uppercut: F, F, LK.
  • Fatality 1: LP, RN, RN, BL (Sweep).
  • Fatality 2: F, F, F, B, BL (Far).
  • Animality: F, F, D, U (Close).
  • Friendship: RN, RN, RN, D (Past sweep).
  • Babality: B, D, D, D, HK.
  • Stage Fatality: RN, RN, RN, D.

Cyrax (Unit LK-4D4)

A setup-heavy character who uses nets and bombs to trap opponents.

  • Green Net: B, B, LK.
  • Short Bomb: Hold LK, B, B, HK.
  • Long Bomb: Hold LK, F, F, HK.
  • Teleport: F, D, BL.
  • Air Throw: D, F, BL then LP (When both in air).
  • Fatality 1: D, D, U, D, HP.
  • Fatality 2: D, D, F, U, RN (Close).
  • Animality: U, U, D, D (Close).
  • Friendship: RN, RN, RN, U.
  • Babality: F, F, B, HP.
  • Stage Fatality: RN, BL, RN.

Smoke (Unit LK-7T2)

The hidden cyber ninja who possesses incredible speed and a high-damage harpoon.

  • Trident (Spear): B, B, LP.
  • Teleport Uppercut: F, F, LK (Can be done in air).
  • Invisibility: U, U, RN.
  • Air Throw: BL (In air).
  • Fatality 1: U, U, F, D (Far).
  • Fatality 2: Hold RN + BL, D, D, F, U (Sweep).
  • Animality: B, B, F, F (Outside Sweep).
  • Friendship: RN, RN, RN, HK (Far).
  • Babality: D, D, B, B, HK.
  • Stage Fatality: F, F, D, LK.

Earthrealm’s Defenders and Others

Liu Kang

The champion of Mortal Kombat relies on speed and versatile projectiles.

  • High Fireball: F, F, HP.
  • Low Fireball: F, F, LP.
  • Flying Kick: F, F, HK.
  • Bicycle Kick: Hold LK for 3 seconds, then release.
  • Fatality 1: F, F, D, D, LK.
  • Fatality 2: U, D, U, U, BL + RN.
  • Animality: D, D, U (Close).
  • Friendship: RN, RN, RN, D + RN.
  • Babality: D, D, D, HK.
  • Stage Fatality: RN, BL, BL, LK.

Kung Lao

His spin move is one of the best defensive tools in the game.

  • Hat Toss: B, F, LP.
  • Diving Kick: D + HK (In air).
  • Spin: F, D, F, RN.
  • Teleport: D, U.
  • Fatality 1: RN, BL, RN, BL, D.
  • Fatality 2: F, F, B, D, HP (Close).
  • Animality: RN, RN, RN, RN, BL (Close).
  • Friendship: RN, LP, RN, LK (Past sweep).
  • Babality: D, F, F, HP.
  • Stage Fatality: D, D, F, F, LK.

Jax

Jax is a powerhouse in close quarters with his multi-slam and ground pound.

  • Single Missile: B, F, HP.
  • Double Missile: F, F, B, B, HP.
  • Gotcha Grab: F, F, LP (Tap LP for more hits).
  • Dash Punch: F, F, HK.
  • Ground Pound: Hold LK for 3 seconds, then release.
  • Backbreaker: BL in air.
  • Fatality 1: U, D, F, U, BL (Close).
  • Fatality 2: RN, BL, RN, RN, LK (Far).
  • Animality: Hold LP, F, F, D, F, release LP (Close).
  • Friendship: LK, RN, RN, LK.
  • Babality: D, D, D, LK.
  • Stage Fatality: D, F, D, LP.

Sonya Blade

Known for her Leg Grab and high-pressure rushdown.

  • Energy Rings: D, F, LP.
  • Leg Grab: D + LP + BL.
  • Square Wave Punch: F, B, HP.
  • Bicycle Kick: B, B, D, HK.
  • Fatality 1: B, F, D, D, RN.
  • Fatality 2: Hold RN + BL, U, U, B, D (Far).
  • Animality: Hold LP, B, F, D, F, release LP (Close).
  • Friendship: B, F, B, D, RN.
  • Babality: D, D, F, LK.
  • Stage Fatality: F, F, D, HP.

The Mercies and Animalities System

In UMK3, you cannot perform an Animality immediately. You must first grant your opponent a "Mercy." This is a mechanic where you give your opponent a small amount of health back during the "Finish Him/Her" screen.

How to perform a Mercy:

  1. You must be in the third round of the match.
  2. When the screen says "Finish Him/Her," hold the Run (RN) button.
  3. Press Down, Down, Down.
  4. Release the Run button.

Once the Mercy is granted and you defeat the opponent again, you can input the character's Animality code. This adds a layer of psychological play and disrespect in competitive matches.

Unlockable Characters & Ultimate Kombat Kodes

If you are playing on an original arcade board or a vanilla console port, Ermac, Mileena, and Classic Sub-Zero are initially locked. These can be unlocked via the "Ultimate Kombat Kode" screen which appears after a single-player game over or at the end of a two-player match.

The screen has 10 boxes (5 for Player 1, 5 for Player 2). The numbers represent how many times you press the corresponding button (HP, LP, BL, LK, HK).

  • Mileena: 2-2-2-6-4 / 2-2-2-6-4
  • Ermac: 1-2-3-4-4 / 4-4-3-2-1
  • Classic Sub-Zero: 8-1-8-3-5 / 8-1-8-3-5

Play as Human Smoke

To play as Human Smoke, you must first select the robotic Cyber Smoke. Immediately after selecting him, hold Back + HP + HK + BL + RN until the match starts. Smoke will explode and be replaced by his human form, who shares moves with Scorpion but has unique combo potential.

Tactical Advice for Modern UMK3

In the current landscape of 2026, UMK3 is often played on platforms with near-zero latency. This makes the "Run" mechanic more vital than ever. Running is not just for closing distance; it is used to extend combos. For example, after a popup attack, a quick tap of the Run button allows you to reposition for a heavy punch or another special move that wouldn't normally connect.

Furthermore, "Cross-ups" are particularly lethal in this version. Jumping over an opponent and hitting them with a High Kick (HK) often leaves them open for a 30-40% damage combo if followed up correctly with the moves listed above.

Whether you are using this UMK3 move list to finish a ladder run or to challenge a friend in a local set, remember that execution speed is the deciding factor. The inputs are strict, but mastering them is what separates a Kombatant from a Kahn.