Fighting game franchises hold a special place in the gaming world because ones with a great plot, characters, and gaming mechanics often earn a grand fan base and much-awaited sequels. Perhaps one of the famous examples of this can be found in Mortal Kombat, the iconic franchise of brutal hand-to-hand combat that first released in 1992.
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With the constant success of the franchise, it's no surprise that in the present day, the latest addition, Mortal Kombat 11, remains just as embraced as ever. Alongside the game's lore, its unique characters are a huge driving force of the franchise's appeal. Here's a list of the top 10 fighters in Mortal Kombat 11 that keeps popularity, special abilities, fighting style, and gameplay in mind!
Updated on March 6, 2021, by Reyadh Rahaman: One of the most iconic traits that fans love about the Mortal Kombat series is the devastating finishing moves that players can unleash onto incapacitated foes that are aptly known as Fatalities. In more recent games of the franchise, other ways to deliver deathblows called Brutalities have also appeared, giving gamers even more ways to obliterate their opponents in gory and satisfying manners. There are even hilarious alternatives to the body-horror ending moves known as Friendship finishers that are more comedic ways to end a bout. Each of the fan-favorite characters possesses unique ways to finish a fight with a fountain of victorious viscera.
For simplicity, the input for each button has been assigned a number so that those who enjoy this game on either Xbox or Playstation controllers can follow along:
- 1 = X button on Xbox, Square button on PlayStation
- 2 = Y button on Xbox, Triangle button on PlayStation
- 3 = A button on Xbox, Cross button on PlayStation
- 4 = B Button on Xbox, Circle button on PlayStation
- 5 = Right Trigger on Xbox, R2 shoulder button on PlayStation
- 6 = Right Bumper on Xbox, R1 shoulder button on PlayStation
- 7 = Left Bumper on Xbox, L1 shoulder button on PlayStation
10 Kabal
Kabal is a fighter who was horrifically burned and as a result, always wears a mask, and often looks zombie-like in appearance. He unwaveringly fights for Earthrealm, (where the typically heroic protagonists of Mortal Kombat reside), although he is predominantly antagonistic to the series. Kabal uses meathook-like sword blades to carve through foes in battle devastatingly pulling and yanking his opponents. He is extremely fast and uses his speed to gain advantages when fighting. If used well, the character is a dangerous force in MK11.
Here Are All Of Kabal's Finishers:
Fatalities
- Road Rash: Back, Forward, Down, Forward, 3
- Hooked: Down, Down, Down, 4
- Stage Fatality: Up, Down, Down, 2
Friendships
- Bop It: Forward, Down, Back, Down, 1
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Spin Me Right Round: Back, Forward, 3
- Rollin' Through: Back, Down, 1
- Ripped Away: Back, Down, 4, 6
- Dealy Vapors: Back, Foward, 4
- Spinner Winner: Throw
- Heart Attack: Back, Forward, 2
- Screamer: Back, Forward, 4, 6
- Nowhere To Run: Forward + 4, 1 + 3
9 Kung Lao
Within Mortal Kombat lore, Kung Lao is often looked down upon as one who lives in the shadow of the franchise favorite, Liu Kang as they defend Earthrealm. Nevertheless, the master martial artist is a deadly opponent within the game series and a formidable challenge to most fighters he comes up against. Kung Lao is an expert at using his bladed brimmed hat, which he can throw at enemies and call back to his hands at will. This makes him a very balanced fighter at both close ranges and from a distance within MK11 and the franchise as a whole.
Here Are All Of Kung Lao's Finishers:
Fatalities
- Headed Nowhere: Down, Foward, Back, Down, 2
- Meat Slicer: Back, Forward, Down, 3
Friendships
- Kung-Ductor: Back, Forward, Back, Forward, 4
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Bad Buzz: Forward + Throw (or Forward + 1 + 3)
- Not Holding Back: Throw
- Vengeful Spirit: Down, Back, 4, 1
- Klassic Kut: Back, Forward, 2
- Stuck: Down, Up, 3
- Mind Of Its Own: Down, Back, 2
- Beaten And Broken: Down + 4, 6
- Off The Top: 3, 1
8 Sindel
Sindel is an evil queen and brutal sorceress who is extremely powerful. She uses a mix of blood-curdling sonic screams, her enchanted hair, and fierce kicks and strikes to dominate her opponents. Sindel is featured as DLC in MK11.
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Due to having such an unpredictable fight style, Sindel is a dangerous foe. Her screams can paralyze and discombobulate, and by the time her target is coming to their senses, it's often too late for the opponent to regain momentum.
Here Are All Of Sindel's Finishers:
Fatalities
- Scream Queen: Down, Down, Forward, 4
- Hair Today Gone Tomorrow: Back, Forward, Back, 1
Friendships
- Masterpiece: Forward, Down, Down, Up, 3
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Edenian Guillotine: Forward + 1 + 3
- Violent Uprising: 7
7 Cassie Cage
Cassie Cage is the brave gun-toting daughter of two of Mortal Kombat's original characters, Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade. She is sassy and quick-witted like her Dad, but also skilled and serious when the time calls for it, much like her Mom. Cassie fights for Earthrealm using a combination of her Dad's Martial Arts skills, Her Mom's firearm military training, and her remote control battle drone. Cassie has also inherited her father's powerful green energy-infused attacks, leaving her with a stacked arsenal-like ability set in MK11.
Here Are All Of Cassie Cage's Finishers:
Fatalities
- I <3 You: Down, Down, Forward, 4
- #GirlPower: Back, Down, Down, Back, 2
- Stage Fatality: Down, Forward, Down, 3
Friendships
- Feeling Cute, Might Delete Later: Back, Forward, Down, Down, 1
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Make It Pop: Forward + Throw
- Boom Bitch: Throw
- Holy Moly: Forward + 4, 1, 2
- My Bad: Back, Down, 3, 6
- Damn I'm Good: Back + 1, 3
- You Got BLB'd: Down, Back, 4
- Fully Disarmed: Back, Forward, 1
6 Jax
Jax is an icon of Mortal Kombat and a staple to the franchise. He is a high-ranking soldier who had a hand in training Sonya Blade. Due to losing his human arms in the first Mortal Kombat tournament, Jax was fitted with cybernetic ones that grant him incredible strength. Using a combination of grappling, ground pounds, heating up his cybernetic arms, and throwing bone-crushing punches, Jax is a threatening opponent who can control a fight very strategically in MK11, while also looking cool as ever. The beard is a nice touch.
Here Are All Of Jax's Finishers:
Fatalities
- Coming In Hot: Forward, Down, Forward, 3
- Still Got It: Back, Forward, Back, Down, 1
- Stage Fatality: Down, Forward, Down, 4
Friendships
- Sexy Jax-A-Phone: Forward, Back, Down, Down, 2
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Slow Clap: Down, Back, 1
- Pounded: Down, Back, 1, 1
- Awww Yeah: Forward + 3, 3, 1 + 3
- Broken: Back, Forward, 2, Throw
- Buck You: Down, Back, 2
- Missing Something?: Back, Forward, 2, Throw
- I Said Sleep: Back + 3, 2, 1 + 3
- Buffed Up: Throw (or 1 +3)
5 Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn is just scary. The brutally violent tyrant of Outworld returns to the fray as an unlockable character in MK11. Shao Kahn has killed many fighters in Mortal Kombat lore, and he is feared by many within the franchise.
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Wielding a massive hammer and dealing immense amounts of damage to foe when attacking, Shao Kahn can obliterate opponents and is a nightmare in the hands of the right player. He is a more than worthy opponent for nearly every character, both in lore and in gameplay.
Here Are All Of Shao Kahn's Finishers:
Fatalities
- Back Blown Out: Back, Forward, Down, Down, 2
- Kahn-Sequences: Back, Forward, Back, 1
- Stage Fatality: Down, Down, Back, 4
Friendships
- Winner Winner Outworld Dinner: Down, Forward, Down, Forward, 2
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Obliterated: Down, Back, 4
- Spiraling Out: Down, Back, 3, 6
- Charging Trough: Back, Forward, 3
- Going Ham.....mer: 7
- Kahn Croquet: Forward + 7
- Head Kabob: 1, 2, 1 + 3
- Spoils Of War: Down, Back, 1
- Nothing Left: Back, Forward, 3, Down, 6
4 Raiden
Raiden is the iconic god of Thunder and the mentor of the Mortal Kombat series main protagonist Liu Kang. Using the power of lightning in tandem with his masterful martial arts abilities, Raiden returns in MK11 and is just as powerful as fans remember. With abilities ranging from flight, electricity, and teleportation, it's easy to understand why Raiden is one of the most powerful characters within Mortal Kombat lore and his presence is always essential to the franchise.
Here Are All Of Raiden's Finishers:
Fatalities
- Alternating Current: Back, Down, Back, 1
- Direct Current: Down, Forward, Back, 3
- Stage Fatality: Back, Back, Down, 3
Friendships
- Earthrealm's Got Talent: Down, Forward, Back, Down, 4
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Zap Zap: Forward + 7
- Elder Storm Strike: 7
- Brutal Bolt: Back, Forward, 1
- Karma: Down, Forward, 2
- Planted: Back, Forward, 3, 6
- Pushing Through: Back, Forward, 3
- God's Wrath: Back, Forward, 3, 6
3 Scorpion
Scorpion's attacks are quick, devastating, and numerous as he has many ways of combating opponents. Originally named Hanzo Hasashi, a master ninja of the Shirai Ryu clan, he and his entire family were murdered. Renaming himself Scorpion, the ninja climbed his way from the depths of the Netherrealm (Hell) to exact his vengeance. Scorpion is both a master swordsman and hand-to-hand combatant. His most famous abilities, however, are the control he has over hell-fire and his chained Kunai. The icon and franchise favorite ninja hell-bent on revenge is back to wreak havoc in MK11.
Here Are All Of Scorpion's Finishers:
Fatalities
- You're Next: Back, Down, Down, 1
- Chain Reaction: Down, Forward, Back, 2
- Stage Fatality: Down, Forward, Down, 1
Friendships
- Teddy-ality: Forward, Back, Forward, Back, 4
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Spine Ripper: Throw
- Crispy: Down, Forward, 3
- Stinger: Down + Throw
- Clean Cut: Back + 2
- Beheaded: Back, Forward, 1, 6
- Soul Burn: Back, Forward, 2
- Demon's Blood: 2, 1, 2 + 4
- Save Me A Slice: Down, Back, 3, 6
2 Liu Kang
Liu Kang is the Mortal Kombat series main protagonist and hero of Earthrealm. He is an exceptional fighter who can perform gravity-defying maneuvers, fight masterfully with nunchaku, and use Ki charged attacks so powerful that they illuminate his fists with pyro energy. Essentially, he can hit opponents so fast and hard that his fists combust with flames only he is impervious to.
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Harnessing this technique, Kang can throw fire, as well as completely explode enemies with fully focused strikes. Being Earthrealm's champion and previous winner of the Mortal Kombat tournament, Liu Kang's status and versatile playstyle make him a top-tier MK11 character.
Here Are All Of Liu Kang's Finishers:
Fatalities
- Burn Out: Down, Back, Down, Forward, 1
- Belly Of The Beart: Back, Down, Back, Forward, 2
- Stage Fatality: Back, Forward, Back, 3
Friendships
- Shaolin Hustle: Forward, Down, Down, Forward, 2
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Get Chucked: Down, Back, Forward, 2
- One Inch Death Strike: Down, Back, 3
- Insert Koin: Throw (or 1 + 3)
- Fly By: Back, Forward, 3
- The Chosen One: Back, Down, 4, 1
- Klassic Kicks: Forward + Throw (or Forward + 1 + 3)
- Scorching Presence: Back, Forward, 1
1 RoboCop
Dead or alive, you're coming with him. In a spectacular reveal, Alex Murphy, aka, "RoboCop" was released as a DLC character in the MK11 lineup! The character comes from the iconic 1987 film of the same name, in which a good police officer gunned down by thugs is later reborn as a cyborg law enforcer. RoboCop has greatly enhanced strength and bulletproof durability. He is armed with an arsenal of weaponry including his hand blade, rockets, an inbuilt riot shield, an electrical defense system, foot blades, a Cobra Assault Cannon, and his famous Auto-9 handgun. Due to being mainly machine, Murphy's attack power is stellar, his aim accuracy is flawless, and many attacks inflicted upon him have little to no effect. A fan favorite in film pop culture, RoboCop is a MK11 character many fans are ecstatic about and many agree he was the most unique addition to the game's ongoing lore.
Here Are All Of RoboCop's Finishers:
Fatalities
- Dead Or Alive: Back, Forward, Down, Down, 2
- Thank You For Your Cooperation: Forward, Down, Forward, 1
- Stage Fatality: Back, Down, Down, 1
Friendships
- Breakin' It Down: Back, Down, Forward, Down, 4
Brutalities
- The Klassic: Down + 2
- Kase Klosed: Forward + Throw
NEXT: 10 Unanswered Questions We Still Have After Playing Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath