Mortal Kombat 1: Character Tier List (Best MK1 Fighters)

Mortal Kombat 1 has reintroduced fans of the series to new versions of all their favorite characters. This restarted-alternate-universe version of MK1 had 23 playable characters and 15 Kameo fighters at launch, all of them characters who had appeared in the series before.

RELATED: Mortal Kombat Game Tier List

In order to get the most out of every match, players will need to learn which are the best Mortal Kombat 1 fighters and which ones are best avoided. While there can be no such thing as an objective MK1 tier list, most seem to be in agreement that there are some characters who shine brighter than others.

Updated November 16, 2023: It’s been a few months now since the release of Mortal Kombat 1, during which time many characters have been buffed and nerfed. A brand-new kombatant has also entered the fray, leading to massive changes in the Mortal Kombat 1 tier list. As such, players looking to find the best MK1 fighters have a few more things to consider, particularly if they plan on participating in the Kombat League.

Mortal Kombat 1 Tier List: S-Tier Fighters

Given how important it is to choose the right Kameo fighter, it’s difficult to come up with a working MK1 tier list. For the most part, choosing a fighter is more about how a particular player wants to play, and pairing them with a good Kameo can greatly enhance that. However, there do seem to be a couple of fighters that find themselves near the top of just about every Mortal Kombat 1 tier list due to how overpowered they are.

Johnny Cage

Johnny Cage is arguably the best Mortal Kombat 1 fighter due to his impressive collection of easy-to-perform combos, which can be strung together to build up some pretty terrifying momentum. He has a range of different height and range attacks, coupled with a fantastic stagger game. However, the most deadly part of Cage’s lineup is the Hype Meter: a unique ability that allows him to cancel other fighters’ Special Moves. Filling the Hype Meter requires players to perform taunts, but the high risk is well worth the reward.

Kenshi

Kenshi’s kit is filled with telekinetic and psychokinetic moves along with the ability to summon a spirit to fight alongside him. It’s not easy to master playing what can at times feel like two fighters at the same time, but all the effort is worthwhile. Kenshi has great range, good neutrals, and a solid selection of moves all on his own, even without adding the additional support of both his ghost and his Kameo. His moveset is a little slower-paced and more complex than some of the other fighters though, making him one of the least beginner-friendly characters in MK1.

MK1 Best Fighters: A-Tier Kombatants

Not all Mortal Kombat 1 fighters can be S-tier, but there are some who come awfully close. These fighters still have good kits and devastating moves but are just a bit lower down the pecking order than the aforementioned kombatants. A-tier fighters are still fantastic options for players looking to devastate their opponents though and can be every bit as deadly in the right hands.

Kung Lao

Some will perhaps argue that Kung Lao should be S-tier, particularly when paired with Goro. However, he’s held back a little by how reliant he is on his chosen Kameo and how few options he offers when it comes to starting combos. Pro players will be able to get a pretty decent tune out of him, but due to the aforementioned lack of options, they’ll also be well aware of his weaknesses, which can make it easier for a skilled opponent to predict and prevent his next attack.

Raiden

Raiden is probably one of the most recognizable names in MK history. In MK1, players using the god of thunder have access to a powerful ranged projectile attack, an amazing range of normals, and a powerful flying jump attack called Electric Fly. The Fly attack is great not only for getting out of tight corners but also pushing opponents into them. Raiden is more beginner-friendly than most other A-tier options, which pushes him up the ladder a little.

Liu Kang

Liu Kang has the dubious honor of being the only character to appear in every MK game ever made. He’s also one of the best fighters in Mortal Kombat 1. He’s fast, he has a massive array of ways to disrupt other fighters’ combos, and he has a pretty handy ranged fireball attack. Liu Kang also has one of the fastest punishers in the game, giving him the ability to punish even the safest of combos. He’s probably the easiest kombatant to pick up and learn too, so would be S-tier on any ease-of-play MK1 tier list.

Omni-Man

It’s not all that surprising that Omni-Man is one of the best fighters in Mortal Kombat 1, what with him being paid DLC and all. He’s the perfect anti-zoner and boasts some incredibly intuitive combo routes that can make him very difficult to predict. A lot of his moves are ripped right out of the comic books too, making him an excellent choice for fans of Invincible.

Ashrah

Though players are slowly starting to get the measure of her, Ashrah remains one of the toughest fighters to deal with in Mortal Kombat 1. Even when her opponents think they know what’s coming it can be very difficult to punish her due to the strength and variety of her combos. Ashra’s f423 can be particularly deadly, due in large to the speed with which she’s able to pull it off and how difficult it can be to punish.

Geras

Geras is probably one of the most underrated fighters in Mortal Kombat 1, not to mention one of the most powerful. In the right hands, he can be just as deadly as any S-tier fighter and is an excellent option for those who are fed up with having to deal with newer players spamming the same few attacks as they climb their way up the Kombat League rankings. He’s a little on the slow side, but his versatile armor breaker more than makes up for this.

Mortal Kombat 1 Tier List: B-Tier Fighters

B-Tier fighters tend to be a little more reliant on their Kameos than those who rank above them but can still be a lot of fun to main. Learning their kits can be incredibly rewarding, particularly for those who are looking for a new challenge. Once mastered, they can still go toe-to-toe with the very best fighters in Mortal Kombat 1, although players will need to be mindful of their weaknesses and play around them accordingly.

Tanya

Tanya is borderline A-tier. However, like most of the other B-tier fighters on the MK1 tier list, she requires a good Kameo in order to make up for her weaknesses. She’s pretty well stocked on the combo front though, boasting one of the best anti-airs in the game and decent (albeit slightly underpowered) options for a variety of situations. Her lack of strings makes her a little predictable, but even when the opponent knows what’s coming, it can still be pretty difficult to find a response.

Rain

Rain was once an A-tier fighter but slipped down the rankings a little when Cyrax was nerfed at the end of October 2023. He’s still one of the best Mortal Kombat 1 fighters though, at least when it comes to zoners, anyway. Rain has a few different options for launching his opponents, but his startup frames can sometimes hold him back a little, forcing players to mix in the occasional throw just to keep their opponents guessing.

Smoke

Smoke’s meterless cancels can come in pretty clutch at times, but they don’t quite do enough to make up for the gaps elsewhere in his arsenal. Sure, he has a few devastating combos in his locker, but his armored moves are a little lackluster and those aforementioned cancels can be easily punished by those who are able to preempt them (which is fairly easy given that they’re one of his main USPs).

Shang Tsung

Shang Tsung is actually two fighters in one. He has an Old Man move set, and a Young kit that is completely different. Players can switch back and forth between these two at any moment in a fight. Young Shang Tsung has a great mid-kick combo that feels excellent and has a lot of range, while Old Man Shang Tsung has a variety of useful combo starters. He is able to steal and mimic moves from the opponent (even their Brutalities and Fatalities) making his one of the most unpredictable move sets in all of MK1.

Li Mei

Li Mei might be short on popups, but she has a great all-around toolkit and two of the nastiest flipkicks in the business. One of her best moves is the lantern she puts above the enemy character, which forces characters to approach without jumping, giving the player more of an idea of what their enemy’s next move will be. Her combos are fairly easy to learn and pull off, making her a great starting choice for anyone who is a little out of practice. Unfortunately, there are some gaps in Li Mei’s resume, meaning players will need to pair her with someone like Jax to really get the best out of her.

General Shao

General Shao has a slightly lower-than-average health pool to begin with, which is on point with his glass-cannon style. He comes wielding an axe that can slam into opponents or into the ground to cause earthquakes. Other players will not want to be hit by this guy, as every single smash deals massive damage. If anyone out there prefers slightly slower, more powerful attacks, Shao will definitely be their guy. Unfortunately, his normals are a little lackluster when compared to other fighters, which keeps him firmly in the B-tier of this MK1 tier list.

C-Tier and Below Fighters in Mortal Kombat 1

There are a grand total of 24 fighters in Mortal Kombat 1 at the time of writing, so not all of them can be worth learning move sets for. While some people may like these characters and be able to get a half-decent tune out of them, they have less reach, less speed, worse Fatalities, or other things that just make them fall just a little short of those mentioned above.

Mortal Kombat 1 C-Tier or Lower Fighters

Unreleased DLC Characters in MK1

In addition to the kombatants listed above, there are also a handful of characters who are currently unavailable for playtesting as they will be released as Mortal Kombat 1 DLC over the coming months. These characters are: