Revamp Your Mortal Kombat 11 Tier Lists with the Ultimate MK1 Strategy Guide

Highlights

Due to his advanced powers and fresh array of special moves, Liu Kang is expected to remain in the top-tier position in Mortal Kombat 1.

In Mortal Kombat 1, Sub-Zero's accessibility may lead to him being ranked lower, while Johnny Cage gains significant improvements and new abilities. Like other popular fighting games, Mortal Kombat 11 has a prominent presence in the competitive scene, frequently featured in tournaments since its 2019 release. With a strong competitive community, opinions on the best and worst characters, as well as the need for nerfs and buffs, are abundant. Over the years, Mortal Kombat 11 has received numerous such opinions, and Mortal Kombat 1 is likely to face similar discussions.

While opinions on Mortal Kombat 11's roster may have shifted slightly over time, there have been a few characters who have remained unchanged since the game's release. These characters form the foundation of Mortal Kombat 11's fighter tier list, which ranks each Kombatant based on their versatility, moveset, and overall enjoyment. For quite some time, the tier list for Mortal Kombat 11 has been firmly established. However, with the imminent arrival of a new installment, significant changes are on the horizon for the Mortal Kombat tier list.

How Mortal Kombat 1's Tier List Could Differ From Mortal Kombat 11's

Mortal Kombat 11 and Mortal Kombat 1's tier lists will differ greatly in terms of character inclusion. While a few fighters will carry over, many of the characters from Mortal Kombat 11 won't be present, resulting in a significant shake-up, particularly in the S-tier. The current S-tier in MK11 includes Cetrion, Geras, Fujin, Jade, and Joker. However, none of them are set to appear in Mortal Kombat 1, with the exception of Liu Kang. It is highly probable that Liu Kang will maintain his top-tier position in Mortal Kombat 1 due to his expanded repertoire of long-range and close-range combos, as well as his newly acquired special moves that demonstrate his Fire God abilities.

In Mortal Kombat 1, several fighters from Mortal Kombat 11's A-tier will be making a return, including Sub-Zero, Shang Tsung, Johnny Cage, and Kung Lao. While Shang Tsung and Kung Lao haven't been showcased much yet, NetherRealm has given us a closer look at Sub-Zero and Johnny Cage. Based on what fans have seen, it appears that Sub-Zero's moveset in Mortal Kombat 1 is straightforward and easy to learn, but it may lack the complexity required for executing more powerful combos. This could potentially lead to a drop in his tier ranking. On the other hand, Johnny Cage is receiving a significant buff, maintaining his usual moveset but with increased speed. Additionally, he will have a new ability called Star Power, which allows him to perform three special moves in quick succession.

As for Raiden, Scorpion, and Baraka, they are currently classified in Mortal Kombat 11's B-tier, and their future in the upcoming game remains uncertain. Scorpion continues to be a strong character with accessible special moves and combos suitable for beginners to master. However, he doesn't appear to have any new features or abilities that would propel him into the higher tiers. In contrast, Raiden may turn out to be one of the weaker fighters in Mortal Kombat 1, as his canonically downgraded lightning powers may affect his gameplay. On a positive note, Baraka seems to be a formidable force in close-range combat, based on the limited footage released so far.

Kitana and Mileena are the only Kombatants from Mortal Kombat 11's C-tier who also appeared in the original Mortal Kombat game. While fans haven't seen much of Mileena yet, they have had a solid look at Kitana, and she appears to be a formidable fighter this time around. In addition to her usual long-range projectile attacks, Kitana has received some impressive additions to her close-range abilities, which potentially make her a more well-rounded fighter.

Mortal Kombat 1 is set to be released on September 19 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.