How Did The Balance of Mortal Kombat Characters Change in MK1 as of 2025?
Since its launch, Mortal Kombat 1 has been tearing the fighting game scene and after the addition of the DLCs the roster of playable characters became even bigger and more bloodthirsty. The BandurArt loves this game of hair-pulling and skull-cracking, which is why we decided to review some of the best Mortal Kombat characters in MK1 after the release of both Khaos Reigns DLCs that added Noob Saibot, Homelander, Omni-Man and some other fighters from the previous installments. The game still has it all: brutal combinations, jaw-dropping Fatalities, merciless Brutality, and a new meta to explore.
Top 10 Mortal Kombat Characters in MK1 in 2025
The launch-based roster of MK1 characters was 23 fighters, but DLCs have bumped that number past 30 with more still rumored to drop. The gameplay has evolved too since the official patches nerfed some of the craziest zoning tools (we look at you, Rain) and, on the contrary, buffed close-range aggression. It is great that Ed Boon and the team decided to fix these issues with developer upgrades, while other fighting games have to be improved through fan-made mods (think of Tekken 8 mods).
All these patches and upgrades made simple Mortal Kombat characters after DLC shine brighter while professional gamers can exploit tight mechanics and DLC oddities. Check out our top 10 Mortal Kombat characters on PC without mods.
Johnny Cage – The Hollywood Heavy-Hitter
Hands down, Johnny Cage is an undisputed champion for beginners. This cool man is like a walking tutorial, for real. He has so many winning blows and kicks that do not hesitate to grab this character if you are a total newbie. His combos are very simple to learn – punch, kick, repeat, and watch the damage stacking up.
His Hype Meter looks like a real star, duh. Safely taunt the opponents and fill the meter to unleash a barrage for canceling their special moves. Also, Johnny is quick with hard hits and all-range moves. The Rising Star uppercut is a no-brainer move, but it works flawlessly. And his Shadow Kick closed the gap quickly. Johnny is really good, and he will remind you about his excellence all the way long.
Raiden – Thunder Made Simple
Despite losing his god status, Raiden is still a beast for new players. His build is intuitive to learn – use Electric Orb to zap your enemies, then soar in the air with Electric Fly and teleport to keep them looking for you. You can have a screen control with his solid range without flailing up close.
His combos are pretty basic but quite effective – try low kicks with a quick jolt. Novice players can lean on the projectiles to keep the opponents at bay while learning to space. Raiden’s forgiving nature and high damage output make him a safe and fun pick early in the game. Summing up, Raiden is one of the easiest Mortal Kombat characters for MK1 first-comers.
Liu Kang – Fire and Fists
Liu Kang is the god of fire in this meta, and he is here to teach you some fundamental moves that breathe like Mortal Kombat. We like his fast and flashy moves that are so easy to chain in swift combos. Keep in mind that fireballs can provide you distance, while the Flying Kick closes the moveset with a god-like style. He delivers high-speed punches and kicks, and his enhanced Cosmic Flame can shred health bars. For beginners, the best thing about Liu is his versatility. You can play safe or go aggressive without overthinking. He is not the simplest, though.
Scorpion – The Iconic Ninja
Being the iconic Mortal Kombat character, Scorpion is also a beginner-friendly fighter. He can teleport to dodge attacks, spear the foes to make them “get over here” and then roast them with Hellfire. Short and precise combos let you deal with the damage without memorizing a lot of buttons. His style is agile and strong, being safe at range – a perfect pick for novice players who are still figuring out their positioning. Scorpion is also quite fun to play, with those classic MK vibes. Feel like a pro even on the first day of playing.
Kitana – The Fan-tastic Princess
Steel fans of Kitana make her a merciless princess with advanced slashes. Force the enemies to engage and then use the Fan Toss to keep them pinned. Such combos lift the enemies for simple juggles. However, her damage isn’t the most impressive.
Her mix of offense and control makes her a steady choice for players who feel confident when playing MK1. She is much trickier than Raiden or Johnny. You need to time her fans and it takes some time. Once you nail her moves, she will become your graceful dancer in the arena. Pair her with a Sareena for some juicy combos.
Sub-Zero – Cool Under Pressure
Sub-Zero is like Scorpion’s twin but with ice-cold moves instead of Hellfire. If you want to experiment in MK1. Freeze your opponents with Ice Ball, then rain on them with icy fists or just clone yourself as an icy statue. His Ice Clones can spawn 3 traps and give the breathing room to plan the next move more thoroughly. Also, Sub-Zero is quick and responsive, though, be prepared to master his freeze combos. Freezing someone mid-punch is truly iconic and is worth learning.
Baraka – Blade-Swinging Simplicity
Called a Tarkatan terror for a reason, Baraka slices his enemies with long-reaching blades and fierce pressure. His basic strings like the 10-hit blade run are easy to spam to keep your opponents alert all the time. We recommend mixing overhead kicks with leaping strikes to deliver the breaking blow and corner the foes. His projectile is decent without anything fancy to boast about. His preferred style is straightforward aggression.
Kenshi – The Blind Blade Master
Many professional esports athletes choose Kenshi for a reason. Take, for instance, his telekinetic slashes and psychokinetic grabs make him a spirit samurai. Learn how to fight as Kenshi and turn every battle into 2-v-1 beatdowns. His combos are mad – one touch can chunk about 50% of a health meter. Though, there is a catch – controlling Kenshi and his ghost spirit is like playing for two characters at once. We advise playing as Kenshi only if you have dozens of MK1 experiences behind your back.
Geras – Time-Bending Titan
Geras is a sleeper hit for professional players who usually skip him in vain. He seems quite slow at first but give him some time… tricks. He can stop it, rewind it, clone the moves, and become a real nightmare for his opponents. Heal mid-fight and repeat those devastating punches while freezing the clock to set up combos. His complex moves are his major advantage. Beginners may fail to remember all these combinations with time. But pros should easily master his slow but steady rhythm. Geras can quickly turn into an S-tier monster. He is proof that new Mortal Kombat characters also can kick some ass.
Shang Tsung – The Shapeshifting Sorcerer
This is definitely a pro’s playground. Shang Tsung can swap between old and young forms to deliver different movements. Then he morphs into the opponent to steal their moves. As you can see, there are a lot of buttons to remember how to bash. He has got endless options. Basically, a player has to learn the basic moves of all core Mortal Kombat characters to maximize his potential.
It is a challenging task only pros can handle. His learning curve is brutal with two move lists and roster knowledge. But the reward is his unbeatable versatility. Pros who thrive on tactics and mind games should definitely pick Shang Tsung as one of the toughest Mortal Kombat characters.
If you want to compare the strong and weak points of these Mortal Kombat characters, we’ve compiled the fighter comparison table as of 2025.
| Character | Skill Level | Strong Points | Weak Points | Ease of Use |
| Johnny Cage | Beginner | Easy combos, Hype Meter, all-range attacks | Taunt risk for Hype | Very Easy |
| Raiden | Beginner | Intuitive, strong projectiles | Limited close-range mix-ups | Easy |
| Liu Kang | Beginner | Fast, versatile, high damage | Slightly trickier combos | Easy |
| Scorpion | Beginner | Teleport, safe range, Hellfire | Predictable if overused | Very Easy |
| Kitana | Intermediate | Mid-range control, juggles | Lower damage output | Moderate |
| Sub-Zero | Intermediate | Freezes, clones, punishing | Combo timing takes practice | Moderate |
| Baraka | Intermediate | Long reach, pressure, mix-ups | Weak against zone-based fighters | Easy-to- Moderate |
| Kenshi | Pro | Spirit assist, massive damage | Hard to control dual fighters | Hard |
| Geras | Pro | Time manipulation, rewarding | Slow, complex execution | Hard |
| Shang Tsung | Pro | Form swaps, shapeshifting | Steep learning curve | Very Hard |
FAQ
Which are the most beginner-friendly Mortal Kombat characters in MK1?
Hands down, it’s Johnny Cage. We just love his attire and charisma. Also, he is the beginner’s best buddy. His combos are simple to pull off – just press a few buttons to smash the faces. The Hype Meter adds fun without overcomplicating things.
You just have to taunt, charge it up, and wreck the opponent’s special combos. His style is fast and forgiving with a flashy smile and quick blows. Also, it is worth reading the Reddit thread that covers some of the most suitable MK1 characters for new players.
What is the easiest Mortal Kombat characters for a total noob?
Scorpion’s teleport and spear keep things simple: dodge, grab, punish. There are no crazy inputs, just solid damage, and a badass vibe. He is perfect if you’re still getting comfy with MK1’s mechanics—they let you focus on fun, not frustration. Surely, this opinion about Scorpion is totally subjective – watch this video to see other picks as the easiest Mortal Kombat characters.
Can you unlock characters in Mortal Kombat 1?
Yes, there are two ways to do this. The basic roster starts with 20+ fighters but it is possible to unlock extras like Havik by playing through Story Mode. Mortal Kombat DLC characters like Homelander, Omni-Man, or Noob Saibot can be only bought separately via the standalone Kombat Packs or individual purchases. No grinding is required for the base unlocks – just beat the story campaign for each character to snag extra characters like Havik.
Conclusion
After playing Mortal Kombat 1 for a few days, the BandurArt team has concluded that it is the beast of fighting games. And its latest roster reflects that. Beginners can’t go wrong with Johnny Cage’s swagger or Scorpion’s ninja flair. Pro gamers should consider Kenshi and Shang Tsung. In any case, blood, sweat, and Fatalities are included. If you enjoy our content, please follow our site. If you want to collaborate with our professional team of game developers, artists, and content creators.
