With each new part of MK, the characters change places, some of them become much stronger, while others are not so powerful. So that you don’t waste a lot of time and know whom to choose for the fight in MK1, we have created a character tier list of the best kombatants in Mortal Kombat 1. With the new timeline described in the story, many characters have lost their powers, but others remain just as strong. See the list below to understand which one is the best to master.
MK1: Best Characters Tier List
To make it easier for you to choose your favorites, we divided all characters into 4 different tiers, from S to C. On top of that, we’ll talk about the best characters from each tier in more detail.
| Tier | Character |
| S | Liu Kang, Kenshi, Johnny Cage |
| A | Nitara, Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Raiden, Kung Lao, Havik |
| B | Kitana, Reptile, Shang Tsung, Li Mei, General Shao, Smoke, Mileena, Geras |
| C | Baraka, Ashrah, Tanya, Rain, Reiko, Sindel |
It’s important to note that we’ve created this MK1 tier list based on our gaming experience, so it is possible that you may like some characters more or less.
S-Tier – Liu Kang
The Shao-Lin fighter and now God has gained even more strength and will surprise you in the new part of the game with incredibly powerful punches and combinations. In addition to his stylish appearance, Liu Kang also has several new moves that gamers have never seen before. His famous attacks, such as dragon kick, have been improved, both in terms of combos and look.
We chose this particular character as the best in the game not only because of his new skills and attacks, but also because of how strong and fun to play he is. It is worth noting that Forward Left Punch is a six-frame high attack that can be canceled at any time. No other character in the new part will have such a fast jab, which makes Liu Kang the fastest in the game. This is not surprising because in the previous parts of the game, Liu Kang was fast enough to defeat any enemy in a spectacular way
This character is suitable for both beginners and experienced players, as his techniques are easy to learn and memorize. So, if the choice falls between Liu Kang or someone else, we strongly recommend choosing him.
A-Tier – Sub-Zero
Beloved by many, Sub-Zero, the eternal enemy of Scorpion, became significantly different in the new timeline. Now, he and Scorpion are brothers and fight for the same goal. Many players might have been surprised by this plot twist, but it did not negatively affect the critics’ reviews.
As for combat, Sub-Zero remains as powerful as ever. The ice master has received an upgrade to the Ice Ball, which makes him even more powerful. We chose this character as the best in the A tier because of the variety of his attacks and combos. Regardless of the enemy and their skills, Sub-Zero can defeat them both on the ground and air. It also doesn’t matter whether it’s ranged or melee, all of this character’s attacks are perfectly balanced and will allow you to win, no matter who your opponent is.
Pay special attention to his skills, such as Deadly Vapors, Ice Slide, and Ice Klone. With their help, you will not only diversify the gameplay, but also can use many combinations to counteract enemies.
B-Tier – Kitana
Kitana has been in the hearts of fans since the previous parts of the game. Previously, we could have called it the strongest in the game if played in the right way, of course. In MK 1, Kitana remains no less strong, and now it’s her destiny to protect her sister, Mileena.
As for the technical side, all the character’s attacks have been retained. You can fight enemies with accurate fan attacks, or spam with hits until the enemy’s health reaches zero. She stands out among others for her powerful kicks, so even without special attacks, she’s a great choice for combat.
But still, if you want to stand out and give your opponent a hard time, we recommend mastering such special moves as Fan Toss, Fan-Nado, Princess Pirouette, Bending Wind, Square Wave. They are not difficult to learn, but Square Wave, for example, will help you not only deal 8 points of damage on hit, but also move quickly around the battlefield if necessary. Each of the attacks is unique and once you master them, you can easily confuse your opponent and even perform Brutality.
C-Tier – Reiko
Reiko is one of the few grapplers in the game, so if you like this fighting style, it will definitely suit you. He has certain disadvantages, including the fact that it can be difficult to get grapples, so this character is not suitable for every fight.
It’s worth noting his powerful attacks, such as Tactical Takedown and Pale Ride. Using them, you can easily counterattack your opponent or close the distance to perform a powerful combination of punches.
In fact, the main thing you need to focus on is your opponent. If you want to choose this character, you need to know how to act against a particular opponent. For example, in a fight against Liu Kang, you’ll have to rely on melee to take him down because if you don’t, he’ll quickly spam you with attacks. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about spamming in melee because you can skillfully counteract it with a throw, which is your advantage. It may take you some time to master Reiko, but in the future, you can choose him as a counter pick for certain characters. In other cases, we recommend choosing one of the characters from higher tiers.
That’s it. We hope you enjoyed our tier list of the best characters in Mortal Kombat 1. Good luck!
Related:
All Fatalities in Mortal Kombat 1: Complete Fatality List
Mortal Kombat 1 is currently available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
