What are the Mortal Kombat 1 controls?

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Mortal Kombat 1 smoke and rain fighters
September 20, 2023: Wrap your head around Mortal Kombat 1's controls now the full launch has arrived!

It's time to take a look at the Mortal Kombat 1 controls. With the official release of the new Mortal Kombat game finally here, anticipation and excitement have been building among fans of this iconic fighting game series.

To ensure you're well-prepared for the intense battles that lie ahead, we've crafted this comprehensive article on Mortal Kombat 1 controls guide. It'll let you know how to perform all the main moves, so you're always ready for battle.

Before diving into the controls guide, it's a great idea to check out our Mortal Kombat 1 tier list, plus our guide on how to perform Mercy in Mortal Kombat 1. We've also got a look at whether Mortal Kombat 1 is crossplay.

Mortal Kombat 1 controls guide

Mortal Kombat 1 features straightforward controls, whether you're playing on a PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch. To get a better understanding of the basic actions like High Punch, High Kick, Block, and others, let's refer to the table below:

Basic Move/Abbreviation PS5 Control Xbox Control Switch Control
FRONT PUNCHXY
BACK PUNCHXYX
FRONT KICKAB
BACK KICKOBA
BLOCKR2RTZR

Lastly, the basic movements such as forward, backwards, jump, and down can be performed by directions key as usual.

Now that we've understood the fundamentals, let's explore special moves in Mortal Kombat 1. These actions are triggered by using specific button combinations, a technique that works the same way for all characters.

Basic Special Moves Input Description
Front PunchFRONT PUNCHA high-level punch attack.
Back PunchBACK PUNCHA low-level punch attack.
Front KickFRONT KICKA high-level kick attack.
Back KickBACK KICKA low-level kick attack.
BlockBLOCKDefensive stance to block incoming attacks.
Jump KickJump + KICKPerform a kick while jumping.
Jump PunchJump + PUNCHPerform a punch while jumping.
Hop KickUp + KICKExecute a hopping kick attack.
Hop PunchUp + PUNCHExecute a hopping punch attack.
UppercutDown + PUNCHPerform an uppercut punch attack.
Foot SweepBack + BACK KICKSweep your opponent's legs with a low kick.
RoundhouseBack + FRONT KICKExecute a powerful roundhouse kick.
Low KickDown + BACK KICKPerform a low kick attack.
Throw OpponentForward + BACK PUNCHThrow your opponent by pressing forward and low punch.
Avoid ThrowBLOCK + diagonally down + awayEvade an opponent's throw attempt.
Death PunchStanding punch when opponent jumpsDeliver a powerful punch when the opponent jumps at you.
Face PunchFRONT PUNCHA basic face punch.
Body PunchBACK PUNCHA basic body punch.
Face KickFRONT KICKA basic face kick.
Body KickBACK KICKA basic body Kick.
BlockBLOCKA basic block

While the button inputs stay the same for every character, there might be slight differences in how these common moves affect the game due to unique attributes.

Character fighting pose in Mortal Kombat 1
click to enlarge

Will there be modern controls in Mortal Kombat 1?

It seems like Mortal Kombat 1 will not have modern controls. They were introduced in the latest Street Fighter game, Street Fighter 6, and have been well-received by players.

Some fans of Mortal Kombat have expressed a desire for the remake to have modern controls, as they would make the game more accessible to a wider audience. However, others have argued that the original controls are part of what makes Mortal Kombat unique, and that changing them would be sacrilege.

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Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to include modern controls in the Mortal Kombat 1 remake is up to the developers.

So, that was all you need to know, at least for now, about the Mortal Kombat 1 controls! If you want to know more about the game, you will love to check out Mortal Kombat 1 voice actors. On top of that, you can find out right here if you can turn off blood and gore in the game!

For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Mortal Kombat 1 page.