What are the Mortal Kombat 1 controls?

Mortal Kombat 1 smoke and rain fighters

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 PUNCH
X
Y
BACK PUNCH
X
Y
X
FRONT KICK
A
B
BACK KICK
O
B
A
BLOCK
R2
RT
ZR

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 Punch
FRONT PUNCH
A high-level punch attack.
Back Punch
BACK PUNCH
A low-level punch attack.
Front Kick
FRONT KICK
A high-level kick attack.
Back Kick
BACK KICK
A low-level kick attack.
Block
BLOCK
Defensive stance to block incoming attacks.
Jump Kick
Jump + KICK
Perform a kick while jumping.
Jump Punch
Jump + PUNCH
Perform a punch while jumping.
Hop Kick
Up + KICK
Execute a hopping kick attack.
Hop Punch
Up + PUNCH
Execute a hopping punch attack.
Uppercut
Down + PUNCH
Perform an uppercut punch attack.
Foot Sweep
Back + BACK KICK
Sweep your opponent's legs with a low kick.
Roundhouse
Back + FRONT KICK
Execute a powerful roundhouse kick.
Low Kick
Down + BACK KICK
Perform a low kick attack.
Throw Opponent
Forward + BACK PUNCH
Throw your opponent by pressing forward and low punch.
Avoid Throw
BLOCK + diagonally down + away
Evade an opponent's throw attempt.
Death Punch
Standing punch when opponent jumps
Deliver a powerful punch when the opponent jumps at you.
Face Punch
FRONT PUNCH
A basic face punch.
Body Punch
BACK PUNCH
A basic body punch.
Face Kick
FRONT KICK
A basic face kick.
Body Kick
BACK KICK
A basic body Kick.
Block
BLOCK
A 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
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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.

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!