MK1 Fatalities: A Complete Guide to Every Brutal Finisher in Mortal Kombat 1

Here’s a wild stat for you — Mortal Kombat 1 launched with over 40 unique fatalities, and I’m pretty sure I botched every single one of them during my first week of playing. Seriously, I was standing at the wrong distance, pressing the wrong buttons, and watching my character just awkwardly stand there while the “Finish Him” timer ran out. It was embarrassing!

MK1 fatalities are arguably the most iconic part of the entire franchise, and the 2023 reboot took things to an absolutely cinematic level. Whether you’re a returning veteran or someone who just picked up a controller for the first time, nailing these finishing moves is basically a rite of passage. So let me walk you through everything I’ve learned — the hard way, mostly.

What Are Fatalities in Mortal Kombat 1?

If you’re brand new to the series, fatalities are special finishing moves you perform after winning the final round of a match. That iconic “Finish Him” or “Finish Her” prompt pops up, and you’ve got a few seconds to input the correct button combination at the right distance. Mess it up and, well, you just stand there looking silly.

Each character in the Mortal Kombat 1 roster has two unique fatalities. The first one is usually unlocked from the start, while the second one needs to be discovered or unlocked through gameplay. I remember spending way too long in practice mode trying to figure out Sub-Zero’s second fatality before I just caved and looked it up online.

How to Actually Perform MK1 Fatalities (Without Failing)

Okay so here’s where I kept messing up at first. Distance matters — a lot. Every fatality requires you to be standing at a specific range from your opponent: close, mid, or far. If the input says “mid” and you’re right in their face, nothing happens.

My biggest tip? Go into practice mode and turn on the fatality training option. It literally shows you the distance marker on the screen. I wish I had done this sooner instead of rage-quitting online matches because I couldn’t land Scorpion’s finisher.

• Pay attention to the distance indicator — close, mid, or far
• Input the button combination quickly but accurately
• Don’t hold block while entering the sequence
• Practice in training mode before trying it online

The Most Iconic MK1 Fatalities You Need to See

Look, every fatality in this game is gorgeous in a horrifying kind of way. But some of them just hit different. Sub-Zero’s “Spine Rip” is a callback to the original 1992 game, and honestly it made me gasp the first time I pulled it off. The level of detail NetherRealm put into the animations is insane.

Scorpion’s fatalities are fan favorites for obvious reasons — fire and skull-ripping never gets old. But personally, I think Kitana’s finishers are underrated. There’s something about the elegance mixed with absolute brutality that just works. And don’t even get me started on Shang Tsung’s fatalities, which reference classic MK moves from throughout the series.

If you want to see all the fatalities in action, this YouTube compilation is absolutely worth watching:

Mortal Kombat 1 – All Fatalities on YouTube

Unlocking Second Fatalities in MK1

So each character’s second fatality was initially hidden, which drove the community nuts. You could either discover the inputs yourself — good luck with that — or you could unlock them through the Krypt-like progression system. Eventually, dataminers and dedicated players posted every input online, which is honestly how most of us found them.

The full fatality input list at Prima Games is a solid resource that I still reference when I pick up a new character. No shame in using a guide, trust me.

Keep the Kombat Going

MK1 fatalities aren’t just flashy finishers — they’re a celebration of what makes this franchise legendary. Whether you’re learning your first fatality or trying to master every character’s second one, the key is practice and patience. I’ve been there, fumbling inputs and standing like a statue while the timer expires.

Don’t be afraid to use guides and training mode. That’s what they’re there for. And if you’re hungry for more gaming tips, walkthroughs, and deep dives like this one, head over to Glitch Lane and check out our other posts. We’ve got plenty more where this came from!