You’ve finally whittled down your opponent's health bar. The screen darkens, the music swells with an eerie tension, and that iconic, gravelly voice booms: "FINISH HIM." This is the moment where years of arcade legacy meet modern-day gore. Honestly, performing fatalities for Mortal Kombat XL isn't just about the spectacle anymore; it's a rite of passage that separates the casual button-mashers from the actual Kombatants.
But here is the thing. A lot of players—even those who have been playing since the 2015 launch of MKX—still struggle with the nuances of these finishers. It’s not just about memorizing a string of buttons like Down, Back, Forward, Triangle. You’ve got to nail the distance, the timing, and sometimes even the specific character variation. If you’re standing at "Sweep" distance when you should be at "Close," you’re just going to look like an idiot doing a low kick while your opponent falls over naturally. It’s embarrassing.
The Distance Dilemma: Why You Keep Failing
Most people fail their fatalities because they don't understand the spacing. The game doesn't explicitly draw a line on the floor, so you’re left guessing.
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Basically, there are three main distances you need to care about:
- Close: You should be close enough to smell their fear. Literally touching them.
- Mid (Sweep): About two steps back. If you can hit them with a sweep kick (Down + Back Kick), you’re in the sweet spot.
- Far: Stand on the other side of the screen. Think of it as social distancing, but with more dismemberment.
If you’re trying to pull off Scorpion’s "Who’s Next?" and you’re standing right in their face, it won't work. That one is a Mid range finisher. You need that tiny bit of breathing room to let the animation trigger.
Fatalities for Mortal Kombat XL: The Heavy Hitters
MKXL added a bunch of DLC characters—the "Kombat Pack" folks—who brought some of the most creative (and disgusting) finishers to the table. Let's look at a few of the ones that actually matter.
The Guest Stars
Leatherface and the Alien aren't just there for the aesthetic. Their finishers are brutal. For instance, Leatherface’s "Seeing Double" requires you to be Close and input Forward, Back, Down, Square (on PS4). It’s a classic chainsaw-to-the-face moment that feels straight out of a 70s slasher flick.
Then you have the Alien. Its "Killer Queen" fatality (Down, Down, Back, Forward, X) is a terrifying homage to the films. You have to be Close for this one too. Honestly, the way the chest-burster comes out never gets old, even a decade later.
The Classics
Sub-Zero and Scorpion are the bread and butter of this franchise.
Sub-Zero’s "Chest Kold" is a Mid-range move: Back, Forward, Down, Back, Circle. He basically freezes your chest and then shatters it. It’s simple, effective, and classic Sub-Zero.
Scorpion’s "Stop Ahead" is also a Mid-range input: Down, Back, Forward, Triangle. You’ve seen it a thousand times, but there’s a reason it’s the face of the game. It’s clean. It’s iconic. It works.
Stage Fatalities and Faction Kills
One thing people often forget is that the environment is just as lethal as the fighters. MKXL reintroduced Stage Fatalities, but they only work on specific maps: The Pit, The Kove, and Refugee Camp. If you aren't on those stages, don't bother trying the inputs. You’ll just be dancing around like a fool.
For example, if you're playing as D’Vorah on The Pit, her stage finisher is Forward, Forward, Block. It’s short, sweet, and sends the loser screaming into the spikes below.
Faction Kills: The "Lazy" Finisher
Don't feel like memorizing a 5-button combo? Faction Kills are your best friend. These are tied to whichever group you joined (Lin Kuei, Black Dragon, etc.). They are universally executed by holding Block and hitting a direction.
- Faction Kill 1: Hold Block + Forward, Forward.
- Faction Kill 2: Hold Block + Back, Back.
They aren't as flashy as a character-specific fatality, but they get the job done when you’re under pressure and your fingers start to scramble.
Why Brutalities are the Real Flex
While fatalities are the "cinematic" ending, Brutalities are the true mark of a pro. Why? Because you have to meet specific conditions during the match to pull them off.
Take Erron Black. One of his brutalities requires you to land a certain number of shots with his sand grenade throughout the match. If you don't hit that quota, the finisher won't trigger even if you do the final move correctly. It adds a layer of strategy. You aren't just fighting to win; you're fighting to set up the kill.
It’s a different kind of satisfaction. Seeing a character explode into bone fragments because you ended a combo with a specific special move is just... chef's kiss.
Pro Tips for Consistent Finishers
If you’re still messing up, here’s what you actually need to do.
First, go into Fatality Practice Mode. It’s there for a reason. It gives you an infinite timer and on-screen prompts. Spend ten minutes there with your main character.
Second, remember that you can use Easy Fatality Tokens. You get these through the Krypt or by buying them (though buying them is sorta a waste of money). They let you trigger a finisher with just two buttons, like Block + Front Punch. It’s a literal cheat code for when you’re too lazy to learn the real inputs.
Lastly, check your Variation. Some finishers in the game—specifically some hidden Brutalities—are locked to specific variations. If you’re playing "Hish-Qu-Ten" Predator, you might have different finisher requirements than "Warrior" Predator. Always check your move list in the pause menu if you're unsure.
Actionable Next Steps
To truly master fatalities for Mortal Kombat XL, stop trying to learn the whole roster at once. Pick one character and learn both of their main fatalities plus their stage fatality. Once you can do those in your sleep without looking at a guide, move on to the next one. Start with The Kove stage, as its "Close" proximity requirement is the easiest to judge visually. Your goal is to make the "Finish Him" window feel like an eternity, not a frantic panic.
Go into the Krypt and unlock the secondary fatalities if you haven't already. While you can technically perform them without "unlocking" them if you know the code, having them in your move list makes it much easier to reference during a live match. Keep your distance, watch your positioning, and don't let the timer run out.