So, you’re looking at the Mortal Kombat 11 characters list and wondering why people are still obsessing over a game that technically finished its "life cycle" years ago. Honestly, it’s because NetherRealm did something weird here. They didn't just dump a bunch of fighters into a grid; they built a roster that feels like a museum of 90s action cinema mixed with some of the most technical fighting mechanics the series has ever seen.
Whether you're a "Scorpion main since '92" type of person or someone who just wants to see RoboCop shoot the Terminator in the face, there is a lot to unpack. We’re talking 37 fighters in the Ultimate edition. That is a massive jump from the 25 we started with back in 2019.
The New Blood: Geras, Cetrion, and the Kollector
Whenever a new MK drops, the community usually looks at the newcomers with a bit of a "who invited these guys?" attitude. But the MK11 fresh faces actually carry a lot of the heavy lifting for the story.
Geras is probably the standout. He’s basically a fixed point in time, a construct that gets stronger every time he dies. From a gameplay perspective, he was a nightmare at launch—huge damage, sand traps that caught everyone off guard, and a move set that could literally rewind time. Then you’ve got Cetrion, an Elder God who represents nature. She’s a zoner. If you hate projectiles, you probably hate Cetrion. She can throw rocks, fire, and water from across the screen while basically judging you for being mortal.
Then there’s the Kollector. He’s... weird. He’s a multi-armed debt collector for Shao Kahn who fights with a bag of magic trinkets. He never really dominated the "meta," but if you run into a high-level Kollector player online, just prepare to be confused for three rounds straight.
The Legends and the Timeline Shenanigans
The whole "past meets present" thing in MK11 wasn't just a gimmick for the story mode; it actually changed how these characters feel. You have the older, grizzled Johnny Cage alongside the 80s-ego-version of himself.
The roster is a mix of Earthrealm protectors, Outworld royalty, and the usual suspects from the Netherrealm.
- Liu Kang: The "chosen one" who finally gets his due as a literal god (Fire God Liu Kang).
- Scorpion and Sub-Zero: Obviously. You can’t have the game without them. Interestingly, Scorpion in this game is much more of a "honest" fighter compared to his teleport-spamming days in MKX.
- Kitana and Mileena: The sisters had a rough road. Mileena wasn't even in the game at launch, which caused a literal riot on Twitter. When she finally arrived in Kombat Pack 2, fans lost it.
Why some characters feel "slow"
If you’re coming from MKX, everyone in MK11 feels like they’re fighting underwater at first. It’s a slower, more deliberate game. You can't just run across the screen and force a 50/50 mix-up. Characters like Jax or Jacqui Briggs rely on "close-quarters combat" (CQC) and pressure. They want to be in your face. Meanwhile, characters like Jade or Skarlet want to keep you at the end of their staff or blood trails.
The Guest Fighters: A 1980s Fever Dream
NetherRealm’s Ed Boon is clearly a fan of 80s action movies. There is no other explanation for why we have RoboCop, The Terminator (T-800), and John Rambo in the same game.
Playing as the Terminator feels exactly how you’d expect—you’re a tank. You take hits, you keep walking, and you have that terrifying "Endoskeleton" mode where you basically refuse to die. Then you have Spawn, who was the most requested guest character for about a decade. He’s got the cape, the chains, and a massive axe. He’s heavy, hits like a truck, and has some of the coolest looking fatalities in the game.
And let's not forget The Joker. He’s fast, chaotic, and has a cane that reaches way further than it has any right to. He actually ended up being one of the strongest characters in the competitive scene for a long time.
Breaking Down the Competitive "Meta"
If you're looking to actually win games, the tier list for Mortal Kombat 11 characters has shifted a lot over the years.
Back in the day, Geras and Sony Blade were the kings. After a few years of patches, things leveled out, but certain names always stayed at the top. Jacqui Briggs (specifically her Upgraded variation) was notorious. She could basically stay in the air and bypass the entire "ground game" of MK11.
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Cetrion remained a top-tier pick for pros because her zoning is just so hard to get around. If you’re playing a character with no teleport, getting close to a good Cetrion is a soul-crushing experience. On the flip side, characters like Shao Kahn and Raiden struggled for a long time. They were seen as "too slow" or "too honest" in a game where everyone else had better gimmicks. Eventually, they got some buffs, but they never truly reached the god-tier status of someone like The Joker or Liu Kang.
Custom Variations: The Blessing and the Curse
One thing that makes the Mortal Kombat 11 characters unique is the Kustom Variation system. You can pick and choose special moves to create your own version of a fighter.
This was great for casual play. You want a Sub-Zero that focuses entirely on ice clones? Go for it. But for a long time, competitive play only allowed "Tournament Variations." This meant you were stuck with whatever three builds the developers thought were balanced. It wasn't until later in the game's life that they opened up "Kustoms" for ranked play, which completely changed the landscape. Suddenly, characters that were considered "trash" found new life with specific move combinations.
The DLC Impact
The Aftermath expansion and the Kombat Packs didn't just add characters; they added flavor.
- Fujin: The God of Wind. He is incredibly fast and technical. Most people find him too hard to play, but in the hands of a pro like Hayatei, he looks untouchable.
- Sheeva: She caused a massive controversy because of her "Dragon Drop" move. For months, people would just spam the unblockable stomp, and if you didn't know the specific timing to dash, you just lost. It was eventually nerfed, but the scars remain for many players.
- Rain: A fan favorite who finally returned with his katar and water-based portals. He’s flashy, but honestly, he’s a bit of a "high effort, low reward" character compared to the top tiers.
Practical Advice for Picking a Main
If you're just starting out or coming back to the game in 2026, don't just pick the "best" character. Pick the one that fits how you think.
If you like being annoying and staying far away, go with Jade or Cetrion. You’ll get hate mail, but you’ll get wins. If you want to press buttons and never let your opponent breathe, Jacqui or Liu Kang are your best bets. For those who just want to hit one or two big combos and see the health bar disappear, Spawn or Shao Kahn (with his buffs) are incredibly satisfying.
The beauty of the Mortal Kombat 11 characters is that the game is "finished." There are no more balance patches coming to ruin your favorite character. What you see is what you get. The game has settled into a state where almost everyone is viable unless you're playing at the absolute highest level of Evo.
Actionable Insights for MK11 Players:
- Learn the Flawless Block: This is the most important mechanic in the game. If you can't flawless block, certain characters like Lao will just steamroll you with "plus frames."
- Don't ignore the Frame Data: MK11 actually shows you the numbers in the move list. If a move is -15, don't use it unless it hits, or you're getting punished.
- Watch the "Pros": Look up old sets from SonicFox or Dragon. Even though the game is older, the strategies they developed for characters like Sindel or Shang Tsung are still the gold standard.
The roster might be frozen in time, but the depth is still there. Whether you're in it for the lore of the New Era or just want to perform a Brutality with Rambo, these characters still offer more variety than almost any other fighter on the market.
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To truly master the roster, start by taking your favorite fighter into the "Character Tutorials" section in the training menu. It’s one of the few fighting games that actually explains why a character is played a certain way, giving you specific combos and strategy tips that go way beyond a simple move list. Check the frame data on your "bread and butter" strings to see which ones are safe on block—this is the difference between getting stuck in a corner and actually controlling the match.