He shouldn't really work. If you think about it, plopping a gritty, poncho-wearing gunslinger into a world of four-armed monsters and thunder gods sounds like a recipe for a tonal disaster. But somehow, Mortal Kombat Erron Black became one of the most successful "new generation" characters NetherRealm ever cooked up. He debuted in Mortal Kombat X and immediately carved out a niche that wasn't just "guy with a gun." He had swagger. He had a coin-shot move that felt like a reward for being precise. Most importantly, he brought a sense of grounded, cynical mercenary energy to a story that often gets lost in its own cosmic stakes.
Erron Black doesn't care about the Elder Gods. He doesn't care about the fate of the realms or who sits on the throne of Outworld, provided the check clears. That's why people love him. In a roster full of Chosen Ones and vengeful ghosts, he's just a guy who is incredibly good at shooting things.
Where Did Erron Black Actually Come From?
There’s a lot of confusion about his age. People see the hat and the revolvers and assume he’s a modern cosplayer. He’s not. He is actually over 150 years old. He was born in Texas during the 19th century—the mid-1800s to be exact. He didn't get to Outworld via a magic portal he found in a backyard. He was hired by Shang Tsung.
The lore, specifically mentioned in his MKX ending and expanded upon in the comics, explains that Shang Tsung offered him a deal: assassinate a target in exchange for slowed aging. It’s why he looks like he’s in his prime despite having lived through the industrial revolution and two world wars. This gives him a weird, unintentional "Man with No Name" vibe that feels earned rather than stolen.
Honestly, it makes him more interesting than the standard Special Forces characters like Cassie Cage or Jacqui Briggs. While they use high-tech drones and military-grade hardware, Erron is out here using black powder, sand traps, and a literal tarkatan blade he probably took off a corpse. He’s a scavenger.
The Evolution of the Gunslinger: MKX vs MK11
If you played Mortal Kombat X, you remember the "Marksman" or "Gunslinger" variations. He was a menace. He could zone you out, but he could also mix you up with that command grab. Then Mortal Kombat 11 happened, and NetherRealm decided to lean even harder into the Western aesthetic.
They gave him a rifle. They gave him cattle tosses. They even gave him those acidic toss-bottles that forced you to move or melt.
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Some fans actually hated the change. In MKX, he felt like a mysterious nomad. In MK11, he felt more like a traditional cowboy, complete with a more pronounced Southern drawl and a personality that felt a bit more "theatrical." But from a gameplay perspective, he remained a top-tier pick for anyone who wanted to control the pace of the match.
The "Scud Shot" in MK11 was a game-changer. It was one of the few moves in the game that could consistently shut down other projectiles. It made him a hard counter to characters who relied on spamming fireballs. You didn't just play Erron; you controlled the screen.
Why Mortal Kombat Erron Black Works (And Why Some Clones Fail)
NetherRealm tries to introduce new characters every cycle. Some stick, like Kotal Kahn. Some don't, like Cetrion (sorry to the three Cetrion mains out there). Erron Black stuck because he fills a specific "archetype" hole.
Fighting games need a "cool guy."
- Street Fighter has Guile.
- Tekken has Bryan Fury or Hwoarang.
- Mortal Kombat had plenty of ninjas, but it lacked that gritty, cinematic anti-hero.
Erron isn't a hero. He’s worked for Kotal Kahn, he’s worked for the Black Dragon, and he’s worked for himself. That moral ambiguity makes him a perfect foil for the "good guys" of Earthrealm. He doesn't have a tragic backstory involving a murdered family or a lost clan. He just likes the work.
The Gear and the Gimmicks
Let's talk about the gear. One of the most iconic parts of his kit is the revolvers. In MK11, the customization was deep. You could change his hat, his pistols, and his rifle. But the coolest detail—and the one that shows the developers actually cared—is the names on the bullets.
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If you look closely during certain intro animations or his Fatal Blow, his bullets have the names of his opponents engraved on them. That is a level of "disrespect" that perfectly encapsulates his character. It’s not just a fight; it’s a contract. He already planned for your death before the round even started.
Handling the Learning Curve: How to Actually Play Him
If you're looking to pick him up in the older titles or just want to understand the meta, you have to realize Erron is a "resource" character.
In MK11, he had his rifle stance. You had to manage your ammo. If you ran out, you were vulnerable. This added a layer of strategy that most MK characters don't have. You couldn't just mash buttons. You had to count your shots.
- The Slide: This is his most infamous move. It’s fast, it goes under high projectiles, and it hits low. It’s the ultimate "check" for an opponent who isn't blocking properly.
- The Rattle Snake: Using the acid or sand to create "chip damage" or area denial.
- The Coin Toss: Specifically in MKX, this was a flashy way to extend combos. It required timing. It wasn't for beginners.
He’s a mid-range fighter. He wants to stay just outside of your reach where he can poke you with his long-reaching normals or shoot you if you try to jump. If you get too close, he has the "Big Boot" or the command grab to push you back out.
The Future of the Nomad
When Mortal Kombat 1 (the 2023 reboot) launched, fans were shocked Erron Black wasn't on the base roster. He felt like a mainstay. Instead, the game leaned heavily into the 3D-era nostalgia and the classic ninjas.
Does that mean he's gone? Doubtful.
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The "New Era" timeline created by Liu Kang allows for anyone to be reimagined. Maybe in this timeline, Erron isn't an Outworld mercenary. Maybe he’s a Pinkerton agent or a bounty hunter in a different realm. The beauty of his character is that he doesn't need a complex origin. He just needs a gun and a reason to use it.
There have been rumors and datamines suggesting he might appear as a DLC character or a Kameo in future "Kombat Packs." Even if he doesn't make it into MK1, his impact on the series is undeniable. He proved that the franchise could move away from just "Ninjas vs. Special Forces" and introduce something that felt like it belonged in a Sergio Leone film.
Actionable Tips for Mastering the Gunslinger
If you're jumping back into MK11 or MKX to get your fix, here is what you need to focus on to actually win:
- Learn the "Locked and Loaded" cancels. In MK11, being able to enter and exit his rifle stance quickly is the difference between a pro and a scrub. It’s used for pressure, not just shooting.
- Abuse the 21212 string. It’s one of his best overhead/low mix-ups. It forces the opponent to guess, and in a game like Mortal Kombat, making your opponent guess is 90% of the battle.
- Don't get predictable with the slide. Everyone expects the slide. Use it to finish combos or as a rare punish, but if you throw it out raw from full screen, you're going to get punished for 40% of your health.
- Watch competitive footage. Look up players like SonicFox or Hayatei. They played Erron Black at the highest levels and showed how to use his movement to frustrate opponents.
Erron Black represents a shift in how NetherRealm designs characters—moving toward specific "vibes" and highly stylized gameplay mechanics. Whether he's dropping sand on your head or shooting a coin into your eye, he remains one of the most mechanically satisfying characters in the history of the series.
Stop playing him like a zoner. Start playing him like a bully. That's the real way to honor the deadliest man in Outworld.
Next Steps for Players: To truly understand the character's depth, load up the Mortal Kombat X story mode to see his original introduction alongside Kotal Kahn. Afterward, head into the Practice Mode in Mortal Kombat 11 and focus on mastering the "On the Hunt" string into a "Rattle Snake" cancel. This will build the muscle memory needed to handle his high-pressure playstyle in online matches.