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By all rights, Mortal Kombat 1 should be called Mortal Kombat 12 – the storyline continues from the ending of MK11's DLCAftermath, after all. After Liu Kang used the powers of the Hourglass to completely restart the Mortal Kombat universe and all of its characters, he "retired" from being the Keeper of Time, losing his godlike powers to become protector of Earthrealm as the God of Fire.
Mortal Kombat 1: Sub-Zero Guide: Moves, Combos, & More Tips
In Mortal Kombat 1 Sub Zero is played by the familiar Bi-Han, but players not used to MK1's combat may find the character a little slow to start.
Liu Kang's approach to fighting in Mortal Kombat 1 is far from humble, though, and his fatalities are among the most brutal in the game. Not only is Liu Kang fast and punishing, but his combos are relatively easy to learn, and his bicycle kick – and other moves – are as powerful as ever.
Liu Kang Overview
The Mortal Kombat universe has gone through some serious changes in Mortal Kombat 1. Once the Keeper of Time, Liu Kang is now the God of Fire, having replaced Raiden in his newly crafted timeline, the former Shaolin Warrior remains the same humble, disciplined martial artist at heart.
One thing that hasn't changed about Liu Kang is that he remains a good "beginner" character, thanks to special moves with similar inputs and a balanced overall moveset, and his ability to deal short bursts of damage is almost unmatched. But experienced players can make a lot happen with Liu Kang's moves, especially with the powerful combos available to him.
Liu Kang Special Moves & Basic Attacks
This guide uses a standard universal input translation for moves. Players won't find familiar console buttons listed below – instead, a system created by the fighting game community over time converts each console's controls to a simple formula. This allows all players to understand the inputs necessary for these moves and combos.
For more information on how this system works, refer to this guide on how to understand the Mortal Kombat 1 universal input code.
Liu Kang Special Moves
Name | Inputs | Description |
|---|---|---|
Cosmic Flame | BF1 | Liu Kang fires a bolt of blue and orange fire forward |
Low Dragon | DB1 | Liu Kang slings a firebolt that bounces on the ground instead of forward |
Dragon's Tail | BF3 | Liu Kang summons a fiery dragon to guide his long-distance kick |
Dancing Dragon | BF4 | Liu Kang's iconic Bicycle Kick, given new flair |
Dragon's Breath | DB4 | Teleports Liu Kang close to the enemy (but not from a distance) |
Mortal Kombat 1: How to Change Announcer Voice
Mortal Kombat 1 lets players modify the narrator’s voice actor in the settings; here’s how to do so.
Useful Core Liu Kang Moves
Name | Inputs | Description |
|---|---|---|
Burning Desire | F3, 4 | Liu Kang chops the enemy and then kicks them into the air, but not high enough for aerials |
Tailwhip | B2, 3 | Primary launcher for Liu Kang, can be chained within combos relatively easily |
Shaolin Stutter | F1, 4 | Quick interrupt, in which Liu Kang quickly hits the enemy before kicking them |
Liu Kang Kombos in MK1
Best Ground Liu Kang Combos
Inputs | Description |
|---|---|
F4, 3, 4 | "Eternal Power", a series of powerful kicks |
2, 2, 1 | "Pyromancer's Gift", in which Liu Kang knocks the opponent to the ground with a fiery punch |
3, 3, 3 | Liu Kang quickly kicks three times in rapid succession, can be followed with a special |
Best Air Liu Kang Combos
Inputs | Description |
|---|---|
1, 3, 4 | "Unstoppable" standard combo, high damage punch and two kicks |
2, 1, 2 | "New Future" standard combo, Liu Kang deals a few quick punches, can be followed with Cosmic Flame |
Liu Kang MK1 Fatalities & Brutalities
Liu Kang Brutalities in MK1
Brutalities can only be performed once unlocked via Character Mastery progression, but all Fatalities can be performed as long as the player is at the right distance and makes the correct inputs. This guide will be updated as we progress through each of the character's Mastery tracks in Mortal Kombat 1.
Brutality Name | Inputs | Description |
|---|---|---|
The Klassic | D2, hold 2 | Decapitates opponent with a quick uppercut |
Bleeding Heart | Grab, press 3 three times | Liu Kang reaches into the opponent's chest and pulls out their heart |
Dancing Around | BF4, press 1 six times | Liu Kang bicycle kicks his opponent's body parts off, eventually kicking them in half |
Liu Kang Fatalities in MK1
Mortal Kombat 1: All Liu Kang Fatalities (Video Guide)
Liu Kang's Mortal Kombat Fatalities are not only deadly, they're also some of the most original finishers that the popular fighting game has to offer.
Fatality Name | Inputs | Required Distance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Double Dragon | DFB4 | Close | Liu Kang lifts the opponent into the air with summoned dragons, kicks them in half, and crushes their head |
Black Hole | BFB3 | Close | Liu Kang teleports himself and the opponent into space and holds them near a Black Hole, so their flesh is ripped off slowly |
Mortal Kombat 1 is available for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.