Highlights

  • Mortal Kombat 1 brings back familiar characters in a new timeline, with anticipation for DLC fighters Nightwolf and Kabal.
  • The first Kombat Pack for MK1 is packed with content, including guest fighters and returning veterans, with the possibility of a second pack.
  • Nightwolf and Kabal are fan favorites, and their inclusion in the New Era is highly desired if not inevitable.

Mortal Kombat 1 is the latest entry in the hit fighting game franchise. When it was released last September, the title rebooted the series once again. Following the events of MK11, Liu Kang created a new timeline with the hopes that it would lead to a more peaceful world. MK1 picks up in this new world as Liu Kang and his comrades fight to maintain peace and stop things from going awry as they did in the previous one. Because Mortal Kombat 1 is set in a different timeline with new versions of each character, the return of veteran fighters as DLC is eagerly awaited and there are two fighters left out so far that feel like obvious choices.

The contents of MK1's first Kombat Pack were known long before the game was released. Leaks and speculation had flooded the internet for some time, and eventually, the developers showed it off months before the game was released, touting it as an addition to some of the titles's pricier versions. With three guest fighters, three returning veterans, and five Kameo Fighters, the first Kombat Pack is jammed full of content. There has been no word on the existence of a second pack, and the first one won't be finished until the summer, but given the series' track record, it seems certain that more DLC is on the way.

A close-up screenshot of Peacemaker in Mortal Kombat 1.
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Nightwolf Is an Obvious Choice for Kombat Pack 2

The reveal of Mortal Kombat 1's second Kombat Pack seems like an inevitability, as does Nightwolf's appearance in Liu Kang's new timeline. Nightwolf first showed up in Mortal Kombat 3 and has remained a staple of the series since. Born as Grey Cloud, he is a respected warrior from the Matoka tribe and the most recent member to assume the mantle of Nightwolf. Nightwolf has served as a minor character in most of the MK games but was one of the protagonists of MK11: Aftermath and is known for being one of the most recognizable Native American characters in the gaming medium.

Could A Different Fighter Become Nightwolf in MK1?

In MK11: Aftermath, Nightwolf tells one of his opponents that, even if he dies, the mantle will live on. Every generation, a new Matokan warrior becomes Nightwolf, so it's possible that in Liu Kang's new timeline, a new fighter could take up the role. Choosing a new Matokan warrior to serve as Nightwolf could be a great way to reimagine the fighter with some new abilities while still paying homage to the importance of the character as a rare example of Native American representation in the gaming medium.

Whether or not NetherRealm takes advantage of this opportunity to appoint a new fighter to the role, the character is deserving of an appearance in Mortal Kombat 1 .

Leaving Out Kabal Would Be a Mistake for Mortal Kombat 1

Mortal Kombat 11 Kabal Blades Intro

Like Nightwolf, Kabal first appeared in Mortal Kombat 3. He served as a villain in the original MK timeline, but 2011's Mortal Kombat reboot brought him back as a hero. This most recent iteration of Kabal used to be a police officer before being attacked by Kintaro and sustaining terrible injuries. He later receives a respirator from Kano and teams up with a former colleague, Stryker, as the two join in aiding the Earthrealm warriors against Shao Khan. Now that Mortal Kombat 1 has rebooted the timeline again, Kabal could return as either a hero or a villain, making his appearance an interesting prospect.

Kabal and Nightwolf are both fan-favorite characters whose debut in the new timeline feels inevitable. The two fighters are an obvious choice for Kombat Pack 2, especially if Mortal Kombat 1 receives story DLC. Nightwolf served a major role in the last timeline and had his character fleshed out in Aftermath, and Kabal has so much potential as both a hero and a villain that leaving either of them out of the game would be a real shame. Unfortunately, there has been no official news about Kombat Pack 2 or these characters' inclusion in the game yet.