Highlights

  • Mortal Kombat 1's first major update brings a plethora of non-gameplay updates, including bug fixes, move list corrections, new content, and improved quality of life features.
  • The update also includes major balance alterations to the game, particularly affecting the Kameo fighters. Players will need to adjust their playstyle and character choices due to these changes.
  • Many character-specific changes in the update have minor impact, but some characters like Baraka, Geras, Havik, Mileena, and Raiden receive nerfs that significantly increase damage scaling. However, the full impact of the balance changes remains to be seen.

Mortal Kombat 1 has been available to players for over a month now. Players have had some time with the game, a meta is developing, and major tournaments for the title have kicked off. Mortal Kombat 1, like other fighting games, consists of an intricate web of systems that interact in complex ways, and sustaining a player base over an extended period requires balancing those systems and adapting as new metas emerge. A new update was released for the game following its first major tournament, bringing a wave of balance updates, fixes, and new content.

Mortal Kombat 1's first major update consisted of a plethora of non-gameplay updates. While balance changes for MK1 are important, the other part of the update has added new content to the game and improved quality of life. This update includes:

  • Bug Fixes
  • Move List Corrections
  • Halloween Fatality added to the store
  • A Halloween variation of Johnny Cage's Mansion
  • A Wu Shi Academy Evening Variation
  • The shrine can now be used more rapidly
  • Faster movement in Invasion Mode
  • Adjusted camera positions in Kustomize Photo Mode
  • Leaderboards for Klassic Towers
  • Added voice chat options
  • In-game ping and connection quality indicators

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Mortal Kombat 1's First Balance Patch Changed The Game Drastically

Shang Tsung fighting against Liu Kang

On top of adding the first paid fatality in Mortal Kombat 1 alongside some Halloween content and quality-of-life changes, the new update made some major balance alterations to the game. While some of these changes were character-specific, a large amount of them were system-level or wide-reaching. The biggest changes are to how Kameo Fighters are balanced in the game now. Using a Kameo move twice in the same combo will make the refresh time longer than usual. The rate at which the Kameo fighters recover varies from fighter to fighter, meaning that players will need to factor this change in based on both their chosen characters and playstyle. While Kameo Fighters received specific changes as well, they have all generally been nerfed by the patch.

Mortal Kombat 1's First Balance Update Favors Nerfs

Many changes to Mortal Kombat 1's characters favored nerfs over buffs. Nerfs to Cyrax were especially controversial. The problem with nerfs is that taking power and abilities away from players feels bad. Many players of the game stated that the nerfs went too far and targeted the wrong characters. Part of NetherRealm's decision likely arose from the game's penchant for high damage. Mortal Kombat 1 is a game in which experienced players can end a match in two to four successful interactions. While the approach of buffing characters to match the ones that are initially overpowered is typically preferred, MK1 didn't have much room to work with in doing so.

MK1's Balance Patch Has Some Big Winners and Losers

Scorpion Fatality in Mortal Kombat

Many of the Mortal Kombat 1 character-specific changes are neutral in their impact. Ashrah, Johnny Cage, Kenshi, Li Mei, Rain, Reiko, Scorpion, Sindel, Shang Tsung, Smoke, and Sub-Zero all received minor changes that had little impact on their overall strength. General Shao only received bug fixes, but they made him a much more consistent character, amounting to a slight buff. Baraka, Geras, Havik, Mileena, and Raiden all received nerfs, largely in the form of substantially increased damage scaling. Baraka, notably, can no longer crouch below certain attacks to which he alone was previously immune. Nitara, Kitana, Kung Lao, and Reptile all received slight buffs. MK1's Nitara especially looks stronger after the patch, as her Blood Sacrifice ability received a 90% damage reduction.

Mortal Kombat 1's first balance patch has left the game in an interesting state. While most balance changes were relatively minor outside of Kameo fighters, the impact of overarching nerfs on the Kameo system have yet to be fully seen. Some of the weaker kombatants in the game rely on Kameo abilities more than top-tier fighters, so it is possible that the broad nerfs to the Kameo system will impact primary fighters in yet-to-be-seen ways. This is the first Mortal Kombat with an assist feature, so it could take the developers some time to balance it. Despite potential difficulties around doing so, Mortal Kombat 2 should feature Kameos still as they've differentiated this new era from past entries in the franchise.