With every addition to Mortal Kombat 11's roster, there's a slight tweak to the metagame. Some characters may not have as much of an impact as others, but there seems to be one consensus when it comes to Mortal Kombat 11 DLC fighters: they're all on par with currently available fighters. It's not unusual for a fighting game to have a clear delineation of characters, with some simply not cut out for any competitive gameplay, but that's not the case here.
As such, many may be wondering how Mortal Kombat 11 DLC characters rank among themselves. It's worth noting that everyone has a different playstyle, which should come into play when choosing a main, but here's the general consensus on how these characters rank for the average player.
Shang Tsung (S TIER)
Shang Tsung is the first character of the current Kombat Pack and has had a strong showing in the metagame since day one. With effective combos and tried-and-true zoning abilities, Shang Tsung can turn into a deadly enemy to face, especially depending on the circumstance. He doesn't necessarily own the metagame, though, but for those looking to master zoning in Mortal Kombat 11, Shang Tsung is a prime candidate.
Sindel (S- Tier)
Sindel is the most recent DLC character added to Mortal Kombat 11 and shot straight to the top. In terms of gameplay, she is slower than some characters, but this is more than made up by her reach and variety of combos. This extends horizontally and vertically, including a variety of spell-like abilities, hair attacks, and Kwan Do attacks. If speed is less of a concern and technical, varied gameplay is what one desires, then there's no going wrong with Sindel.
Terminator T-800 (A+ TIER)
Many will find that Terminator's general sluggishness and less-than-ideal speed make him a bad option, but when played right, Terminator's offensive skills more than set off his downfalls, even for the average player. His move list isn't the best, but a variety of punches and shotgun blasts can be chained together to deal 50%+ of damage to an enemy. The key to playing Terminator is to stay as close as possible to the enemy, as his limited range is another balance to his strength. Mortal Kombat 11's Terminator will not be for everyone, but given proper practice and technique, he's an incredibly viable character.
Nightwolf (A- TIER)
Nightwolf comes packed with several style options, including ranged, rush, and reflective maneuvers to keep his opponent where he wants them. A lot of Nightwolf's best Mortal Kombat 11 combos include using a variety of these methods to lure opponents into traps, to open them up, and to lead the assault. However, Nightwolf can be outclassed easily enough by anyone familiar with his abilities.
Shao Kahn (B- TIER)
Shao Kahn is not part of the Kombat Pack, but his inclusion as a pre-order bonus and now standalone DLC make him worth considering. And while his ranking is generally lower than the other DLC characters, that doesn't completely affect his viability—just his availability. Due to his slow speed, high strings, and restricting combos, he's a situational character at best, but when played right, those situations are easy enough to bring about.
Of course, none of this is set in stone and could be changed come new patches or DLC characters in 2020. While Kombat Pack 2 remains as elusive as ever, fans still have Joker arriving in January and Spawn in May to look forward to.
Mortal Kombat 11 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.
