MK11 Tier List: All Characters Ranked

Our MK11 tier list has changed over the years. Updates to Mortal Kombat 11 have tweaked the game’s mechanics, and expansions, like Aftermath, have added new fighters. The roster now has a whopping 37 playable characters (though that’s not as much as the 52 in Tekken 7). Still, figuring out who to play and why can be a daunting task, whether you’re jumping in ahead of MK1 (aka Mortal Kombat 12) or coming back after a long hiatus. That’s why we’re ranked them.

MK11 Tier List: All Characters Ranked

This MK11 tier list ranks characters from S-Tier to C-Tier, as all of the fighters are viable in some form or fashion. We’ve included the entire Mortal Kombat 11 roster, including all DLC characters from the Kombat Packs and Aftermath expansion. Here’s a quick look at how we’ve ranked them, as well as links that you can use to jump down to your favorite fighter.

S-Tier

Cetrion

She might be a mixed bag when it comes to story, but there’s no denying that Cetrion sits at the top of the roster (if not right next to it). Her long-reaching attacks and teleports make her an excellent zoner, while her other elemental attacks make her a threat up close. To top it all off, she’s easy to pick up, too.

The Joker

Hailing from the DC Universe and a character that NetherRealm Studios is quite familiar with from previous games, The Joker comfortably earns this spot on our MK11 tier list. He’s an absolute menace of a rushdown character and can keep the hits coming if he gets close. At the same time, he has some zoning versatility with projectile attacks that can keep enemies at a distance or counter against zoners. 

Jacqui Briggs

Some will argue that Jaqui is the best rushdown character in Mortal Kombat 11, and to be honest, we can’t argue against that. Varied combos and incredible movement make her a scary opponent to fight against. Naturally, she has some projectile attacks to mix things up as well with her Shrapnel Blast and related ability modifiers.

Liu Kang

Liu Kang has always been a character known for both their fireballs and bicycle kicks, with that versatility being a big reason why he’s so good. His combos can easily get past a blocking opponent who guesses wrong, while his fireballs make him an equally annoying zoner to deal with.

Fujin

Fujin is one of the few zoners on this MK11 tier list who can easily compete with Cetrion thanks to his Krossbow Blast and Wind Push ability option. At the same time, he excels at being able to get hits in no matter his distance. Fair warning: he does have a high skill ceiling, and it will take some practice to get good with him. The results are well worth it, though.

Jade

You may recognize a pattern here, as Jade is a strong character thanks to her ranged attacks and long-reaching pokes. Fantastic mix-up potential with her combos and a parry help her stand out among the top characters. It might take a while to grasp every tool she has, but no one else will be able to surprise an opponent the way Jade can.

Sub-Zero

The cold-as-ice ninja is someone you’ll see at every level of play. Even though he has some unsafe moves that might mean trouble if they’re blocked, Sub-Zero remains a great rushdown character with nimble movement and great combos.

Geras

We finally have our first Mortal Kombat 11 grappler, and even after some nerfs and balance changes, Geras still feels like the strongest in the archetype. His throws deal a staggering amount of damage, and moves like Quicksand and Sand Trap allow him to enter for some close-range combos safely. He’s among the more difficult characters to master, though, so be ready to put in some effort to get good with him.

Shang Tsung

Moving back to Zoners, none have as much style as Shang Tsung. He can control screen space using his Fire Skull and Ground Eruption abilities. Meanwhile, he can transform into the opponent and use their own moves against them using Soul Steal. Even with some slower mobility, he can mix up opponents from afar in the right hands.

Kabal

If speed is your thing, you can’t do better than Kabal. Quick attacks allow him to get hits in and start combos even if he’s across the screen. It’s necessary to mix things up with different attacks or his Buzzsaw projectiles to prevent your opponent from blocking and punishing though. Outside of his attacks, his movement can actually be quite slow, so you’ll need to learn his sweet spot when it comes to spacing.

A-Tier

Cassie Cage

If you want a character who feels well-rounded, Cassie Cage might be for you. She can effortlessly keep opponents away or take the fight up close, depending on which abilities you use. Like her dad (good ol’ Johnny Cage), she’s a great character to learn the game with and can still serve you well as you improve.

Erron Black

Erron Black can be looked down upon for his low damage and mobility, but we think that’s balanced by his combo mix-up potential. Alternate with his close-range and mid-range attacks to keep opponents on their toes, and you can have success with this outlaw.

Jax

I’ve found that Jax straddles the line between grappler and rushdown. His throws (which can include two command grabs) are strong, serve as great mix-ups, and set up well for further attacks. The rushdown aspect comes from his unique Arm Heat ability, which increases his damage for each attack he lands and means he relies on keeping up the pressure.

Johnny Cage

Another easy-to-pick-up rushdown type is Johnny Cage. Your aim with him will be to stay on the offensive and keep the pressure up. He’s a wonderful beginner character that some players will want to stick with. Depending on your style — and how much practice you’re willing to put in — he can be deadly, even in ranked matches.

Kano

Kano is the go-to grappler if you want an easy one to pick up. Not only are his command grabs decent enough, but he has a great mix-up game that can catch some players off guard with their speed. He might not be as oppressive as Geras, but you can still do great with Kano.

Kitana

Between the different ways to use her fans for zoning and her unique air mobility, Kitana should be a solid MK11 character on paper. What holds her back is low damaging attacks and some middling combos. The potential is certainly there, though, and we suggest trying all of her variations and abilities to see what works best for you.

Kotal Kahn

Kotal Khan might seem like a joke in the Mortal Kombat 11 story, but that certainly doesn’t represent how he is in combat. The name of his game plan is versatility; he has long-reaching normals, unique totem buffs, a command grab, and abilities benefiting a zoner. He won’t output damage quite as easily as characters in the S-tier, but his toolbox is wide and deeper than you’d expect.

Kung Lao

Kung Lao is an intimidating rushdown character that shines with high-damaging combos resulting from his relentless attacks. His versatile hat attacks and teleports can make him great when it comes to both zoning and counterzoning, but seasoned players can bait some of these. Don’t give them any time to breathe, and you’ll do great.

Noob Saibot

Another character with a wide breadth of tools, Noob Saibot can fulfill multiple roles. He’s at his best in the mid-range, where he can zone or poke when he needs to. You can play him however you want and achieve great results — as long as you keep his slow movement in mind.

Raiden

If you want to attack no matter the distance reliably, consider giving Raiden a chance. He’s well-rounded enough to be an answer to nearly any character. There’s a lot to learn for him, and he’s certainly seen some nerfs. Regardless, that doesn’t make his moveset any less effective.

Sheeva

Sheeva is the embodiment of hitting hard and throwing people around like a ragdoll. Her biggest weaknesses are dealing with ranged opponents and that many of her actions leave her wide open for punishment. We should also mention that the unblockable Dragon Drop stomp attack isn’t as effective against quicker characters, but delaying it or using the Enhanced Dragon Drop ability can turn it into a guessing game for your opponent.

Spawn

Similar to Kotal Khan, Spawn has a lot of tools at his disposal and can be used in many different ways. For the most part, he’s comfortable keeping and attacking opponents at mid-range though. Learning him is a difficult task, but those with the patience to do it will be rewarded with a diverse fighter.

B-Tier

Baraka

All of the necessary elements of a great rushdown fighter are present with Baraka, although he can pull some weight when it comes to zoning as well. He’s also benefitted immensely from the update that added custom variations. His Achilles heel remains with his lack of mobility.

D’Vorah

D’Vorah is a unique rushdown character in that a big part of her strategy revolves around using her bugs for setups and screen control. A diverse set of projectile attacks provide her with great zoning capabilities as well. Overall, she’s just as deadly during gameplay as she is in her fatalities.

Related: The Complete List of All Mortal Kombat 11 Fatalities

Frost

If Sub-Zero doesn’t provide you with enough ice moves, Frost is your next best option. She has a huge variety of abilities and attacks that let her fight at mid- or long-range. Unfortunately, her projectiles are slow, and both her mix-ups and setups leave a lot to be desired.

Kollector

Kollector feels good attacking from afar with his different projectiles or closing the gap and using his throws. He falls more into the zoner camp, though, and pales in comparison to other zoners, which will be the source of your toughest matchups.

Mileena

“Jack of all trades, master of none” is what comes to mind with a lot of characters, and yet it hurts the most that it can be applied to fan-favorite Mileena. She has options at different ranges and quick movement too, but other characters can do it all a little bit easier. It’s certainly still possible to win with her, as long as you respond to opponents with the appropriate response from her moveset.

Nightwolf

Nightwolf has quite a few different methods of fighting available to him, with most using him as a rushdown or grappler. He’s very similar to Mileena in that there isn’t anything specifically wrong with him per se — he just doesn’t outperform the rest of the roster.

Rain

Depsite being ranked so “low” on our Mortal Kombat 11 tier list, Rain stands out with an incredibly quick forward dash that helps him keep the pressure on. Don’t be afraid to use it with his ranged attacks to get a combo in when your opponent least expects it. Make sure to keep your attacks varied, though, since his damage does err on the low side.

Robocop

Robocop has a lot of unique projectile options when it comes to his zoning techniques. His damage isn’t great, and his moves tend to be on the slow side. The only thing keeping him out of the C-tier in our MK11 tier list is the variety he can bring.

Scorpion

The poster boy of Mortal Kombat 11 is weighed down by unsafe attacks and a lack of zoning. That being said, Scorpion can still put the hurt on once he catches someone, and he’s like Baraka in the sense that custom variations are the way to go.

Sindel

Fantastic zoning and deceptive mix-ups make Sindel a multi-faceted threat. Still, she only excels by closing in for more personal damage. Characters that can attack from a farther distance or during her slower wind-ups are her biggest obstacles.

Skarlet

Unique attacks with an impressive range make Skarlet a standout zoner, but she’s dismissed for having low damage and slow moves that can make some combos and strings feel clunky. If you’re a patient player and comfortable with an almost entirely zoner strategy, she’s still worth practicing with.

Sonya

Sonya has a lot going for her. Not only is she capable of outputting big damage with great mix-ups, but she also has wonderful zoning options as well. The only thing keeping her in this section of our Mortal Kombat 11 tier list is how unsafe a lot of her kit is.

Terminator

The Terminator is a fighter characterized by strong attacks and decent mix-ups. He’s at his most deadly when he’s directly in front of his opponent. His weaknesses lie in his lack of range, generally unsafe attacks, and higher skill ceiling.

C-Tier

Rambo

Most people will put Rambo at the bottom of their MK11 tier list, and we can’t help but do the same. He’s got a versatile moveset, and custom variations can prove to be much better than the standard three options, but his damage is lacking and his movement isn’t much better.

Shao Khan

The iconic Mortal Kombat villain hits hard in this entry, and his combos can take out big chunks of your health. Shao Khan’s slower movement is meant to balance this out, although it instead becomes a major detriment to the character. Too many fighters can take advantage of his slow and unsafe attacks. If you’re dedicated to sticking with him though, your opponent will dread every moment you land something.

There’s a lot to cover, but that was our MK11 tier list. We’ll be covering the next iteration as soon as we can get our hands on it, providing fatalities guides, rankings, and more. If you’re looking for more information on this specific entry, check out our collection of Mortal Kombat 11 guides.