Many other titles have tried to copy them, but no one was ever able to match the creativity and menacing combo of a Mortal Kombat finishing move.
In preparation of Mortal Kombat X, we counted off the franchise’s best characters and now it’s time for the greatest Mortal Kombat fatalities of all time.
We scaled every last one of them, ignored the overkill and silliness, and brought you nothing but the raw. Check them out below.
20. Raiden – “Explosive Uppercut” (Mortal Kombat II)
What’s a thunder god without a thunder punch?
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Photo: NetherRealm Studios.
19. Reptile – “Face Chew” (Mortal Kombat 4)
Knowing that he was staring at your head like it was a piece of filet mignon the entire fight makes this one that much more coldblooded.
18. Liu Kang – “Dragon” (Mortal Kombat II)
An instant classic that followed our hero for nearly every installment down the line.
17. Shao Khao – “Home Run” (Mortal Kombat Deception)
Death by RBI.
16. The Pit II (Mortal Kombat II)
There are a lot better ways to go out.
15. Cyrax – “Internal Grinder” (Mortal Kombat Deception)
MK fighters chew you up just to spit you out.
14. Jax – “Head Smash” (Mortal Kombat II)
What’s aspirin to a brawny brain surgeon?
13. Ashrah – “Voodoo Doll” (Mortal Kombat Deception)
Just what the (witch) doctor ordered.
12. Shang Tsung – “Identity Theft” (Mortal Kombat 9)
When you grow bored with stealing souls, this is how you generally entertain yourself.
11. Baraka – “Blade Lift” (Mortal Kombat II)
It takes a real heartless bastard to look you in the eyes as you bleed to death on their organic knives. Or maybe he wanted to show he cared?
10. Freddy Krueger – “Welcome to My Nightmare” (Mortal Kombat 9)
The Dream Master is his purest form.
9. Ermac – “Mind Over Splatter” (Mortal Kombat 9)
Absolutely no mercy for the weakminded.
8. Shang Tsung – “Kitaro” (Mortal Kombat II)
The low punch button may have hated you for it but this was one of the most unexpected (and pleasant) surprises in the franchise’s history.
7. Kano – “Heartbreak” (Mortal Kombat 9)
The classic fatality that originally gave parents mild heart attacks got the graphics it deserved in 2011.
6. Kung Lao – “Body Slice” (Mortal Kombat II)
The animation, blood amount, gruesomeness–were all unprecedented at the time.
5. Quan Chi – “Leg Beatdown” (Mortal Kombat 4)
Bruh…
4. Noob Saibot – “Make A Wish” (Mortal Kombat 9)
When your enemy’s soul has an internal battle with themself on who is going to kill you the most, you know you’re doomed.
3. Scorpion – “Toasty” (All)
The greatest Mortal Kombat character’s cursed secret was revealed only through the secret fatality code. Genius.
2. Sub-Zero – “Spine Rip” (Mortal Kombat)
Everybody is so desensitized with video games these days but in 1992, this was the finisher that led to congressional hearings and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) being conceived. ABACABB to all you 80s babies out there.
1. Kung Lao – “Razor’s Edge” (Mortal Kombat 9)
Whether you were a man, woman, demon, ghoul, god, deity or damned child predator, this particular finishing move never ceased to hurt.
The 20 Greatest Mortal Kombat Fatalities
