Mortal Kombat 11 Character Roster: Sub-Zero, Shao Kahn, Scorpion, And More

By Chris Pereira on April 30, 2019 at 3:45PM PDT

Mortal Kombat 11 Roster

The full Mortal Kombat 11 launch roster has been revealed. With its release date upon us, we know every playable character you'll be able to play as following a several-month-long drip feed from developer NetherRealm. Below, you'll find the complete list of characters who will be available on day one, plus the two DLC character we know about, bringing the total to 25. There are more fighters still to come as part of the Kombat Pass, and a leak has potentially revealed who all of those will be. But here we're focused on those who have been 100% confirmed by NetherRealm.

The final confirmation came just hours before the game's launch, as part of a pre-release Kombat Kast livestream: Frost is the final playable character in the base roster. Prior to her was Kitana, and before that, we learned about two brand-new fighters: the Elder God Cetrion and the Kollector, a greedy, mafia-like enforcer for the Outworld Empire. That joins old favorites like Liu Kang, Jax, and Kung Lao, all of whom were revealed in a MK11 trailer shown off at Sony's first State of Play event.

Prior to those reveals, we got a look at a couple of other fan-favorites. At C2E2, NetherRealm confirmed that Noob Saibot will be returning in the upcoming game. On top of that, the studio surprised fans by revealing MK11's first DLC character: Shang Tsung. This time around, the sorcerer's likeness is based on Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, the actor who portrayed him in the 1995 Mortal Kombat movie. Shang Tsung will also serve as the guide in the Krypt, where players go to unlock new items.

Those aren't the only new characters we got a look at recently. NetherRealm released a new Mortal Kombat 11 trailer that showcased off one of Jacqui Briggs's Fatalities, but in the process it confirmed another addition to the roster: Kotal Kahn, the Aztec-inspired Emperor of the Outworld, who made his debut in MKX. Prior to that, a story trailer confirmed gunslinger Erron Black and Cassie Cage, one of the so-called Kombat Kids along with the aforementioned Jacqui Briggs, will also be returning.

Characters won't necessarily be the same every time you fight them: they each have different variations that impact their abilities, and players have a variety of customization options as their disposal beyond that. This includes changing the look of the character (for instance, Scorpion's mask, katana, and spear can all be replaced) and other things like abilities, intros, victory celebrations, and AI behavior. You can check out all of the Mortal Kombat 11 skins we've spotted so far.

If you're interested in what it's like to play MK11, you can check out our Mortal Kombat 11 review-in-progress. In it, GameSpot's Edmond Tran writes, "MK11 isn't just a sequel for series fans and Netherrealm devotees, it's a gateway into the realm of fighting games for anyone who has a passing interest in watching ruthless warriors beat each other silly. Streamlined mechanics keep the act of fighting furiously exciting no matter what your skill level, and comprehensive tutorials encourage you to dig into the nitty-gritty. There's a diverse roster of interesting characters and playstyles, and the story mode is an entertaining romp. The unfulfilling approaches to the game's dynamic single-player content and progression may feel like they've totally whiffed (at least at this early stage), but Mortal Kombat 11 hits where it matters."

Mortal Kombat 11's surprise reveal trailer during The Game Awards in December showcased two of the most obvious inclusions, Raiden and Scorpion. Little information was shared about the game at time, but that changed with January's reveal event, where we got a look at one of the game's brand-new characters, Geras. We got a look at a handful of returning characters, new fatalities, and gameplay. NetherRealm also teased some of the gameplay changes, such as perfect blocks and the separation of the standard one meter into separate offensive, defensive, and Super meters.

The Mortal Kombat 11 release date is set for April 23. It's coming not just to the expected platforms of PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but Nintendo Switch as well. Pre-ordering allows you to play as Shao Kahn in the full game; you can do so through the links below.

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