Key Highlights:
- Ermac’s new Mortal Kombat 1 trailer reveals his masked redesign and soul-powered combat.
- Ermac arrives in early access on 16 April, followed by general availability on 23 April.
- Mavado returns as a Kameo Fighter, with his DLC release scheduled for May 2024.
NetherRealm Studios has released the official Ermac gameplay trailer for Mortal Kombat 1, showcasing the returning fighter’s redesigned appearance, telekinetic abilities and gruesome Fatality ahead of his April DLC release.
The trailer, published on 9 April 2024, also provides the first gameplay look at Mavado, a returning character who will join the separate Kameo Fighter roster in May.
Ermac becomes playable on 16 April 2024 for Kombat Pack and Premium Edition owners, followed by a standalone release on 23 April.
Ermac’s latest appearance is noticeably different from the character design unveiled during the original Kombat Pack announcement in July 2023.
The earlier version, which lacked his familiar mask, attracted criticism from fans who felt the character had lost part of his recognisable appearance.
NetherRealm’s new gameplay footage shows Ermac wearing a mask and more elaborate red-and-black clothing, accompanied by glowing teal energy surrounding his supernatural attacks.
The trailer even appears to acknowledge the visual change through an exchange with Reptile.
When Reptile remarks, “You’ve changed since we first met,” Ermac replies, “We believe for the better.”
Although the dialogue is a fitting reference to his updated appearance, NetherRealm has not confirmed whether the redesign was specifically prompted by community feedback.
Beyond the visual changes, the trailer demonstrates Ermac’s distinctive fighting style, built around telekinesis, levitation and the manipulation of souls.
Ermac can teleport, suspend opponents in mid-air and summon spectral figures to strike enemies from unexpected positions. Other attacks allow him to lift opponents before violently slamming them into the ground.
These abilities reflect his origin in Mortal Kombat 1’s New Era. Ermac is a collection of souls brought together through Quan Chi’s dark magic, with the consciousness of King Jerrod, Mileena’s deceased father, briefly gaining control during the story campaign.
What interests me most about the gameplay reveal is how NetherRealm has incorporated that collective identity into Ermac’s attacks. The summoned souls aren’t merely visual effects surrounding the character; they actively participate in his combat animations.
His Fatality takes the concept even further, using telekinetic force to tear an opponent apart and leave their dismembered remains in a twisted heap.
For the full finishing-move inputs, distances and unlock requirements, see our Mortal Kombat 1 Ermac Fatalities and Brutalities guide.
Ermac originally became playable in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 in 1995, making this his latest return to the fighting roster after appearing in the Mortal Kombat 1 story campaign.
Alongside Ermac, the trailer introduces Mavado, who returns to Mortal Kombat as an upcoming downloadable Kameo Fighter.
Mavado first appeared in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance in 2002 and subsequently returned in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon in 2006.
The new footage shows him using his signature elastic cords to attack opponents, drawing on the unusual fighting equipment associated with his earlier appearances.
Unlike Ermac, Mavado is not joining the standard playable Fighter roster. Instead, he can be selected as a Kameo to provide support attacks during matches.
That separation gives the two returning characters different roles within the Kombat Pack. Ermac receives a complete playable moveset, while Mavado expands the range of available assists.
Mavado is scheduled to arrive in May 2024, although NetherRealm has not yet announced an exact release date.
Ermac becomes the fourth playable Kombat Pack 1 Fighter, following Omni-Man, Quan Chi and Peacemaker. The previous Peacemaker gameplay trailer introduced the DC antihero’s helmet abilities and eagle companion, Eagly.
With Ermac’s release approaching, Homelander and Takeda Takahashi remain the two upcoming playable Fighters from the original Kombat Pack.
Later Update: NetherRealm continued the DLC rollout with its first Homelander teaser trailer, offering an early glimpse of the character from The Boys ahead of his gameplay reveal.
