Mortal Kombat 1 Khaos Reigns Expansion Unveils Cyrax Gameplay Trailer

Warner Bros. Games and NetherRealm Studios have released the official Cyrax gameplay trailer for Mortal Kombat 1, showcasing her cybernetic armour, explosive attacks and brutal finishing moves ahead of the Khaos Reigns expansion.

The trailer, released on 15 August 2024, also explores Cyrax’s role within the Lin Kuei and reveals her transformation into a hornet during an upcoming Animality.

Cyrax becomes playable on 24 September 2024, joining Sektor and Noob Saibot as the first three Fighters arriving with the expansion.

Unlike previous versions of Cyrax, who underwent the Lin Kuei’s cybernetic transformation, the New Era character remains human and uses advanced armour to enhance her fighting abilities.

In Liu Kang’s revised timeline, Cyrax is a young warrior from the Zaki clan, one of the Lin Kuei’s sub-clans. Her exceptional martial arts skills earn her a place under Sektor’s leadership, but her independent personality increasingly puts her at odds with her mentor.

That tension features prominently in the new footage, which shows Cyrax becoming involved in the Lin Kuei’s plans surrounding Scorpion’s wedding.

The trailer includes an exchange in which Johnny Cage references the infamous Red Wedding from Game of Thrones, offering a moment of humour amid the escalating conflict.

Cyrax’s combat abilities are equally distinctive. Her energy nets can restrain opponents, allowing her to set up further attacks, while explosives help extend combos and maintain offensive pressure.

She also uses spinning sawblades and aerial manoeuvres, with her armoured suit providing greater mobility during attacks and evasive movements.

What interests me most is how NetherRealm has preserved the character’s recognisable fighting tools without relying on a fully robotic design. The nets and explosives are familiar, but the new armour allows Cyrax to combine them with a more acrobatic fighting style.

The footage also showcases a gruesome Fatality in which Cyrax uses her legs to twist an opponent’s head off before kicking and crushing the severed head.

Another highlight is her Animality, which transforms Cyrax into a giant hornet to attack her defeated opponent.

Animalities were announced during the original Khaos Reigns expansion reveal and will return on 24 September as a free update for all Mortal Kombat 1 owners, regardless of whether they purchase the expansion.

For readers interested in performing the finishers rather than just watching the reveal, our Cyrax Fatalities, Animality and Brutalities guide covers her execution inputs and requirements.

It’s also worth distinguishing this new playable version of Cyrax from the classic Cyrax Kameo Fighter already available in Mortal Kombat 1. The Khaos Reigns addition has her own complete fighting moveset, rather than appearing solely as an assisting character.

The expansion introduces six playable Fighters through Kombat Pack 2. Cyrax, Sektor and Noob Saibot will be available at launch, while Ghostface from Scream, the T-1000 from Terminator 2, and Conan the Barbarian will arrive later.

Khaos Reigns also includes additional story chapters centred on Titan Havik’s threat to Liu Kang’s New Era, alongside four pre-order bonus skins: Wedding Scorpion, Empress Mileena, and classic Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 appearances for Sub-Zero and Noob Saibot.

The expansion launches digitally on 24 September 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Cyrax’s gameplay reveal provides the first detailed demonstration of how NetherRealm is reimagining the returning Lin Kuei Fighters for Kombat Pack 2, with her relationship with Sektor appearing set to play a significant role in the new story.

Later Update: NetherRealm subsequently released the Sektor gameplay trailer, revealing her flamethrower, missiles, aerial abilities and rhinoceros Animality ahead of Khaos Reigns.