Key Highlights:
- NetherRealm Studios rolls out a major Mortal Kombat 1 balance update.
- Significant nerfs hit top-tier picks like Havik, Homelander, T-1000, and Sektor.
- Notable buffs for Striker, Omni-Man, Quan Chi, and Liu Kang could shift the meta.
Quick Links:
A major Mortal Kombat 1 balance patch has just been released by NetherRealm Studios. Yesterday they previewed nearly seven minutes of character and Kameo changes. You can view that preview video below, and make no mistake, this update reshapes the competitive landscape.
From my perspective, the standout adjustments are split between heavy nerfs for several dominant characters and Kameos, and a handful of buffs that could revive underused picks. Here’s a breakdown of the full patch notes below:
Character Specific Adjustments
Main Fighters
Ashrah
- Absolving a Sin with Heaven attacks does 30 damage (up from 20)
Havik
- The first hit of Flesh Wound (Back Punch, Back Punch) now hits Mid (was overhead) & the 2nd hit is now overhead (was Mid)
- Increased combo damage scaling after Skab Stab (Away + Back Punch, Back Punch, Front Punch + Front Kick)
- Destroying Balance (Away + Back Punch, Back Punch, Back Kick) recovery on block and miss increased by 7 frames
Kenshi
- Heighten Senses (Back Kick, Back Kick) can now be special cancelled
- Impaler (Away + Back Punch in Sento Stance) recovers 7 frames faster
Li Mei
- Calculated (Back Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick) recovers 7 frames faster on hit
- (Air) Enhanced Flipping Heel Kick last hit is no longer more negative when Flawless Blocked
- Sky Lantern detonated by Nova Blast now hits overhead (was Mid)
Liu Kang
- Punishing Palm (Front Punch, Back Punch, Front Punch) can be special cancelled
Rain
- Water Beam & Enhanced Water Beam starts up 3 frames faster
Reptile
- Dr. Wreckyl (Towards + Back Punch, Front Punch, Front Punch) and Kneet Trick (Towards + Back Punch, Front Punch, Front Kick) are now longer more negative when Flawless Blocked
Shang Tsung
- Knee Reverser (Back Punch, Back Kick in Young Form) now recovers 3 frames faster
- Spin Kick (Towards + Back Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick in Young Form) can now be special cancelled and does 50 damage (down from 70)
Quan Chi
- Psycho Skull & Enhanced Psycho Skull starts up 5 frames faster
- Sorcerer Smack (Front Punch) has 2 more frames of blockstun
- Bow Already! (Back Punch, Front Punch, Back Kick) has 5 more frames of hitstun
- Best Foot Backward (Down + Towards + Back Kick) now hits overhead (was Mid) and had its hit region adjusted
Omni-Man
- Earthquake Stomp (Towards + Front Kick) 2nd hit has 5 more frames of blockstun
Ermac
- Behind You releases opponent 10 frames sooner
Homelander
- Increased combo damage scaling after Vought Drop, The Seven Slam, & See No Evil (Away + Back Punch, Back Punch, Front Punch + Front Kick)
Conan
- Fixed a rare issue that could cause Barbarian’s Blitz & Barbarian’s Blade to sometimes not hit correctly in trade situations
- Barbarian’s Blitz & Barbarian’s Blade recover 5 frames faster on hit & miss
- Atlantean Bulwark 4th hit has 7 more frames of hit advantage
T-1000
- Multiplanar Laceration (Back Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick) 3rd hit now hits Mid (was overhead)
- Increased combo damage scaling after Liquiform Suplex & Nasal Pierce (Away + Front Kick, Back Punch, Front Punch + Back Punch)
Cyrax
- Capture Foam is now destroyed when hit by other projectiles
- Close, Mid, & Far Bomb build less meter when performed & do less damage when blocked
- Bomb Mistwalk builds less meter when performed & does less damage when blocked
Sektor
- (Air) Burst Grenade no longer builds meter on miss
- (Air) Burst Grenade damage is now 50 (was 60)
- (Air) Burst Grenade & (Air) Enhanced Burst Grenade do less damage when blocked
- Flamethrower now does 30 damage on first hit (down from 50) and 50 damage on 2nd hit (up from 30)
- Enhanced Flamethrower first hit now does 50 damage (down from 90) and 50 damage on 2nd hit (up from 30)
Kameo Fighters
Frost (Kameo)
- Ice Krash now has 23 frames of invulnerability on wakeup (up from 11)
Darrius (Kameo)
- The last hit of Twister Kicks is no longer more negative when Flawless Blocked
- Twister Kicks now has 29 frames of invulnerability on wakeup (up from 11)
Jax (Kameo)
- Adjusted hit region of Ground Pound resulting in significantly increased range
- Fixed rare issue that could cause Ground Pound to work improperly if an opponent Shang Tsung was interrupted out of Kameo Kopy
Goro (Kameo)
- Rearranger (Forward Throw) now does 150 damage (up from 110)
Stryker (Kameo)
- Low Grenade Toss, High Grenade Toss, & Full Auto refill rates increased after use
Sektor (Kameo)
- Alternate Fatal Blow Attack now hits high (was Mid) and no longer can angle downward
Scorpion (Kameo)
- Hell Blades refill rate slightly increased after use
- Hell Blades recovers 3 frames faster on block
Sub-Zero (Kameo)
- Arctic Armor can now absorb infinite hits (up from 4)
- Kold Shoulder now has 23 frames of invulnerability on wakeup (up from 11)
Mavado (Kameo)
- Best Feet Forward & Nindrop refill rates decreased after use
Tremor (Kameo)
- When Tremor is interrupted by an attack, he now has a 10 second cooldown (was 3 seconds for transmutes, 6 seconds for moves using meter)
Major Nerfs to Top-Tier Options
Several of the current competitive staples are being toned down. Havik’s core mix-up potential has taken a clear hit, with both his mid and grab options receiving frame and scaling adjustments, making them less rewarding.
Homelander’s once-devastating 17-frame command grab into launch now suffers from increased damage scaling, cutting its payoff.
The T-1000 loses its overhead option entirely, which means players will need to lean on spike and command grab mix-ups more predictably.
Sektor – already a zoning powerhouse – sees reduced damage, no meter gain on whiff for key projectiles, and diminished flamethrower potency, trimming her dominance in the projectile game.
Buffs That Could Change the Meta
On the other side of the update, several characters and Kameos are getting meaningful boosts. Omni-Man now enjoys a safer low-mid string that’s both hit-confirmable and fast, potentially making him even more dangerous when paired with unnerfed Kameos like Tremor. Quan Chi’s Psycho Skull is five frames faster, improving both zoning pressure and combo potential.
Liu Kang gains the ability to special-cancel Punishing Palm, a huge improvement for his pressure and hit-confirm game.
Shang Tsung benefits from plus frames on Silent Killer and new special-cancel options from his Young stance, addressing long-standing complaints from players.
The biggest winner in the Kameo department is undoubtedly Striker. Faster grenade recharge and improved cooldowns make him a far more appealing pick, especially compared to Mavado and Goro, the latter’s sole adjustment being a minor throw damage increase.
Reptile now has safer options on flawless block, improving his defensive stability, though he’s still likely to remain a lower-tier pick. Rain’s faster Water Beam could open new combo routes, while Ashrah enjoys increased send damage. Cyrax’s bombs now build less meter, and some projectiles will destroy his capture foam.
Sub-Zero, Frost, and Darrius now boast fully invincible wake-ups, forcing opponents to adapt with tighter reads or aerial pressure. Smaller tweaks, like Jax’s ground pound travelling full screen, could subtly influence cameo synergy across the roster.
Based on what’s been shown, today’s patch is poised to shake up tournament play in-particular. Havik, Homelander, T-1000, and Sektor are set to lose some of their dominance, while the likes of Striker, Omni-Man, and Quan Chi could rise in viability.
SonicFox just won his eighth EVO USA championship in the MK1 finals, beating Nicolas in an exciting finish.
As someone who’s followed MK1 closely since launch, I expect the competitive scene to experiment heavily in the coming weeks. Whether Striker truly returns to relevance or Omni-Man becomes the new meta-defining pick will be clear once the dust settles.
