How to do a Brutality in Mortal Kombat 1 and unlock every Brutality (MK1)

How to do a Brutality in Mortal Kombat 1 and unlock every Brutality (MK1)
Antony Terence Updated on by

Posted in Guides

Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more

Contents show

Want to learn how to do a Brutality in Mortal Kombat 1? In a franchise known for gory executions, it’s no surprise that the fan-favorite move returns in NetherRealm Studios’ latest game. Read on to learn how to utilize this ability against your opponents.

Now MK1 is upon us, and we’ve spent time with the game – check out our Mortal Kombat 1 review here – we’ve been getting to grips with its finishing moves. And while the Mortal Kombat 1 Fatalities are great, sometimes you want to end a fight with something a little different. Brutalities bring a more sudden and violent end to a clash, putting a bloody full stop on your opponent.

We’ll take you through how to pull off these gory moves.

A woman is standing next to a woman in a dark room while engaging in Mortal Kombat 1 brutality.
Image captured by VideoGamer.

How to do a Brutality in MK1

To do the basic Brutality in Mortal Kombat 1, defeat an opponent by landing an uppercut attack by pressing Down+Triangle/Y. It’s important you do this before the ‘Finish Him’ chant and as the final move that brings their health bar to zero. This will trigger a Brutality attack on your opponent. Note that this finishing move happens only at the end of the match itself and not at the end of the first round. This move is called The Klassic in the game. We confirmed this after previewing MK1 in the August beta. 

Note that the main fighter will perform this Brutality, not the Kameo fighters like Kano, Jax, or Frost who stand alongside you. This uppercut will send the opponent’s head and spine flying out of their corpse. In the previous title, Mortal Kombat 11 players had to refrain from blocking during the entire final round to land a Brutality. This made it a test of skill and made Brutalities harder to land. Thankfully, that no longer seems to be the case in Mortal Kombat 1.

However, for the more complex Brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1, you’ll need to put in a bit more work. The easy way to find out how to pull them off is to bring up the in-game Move List and head to the Finishers tab (or Kameo Moves for Kameo Brutalities), but be sure to press X (or Square) on the move for the ‘Advanced’ view, where it’ll tell you the requirements to pull off each Brutality on the right hand side of the screen.

A screenshot of a brutal menu for Mortal Kombat 1.
Image captured by VideoGamer.

How to unlock all Brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1

You can get more unique brutalities for MK1 characters by leveling them up. This includes playing Ranked, Invasion, and Towers. While there are plenty of unique Mortal Kombat 1 fatalities, all characters perform the same basic Brutality in MK1 at first. Gaining new levels also gives you new gear tailored to that character. Here’s more information on which level grants you a Brutality in MK1:

  • Master Rank 3: Brutality #1
  • Master Rank 5: Brutality #2
  • Master Rank 7: Brutality #3
  • Master Rank 10: Brutality #4
  • Master Rank 15: Brutality #5
  • Kameo Master Rank 2: Kameo Brutality #1
  • Kameo Master Rank 11: Kameo Brutality #2

You can check when you’ll unlock a Brutality – at least for the first ten levels – by heading to the Mastery page. From the main menu, hit the View button (or Touchpad on PS5) to open your profile, then use the shoulder buttons to get to the Mastery tab. Here you can see a list of unlockables for each character. However, it’ll only show you the first ten ranks. Any rewards further than that are hidden until you reach those mastery ranks.

✓

Brutalities need to be unlocked

Unlike Fatalities, you cannot simply input a code and expect them to work.

You can also unlock Brutalities for the Kameo characters such as Kano, Sonya and Jax by levelling them up too. The more you use them, the more you’ll level them up and, just like the main fighters, they can unlock new Brutalities as you get more Mastery in them. Unlike the Fatalities, which can be performed even if you’ve not ‘unlocked’ them in the Mastery section, it appears that Brutalities do not activate until you’ve unlocked them – even if you happen to stumble upon the correct input.

A screenshot of a brutal character in Mortal Kombat.
Image captured by VideoGamer.

Brutality List MK1 – every Brutality per character

Key:

  • 1: Front Punch (X on Xbox, Square on PlayStation, Y on Switch)
  • 2: Back Punch (Y on Xbox, Triangle on PlayStation, X on Switch)
  • 3: Front Kick (A on Xbox, Cross on PlayStation, B on Switch)
  • 4: Back Kick (B on Xbox, Circle on PlayStation, A on Switch)

Ashrah

  • Save me a Slice: LB (or 1+3) and tap Down, Down, Down
  • Nail In The Coffin: F+4,2 and hold down
  • Half Day?: 1,2,2 and hold up
  • Kutting Korners: BF+2 and hold down
  • Light You Up: B+3,1 and hold forward

Baraka

  • Nom Nom: LB (or 1+3) and tap down, down, down
  • Chop Shop: BF+3 and rapidly tap any attack button during hit
  • Empty Inside: DB+1 and tap up, up, up
    • Must be on an airborne opponent
  • Old School: 2,1,2 and hold back
  • This Is A Flesh Wound: F+3 and hold down

Geras

  • From Another Time: LB (or 1+3) and tap down, down, down
  • Time Will Tell: DB+2 or DF+2 and hold 4
  • Must be in the corner
    • The grab being used must throw the opponent AWAY from the corner
  • Sand Of Time: 1,2,2,LB (or 1+3) and tap forward, forward, forward
  • Just Rip It Off: DF+4 and hold down
  • Unstoppable Force: F+1,2,LB (or 1+3) and hold forward

Havik

  • Good To Be Back!: 2,2 and hold down
  • Need A Hand?: B+2,2, LB (or 1+3) and hold forward
  • It’s A Twist Off: LB (or 1+3) and tap forward, down, back, up
  • Knocking Around: DB+1 and hold up
  • Kablooey: BF+3 and hold forward
    • Must be near the opponent

Johnny Cage

  • Here’s Johnny: LB (or 1+3) and tap down
  • Game Over Man: Successfully escape throw and tap LB (or 1+3)
  • You Got Caged: F,D,B+2 and hold 2
  • Welcome To The Party: BD+1 and hold 2
  • Hope You’re Insured: BF+4 and hold 4

Kenshi

  • Where You Going?: LB (or 1+3) and tap down, down, down
  • Out Of Sight: LB (or 1+3) and tap 1
    • Must be in Soul Separate (DB+1)
  • Did You See That?: DB+4+RT and tap 1 and 2 six times
    • Must be in Soul Separate (DB+1)
  • See Ya Later: BF+2 and hold back
  • Nothing To See Here: DB+4 and hold down
    • Must be in Soul Separate (DB+1)

Kitana

  • Some Off The Top: LB (or 1+3) and tap down, down, down
  • Hit The Fan: BF+1 and hold back
    • Must be at jump distance or farther
  • Where’d You Go?: DB+2 and hold down
    • Must be on an airborne opponent
  • Easy Peasy: 1,1,2 and hold 1
  • Kiss It: F+1,2 and hold down

Kung Lao

  • Spin Cycle: LB (or 1+3) and tap forward, down, back, up
  • Grind Away: BF+1 and hold 1
    • Must be at jump distance or farther
  • Grind Away: DB+2+RT and tap any attack button repeatedly
  • Magic Hat: DB+4 and hold up
  • Not Holding Back: 2,1,2,1 and hold up

Li Mei

  • Fast Enough For Ya: BF+4 and hold back
  • Head Over Heels: F+4,4 and hold down
  • One Way Ticket: DB+2 and hold down
    • Final hit must come from Sky Lantern
  • Light The Way: BF+1 and hold 2
    • Must be at jump distance or farther
  • Head Of Trails: F+4,3 and hold up

Liu Kang

  • Bleeding Heart: LB (or 1+3) and tap forward, forward, forward
  • Dancing Around: BF+4 and tap 3 or 4 rapidly six times
  • Pop Goes The…: 3,3,3 and hold back
  • Just A Nibble: BF+3 and hold down
  • Let’s Go For A Ride: BF+3 and hold up

Mileena

  • Did That Hurt?: LB (or 1+3) and tap down, down, down
  • Maybe Next Time: 2,1,LB (or 1+3) and hold down
  • The Best Part: DB+2+RT and tap 1 or 2 rapidly six times
  • Early Lunch: BD+4+RT and hold 4
  • High Roller: BD+4 and hold up

Nitara

  • Embrace The Pain: BF+2 and tap any attack button repeatedly
  • Come Here Often: LB (or 1+3) and tap up, up, up
  • Taste Of Blood: BF+3 and hold 3
  • Blood Sacrifice (DF+4) must be active to perform this move
    • Must be at jump distance or farther
  • They Come Right Off: F+1,2 and hold up
  • Something You Are?: BF+1+RT and hold down

Omni-Man

  • The Klassic: LB (or 1+3), Hold 2
  • Behind You!: LB (or 1+3), Hold Throw input on contact
  • Coming Through: Back, Forward + 2, Hold 1
  • You Got Boned: Forward + 4, 1, LB (or 1+3), tap down thrice
  • You Hear That?: Back, Forward + 1, Hold Back

Raiden

  • That’s A Shocker: LB (or 1+3) and tap 1 or 2 rapidly six times during hit
  • Overload: DB+3 and hold up
  • Inside Out: BF+3 and hold down
  • Headed Nowhere: 1,2,3 and hold up
  • Excess Energy: DF+1 and hold forward
    • Must be at jump distance or farther

Rain

  • Just A Little Dip: LB (or 1+3) and tap any attack button repeatedly
  • Down The Drain: BF+4
  • Aqua Finished: F+2,1,3 and hold back
  • Bubble Head: 1,1,2 and hold down
  • Rainy Day: D,D,U and hold down
    • Must be at jump distance or farther

Reiko

  • No Turning Back LB (or 1+3) and tap 4 four times rapidly
  • You Had Enough?: DB+3 and tap down, down, down
  • Does It Sting: DB+1 and hold 1
  • Not Even Close: F,D,B+1 and hold down
  • There And Back Again: 1,2,3 and hold back

Reptile

  • Damn Tasty: LB (or 1+3) and tap down, down, down
  • Krocodile Done Right: BF+4 and tap up, up, up
  • Behind You: BF+2 and hold 2
  • Pop Belly: F+3,2 and hold back
  • Ready To Pounce: B+2
    • Must be fully charged

Scorpion

  • Choke on It: LB and tap forward, down, back, up
  • Burn For Me: BF+4 and hold up
  • Any Way You Slice It: BF+2 and tap down, down, down
  • Stop Ahead: BF+1 and hold back
    • Must be at jump distance or farther
  • Hot Head: DB+3 and hold 1

General Shao

  • Is That Your Best?: LB (or 1+3) and tap down, down, down
  • Feel My Power: LB (or 1+3) and tap up, up, up
    • Must be done when NOT wielding axe
  • Don’t Make Me Laugh: F+2,LB (or 1+3) and hold down
  • It’s Official… You Suck!: DB+4 and hold back
    • Must be at jump distance or farther

Shang Tsung

  • Bed Of Spikes: LB (or 1+3) and hold up
  • Stick Around: DB+3
    • Must be on an airborne opponent
  • Chomp! Chomp!: DF+1 and hold back
    • Must be at jump distance or farther
  • Fire It Up: DF+1 (AIR) and hold 1
    • Must be in OLD form
  • It has Ended: DB+3 and tap down, down, down
    • Must be in OLD form

Sindel

  • Scream Queen: LB (or 1+3) and tap down, down, down
  • Split Ends: F+1,3 and hold back
  • That Was Fun!: DF+4 and hold up
  • Off With Your Head: 2,4,4 and hold forward
  • Lose Something?: DB+1 and hold down
    • Must be at jump distance or farther

Smoke

  • An Eye for an Eye: LB (or 1+3) and hold down
  • If It Bleeds: BF+3 and hold RT
  • Don’t Blink: DB+2 and hold up
  • Slice And Dice: F+1,2,LB (or 1+3) and hold up
  • Break A Leg: F+1,2,2,4 and hold 4

Sub-Zero

  • Absolute Zero: BF+3 and tap down, down, down
  • Snowball: DF+1
    • Must be at jump distance or farther
  • Karbon Kopy: BF+2 and hold 1
  • Krushed Ice: 2,1,2 and hold down
  • Ability to Freeze: DF+4 and hold 4

Tanya

  • Rest in Pieces: LB (or 1+3) and hold up
  • Hot Head: 3,LB (or 1+3) and tap down, down, down
  • Head Kase: DF+1 and hold forward
    • Must be at jump distance or farther
  • Kore Sample: BF+4 and hold down
    • Must be at jump distance or farther
  • Watch This!: F+2,1,1 and hold forward

That covers how to do a Brutality in Mortal Kombat 1. If you’re upgrading your system for the game, here’s the best gaming laptop for Mortal Kombat 1. And if you’re wondering if the game brings anything new to the table, check out Mortal Kombat 1 invasion. Mortal Kombat 1 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

MK1 Brutalities FAQs

Do all characters have the same Brutalities?

No, MK1 characters have unique brutalities.

How many Brutalities does each character have?

Unlike Fatalities, MK1 characters have more than two unique Brutalities.