Mortal Kombat 1 Kenshi Guide – MK1 Move List and Best Combos

On the lookout for a guide to mastering Kenshi in Mortal Kombat 1? Kenshi’s new Mortal Kombat universe look might have you worried about his new blindness and ghost ally. The campaign clears that out for you, granting this renowned character some new tricks.

If you’re considering other characters to main, here’s our Mortal Kombat 1 roster tier list. And here’s how to solve every Invasion Klue in Mortal Kombat 1 for completionists.

Mortal Kombat 1 Kenshi Guide

Here’s a guide that lets you make the most of Kenshi and his spirit companion. Kenshi’s psychic projections make a return from earlier games with a new twist. This new Sento Stance mechanic ties into both basic attacks and special moves in-game. While this can take a while to master, it lets you deal an insane amount of damage to enemies. If you’re considering playing as a god instead, here’s our Mortal Kombat 1 Liu Kang guide. Or if an Outworld princess has your fancy, check the Mortal Kombat 1 Kitana guide to master her skills.

Before you check out all of Kenshi’s moves, here’s a handy chart that will let you understand this irrespective of which platform you’re on:

Notation	Attack	PlayStation	Xbox	Nintendo Switch	PC
1	Front Punch	Square	X	Y	J
2	Back Punch	Triangle	Y	X	I
3	Front Kick	Cross	A	B	K
4	Back Kick	Circle	B	A	L

Kenshi Move List

The latest iteration of the MK franchise refines its foundation but doesn’t tinker too much with what previous games got right. Moves in Mortal Kombat 1 can be classified into the following:

• Basic Attacks
• Aerial Attacks
• Throws
• Special Moves
• Fatal Blow
• Fatalities
• Brutalities

Kenshi Basic Attacks

You’ll be using basic attacks to start, extend, and end combos so keep them in mind. Sento Stance adds some neat tweaks here. Here are all of Kenshi’s basic attacks in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Stealth Slap: Front Punch
• See No Evil: Front Punch, Back Kick
• Blind Sided: Front Punch, Back Kick, Front Punch
• Belly Buster: Down + Front Punch
• Silent Palm: Back Punch
• Gut Check: Back Punch, Front Punch
• Tamahag-Pain: Back Punch, Front Punch, Back Punch
• Spirit Strike: Away + Back Punch
• Silencing Souls: Away + Back Punch, Back Punch
• Dark Ritual: Forward + Back Punch
• Slice N’ Dice: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch
• Pinned: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Away + Back Punch
• Spirit Away: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Forward + Back Punch
• Deep Stab: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Down + Back Punch
• Rising Fist: Down + Back Punch
• High Kick: Front Kick
• Sneaky Sneaker: Down + Front Kick
• Face Breaker: Back Kick
• Heighten Senses: Back Kick, Back Kick
• Achilles Cutter: Away + Back Kick
• Sweeping Heel: Down + Back Kick
• Sento Stance: Down, Back, Front Punch

Here are the Sento stance basic attacks for Kenshi in MK1:

• Disable Spirit Action (While Held): Hold Kameo
• Brutal Bow: Front Punch
• Off Balance: Front Punch, Back Punch
• Blind Justice: Front Punch, Back Punch, Back Punch
• Five Rings Slash: Away + Front Punch
• Transcending Cut: Away + Front Punch, Back Punch
• Quick Laceration: Back Punch
• Don’t Blink: Back Punch, Front Punch
• Impaler: Away + Back Punch
• Upper Slice: Forward + Back Punch
• Fading Light: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch
• Lost Way: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Front Punch
• Rising Blade: Down + Back Punch
• Hammering Heel: Front Kick
• Tibia Tapper: Forward + Front Kick
• Bad Feeling: Forward + Front Kick, Back Punch
• Gutted: Down + Front Kick
• Chest Cracker: Back Kick
• Down The Middle: Back Kick, Back Punch
• Get Back: Back Kick, Back Punch, Front Punch
• Cut Down: Away + Back Kick
• Double Tab: Forward + Back Kick
• Painful Poke: Down + Back Kick

Kenshi Aerial Attacks

With Mortal Kombat 1’s renewed focus on aerial attacks, keep track of how you can launch enemies into the air and keep them there. Here are Kenshi’s aerial attacks in MK1:

• Quick Swipe: Up + Forward + Front Punch
• Bleeding: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Back Punch
• Spirit Spike: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Back Punch, Back Punch
• Hilting Flower: Up + Forward + Back Punch
• Blooming Blade: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch
• Booted: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Back Kick
• Flying Boot: Up + Forward+ Front Kick or Up + Front Kick+ Back Kick

And here are the Sento stance aerial attacks of Kenshi in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Quick Slice: Up + Forward + Front Punch
• Losing Blood: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Front Punch
• Deep Cuts: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Front Punch, Back Punch
• Upper Gash: Up + Forward + Back Punch
• Treated: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Front Kick
• Falling Apart: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Front Kick, Back Kick
• Foot Frenzy: Up + Forward + Front Kick or Up + Forward + Back Kick

Kenshi Throws

Here are Kenshi’s throws in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Shove: Forward + Throw or Forward + Front Punch + Front Kick
• Deep Tissue: Throw or Front Punch + Front Kick

Kenshi Breakers and Taunts

A Kombo Breaker lets you escape enemy combos for three charges of the Super Meter. Taunts let you aggravate your enemies. Here are Kenshi’s Breakers and Taunts:

• Kombo Breaker: Forward + Block
• Taunts: Down, Down, Down, Down

Kenshi Special Moves

Kenshi’s special moves include both solo swipes and ghost duo combos. Here are Kenshi’s special moves in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Ancestral Guard: Down, Forward, Front Punch
• Extend Ancestral Guard: Hold Front Punch
• Ancestral Guard (Cancel): Flip Stance
• Soul Charge: Away, Forward, Back Punch
• Enhanced Soul Charge:  Away, Forward, Back Punch + Block
• Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch
• Enhanced Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch +Block
• Close Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch, Away
• Enhanced Close Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch + Block, Away
• Far Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch, Forward
• Enhanced Far Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch + Block, Forward
• Rising Karma: Away, Forward, Front Kick
• Enhanced Rising Karma: Away, Forward, Front Kick + Block
• Force Push: Away, Forward, Back Kick
• Charge Force Push: Hold Back Kick
• Enhanced Force Push: Away, Forward, Back Kick + Block
• Enhanced Charge Force Push: Hold Back Kick

And here are the Sento stance special moves of Kenshi in MK1:

• Summon Ancestor: Down, Away, Front Punch
• Spirit Bop: Front Punch
• Double Dose: Back Punch
• Lunging Soul: Front Kick
• Pekara Punish: Back Kick
• Banish Ancestor: Down, Away, Front Punch
• Spiritual Alignment: Down, Away, Back Punch
• Enhanced Spiritual Alignment: Down, Away, Back Punch + Block
• Soaring Sento: Down, Away, Front Kick,
• Enhanced Soaring Sento: Down, Away, Front Kick + Block
• Teamwork: Down, Away, Back Kick
• Ancestral Assist: Down, Away, Back Kick + Block

Kenshi Fatal Blow

These button combinations are the same for all MK1 characters. Here’s Kenshi’s Fatal Blow:

• Two Heavens Assault: Flip Stance + Block

Kenshi Fatalities

Each MK1 character has two fatalities so far. Here’s how to unlock fatalities in Mortal Kombat 1. These finishers are the gory spectacles that celebrate this franchise’s penchant for violence. Here are Kenshi’s fatalities in MK1:

• Blended: Forward, Down, Down, Back Punch
• Second Fatality: Back, Down, Back, Front Punch

Kenshi Brutalities

Here’s how to unlock and do a brutality in Mortal Kombat 1. Initially, players will only be able to do a single type of brutality. As you progress in the game, you will pick up new brutalities for characters. Here are Kenshi’s brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1:

• The Klassic: Down + Back Punch

Best combos for Kenshi in Mortal Kombat 1

Here are the best combos to maximize Kenshi’s offensive output in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Don’t Blink lets you kick off decent combo strings as a starter. Pair this with Rising Karma to dash forward and continue combos.
• Sento Stance can take a while to learn but this gives Kenshi an insane degree of versatility
• Teamwork is a combo ender that drops the enemy between Kenshi and the ancestor spirit, letting you attack the enemy from both sides.

That covers how to play Kenshi in Mortal Kombat 1. Our Mortal Kombat 1 review explored the game’s story mode that kicks off a tournament in Outworld. Liu Kang recruited heroes like Kung Lao, Raiden, Scorpion, and Sub-Zero to face combatants like Mileena, General Shao, Kitana, and Sindel. And if you’re just starting the game, check out our Mortal Kombat 1 tips and tricks guide. The game is out on PC, PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

Why does Kenshi wear a blindfold in MK1?

Kenshi loses his eyesight when he fights Mileena in MK1.