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

Want the best guide to Raiden in Mortal Kombat 1? This lightning wielder gets a new story courtesy of NetherRealm’s rebooted Mortal Kombat universe. While Raiden gets his lightning powers thanks to Liu Kang this time, he’s still got tricks both old and new for returning players.

If you want to check the other characters out, here’s our Mortal Kombat 1 roster tier list. And if you’re wondering about the locked character, here’s how to unlock Havik in Mortal Kombat 1.

Mortal Kombat 1 Raiden Guide

Raiden brings some new lightning-based combos into the mix. And with the game’s new aerial combat focus, expect him to stay longer in the skies. Or keep your enemies up in the air with your combos instead. He’s a solid pick regardless of how experienced you are with previous MK titles.

Before you check out all of Raiden’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

Raiden 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

Raiden Basic Attacks

You’ll be using basic attacks to start, extend, and end combos so use them well. Here are all of Raiden’s basic attacks in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Electric Tips: Front Punch
• Warrior’s Stance: Front Punch, Back Punch
• Micro Burst: Front Punch, Back Punch, Front Kick
• Quick Backhand: Down + Front Punch
• Straight Shock: Back Punch
• Rolling Thunder: Back Punch, Back Kick
• Power Overload: Back Punch, Back Kick, Back Punch
• Deadly Current: Back Punch, Back Kick, Back Punch, Front Punch
• Lightning Strikes: Backward + Back Punch
• Focused Energy: Forward + Back Punch
• Electric Charge: Forward + Back Punch, Front Punch
• Quick Learner: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch
• No Apprentice: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Back Kick
• Rising Fist: Up + Back Punch
• Chin Kick: Front Kick
• Little Shock: Front Kick, Back Kick
• Shock and Awww: Forward + Front Kick
• Double Strike: Front + Front Kick, Back Kick
• Low Boot: Down + Front Kick
• Spinning Heel: Back Kick
• Sweeping Storm: Back + Back Kick
• Sliding Strike: Forward + Back Kick
• The Basics: Forward + Back Kick, Front Kick
• Super Bolt: Forward + Back Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick
• Toe Tapper: Down + Back Kick

Raiden Aerial Attacks

With Mortal Kombat 1’s renewed focus on aerial attacks, keep track of how you can beat the odds above the ground. Here are Raiden’s aerial attacks in MK1:

• Open Palm: Forward + Up + Front Punch
• Crane Kick: Forward + Up + Front Punch, Front Kick
• Double Take: Forward + Up + Front Punch, Front Kick, Back Kick
• Elbow Drop: Forward + Up + Back Punch
• Downpour: Forward + Up + Back Punch, Front Punch
• He Can Slap: Forward + Up + Back Punch, Front Punch, Back Punch
• Piston Punch: Forward + Up + Back Punch, Back Punch
• Whirlwind: Forward + Up + Back Punch, Back Punch, Back Kick
• Fly Kick: Forward + Up + Back Kick or Forward + Up + Front Kick

Raiden Throws

Here are Raiden’s throws in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Shove: Forward + Throw or Forward + Front Punch + Front Kick
• Exposed Wires: Throw or Front Punch + Front Kick

Raiden Breakers and Taunts

Kombo Breakers let you escape combos for three charges of your Super Meter. Taunts let you annoy your foes. Here are Raiden’s Breakers and Taunts:

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

Raiden Special Moves

Raiden has a decent collection of lightning moves. Here are Raiden’s special moves in Mortal Kombat 1:

• Electric Orb: Down, Forward, Front Punch
• Enhanced Electric Orb: Down, Forward, Front Punch + Block
• Extend Electric Orb: Hold Front Punch
• Razzle Dazzle: Down, Back, Back Punch
• Enhanced Razzle Dazzle: Down, Back, Back Punch + Block
• Shocker: Down, Forward, Back Punch
• Enhanced Shocker: Down, Forward, Back Punch + Block
• Extend Shocker: Hold Back Punch
• Electric Fly: Back, Forward, Front Kick
• Enhanced Electric Fly: Back, Forward, Front Kick + Block
• (Air) Electric Fly: Back, Forward, Front Kick
• (Air) Enhanced Electric Fly: Back, Forward, Front Kick + Block
• Electromagnetic Storm: Down, Back, Front Kick
• Traveling Electromagnetic Storm: Front Kick
• Lighting Port: Down, Up
• Enhanced Lightning Port: Down, Up + Block

Raiden Fatal Blow

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

• Raijin’ Raidens: Flip Stance + Block

Raiden 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 Raiden’s fatalities in MK1:

• The Storm’s Arrival: Back, Forward, Back, Back Punch
• Ride the Lightning: Down, Forward, Back, Front Punch

Raiden 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 Raiden’s brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1:

• The Klassic: Down + Back Punch (uppercut)

Best combos for Raiden in Mortal Kombat 1

Here are the best combos for Raiden and his lightning powers in MK1:

• Use Shocker as an effective way to end combos. Nearly every normal attack of his can be canceled into Shocker. Expect this to come in handy during online matches.
• Electromagnetic Shock is also a powerful move that forces enemies to keep their distance. You can use it to lead up to combos before ending them with Shocker.
• Use Kameo Fighters like Jax and Sareena to extend Raiden’s combos. Frost can pin enemies in place, letting you get the drop on them with a sweet combo. You can start combos after using your Lighting Port teleport to confuse enemies.

That covers how to play Raiden in Mortal Kombat 1. Our Mortal Kombat 1 review gives you a better idea of what to expect from Outworld. Expect rewritten arcs for characters like Kitana, Mileena, Sindel, General Shao, and Sindel. Villains like Quan Chi and Shang Tsung have also received new stories. If you want to play as a certain film star, here’s our Mortal Kombat 1 Johnny Cage guide.

And if you’re just entering the world of Mortal Kombat, here’s a handy Mortal Kombat 1 tips and tricks guide. The game is out on PC, PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Fans can familiar characters like Scorpion, Kung Lao, and Johnny Cage to respect their legacy while packing some new skills in the reboot.

How did Raiden get his powers in MK1?

Raiden gets his power from Liu Kang to become Earthrealm’s champion in MK1.