Tier List for Every Retro Mortal Kombat Game
Mortal Kombat games have evolved over the years; from a 2D fighting game with 7 characters to 3D with 30. The tier lists for competitive play have evolved as well.
In the early days of the MK franchise, Sub-Zero and Scorpion (the most iconic characters) were considered to be the worst playable characters. But since MK4, one of these two characters has been top-tier for every game release.
Did you play the worst MK characters or the best? Find out with our official Mortal Kombat Tier Lists below!
Note: We do not consider any playable boss characters in these lists.
Note: We do not consider any playable boss characters in these lists.
Mortal Kombat 1 Tier List
Platform: SNES, Sega Genesis, Arcade
A Tier
Sonya
Johnny Cage
Liu Kang
Johnny Cage
Liu Kang
B Tier
Kano
Raiden
Raiden
C Tier
Sub-Zero
Scorpion
Scorpion
Mortal Kombat 2 Tier List
Platform: SNES, Sega Genesis, Arcade
A Tier
Mileena
Jax
Liu Kang
Jax
Liu Kang
B Tier
Kitana
Kung Lao
Baraka
Kung Lao
Baraka
C Tier
Johnny Cage
Shang Tsung
Scorpion
Shang Tsung
Scorpion
D Tier
Raiden
Sub-Zero
Reptile
Sub-Zero
Reptile
Mortal Kombat 3 Tier List
Platform: SNES, Sega Genesis, PS1, Arcade
A Tier
Sub-Zero
Kabal
Jax
Kano
Kabal
Jax
Kano
B Tier
Nightwolf
Smoke
Sindel
Sonya
Smoke
Sindel
Sonya
C Tier
Cyrax
Kung Lao
Liu Kang
Stryker
Kung Lao
Liu Kang
Stryker
D Tier
Shang Tsung
Sektor
Sektor
F Tier
Sheeva
Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 Tier List
Platform: SNES, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, Arcade
S Tier
Noob Saibot
A Tier
Kabal
Smoke (Human)
Kung Lao
Kano
Reptile
Ermac
Smoke (Human)
Kung Lao
Kano
Reptile
Ermac
B Tier
Nightwolf
Smoke (Robot)
Sindel
Jax
Sonya
Kitana
Stryker
Smoke (Robot)
Sindel
Jax
Sonya
Kitana
Stryker
C Tier
Scorpion
Sub-Zero (Unmasked)
Jade
Liu Kang
Sektor
Sub-Zero (Classic)
Sub-Zero (Unmasked)
Jade
Liu Kang
Sektor
Sub-Zero (Classic)
D Tier
Cyrax
Shang Tsung
Mileena
Shang Tsung
Mileena
F Tier
Sheeva
Mortal Kombat Trilogy Tier List
Platform: N64, Sega Saturn, PS1, Arcade
A Tier
Noob Saibot
Rain
Kabal
Smoke (Human)
Kung Lao (MK2)
Baraka
Rain
Kabal
Smoke (Human)
Kung Lao (MK2)
Baraka
B Tier
Kung Lao
Kano
Reptile
Ermac
Kano
Reptile
Ermac
C Tier
Nightwolf
Jax (MK2)
Smoke (Robot)
Scorpion
Sindel
Jax
Raiden
Sonya
Jax (MK2)
Smoke (Robot)
Scorpion
Sindel
Jax
Raiden
Sonya
D Tier
Kitana
Raiden (MK1)
Stryker
Sektor
Sub-Zero (Unmasked)
Jade
Liu Kang
Sub-Zero (Classic)
Cyrax
Shang Tsung
Raiden (MK1)
Stryker
Sektor
Sub-Zero (Unmasked)
Jade
Liu Kang
Sub-Zero (Classic)
Cyrax
Shang Tsung
F Tier
Mileena
Kano (MK1)
Johnny Cage
Sheeva
Kano (MK1)
Johnny Cage
Sheeva
Mortal Kombat 4 Tier List
Platform: N64, PS1, Arcade
S Tier
Sub-Zero
Reptile
Tanya
Reptile
Tanya
A Tier
Scorpion
Reiko
Fujin
Raiden
Reiko
Fujin
Raiden
B Tier
Liu Kang
Sonya
Jarek
Jax
Johny Cage
Sonya
Jarek
Jax
Johny Cage
C Tier
Kai
D Tier
Quan Chi
Shinnok
Shinnok
Mortal Kombat Gold Tier List
Platform: Sega Dreamcast, Arcade
S Tier
Sektor
A Tier
Kitana
Mileena
Cyrax
Baraka
Noob Saibot
Kung Lao
Mileena
Cyrax
Baraka
Noob Saibot
Kung Lao
B Tier
Tanya
Scorpion
Reptile
Scorpion
Reptile
C Tier
Sub-Zero
Reiko
Fujin
Liu Kang
Jarek
Raiden
Reiko
Fujin
Liu Kang
Jarek
Raiden
D Tier
Sonya
Jax
Kai
Jax
Kai
F Tier
Shinnok
Quan Chi
Johnny Cage
Quan Chi
Johnny Cage
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Tier List
Platform: PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
S Tier
Scorpion
Bo’ Rai Cho
Reptile
Bo’ Rai Cho
Reptile
A Tier
Kitana
Drahmin
Sonya
Shang Tsung
Hsu Hao
Mavado
Frost
Jax
Drahmin
Sonya
Shang Tsung
Hsu Hao
Mavado
Frost
Jax
B Tier
Quan Chi
Raiden
Mokap
Johnny Cage
Kenshi
Raiden
Mokap
Johnny Cage
Kenshi
C Tier
Kung Lao
Sub-Zero
Kano
Blaze
Sub-Zero
Kano
Blaze
D Tier
Nitara
Li Mei
Kitana
Li Mei
Kitana
F Tier
Cyrax
Mortal Kombat Deception Tier List
Platform: PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
S Tier
Dairou
Bo’ Rai Cho
Noob-Smoke
Kobra
Scorpion
Bo’ Rai Cho
Noob-Smoke
Kobra
Scorpion
A Tier
Shujinko
Darrius
Liu Kang
Mileena
Kabal
Ashrah
Darrius
Liu Kang
Mileena
Kabal
Ashrah
B Tier
Raiden
Hotaru
Jade
Baraka
Nightwolf
Hotaru
Jade
Baraka
Nightwolf
C Tier
Ermac
Havik
Sub-Zero
Li Mei
Havik
Sub-Zero
Li Mei
D Tier
Tanya
Kenshi
Sindel
Kenshi
Sindel
F Tier
Kira
