Getting Started

Getting Started Guide for Mortal Kombat 11

Welcome to Mortal Kombat 11! This guide is designed to get you from zero to competent in your first hour, covering everything from controls to key strategies. Let's dive in.

First Hour Walkthrough

0-5 minutes: Launch & Main Menu

• After installing (see separate Download & Installation guide), launch the game.


• The Main Menu displays: Story, Towers of Time, Kombat League, Kustomize, Learn, Settings. Ignore most for now.


• Go to Settings > Display and adjust brightness to see details in dark stages. Set subtitles to ON (recommended).


• Important: Turn off Auto-Combos in Settings > Gameplay – this feature hinders learning proper inputs.


5-15 minutes: Tutorial

• Navigate to Learn > Tutorial. Complete ALL tutorials – there are over 30 lessons covering movement, blocking, special moves, combos, Fatal Blows, and more. This is non-negotiable.


• The tutorial teaches you the core fighting system; skipping it leads to frustration.


• After tutorials, go to Learn > Character Tutorials and pick one character you find interesting (e.g., Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Liu Kang). Do their specific tutorial.


15-30 minutes: Practice Mode

• From the Main Menu, go to Fight > Practice. Select the same character you just learned.


• Set the AI opponent to Block All (so you can test hits). Use Options > AI Settings.


• Spend 10 minutes repeating the special moves and basic combos from the character tutorial. Focus on muscle memory.


• Key drills:

1. Execute each special move 10 times in a row without looking at the inputs.
2. Perform a simple combo (e.g., 1,2, Down+Back+2) 5 times consecutively.
3. Practice blocking (hold Back) against random attacks from AI set to “Random” – switch AI to “Random” in settings.

30-45 minutes: Story Mode – First Chapter

• Go to Story and play the first chapter (you play as Scorpion). This is a linear, cinematic experience that teaches basic gameplay in a safe environment.


• The story is on easy difficulty by default – don't worry about losing, just enjoy and learn.


• Notice how the game teaches Fatal Blows (triggered when health is low) – use them when available.


45-60 minutes: Choose Your Main & Do Towers of Time

• After story chapter, decide on one character to focus on (your “main”). Good starters: Scorpion (easy combos), Sub-Zero (simple ice traps), Liu Kang (fast pressure), Sonya (strong projectiles).


• Go to Towers of Time and complete the first Bronze tower (single fight). This gives you early currency and experience.


• Don't touch Kombat League (ranked) until you can consistently perform specials and block.




Character Creation? (None)


Mortal Kombat 11 does not have a character creation system. You choose from a roster of predefined fighters, each with unique moves. You can customize their skins, gear, and abilities (via Kustomize), but the character’s core moveset is fixed. Focus on learning the character, not dressing them up.



Controls on All Platforms



All platforms share the same basic layout. The buttons are:

• 1 = Front Punch (Square on PS, X on Xbox, Y by default on Switch, J on keyboard)


• 2 = Back Punch (Triangle on PS, Y on Xbox, X on Switch, K on keyboard)


• 3 = Front Kick (Cross on PS, A on Xbox, B on Switch, U on keyboard)


• 4 = Back Kick (Circle on PS, B on Xbox, A on Switch, I on keyboard)


• Block = Hold Back on stick/d-pad (or dedicated block button: L2 on PS, LT on Xbox, ZL on Switch, Left Shift on keyboard)


• Throw = 1+3 (both punch buttons)


• Fatal Blow = L2+R2 (both triggers) when health is below 30%

Pro tip: Use the D-Pad for precise directional inputs (e.g., quarter circles) rather than the analog stick.

UI Overview

Main Menu (home screen):

• Story – single-player campaign (recommended first).


• Towers of Time – single-player challenges with modifiers, rewards, and AI opponents.


• Kombat League – ranked online mode (do not enter yet).


• Kustomize – edit character appearance, gear, and Augments.


• Learn – tutorials, character moves lists, and framedata.


• Krypt – third-person exploration to unlock cosmetics (requires Koins – save this for later).


• Settings – audio, video, controls.


Fight Screen (during battle):

• Health bars at top – green bar for health, red bar below for super meter (offensive and defensive bars).


• Super Meter: 3 segments. Each bar can be used for Enhanced Specials (block + special move) or Breakers (2 bars while blocking to escape combos).


• Fatal Blow icon appears next to health bar when health is below 30% – press both triggers to activate once per round.


• Timer at top center – 90 seconds per round.


• Round indicator – best of three (or five).


• Announcer – provides feedback on actions.




Essential Early Objectives



1. Complete all Tutorials (Learn menu) – teaches blocking, specials, combos, Fatal Blows, and defensive options (e.g., Breakaway, Wake-up attacks).
2. Select one main character – play their Character Tutorial and practice their BnB (bread and butter) combos.
3. Play the first 2-3 chapters of Story Mode – this gives you exposure to multiple characters and unlocks some cosmetics.
4. Learn to block – hold Back to block high and mid attacks; hold Down+Back to block low attacks. Overhead attacks must be blocked standing (don't crouch).
5. Learn one basic kombo – e.g., Scorpion: 1,2, Down+Back+2 (Spear) or 1,2, Forward+2 (Teleport).
6. Earn Koins and Soul Fragments – do Towers of Time and Story to accumulate currency for the Krypt.



What to Do First (Priority Order)



1. Tutorials – all of them.
2. Character Tutorial for your chosen main.
3. Practice Mode for 20 minutes focusing on specials and one combo.
4. Story Mode – first three chapters (gets you comfortable with different characters).
5. Towers of Time – bronze and silver towers (earn gear and currency).
6. Krypt – only after you have at least 10,000 Koins. Unlock chests near the start to get early gear.
7. Customize your character’s abilities (Augments) – from Kustomize, equip Augments that boost damage or defense (you earn these in towers).



What to Avoid




• Button mashing – you will lose to anyone who understands pokes and combos.


• Skipping tutorials – leads to bad habits and frustration.


• Playing ranked (Kombat League) too early – you will face experienced players and get discouraged.


• Spending Koins randomly – save for Shrine in Krypt (gives gear) or for a character you like.


• Ignoring defense – blocking, ducking, and teching throws are vital.


• Using Fatal Blow recklessly – it’s punishable if blocked; use it as a combo ender or when guaranteed.


• Trying to learn too many characters – stick to one until you can do their combos on autopilot.

Early Resource Priorities

Tip: The Shrine in the Krypt (right side) is the best early spend. Insert 75,000 Koins for a chance at gear for your current main (resets every 24 hours).

Common Beginner Mistakes

1. Never blocking – always hold Back unless you are punishing. Most new players rush in and get punished.
2. Jumping too much – jumping attacks are easily anti-aired (Down+2 uppercut). Walk or dash instead.
3. Using only special moves – basic attacks (1,2,3,4) are safer and can lead to combos. Specials are punishable if blocked.
4. Ignoring the Super Meter – use meter for Breakers (escape combos) or Enhanced Specials (damage boost). Don’t let it sit full.
5. Forgetting to finish with a Fatality – after winning the final round, you can input a Fatality (e.g., Scorpion: Down, Up, Forward, 2 at close range). This earns extra Koins and is satisfying.
6. Not teching throws – when an opponent grabs you, press 1+3 (throw) at the same time to break the throw. Practice this.
7. Panicking on wake-up – after being knocked down, you have options: block, roll, delay wake-up, or use a wake-up attack (invincible if you have meter). Don’t always mash buttons.
8. Trying to learn complex combos too early – master pokes (Down+1, Down+4) and simple strings before flashy 40-hit combos.

Day-One Checklist

• [ ] Install the game and update to latest version (check for patches).


• [ ] Go to Settings > Gameplay – disable Auto-Combos and Release Check (makes inputs more forgiving? Actually, keep Release Check ON if you accidentally hold buttons; but many turn it off for precision. I recommend OFF for cleaner inputs).


• [ ] Set subtitles ON, adjust brightness.


• [ ] Complete all Tutorial lessons (Learn menu).


• [ ] Choose one main (Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Liu Kang, or anyone you like).


• [ ] Do their Character Tutorial.


• [ ] Spend 20 minutes in Practice Mode doing specials and one simple combo.


• [ ] Play Story Mode – first three chapters.


• [ ] Complete one Bronze Tower in Towers of Time.


• [ ] Spend Koins at the Shrine (75,000) if you have them – or save.


• [ ] Configure your controller layout (optional): set Right Stick to “quick moves” (grabs/Fatal Blows) or “abilities” – stick to defaults for now.


• [ ] Watch a beginner guide on YouTube for your chosen character (search “MK11 [character name] beginner combos”).


• [ ] Try your first Klassic Tower on Medium difficulty to test your skills.

Remember: Mortal Kombat 11 has a steep learning curve. Be patient, focus on defense, and practice one combo until it’s automatic. Within a week, you’ll be competing in online rooms. Good luck!