Game Settings

Game Settings Guide for Mortal Kombat 11

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of all major settings in Mortal Kombat 11 across platforms (PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch). It covers Graphics, Audio, Controls, Accessibility, Language, Network, and Gameplay options. Recommendations are given for low-end, mid-range, and high-end hardware to balance performance and visual quality. Settings that are easy to misconfigure are highlighted.

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Graphics Settings (PC Only)

Access via: Main Menu > Options > Graphics

#### Display & Resolution

• Display Mode: Fullscreen (best performance), Borderless Windowed (alt-tab friendly), Windowed.


• Resolution: Set to your monitor’s native resolution for sharpness. Lower only if performance is poor.


• Refresh Rate: Match your monitor’s max refresh rate (e.g., 60Hz, 144Hz).


• V-Sync: Disabled for lowest input lag (recommended); enable to prevent screen tearing if you experience it.


• Frame Rate Limit: Off (unlocked), 30 FPS, 60 FPS, 120 FPS. Set to 60 FPS for consistency; unlock only on high-end systems.


#### Quality Presets

• Global Quality Preset: Low, Medium, High, Ultra. Start with Auto-detect or set manually.


• Anti-aliasing: FXAA (fast, blurry), SMAA (better quality), TAA (best for stills but can blur motion). Recommendation: SMAA or TAA on mid/high; disable on low-end.


• Texture Quality: Low (lower VRAM), Medium, High, Ultra. High/Ultra require 4GB+ VRAM. Potentially misconfigured: Setting too high for VRAM causes stuttering; check VRAM usage in the in-game bar.


• Shadow Quality: Low (flat shadows), Medium, High, Ultra. Shadows have low performance impact; set to Medium or High.


• Post Processing: Bloom, Depth of Field, Motion Blur. Disable all for competitive play (reduces visual clutter). Easy to misconfigure: Motion Blur can obscure quick movements; turn off in fighting games.


• Effects Detail: Low, Medium, High, Ultra. Controls particle effects. Low for performance.


• Model Quality: Low, Medium, High, Ultra. Affects character models and stages. High/Ultra are visually rich.


• Ambient Occlusion: Off, SSAO, HBAO+. Off on low-end; HBAO+ on high-end.

#### Per-Hardware Recommendations

Note: The in-game “VRAM Usage” meter (under graphics options) is critical. If it exceeds your available VRAM, reduce texture or shadow quality immediately to prevent stuttering.

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Audio Settings

Access via: Options > Audio

• Master Volume: 100% (adjust based on system).


• Music Volume: 100% (keep high for atmosphere).


• SFX Volume: 100% (important for hit sounds and audio cues).


• Voice Volume: 100% (announcer, character dialogue).


• Cutscene Volume: 100% (for story mode).


• Sound Mode: Stereo, 5.1 Surround, 7.1 Surround. Select according to your setup. Potentially misconfigured: If you use stereo headphones but set to 7.1, audio may sound hollow or quiet. Always match your hardware.


• Audio Dynamic Range: Headphones, TV, speakers. Choose “Headphones” for a compressed dynamic range that makes quiet sounds louder — helpful for hearing footstep queues. Easy to misconfigure: Leaving on “TV” with headphones can cause too loud/too quiet extremes.


• Damage Feedback Sound: On/Off. Off disables the hit sound for taking damage – not recommended as audio cues are vital.


• Input Audio: On/Off (for microphone inputs in online lobbies). Set to Off if you don’t use voice chat.


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Controls Settings



Access via: Options > Controls

#### Button Configuration (Pre-defined Layouts)

• Standard: Default layout (A/X punch, B/Y kick, etc.).


• Alternative: Switches face buttons (e.g., punch/kick reversed).


• Custom: Fully remap every button.


#### Key Bindings (PC Keyboard)
You can rebind:

• Front Punch, Back Punch, Front Kick, Back Kick


• Block, Throw, Interact, Flip Stance, Amplify, Grab


• Shortcut buttons for Konsumables, Fatal Blow, etc.


Potentially misconfigured: Ensure “Interact” is on a comfortable key (often space or E). Many players accidentally map Amplify over a Punch — keep default or test in Practice.

#### Controller Specific

• Vibration: On/Off. Off reduces distraction and can improve precision for some players.


• Trigger Deadzone: Adjust if you feel triggers too sensitive (range 0-100%). Default 30%.


• Stick Deadzone: Similar adjustment for analog sticks. Increase if you experience stick drift.


• D-Pad vs Analog: Fighting games are best played with D-Pad for precise directional inputs. If your controller’s D-Pad is inaccurate, consider analog stick but increase deadzone slightly.


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Accessibility Settings



Access via: Options > Accessibility


• Subtitles: On/Off. Turn on for story mode.


• Subtitle Background: Dark/light/transparent. Choose dark for readability.


• Color Blind Mode: Deuteranopia, Protanopia, Tritanopia, Off. Adjusts UI colors for health bars, meters, and combo timing indicators. Easy to misconfigure: Selecting the wrong type can make things worse; test versus a known colorblind test chart.


• High Contrast Mode: On/Off. Increases contrast of UI elements and character outlines. Helpful for low vision.


• Screen Narrator: On/Off (reads menu text aloud). Only on Xbox and PC (Windows Narrator).


• Auto-Attacks: On/Off. When enabled, repeated button presses auto-execute basic combos. Good for beginners but must be turned off for competitive play.


• Input Shortcuts: On/Off. Allows simpler inputs for special moves (e.g., down-down instead of quarter-circle). Potential misconfigure: Turning this on will change move execution and may prevent advanced techniques; keep Off for serious play.


• Release Check: On/Off. When enabled, special moves execute on button release rather than press. Can help if timing is difficult, but changes muscle memory. Default Off.


• Alternate Controls: On/Off. Switches to a simplified control scheme for moves (e.g., one button per special). Recommended only for absolute beginners.


• Button Hold Remap: Allows holding a button to trigger a different action (e.g., hold block to amplify). Not recommended for precise gameplay.


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Language Settings



Access via: Options > Language


• Text Language: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), etc.


• Audio Language: English, Japanese, etc. (character voices, announcer).


• Subtitles Language: Select independently from audio.


Potentially misconfigured: If you set text to a language you don’t understand, you might not be able to navigate back to change it. Most menus have a language icon; note the position of your selection to revert.

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Network Settings



Access via: Options > Network (or Online Settings)


• Connection Type: Wired vs Wi-Fi (in-game doesn’t change this, but advises using wired).


• Network Quality Indicator: On/Off (displays ping and frame delay during matchmaking). Keep On.


• Matchmaking Region: Automatic or manual (e.g., North America, Europe). Set to your region for lower latency. If queuing with friends elsewhere, manual may be needed.


• Crossplay: On/Off (between PS, Xbox, PC). Enable for larger player pool; disable if you prefer only your platform.


• Krossplay Indicator: On/Off (shows platform icon in opponent card).


• Connection Filter: Any, Good Only, Perfect. Choose “Good Only” to filter out bad connections. Easy to misconfigure: Setting to “Any” will match with laggy players.


• Frame Delay Input: Adjusts input lag compensation. Default is 0; increase by 1-2 if you experience constant lag spikes (can cause more input delay, so cautious).


• Voice Chat: On/Off, Push to Talk, Open Mic. Set to Push to Talk to avoid accidental noise.


• Teabagging Filter: On/Off (hides teabagging animations). Not essential but can reduce tilt.


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Gameplay Settings



Access via: Options > Gameplay (or under “Fight Options” in the pause menu during a match)

These settings affect in-match behavior and tutorials.


• Difficulty: Easy, Medium, Hard, Very Hard. Affects AI opponents in Story, Towers, and Klassic Tower. Adjust per mode.


• Timer: 30/60/90/120 seconds or Infinite. Competitive default is 90 seconds.


• Health: Normal, Double, Triple. For casual play only; competitive uses Normal.


• Stage Fatalities: On/Off. Keep On; turning off removes environmental finishers.


• Klose Kombat (Clash): On/Off. Turn Off to remove comeback mechanic (for custom variations).


• Fatal Blow: On/Off. Keep On; many rely on it.


• Auto-Move: On/Off (AI performs movement). Turn Off for manual control.


• Auto-Combos: On/Off. Off for normal play; On for assist mode.


• Stage Interactions: On/Off. Keep On for standard play.


• Rollback Netcode: Not toggleable; always on in MK11.

Easy to misconfigure: Many players accidentally set “Auto-Combos” to On in the options and wonder why combos feel wrong. Always check this before going online.

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Special Attention Points During Setup

1. Graphics VRAM Meter: Always monitor the VRAM usage bar when changing textures/shadows. Exceeding VRAM causes micro-stutters.
2. Audio Dynamic Range: If using headphones, select “Headphones” immediately; otherwise sound may be too quiet for important audio queues.
3. Accessibility – Auto-Attacks & Input Shortcuts: These are designed for casual/assist mode but will cripple your ability to perform advanced combos. Turn them Off for proper play.
4. Controls – D-Pad vs Stick: For fighting games, D-Pad is nearly mandatory. If your controller’s D-Pad is poor, consider a fightstick or a pad with a better D-Pad (like Hori Fighting Commander).
5. Network – Frame Delay Input: Increasing this adds input latency. Only use if you have constant high ping; otherwise leave at 0.
6. Language Selection: If you accidentally change text to an unknown language, look for the Earth icon (language) in the options menu to revert.
7. Release Check: This setting is often confused. Leave it Off unless you specifically need it for a disability; it changes input timing and will mess up your muscle memory.

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Summary Table: Quick-Start Settings

Use this guide to set up Mortal Kombat 11 for the best balance of performance, responsiveness, and enjoyment. For further fine-tuning, test each option in Practice Mode under identical conditions.