Over the years, the Mortal Kombat series has provided plenty of bloody fun for fighting fans, whether playing as veterans like Sub-Zero and Scorpion, or perfecting the skills of newcomers in the series, such as Bo Rai Cho or the obvious motion-capture figure Mokap. Regardless of who you played as, you had a blast uppercutting folks and putting them out of their misery.
What better way to do that with fatalities? Over the years, we’ve seen quite a few gruesome ones, from body rips to head explosions to unspeakable things with Kung Lao’s razor sharp headwear. That said, we can’t help but ponder the question…which ones are the best?
So, for the remainder of April, we’re counting down our top 50 fatalities of all time. We’ve selected some good ones, too, including a few friendships (friendships?) and animalities for good measure. Of course, we wouldn’t dare forget those great pit ones, either.
Without further ado, let the death commence!
The Best Mortal Kombat Fatalities of All Time
50. Mokap’s Head Smash (Mortal Kombat: Armageddon)
This motion-capture actor didn’t really get to show off all his skills in Deadly Alliance, but the developers made good to add a nice one for him in Armageddon. He simply walks up and smashes an opponent’s head in his hands. Hardly anything fancy, but dying by the hands of a guy in a ping-pong ball-laden suit is embarrassing enough.
49. Sub-Zero’s Polar Bear Animality (Mortal Kombat III)
Most of the animalities featured in Mortal Kombat III are somewhat lame, but Sub-Zero’s is perfectly suited for his character. He simply transforms into a polar bar and mauls his opponent, before changing back into his human form. It certainly beats trying to be a penguin.
48. Kratos’ Medusa Fatality (Mortal Kombat)
Kratos is one of the more effective additions to the latest Mortal Kombat game, and his second and secret fatality is the proof. He freezes an opponent in their tracks using Medusa’s stone gaze, then proceeds to smash the body with his powerful lion fists. On the bright side, they probably didn’t feel it coming.
47. Buy a Doll! (Mortal Kombat II)
After beating an opponent senseless, what better way to finish the fight than to…plug the purchase of a doll? Indeed, in Mortal Kombat II, Sub-Zero, Scorpion and Reptile all offer smaller versions of themselves when you activate their friendships. Nothing says, “You shall live!” like an endorsement, right?
46. Ermac’s Pest Control (Mortal Kombat)
Ermac’s Pest Control fatality in the latest Mortal Kombat bears some similarities to Jax’s skoosh stomp in Mortal Kombat III. Rather than growing immense in size, however, Ermac simply shrinks his opponent, then walks up and smashes them under his boot.
45. Scorpion’s Hanging Fatality (Mortal Kombat)
One of Scorpion’s more stylish fatalities, this move has him stab his opponent with his spear, then wrap it around their neck before kicking them through a portal. Another portal then appears, with the opponent’s limp body hanging through it. Now you’re playing with portals!
44. Smoke’s Horn Friendship (Mortal Kombat III)
Now here’s a robot brawler that isn’t afraid to toot its own horn. For his Friendship, Smoke simply walks up and lets out a mighty blare with a horn that comes out of his chest. The only downside is that the horn actually doesn’t have smoke coming out of it – but maybe that’s because your opponent has been through enough as it is, yes?
43. Quan Chi’s Leg Beating (Mortal Kombat 4)
Quan Chi is certainly quite merciless in Mortal Kombat 4. How merciless? For his fatality, he rips off his opponent’s leg and continues to wallop him or her throughout the announcement of the Fatality – and even after that. The guy clearly has some issues to work out, but we sure aren’t going to tell him to his face.
42. Bo Rai Cho’s Fire Fart Fatality (Mortal Kombat: Deception)
We don’t know what Bo Rai Cho ate – and we don’t want to know. He puts his appetite to good use with his fatality, however, as he lets loose a stench-worthy fart while lighting it ablaze, turning his opponent into ash in a matter of seconds. Once he’s done, he waves it off like the bad-smelling finish that it is.
41. Rain’s Bubble Burst (Mortal Kombat)
Rain surrounds his opponent’s head in water, forcing them to drown for several seconds before it eventually seeps into their body, fattening them up and making them explode in a wet mess. This is definitely one of those fatalities that lives up to being “watered down.”
