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.

Mortal Kombat 1 Tier List

Platform: SNES, Sega Genesis, Arcade

A Tier

Sonya

Johnny Cage

Liu Kang

B Tier

Kano

Raiden

C Tier

Sub-Zero

Scorpion

Mortal Kombat 2 Tier List

Platform: SNES, Sega Genesis, Arcade

A Tier

Mileena

Jax

Liu Kang

B Tier

Kitana

Kung Lao

Baraka

C Tier

Johnny Cage

Shang Tsung

Scorpion

D Tier

Raiden

Sub-Zero

Reptile

Mortal Kombat 3 Tier List

Platform: SNES, Sega Genesis, PS1, Arcade

A Tier

Sub-Zero

Kabal

Jax

Kano

B Tier

Nightwolf

Smoke

Sindel

Sonya

C Tier

Cyrax

Kung Lao

Liu Kang

Stryker

D Tier

Shang Tsung

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

B Tier

Nightwolf

Smoke (Robot)

Sindel

Jax

Sonya

Kitana

Stryker

C Tier

Scorpion

Sub-Zero (Unmasked)

Jade

Liu Kang

Sektor

Sub-Zero (Classic)

D Tier

Cyrax

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

B Tier

Kung Lao

Kano

Reptile

Ermac

C Tier

Nightwolf

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

F Tier

Mileena

Kano (MK1)

Johnny Cage

Sheeva

Mortal Kombat 4 Tier List

Platform: N64, PS1, Arcade

S Tier

Sub-Zero

Reptile

Tanya

A Tier

Scorpion

Reiko

Fujin

Raiden

B Tier

Liu Kang

Sonya

Jarek

Jax

Johny Cage

C Tier

Kai

D Tier

Quan Chi

Shinnok

Mortal Kombat Gold Tier List

Platform: Sega Dreamcast, Arcade

S Tier

Sektor

A Tier

Kitana

Mileena

Cyrax

Baraka

Noob Saibot

Kung Lao

B Tier

Tanya

Scorpion

Reptile

C Tier

Sub-Zero

Reiko

Fujin

Liu Kang

Jarek

Raiden

D Tier

Sonya

Jax

Kai

F Tier

Shinnok

Quan Chi

Johnny Cage

Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Tier List

Platform: PS2, Xbox, Gamecube

S Tier

Scorpion

Bo’ Rai Cho

Reptile

A Tier

Kitana

Drahmin

Sonya

Shang Tsung

Hsu Hao

Mavado

Frost

Jax

B Tier

Quan Chi

Raiden

Mokap

Johnny Cage

Kenshi

C Tier

Kung Lao

Sub-Zero

Kano

Blaze

D Tier

Nitara

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

A Tier

Shujinko

Darrius

Liu Kang

Mileena

Kabal

Ashrah

B Tier

Raiden

Hotaru

Jade

Baraka

Nightwolf

C Tier

Ermac

Havik

Sub-Zero

Li Mei

D Tier

Tanya

Kenshi

Sindel

F Tier

Kira