Retro Video Games

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