Homeβ€ΊGamesβ€ΊMortal Kombat 1β€ΊKung Lao
Kung Lao Mortal Kombat 1 fighter artwork
Mortal Kombat 1 Move & Ability Guide

Kung Lao moves, skills and special abilities

Move & Ability Guide

Playable Mortal Kombat 1 fighter.

29 ability entries1 Basic Attack6 Special Moves1 Equippable Move8 Kombos2 Aerial Kombos1 Fatal Blow2 Fatalities7 Brutalities1 Animality
Mortal Kombat inputs: Forward means toward the opponent; Back means away. Reverse horizontal directions when facing left. A comma or β†’ separates steps; + means press together. Use your assigned buttons if controls were remapped. 1 = Front Punch (PS Square / Xbox X / Switch Y); 2 = Back Punch (Triangle / Y / X); 3 = Front Kick (Cross / A / B); 4 = Back Kick (Circle / B / A). Kameo = R1 / RB / R; Block = R2 / RT / ZR; Throw = L1 / LB / L; Flip Stance = L2 / LT / ZL. During/Requires describes a prerequisite, not an extra direction. Finishers need the finishing prompt, distance and unlock conditions shown. Kameo copied moves depend on the opponent.

Basic Attacks

1
Monk Drop
basic_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Forward + 4

Directional/basic attack.

Tip: Use the listed universal notation.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—

Special Moves

6
Buzzsaw
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 1

Special move.

Tip: Use the listed universal notation; enhanced versions use the game's Enhance/Block input where supported.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Hat Toss
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 1

Kung Lao's hat projectile/pressure tool, referenced in official WB patch notes.

Tip: Use it to control space and support pressure. WB has corrected recovery interactions in past updates, so current Practice Mode data is the authoritative gameplay reference.
Verified through official WB February UpdateSource β†—
Shaolin Shimmy
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 2

Special move.

Tip: Use the listed universal notation; enhanced versions use the game's Enhance/Block input where supported.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Kung-Kussion
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 2

A Kung Lao special move referenced in official Mortal Kombat 1 patch notes.

Tip: Use it as part of Kung Lao's pressure and movement toolkit. Current interaction behavior should be confirmed in Practice Mode.
Verified through official WB October UpdateSource β†—
Shaolin Spin
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Up, 3

Special move.

Tip: Use the listed universal notation; enhanced versions use the game's Enhance/Block input where supported.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Soaring Monk / Dive Kick
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 4

Special move.

Tip: Use the listed universal notation; enhanced versions use the game's Enhance/Block input where supported.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—

Equippable Moves

1
Spirit Stomp
equippable_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 3

Equippable move.

Tip: This move must be equipped or available in the current character loadout before use.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—

Kombos

8
Swallen Throat
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
1, 2, 1

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Sweep The Foot
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back + 1, 4

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Eight Trigram Palm
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
2, 1, 2, 1

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Human Weapon
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back + 2, 4

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Focused Footsies
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back + 3, 3

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Monastary Mixup
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back + 3, 4

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
One More Time
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Forward + 3, 3, 3

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Get Back
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
4, 4

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—

Aerial Kombos

2
Hinge Kick
aerial_kombo
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
1, 2, 4

Aerial kombo string.

Tip: Perform the listed sequence while airborne.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Spinning Finish
aerial_kombo
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
3, 4, 3

Aerial kombo string.

Tip: Perform the listed sequence while airborne.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—

Fatal Blow

1
Practiced And Perfected
fatal_blow
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Flip Stance + Block

Fatal Blow.

Tip: Available when the game's Fatal Blow conditions are met.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—

Fatalities

2
Lao'd And Clear
fatality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, Back, 4

Fatality. Perform at mid distance.

Tip: Use the listed distance and input after FINISH HIM/HER appears.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Slapped Together
fatality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Down, Down, 3

Fatality. Perform at close range.

Tip: Use the listed distance and input after FINISH HIM/HER appears.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—

Brutalities

7
Spin Cycle
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Grab / 1+3

Tap Forward, Down, Back, Up during the hit. Final hit: Countless Blows.

Tip: The required final hit and hold/tap condition must be satisfied for the Brutality to trigger.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Hats Off
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 2 + Block

Rapidly press any basic attack button. Final hit: Enhanced Kung-Kussion.

Tip: The required final hit and hold/tap condition must be satisfied for the Brutality to trigger.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Grind Away
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 1

Hold 1 during the hit. Final hit: Buzzsaw. Use from jump distance.

Tip: The required final hit and hold/tap condition must be satisfied for the Brutality to trigger.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Not Holding Back
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
2, 1, 2, 1

Hold Forward during the hit. Final hit: Eight Trigram Palm.

Tip: The required final hit and hold/tap condition must be satisfied for the Brutality to trigger.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Magic Hat
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 4

Hold Up during the hit. Final hit: Soaring Monk.

Tip: The required final hit and hold/tap condition must be satisfied for the Brutality to trigger.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Over There
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 1

Hold Back during the hit. Final hit: Hat Toss. Use from jump distance.

Tip: The required final hit and hold/tap condition must be satisfied for the Brutality to trigger.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Classic Cut
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
1, 2, 1

Hold 2 during the hit. Final hit: Swollen Throat.

Tip: The required final hit and hold/tap condition must be satisfied for the Brutality to trigger.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—

Animality

1
Ti-Gore
animality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Forward, Back, Down, 2

Animality. Perform at mid distance.

Tip: Use the listed distance and input during the finisher window.
Current MK1 reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
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