Homeβ€ΊGamesβ€ΊMortal Kombat 1β€ΊLiu Kang
Liu Kang Mortal Kombat 1 fighter artwork
Mortal Kombat 1 Move & Ability Guide

Liu Kang moves, skills and special abilities

Move & Ability Guide

Playable Mortal Kombat 1 fighter.

29 ability entries5 Special Moves1 Equippable Move9 Kombos3 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.

Special Moves

5
Cosmic Flame
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†—
Low Dragon
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 1

A Liu Kang special move referenced in official Mortal Kombat 1 patch notes.

Tip: Useful as part of Liu Kang's low-threat and combo-routing toolkit. Exact properties should be checked against the current game version.
Verified through official WB April UpdateSource β†—
Dragon's Tail
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 3

A Liu Kang attack whose hit advantage has been adjusted in official balance updates.

Tip: Treat this as a pressure/combo-routing tool and verify current frame data in Practice Mode before relying on exact advantage values.
Verified through official WB July UpdateSource β†—
Dancing Dragon
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 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†—
Dragon Breath
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
God Wave
equippable_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 2

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

9
Punishing Palm
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†—
Shaolin Stutter
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Forward + 1, 4

Ground kombo string.

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

Ground kombo string.

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

A Liu Kang kombo attack added in an official Mortal Kombat 1 update.

Tip: Use it as part of Liu Kang's grounded pressure and combo-routing toolkit. Confirm current frame data in Practice Mode because balance values can change.
Verified through official WB September UpdateSource β†—
Tailwip
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back + 2, 3

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Chosen One
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
3, 2

Ground kombo string.

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

Ground kombo string.

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

Ground kombo string.

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

Ground kombo string.

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

Aerial Kombos

3
Deep Impact
aerial_kombo
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
1, 2

Aerial kombo string.

Tip: Perform the listed sequence while airborne.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Unstoppable
aerial_kombo
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
1, 3, 4

Aerial kombo string.

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

Aerial kombo string.

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

Fatal Blow

1
Mark Of The Creator
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
Double Dragon
fatality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Forward, Back, 4

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†—
Spaghettification
fatality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, Back, 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
Bleeding Heart
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Grab / 1+3

Press Forward, Forward, Forward during the hit. Final hit: Cosmic Death Sentence.

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†—
Dancing Around
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 4

Rapidly press 3 or 4 six times during the hit. Final hit: Dancing Dragon.

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†—
Pop Goes The...
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
3, 3, 3

Hold Forward during the hit. Final hit: Holding Back.

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†—
Just A Nibble
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 3

Hold Down during the hit. Final hit: Dragon's Tail. 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†—
Let's Go For A Ride
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 3

Hold Up during the hit. Final hit: Dragon's Tail. 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†—
Burn With Me
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 4

Hold 2 during the hit. Final hit: Dragon's Breath.

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†—
Heel Issues
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
1, 2, 1

Hold Down during the hit. Final hit: Punishing 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†—

Animality

1
Rising Phoenix
animality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, 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†—
← Back to all fighters