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Sub-Zero Mortal Kombat 1 fighter artwork
Mortal Kombat 1 Move & Ability Guide

Sub-Zero moves, skills and special abilities

Move & Ability Guide

Playable Mortal Kombat 1 fighter.

33 ability entries1 Basic Attack7 Special Moves1 Equippable Move2 Additional Moves6 Kombos5 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
Spinal Tap
basic_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back + 2

Directional/basic attack.

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

Special Moves

7
Ice Ball
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, 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†—
Ice Klone
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 1

Sub-Zero's Ice Klone creates a freezing obstacle and has received multiple official adjustments to duration, hit regions and freeze interactions.

Tip: Use Ice Klone to control space and create defensive or combo opportunities. Because its duration and freeze rules have changed through patches, rely on current Practice Mode behavior.
Verified through official WB November and December updatesSource β†—
Ice Klone Charge
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†—
Ice Slide
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 3

A Sub-Zero sliding attack that can alter the opponent's hit reaction depending on current input behavior.

Tip: Use it as a horizontal advancing attack and combo tool. Official updates have changed its launch and positioning behavior, so confirm current properties in-game.
Verified through official WB November UpdateSource β†—
Ice Slide Spear
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Hold 3 during Ice Slide

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†—
Diving Glacier
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 4 (Air)

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†—
Deadly Vapors
special_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, 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†—

Equippable Moves

1
Ice Slam
equippable_move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, 4

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†—

Additional Moves

2
Polar Palm
move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, Back Punch

A newer Sub-Zero move added in an official Mortal Kombat 1 March update.

Tip: Treat this as current-version content rather than a launch-era move. Verify its command and frame data directly in the current in-game Move List.
Added in official WB March UpdateSource β†—
Permafrost Palm
move
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Back, Hold Back Punch

A newer Sub-Zero move added alongside Polar Palm in an official Mortal Kombat 1 update.

Tip: Use the current in-game Move List for exact input and frame properties because this move was introduced after the original release.
Added in official WB March UpdateSource β†—

Kombos

6
Arctic Hammer
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
1, 2, 2

Ground kombo string.

Tip: Enter the listed sequence as a string.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Freezing Point
kombo_attack
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Forward + 1, 2, 3

Ground kombo string.

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

Ground kombo string.

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

Ground kombo string.

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

5
Polar Plunge
aerial_kombo
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
1, 1, 2

Aerial kombo string.

Tip: Perform the listed sequence while airborne.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Menacing Mace
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†—
Frosted Frenzy
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†—
Frostbite
aerial_kombo
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
2, 1

Aerial kombo string.

Tip: Perform the listed sequence while airborne.
Current movelist reference check β€” September 2026Source β†—
Arctic Blast
aerial_kombo
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
2, 2, 2

Aerial kombo string.

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

Fatal Blow

1
Chill Out
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
Hairline Fracture
fatality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Forward, Down, Down, 2

Fatality. Current reference data lists this as usable from anywhere.

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

Brutalities

7
Absolute Zero
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, Hold 3

Press Down three times during the hit. Final hit: Ice Slide Spear.

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†—
Snowball
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Forward, 1

Final hit: Ice Ball. Must be full-screen distance away.

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†—
Karbon Kopy
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Back, Forward, 2

Hold 1 during the hit. Final hit: Ice Klone Charge.

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†—
Krushed Ice
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
2, 1, 2

Hold Down during the hit and finish with the full kombo.

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†—
Ability To Freeze
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Forward, 4

Hold 4 during the hit. Final hit: Deadly Vapors.

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†—
So Fragile!
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Grab / 1+3

Press Down three times during the hit. Final hit: Negative Zero.

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†—
Damn! That's Kold
brutality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Forward + 1, 2, 3

Hold Down during the hit. Final hit: Freezing Point.

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
Mammoth Mash
animality
Controls: Universal notation
How it is used
Down, Forward, Down, Forward

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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