When a Fatality just isn’t savage enough, Mortal Kombat 1’s Brutalities let you end a fight with a sudden, bone-crushing spectacle-if you know the secret inputs and can land the final blow before the “Finish Him” screen even appears. Whether you’re playing on Nintendo, PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, mastering these hidden finishers is your ticket to shocking victories and maximum bragging rights.
Performing a Brutality is more complex than it initially seems, and can come across as not working – so in this Mortal Kombat 1 Brutality guide, we’ll help you figure out how to finish off your enemies in style.
How to do Brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1, and why Brutalities might not be working
To perform a Brutality in Mortal Kombat 1, you must use a specific move as the final hit of the last round-crucially, this must be done before the “FINISH HIM/HER” screen appears. Each character has unique Brutality finishers, which you can view in the character’s Move List under the “Finishers” tab, but it’s important to note that the listed inputs in the game may not always be correct; checking the official list from WB Games is recommended for the most accurate commands. Additionally, Brutalities must be unlocked through character progression-unlike Fatalities, you cannot perform a Brutality you haven’t unlocked yet.
If your Brutality isn’t working, several factors could be at play: some finishers have hidden conditions, such as requiring your character to be a certain level, the opponent to be grounded, or the player to be at a specific distance. There are also known bugs where the input displayed in the game is incorrect or the Brutality simply does not trigger even when all requirements are met. In these cases, it’s not always user error; NetherRealm Studios has acknowledged these issues and is working on fixes. For now, double-check the move requirements, ensure you’ve unlocked the Brutality, and try consulting community forums or official resources if you’re still having trouble.
Unlike Fatalities, Brutalities have to be dealt on the final blow of a match. If you see the “FINISH HIM/HER” screen, it’s already too late for a Brutality.
To figure out how to do a Brutality in Mortal Kombat 1, open your character’s move list during a fight and go to Finishers. You’ll see Brutalities listed under Fatalities, and a simple button combo. But – and we’re willing to bet this is why you’re here – finishing a fight with an uppercut isn’t enough to execute The Klassic Brutality. You’ll actually need to hold down another button while executing the combo to make it a Brutality.
In the Finishers menu, look at the bottom of the screen for a prompt that says “Advanced View.” Hit this button to display more information on your Brutalities and how to execute them. This new menu will give you exact instructions on how you need to perform the combos at the end of the fight.
For example, you’ll learn that in order to make your opponent’s head fly off with The Klassic, you need to hold the uppercut button longer than normal on the final hit. Most often, you’ll need to hold a direction down when killing someone with a special move in order to turn it into a Brutality, like holding down on the D-pad while killing someone with Raiden’s Electric Fly to activate the Inside Out Brutality.
With the Advanced View menu open, you should get enough information to figure out all of Brutality activations on your own.
How to unlock more Brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1
To unlock more Brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1, you need to level up each character or Kameo by playing modes like Invasions, Towers, or online matches. Every main roster character starts with the default “The Klassic” Brutality, but additional Brutalities are earned by reaching specific Mastery Ranks-typically at levels 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15 for main characters, and at levels 2 and 11 for Kameos. You can speed up the leveling process by playing Invasions (which is generally faster), completing minigames, equipping experience-boosting relics, and consistently finishing matches with Brutalities or Fatalities for bonus XP. Additionally, some Brutalities can be randomly unlocked through The Shrine by exchanging Coins earned in-game. Remember, you must unlock a Brutality before you can perform it, even if you know the input sequence.
You can unlock additional Brutalities for your fighters in Mortal Kombat 1 by upgrading their Mastery level. To do this, just use that specific fighter in Invasions, Towers, online matches, or basically anything that isn’t the kampaign.
As you gain XP, you’ll increase your Mastery, which will give you new cosmetics for your character, as well as new Brutalities and Fatalities. Every character will earn their first two Brutalities (not counting The Klassic, which everyone can do) at Mastery levels two and five, and will continue gaining them as they level into the teens and beyond.
What secret moves unlock the most brutal finishing moves in MK1
To unlock and perform the most brutal finishing moves-Brutalities-in Mortal Kombat 1, you need to:
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Unlock Brutalities by leveling up your character. Every fighter starts with one Brutality called “The Klassic,” which is performed by finishing a match with an uppercut: press Down + 2 (Triangle on PlayStation, Y on Xbox, X on Switch) and hold the button as you hit your opponent.
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Unlock additional Brutalities by earning experience through modes like Invasions or playing online. As you level up, more Brutalities become available for your character.
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Check your Move List for each character’s Brutalities. Open the Move List, go to Finishers, and select Advanced View to see the specific requirements for each Brutality. These often include unique conditions, such as holding certain buttons, being at a specific range, or landing a particular move as the final blow.
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Fulfill the listed requirements and input the correct button sequence at the end of the final round to trigger the Brutality.
Each Brutality is character-specific and can only be performed once you’ve unlocked it and met its unique requirements. The Move List provides all the secret inputs you need for these savage finishers.
What are the most effective secret inputs for brutal Fatalities in MK1
Some of the most effective secret inputs for brutal Fatalities-specifically secret Brutalities-in Mortal Kombat 1 involve holding specific button combinations or performing unique sequences during or after a special move. Here are several standout examples:
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Scorpion’s “Choke On It” Secret Brutality: After triggering the Choke On It move (Grab, then Forward, Down, Back, Up), hold both Stance (L2/LT/ZL) and Block (R2/RT/RL) to make Scorpion pop the opponent’s head off instead of a standard choke.
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Janet Cage’s “For Johnny” Secret Brutality: Perform Down + Kameo to summon Janet, then hold Down + Back Punch (Triangle/Y/X) and also hold Stance and Block. Janet will deliver three uppercuts, decapitating the opponent each time-a nod to Johnny Cage’s classic finisher.
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Li Mei’s “One Way Ticket” Secret Brutality: After Down, Back, Back Punch to trigger the move, hold Down on the D-pad as the lantern hits, then immediately hold Stance and Block. The opponent’s body explodes after floating away.
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Quan Chi’s “Portal of Blood” Secret Brutality: After a close-range Grab, hold Down on the D-pad, then switch to holding Up as the screen darkens. This removes only the opponent’s skin, leaving a grotesque skeleton.
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Omni-Man’s “You Got Boned!” Secret Brutality: After the full combo (Forward + Back Kick, Front Punch, Front Punch + Front Kick, then Down, Down, Down), hold Stance and Block. Omni-Man rips out the opponent’s skeleton in a gruesome display.
Most secret Brutalities in MK1 require you to:
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Unlock the move through character mastery.
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Perform a specific move or combo.
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Hold or press certain buttons (often Stance and Block) during or immediately after the move to trigger the hidden, more brutal variation.
These secret inputs add a layer of discovery and spectacle, making the finishing moves even more shocking and memorable.
