Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
  1. Games
  2. Fighting
  3. Mortal Kombat 1

Mortal Kombat 1 Brutalities and how to execute them

Guides
By Iain Wilson published 22 September 2023

Brutalities are killer finishing moves in Mortal Kombat 1, but they can be difficult to perform

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Mortal Kombat 1 Brutalities
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Mortal Kombat 1 Brutalities are an impressive way to seal a victory, and are arguably more difficult to execute than Fatalities as they involve landing particular modified moves to conclude the fight while your opponent is still active. However, they have been causing issues for players when trying to use them, as if you don't perform the specific action at just the right time then you'll only land a standard hit instead. To help with this, I'm here to explain how to use Brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1 and what you need to do to get more of them.

How to use Brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1

Mortal Kombat 1 Brutalities

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

The main thing you need to know about Brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1 is that they don't work in the same way as Mortal Kombat 1 Fatalities, so if you see the FINISH THEM screen appear then it's already too late to perform one. Instead, the Brutality needs to be the last move you execute during the final round of regular kombat to empty your opponent's health bar, and there's usually a modifier required in order to make this work.

To find out the details for this, go to your Move List then highlight the Brutality under the Finishers tab and follow the Advanced View prompt at the bottom of the screen. This will reveal notes for how to pull off the move – for example, all characters can perform The Klassic Brutality by performing an Uppercut (Down + Back Punch) and then holding Back Punch during the hit. The last part is crucial, as if you don't hold the button then you'll just perform a standard Uppercut instead and be presented with the FINISH THEM screen.

How to get more Mortal Kombat 1 Brutalities

Mortal Kombat 1 Brutalities

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

To access more Brutalities in Mortal Kombat 1, you need to add them to the Move List for each character by following the Mortal Kombat 1 unlockables process. To do this, keep playing as a specific character to increase your Mastery level with them, and you'll unlock additional Brutalities as you progress – these are usually awarded at Mastery levels 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15, while Kameo Brutalities are unlocked at Mastery levels 2 and 11. From my testing it appears that unlike Fatalities, you need to unlock Brutalities before you can perform them in kombat even if you know the move sequence, so work on revealing them and make sure you pay attention to the modifier required to pull them off when it's time.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Iain Wilson
Iain Wilson
Social Links Navigation
Guides Editor

Iain originally joined Future in 2012 to write guides for CVG, PSM3, and Xbox World, before moving on to join GamesRadar in 2013 as Guides Editor. His words have also appeared in OPM, OXM, PC Gamer, GamesMaster, and SFX. He is better known to many as ‘Mr Trophy’, due to his slightly unhealthy obsession with amassing intangible PlayStation silverware, and he now has over 1,000 Platinum pots weighing down the shelves of his virtual award cabinet. He does not care for Xbox Achievements.

Latest in Fighting
Mortal Kombat 11
Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero and Kitana team up after figure skating duo's win to pull off a competition illegal move
 
 
Dragon Ball Age 1000 protagonist rushing toward the screen
Bandai Namco may have accidentally confirmed its mysterious new Dragon Ball game was actually Xenoverse 3 all along
 
 
Street Fighter 6 screenshot
Capcom tries and fails to make Street Fighter 6 fans pay $40 to watch a tournament, reduces pay-per-view price to $10
 
 
An image from Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls showing four heroes teaming up together.
4v4 fighter Marvel Tokon will reportedly only have 20 fighters at launch, and not everyone is happy
 
 
2XKO trailer still of Vi fighter reveal
Riot cuts 80 employees 3 weeks after League of Legends spinoff 2XKO celebrates launch
 
 
Teemo standing victoriously in 2XKO
I won my first 2XKO match using the power of rancid vibes, and it sold me on a game I didn't expect to care about
 
 
Latest in Guides
Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi agent Nona weaveworm
Marathon Introducing Sekiguchi contract walkthrough and how to find the Necrotic Sample and scan your shell
 
 
Ghost of Yotei Legends
How to start Ghost of Yotei Legends online co-op
 
 
A ditto takes a selfie when visiting the Pokopia developer island
How to visit the Pokopia developer island
 
 
Marathon introducing Traxus contract player fighting UESC commander
Marathon Introducing Traxus contract guide and UESC terminal locations for Intersection, Complex, and Bio-Research
 
 
A ditto who looks like a human smiles for a selfie in front of the Pokopia area map.
How many areas there are in Pokemon Pokopia?
 
 
Marathon Introducing NuCaloric shooting tick nest in infested building
Marathon Introducing NuCaloric contract walkthrough and how to find the employee ID card
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Key art for Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen showing Venasaur against a swirling green background, cropped for a header image
    1
    Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen have been on Switch for over a week, but many players are still stuck in Oak's Lab trying to get shiny starters: "I'm going to cry"
  2. 2
    James Cameron says Avatar 4 is still "very likely", despite Fire and Ash making almost a billion dollars less than The Way of Water
  3. 3
    How to make and move duckweed in Pokemon Pokopia
  4. 4
    "Complicated feelings on our end": Indie devs behind new Peak-like co-op understand you think it's friendslop, but "it's a slight bummer that the other half of the term is the 'slop'"
  5. 5
    "Mark my words. You cannot win without 4 players," Ghost of Yotei multiplayer lead warns of Legends' "hardcore content," all but guaranteeing a flood of players trying to prove Sucker Punch wrong

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...