Mortal Kombat 1's Kameos bring assist-based fighting to the franchise for the first time, replacing Mortal Kombat 11's variation system. From our time with the game, we've assembled a Mortal Kombat 1 Kameo tier list filled with the sidekicks we have been able to use. This MK1 Kameo tier list will help you pick the best assist for your character.
These Mortal Kombat 1 Kameo Fighters add variety to what is one of the best fighting games of this console generation. Now, instead of being able to equip your character with an array of special moves, you pick an assisting character to add to their existing move list. This differs from other assist-based fighters like Marvel Vs. Capcom or Dragonball FighterZ because you never play as the Kameo – Mortal Kombat 1 is still a one-on-one fighting game.
Mortal Kombat 1 Kameo tier list
This is our tier list for Mortal Kombat 1's Kameo fighters:
- S-Tier – Motaro, Kung Lao, Cyrax, Kano
- A-Tier – Scorpion, Sareena, Shunjinko, Sub-Zero, Frost, Jax
- B-Tier – Sonya, Sektor, Darrius, Goro
- C-Tier – Stryker
This tier list is based on our hands-on experience with the game for our Mortal Kombat 1 review. This also only includes Kameos that are available and unlockable for all MK1 players, and doesn't include DLC fighters included in the Kombat Pack.
S-Tier
The S-Tier Kameo fighters are essential to winning most battles. They are able to really excel and help you out in key moments.
Motaro
The single most insane thing about Motaro is his teleport – which is faster than Kung Lao's teleport – and an ambush attack, which will snap you out of any action. This alone adds so much threat to any character, creating openings that would otherwise not exist. It is close to a cancel that just places you next to your opponent; as such, this is an absurd ability.
Not to mention, Motaro also has an advancing projectile reflector to further pressure zoners as you advance and a triple-shot, homing projectile that, thankfully, has a long cooldown – if it didn't Motaro would probably be so good, no other Kameo would get picked…
Kung Lao
Kung Lao's low hat toss is a low-hitting projectile that is plus-on-block from all ranges and delayable. It's hard to talk about it in a way that doesn't sound absurdly powerful. Other Kameos can give you safety in similar ways, but Kung Lao's low hat toss pulls double duty on also just being good in neutral and also being a sneaky low that you can layer your offense in.
He also has an ambush assist teleport that can cancel you out of any action to help you complete combos, maintain pressure, and evade zoning. Kameo Kung Lao is another great pick for a wingman, so expect to see him a lot.
Cyrax
The mustard to Sektor's ketchup, Cyrax is an early-meta dominating monster entirely because of his two spinning chopper assists. These choppers add absurd amounts of damage, chip, and can even create offense out of normally unsafe moves. Many characters can also use Cyrax's chopper to turn their back throws into a full combo – a great trait that not every Kameo has.
But while Cyrax's power is centralized in the chopper – his net projectile is a great counter projectile move – the sheer amount of utility in that one move makes him the choice of many strong players.
Kano
Ambush Kameos are really good, and Kano's kit is stacked with them. Out of all the Kameo fighters, Kano's simple knife toss continues to stand the test of time – it is an extra couple of projectiles that your assist can throw out while you're doing anything else.
It forces responses from your opponent, and because you don't have to deal with the commitment of throwing the knives yourself, it means every option is risky. This move wins neutral on its own. Kano's knife toss doesn't do the most damage or chip, but it controls the screen while doing a decent job of boosting every other part of your character's kit.
A-Tier
While A-tier Kameo characters are still powerful, they may not be quite as strong or universally-useful as S-tier characters. They may however pair up exceptionally-well with a few select playable Kombatants.
Scorpion
The main thing Kameo Scorpion brings to the table is juggle potential. Off of basically any low-height juggle state, you can call Scorpion to hand you an easy juggle. This feature unlocks so much more of many characters' offense as many strings end in small ground bounces that otherwise would just end there. Scorpion lets you turn those into full, serious combos.
Scorpion will also use his iconic spear toss on your point character and pull you out of danger. This is a powerful escape option as it is armored from when it starts to when it completes. It is perfect for any character that enjoys playing at a distance.
Sareena
Sareena is an insanely easy Kameo to add to your game plan – if a bit unexciting. She'll give any character easy access to extended pressure strings and grounded combos in the form of her double-boomerang toss. It is the kind of move that's hard to find a reason not to do – even if it is a high attack.
Other Kameos can do what Sareena does – just in a more roundabout way. If you don't know what Kameo to pick, choose Sareena. The only truly unique things she brings to the table are her safe-on-block reversal and meter-draining spell. The latter of which feels like more of a gimmick than anything game-defining.
Shujinko
Shujinko is hard to place on a list because he functions so differently from every other Kameo in the game. For starters, you need to charge his gauge to completion and when he does, he learns moves from the opponent's point character. Sometimes, he steals something utterly character-defining, like Kenshi's ghost, or Scorpion's spear. Other times it's less impressive.
Really, Shujinko feels like a counter pick against specific characters. Because he has so few moves of his own, he's easily worse than every other Kameo in the game – but the potential is insane. He's here because of that potential, not because of any overpowered abilities that are specifically tied to him.
Sub-Zero
The Kameo version of Sub Zero is basic but potent. He gives a safe, armored reversal and a freeze, the latter of which is especially useful for characters without a decent stun. Characters like Rain or Havik have moves with a lot of start-up, and Sub Zero makes connecting them easy.
The main thing most people will be picking Sub Zero as a Kameo will be for his projectile nullifying ice armor assist. In many Netherrealm games, projectiles are powerful. Typically, they do a lot of chip damage, have absurd pushback, or just make moving around the screen a general pain. This Kameo just lets you walk through them, ignoring any hitstun you might take. It's a more well-rounded anti-fireball assist when compared to Motaro and Kung Lao, but lower impact. It doesn't do much to generate offense or create opportunities. Still, you'll naturally get more if you can shut down your opponent's zoning for a single hit.
Frost
Frost is a more setup-oriented variant of the Sub Zero assist. All of her assists are very strong, but with the heavy caveat of that they're all summons, meaning their application is much more limited.
Frost's homing iceball is an excellent assist that can turn throws into full combos – but other assists can just do that without an assist. This is more or less true of basically every part of Frost's kit. She's still good, but other assists can do what she does without bolting you down to the spot. Summoning Kameos aren't as safe as ambush ones since you can't cover them yourself.
Jax
With the context of the full game, Jax continues to be one of the better assists for people who are looking to delete health. He's still somewhat weaker in neutral compared to other Kameos, but if your character lands a hit, Jax will make it hurt.
Jax's air throw Kameo is one of the more popular avenues for damage for a lot of characters, and his ground pound continues to be a great assist for guaranteed damage. Not to mention, even having him on your team gives your point character a chunk of extra health, making them that much more challenging to put down.
B-Tier
B-Tier characters are still solid options but they have their problems when used in fights and other options are definitely better.
Sonya
In the full context of the game, Sonya doesn't seem that impressive. There are a lot of Kameos in MK1 that give more to your main character. She's still good at converting combos, which might be a great boon for a lot of characters – but so many other Kameos are also good at that.
Her fireball is good but not meta-defining. The fact that it's not an ambush hurts it a lot, as it essentially just gives your character an extra move. Fireballs are excellent, but the characters don't suddenly become broken once they have them. Still, Sonya is a solid choice that's worth checking out.
Sektor
The ketchup to Cyrax's mustard, the red robot's claim to fame in Mortal Kombat 1 is his missile assist. It's basically a delayed hitbox that creates pressure traps that some characters will have an easier time than others escaping. It's not as immediately oppressive as some other characters – this type of assist would be devastating in a game without a block button.
Sektor is just fine, he provides a decent mid in the form of his flamethrower, one that can end combos in a restand, but it's not immediately as oppressive as some other moves. He's good with characters who have weak launchers on their own, so give him a try.
Darrius
Darrius is a setup lover's dream; you'll mainly be using him inside of your combo strings to set him up beside your opponent, where he'll follow up with an overhead launcher right as they get up. You can move freely while you're using this attack too, so this gives just about any character an easy way to introduce a deadly high-low mixup.
Darrius is here not because of what he brings, it's what he doesn't. He doesn't do much to open combo routes or improve a character's defenses or neutral. He doesn't help you get in on zoners and he doesn't help you fight out of rushdown – he's just an extra layer to your mixup.
Goro
Goro is perfect for damage, if a bit outclassed by Jax. Unfortunately, he's a Kameo that doesn't do much for your character's neutral, as his punch walk is a string of highs and doesn't do an exceptionally high amount of chip damage.
Really, he doesn't do much that Jax doesn't give you a better version of – stomp is unblockable, but it costs a full bar, and the damage it does isn't enough to be world-breaking. All in all, there are just more exciting options for a Kameo because anything his coolest options all feel like gimmicks. Plus, frames are always good to have, but you don't usually frame trap players in Mortal Kombat like in other fighting games.
C-Tier
C-Tier Kameos still have some value. However, they are easily outdone by the majority of the roster and should only be used for specific combinations.
Stryker
Stryker is the other mix-up-oriented Kameo assist, offering very little for your neutral in exchange for a built-in high/low mixup. Both sides of this mixup are plus on block; neither is very rewarding.
Stryker is also somewhat awkward to use in combos. His grenade toss has this odd arc that doesn't always lend itself well to comboing in a lot of positions on screen – all in all he feels very underwhelming. If you feel like you need the additional advantage frames, you'd be better off picking another Kameo. It is funny that you can put your opponents in handcuffs for a restand, so have fun with that.
And that's our Mortal Kombat 1 Kameo tier list. For even more on the game, check out an overview of the Mortal Kombat 1 Invasions mode.