Shinnok
A fallen Elder God who leads the invasion of Earthrealm and serves as the central antagonist.
How it plays
How does Mortal Kombat 4 play?
Mortal Kombat 4 is a one-on-one fighting game viewed from a side-on perspective, with limited movement around a 3D arena. The objective is to win a best-of-three-round match by depleting the opponent’s health.
Players use punches, kicks, throws, blocks, special moves, and character-specific finishing moves. Weapons can appear during a fight and may be picked up or thrown. Arcade mode advances through a ladder of opponents, while versus play allows two fighters to battle directly. Winning matches leads to the selected fighter’s ending.
Plan your run
What is the best way to play Mortal Kombat 4?
Learn one reliable combo and one safe special move before attempting advanced routes. Use blocking to punish predictable attacks rather than constantly trading blows.
Watch for weapon appearances, but do not chase them when doing so gives the opponent a free hit. In arcade mode, conserve health by controlling distance and using low-risk attacks against each opponent’s repeated patterns.
Finishers require the correct distance and input timing. Practice them in a safe match before relying on them after a winning round.
Meet the cast
Who are the key characters?
Quan Chi
A manipulative sorcerer and Shinnok’s principal ally.
Raiden
The thunder god and protector of Earthrealm.
Liu Kang
Earthrealm’s champion and a leading martial artist.
Scorpion
A revenant ninja seeking vengeance against his enemies.
Sub-Zero
A cryomancer from the Lin Kuei who fights to protect Earthrealm.
Sonya Blade
A Special Forces officer and experienced Earthrealm defender.
Jarek
A Black Dragon fighter who becomes involved in the conflict surrounding Earthrealm.
Before you begin
What should you know before playing?
- 1
Use block against aggressive rushes, then answer with a throw or a quick attack.
- 2
Treat weapons as situational tools; throwing one can be safer than attempting a close-range pickup.
- 3
Each fighter has different reach and special-move timing, so practice the selected character before arcade play.
Community discussion
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