The fighting game genre is filled with fierce competitive scenes, each of them with their own unwritten rules and etiquette. Whether its pre-match rituals or a general agreement to not spam certain moves, these unofficial regulations ensure a smooth and mostly satisfying experience for players. As one of the oldest fighting games in the industry,Mortal Kombathas built up a sizable list of unwritten rules to bring some order to the chaotic nature of the franchise. It may seem antithetical to the bloody mayhem ofMortal Kombat, but if any gamer is interested in pursuing its competitive scene or even just general online gameplay, these rules are essential.
In the30 years since the firstMortal Kombatgame, the franchise has undergone regular changes. Through these changes, however,Mortal Kombat’s competitive scene has largely operated around the same pillars of etiquette. Other fighting games likeStreet Fightershare some of the most basic fighting game unwritten rules, like how trapping an opponent in a corner with no way of escape is typically frowned upon. WhereMortal Kombatstands apart in its unwritten rules is owed to its unique brand of brutality, and fierce online tournaments comparable to the in-game Mortal Kombat tournament in their intensity.
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Fatality Etiquette in Mortal Kombat
Fatalities are the star of just about everyMortal Kombatgame, demonstrating a level of gore and violence that would make a Wes Craven film blush. The creativity that NetherRealm and previous developer Midway have shown in creating fatalities is unparalleled, but inMortal Kombat’s competitive scene, performing a fatality requires a level of discretion. In a best two out of three set, it’s an unwritten rule that fatalities should not be executed until the very end of a set. Doing otherwise could needlessly aggravate an opponent for the remainder of a set, and it drags out the time to complete the rest of the match.
Mercy Etiquette in Mortal Kombat
InMortal Kombat 11, NetherRealm Studios reintroduced the mercy mechanic fromMortal Kombat 3. This allows for the winning player to give the other a second chance in a match, granting them a small amount of life and restarting the round. Not all players will use this mechanic, especially considering there’s a chance the winner could become the loser, but there is etiquette to follow if mercy is enacted. It boils down to if one player gives mercy, then they should also get mercy if necessary. If the player who was given the first mercy doesn’t return the favor, it’s often considered bad-mannered.
Rage-Quits are Highly Frowned Upon in Mortal Kombat
Rage-quitting is a major part of gaming culture, for better or for worse. In some cases it’s negligible, but more often than not, it greatly affects the outcome of a competitive game. Game developers have gone to great lengths to try and discourage rage-quitting, andMortal Kombat’s unwritten rules on the practice try to be similarly discouraging. Moving up inMK’s online competitive sceneis no easy feat, and both rage-quitting and being the one who is rage-quit against ruin the flow of matches. It prevents the loser from learning from their mistakes and makes it harder for the winner to find their rhythm.
Mortal Kombat’s competitive scene has been going strong for decades, and it’s due in part to the unwritten rules that have given players a greater sense of structure. What’s been covered above is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the finer etiquette of the community, and some local tournaments will have unwritten rules that others don’t. When it comes to general online play and the community at large, however, these unwritten rules are an essential part of keeping everyMortal Kombatmatch fun and free of toxicity, and many of them will likely persistwheneverMortal Kombat 12releases.
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