If there’s one thing Mortal Kombat is known for besides grueling combat and grisly finishing moves, it’s a colorful assortment of ultra-marketable one-liners that practically sell themselves.
Some of these quotes have fallen a bit by the wayside over the years, while others remain irrevocably bound to the franchise narrative with each new chapter. Either way, these popular Mortal Kombatquotes will stand the test of time, no matter what direction the story takes. We’ve included a few more to the list for true fans to pay homage to.
15 “I Am Kahn Of Outworld! Vacate My Throne, Or I’ll Soak These Sands With Your Blood!”
Shao Kahn made a reappearance in Mortal Kombat 11 after Kronika messed with the timeline, and he didn’t miss a beat when it came to establishing his own dominance.
He stumbled upon Kotal Kahn sitting on his throne and was none-too-happy about it. This prompted a memorable quote by Kahn before he attacked Kotal, who was arguably a more benevolent and level-headed leader in every respect.
14 “There Are Fates Worse Than Death!”
Starting with the 2011 semi-reboot of Mortal Kombat, a story-driven narrative had taken center stage. This was a definite change from previous games in the franchise which loosely followed an overall plot.
Raiden uttered this phrase in Mortal Kombat X as a haunting precursor to the story which would eventually unfold in Mortal Kombat 11. He uttered this quote after tossing Shinnok’s severed head to the ground which was still technically alive due to the Elder God’s immortality. Raiden had changed, and not for the better.
13 “Fight!”
Since the beginning of the franchise, the word “Fight” has been synonymous with the heat of battle. Sure, many fighting games used this word to start a match, but there was something especially ominous about the way Mortal Kombat did it.
The evil voices that shout this starting word drive home the point that a more sinister force is in charge. The same voice would make other proclamations throughout the round, such as telling players when to finish off their opponents.
12 “Brutality!”
For a long time, Fatalities were considered the most gruesome and controversial aspect of the Mortal Kombat franchise - so much so that certain home releases of the original game were washed clean to prevent parents from losing their minds.
Then came Brutalities, a new mechanic that appeared in the home console versions of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. They were on and off again for a time until they made a big comeback. Brutalities are recognizable for the fact that they can take place in the middle of a round, provided certain criteria are met, as opposed to the end of a bout.
11 “(Unintelligible)”
This particular quote is memorable for the fact that nobody has a clue what Raiden is actually saying. Still, it’s one of the most popular Mortal Kombat quotes of the bunch, if one can call it that.
Raiden yells variations of this quote out whenever he does his flying superman move. It first began way back in the original Mortal Kombat game before the sound was changed in Mortal Kombat II, which seems to be the more oft-used version of the scream. Perhaps someday we’ll get an official translation, but according to legend, it’s gibberish.
10 “Gotcha!”
Few moments in Mortal Kombat are more irritating than Jax grabbing you unceremoniously by the neck, hoisting you up and delivering this popular quote before smashing your teeth down your throat.
It’s one of the cheapest moves of any MK character, but at least it made a memorable one-liner out of an all-too-obvious proclamation.
9 “Babality!”
Oh, the embarrassment! There you are, seeing triple and swaying about while your opponent contemplates your fate. Rather than paint the floor with your brain matter, it’s decided that you shall get a second stab at life (no pun intended) via the dreaded Babality.
Thankfully, you’ll be better prepared to handle Brussel sprouts, acne and crushing tuition fees before re-training for that coveted spot at the top of the MK ladder.
8 “You Weak, Pathetic Fool!”
Going up against Shao Kahn in any MK game can have players screaming “Serenity now!” before throwing their controller against the wall. Does it really help when he taunts you with merciless insults at the same time?
This popular quote suggests that you - yes, YOU - lack the strength to beat an egg, much less the ruler of Outworld. The only upside is that it leaves Kahn wide open for a little poetic justice in the form of a combo attack or a good old fashioned uppercut. “Yay” for small victories!
7 “Test Your Might!”
This particular challenge mode has come and gone over the years since its first iteration in 1992, but it left us with a quote that is irrevocably tied to the MK mythos. “Test your might” is just the right bit of vocal encouragement for you to mash those buttons into a paste so your character could muster enough force to karate chop through a variety of hard materials.
Few bragging rights are as potent as cracking a block of diamond in two, even if it means that every bone in your character’s arm would end up being pulverized beyond hope of repair.
6 “Friendship! FRIENDSHIP?”
Picture this: You’ve thrashed your opponent, left them barely able to stand, and now you’re ready to deliver that fatal blow. However, instead of succumbing to your blood-lust, you end up channeling your inner John Lennon long enough to extend an olive branch to your foe in the form of friendship.
It may not mean much to the character you just kicked the snot out of, but a little virtue signaling can go a long way in showing that deep down, you’re just a big ol’ softy! Even the announcer can’t wrap their head around this one, which is where this memorable quote comes from.
5 “Toasty!”
Before memes were a thing, we had “Toasty!” Now we have…lots of “Toasty!” memes. Anyways, this particular quote broke the fourth wall in goofy fashion starting with Mortal Kombat II, where sound designer Dan Forden’s face would leap onscreen for a quick second and deliver this popular falsetto quote before dashing off into the ether.
Players with quick reflexes could hit Down + Start to trigger an immediate battle with hidden character Smoke, provided they were battling in the Portal stage. It was a leg up on the secret formula for finding Reptile in the original MK, although this method was more than a little unorthodox!
4 “Flawless Victory!”
What’s better than dusting your opponent like a bundt cake without breaking a sweat, or taking a single hit? Having the announcer proclaim it over a loudspeaker, that’s what! This was especially important back in the smokey arcades of the 1990s when Mortal Kombat’s notoriety was at an all-time high, and gamers would crowd around the cabinet to watch players demonstrate their fighting finesse.
It was also one of the most demoralizing things to hear after you lost a round! At least…that’s what we hear! <Ahem!>
3 “Finish Him/Her!”
Mortal Kombat wouldn’t be Mortal Kombat without this memorable quote. It sums up everything the series was focused on - the annihilation of your foes in spectacularly gory fashion.
Although fatalities have become more creative and imaginative (to the point of comical satire) over the years, each and every one is prefaced by this single, memorable quote from the announcer; a call for you to embrace the dark side and send your opponent off to the knacker’s yard in the most explicitly violent manner imaginable.
2 “Fatality!”
We knew this one was coming! As you stand over the littered corpse of your foe, Captain Obvious lets the entire planet know that you just executed a Fatality.
We imagine the announcer would have made a rather awful first responder (though probably a great coroner), so it’s only fitting he calls it like it is. We’re not quite sure why this was even put into the game in the first place, but who cares? It’s certainly more memorable than “You win!”
1 “Get Over Here!”
This quote is Mortal Kombat. It’s by far the most popular one-liner of the entire series and has served as the battle cry for each new chapter in the franchise since the original in 1992. It also made Scorpion a tried and tested fan-favorite while popularizing his use of the kunai harpoon. Side note - are we the only ones imagining what it would be like if Scorpion and Sam Quint got together to hunt the shark in the original Jaws? Actually, never mind! We digress.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Mortal Kombat has gone through much evolution over the years, but these signature quotes are permanently etched in stone and remain forever associated with the series as a whole. A new Mortal Kombat movie is in the works, so start placing those bets now as to which of these memorable quotes will end up making the final cut!
NEXT: Mortal Kombat Movie Wraps, Star Shares Emotional Thank You
