The new Mortal Kombat 11 update, served alongside the release of MK 11 Ultimate, has stirred up major conversation in the fighting game community and we’re here to serve you the hottest takes so far.
A “universal” patch?
The November 16th update is a doozy, technically coming in two parts (patch 1.24 and 1.25 for PS4) and weighing in with more than 13GB of data. With the PS5 out and a sizable chunk of the update going to visuals, it’s no surprise that people like Brianna Reeves said that the patch has it “looking absolutely incredible.” General gameplay adjustments are some of the most notable changes otherwise -- including throw damage reduction by 10 points, poke damage increase on-hit, and overall frame adjustments making it easier to react after sweep attacks or create new combo opportunities.
In one of his latest videos, community content creator Rooflemonger states that “while it’s a universal patch, it doesn’t affect everyone universally” since individual characters have also been hit with changes across the board. You can read the specific patch updates on the WB Games support site, and watch Rooflemonger’s analysis of the winners and losers of the update in the video below.
Specific changes make waves
The most exciting part of the MK11 update for many is not a patch, but a DLC. New playable characters Rain, Mileena, and Rambo have been introduced to the game, shaking the balance of the roster up entirely. Mileena’s return has been loudly championed by the MK community since her exit in MK10, so feedback has largely centered around her. Reddit user Lostkaiju1990 said in a recent post that while changes have made her a less combo-heavy character in MK11, “due to her vicious animations, this is one of my favorite iterations of Mileena to play.”
Rambo is a fun addition to the roster as well, but don’t forget Rain. The classic Prince-inspired ninja wasn’t playable in MK10, but he’s back in all his purple glory with the DLC pack. Twitter user IglucidL went as far as to say that playing Rain changed his MK11 experience:
Rain is hands down my new favorite ? I haven't had this much fun since mkx scorpion ?? @noobde @MortalKombat #MortalKombat11 #MKUltimate #mk11 #lokirain pic.twitter.com/XU1ddLKhSh
— Loki_Rain (@IglucidL) November 23, 2020
Kustom Variations go Kompetitive
For PlayStation Competition Center enthusiasts, the new MK11 patch update is undoubtedly going to change the experience. Competitors can now use Kustom Variations in Kompetitive Modes, a degree of customization that hasn’t been seen in ranked or tournament play until now.
Kustom Variations allow users to modify movesets and create unique playstyles for each character in the game. Since announcing the addition of variations to Kompetitive modes, players have been excited: “I love that they're finally letting Kustom Variations rock. Should really shake up the meta and breathe a ton of new life in the game,” said Twitter user MrMostafles. The Competition Center’s Mortal Kombat 11 EU Weekly Invitational on November 18th was one of the first tournaments to use Kustoms actively in-game. In the stream chat, Najib Azmi reflected that “Kustoms really gives MK11 a breath of fresh air.”
Tournament play shakeups
The allowance of Kustom Variations in competitive play, along with the new DLC characters, will make tournaments more dynamic and results less predictable. How will your playstyle change? Sign up for the December Open Series tournament to show off the results of your patch exploration, and then watch the Monthly Finals on Friday, November 27 in preparation.