NetherRealm announced Khaos Reigns, the upcoming DLC on July 26th, 2024, with a host of exciting tidbits to anticipate before it’s launch. This feature will unpack the 15 things you need to know before executing your pre-order.
New story
Liu Kang’s newly reshaped universe is under threat in Khaos Reigns, with anarchic invaders emerging from an alternate timeline forcing the him to summon a league of his most accomplished fighters to battle fearsome new foe, else the new era descends into eternal agony.
New main villain
Yes, as per Mortal Kombat 1’s mid-credits scene, whereby a dominating Titan appears on-screen, the principal antagonist in Khaos Reigns is Chaosrealmer Havik himself. An often-overshadowed villain, the next multi-versal battle, so Havik claims, will endure for eternity, bringing never ending chaos to Liu Kang’s new founded realm. Encapsulating Titan Havik’s bloodlust, we see during Khaos Realms’ recently released trailer him transforming a tortured Bi-Han into a new version of Noob Saibot. Cyrax and Sektor’s latest iterations also featuring heavily as part of the perilous invading troop.
Campaign length
An element of speculation here but based on Mortal Kombat 11’s Aftermath expansion we estimate Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns to take 3 to 4 hours to complete, with up to 8 chapters to battle through. It’s a meaty expansion for sure, encompassing approximately half of Mortal Kombat 1’s main storyline length.
Kamidogu Daggers return
The Kamidogu are set to return in Khaos Realms. Their ability to make – or unmake – reality renders them vital in Titan Havik’s quest to jeopardise the stability of Liu Kang’s realm, so expect to see MK1’s upcoming DLC story centre on the conflict to acquire them all, for the bearer of all Kamidogu – each bearing essence of their respective realms – grants power to endanger existence itself. There’s speculation given Havik’s proclamation of blood born out of six stone-esque relics that the utilisation of these daggers will be distinct for the DLC.
Six new characters
So, within Khaos Realms is Kombat Pack 2 featuring 6 new playable fighters. Immediately available upon the DLC’s release are returning kombatants Cyrax and Sektor along with a new iteration of Noob Saibot. It is said that these three returnees will harbour unique backstories supporting Mortal Kombat 1’s reshaped universe. For starters, Cyrax and Sektor are women this time around. 3 guest fighters also feature, but the release date for these hasn’t been confirmed at the time of writing. Tying into NeatherRealm’s love of movie tie-in fighters, Kombat Pack 2’s guests are Scream’s Ghostface, Arnold Schwarzenegger champion Conan the Barbarian, and Terminator 2’s T-1000 with a likeness and voice provided by original actor Robert Patrick.
Cyrax
Martial arts prodigy and the youngest ever Lin Kuei warrior Cyrax will be a heavy presence throughout Khaos Reigns. The interesting thing here: with Bi-Han’s latest descent into Noob Saibot having potential to affect the fate of the Lin Kuei yet Cyrax’s unwavering dedication to the clan, how extensive will the impact be to Cyrax’s character arc? Will her support for Sektor be tested? Cyrex has featured the most throughout Khaos Reigns’ official trailers, so she’ll play a big part make no mistake. We’ve been treated to numerous glimpses of her signature move set, from explosive combos and energy nets to her ability to wield cybernetic technology for aerial attacks and evasion.
Sektor
Sektor, for her part, will be forced to evolve Lin Kuei during Khaos Reigns’ campaign to ensure its survival. Ominously, those who oppose this evolution she pledges to eliminate. Will Cyrax stand alongside her, or oppose Lin Kuei’s change? Speculation aside, Sektor is set to become amongst the most formidable Kombatants in Mortal Kombat 1, her being the offspring of an accomplished warrior and master armorer meaning she’s as deadly with her fists and she is with weapons.
Noob Saibot
Sektor’s responsibility as Sub-Zero’s most trusted lieutenant is tested by Bi-Han’s transformation into Noob Saibot at the hands of Titan Havik. Bi-Han’s dream of establishing the Lin Kuei as the most dominant Earthrealm force is truly dead as now, as the perfect henchman to Havik, Noob Saibot is determined to bring disorder to the Liu Kang’s universe, eradicating all forms of authority as per Titan Havik’s twisted vision.
Khaos Reigns may include Kameo fighters
We say may include Kameo fighters because at present there is no confirmation that any new Kameos are on the way. Mortal Kombat 1 launched with 15 Kameo fighters, with more arriving throughout Kombat Pack 1, so it seems more likely we’ll get at least a handful of new supporting fighters than not. After all, Mortal Kombat 1’s Kameo mechanic has been one of the game’s most well-received features, with the ability to switch match-ups with a cast of secondary characters. For his part, series co-creator Ed Boon has been polling fans on X as to which Kameo fighters they’d like to see appear during Khaos Reigns. If you haven’t seen the poll, fans voted for Invincible.
Animalities are returning
Yes, the vicious animal-centric finishers first introduced in 1995’s Mortal Kombat 3 are returning after a near-two decades on the side-lines. Suitably brutal, animalities allow victorious fighters to transform into their spirit animal before savagely mauling their beaten opponent to death. In the past we’ve seen Baraka transform into a vulture before severing his opponent in half, whilst Shang Tsung’s cobra devours opponents whole. There’s going to be a whole host of ferocious finishers on offer in Khaos Reigns, which we’ll get into in the next chapter but one important thing to note before we get there is that animalities will be available as a free content update for all Mortal Kombat 1 owners.
Khaos Reigns’ animalities in-depth
Our first glimpses of these brutal finishers came in Khaos Reigns’ official trailers, but it wasn’t always clear which fighter the animality belonged to, aside from Cyrax’s giant hornet. Since these trailers, we’ve a handful more animalities which we can attribute to a fighter: the hippopotamus devouring Shang Tsung is Geras and the wolf skewering Johnny Cage is Kenshi. Mileena has a suitably disturbing one, whereby she’ll morph into an orchid mantis before stabbing her beaten foe in the shoulders, eating their head, and splitting their torso in half. A couple more to whet your appetite: Havik will transform into a hyena, Rain a pufferfish (exploding inside their opponent’s body, no less), and Scorpion a giant scorpion.
Additional character skins
Additional characters skins in both contemporary and classic varieties will be unlockable throughout Khaos Reigns but at present we’re not privy to what these skins are.
New arenas
Like the character skins, all we know is that there will be new arenas included in Khaos Reigns, but we’ve not been given a precise handle on what these arenas will be like just yet. We do, however, have rumours. We have a wedding venue-like area, a dark ruinous stage, and an unnamed arena set within Titan Havik’s anarchic timeline.
Launch date
Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns launches digitally on September 24th to PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Pre-order bundles
If you already own Mortal Kombat 1 then the simple expansion is probably the one you’ll go for; the Khaos Reigns Expansion unlocks all the new DLC content including story campaign, Kombat Pack 2, and a week’s early access to Kombat Pack 2’s guest characters when they arrive. The Khaos Reigns Bundle lumps Kombat Pack 1 in with the pre-order which, if you didn’t know, features 6 additional roster characters and 5 Kameo fighters. There’s also a Jean-Claude Van Damme skin for Johnny Cage. Like the Expansion, you’ll need to own Mortal Kombat 1 to opt for this pre-order. The Khaos Reigns Kollection includes everything from the Bundle plus 1,250 Dragon Krystals and the base game. You’re going to have to fork out substantial pennies whichever pre-order you go for though. $50 for the Expansion, $60 for the Bundle, and whopping $90 for the Kollection.