Mortal Kombat 1’s Ed Boon Confirms Big Balance Changes Are Coming Alongside DLC Character Takeda [IGN]

Ed Boon, chief developer of NetherRealm Studios, has revealed Mortal Kombat 1 is set for some big balance changes and revealed a new look at upcoming DLC character Takeda.

In a tweet, below, Boon said Takeda will be playable at the upcoming Evo fighting game tournament during the weekend of July 19, and published a video showing the character’s pre-fight interaction with Smoke. We see Takeda, one of the so-called Kombat Kids alongside Cassie Cage, Kung Jin, and Jacqui Briggs, with his trademark bladed whips.

Takeda @ @Evo#MortalKombat11 pic.twitter.com/MRIB4385kQ

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 11, 2024

Takeda is the last of the Kombat Pack 1 DLC characters, and is due out later this month alongside final Kameo character Ferra. Dataminers have already unearthed evidence to suggest the next six DLC characters coming to the gory fighting game as part of Kombat Pack 2.

In a separate series of tweets, Boon said the Takeda build for Evo includes upcoming bug fixes and a balance patch with “significant improvements” to various characters in the game. Nitara, for example, is set for “serious” buffs. Kameo fighters will get buffs, too. Detailed patch notes are set for early next week.

This Takeda build will also contain upcoming bug fixes & balance patch with significant improvements to roster fighters like:

Nitara (some SERIOUS buffs)
Li Mei (new pop-up combo string)
Quan Chi (new portal boot kick)
Scorpion (buff to EX-teleport)

Krazy buff to uppercut jump…

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 11, 2024

…and much more buffs/improvements not listed here…

We will be releasing detailed notes on the Takeda build early next week.

(4 of 8)

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 11, 2024

According to Boon, fan polls revealed the top five characters the community hopes to see get some much-needed balance changes. Meanwhile, fans also really want new Kameo characters. Perhaps Kombat Pack 2 will offer up another set alongside new the new DLC characters.

For the roster fighters, these seemed to appear on many of your lists…

Geras
Havik
Shang Tsung
Sub-zero
Quan Chi
Nitara

Stay tuned!
(6 of 8)

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 11, 2024

Finally, a big thank you to all the MK fans who keep our games among the top selling, even 9 months after our launch!

(8 of 8) pic.twitter.com/dCi5TpTjHx

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 11, 2024

NetherRealm has confirmed plans to reveal the future of Mortal Kombat 1 during San Diego Comic-Con 2024, in a panel set for 2pm Pacific / 5pm Eastern / 10pm UK on Friday, July 26. Year 2 plans may include what Boon has already teased is set for Mortal Kombat 1, such as story DLC and “a big surprise after that.” Meanwhile, the Mortal Kombat 2 movie is due out October 24, 2025.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.