Taunting in Mortal Kombat has always been part of the show, withMortal Kombat 1being no exception. Characters taunt each other on loading screens, when entering the match, they’ll even taunt your defeated corpse, even if you can’t listen to them anymore.
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You can even taunt during a match, even if doing so comes at the risk of being uppercutted to a different realm of existence. Still, some taunts are more than worth it, since winning is not the same without applying some salt on the wound. And there are characters that really know how to drip that salt.
23Havik
Playing an undead character certainly has its appeal, and Havik scratches that itch for the fighting game scene. Most of his combos revolve around dismembering himself to deal additional damage or for added range. He can even remove his lower jaw to do the most unsanitary of projectiles.
Yet for a taunt, variations of breaking your own neck just don’t fit the bill. If he did the Exorcist move of spinning his head on its own, that’d be a different deal, but instead he just seems to be doing your work for you. When he does it to attack that’s one thing, but as a taunt, it doesn’t look right.
22Ashrah
Characters like Ashrah are actually great to see on the roster of Mortal Kombat; while the classics like Scorpion and Sub-Zero are all well and good, sometimes we want to see some more obscure characters take center stage.
That said, her taunts are just not that great. They do keep her theme of a regal huntress, and while they do fit her, they’re just not entertaining to do. Maybe she was doomed from the start, since a good taunt requires a more outgoing character to begin with.
21Nitara
As a blood-sucking monster, Nitara certainly nails the presentation — if you may look past some of the voice acting that is. Her combos are really strong making her a great pick, so with such a presence you’d expect taunts to match.
Well, let’s hope you like screeching, since that’s most of what she does. The wing stretch does add to the menacing aspect of her, but not by much. A single screech would’ve been fine, but it reaches a point where it’s hard to tell the difference between taunts.
20Rain
As a water-based character, Rain isn’t the most imposing of characters. While he’s certainly a formidable fighter, when compared to fire gods and ax-wielding giants, throwing water at people just isn’t the same.
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He does have very interesting combos, however, and what makes him stand out the most is his staff. The taunts he does with it are at the very least fun to look at, almost like he’s putting up a show for everyone present. Even if not threatening, he’s certainly entertaining.
19Geras
Geras is a strange combination of old and new; old because he comes as a keepsake from a different era, but new because he was introduced in Mortal Kombat 11, the previous game in the series. He retains his awesome look and sandy powers, along with his regal demeanor.
While not spectacular, his taunts do see him flex for all he has, and the dripping sand is always a nice touch. The effect that puts him over the edge is when he destroys the hourglasses, something that represents him well in both his timekeeper role and his destructive powers.
18Scorpion
The new timeline came with a lot of changes, and no one shows this more than the new Scorpion. He’s alive, for one, his identity behind the mask being remade as Sub-Zero’s brother. This makes their rivalry have a different meaning, and makes for a more interesting story, too. He still keeps all hisfiery powers and kicks, though.
For his taunts, however, his flaming skull is sorely missed. Is not that there’s something inherently wrong with his taunts; the way he flaunts his weapon is certainly flashy, along with his fire powers. It’s just that he used to have some of the best taunts, and now that’s lost to time.
17Kitana
With the way she fights, Kitana’s whole move set almost looks like a taunt. She’s always throwing her fan upward, doing a knife combo, and then slapping you with the downward-coming fan. Her taunts reflect her move set, doing small pirouettes and showing off her weapons.
While all her taunts are great, especially the one telling you to come closer, they do blend together a bit too much. In fact, since all her tools are bladed, it’s a bit weird that she’s not dealing damage when twirling around. At least that fact might throw your opponents off guard.
16Reiko
While his beginnings have him more as a ninja, the way Reiko fights is more reminiscent of a wrestler, with all kinds of throws to fit the bill. As such, he comes with a lot of charisma into Mortal Kombat 1, and that shows in his taunts.
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Some of the taunts have him gear up for a fight, and the few laugh tracks do add to the whole taunting idea of, well, taunts. They are great to perform after a well-placed throw, enticing your opponent to attack before putting them down.
15Genera Shao
Even if he’s no longer a Kahn, Shao is still a force to be reckoned with. His battleax and size give him this imposing presence that you don’t want to mess with. To make a good taunt for such a character shouldn’t really be a problem.
And while there’s nothing wrong with his taunt, they rely too much on his presence and don’t add much else. That may be a shame, but they still work simply because having Shao just standing there is enough to give a message; a don’t mess with me message.
14Shang Tsung
The soul eater himself is back in Mortal Kombat 1, with abilities to copy moves and swap between an old and young form. This could make him have very original taunts, yet all he does is laugh and sharp his claws.
While simple, these taunts are effective, especially considering that Shang Tsung is taunting you all the time; that smirk seems unmovable. Besides, what makes a good taunt is the ability to mock your opponent, and what’s better than laughing in their face.
