Mortal Kombat 1 Kenshi Move List, Fatality & Brutality Inputs

With the help of a spiritual ally, Kenshi uses his katana and swift footwork to take out opponents quickly in Mortal Kombat 1.

First Published August 23, 2023, 15:43

There is a range of fighters from the last three decades of Mortal Kombat showing up in the 2023 release, with Kenshi being a formidable addition. Using his katana and ghostly manifestations, he doesn't need sight to be a considerable threat, as the constant barrage of attacks can be hard to break through for novice players.

Kenshi made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance and Liu Kang saw fit to make sure he was brought back into this universe. His ghostly apparition seemingly Below you'll find the full move list for Kenshi's basic attacks, special moves, and finishers in Mortal Kombat 1.

Full move list for Kenshi in Mortal Kombat 1

Kenshi didn't make his first appearance in Mortal Kombat until 2002's Deadly Alliance, which sees the Daredevil-like character using his psychic abilities to become a fearless fighter. In past games, his psychic projections proved exceptionally helpful and that has been faithfully recreated in Mortal Kombat 1.

While Kenshi's moveset in Mortal Kombat 1 is likely pretty much ready to ship, there could be changes between the end of the pre-order beta and the launch of Mortal Kombat 1 on Sept. 19. Players may also see more moves unlocked or added when the game launches or as they unlock them in the game's likely unlockable feature from previous games.

All of the following inputs refer to "forward" as toward your opponent and "away" as being in the opposite direction. For full information on the inputs for each punch, kick, block, throw, and more, look in the "Kontrol" section of your pause menu for your specific controller or console.

Basic Attacks

These are the attacks that players will rely on the most with Kenshi and those who plan to use him should try to memorize some combos to make quick work of enemies.

Stealth Slap: Front Punch
See No Evil: Front Punch, Back Kick
Blind Sided: Front Punch, Back Kick, Front Punch
Belly Buster: Down + Front Punch
Silent Palm: Back Punch
Gut Check: Back Punch, Front Punch
Tamahag-Pain: Back Punch, Front Punch, Back Punch
Spirit Strike: Away + Back Punch
Silencing Souls: Away + Back Punch, Back Punch
Dark Ritual: Forward + Back Punch
Slice N' Dice: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch
Pinned: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Away + Back Punch
Spirit Away: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Forward + Back Punch
Deep Stab: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Down + Back Punch
Rising Fist: Down + Back Punch
High Kick: Front Kick
Sneaky Sneaker: Down + Front Kick
Face Breaker: Back Kick
Heighten Senses: Back Kick, Back Kick
Achilles Cutter: Away + Back Kick
Sweeping Heel: Down + Back Kick

Kenshi's basic attack list in Mortal Kombat 1 — Screenshot: Ginx

Sento Stance

(Down, Away, Front Punch)

Disable Spirit Action (While Held): Hold Kameo
Brutal Bow: Front Punch
Off Balance: Front Punch, Back Punch
Blind Justice: Front Punch, Back Punch, Back Punch
Five Rings Slash: Away + Front Punch
Transcending Cut: Away + Front Punch, Back Punch
Quick Laceration: Back Punch
Don't Blink: Back Punch, Front Punch
Impaler: Away + Back Punch
Upper Slice: Forward + Back Punch
Fading Light: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch
Lost Way: Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Front Punch
Rising Blade: Down + Back Punch
Hammering Heel: Front Kick
Tibia Tapper: Forward + Front Kick
Bad Feeling: Forward + Front Kick, Back Punch
Gutted: Down + Front Kick
Chest Cracker: Back Kick
Down The Middle: Back Kick, Back Punch
Get Back: Back Kick, Back Punch, Front Punch
Cut Down: Away + Back Kick
Double Tab: Forward + Back Kick
Painful Poke: Down + Back Kick

Aerial Attacks

Quick Swipe: Up + Forward + Front Punch
Bleeding: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Back Punch
Spirit Spike: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Back Punch, Back Punch
Hilting Flower: Up + Forward + Back Punch
Blooming Blade: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch
Booted: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Back Punch, Back Kick
Flying Boot: Up + Forward+ Front Kick or Up + Front Kick+ Back Kick

Sento Aerial Attacks

(Down, Away, Front Punch)

Quick Slice: Up + Forward + Front Punch
Losing Blood: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Front Punch
Deep Cuts: Up + Forward + Front Punch, Front Punch, Back Punch
Upper Gash: Up + Forward + Back Punch
Treated: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Front Kick
Falling Apart: Up + Forward + Back Punch, Front Kick, Back Kick
Foot Frenzy: Up + Forward + Front Kick or Up + Forward + Back Kick

Throws

Shove: Forward + Throw or Forward + Front Punch + Front Kick
Deep Tissue: Throw or Front Punch + Front Kick

Breakers

Kombo Breaker: Forward + Block

Taunts

Taunts: Down, Down, Down, Down

Special Moves

These attacks are a little more complicated in their inputs, but they're worth it for players who are able to incorporate some of Kenshi's more impressive tactics.

Ancestral Guard: Down, Forward, Front Punch
Extend Ancestral Guard: Hold Front Punch
Ancestral Guard (Cancel): Flip Stance
Soul Charge: Away, Forward, Back Punch
Enhanced Soul Charge: Away, Forward, Back Punch + Block
Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch
Enhanced Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch +Block
Close Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch, Away
Enhanced Close Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch + Block, Away
Far Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch, Forward
Enhanced Far Demon Drop: Down, Away, Back Punch + Block, Forward
Rising Karma: Away, Forward, Front Kick
Enhanced Rising Karma: Away, Forward, Front Kick + Block
Force Push: Away, Forward, Back Kick
Charge Force Push: Hold Back Kick
Enhanced Force Push: Away, Forward, Back Kick + Block
Enhanced Charge Force Push: Hold Back Kick

Sento Stance

(Down, Away, Front Punch)

Summon Ancestor: Down, Away, Front Punch
Spirit Bop: Front Punch
Double Dose: Back Punch
Lunging Soul: Front Kick
Pekara Punish: Back Kick
Banish Ancestor: Down, Away, Front Punch
Spiritual Alignment: Down, Away, Back Punch
Enhanced Spiritual Alignment: Down, Away, Back Punch + Block
Soaring Sento: Down, Away, Front Kick,
Enhanced Soaring Sento: Down, Away, Front Kick + Block
Teamwork: Down, Away, Back Kick
Ancestral Assist: Down, Away, Back Kick + Block

Fatal Blow

Two Heavens Assault: Flip Stance + Block

Kenshi stands next to Jax with a card at the bottom that says "Kenshi Wins" — Screenshot: Ginx

Finishers

There are only two finishers currently listed in the Mortal Kombat 1 pre-order beta, and players will likely need to unlock more in when the game fully releases. Those will be added as they are revealed.

Fatalities

Blended: Forward, Down, Down, Back Punch

Brutalities

The Klassic: Down + Back Punch

Kenshi has a considerably larger moveset than some of the other fighters due to the Sento Stance that seems to summon an ancestor or some other kind of ghost to assist him in battle. This seems to be hinted at through many of the names of Kenshi's moves in Mortal Kombat 1.