To perform a Mercy in Mortal Kombat 11, win the final round, wait for the FINISH HIM or FINISH HER prompt and stand at mid-range, roughly one jump away. Hold the button assigned to Flip Stance, press Down three times and then release Flip Stance.
A successful Mercy returns the defeated opponent to the fight with roughly one-fifth of their health. The command works with every fighter, requires no unlock or token and, under standard rules, each player can perform it once per match.
The following inputs use the default control layout. If you have remapped your controls, use the button or key currently assigned to Flip Stance.
| Platform | Default Flip Stance | Mercy input |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 | L2 | Hold L2, press Down, Down, Down, then release L2. |
| Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S | LT | Hold LT, press Down, Down, Down, then release LT. |
| Nintendo Switch | ZL | Hold ZL, press Down, Down, Down, then release ZL. |
| PC keyboard | U | Hold U, press S, S, S, then release U. |
On PC, the default key for Down is S. Both movement and Flip Stance can be reassigned, so check the Controls menu if the default keyboard command does not work. When using a controller, the D-pad is normally more reliable than the analog stick.
You do not need to press an attack button after releasing Flip Stance. The same universal command works for all 37 fighters in Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate.
A Mercy must be performed from mid-range. The most useful visual reference is approximately one jump away from the opponent, although you do not actually need to jump before entering the command.
If you are standing directly beside the defeated fighter, walk backward three or four short steps. Do not retreat to the opposite edge of the arena: long range is too far and may prevent the command from registering.
Distance is one of the most common reasons a Mercy fails. If the input appears correct but nothing happens, adjust your position before changing the timing of the buttons.
Mercy interrupts the normal finishing window and returns the defeated opponent to the match with roughly 20% of their health. The health of the player granting the Mercy does not recover.
The opponent is fully active again and can still win the match. They may attack normally, use any available meter and activate their Fatal Blow if its requirements are met.
There is one single-player exception. Equipping the Soul Augment Selfish Mercy allows that player to perform Mercy repeatedly. Augments only function in supported single-player modes and do not apply in standard online or ranked matches.
Mercy is not a new mechanic introduced in MK11. It originally appeared in Mortal Kombat 3 and returned in Mortal Kombat 11.
Once the opponent has been revived, the match continues until one fighter is defeated again. If you win for a second time, you can still perform another finishing move.
A player who has already granted a Mercy cannot perform another during the same match. Quitality is not selected by the winning player: it happens automatically when an opponent abandons an online match.
Giving an opponent more health is risky, but Mercy has several practical uses:
Remember that the revived opponent can make a comeback and win. Do not perform a Mercy if you are unwilling to accept that risk.
If the command does not activate, check each of the following points:
If you are unfamiliar with Flip Stance or the default control layout, consult our Mortal Kombat 11 controls and beginner guide.
Hold Flip Stance, press Down three times and then release Flip Stance. On PlayStation this is L2; on Xbox it is LT; on Nintendo Switch it is ZL; and on the default PC keyboard layout it is U.
Stand at mid-range, approximately one jump or three to four steps away from the defeated opponent.
Each player can perform one successful Mercy per match under standard rules, so a match can contain two Mercies if both players reach a finishing window. The same player cannot perform it twice. In supported single-player modes, the Selfish Mercy Soul Augment allows its user to perform Mercy repeatedly.
A Mercy returns the opponent to the fight with roughly one-fifth of their maximum health. The player granting the Mercy does not recover any health.
No. Mercy is a universal mechanic available to every fighter. It does not have to be obtained from the Krypt, Towers of Time or Story Mode.
No. Performing a Mercy consumes no token, currency, Offensive Gauge or Defensive Gauge.
Yes. Mercy works in standard online and offline matches whenever the normal FINISH HIM or FINISH HER window appears.
Yes. Defeat the revived opponent again and enter the Fatality during the new finishing window. You may also perform a Friendship or compatible Stage Fatality, or trigger a Brutality with the required final hit.
