MK1

MK1 Kameo Tier List — Best Support Fighters Ranked

Ranking every Kameo fighter in Mortal Kombat 1 from best to worst. Stryker, Motaro, Kano, and more — find out which Kameo to run in ranked.

RG
Renegame Staff
MK1 · UPDATED MAY 5
2 min read

How Kameos Work (Quick Refresher)

Kameos are your second character — a support fighter who assists on your call. You pick them at character select, they're shared across the whole match, and how you use them defines your gameplan more than your main character in many cases.

S-Tier Kameos

Stryker is the best Kameo in the game right now. His pepper spray high/low setup creates 50/50 situations your opponent literally cannot see and react to in time. His EX call is a safe combo extender and his presence alone forces defensive respect.

Motaro arrived via DLC and immediately hit S-tier. Teleport assist + reflector creates unique neutral tools no other Kameo offers. The reflector alone changes how fireball-heavy matchups play out.

A-Tier Kameos

Kano — his knife call is a reliable combo extender that works from almost any starter. The grounded knife can be used in setplay for ambiguous left/right situations.

Sonya — drone assist has great hitbox coverage and can extend combos that would otherwise drop. Less explosive than Stryker but much more consistent.

Scorpion — spear call keeps opponents in the corner and is fast enough to punish some recovery frames at mid-screen. Good for pressure-heavy mains.

B-Tier Kameos

Sub-Zero — ice clone has good defensive applications but the combo extensions are harder to land vs. the A-tier options. Still solid in mirror matchups.

Cyrax — net setups are real and dangerous but require specific positioning. Rewarding for labbers, inconsistent in fast-paced exchanges.

Jax — simple groundslam assist, reliable but not threatening enough to force opponent respect the way S-tier does.

C-Tier and Below

Shujinko — copies are a neat concept that fizzles in actual play. Too slow and too readable.

Goro — stomps are easy to see and jump over; limited neutral utility.

Meta Note

Kameo selection matters more than character selection at high levels. A bad Kameo with a great main loses to a good Kameo with a mediocre main. Pick Stryker, learn the setups, then build from there.

FAQ

Common questions

When was this MK1 article last updated? +
Last updated May 5, 2026. We refresh MK1 guides within 48 hours of any patch.
Where can I see MK1 matchup data? +
Check the dedicated <a href="/games/mk1/matchups" class="text-accent-400">Matchup Chart page</a> for the full matrix across the cast.
What about MK1 frame data? +
Visit the <a href="/games/mk1/frame-data" class="text-accent-400">Frame Data tool</a> for per-character startup, recovery, and on-block numbers.
Where can I see the editorial MK1 tier list? +
The current MK1 <a href="/games/mk1/tier-list" class="text-accent-400">tier list</a> shows our patch-by-patch rankings with methodology and historical context.