Mortal Kombat Rules
A 1v1 fighting game — deplete the opponent's health bar across a best-of-rounds match.
Best-of-3 rounds per match, best-of-3 or best-of-5 matches per set, is the standard competitive format.
- •Set win = 3 league points, loss = 0
- •Track individual round wins as a supporting stat
- •Tiebreaker: head-to-head result, then total set wins across the season
- •Agree character-ban rules (if any) and stage selection before the season
- •Win a round by depleting the opponent's health bar, or by ring-out/time-out with more health remaining
- •Agree input method rules (pad vs. arcade stick) if the league wants a level playing field
Set format and character selection
Fighting game leagues use first-to-two or first-to-three sets, with the loser able to change character and the winner locked in. That rule is what makes counter-picking a real decision rather than a free reset each game.
Whether a player may switch characters between sets is the other decision. Locking a main for the season produces clearer rankings; free choice produces more variety and rewards players with a wider roster.
Stage and variation rules
Stage interactables differ substantially between arenas and some are genuinely advantageous. Competitive play usually restricts to a set of neutral stages, which is worth adopting rather than discovering the problem mid-season.
Where the game offers character variations or custom move sets, decide whether the league uses tournament-standard presets or allows custom loadouts. Custom sets take longer to verify and can produce combinations nobody expected to face.
Common questions
What set length should a league use?
First to three is the tournament standard for a fighting game and takes about ten minutes. That is short enough that a round-robin for eight players fits comfortably into an evening.
Can the winner switch characters?
In standard tournament rules, no: the winner is locked and the loser may switch. It is what makes the counter-pick meaningful and is worth adopting even in a casual league.
How do you run a season with mixed skill?
Double elimination brackets each week give weaker players more than one match, and totalling placement points across a season is fairer than a single knockout. Divisions work too if the gap is large.
Are all stages allowed?
Most leagues restrict to a neutral stage list. Interactables and stage transitions vary enough in usefulness that letting the winner pick a stage can hand them a real advantage on top of winning the previous game.
How do you run a weekly league night?
Double elimination brackets with placement points totalled across the season. Everyone gets at least two sets, the night finishes predictably, and the season table rewards consistency rather than one good evening.
Track a games & others league online
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Format, scoring & key rules reference
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