After Netherrealm Studios' Injustice 2 introduced its gear system which allowed players to create their own Batman or Green Lantern from top to bottom, many hoped Mortal Kombat 11 would do the same thing. When Mortal Kombat 11 released in 2019, those wishes were indeed granted, at least in a way.
Instead of head-to-toe customization, Mortal Kombat 11 utilizes a vast amount of skins for each character. Along with the skins was also the gear system which allows the ability to customize three accessory pieces. This system works well but some characters' customization is far better than others.
Kung Lao
For Kung Lao, he sports a good amount of skins both new and familiar. Classic skins from older games translated to the realistic look of the game better than other characters' classics. Kung Lao is also one of the few characters with appealing Revenant skins.
In terms of gear, there is the obvious one: his iconic razor-rimmed hat. There are a lot of hats to collect and most of them have a lot of details and variety. His wrist bracers share this too though obviously don't have the same appeal as the weaponized hat. The only disappointing gear for Kung Lao is his medallion which can look neat but nobody is going to notice it during gameplay.
Skarlet
For such a B-tier character in the roster, Skarlet has an impressive amount of skin variety. Different outfits, different hairstyles, classic skins, and even themed skins such as the Kold War skin. The same can be said for her masks which have many different styles and designs.
She can have mouth masks akin to Kitana and Jade but she also has full-face masks. Her daggers have many unique designs to choose from as well. However, like Kung Lao, her third gear option is never seen in gameplay so while the blood vials can look nice, customizing them feels pointless.
Shao Kahn
To no surprise, Shao Kahn's main gear item is his wrath hammer and Netherrealm Studios went all out with it. There are so many forms the hammerhead takes, so many materials, and designs that it's impossible to not admire. The same can be said for his helmet and spear which all look great and can be seen in gameplay.
In terms of Shao Kahn's skins? They are definitely well-detailed and designed, more fitting for Mortal Kombat 11's version of the character. However, the skins don't have the same variety as the gear does. Fitting that one of the most powerful villains would have a powerful selection.
RoboCop
The guest fighters tend to have either really good gear and subpar skin selection or vice versa. RoboCop on the other hand features all-around solid customization. The skins all give nice updates to the classic RoboCop design and others help the character fit in the world of Mortal Kombat.
The same goes for his gear which are his pistol, his explosive sniper, and helmet. All three have nice designs though the sniper even though the sniper could have used more variety. With the right selection, a player can make RoboCop look like Judge Dredd which was the inspiration for the character. Or one could make him look like Cyrax, Sektor, or any other Cyber Ninja of the past.
Kabal
Everyone's second favorite evil speedster who everyone was excited to see again. Even though he was wasted in the story, Kabal's revamp in Mortal Kombat 11 turned him into a top-tier character. What helped with rising Kabal to this station was his gear which Netherrealm went all out on. It was so good that inspired one of the best costumes of the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie.
The masks all look stellar and the same can be said for the hook swords. Everything looks great in gameplay, especially when combined with his many different skins. Kabal not only has many well-designed skins already but the ones unlocked through Kombat League and DLC are even better.
Johnny Cage
With Johnny Cage becoming the new star of the franchise, it makes sense that Mortal Kombat 11 would excel with his customization. To nobody's surprise, Johnny's famous sunglasses can be customized with plenty of options. Any kind of sunglasses you can think of are probably available to decorate Johnny.
His gloves are surprisingly detailed too and with plenty of options. His belt buckle even has a plethora of possible choices. These combined with his many skins of future and past selves all fit Johnny's hilarious fourth-wall-breaking persona that rivals the likes of Deadpool.
Fujin
After so much request from the fans, Fujin finally returned in Mortal Kombat 11. The best way to describe Fujin's designs is straight out of a superhero movie. Sure, he has his classic look as well but all of his new designs make him look like he belongs in the Injustice games; especially when given the made alternate color schemes. The glowing tattoos are a wonderful touch on the character design.
The gear is great, too: his sword, crossbow, and gauntlets all translate into gameplay rather well. Fujin's sword is easily the best one with the hilt and blade having many designs to unlock.
Jax Briggs
Overall, Jax has options for everyone. Prefer the clean-shaven younger Jax? That's an option. Prefer the rugged, bearded older Jax of the future? Also an option. All with different jackets, pants, and designs that provide a lot of variety.
Obviously, Jax's bionic arms are his main gear to customize and they too provide a lot of options. From realistic and mechanical to streamlined and more futuristic. Plus there is the option for his classic arms from Mortal Kombat II. The belt buckle and grenade launcher variations are just icing on a delicious cake.
Cassie Cage
Netherrealm definitely upgraded Cassie after Mortal Kombat X. Not only does she has a cute little drone companion but a uniform fit for protecting Earthrealm. She does have more casual wear similar to outfits from the original Mortal Kombat trilogy.
Cassie also can sport an exo-suit that rivals Doom Slayer from the Doom games. One of Cassie's best is her Harley Quinn skin which definitely matches her quirky yet badass personality. The aforementioned drone can be customized along with her pistols and sunglasses. Her father would be so proud of her choices.
Scorpion
Of course, the best customization would go to the franchise's poster child. His ninja masks, swords, and kunai can all be customized and they all flourish beautifully in gameplay. There are so many skins as well that harken back to many incarnations in the past including the loathed Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero.
There are also many new designs to enjoy as well for both the old and young Scorpion. The more humanized Grandmaster Hasashi skins are surprisingly effective.