The Mortal Kombat games have always featured many different brutal attack methods, from standard attacks to fatalities, and Mortal Kombat 11 is no exception to this rule. This time around, the game has introduced Fatal Blows, a new finisher type to replace the X-Ray move that was previously introduced in the 2011 Mortal Kombat.
While the X-Ray attack required the charging of the super meter to a third level and then unleashing the attack on an unsuspecting victim, Fatal Blows is an entirely different thing altogether. In fact, Fatal Blows adds a whole new layer to Mortal Kombat 11 when it comes to strategy, forcing players to use it at ideal moments during a particular battle. For this reason, even Mortal Kombat veterans may need an adjustment period to get used to the fact that X-Ray attacks are no more and, perhaps more importantly, the best method and time to use them during combat.
Fatal Blows in Mortal Kombat 11 are all about timing, precision, and patience. They can only be activated when a player's (or enemy's) health hits 30 percent or lower. Don't worry, a prompt will indicate the necessary buttons to push (it's the both trigger buttons simultaneously on consoles). When activated, your character will enter an animation that's similar to the X-Ray move, and your Mortal Kombat 11 fighter will deal quite a bit of damage. Keep in mind that the attack can be blocked and you'll have to wait for the cooldown, which lasts around 10 seconds or so, to expire before a Fatal Blow can be tried again.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember about Mortal Kombat 11's Fatal Blows is that they can only be successfully used once during an entire match, so it's important to choose ideal moments. Obviously, using it in round 1 probably isn't the smartest idea as you'll be left without a fail safe should you need it in future rounds. Instead, try and save it and play defensively and effectively use your block. Should you lose the first round and the second round isn't going so hot either, you may not have a choice in the end, but it's always better to save it in a first round. Remember that enemies can also perform Fatal Blows on you during a match so keep an eye on their health as often as you can, and make sure use block when you think they might be going in for the kill.
It's also important to note that X-Ray attacks aren't completely gone. Performing certain combos or powerful attacks on opponents will still trigger a neat little animation similar to that mode. These are called Krushing Blows. Still, Fatal Blows will likely become a vital part of a player's inventory while playing Mortal Kombat 11 and, along with the tried and true Fatalities that still exist, is yet another fun and bloody way to deal a ton of damage to an enemy or finish them off entirely.