The Mortal Kombat 11 meta will soon get a significant shakeup Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. The Mortal Kombat 11 meta will soon get a significant shakeup Upcoming patch to give each character a third variation. News by Wesley Yin-Poole Deputy Editorial Director Updated on 26 Sep 2019 Mortal Kombat 11 characters will each get a third variation in an upcoming patch, NetherRealm has announced. In a developer livestream, NetherRealm said the patch would be out soon. Character variations are a controversial feature of the fighting game because ranked play limits players to choosing from two developer-created movesets for each fighter. As we've reported, Mortal Kombat 11's custom variation system is fun in theory, but in practice is frustrating. Outside of ranked play - and the cool Kombat League - you can play with your custom variations. So, if there's a cool combo you've worked out using a unique combination of abilities, you can take it into all the single-player modes and have fun with it. Venture online into the competitive world of ranked mode, however, and you're restricted to using two pre-set "tournament" variations. These variations were created by the developers at NetherRealm, and if you care about Mortal Kombat 11's competitive modes, you're stuck with them. These tournament variations are not everybody's cup of tea. They don't include some of the characters' best moves. This was an issue at launch - and indeed it was something players were expecting. But it was exacerbated with the launch of DLC character Shang Tsung, whose eye-catching ninja special moves are not in either tournament variation. Now, with the addition of a third tournament variation for each character, Mortal Kombat 11 should breath new life into the meta - and unlock fun special moves and new combos for ranked play. Some existing moves have been rebalanced and reworked because they were never meant for ranked play. Some characters are getting brand new moves and krushing blows. Combo Queen is here and she gets a new Krushing Blow! #MK11 #KombatKast https://t.co/1JfiaXY8kP pic.twitter.com/uBlv0x9Dop- Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (@MortalKombat) September 25, 2019 To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings And specifically on Shang Tsung, his third variation is a three-slot move that is a brand new ability. Here, Shang Tsung loses all of his Shang Tsung moves except the straight skull, but gains all the ninja moves. This is great news for Shang Tsung players as it means he can use Ermac's lift, Smoke's shake, Rain's roundhouse kick and Reptile's slide i ranked. Elsewhere, NetherRealm announced a new mode called Team Raids, which sees a group of players fighting against a boss at the same time for special rewards. Complete Group Challenges in Team Raid to gain buffs. You'll need them. #MK11 #KombatKast https://t.co/1JfiaXY8kP pic.twitter.com/VpPwdjuG0u- Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (@MortalKombat) September 25, 2019 To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings NetherRealm told players to expect a balance sweep alongside the introduction of the next DLC character, The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger's likeness is used for the character, but not his voice). The Terminator comes out 8th October. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! 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