The Mortal Kombat 1 Shang Tsung character slot may be grayed out for some people. This is strange since he plays such a prominent role in the game’s story mode and is a fully fleshed out character. Here’s how to unlock Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 1.
How to unlock Shang Tsung in MK1
To unlock Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat 1, you will have needed to pre-order the game. Any version on any system will do, and it should not matter if you pre-ordered a physical or digital edition. He was the pre-order bonus, following in the footsteps of Goro for Mortal Kombat X, Darkseid for Injustice 2, and Shao Khan in Mortal Kombat 11 where an antagonist is carved off for some launch DLC.
However, if you did not pre-order the game, you will simply have to pay real money to unlock him. He is (or will eventually be, depending on your platform) $7.99 on the store. There is no way to unlock him in the game through gameplay, Invasions, the Dragon Shrine, or any of the various modes.
This will likely not change in the future, either. NetherRealm Studios did not ever make the previously mentioned pre-order characters free at any point or available through the game through other means. However, the studio did end up bundling Shao Khan in the Ultimate Edition of Mortal Kombat 11, so it is possible that Shang Tsung will follow suit and be in some inevitable complete edition in the future. Mortal Kombat 1 has at least one season of DLC planned through part of 2024, and given how the studio has been supported each successive title more and more, MK1 will likely have an even longer tail with more complete editions.
Shang Tsung is treated like any other fighter. He’s got his own gear, finishers, and arcade ladder ending.
MK1 Unlock Shang Tsung FAQ
A: Shang Tsung is grayed out because he was a pre-order bonus for Mortal Kombat 1. If you didn’t pre-order the game, he remains locked until you purchase him separately.
A: If you missed out on the pre-order bonus, you’ll have to buy Shang Tsung separately from the store for $5.99. It’s important to note that there isn’t an in-game method to unlock him, whether through gameplay, Invasions, the Dragon Shrine, or any other modes.
A: Based on past practices by NetherRealm Studios, it’s conceivable. They previously bundled Shao Khan in the Ultimate Edition of Mortal Kombat 11. So, Shang Tsung might be included in a potential complete edition of Mortal Kombat 1 in the future, but this hasn’t been confirmed.
