Ashrah
Demon
Female
Despite
having the appearance of an elegant and humble woman, Ashrah is actually a demon from the Netherealm. She was once a member
of Quan Chi's Brotherhood of Shadow, which worshiped the fallen Elder God Shinnok. Ashrah dresses completely in white and
appears as a tall, mysterious woman. Her appearance is a blend between aristocracy and innocence. She made her first appearance
in Mortal Kombat: Deception. Her occupation is that of a demon hunter. Ashrah's weapon of choice is her Kriss, which is believed
to have been "blessed" or is of a "heavenly origin." The Kriss is blessed in such a way that every demon she kills with it
causes her to become more human and less demon like. Through this, she can leave the Netherrealm.
Baraka
Tarkatan
Male
Baraka
was introduced as an unpredictable warrior in service of Outworld emperor Shao Kahn who is in Mortal Kombat II. He belongs
to a race of nomadic mutants called Tarkatan, later revealed in Mortal Kombat: Deception to be a crossbreed between vile demons
of the Outworld, apparently populating the vast wastelands of Outworld. Baraka, like most other members of his race, possesses
long swords extending from his forearms. Although he has had numerous incursions with the Earthrealm warriors, he appears
not to have any particular rivalry or hatred towards Earth or its people.
Blaze
Fire
Elemental
Male
First
introduced in the series as a non-playable character seen in a stage background, Blaze is depicted as an elemental being from
Outworld shrouded in flames. As a playable character, he first appeared in Mortal
Kombat: Deadly Alliance. He would later become the final boss of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. Whoever defeats him gains godlike
power.
Bo' Rai Cho
Outworlder
Male
Bo'
Rai Cho embodies the archetype of the drunken master. He is portrayed as a physically obese, yet jovial and compassionate
man who teaches martial arts to many students over a span of many years. He enjoys drinking alcoholic beverages, particularly
the rice wine of Earthrealm. His preferred method of fighting is Drunken Fist, which he invented. He is known to use unorthodox
methods of fighting, including crude tactics such as vomiting and flatulence. The archetype of the drunken master exemplifies
the proverb "appearances can be deceiving". Outwardly, the fat, drunken, and crass Bo' Rai Cho does not appear to pose a threat,
but he uses this illusion to take advantage of unsuspecting foes. He is revered for his great knowledge of martial arts and
his fighting skills. When necessary, he is capable of commanding armies. Bo'
Rai Cho's name is a play on the Spanish word borracho, meaning "drunkard."
Chameleon
Unknown
Species
Male
Chameleon
first debuted in Mortal Kombat Trilogy as a male ninja with partial transparency. There was initially little information about
Chameleon as he had no storyline or game ending. All that was known about him is garnered from the hidden option to fight
him (available upon beating the game). The game refers to him as "one of Shao Kahn's deadliest warriors". He later returned in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon with a completely new design and a backstory.
Cyrax
Cyborg
Male
Making
his debut in Mortal Kombat 3, Cyrax was the second of three cybernetic ninjas. An African-American fighter, he was assigned
to hunt Sub-Zero for the Lin Kuei clan as designated unit LK-4D4. Of the three cyborgs, he has become the second to recover
his humanity. This is due to the efforts of Sonya Blade and Jax. He has currently allied with them as a token of his appreciation.
Daegon
Edenian
Male
Daegon
is the evil brother of Taven, and the second son of the Edenian protector god Argus and the prophet Delia. Contrary to his
appearance, he is actually the younger brother of Taven. When Delia foretold the future of the realms as Armageddon, Argus
had his sons put into incubation guarded by two dragons. They would be awakened one day to fight Blaze and save the realms
from Armageddon. Daegon awoke prematurely due to an error by his guardian dragon Caro, who lost mental contact with Blaze
and mistakenly believed that to be the signal to release Daegon. Daegon became unbalanced by the early awakening, and confronted
his parents about the true nature of the quest. Once he found out what he needed, he killed his parents and formed the Red
Dragon Clan, in later years using the DNA of Caro, whom he had imprisoned, to create human-dragon hybrids, and using the dragon's
ability to create portals to transport his clan anywhere they needed to go. The quest required that both brothers take a weapon
that was given to them by their father (the Drakeswords) and a gift from their mother (their armor). When Daegon made it to
the temple of where the swords were, he took them both.
Dairou
Seidan
Male
He
was once a highly respected Seidan guardsman, much like Hotaru, but he was imprisoned when he attacked and killed the man
who he was led to believe murdered his family. In Deception's Konquest mode, Dairou is hired to free Shujinko from prison.
In the present, he has been hired by Darrius to steal the constitution of Seido and to kill Hotaru. Dairou fails to kill Hotaru
given his appearance in Armageddon. In Dairou's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending,
he defeats Blaze and gains a glowing suit of armor. Shao Kahn is enraged and attacks, but Dairou defeats him. He becomes the
new ruler of Outworld. Under his rule, Outworld becomes beautiful and majestic like it was before. Convinced of Dairou's peacefulness,
Earthrealm and Edenia form an alliance with Outworld that would ensure peace in all the realms.
Darrius
Seidan
Male
A
former Seidan Guardsman who became disillusioned with the oppressive nature of Seido, the Realm of Order, Darrius leads a
resistance movement which seeks to overthrow Orderrealm's senate. He takes advantage of the strict laws of Orderrealm to manipulate
individuals into joining his movement. One tactic is to have a Guardsman's family murdered, who will then retaliate and be
expelled from the Guard. They are then ripe for induction into the swelling ranks. Others joined him of their own volition,
such as the cleric of Chaos, Havik. During Deception, he hires fellow former
guardsman Dairou to steal the Seidan government's Declaration of Order, a scroll depicting its laws. It is also speculated
that Darrius hired Dairou to kill Hotaru. Though not explicitly stated, the similarities
between Dairou's background and Darrius's method of recruitment seems to imply that he was the one to order the killing of
Dairou's family. In Darrius's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze,
causing the pyramid to shrink and turn into a ring. Darrius takes the ring, and with it, defeats Hotaru and creates a new
world order for Seido. Because the ring was meant for Taven and Daegon, however, Argus sends them to retrieve it and work
together to get what Darrius has stolen.
Drahmin
Oni
Male
Drahmin
made his debut in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance as one of two Oni, demons of the 5th plane of the Netherealm. He wields an
iron club mounted on his right arm. The mask he wears is an artifact called the Face of Kun-Lo. Wearing it allows him to control
his rage and fight with his disciplined Netherealm style. Removing it causes him to go into Oni style where he loses his focus
and attacks with murderous insanity. Drahmin was not always a demon. Centuries
ago, he was a cruel human warlord in Outworld. For his crimes, he was exiled to the Netherealm where his body and soul were
to be tortured for all eternity. As the years dragged on, he fell further and further into insanity until his humanity was
lost altogether. He eventually accepted his fate and submitted to the power of the Netherealm. He re-emerged from the Netherrealm
depths as Drahmin: the Oni Tormentor.
Ermac
Gestalt
Male
Ermac
is the first MK character to use the power of telekinesis. Making his official debut in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3, he has been
a controversial and mysterious character in the series canon, as his existence was rumored since its inception. He is an amalgam
of many souls destroyed in Outworld's wars who came to be controlled by Shao Kahn and his Shadow Priests. Because of this,
he commonly refers to himself as "we," "us," and "our" instead of "I," "me," and "my." Due to the sheer concentration of souls
within Ermac, he possesses the gift of telekinesis and can travel to different realms. However, the depths of Netherealm drain
his powers, and he is weakened dramatically while there. He made his return in
Mortal Kombat: Deception, where he was freed from Shao Kahn's grip by the blind swordsman Kenshi and decided to become a force
of good, partly out of guilt for his past evils. To prove this, he decides to help Liu Kang free the souls of his friends
from control of the Dragon King, Onaga.
Frost
Cryomancer
Female
Frost
made her first appearance in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance as an apprentice to Sub-Zero, taking the character archetype of
the overly ambitious fledgling. Her dedication to fighting and learning is overshadowed by her arrogance and hostility towards
anyone she perceives to be greater than her, including her own master, whom she refers to as sifu and Sonya Blade. Frost possesses freezing abilities similar to those of Sub-Zero, though substantially weaker than his due
to her lack of experience in using them. Proof of this is in the both their abilities to form solid weapons by freezing surrounding
water vapor: while Frost can create small daggers, Sub-Zero is capable of creating a sword.
Fujin
God
of Wind
Male
First
appearing as an unnamed boss in the adventure title Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, Fujin made his debut in the main
fighting series of games during Mortal Kombat 4 portrayed as the God of Wind. Along with Raiden, Fujin is the another character
in the series to have originated from Japanese folklore, based on the Japanese wind god of the same name. He appears as a
tall, ageless, muscular human with long white hair bound in a ponytail and glowing white eyes. As may be expected, he has a great variety of wind-oriented attacks at his disposal. Although more indifferent
and abstract in character than Raiden, Fujin is also depicted as being concerned with the fate of Earthrealm.
Goro
Shokan
Male
Goro
was introduced in the first Mortal Kombat game as the sub-boss, where he was notoriously difficult to defeat, because all
of his attacks did more damage then everyone else's. More than two thousand years old, he is the Prince of the Shokan race,
hailing from the Kuatan realm of Outworld. As a General in the Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn's militia, he fights for the pride
and glory of his people.
Havik
Chaotic
Male
Hailing
from Chaosrealm, Havik is a cleric of Chaos. Neither good nor evil, his ambitions are to spread discord and he will ally himself
with those who can seek to further his ends, regardless of their goals. He is known to be a frequent troublemaker in Seido
(the realm of Order), where he has formed an alliance with the revolutionary Darrius, and is heralded as a hero by the populace
of the Chaosrealm. He opposes the Dragon King, Onaga, who rules by order.
Hotaru
Seidan
Male
The
name Hotaru is Japanese for firefly. This is reflected in his outfit which has the appearance of an insect's exoskeleton.
His special attacks evoke a firefly's glow and power of flight. Hotaru is a general from the realm of Seido, or Orderrealm,
and devotes himself to preserving law and order at any cost. So much so that he could be described as a zealot.
Hsu Hao
Human
Male
Hsu
Hao is an evil Mongolian grappler who poses as a member of Red Dragon's intelligence services to infiltrate the U.S. Special
Forces. His sole purpose is to destroy them after he had aided them in destroying the Black Dragon crime clan, long-time rivals
of Hsu Hao's Red Dragon. Instead of a heart, Hsu Hao has a pulsating cybernetic implant that also enhances his strength. He
follows orders from Mavado.
Jade
Edenian
Female
Jade's
presence in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was greeted with resentment, not because of any flaws in her character, but simply because
she was extremely difficult to play against when controlled by the AI. Many players felt that Jade had too many special moves,
her combos were too long and when controlled by the AI, used a jumping high kick to defend all arial attacks or juggle combos;
and would simply use her throw move to dodge dial up combos. For many players, the only way to beat her was to duck under
her Nitro Kick and perform an uppercut. Because of the computer's ability to read a player's controller inputs, people playing
as Jade had a large amount of difficulty executing the combos the AI could perform. Because she was not in the original Mortal
Kombat 3, the game producers did not have a chance to reduce her power (they already had to tone down Sub-Zero and Kabal for
this installment). Her power isn't reduced until Mortal Kombat Deception where she is only given one type of Razor Rang, weaker
defenses and combos equal to other characters.
Jarek
Human
Male
First
debuting as a playable character in Mortal Kombat 4, Jarek was depicted as the brutish and short-tempered second-in-command
of the Black Dragon clan. In the games, he initially utilized special moves and fatalities popularized by Kano, a trait
later explained by stating that Jarek was once a student of his. He would later gain his own unique moveset in Armageddon.
Jax
Human
Male
Jax
was the first African American character in the Mortal Kombat series and made his debut in the second game. He is portrayed
as an archetypical American hero. In the chain of command of the Special Forces, he is Sonya Blade's direct superior and clearly
the counterbalancing force of Sonya's impulsiveness. Jax is clear-headed, careful, and always keeping a watch on what his
men are doing. When the need arises, he is a beast on the battlefield with the attitude and ferocity of a lion. He unscrupulously
makes use of the most advanced technology to improve both himself and his unit.
Johnny Cage
Human
Male
Johnny
Cage is a movie star who is a master of martial arts. Although he is a primary character, he's more of a comic relief in contrast
to the stoicism of Liu Kang. He jokes around a lot and can be a little full of himself every now and then. He is a good friend
to Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Sonya Blade. In interviews during the development
of Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks it was stated by Ed Boon and several other staff members that Cage is indeed considered the
comic relief character of Mortal Kombat. This is also noticeable throughout the series as Cage as often been the root of many
jokes by the team working on the series (such as his MK4 ending and his storyline in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance).
Kabal
Human
Male
Kabal
was first introduced in Mortal Kombat 3, sporting long, black hair, hookswords, and a respirator. He was a mysterious chosen
warrior who survived an attack from one of Shao Kahn's extermination squads. Unknown to his allies, however, he was actually
a member of the Black Dragon. At the time of his introduction, he appeared as a force for good, but has since reverted to
his evil ways, planning to set himself as the head of the new Black Dragon clan.
Kai
Human
Male
Kai
made his debut in Mortal Kombat 4 as a nimble and agile fighter. Like Liu Kang,
he is a Shaolin monk who is a skilled martial artist with the ability to use fire. In
Kai's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze and then becomes linked with the One Being, allowing him to see through
time. He sees all of the events in the past that led up to the final battle at the Pyramid of Argus. But when he looks into
the future, he sees nothing. It is implied that after Kai defeated Blaze, Armageddon began of its own accord.
Kano
Human
Male
Kano
made his debut in the first Mortal Kombat game. In it Kano is one of the incarnations
of evil. A portion of Kano's face is covered with a metal plate, with the plated
eye being a glowing red orb capable of emitting laserlike beams. Originally a mercenary and leader of the international crime
cartel known as the Black Dragon, he rises beyond the level of mere brutality and aggression by also being sly and cunning.
It was through his resourcefulness that he convinced Shao Kahn to spare his life, and it was through ruthless ambition that
he later ascended to position of general of Outworld's armies. Kano combines the
features of a cowardly minion, a lone survivor, a crazed madman, and an intelligent commander. His actions have made him the
enemy of Lt. Sonya Blade.
Kenshi
Human
Male
Kenshi
is a rogue swordsman of Eurasian heritage. He is a blind, gruff man who has mastered the arts of Tai Chi, San Shou and Judo.
Kenshi is also psychokinetic, able to throw opponents off-balance or across the room when necessary. He nurses a bitter hatred
for the sorcerer Shang Tsung, whose trickery had blinded him. He is currently allied with Sonya Blade and Jax Briggs, and
has also found a friend in Sub-Zero as well as Ermac.
Khameleon
Saurian
Female
Khameleon
made her debut as a secret character in Mortal Kombat Trilogy, she returned in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon with a new design
and look. Her Armageddon ending states that after defeating Blaze and gaining
god-like power, Khameleon confronts Shao Kahn. Although Kahn pleads for his life, Khameleon transforms him and his army into
Raptors as an act of revenge for the death of her species. However, she also loses control of her powers and accidentally
transforms the heroes into Raptors as well. Even so, this act restores Zaterra to its former glory.
Kintaro
Shokan
Male
Kintaro
was introduced as a replacement for the great Shokan prince Goro, and was everything Goro was, including being of the Shokan
race, but not of the same family. Being the supreme commander of Outworld's armed forces, he is second only to Shao Kahn himself,
and harder to defeat than Goro. He has clearly defined feline aspects, with tiger stripes on his back (more recently, claws
and cat-like digitigrade feet in his Armageddon makeover as well), and has the ability to spit fireballs from great distances. He shares his name with the Japanese folk hero Kintarō.
Kira
Human
Female
Kira
made her debut in Mortal Kombat: Deception as the first of Kabal's recruits for the new Black Dragon. She possesses a rationality
and level-headedness that surpasses her fellow hot-blooded recruit, Kobra. In-game, she utilized special moves and fighting
styles imported directly from Kano and Sonya's appearances in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance; as a result, she was labeled
an unoriginal character by the MK fanbase, just like Jarek (she was, however, better received than Jarek because Kira had
unique fatalities as compared to Jarek whose entire movelist and all his fatalites were copied from another character).
Kitana
Edenian
Female
A
primary hero in the Mortal Kombat saga, Kitana is the princess of Edenia and the daughter of Queen Sindel. She is over 10,000
years old, although she appears only to be in her early to mid twenties. Through the years, she has risen to great importance,
first as the loyal stepdaughter of Shao Kahn; then his enemy, tearing herself away from his grasp and freeing her home realm
of Edenia; and then leading an army into Outworld to combat any chance of Shao Kahn rising to power again. Driven by a search
for justice, redemption, and peace, Kitana is a strong combination of discipline, intelligence, love, and perseverance. She
shared a subtle love interest with Earthrealm champion Liu Kang until he was murdered by the Deadly Alliance. She has aligned
herself on the good side, despite her loyalty to Shao Kahn for most of her life until learning the truth about her past and
real family.
Kobra
Human
Male
Kobra
could be described as Mortal Kombat's stock street brawler character. Infamous for his brutality and savage killings, Kobra
shows no mercy to his opponents. Introduced in Mortal Kombat: Deception as the second of Kabal's recruits for the new Black
Dragon, he is a gifted young martial artist, eager to put his skills to the test. In
Kobra's Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze and assumes the power of the gods. He further demands that the elder gods give
him control over all realms. They do so, but insist that he must have a queen to rule alongside him. Kobra chooses Kira as
his queen, and the elder gods transform her into a goddess of death. When Kira kisses Kobra, he is turned into a pile of ashes,
as a lesson to others who would order the Elder Gods.
Kung Lao
Human
Male
Kung
Lao is a former Shaolin monk and a member of the former White Lotus Society. He stands in the shadow of his great ancestor,
the Great Kung Lao, but unlike his great ancestor he has no desire to be champion and would rather live a life of peace. He
is close friends and brother to the Mortal Kombat Champion Liu Kang. As well, he has sought counsel from master Bo' Rai Cho.
Of the Earthrealm warriors, Kung Lao is the most outspoken pacifist, although he will not hesitate to severely punish those
who attack him, Earthrealm, or his friends. His trademark is his razor-rimmed hat, which he can employ quite powerfully and
effectively in combat. Many of his fatalities involve the use of his hat to some extent.
According to MK co-creator John Tobias in a 1995 interview with EGM, Kung Lao's hat was inspired by the 1964 James
Bond movie Goldfinger, in which a character named Oddjob threw his derby as a weapon.
Li Mei
Outworlder
Female
Li
Mei was introduced in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance as a variant of a well-known archetype in most fighting games: she is
a young woman fighting against a supreme crime organization or overlord who did her wrong and fights at impossible odds. She
is somewhat of a tragic hero. In Li Mei's Armageddon ending, she defeats Blaze
and uses her new powers to trap Quan Chi and Shang Tsung in an obelisk, where they will be forced to fight off attackers forever
as retribution for executing her people.
Liu Kang
Human
Male
Liu
Kang is a Chinese Shaolin fighting monk. He moves quickly and possesses formidable fighting skills. Throughout the series,
Liu Kang has been gradually portrayed as the main hero, becoming Champion after the first Mortal Kombat tournament and then
following whatever quest Raiden has in mind for him. His romantic interest is Princess Kitana, but he is unable to commit
himself to a relationship due to his duty (protecting Earthrealm as the Champion of Mortal Kombat) while Kitana has to stay
in Edenia as reigning princess. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, he accomplished
his first task by saving his friends but was unable to reunite his body and soul. However, in his ending, players learned
that upon defeating Blaze, Liu Kang's body and soul reunited, and he gained the power of a god. Liu Kang then confronted the
corrupted Raiden, and reluctantly defeated him in an epic clash. With the consent of the Elder Gods, he replaced Raiden as
Protector of Earthrealm.
Mavado
Human
Male
Introduced
in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Mavado in many respects embodies the underworld antipode of Kano.
Whereas Kano seems to rely mainly on scare tactics and brute force, Mavado relies
on discipline and superior intelligence to fight. In battle, he uses a pair of signature grappling hooks to augment his attacks,
allowing him to propel himself quickly around the arena. Mavado is a leading figure, second only to Daegon, within the Red
Dragon, which the games reveal to be an ancient criminal organization whose existence is known only to its members, and whose
most prominent rivals are the Black Dragon, an offshoot of the Red Dragon which was led by Kano
but is now reformed under the leadership of Kabal. Mavado is depicted as a vicious, pitiless, and cruel crime lord. In Mavado's Armageddon ending, he discovers that upon defeating Blaze, he gained the ability to control
those who wear the Red Dragon emblem. He telepathically influences his clan to defeat their enemies, and then tattooed the
emblem on them. He uses his new army to take over the world.
Meat
Unknown
Species
Male
Originally
introduced as a bloody skeleton, Meat is a human-like being that possesses a genetically-altered composition. He made his
first official appearance as a fighter in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon with a more muscular physique, depicted as a person that
only has skinless human flesh with one of his eyes hanging out of its socket and blood constantly flowing down his body.]
This appears in the same amount as the blood in the rest of the game, and also disappears altogether when the blood level
in the options is turned off. In his Armageddon ending, it is said that while
the other fighters focused on each other, Meat rushed past them up the pyramid. Once he defeated Blaze, he gained the power
to shape-shift. With the ability to be anyone he pleased, Meat lost his sense of identity and went into obscurity.
Mileena
Edenian/Tarkatan
Hybrid
Female
Mileena
is a clone, and evil twin, of Kitana, created by Shang Tsung using Tarkatan physiology. She looks just like Kitana when her
mask is on, but when it is off, her hideous visage is exposed. She despises Kitana,
and feels that it is her own right to rule Edenia as princess in her place. Her fondest wish is to kill her "sister", and
claim her existence for her own. Something of an opportunist, she will make use of any chance to seize power that comes within
her grasp. In Mileena's Armageddon ending, she defeats Blaze, causing herself
and her "twin" Kitana to psychically fuse together for a moment. When they separate, Mileena finds that she has taken Kitana's
features and become beautiful, while Kitana has been cursed with Mileena's Tarkatan teeth. Mileena is now able to take her
rightful place as princess of Edenia. She rules in Kitana's place and locks her "sister" in the Edenian palace dungeon, where
Kitana eventually goes insane.
Mokap
Human
Male
Originally
introduced in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance as a secret character, Mokap is described as being a motion capture actor with
a vast knowledge of martial arts and fighting styles. Although he is introduced somewhat as a joke character, he is indeed
being treated as a legitimate figure in the canon plot. Mokap has been involved with the events of the last few games, although
the circumstances as to how and why are very mysterious and vague. He seems to continually find himself inexplicably transported
to and wrapped up in the battles that have transpired, simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In Mokap's Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze and causes an explosion which kills himself and the rest
of the fighters. Mokap becomes a constellation, and he remains a figure taught in Edenian history as the Earthrealm warrior
who saved all the realms from Armageddon.
Moloch
Oni
Male
Moloch
takes his name from a Near Eastern deity who was given human sacrifices. Concept art for Deadly Alliance depicted Moloch as
originally having an owl who would fetch his orb from the Netherealm. Moloch would appear where the owl dropped the orb. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Moloch cannot be thrown by normal characters (similar
to Blaze and Onaga) and is immune to projectiles, forcing the opponent player into close range. In his Armageddon ending, Moloch defeats Blaze and absorbs his power, transforming him into a Destroyer
of Worlds. He then destroys Argus' pyramid and later destroys Edenia and turns it into a wasteland. But because he had destroyed
the portal, he was stuck in Edenia, a victim of his own destructive rage.
Motaro
Centaurian
Male
Motaro
made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat 3. He is a centaur, meaning that he has the legs of a stallion and the torso of
a man. He also has a pair of capricorn-like horns and has a long, metallic rat-like tail he can use as both an energy channeling
point and a limb. Centaurians are known for their hunting prowess and their mystical powers.
Motaro, along with his entire race, harbors a deep-seated hatred for the Shokan, whom he sees as inferior. The two
races constantly struggle against each other in order to prove their value to Shao Kahn and to finally define which is superior. In Motaro's Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze, causing the firespawn's essence to
consume him. When the fire stops, Motaro finds himself walking on four legs again, having lifted the Shokan's curse on the
Centaurs. He vowed that the Shokan would pay dearly for their treachery.
Nightwolf
Human
Male
Nightwolf
was the first Native American character in Mortal Kombat and was introduced in Mortal Kombat 3. Although introduced as a historian
and a shaman, he does not live in the past. He is a proud and fierce warrior dedicated to the cause of good, and is in contact
with Raiden through visions. As such, he draws both on internal and external spiritual energy to enhance his strength in kombat.
Although his patch of tribal land provided a vital shelter territory for the Earthrealm warriors at the time of Shao Kahn's
invasion, it seems Nightwolf prefers solitary work to companionship. He has variously
been described as the "quintessential Native American icon" and "a very nontraditional Indian" by the series staff. In his Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze, allowing him to absorb his power. Nightwolf is catapulted into
the spirit world, where he becomes the ultimate shaman, a living ghost. He finds Liu Kang's spirit and guides it back to the
physical world. There, Liu Kang is able to reunite with his body, becoming human once more.
Nitara
Vampire
Female
The
winged Nitara is a vampiress who has to prey on the blood of others in order to remain alive. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon,
she rejuvenates when she bites the opponent. Rather than being evil, however, Nitara is depicted as being rather self-serving
and morally neutral. She has a distinctly gothic appearance, and has long been on a quest to separate her own realm, known
as Vaeternus, from Outworld. She has Kanji symbols on both of her wings. In Nitara's
Armageddon ending, it states that after defeating Blaze, Nitara uses her power to become a blood goddess. She turns the rest
of the kombatants into her own army of vampire slaves, which she uses to conquer the realms.
Noob Saibot
Wraith-Cryomancer
Male
In
the Mortal Kombat universe, Noob Saibot was the original Sub-Zero, and brother to the younger Sub-Zero. He was killed by Scorpion,
in revenge for killing him in cold blood. A heartless, cold-blooded assassin, Noob Saibot had to earn his place in the Netherrealm
and became a deadly force to be reckoned with. In the ending of Mortal Kombat: Deception, it is shown he is willing to kill
even his own brother. Again, as seen in Deception, he has partnered with his brother's old ally, Smoke. In Noob's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending, with Blaze defeated, he stands alone, engulfed in darkness.
From out of the shadows steps his former self, the original Sub-Zero. The two selves fight each other for control of the warrior's
body. Both are equally matched, and in the end, they merge into one. The result is neither Noob Saibot nor Sub-Zero, but a
completely different entity.
Onaga
Dragon
Male
He
is the one true ruler of Outworld. Onaga is the antagonist in Mortal Kombat: Deception and one of the most powerful characters
in the Mortal Kombat series. He was first introduced in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance under the cryptic name of the "Dragon
King", the long-dead ruler of Outworld, even before Shao Kahn. Not much was known about him, save for the fact that his army
was deemed undefeatable but, at his untimely death, allowed itself to be mummified and kept in a tomb that was sealed until
the necromancer Quan Chi stumbled upon it. Onaga is one of the series' characters through which the One Being is rumored to
work. His most important powers include incredible strength and resistance to all forms of magic, and the innate power to
raise the dead as well. In his Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending, Onaga defeats
Blaze and becomes all powerful. He then uses his new power to take revenge on his most hated enemy, Shao Kahn. After beating
him to the point of death, he refuses to kill him. Instead, he hires Shang Tsung and Quan Chi to torment Shao Kahn forever
while Onaga became the ruler of outworld once again.
Quan Chi
Oni
Male
Quan
Chi became the most powerful sorcerer and necromancer in the Netherrealm and a primary villain in the Mortal Kombat series.
Quan Chi combines both cunning and brute force in his never ending plots to overtake not only Earthrealm, but all of reality.
He is an opportunist and will ally himself with anyone who can help him further his own goals. He is notable in particular
for his ruthlessness and pragmatism. His manipulating and deceptive nature has earned him several enemies, including Sub-Zero
and most notably, the ninja spectre Scorpion, due to the fact that he destroyed Scorpion's entire family and clan. He previously
formed a strong alliance with Shang Tsung and defeated earthrealm warrior Liu Kang.
In his Mortal Kombat Armageddon ending, Quan Chi defeats Blaze and has his sorcery's power increased drastically and
it shatters his medallion. He confronts the elder gods, who set him up and transform him into a Kamidogu. They then send the
Kamidogu back in time to when Shinnok first discovered it.
Raiden
Lightning
God
Male
The
thunder god of the MK universe is also a protector of Earthrealm. Raiden is a wise and powerful force. Often, he leads the
forces of good against those of evil. Raiden has played a pivotal role in the Mortal Kombat games and storyline and will likely
remain a key player in the future. Since he is a thunder god, Raiden commands many supernatural abilities such as the ability
to teleport, control lightning, and fly. As an immortal, he thinks in terms of eternity rather than normal human lifespans
and his memories date back to the beginning of time itself. It is unlikely that Raiden can ever be truly killed. Even if his
mortal form is destroyed, Raiden will rematerialize some time afterward. He seeks to destroy anyone who tries to harm Earthrealm. In Raiden's Mortal Kombat Armageddon ending, he becomes extremely powerful after defeating
Blaze. To make sure no other realm will possibly threaten Earthrealm again, he destroys them all.
Rain
Edenian
Male
Rain
is one of the sons of Argus (along with Taven and Daegon, who are his older half-brothers), giving him the affinity of being
half-god. Rain betrayed his homeland of Edenia during the invasion of Earthrealm, and served Shao Kahn as one of his top assassins
for years. He has the ability to control water and lightning. In Rain's Armageddon
ending, it is revealed that he is actually the half-brother of Taven and Daegon, being the son of Argus whose identity his
father had tried to keep hidden. Imbued with the power of Blaze after defeating him, Rain becomes a full god, and Argus proclaims
him as the new Protector of Edenia. However, Rain instead uses this power to enslave the realm. Argus, having ascended to
the status of Elder God after Rain's own ascension, is unable to stop him.
Reiko
Outworlder
Male
Reiko
is a grim and stoic looking man with salt-and-pepper hair, glowing blue eyes, and a penchant for brutality. He was originally
introduced in a typical ninja archetype in Mortal Kombat 4. He also has a mask-like black tattoo over his eyes. In Reiko's Armageddon ending, he becomes empowered after beating Blaze. Reiko kills Shao Kahn and takes
his helmet, which permanently fuses to his head as he becomes the new ruler.
Reptile
Saurian
Male
Reptile
is a green garbed, human-like reptilian ninja that embodies the archetype of the unhappy underling. Reptile is said to be
physically hideous and repulsive, but he is renowned for his great stealth and unquestioning loyalty. Unlike many other henchmen
of the lords he has served, Reptile does not strive for power. Rather, he is caught in a delusional state of mind, an obsession
about finding the last remaining member of his race, the Saurians, or freeing his homeworld from Outworld's grasp. This obsession
is so important to him that it causes temporary fits of insanity. In his ending,
after his victory over Blaze, the Pyramid of Argus begins to crumble under his feet. Reptile finds a tomb within the pyramid
containing a female Zaterran, and Reptile slowly reverts back to his humanoid form. With the female Zaterran, Reptile revives
Zaterra to its former glory.
Sareena
Demon
Female
Sareena
is a demon who first appeared in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero as a non-playable boss character before being included
as a playable fighter in the regular series. Despite being a demon, she is able to take a human form that she must maintain.
She was once one of Quan Chi's assassins, but turned against him and is now a fighter for good, although she remains wary
of her natural demon nature. In her Armageddon ending, she defeats Blaze, causing
his power to flow into her. She is left unconscious until Sub-Zero reaches the top of the pyramid and revives her. When she
awakens, she realizes that she had gained the ability to freeze. She then confronts Quan Chi and freezes him in a block of
ice. Sareena and Sub-Zero place the sorcerer in the Lin Kuei temple, where he will remain frozen forever.
Scorpion
Spectre
Male
Formerly
a human ninja and member of the Japanese ninja clan Shirai Ryu, Scorpion is now a black and yellow garbed, hell-spawned revenant,
inexorably seeking vengeance against those responsible for the destruction of his clan and the death of his family. Despite
the fact that Scorpion has previously allied himself with the forces of evil (when promised either a means of resurrection
on Earth or the chance to inflict his wrath against those who butchered his clan), he is not inherently evil. Scorpion was once manipulated by Quan Chi, who promised him life in exchange for his impressive combat
abilities in order to defeat Sub-Zero. Despite such actions, Scorpion is not entirely merciless, as he once spared the life
of Sub-Zero's younger brother. As Scorpion is a spectre, sorcery and supernatural anomalies have previously proven slightly
more successful in vanquishing Scorpion in combat. Despite this, none have ever succeeded in destroying him in an absolute
sense. When masked, Scorpion appears human, although this is merely an illusion. When revealing his true self, only Scorpion's
skull remains, which sometimes appears on fire. Although Scorpion is featured
alongside the forces of evil in the opening scene of Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, he remains neutral, due to his fierce hatred
of Quan Chi. In Scorpion's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending after defeating Blaze
, the entire Shirai Ryu clan is resurrected, thousands of them crowding the pyramid below, awaiting his command, along with
Scorpion's wife and son. Then the sorcerer Quan Chi appears and kidnaps his son, taking him into the Netherealm through a
portal. Enraged, Scorpion commands the Shirai Ryu to find Quan Chi; Scorpion will not rest until his son is rescued and the
sorcerer has been destroyed.
Sektor
Cyborg
Male
Throughout
the various Mortal Kombat games he was involved in, Sektor has grown into an ever more menacing mechanized warrior. He represents
the closest thing to evil a cyborg can be, and combines traits of both a stealthy ninja and a ruthless killing machine fit
for modern warfare. In contrast to his counterpart Cyrax, Sektor never bothered to rediscover his human side. He is capable
of independent thought and action like Cyrax and Smoke, but unlike them, shows no sign of emotion. In Sektor's Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze, allowing the firespawn's power to surge through him. This
power links Sektor with his fellow cybernetic ninjas, Smoke and Cyrax. Becoming one mind, they join in an abomination of flesh
and technology.
Shang Tsung
Unknown
Species
Male
A
powerful and scheming sorcerer and a primary antagonist in the Mortal Kombat series, Shang Tsung is a demonic shapeshifter
who needs to consume spirits in order to sustain his health and life. His nemesis is Liu Kang, but throughout his unnatural
lifespan, he has earned the hatred of many others, including Kung Lao and Kenshi. Only Quan Chi can match his skills as a
sorcerer while he's surpassed by Shao Kahn and Shinnok. In Shang Tsung's Armageddon
ending, he defeats Blaze and receives his power. He also gains the power to alter the forms of others. Shao Kahn rushes towards
Tsung, but he turns Kahn into a Centaur slave. Tsung then becomes the ruler of Outworld.
Shao Kahn
Outworlder
Male
One
of the primary villains in the Mortal Kombat series, Shao Kahn (frequently misspelled as Shao Khan) is the Emperor of Outworld.
He resembles an Asian warrior-king in many respects, and embodies evil in many forms. He is known for his godlike strength,
extreme callousness, brutality and his enjoyment of executions, but rises above the level of a mere warlord through his intelligence
and knowledge of black magic. Like his subordinate Shang Tsung, he has the power to consume others' souls. His greatest strength
is probably his ability to work towards his goals with great tenacity and his ability to organize, but his greatest weaknesses
are his arrogance and his overconfidence. In his Armageddon ending, Shao Kahn
makes his way to the top of Argus's Pyramid for the final confrontation with Blaze. Shao Kahn proved to be too powerful for
Blaze and easily defeated him. Shao Kahn's armies destroyed what was left of his enemies, and with the power Shao Kahn received
from defeating Blaze, he merges all the realms with Outworld. With his main goal completed and having complete control over
all the realms, Shao Kahn grew mad with boredom, as he had nothing else left to conquer.
Sheeva
Shokan
Female
Sheeva
belongs to the ancient race of the Shokan, described as a subterranean people living in Outworld. Like all of her race, she
possesses a tall, muscular build, red eyes, and four arms. Sheeva served as the
personal bodyguard of Queen Sindel during Shao Kahn's failed invasion of Earthrealm.
In Sheeva's Armageddon ending, she defeats Blaze and is met by the Elder Gods. She becomes the Goddess of Destruction,
destroying realms using a Kamidogu, she then remakes the realms into something unknown.
Shinnok
Elder
God
Male
Shinnok
is a vengeful and powerful fallen Elder God who appeared in Mortal Kombat 4, Mortal Kombat Gold and Mortal Kombat Mythologies:
Sub-Zero as the primary villain. He is also a playable character in Mortal Kombat Armageddon, as well as appearing in its
"Konquest" mode. Unlike Shao Kahn, Shinnok relies less on brute strength and
fear-mongering, and more on magical powers and ancient artifacts. He is the ruler of the Netherealm, possessing millions of
years' worth of knowledge and power, including the ability to impersonate other beings perfectly. Shinnok demands unwavering faith and loyalty from his followers, and will not hesitate to kill anyone who
doubts or challenges him. Like Raiden, it is unlikely that he can ever be truly killed, since he is a god and thus immortal;
if his mortal form is destroyed, he will simply reform himself, usually back in the Netherrealm where he was originally banished.
Shujinko
Human
Male
Shujinko
made his debut in Mortal Kombat: Deception as the game's main hero. He is an adventurer who, as a boy, dreamed of fighting
Shang Tsung. He has roamed the various realms and studied with many renowned teachers. His old age has made him wise, but
at a cost: he bears an immense guilt for releasing Onaga into the realms again, and now that he is discarded by the Dragon
King, has vowed to make up for this mistake. Although he shares some traits with the games' Shaolin monk characters, such
as his great receptiveness, deliberation and ability to meditate for weeks, he has always been a traveller and a student at
heart. In Shujinko's Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze, allowing him to absorb
the fighting strength of every kombatant. He becomes mad with power and destroys all the other fighters. He then challenges
the Elder Gods for control of the realms.
Sindel
Edenian
Female
Sindel
is a distinctive character in the Mortal Kombat series (and in fighting games in general) in more than one way. She is older
than most fighting game characters, with flowing grey hair and a regal attitude befitting of her role as Queen of Edenia.
Another factor that contributes to her uniqueness is the fact that at one point in the series, she was actually undead. In
spite of her gloomy, gothic appearance, Sindel is benevolent in nature. She rules the realm of Edenia alongside her daughter,
Princess Kitana. Sindel's power appears to be more of an inner, ethereal nature, however, and she has a natural affinity with
aerial magic, as evidenced by her ability to levitate and manipulate sonic waves. In
Sindel's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending, she defeats Blaze and obtains god-like powers. With these newfound abilities, she
decides to resurrect her husband King Jerrod, reaching out to the Heavens and taking his soul. She gives him flesh and bones,
allowing him to live once more. Now Sindel, Jerrod, and Kitana will work together to ward off evil tyrants like Shao Kahn
and to keep the realms safe and protected.
Smoke
Cyborg
Male
A
former member of the Lin Kuei clan and a longtime friend of younger Sub-Zero, Smoke debuted in Mortal Kombat II as a hidden
character to fight against. He was often spotted in the Living Forest
stage in which he (along with Jade) peeked out of the trees. Like Reptile when he made his first appearance, he was simply
a grey clad version of Scorpion who moved extremely fast, with puffs of smoke surrounding his body. He would appear randomly
before matches, offering clues that would enable the player to fight him, as Reptile had in the original Mortal Kombat. Mortal Kombat 3 continues this in the storyline, where he was once again a hidden
character, but accessible to players with the use of a code. In this appearance, he was (and continues to be) a tortured human
soul trapped in the body of a cyborg. His most defining feature is the fact that he constantly seems to emit smoke or vapor.
This, combined with his power to teleport and turn invisible, once made him one of the Lin Kuei's top assassins. In Smoke's Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze and fuses with his power. His nanobot technology increases
and becomes a life of its own. The microscopic machines begin to multiply at an exponential rate, eventually consuming the
entire realm of Edenia until they transform it into a living grey material that calls itself Smoke.
Sonya
Human
Female
Debuted
in the first Mortal Kombat, Lieutenant Sonya Blade is one of the main heroes of the story, member of a top United States Special
Forces unit, member of the Outer World Investigation Agency and the only chosen female warrior from Earthrealm ever since
the first game. Her impulsiveness is catalyzed by her superior and good friend Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs. Sonya represents
a very emancipated and headstrong woman, but for all her stubbornness and pride, she deeply cares about the lives of her friends
and comrades. Johnny Cage, her fellow Earthrealm warrior and possible boyfriend, seems to view her as a romantic interest,
but there has been no indications of her feelings for him. She has a long-standing enmity with the thug Kano,
who stands for everything Sonya despises. In her Armageddon ending Sonya defeats
Blaze, who offers her any power she desires. When Kano arrives at the scene, Sonya
is glowing with energy and glares at him, her gaze burns Kano alive and makes
him explode in a cloud of ash. With this new power, Sonya incinerates all of the Black Dragon and Red Dragon clan members,
clearing the way for a new era of peace.
Stryker
Male
Kurtis
Stryker was introduced in Mortal Kombat 3 as a somewhat stout-looking man sporting a very urban design with a white-blue shirt,
combat boots, gunbelt, black police pants, and a backwards cap. He was originally described as being a leader of the Special
Riot Control division in the New York City Police Department, in addition to having been a Marine who served in the Gulf War.
He employs modern weaponry such as explosives, firearms, tasers, and nightsticks
in battle. In Stryker's Armageddon ending, he defeats Blaze and becomes so powerful
that he feels he can no longer be restricted by law. He becomes a vigilante and plans to strike down all the wicked himself.
Sub-Zero
Cryomancer
Male
There
are in fact two Sub-Zeros: one older and one younger. Both are blue garbed warriors that descended from Cryomancers, an Outworld
race possessing the ability to generate and control the powers of ice, although both of them were born in Earthrealm. The
younger one bears a conspicuous scar on his right eye, however, as of Deception the scar has faded away, though in the game
Shaolin Monks the scar is caused by Kung Lao. The Elder Sub-Zero appeared in the first Mortal Kombat; after being killed by
Scorpion, his younger brother replaced him for the rest of the games. The elder brother later became the undead Netherealm
wraith, Noob Saibot. The younger Sub-Zero clearly shares many traits with his
older brother. Like the elder, the younger Sub-Zero gives the impression of being a stern, distant, and cold man who goes
about his business silently, without attracting unwanted attention. However, as time progressed, Sub-Zero evolved from what
fans labeled a "carbon copy" of his brother to a man of great integrity and self-discipline. The disparities between the brothers,
who were once neutral and almost indistinct from each other, have now grown so large that one could speak of the evil twin
syndrome. While the younger Sub-Zero was depicted as a young Lin Kuei warrior
who was living in the shadow of his older brother, he has since changed and grown into a warrior who has progressed towards
the more humane sides of moral issues. This change in characteristics has not only strengthened him as a man, but has also
set him apart from his former Lin Kuei counterparts. This included leaving his clan in disgust and breaking the sacred codes
of honor, joining the rebellion against Shao Kahn and assisting Raiden and Liu Kang (along with Earthrealm's other chosen
warriors). More recently, he defeated the cyborg assassin Sektor to gain the leadership of the Lin Kuei and become the Grandmaster,
where he has grown even stronger and more powerful. He is a dependable ally of Earthrealm who is willing to assist when needed,
especially when Raiden gives the call. In Sub-Zero's Armageddon ending, after
the defeat of Blaze, he attains godlike power. Combined with his power from the Dragon Medallion, Sub-Zero became so all powerful
that he became an Ice God. This however, was without the consent of the Elder Gods, who responded by sending their champions
to destroy him. It is unknown as to whether they were successful or not in killing Sub-Zero.
In a recent trailer for MK vs. DC, Sub-Zero has been shown fighting Batman. Whether this is part of the story or merely
just a showcasing of the gameplay is unknown.
Tanya
Edenian
Female
Tanya
is a slender, gloomy female from Edenia. Originally introduced as relatively innocent, she quickly turned out to be corrupted
by evil, as evidenced in her adherence to the worshipping of Shinnok and her later service to both the Deadly Alliance and
Onaga. She seems to view herself as more of a survivor rather than anything else, justifying her choices as being the "right
decisions". Tanya is one of the few lady henchmen from the Mortal Kombat series, and prides herself on her superior knowledge
of dark magic and diplomacy. Because of her frequent betrayal of the Edenian cause, she has earned the rivalry and bitter
hatred of Jade. In Tanya's Mortal Kombat: Armageddon ending, the fires of Blaze
transform her into a being known as a Dragon Caller. With a mere thought, she was able to summon dragon spirits from the ether
into corporeal form. With an army of dragons at her command, she conquered the universe realm by realm. Soon Shao Kahn himself
would call her his "master".
Taven
Edenian
Male
Taven
made his first appearance in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon as the game's hero, featured as the main character in the game's Konquest
mode. He is a half-god and the oldest son of Argus, the Protector of Edenia, and Delia, a powerful sorceress who has the ability
to see into the future. He also has the ability to control fire, much like his brother Daegon.
His Armageddon victory over Blaze does neither of the above, instead actually increasing the powers of the kombatants
below, potentially exacerbating the onset of Armageddon. As a result, Taven will make it his duty as a new god to delay Armageddon
until a solution can be found.
