The best Mortal Kombat characters of all time – can you name them?
Mortal Kombat is arguably the most successful fighting franchise in the history of video games. Created by the studio Midway Games in 1992, today it is a religion to tenths of millions of players worldwide. It’s also one of the most popular fighting games, alongside Street Fighter and Tekken.
Nowadays, we know this game for its graphic violence and impactful sequences, but another reason for its success is the plethora of unforgettable characters. In this article, we will discuss some of the most amazing Mortal Kombat heroes you can see in the game. The fighters roster changes with each game, but some of the characters are so symbolic you can see them in all versions of MK.
Noob Saibot
Some fans probably don’t know, but Noob Saibot is actually the reincarnation of the legendary Sub-Zero. Let us explain.
In the first Mortal Kombat game, Sub-Zero appeared as Bi-Han – a skillful and deadly assassin who was the leader of the Lin Kuei clan. After the first tournament, Bi-Han is killed by his greatest adversary, Scorpion, but he’s brought back to life as Noob Saibot by the mightful sorcerer Quan Chi. As Noob Saibot Bi-Han looks even deadlier than before and becomes a cult hero among Mortal Kombat players.
Liu Kang
Taking the role of one of the main protagonists in the game, Liu Kang looks like the Bruce Lee of Mortal Kombat – an incredibly fast and skillful Asian fighter who can destroy you with the speed of a blink. His unique skill is to produce fireballs from his hands, but he offers much more than this as well. Liu Kang is one of the original Mortal Kombat characters who appear in the first game and are still around in modern times.
Mileena
Trust us about that, you don’t want these teeth anywhere near your face. Mileena appeared in the second Mortal Kombat game and quickly became one of the most beloved characters in the whole franchise.
Created in Shang Tsung’s flesh pits as a clone of Kitana, Mileena can take you down with her speed, acrobatic excellence, and sharp blades. Of course, her most famous trait is her carnivore appetite for human flesh – what do you think she uses these teeth for?
Scorpion
Once known as the great ninja warrior Hanzo Hazashi, he becomes the deadly masked assassin Scorpion after his family is killed in a brutal fashion. Filled with anger and never stopping urge for vengeance, Scorpion is one of the most dangerous opponents you can face in the Mortal Kombat universe.
Using fire as a weapon, Scorpion has the ability to resurrect himself from death. He can teleport himself on the battleground while using his blade as a terrifying symbol of revenge.
Johnny Cage
Welcome to Hollywood! Johnny Cage represents what we all dream to be – a famous and rich movie actor who has everything in life. Eager to prove himself as a capable fighter as well, Cage enters the Mortal Kombat tournaments and quickly becomes one of the greatest defenders of the Earthrealm. Some might say he’s too immature and materialistic, but when it comes to fighting – well, nobody can deny his skills. He was modeled by the real-life action star Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Sub-Zero
Alongside his greatest enemy, Scorpion, Sub-Zero is the most recognizable character in the Mortal Kombat universe. Bi-Han is the fearless leader of the Lin Kuei clan of assassins, and he knows really well how to generate and use ice as a weapon. Bi-Han was one of the main antagonists in the new Mortal Kombat movie we had the chance to see in 2021. His father was a cryomancer which explains why he has the ability to control ice. Bi-Han is one of the most skilled fighters in all realms, and it’s a nightmare to face him in a battle.
Raiden
In the Mortal Kombat universe, Raiden is the eternal God of Thunder himself. He’s a character you can see in every game so far, which can tell you how important he is.
Raiden is the eternal God who is given the task to protect the Earthrealm. Being a divine creature, Raiden has many supernatural abilities – he can control lightning, fly and teleport himself around the battle arena. As a protector of the Earthrealm, he’s full of hatred for characters such as Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, and Shinnok.
Reptile
Also known as Syzoth, Reptile is one of the most fearsome servants of Shang Tsung and Shao Kahn. Being a humanoid reptile, Syzoth has some special skills that differ him from humans. Arguably the most important of them is his ability to become invisible. He can also do the acid spit – he usually removes his mask and spits a deadly acid toward his opponent.
Sonya Blade
A former soldier in special forces, Sonya Blade is one of the most famous champions of the Earthrealm. She has some fantastic skills when it comes to hand-to-hand combat, thanks to her military training and experience on the field. Some of Sonya Blade’s most remarkable abilities are her agility and speed, which makes her a fearsome opponent. In most of the Mortal Kombat games, she can use various weapons at his aid.
Kano
Leader of the Black Dragon clan and a professional criminal, Kano is not the type of guy you would like to meet in your life. He’s Sonya Blade’s greatest rival and a complete joke of a human being. This doesn’t make him a lousy fighter, though. On the contrary – Kano is a very dangerous man when it comes to combat. Because of his messed-up head, he doesn’t feel any fear which makes him super dangerous. He also has the ability to emit a laser beam from his eye, which is his special skill.
These are 10 of the most epic Mortal Kombat characters ever. Do you agree with our list? The battle of the realms will never stop. Which side are you supporting?
So, who’s the strongest Mortal Kombat character?
Different players will have different opinions on this matter. Let’s say it like this – one person could be absolutely deadly with Scorpion while some other is excellent with Raiden. You get the point, right? Our advice is to see which character fits your playing style and focus on him. Practice makes perfect – play as much as you can with your hero, and soon you will become a master! You can also use different channels for valuable tips – online articles, YouTube videos, message boards, etc. Some of the best Mortal Kombat players are sharing their knowledge for free. Don’t miss out! Check this article from GameRant, for example. We wish you luck.
Is there going to be Mortal Kombat 12?
The new Mortal Kombat 12 could be coming out sooner than you probably expect. According to the rumors, the game could be out in the second half of 2022. NeitherRealms Studios has been working on it for some time, and they have made some solid progress. We can’t wait to see what new mechanics they will incorporate into the gameplay. And new characters? Maybe some fan favorites will be back!