Mortal Kombat is a very famous American video gaming of the fighting genre. It was developed and published by Midway Games in 1992. Ed Boon and John Tobias came up with a plan to make a gaming series. They wished to make a game that had Jean-Claude Van Damme as the star. The initial Mortal Kombat was one of its kind as it introduced a secret fighter, though it had a certain set of requirements that the player has to fulfill. There are a total of 77 characters that are easily accessible and playable. Initial game editions have the characters and they participated in the tournament. Following are some of the best characters of the Mortal Kombat series:
Table of Contents
1. Sonya Blade
Popularly known as Sonya A. Blade, she is one of the best MK lady OG’s. She became an important and integral playable character of the series, even though she was added later to the original game. Sonya has a pink-colored energy ring kind of projectile that is a source of her power and also performs fantastic gymnastics. She crushed her gut-hated enemy/rival Kano and that made her a more fatal character. She was not in MK 4 (Game Boy Color).This character was not accessible in the MK tournament edition.
2. Jax
Jax had 2 qualities which were the reasons he was so favored among the players. He had metallic arms can he can develop into a giant to crush the people under his foot. In the recent editions of the Mortal Kombat series, he is shown as a caring father who has suffered a lot by fighting this crazy universe. Although Major Jackson “Jax” Briggs does not own a black belt in any legal martial arts form. But he still knows how to dislocate limbs and clap heads just like some tomato paste with his bionic arms in tow which makes him a very favored and desired character of the series. His honorary military skills are displayed in the way this man fights for the greater good. He is a companion of Sonya Blade and other warriors of the Earthrealm. Jax is most famous among two categories – Badass MK Characters and admired POC Icons. This character was only fully playable in Mortal Kombat: Unchained.
3. Frost
Frost is an ice ninja of Mortal Kombat games. She is popularly called the female version of Sub-Zero who has cryogenic powers. Mortal Kombat 11 featured a robotic comeback of this character which made it even more popular among the player. Frost is perfect as the villain as she is defiant, selfish, and self-boasting. She also has the world’s most sensitive ego. This character was not available in MK: Tournament Edition. One could only fully access Frost in the Game Boy Advance version of MK: Deadly Alliance. Otherwise, they had to unlock her in all other versions available.Frost as a playable character was only available in Mortal Kombat: Unchained. If you look at other editions of the series, she is only accessible with a game-changing device.
4. Smoke
Smoke is known for his world-obliterating cyborg and he also has a similar look to the Raiden’s metal gear. Players often prefer this character both in the battle ring and outside it. As he only appears occasionally, this kind of gives him an advantage as players are always fascinated to explore his latest versions. He is regarded as the most intimidating character of the series. Smoke was launched in Mortal Kombat as a cyborg who had hazardous fumes around him. After the release of the Mortal Kombat reboot, this character became more preferred as he took the form of a human and had developed his move set. His hairstyle is slick-back and his ability to get disappeared quickly makes him a threat to the other characters. This character was only accessible in MK 3 as a secret selectable character. Smoke could only be played fully in UMK3 (Java Mobile edition). He was also available in other editions of the MK trilogy. Smoke also paired up with another character in MK: Deception. It was Noob Saibot. He becomes a completely playable character in the Unchained edition. Triborg also has a different version known as “Smoke (LK-7T2) in MK X.
5. Raiden
Raiden is known as The God of Thunder. He battles from the sides of the warriors of The Earthrealm. He is one of the most treacherous supreme being in the entire gaming. Raiden has a lightning move set which is one of the best characteristics he has, Though he had his time playing the evil, his qualities made players love him even more. Raiden has been the most favored character of the players or audience, even as the hero or as the villain. He has been a playable character in almost every edition of Mortal Kombat ever released. Raiden was not released in the Game Gear version or the Sega Master System in MK 2.He was mentioned in MK3 or UMK3 but did not make an appearance. But Raiden became a completely playable character in the trilogy upgraded versions.Raiden was also released in the MK: Unchained and the updated version of MK: Deception. In the other versions of MK, you will have to unlock this character to play.
6. Shang Tsung
He was the first mega villain of the Mortal Kombat series. The game gets pretty rough and this character destroys your soul like it is nothing and then it will copy your appearance. He can also take away your character’s abilities when he encounters any other character. Shang Tsung is clever and cunning and is also known for his backstabbing habits. This makes the character intriguing for the players. Shang Tsung has been a part of many battles and he was a major component of the politicking behind each tournament there has ever been. Shang Tsung was only played in the MK games of the SNES version. This was a consequence of a technical glitch within the system.In other versions, Shang Tsung was an unplayable boss of the game.In Mortal Kombat 3 (either the Sega Master System or the Game Gear Version), Shang Tsung does not appear.You can only unlock this character in MK: Deception (Game Boy Advance Version).
7. Kenshi
Kenshi was one of the best characters who were launched in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. He is a samurai who is blind but is quite a deadly character. Kenshi is a lot cooler than the other characters. He has some slickest moves that you will ever find in the entire MK series. Kenshi also owns a personal possessed variation from the MKX edition. This will let him command his abilities of a monster while he can still move his ancestral blade to cut down his opponents. Kenshi has an amazing design and telepathic sword attacks that differentiate him from other characters. He is kind of a classic roster. NetherRealm brought back Kenshi twice in the new trilogy. He even has his own featured role in the MKX plot. Kenshi was not featured in the Tournament Edition of Mortal Kombat.He was fully accessible in the Unchained version of the MK update of Deception. If you choose him, you have to unlock him first in other versions.Kenshi is completely unlocked and playable in the PS Vita version. In the upgraded versions of MK (2011), he was available through DLC purchases.
8. Cyrax
Cyrax has a big yellow color scheme that is very different from there. He also has an Energy Net and Detonator that give him a special extra ounce of cool. The most loved design of Cyrax is from MK 3. Fans often refer to him as the braids-rocking cyborg Cyrax. He captures his opponents in his net which adds to the fun. As he is a Lin Kuei ninja, he will have to go through the remorse of the buyer. He also owns a compelling redemption arc. He has traded his humanity to become a killer robot. Cyrax is not available in MK 4. But he is available in MK Gold. He is a playable character in the tournament edition, not available in the Deadly alliance.Triborg, in MK X, is a variation known as “Cyrax (LK-4D4)”.
9. Johnny Cage
If you expect a douche from Hollywood, Then you will love the character of Johnny Cage. He is quite a decent father and a husband. He can split into a groin punch maneuver and the fatalities of this character make him superior to the others. This character is goofy, entertaining, and also has a serious tone. He has transformed into a very cool dad. In the beginning, he used to grapple to maintain his career and reputation. As he entered the tournament, his main purpose was to showcase his fighter skills and prove himself as a proficient fighter. As the game proceeds, he becomes one of the most prominent defenders to ever exist in the Earth realm. Even though he is materialistic, egoistic, and sometimes becomes immature, Cage is a very courageous person and a loyal warrior. MK fans love this character as he is comic relief. Johnny gets matured as he enters Mortal Kombat X. He is not as arrogant as he is was earlier. In deadly alliance, Johnny is a combination of his initial and last appearance.
10. Lui Kang
He is often referred to as the doppelganger of Bruce Lee. Lui Kang has the knowledge to throw a mean fireball and crush his enemy’s chests with some dangerous kicks. He is also known as the John Cena of MK and has been a winner of tournaments again and again. He is one of the few characters that were launched in the first Mortal Kombat game (Arcade version). He is the main conqueror of Mortal Kombat, MK II, MK 3, MK4, MK (2011) (one of the many protagonists), MK 11, the live-action films, and the original comic book series. Lui Kang was the master of Mortal Kombat tournaments for about four consecutive times, a title that remained undoubted in the original timeline. He was not present in either the Sega Master System or the Game Gear version. Mortal Kombat 3 (Game Boy version) also did not feature Liu Kang.Liu Kang was a complete playable in the MK: Unchained. It is specifically for MK: Deception.
11. Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn is famous for his overly-large hammer. It was launched in the MK II as a hammer-wielding character who always amused and made the players angry at the same time. He has an amazing warlord getup, effortless and logical way to fight, and catchy phrases. He was the final boss in MKII and had the same role in MK 3. He was also relaunched as the final boss in MK (2011), but he was the main villain in the game’s Story Mode.
12. Ermac
Ermac is a body combining all the tortured souls of the people who died in the Outworld, during battles. The cursed magic proved to be a charm as Ermac was born out of it as the most dangerous combatant. He uses telekinesis that allows him to access various moves which will make him pop off the screen. Ermac was only a red ninja earlier but now he has become quite a favorite character. He easily defeats his opponents. Mortal Kombat fans embrace the presence of this character. He was not lockable in the arcade version of the UMK, and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 (Sega Saturn Version).He was completely and utterly playable in every other version of the Mortal Kombat series.
13. Mileena
Mileena is a lab-made girl and is known as the sibling of Kitana. But because of her connections with Shao Kahn downgraded her role of a baddie. She is an oppressive combatant and has a huge fanbase. In the latest trilogy of the MK series, she is displayed as a girl who is unstable but weirdly seductive. Mileena was not available in the original MK3. If you are using the Java mobile version of an iOS mobile version you can easily access her as a playable character. Mileena has to be unlocked in the UMK arcade version and MK trilogy.She is not available in the MK 4 but is there in its update.
14. Sub-Zero
Sub-Zero is one of the most known ninjas in the history of Mortal Kombat. He has been decorated in many amazing costumes and has even more bone-chilling killer moves that are Fatalities. Some may say that Sub-Zero is similar to 1B to Scorpion’s 1A. The original character was revealed lastly to be Noob Saibot. He was the younger sibling.The unmasked Sub-Zero is not given in the Nintendo 64 of Mk series. It is a combination of original Sub-Zero.Sub-Zero was not available in the tournament edition of MK. He was to be unlocked in the advanced version of the deadly alliance.
15. Scorpion
He is a co-creator of the main man – Ed Boon and also is his favorite fighter. He is that character of the Mortal Kombat series, which outshines everyone. He has been restored in a human form and the truth about his demise and now reappears in every edition of Mortal Kombat.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Is Scorpion a good guy?
Scorpion is not the villain of the story, rather he is a good guy. He had battled against Sub-Zero in his time. As we all know, the game’s time is the modern era but it starts out 4 centuries back, 17the century. Around the same time, Sub-Zero and his murderers also fought against the Shirayi Ryu Clan. The former is a part of the Lin Kuei Clan and Scorpion is a part of the latter.
2) Who is the most famous Mortal Kombat Character?
There are many characters who are favored by the players. Among them some of these are quite popular:
- Kotal Kahn
- Onaga
- Raiden
- Shao Kahn
- Quan Chi
- Shinnok
- Kronika
- Shang Tsung
- Liu Kang
- The One
3) Who were the original 7 characters in the Mortal Kombat?
- Johnny Cage.
- Kano.
- Liu Kang.
- Raiden.
- Scorpion.
- Sonya Blade.
- Sub-Zero.
4) Is Sub-Zero and Scorpion brothers?
No, these two are not brothers. It can be said that Sub-Zero has two versions. Scorpion murdered one Sub-Zero and to follow one of the codes of the ninja, he had to promise that he would protect the remaining Sub-Zero instead of killing him.
5) Who is the strongest character in the Mortal Kombat series?
Raiden is often regarded as one of the most powerful characters of the Mortal Kombat series. He is also the leader (spiritual) of the fighters from the Earthrealm – Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and some others. Noob Saibot, Ermac, Sindel, Shang Tsung are also some of the strongest characters of the game.
6) Is Sub-Zero evil?
Sub-Zero is the main antagonist of the MK movie. He is also known as Bi-Han. He is also said to be the cause and even responsible for the massacre of the Shirai Ryu. He murdered Hanzo Hasashi. He also thrashed Jackson Briggs and mutilated him by crushing and tearing apart his arms.