Despite the fact that the Mortal Kombat franchise has been around for almost 28 years, it continues to outperform its competitors when it comes to fighting games. But what was it about the series that made it so popular? For starters, it’s not just about the gore and deaths. It’s easy to assume that excessive violence is what draws people in, but there’s a lot more to the storey and characters than that.
Because of the rich lore, people become captivated in this game. The cast is well-defined, and the in-depth character analysis adds to the game’s excitement. Mortal Kombat is set in a fictional universe ruled by the Elder Gods, who govern six regions. This video will offer you a full analysis of some of the series’ most renowned antagonists. So buckle up because this is going to be a long and enjoyable voyage with nearly every notable foe.
Quan Chi
Quan Chi is a devious sorcerer and one of the most infamous members of the eternally tormented Netherrealm. This demon is a master of dark magic and necromancy, as well as a feared foe in both the Outworld and the Earthrealm.
We’ve seen him as an ally of Shinnok, the Fallen Elder God, as well as one of the series’ key adversaries. Quan Chi is a ruthless plotter who is continuously plotting to take over the Earthrealm and all of reality. He is well-known for using vulnerable people to further his own goal.
This tall and well-built demon has completely white skin. He is a mage of the highest order, and only the likes of Shao Kahn, Shang TsungShang Tsung, Delia, and Shinnok can match up to his skills. While he is quite capable in regular combat as well, his magical powers surpass his fighting skills.
His ability to reanimate the dead and include them in his service also adds to his repertoire. Quan Chi can summon portals at will, and is capable of traveling through the realms with these gateways.
This shape-shifting demon is a soul stealer as well, just like Shang Tsung, and his fighting style involves moves that can easily trick the enemy into their own demise. He is often seen getting his hands on powerful artifacts like the Shinnok’s Amulet undead army, and the immortal skull on his armor.
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero was Quan Chi’s first video game appearance, and Mortal Kombat 4 was his first playable appearance. He also appears as a secondary villain in Mortal Kombat X. Quan Chi aspired to rule alongside Shinnok, thus he plotted to maintain Shinnok’s original amulet by duping both Sub-Zero and Shinnok. He made some powerful adversaries, like as Scorpion and Sub-Zero, despite his deceitful nature.
Shao Kahn
He is a legendary enemy in the series and one of the most well-known antagonists in the whole video game genre. In several of the Mortal Kombat games, he serves as the main antagonist. He initially appeared in Mortal Kombat II as the game’s final boss. This trend persisted in Mortal Kombat 3 and subsequent games.
In Mortal Kombat 2011, he reappeared as the primary villain in the storey mode, however he was no longer playable. He is the Emperor of the Outworld and possesses enormous God-like powers, making him one of the series’ most powerful characters, in some respects more powerful than God.
You would recognize Shao Kahn at a single glance because he towers over his opponents. He has a warlord helmet, and his demonic face looks horrifying with his trademark red eyes. He is an expert spellcaster, and his powers are a deadly combination of superhuman strength, magic, and durability.
Shao Kahn looks like a large Asian warrior, and his ferocity in battles makes him a feared opponent. He is a great leader, but his arrogance and overconfidence sometimes weigh him down. Just like Shang Tsung, he too can absorb the souls of others and increase his power. His abilities are so supreme that he has the potential to steal billions of souls from a realm with a mere hand motion, without even stepping foot there.
He even retains the knowledge of the people whose souls he steals, and thus, he keeps getting wiser. His incredible psychic powers also mean that he can enslave thousands and control them.
Shang Tsung
He’s the host of the annual Mortal Kombat tournament, and this soul-stealing sorcerer is one among the series’ best antagonists. Shang Tsung was the main antagonist in the first Mortal Kombat game, and he is well known for being the unbeatable final boss.
He was only playable in Mortal Kombat II, where he also served as a secondary antagonist. To stay alive, this infamous shape-shifting sorcerer must swallow souls, and he is as crafty as a trickster can be.
He is famously known for being the arch-rival ofLiu Kang, but he also has some other powerful enemies like Kenshi and Kung Lao. His allegiance to Shao Kahn was constant, and he could move through the realms completely undetected by the Elder Gods.
We have seen him in various appearances starting from that of an old man with pale skin. It was from Mortal Kombat II that he retained his youthful state with long black hair. Some of the Mortal Kombat lore states that he was originally from Earth, while others claim that he had bound his soul to Shao Kahn, and thus, his victories counted as wins for Outworld.
The 2011 Mortal Kombat game clarifies that he indeed hailed from Earth, but he willingly bound his soul to Shao Kahn to enjoy the extensive powers. He was extremely strong, but the Gods cursed him, making him age quickly unless he absorbed the souls of others. When he took the soul of a person, he also took their knowledge and fighting skills with him. He could even take on the appearance of that persona and sneak up on his foes.
Shang Tsung is most closely identified with the element fire, and his fighting techniques reflect this. Many don’t know that he was inspired by Lo Pan from the movie Big Trouble in Little China, and the makers had initially planned to name him Shang Lao.
Blaze
This elemental deity began as a cameo and quickly rose to become the series’ major nemesis. The Armageddon prophecy foretold that the warriors would finally become far too powerful, shattering the universe.
Blaze was designed by Delia to put the combatants’ strength to the test. However, using wizardry, a group of holy men loyal to the long-dead Dragon King Onaga kidnapped Blaze and entrusted him with guarding the last Great Dragon egg. Blaze is only seen as a burning figure in the background in Mortal Kombat II, however he is a secret playable in Mortal Kombat.
Later, Blaze figured that the fighters had indeed become too powerful. He planned to gather all the fighters for a final battle where the fate of the realms would be determined. In Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, we saw Blaze transporting Taven and Daegon to Edenia, where they would fight each other.
When Taven emerged victorious, Blaze informed him that the future depended on the remaining brother, and he had to defeat him in Mortal Kombat. Thus began the Battle of Armageddon, and Blaze used the Pyramid of Argus to brainwash every fighter to kill each other. However, ultimately it was Shao Kahn who defeated Blaze and usurped all his powers.
Blaze had an odd appearance, resembling a humanoid being made from flames or lava. He was scary, and his wristband allowed him to control the flames. His sole goal throughout the series was to bring about the Battle of Armageddon, which he only partially accomplished in the end.
Shinnok
Shinnok is a fallen Elder God that appears in the popular fighting game series as one of the main protagonists. He is the God of Death, and all he wants is to spread havoc over all realms with death and destruction.
He first appeared as the main antagonist in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, and then as a playable character in Mortal Kombat 4. Many fans dispute if Shinnok is the series’ most villainous character.
This vengeful Elder God loves to create panic by fear-mongering and thrives on violence. His dark powers and incredible strength make him a powerful opponent, and he is the ruler of the Netherrealm. His abilities are centered around darkness, and his immeasurable might makes him invincible.
Shinnok has a rather creepy appearance with his slender frame and pale, decaying skin to signify his corrupted nature. This shape-shifting God of Death can take the form of anyone he wants, and he has reigned for millions of years, acquiring more power and knowledge along the way.
He is extremely manipulative, and we saw the best of his cunning moves when he made Quan Chi convince Shao Kahn to merge the Outworld with the Earthrealm. This ensured that both the realms would be vulnerable to attack by the Netherrealm, and it provided him with the ideal opportunity.
Shinnok is hell-bent on winning the loyalty of his followers and will annihilate anybody who stands in his way. The fact that he cannot be killed and can only be imprisoned within his amulet is his strongest flex. His roots were revealed in Mortal Kombat 11’s story mode, when we found that he was the son of Kronika, a titan who was the first timekeeper.
Cetrion, an Elder God, was his sister, and Kronika wanted them to be engaged in a duel forever so that there would be a balance of light and dark. The plans of Kronika were thwarted by Raiden when he beheaded Shinnok and incapacitated him permanently. Then, an enraged Kronika tried to reset time to ensure that Cetrion and Shinnok dueled forever without the existence of Raiden to stop them.
Havik
Havik is unlike many of the other characters on this list in that he is neither nice nor bad. He’s merely an anarchist who enjoys watching the realms fall apart. He is a Chaos Cleric who hails from Chaosrealm.
We witness Havik develop alliances with those who can aid his cause throughout the story. He doesn’t appear to care about his allies’ ambitions, and this troublemaker is just interested in his own schemes. Because of his cooperation with another revolutionary named Darrius, Havik is more of a hero in Chaosrealm.
Together, they oppose the Dragon King,Onaga, and they seek absolute lawlessness. Havik plays a crucial role as he leads the others to Onaga’s throne room to have him defeated. He even resurrected Shao Kahn to ensure that his rule is chaotic.
He has plenty of powers, but the one that amazes us the most is his warped body. He does not experience pain, and he can even reenergize himself by dislocating his limbs. From his self-mutilating abilities, many fans suggest that he is undead, but this has never been clarified.
What can be a grave injury for others is merely a scratch for him, and his style of fighting is possibly the most unique among the lot. His combat moves involve a perfect mix of disorder and savagery that can destroy his opponents.
Havik is also a brilliant sorcerer with the ability to control his victims even if they are in another realm. His healing abilities are truly amazing, and he can easily recover from devastating strikes like a broken neck or a severed limb. We’ve even seen him withstand Scorpion’s hellfire-coated fists, proving that he’s one of the most difficult to subdue.
He first made a brief appearance in Mortal Kombat: Deception, and is one of the primary villains in the Mortal Kombat X comic series.
Onaga
The One Being is the progenitor of the Onaga first appears in Mortal Kombat: Deception before reappearing in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon as a selectable character.
Onaga was first seen in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, where he was introduced as the long-dead Dragon King who ruled the Outworld prior to Shao Kahn. He possessed an unstoppable army, but it was mummified and buried in an ancient tomb following his untimely death.
Nobody knew where the tomb was until Quan Chi discovered it. It is safe to say that Onaga is one of the most powerful characters in the series. The mighty Shao Kahn chose to poison him rather than fight him, and this should be enough of a hint about his powers. He once possessed the Kamidogu, the mystic relics by the Elder Gods that contained the essence of the realms.
This made him invincible with extreme sorcery skills, and it took the combined effort from Shang Tsung, Raiden, and Quan Chi to fight him. His dragon nature enabled him to exhale fire, and he also possessed great regenerative powers. He was seen cleverly utilizing the powers of Blaze to his advantage against other fighters.
Shao Kahn was his greatest foe because he had murdered him, and now that he has been resurrected, he is determined to reclaim the throne that was taken from him. This ruthless ruler sought to take over everything, and he created some of the most memorable scenes in the series’ history.
Goro
If you’ve ever played Mortal Kombat, you’ll recall the unplayable character that challenges the player before the final battle with Shang Tsung! Goro, a Shokan member, is shown here. race, a four-armed species of half-dragon, half-human animals. As you can see, he has a strange appearance, and he’s a brutal beast with a lot of strength. He is the Shokan’s Prince and appears regularly during the campaign. He is Shang Tsung’s buddy and aids Emperor Shao Kahn in his battle.
Goro is an original character that was first witnessed in the Mortal Kombat game as a side-villain. We saw him as the reigning champion who had been winning for nine generations over 500 years.
Now, someone who won the Mortal Kombat tournament nine consecutive times needs no introduction regarding his powers. He is surprisingly agile and uses his superhuman strength to a good effect. Goro is associated with the element of fire and even hurls fireballs from his mouth and hands.
He has the honor of defeating the mighty Kung Lao, and even Shang Tsung couldn’t do that in his prime. Goro was an important weapon for the Outworld armies and helped in curbing rebellions and conquering new realms.
He helped Shao Kahn come close to dominating Earthrealm, but he eventually lost during the fight against Liu Kang. He still remains one of the most favorite warriors of the emperor and fans.
Reiko
Fans of Mortal Kombat will remember Reiko for his relentless savagery, which was evident throughout his fights. This Outworld character aspired to be the ruler of the land, and there are some parallels between him and Shao Kahn. In Mortal Kombat 4, we first met Reiko as a traditional ninja archetype.
His inclusion in the game, on the other hand, was just coincidental. It was going to be NoobSaibot, but he blended in too well with the background in some of the stages. As a result, the developers brought in Reiko, who wore a similar attire to Saibot.
This grim and stoic-looking man was well-built and had a rather intimidating appearance with his glowing blue eyes. His somewhat grizzled appearance matched the ferocity with which he fought, and he was dressed in standard ninja outfits. He has an affiliation with Sareena and Kia from Netherrealm, and Mortal Kombat 4 elaborated on this.
Reiko is a skilled fighter and was so powerful that he could easily wield the Crude Hammer. His tactical mind always comes up with the best strategies to engage his enemies, and he is a master of exploiting the weakness of his opponents. Mileena murdered him, but the Blood Code regenerated him.
In Mortal Kombat 4, there was some confusion as to whether he was Shao Kahn or his successor, although it was later shown that he was not. He became Shao Kahn’s general once the latter recognised his ruthlessness. His infatuation with the throne was clear, and he would sometimes sneak into the throne room merely to sit on the throne.
Noob Saibot
We originally saw NoobSaibot as an unplayable character in Mortal Kombat II, and he made his playable debut in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. He was originally known as Bi-Han, the older Sub-Zero, and worked for the Lin Kuei group as an assassin. He was a ruthless, cold-blooded assassin who became corrupted after years of brutality.
At the end of the first Mortal Kombat tournament, he was killed by Scorpion, but Quan Chi resurrected him. He was resurrected as NoobSaibot and has been a recurring character in the series ever since. He is usually seen siding with the baddies for his own advantage, and in many instances, he is seen as an antagonist towards his younger brother and Scorpion.
He was reborn in Netherrealm and is considered the incarnation of all things evil. In his previous state, he had insane control over ice and could use it to freeze his opponents just like Sub-Zero. It was only in Mortal Kombat Trilogy that we came to know about his powers as NoobSaibot.
He seemed to have mastered darkness, and could bring about a clone to help him in combats. He supposedly has a degree of immortality, and his unique fighting moves make him a formidable enemy and intriguing character among the many others in the series.
Sindel
Sindel may be a minor character in the franchise, but her presence has had a significant impact on the plot. In Mortal Kombat 3, she was first seen as Princess Kitana’s mother, and then as the Queen of Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat 11. She, together with her daughter, is the monarch of Edenia, an otherworldly realm.
Shao Kahn invaded her realm after she lost the Mortal Kombat tournament eleven times in a row. Her spouse was assassinated, and the two realms were forcibly joined. Shao Kahn, on the other hand, adopted Princess Kitana and reared her as his own kid.
Disturbed by the turn of events, Queen Sindel committed suicide, but in Mortal Kombat 3, she is revived by Shao Kahn with a little help from Shang Tsung.
She had no memory of her past life and was no more than a puppet bride for Shao Kahn. However, her daughter ensured that she learned about her true past, and after Shao Kahn was defeated, Sindel had her rightful place back in Edenia.
She did have a menacing look but wasn’t all that bad in terms of the way she ruled. Her expertise over aerial magic and her ability to manipulate sonic waves were some of her trademark powers. Her super-loud screaming could blast off an opponent’s skin during battles.
However, there is a backstory in Mortal Kombat 11 that reveals Sindel was always evil. Regardless of whose side you support, she was an intriguing character with a few twists, and we appreciated having her in the series.
Reptile
Reptile was a devoted servant to Outworld Emperors such as Shao Kahn, as well as his master Shang Tsung. This scaly character first appeared as a secret character in the original Mortal Kombat arcade game, and he wasn’t selectable until Mortal Kombat II.
The miserable underling was personified by this horrible humanoid reptile beast. His allegiance, on the other hand, was unique since, unlike many other henchmen for powerful lords, he did not seek power. Reptile was not born wicked; he is only suffering from a distorted state of mind.
His species had been driven to extinction, and he seemed to be obsessed with his mission of looking for the last remaining member. His home-world of Zaterra was under the clutches of the Outworld, and he secretly wanted to return it to its former glory.
This is what made him so loyal to Shao Kahn because obeying his master is the key to survival. He would have sudden fits of insanity because of his obsession, and he was somewhat of a fusion between the original Scorpion and Sub-Zero characters.
His skills were initially comparable to Sub- Zero’s, but in Mortal Kombat II, he gained his own. One of his most powerful weapons was his corrosive saliva, which could burn through steel like acid. Reptile had the ability to make himself invisible, making his stealth strikes highly hazardous.
Kronika
Kronika has the appearance of a human woman, but she is a God-like creature. She’s a Titaness, a higher-ranking entity than an Elder God. She is the Keeper of Time, and as such, she has the power to influence fate.
Raiden perceived Shinnok as a significant threat to the Earthrealm, and she is Shinnok’s mother. As a result, she attempted to modify the timeline in order to protect her son. Raiden, on the other hand, claims to have done this many times previously in order to find the ideal world.
In Mortal Kombat 11, we witnessed this magnificent god-like being as a non-playable boss. The story mode showed her as the main villain, and her back-story offered some important explanation for some of the events that took place.
She did have a striking appearance with her piercing blue eyes and scalp covered in gold. Her powers need no introduction because she can manipulate time, and she is evidently the dictator of events unfolding. She can stop the chrono flow and summon individuals across the entire timeline to bring them to the present.
She also had the ability to use sand as a lethal weapon. However, she is not exactly omnipotent, and even to manipulate time, she needs some external energy source. Liu Kang and Raiden were her feared opponents, and she tried to warp reality several times to make them fight each other.
Tanya
Despite her little role in the series, Tanya has become one of the most loathed characters. Fans will remember her as the deceitful Edenian who betrayed those to whom she was meant to be faithful. We’ve seen her team up with a major villain on numerous occasions to aid them in their evil schemes.
Mileena has had her as a long-time buddy, and she even assisted Shinnok in his invasion. Tanya debuted as a traditional female ninja in Mortal Kombat 4. We were already aware of the character’s actual corrupt persona when she reappeared in Mortal Kombat Deception.
Initially, this slender, gloomy lady from Edenia was introduced as an innocent character. Her father was an Ambassador of Edenia, and she was supposedly loyal to the rulers of her realm. Before long, her true colors were revealed, and we learned about her loyalties to the evil Shinnok and her alliance with the Brotherhood of Shadow.
She served Shao Kahn and Onaga after Shao Kahn was vanquished. Whatever you may think of Tanya, she was a survivor who knew how to make the best of a bad situation. Her decisions were done only for her own profit.
She was a tough combatant who was highly agile, in addition to taking the easy route. Her brilliant mind devised clever methods and could turn invisible to deceive the opponent. Her tremendous kicks and incredible combat maneuvers knocked down even the toughest foes, and she even possessed pyrokinetic abilities.
Baraka
He was an Outworld figure that served as a commander for the Tarkatan Horde, but was loyal to half-TarkatanMileena. This vicious and unpredictable warrior initially appeared in Mortal Kombat II, and he was the series’ first playable Tarkatan. Since then, Baraka has been a recurring and pivotal figure in the plot.
He was initially shown to be a frightening warrior who hailed from a race of nomadic mutants called Tarkata -this race was thought to be a cross between the demons of Netherrealm and Outworlders. Many others believe that the Tarkatans were a separate race, and their realm was conquered by Shao Kahn a long time ago.
Baraka is easily among the most vicious fighters in Mortal Kombat, because like the other members of his species,he has cannibalistic tendencies. He fought with long, retractable blades that extended from his forearms, and he had some impressive techniques.
He had a healing factor that allowed him to survive serious fatalities in addition to his keen blades. He was just interested in the well-being of his people and did not necessarily despise those who lived in other realms. The terrifying look of Baraka was inspired by a Nosferatu mask that the designers found in a costume shop.
Kano
How can you forget the Black Dragon clan’s infamous leader? Sonya Blade and the Special Forces pursuing him had an archenemy in this merciless villain. Kano is an original character that first appeared in the first Mortal Kombat game and has since had recurring appearances in the franchise.
This cunning mercenary was the commander of a worldwide crime gang, and he was incredibly opportunistic and selfish. He was a member of the Earthrealm, yet he was willing to abandon his own world for selfish gain.
Shao Kahn utilized his shrewd nature and made him a part of his inner circle. He soon rose in ranks to become a general in the Outworld army. He was quite a villainous character with his vulgar sense of humor that made fun of things even in the worst of times.
His unpleasant personality was highlighted by his fighting style, which was dirty and ruthless. It was not just about the sheer violence that he unleashed but about the manner in which he did so. He was skilled in martial arts and was formidable in hand-to-hand fights.
His lack of discipline, on the other hand, made him extremely unpredictable. He didn’t have any exceptional abilities, but his use of lethal weaponry was sufficient. His sheer lack of morals makes him one of the most despised characters in the series, and Sonya Blade is hellbent on bringing him to justice.
Kintaro
Do you recall how Liu Kang defeated Goro in Mortal Kombat? Kintaro took his place and was a one-of-a-kind member of his species. The tiger stripes all over his body, as well as his catlike feet, gave him a feline appearance. He even possessed razor-sharp claws and fangs.
Kintaro belonged to a lower class of Tigrar, but Goro belonged to an upper class. Despite this, his menacing presence has a big influence. He first appears in Mortal Kombat II, and he was made playable in Mortal Kombat Trilogy.
Initially, the developers thought of making Kintaro an almighty anthropomorphic tiger with arms. However, their problems with the detailed costume made them change their mind, and they instead turned him into the four-armed boss on the same lines as Goro. With every appearance, a more feline tiger-like look was added to his character.
Gamers remember him as one of the series’ toughest bosses, and we’ll never forget how he’d grab his opponent in mid-air and fling him to the ground. His brute strength was unrivalled, and he came from a species known for its ferocity.
It’s no surprise that his attacks were gruesome and ruthless, and that he was faster than Goro. He was unlike any of Mortal Kombat’s other fighters, and defeating him proved to be a difficult task.