The Top Ten Mortal Kombat Characters

The Top Ten Mortal Kombat Characters
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Scorpion

As one of Shirai Ryu clan’s finest ninja assassins, Scorpion’s iconic attack styles and fatalities have earned him a special place in the MK universe. The palette-swap ninja is known for his infamous “Get over Here” move, which allows him to unleash a grappling hook and pull an opponent nearer for an up close and personal encounter. In every game the masked warrior appears meaner and more lethal, ready to unleash his spears and hellfire punches. His fiery attitude and out-of-the-box combat abilities make him deadlier than other ninjas in the Mortal Kombat universe.

Liu Kang

One of the most powerful Earthrealm characters and the titular hero of the Mortal Kombat series, Liu Kang appears in the first MK game. The Bruce Lee-inspired character is known for his gravity-defying signature moves like the Bicycle Kick and the Flying Dragon Kick. The way he yells while performing the Bicycle Kick stunt in MK III reminds me of Bruce Lee’s loud shrieks.

Like Kung Lao, Kang is pacifist and is a member of the White Lotus society. Both are acrobatic, agile and are adept in martial arts. Liu Kang is one of the supreme Earthrealm warriors and has a good list of fatalities, which are far more gruesome than the ones seen in the first game.

Sub-Zero

A member of the fictional Lin Kuei faction, Sub-Zero is known for his icy-cold moves and gory fatalities. His notorious spine-rip fatality was the reason behind the proposal to set-up a separate body (ESRB) that monitors violence and sexual conduct in games. Outraged parents and organizations might have despised his moves, but for die-hard Sub-Zero fans, his fatalities and signature moves are deadly, stylish and very effective against most of his opponents. One of his most popular attack styles is the ice clone, not to mention the ice blast he unleashes to freeze his opponents.

Mileena

Mileena is one of sexiest female Mortal Kombat characters to date, second only to the gorgeous Kitana. Her ultra-revealing costumes make her look more voluptuous and sexy than her benevolent clone. But all that glitters is not gold. Mileena’s monstrous visage hidden behind a veil is gross and will remind you of characters like Baraka. The Tarkatan DNA in her blood is the reason for her unusually large jaw rimmed with razor-sharp teeth. One of her fatalities allows her to remove the veil, showing her grotesque face. She then sucks her opponent in and spits out a pile of bones onto the ground. She was the first evil female MK character and soon became one of the most favorite characters because of her fighting styles, fatalities and her seductive outfit.

Noob Saibot

Noob Saibot has a history as dark and intriguing as his name. MK lore tells us that Noob was none other than evil Cryomancer Bi-Han, who was killed by Scorpion in Mortal Kombat I and revived from the dead by Quan Chi. The transformation from an ice-wielding ninja to a dark mysterious entity made Noob deadlier than ever before. Some of his infamous signature moves like the Ghostball (aka Disabler), shadow charge and black hole are proof of his alliance with the dark forces.

Kung Lao

At first glance, this Asian fighter may be mistaken for being Liu Kang’s twin, but wait until you see him slicing off his opponent to pieces with his Odd-Job styled hat, and I am sure you will stop believing that pacifists are non-violent in nature. As a member of the White Lotus Society, Kung Lao is known for his live-and-let-live ideology, but will not hesitate to slice off the heads of those who attack him. Like Liu Kang, Kung Lao is agile, strong and can pull off some amazing martial arts stunt. His Body Slice Fatality is one of the most gruesome fatalities seen in one of the trailers of the latest Mortal Kombat game. Not all pacifists are the same, and Kung Lao is the best example of a ‘violent pacifist’.

Sindel

Sindel is known for her stately attitude and has a witch-like appearance. The Queen of Edenia symbolizes ethereal nature and her aerial magic can be quite devastating if used in the right way. One of her most popular signature moves is the Banshee Scream, which allows her to scream at a high pitch, stunning her opponent. With this move successfully executed, she stands a great chance of getting a free hit. At a much higher pitch (Banshee Screech), she can turn her opponent into a skeleton. Her regal attitude and gothic features have fooled many into thinking she is evil, but the truth is that she is benevolent in nature and had to unwillingly join the forces of evil in the alternate timeline.

Raiden

God of Thunder Raiden has an electrifying personality. Notable for his weird straw hat and the gibberish phrases he utters while performing special moves, the granddaddy of the MK universe is tasked to protect the Earthrealm from Shao Kahn’s forces. Taking advantage of the lightning element, Raiden unleashes Torpedos, Shockers and Vicinity Blasts to give a nasty shock to his opponents. His Electrocution fatalities are the goriest, often turning his opponents into charred skeletons. His control over thunder and lightning and his amazing abilities makes him one of the most powerful Mortal Kombat characters to date.

Shang Tsung

One of the most hated Mortal Kombat characters, Shang Tsung is known for his ruthless brutalities. The evil sorcerer can assume the shape of any character in the game, thanks to his soul-snatching abilities. He is cunning, snatches souls and makes a bed of thorns for his most beloved opponents. He uses Black magic to pull off some never-before-seen fatalities and is one of the most powerful characters in the MK universe.

Goro

Goro’s massive physique and four huge arms can easily discourage any opponent from unleashing his signature moves. For me, the perfect match for Goro’s monstrosity is Motaro. MK mythos tells us that Centaurians hated the Shokans so one can expect an epic brawl between these two massive fighters.

The four-armed Shokan warrior debuted in the first Mortal Kombat and later appeared in other MK games as a sub-boss. The latest Mortal Kombat 9 also has Goro as a sub-boss. As a player, it is tough to defeat this four-armed behemoth. He takes advantage of his agility and brute force to turn his opponents into pulp. Some of his brutal signature moves like Chest Pounds and Tremor Pounds are potent enough to reduce a good portion of his opponent’s health meter.

References

  • All Images/Screenshots Courtesy of Midway

This post is part of the series: Mortal Kombat Characters

Get the lowdown on your favorite Mortal Kombat characters. Uncover their motivations for participating in the tournament. Know what to expect from their unique fighting abilities. Witness how powerful they’ve become as they develop throughout the series. Get all the gory details here!

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