Thanks to a roster of MK1 fighters, we get to listen to that ominous voice in the sky shout ‘finish him’ once more, but who are the Mortal Kombat 1 characters? The upcoming game serves as a bit of a reboot for the series as we get to experience a brand new story, one that features some fan-favourite fighters as well as new MK1 characters.
Of course, there are a lot of Mortal Kombat characters out there (some of which are courtesy of the Mortal Kombat 1 kombat pack) but should you want to learn even more about them, we have a range of guides, such as our Mortal Kombat Sonya article, in which we dive into her appearances, personality, and fatalities. Speaking of which, if you want to know what we consider to be the most gruesome Mortal Kombat fatalities and Mortal Kombat 1 fatalities, check out our article.
Anyway, onto who the Mortal Kombat 1 characters are.
Who are the Mortal Kombat 1 characters?
The confirmed Mortal Kombat 1 characters are:
- Mortal Kombat’s Mileena
- Mortal Kombat’s Scorpion
- Mortal Kombat’s Sub-Zero
- Kung Lao
- Liu Kang
- Johnny Cage
- Kitana
- Raiden
- Shang Tsung
- Kenshi
- Kano
- Sonya Blade
- Smoke
- Rain
- Homelander (The Boys)
- Baraka
- Tanya
- Li Mei
- Geras
Of course, more and more fighters are bound to rise up as we inch closer to the Mortal Kombat 1 release date.
Mortal Kombat 1 Mileena
For those that don’t know, Mortal Kombat’s Mileena is a vicious individual that enjoys inflicting pain upon her victims. She’s the clone of Kitana, though she has Tarkatan blood which is to blame for what we assume to be a rather large dentist bill. It’s unclear what role she plays in the story of Mortal Kombat 1, but we suspect it’s not good.
Mortal Kombat 1 Scorpion
Yes, of course, Scorpion has to be in every Mortal Kombat game. He’s practically synonymous with the franchise at this point. However, one thing that strikes us as interesting in the trailer is that the fan-favorite appears as his human self, Hanzo Hasashi, as opposed to the undead Ninja (revenant) he normally appears as. While Hanzo is present in MK11, MK1 serves as a reboot, so it’s interesting to see that NetherRealm might continue with this iteration of Scorpion. Should this be the case, the chances are he’s to be one of the good guys.
Then again, even in life, Scorpion and Sub-Zero are sworn enemies, so who really knows how it’s all going to play out.
Mortal Kombat 1 Kitana
Kitana has an interesting history. She’s Sindel’s daughter and Shao Khan’s step-daughter, making her a princess. Though she’s loyal to her father figure for most of her life, Kitana is a good person at heart, which leads her to question the morals of her actions under the command of Outworld’s ruler Shao Khan (he’s also responsible for the misfortune of her home realm of Edenia). As such, she eventually turns on him and teams with the Earthrealmers – we can’t wait to see what awaits her in Mortal Kombat 1’s story.
Mortal Kombat 1 Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage is yet another long-standing character from the Mortal Kombat franchise, and while we have no idea how he fits into Mortal Kombat 1, it’s likely to do with protecting Earthrealm. I love Cassie Cage, the daughter of Sonya and Johnny, so the fact that this reboot may not include her is a bit of blow. Still, Johnny’s inclusion gives hope that Sonya Blade may pop up, especially since they have a long history, no matter what timeline and story we’re in.
Mortal Kombat 1’s Sub-Zero
Honestly, anytime a new Mortal Kombat game comes out, I can’t help but wonder if the original Sub-Zero might make a return, especially if Noob Saibot is absent. But I think it’s fair to assume that MK1’s Sub-Zero is Kuai Liang, who happens to be much nicer than his older brother Bi-Han. In fact, as Sub-Zero, he ends his long-standing rivalry with Scorpion. The pair even work together in MK11.
From the trailer, it’s clear that while there may still be some animosity, the fact that Sub-Zero says “as enemies, or as brothers” as the pair look to the ominous burning circle in the sky says that they may work together to defeat evil once more.
Mortal Kombat 1 Raiden
Yes, the Thunder God is in Mortal Kombat 1. How could he not be, really? However, it’s interesting to note that in the trailer, it’s Liu Kang that comes to Raiden and Kung Lao as trouble is afoot, rather than Raiden being the one to summon the fighters of Earthrealm. Then again, Liu Kang is a god himself these days and an immensely powerful one at that. Still, Raiden is bound to be something of a leader in the war against Outworld. We just have to wait and see how important he is in Mortal Kombat 1.
Mortal Kombat 1 Liu Kang
Liu Kang is Earthrealm’s strongest fighter, and that’s even more true now that he’s a fire god. You see, he’s the reason we can jump into another universe with a new story, for he created it. Not that we can blame him. Things are in shambles come the end of MK11 and its DLC. From the trailer, it’s clear he’s ready to fight for peace among the realms – I think the guy needs to learn that you can only rebirth a universe so many times before understanding conflict between Outworld and the other realms is inevitable.
Still, I hope Liu Kang and Kitana get a nice reunion in Mortal Kombat 1. Perhaps the pair can even take a page out of Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage’s book one day.
Mortal Kombat 1 Kung Lao
Ah, Kung Lao, fellow Shaolin Monk and best friend of Liu Kang. It’s great to see him, and not just because he tends to have cool fatalities. From the trailer, it’s clear that he’s ready to fight to keep Earthrealm safe and aid Liu Kang in whatever he may need.
Mortal Kombat 1 Shang Tsung
One of the most famous bad guys from the entire franchise, Shang Tsung, is up for grabs if you pre-order the game, and why wouldn’t you? We have no doubt he’s set to cause all sorts of trouble in Mortal Kombat 1, and while it’s fun to kick his ass, you might want to use his cool powers for yourself. Honestly, if we have to guess, we’d say that he’s likely in cahoots with Mileena, given they’re both loyal to Shao Khan, and he created her.
Mortal Kombat 1 Kano
Ah, Kano. Mortal Kombat fans know this head of the Black Dragon all too well. Historically, Kano is the nemesis of Sonya Blade, something that withstands the test of time when MKX and MK11 roll around, as he also takes issue with her daughter, Cassie Cage. Kano is a brutal individual, is happy to kill anybody if the price is right, and is bound to have some impressive fatalities in Mortal Kombat 1. Only time will tell as to what his role in Liu Kang’s new universe is.
Mortal Kombat 1 Kenshi
Kenshi makes a triumphant return in Mortal Kombat 1, following his untimely demise in the MKX and MK11 timeline. You might also notice that the sword’s master doesn’t have a band over his eyes, for the young man can see in this new universe. How he plays into the story of MK1, we’re yet to know, but he quite clearly knows Raiden very well, even serving as somewhat of a rival if the latest trailer is anything to go by.
Mortal Kombat 1 Smoke
Ah, Smoke. For those unfamiliar with this ninja, he is also a member of the Lin Kuei clan, much like Sub-Zero. In Mortal Kombat 1, he joins the clan alongside both Sub-Zero and Scorpion, making the clan’s mission his own as he fights with them to defend Earthrealm.
Mortal Kombat 1 Rain
Rain is an incredibly powerful High Mage in Outworld, and in Mortal Kombat 1, it looks as though he’s ready to do what it takes to succeed in seeing his realms’ quest for domination come to fruition. He uses water magic, and as if he isn’t adept enough, in MK1, he attempts to learn the darkest and most powerful sorcery in the land.
Mortal Kombat 1 Baraka
It’s fair to say that Baraka is something of a fan-favorite that continues to be popular in the decades following his Mortal Kombat debut. Well, the Tarkatan returns once more in Mortal Kombat 1. As the most deadly monster to come from the Tarkat plague, he leads his fellow afflicted Outworlders into battle – we can’t wait to see how he plays a part in MK1’s story.
Mortal Kombat 1 Li Mei
Now here’s a blast from the past. Li Mei’s first MK appearance is in 2002’s Deadly Alliance. Though she appears in subsequent entries, she merely has a cameo in Mortal Kombat X and MK 2011, meaning Armageddon is her last meaningful appearance in a Mortal Kombat game. Well, it doesn’t appear to be a triumphant return, as she’s the disgraced former leader of the Umgadi, a faction of powerful warriors that protect Earthrealm’s royal family. Well, it appears as though the ruler died on her watch, and we can’t wait to see how this plays out in MK1.
Mortal Kombat 1 Tanya
Ah, Tanya. Another longstanding Mortal Kombat character, she serves as the leader of the Umgadi, presumably taking on the role after Li Mei fails to protect Outworld’s ruler. Like in previous entries, Tanya is a steadfast ally to Mileena, so we can’t wait to see what the two antagonists get up to in Mortal Kombat 1.
Mortal Kombat 1 Homelander
It’s no surprise to see Mortal Kombat 1 lend some characters from other fictional works, but we didn’t anticipate Homelander joining the roster. For those who don’t know, Homelander is the antagonist masquerading as a hero from the hit series The Boys, with a host of Superman-level powers in his wheelhouse. We can’t wait to see how he plays in Mortal Kombat. Oh, and make sure you get the kombat pack, as Homelander is only available to those that own it.
If you need something to keep you busy in the meantime, our list of the best Switch fighting games can help you to stay in tip-top shape. Lord knows you need to be to survive the infamous Mortal Kombat tournament. Oh, and we also have the answer to that all-important question – is Mortal Kombat 1 crossplay available?
