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.
Who are the Mortal Kombat 1 characters?
The Mortal Kombat 1 characters are:
Mileena
For those who don’t know, Mortal Kombat’s Mileena is a vicious individual who 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. In Mortal Kombat 1, however, things are a bit different for Mileena and Kitana are full siblings with Sindel serving as their mother. All three are close, and, in a surprise twist, Mileena is the older sibling, meaning she is to inherit Outworld’s throne from her mother.
Not to worry if it’s Mileena’s predatory nature you love, for she suffers from the Tarkat disease ravaging Outworld, and it’s this that turns her into the beastly killer we all know and love. Her story in MK1 is an interesting one, and it finally gives Mileena the hero’s welcome she deserves.
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, which is why this Scorpion is very different from the fighter you know from previous games.
Not to worry, Mortal Kombat’s Scorpion and Sub-Zero are still enemies as the events of the game play out, but it’s more of a family drama. Yes, these two iconic characters are now family, and, wait for it, Scorpion is Kuai Lang. Yes, Bi-Han’s younger brother, the one that would become Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat II onwards. Bet you didn’t expect that, did you?
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.
In Mortal Kombat 1, she isn’t Sindel’s only child, for Mileena is her full sibling. Not only that, but Mileena is the older sister, meaning Kitana isn’t set to inherit the throne in this timeline. Still, she’s an important character who aids her sister in her illness and does her best to protect Outworld.
Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage is yet another long-standing character from the Mortal Kombat franchise. I love Cassie Cage, the daughter of Sonya and Johnny, so the fact that this reboot doesn’t include her is a bit of a blow. Still, Johnny’s role in the story as one of the fighters of Earthrealm gives hope that Sonya Blade may pop up as a playable character in the next game, especially since they have a long history, no matter what timeline and story we’re in.
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.
In Mortal Kombat 1, Sub-Zero and Scorpion are brothers, but they walk different paths by the end of the game, for this version of Sub-Zero is Bi-Han, and we all know how power-hungry he is.
Raiden
Yes, the Thunder God is in Mortal Kombat 1. How could he not be, really? However, it’s Liu Kang who comes to Raiden and Kung Lao as trouble is afoot, rather than Raiden being the one to summon the fighters of Earthrealm. Liu Kang is a god himself these days and an immensely powerful one at that. However, though Raiden is just your average Joe now, he can still fight, serving as one of the champions of Earthrealm in MK1.
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. He did a good job of recreating the universe, but that simply couldn’t stop Quan Chi and Shang Tsung from rising to power, so he must assemble a team to put them back in their place in MK1.
Kung Lao
Ah, Kung Lao, fellow Shaolin Monk and best friend of Liu Kang. Except, that’s no longer the case in MK1. Instead, it’s Raiden that he’s best friends with as the pair grow up together. Still, Liu Kang eventually comes calling, making Kung Lao a defender of Earthrealm. Yes, he still makes great use of his legendary hat, but he’s a bit more cocky in this world, seemingly thinking he’s better than Raiden. Boy, he’s in for a bit of a shock, eh?
Shang Tsung
One of the most famous bad guys from the entire franchise, Shang Tsung, is present in MK1. As ever, he causes all sorts of problems in Mortal Kombat 1, teaming with Quan Chi to bring about chaos and carnage, though that’s not to say that he doesn’t have his uses, as Princess Mileena and Princess Kitana can attest to.
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 and is happy to kill anybody if the price is right, but in MK1, you can’t play as him, for he’s just a kameo fighter.
Considering the same can be said for Sonya, we can’t help but hope that in the next game, the pair collide once more as fully playable characters.
Kenshi Takahashi
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, well, for a time – some things never change, I’m afraid. In MK1, Kenshi is a defender of EarthRealm, fighting with Raiden, Johnny, and Kung Lao against Shang Tsung and General Shao.
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. Mind you, given the disagreements between the two brothers, Smoke does have a difficult decision to make – who does he side with? Make sure you play the game to find out.
Rain
Rain is an incredibly powerful High Mage in Outworld, and in Mortal Kombat 1, he looks ready to do what it takes to succeed in seeing his realm’s quest for domination come to fruition. He uses water magic, and as if he weren’t adept enough, in MK1, he attempts to learn the darkest and most powerful sorcery in the land.
Baraka
It’s fair to say that Baraka is something of a fan-favorite who 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 – he happens to be a powerful ally in MK1, treat him with respect.
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, which makes Armageddon her last meaningful appearance in a Mortal Kombat game before MK1.
Well, it’s not exactly a triumphant return, as she’s the disgraced former leader of the Umgadi, a faction of powerful warriors that protect Earthrealm’s royal family. Unfortunately, the ruler died on her watch, and now she’s disgraced by the royal family, but perhaps you can help her regain favor with Sindel, Mileena, and Kitana.
Tanya
Ah, Tanya. Another longstanding Mortal Kombat character, she serves as the leader of the Umgadi, taking on the role after Li Mei fails to protect Outworld’s ruler. Like in previous entries, Tanya is a steadfast ally to Mileena, something that remains constant in MK1, as she’s basically Mileena’s bodyguard (and secret but not so secret lover).
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.
Sindel
Sindel is finally back as a main cast character rather than through a piece of DLC. She’s quite a legendary Mortal Kombat character, but just in case you don’t know about her, allow us to give you a quick rundown. Sindel is the mother of Kitana and wife to Shao Khan.
However, in the original timeline, before Shao Khan destroyed Edenia, she was a kind and benevolent ruler. Her nature certainly takes a turn for the worse over time, mainly thanks to her husband. Well, we’re once again in a new timeline, and luckily Sindel is a firm but kind ruler who lives for her daughters. Oh, and she isn’t married to Shao Khan – yay!
General Khan
Oh boy. Yes, he’s back. Back again. Shao Khan’s back, tell a friend. One of the primary antagonists from the entire series, Shao Khan, is well known to all Mortal Kombat fans. He’s the ruler of Outworld originally, going on to conquer Edenia, claiming Sindel as his queen and Kitana as his daughter.
Of course, he never quite manages to mold Kitana the way he wants to. She remains a kind soul at heart who wants better for the people of Outworld. That led Shao Khan to create Mileena with the help of Shang Tsung. As part of his design, Liu Kang prevents Shao from becoming Khan, making him a general to the royal family, but that doesn’t mean he’s not ready to betray them.
Omni-Man
Mortal Kombat has a habit of adding surprise characters to its roster. Admittedly, some make perfect sense and serve as little surprise. However, Omni-Man, the father of Invincible, is a bit out of left field. Still, as an immensely powerful superhero who loves to save Earth, he fits right in here.
Naturally, he comes as part of the Kombat Pack so if you want to get your hands on him, you need to part with some extra cash.
Peacemaker
Peacemaker seems to be the hero of the hour at the moment. Despite his heinous act in The Suicide Squad, this popular DC character earned a bit of redemption in the hugely popular Peacemaker TV series. Now, he’s portrayed by John Cena, so you may struggle to see him at first, but trust us, he’s right there in the Kombat Pack. Peacemaker is a fun character with an arsenal of moves that make his time in Mortal Kombat 1 interesting.
Cyrax
Cyrax hasn’t been a playable character in an MK game since Mortal Kombat 2011, though he has a cameo in MKX and appears as an NPC in MK11. Cyrax is traditionally a Lin Kuei ninja turned assassin. Unfortunately, his spree of being an unplayable character continues, for he’s nothing more than a kameo fighter in MK1. Still, he’s a pretty good one with a devastating kameo fatality at his disposal.
Geras
Geras is a relatively new character, as his first appearance is in Mortal Kombat 11, in which he can’t be killed, so our heroes chain him up and drop him into a never-ending sea of blood – a pretty bleak fate if you ask us. Well, he has a second chance now, thanks to Liu Kang, and not only does Geras show up in MK1, but he’s also a fully playable character who happens to be a good friend of Liu Kang.
Reptile
Are you ready for a returning Mortal Kombat original? Ever since the first MK game, Reptile has been a bit of a fan-favorite character, and given he wasn’t a playable character in MK11, it’s a pleasure to see the humanoid reptilian return in Mortal Kombat 1. An exciting thing to note is that his human form is his primary form, something we haven’t seen since the trilogy. It’s a treat to see Reptile return as one of the good guys in MK1, helping him avenge his family and people.
Beyond the thrill of having such an icon return, his budding relationship with Ashra is quite the talking point. You can cut the tension with a knife in some of their scenes together, and you know what? We’re here for it. May their relationship blossom into something great by the time the next Mortal Kombat game rolls around.
Havik
It’s been quite some time since we last saw Havik, a Cleric of Chaos. Well, this Chaosrelam native makes a comeback in Mortal Kombat 1. The last time Havik had a meaningful appearance was in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, back in 2006. Since then, he has had minor cameos in MK 2011, MKX, and MK11. So, after such a long absence, it’s great to kick his butt again in MK1.
Ashrah
Another character we’ve not seen for years, Ashrah, despite her human appearance, is a demon from the Netherrealm. She made her debut in Mortal Kombat: Deception in 2004, going on to appear in MK: Unchained and Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. Yes, that means she’s appearing in Mortal Kombat for the first time in 16 years. Historically, Ashrah tends to flip-flop between the forces of good and evil, though she’s one of the good ones in MK1, having deserted Quan Chi.
Ermac
Ermac is part of the Kombat Pack so you do need to part with some extra cash if you want to play as him, well, unless you purchased the premium or collector’s edition of MK1. He’s a fan-favorite, appearing in many games, though his first is 1995’s Mortal Kombat 3. Though not playable, his most recent appearance before MK1 is MK11, during which he has little more than a cameo.
Though he’s only playable through the Kombat Pack, Ermac does actually have quite a vital role in Mortal Kombat 1’s story, and we have to admit, we certainly didn’t see it ending like that.
Quan Chi
If you like a bit of dark magic and necromancy you probably like Quan Chi, even if he is a bit of a dastardly villain in the Mortal Kombat universe. With many appearances under his belt, you might not know that his first outing is actually in MK Mythologies: Sub-Zero, a game that was clearly to be the beginning of a new series of titles, though it didn’t quite hit the mark for most (it’s quite a rare game to own these days).
However, it wasn’t actually until Mortal Kombat: Armageddon in 2006 that Quan Chi became a playable character, remaining playable in Mortal Kombat 2011 and Mortal Kombat X. Despite the fact that he has a prominent role in the story, you need to have the Kombat Pack if you want to play as Quan Chi in Mortal Kombat 1. We have to admit, he’s worth it, boasting a very fun moveset.
Takeda
Takeda is another relatively new character, as he made his MK debut in Mortal Kombat X and having just a cameo in MK11. Well, for those of you who like the son of Kenshi, he’s one of the DLC characters in Mortal Kombat 1. He’s an interesting choice for sure, especially as Kenshi most certainly isn’t a father in the events of the MK1, but hey, it wouldn’t be the first time time travel played a role in Mortal Kombat.
Motaro
We’re sad to say that Motaro isn’t a playable character in Mortal Kombat 1, but that doesn’t mean we’re not happy to see the hulking brute after all this time. Motaro first appeared in Mortal Kombat 3, going on to appear in numerous games as a boss, be it main or secondary.
Hopefully, he’ll be playable in the next game, especially since it’s been a very long time since you could play as him. Even then, the SNES and Sega Genesis versions of MK3 required you to use a secret code to play as him. Besides that, you need to own the Mortal Kombat Trilogy to get a taste of wielding his power.
Shujinko
Debuting in Mortal Kombat: Deception, Shujinko serves as the protagonist of that game in konquest mode, going on to appear in Mortal Kombat: Unchained and Mortal Kombat: Armageddon – sure, he has a cameo appearance in MKX, but it’s not substantial, meaning it’s been a very long time since Shujinko made much of a difference in an MK game.
Unfortunately, while it pleases us to see him in Mortal Kombat 1, he is just a kameo fighter, though that’s better than omitting him entirely. His moveset in this day and age would be incredible to experience, given his whole thing is studying martial arts from different realms, so let’s hope NetherRealm makes him playable next time.
Darrius
You might sense a running theme with MK1 in that the game brings back some characters that have been absent for years. Another one of these fighters is Darrius, who hasn’t been a playable character since Mortal Kombat Armageddon. Unfortunately, that somewhat remains the case as he appears in Mortal Kombat 1 as kameo fighter.
Frost
Frost has been around since Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance, most recently appearing as a playable character in MK11. In the first timeline, Frost is a loyal member of the Lin Kuei clan, but in the second timeline, she takes issue with her grandmaster, Sub Zero, reaching a peaceful agreement with Scorpion. She is put on a vengeful path to overthrow and defeat Sub Zero, even after she’s expelled from the Lin Kuei. Yes, it’s fair to say you want her on your side as a kameo fighter in Mortal Kombat 1.
Goro
Okay, every Mortal Kombat fan knows who Goro is, so it’s no surprise how happy everyone is to see him in Mortal Kombat 1, even if he isn’t playable. Still, you can call on him for help as a kameo fighter, and he really can make all the difference in a fight.
Jax Briggs
Another well-known MK character, Jax has appeared in many games since his debut in Mortal Kombat II, but in MK1, he’s just a kameo fighter. Liu Kang really is shaking things up given some of the fan-favorite characters that aren’t playable. Still, this special forces hero is sure to aid you in your time of need.
Sareena
Now here’s a face we haven’t seen properly for some time. Sareena is originally an assassin from the Netherrealm, working for Quan Chi. However, she soon betrays him and forms an alliance with Sub-Zero and the Lin Kuei. In Mortal Kombat 1, she serves as a kameo fighter, and given her prowess in battle, you might want to have her watching your back.
Sektor
Sketor has a bit of a mean streak, serving as the former grandmaster of the Lin Kuei and Cyber Lin Kuei. Due to his ruthless nature, he’s an enemy to the likes of Sub-Zero and Scorpion but an ally to the antagonists of the series. In Mortal Kombat 1, Sektor is available as a kameo fighter.
Stryker
Making his debut in Mortal Kombat 3, Stryker returns once more, though he’s only available as a kameo fighter, so don’t be expecting to put those guns to use. While we appreciate his addition to the game, it does mean that the 12-year wait to play as him again continues, with Mortal Kombat (2011) being the most recent game in which he’s playable. Good thing that title remains fun today.
If you want some other games to play, our list of the best Switch fighting games can help you 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?