It’s been over three decades, and we’re still arguing about whether Scorpion is actually a hero or just a really angry ghost. That’s the magic of characters on Mortal Kombat. They aren't just pixels or frame data. They’re a chaotic, bloody soap opera that somehow survived the 16-bit era to become a multibillion-dollar powerhouse.
But honestly? Keeping track of who is dead, who is a revenant, and who is currently a god is a nightmare.
Most people think Mortal Kombat is just about "Get Over Here!" and ripping out spines. While that’s definitely a huge part of the appeal, the actual staying power comes from the sheer weirdness of the roster. You have a literal movie star fighting alongside a four-armed monster and a thunder god who can’t seem to keep his timeline straight. It’s messy. It’s inconsistent. And yet, it works.
The Scorpion and Sub-Zero Paradox
You can't talk about characters on Mortal Kombat without starting with the yellow and blue ninjas. It’s the law. Hanzo Hasashi (Scorpion) and Bi-Han (the original Sub-Zero) represent the foundational myth of the entire franchise.
But here’s what most casual fans miss: Scorpion isn't the "bad guy."
He’s a tragic figure. He’s a man who lost his clan, his wife, and his son because he was manipulated by a sorcerer. In the original 1992 game, he was just a palette-swapped ninja. By Mortal Kombat 11, he was a weary mentor trying to fix his past mistakes. That kind of growth is rare in fighting games. Most characters just stay static. Scorpion actually aged. He felt regret.
Then there’s Sub-Zero. Or rather, the Sub-Zeros.
Bi-Han was a jerk. Let's be real. He was an assassin who got what was coming to him in the first tournament. When he died and became Noob Saibot—a name that is literally the creators' names, Boon and Tobias, spelled backward—it opened the door for his younger brother, Kuai Liang. This switch changed the dynamic of the series forever. It turned a generic rivalry into a multi-generational struggle for redemption. If you’re looking at why these characters stick in the cultural consciousness, it’s that specific shift from mindless violence to a narrative about legacy.
Why Liu Kang is the Toughest Character to Write
Liu Kang is boring.
At least, he was for about twenty years. He was the Bruce Lee archetype. The "Chosen One." He won every tournament, stayed humble, and did a lot of bicycle kicks. In the world of characters on Mortal Kombat, being the "good guy" is often a death sentence for your popularity. Just ask Kung Lao, who has spent his entire existence living in Liu Kang's shadow.
Everything changed when Midway (and later NetherRealm) decided to actually do something interesting with him. They killed him. They turned him into a zombie. Then they turned him into a bitter, evil Emperor of the Netherrealm.
And finally, in the 2023 reboot Mortal Kombat 1, they made him a god who literally reset the universe.
That’s a wild arc. It shows a willingness to break the toys. Most franchises are terrified of changing their lead character. Mortal Kombat just sets them on fire and sees what happens. By making Liu Kang the Fire God, the developers finally gave him the personality he lacked in 1992. He’s now a creator burdened by the knowledge that he might fail. That’s relatable, even if you can’t shoot fire out of your hands.
The Complexity of the Female Roster
For a long time, the women in this series were... let's say "stylized" for a specific audience. It was the 90s.
But if you look past the early designs, characters like Kitana and Mileena have some of the most complex backstories in gaming. Mileena isn't just a monster. She’s a tragic clone with an identity crisis. She wants to be loved. She wants a throne she feels is hers by right. The rivalry between her and Kitana is arguably more interesting than the Scorpion/Sub-Zero feud because it’s rooted in family trauma and biological experimentation.
Sonya Blade, meanwhile, has always been the grounding force.
While everyone else is casting spells or jumping through portals, she’s just a soldier with some high-tech gadgets and a lot of grit. She represents the "Earthrealm" perspective. We need her because she reminds us that the stakes are human. When she and Johnny Cage eventually had a daughter, Cassie Cage, it added a layer of "real life" to the supernatural madness. Seeing Sonya struggle with being a mother while fighting off an invasion from an interdimensional warlord is surprisingly grounded for a game where you can turn into a dragon.
The Villains: Beyond Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn is the gold standard for bosses. He's loud. He cheats. He laughs at you when you lose.
But the characters on Mortal Kombat villains list is deeper than just a big guy with a hammer. You have Shang Tsung, the ultimate shapeshifter. He’s the personification of "don't trust anyone." The fact that Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa’s portrayal in the 1995 movie was so good that the games eventually changed the character to look like him is a testament to how these characters transcend the software.
Then you have the more obscure ones that fans love to debate.
- Quan Chi: The guy everyone loves to hate. He's the puppet master.
- Kano: A scumbag, but a charismatic one. He’s the comic relief that will also stab you in the kidney.
- Sindel: Her lore is a mess. Was she a brainwashed victim or a secret traitor? Depending on which game you play, you'll get a different answer. This inconsistency drives the hardcore fans crazy, but it also keeps the conversation alive.
The "Jobbers" and the Cult Favorites
Not every character can be a god.
Every fighting game needs "jobbers"—characters who exist primarily to lose and make the winners look cool. Reptile is the king of this. Poor Reptile. He started as a cool secret character and slowly turned into a literal lizard-man who gets beat up in every cutscene.
But there is a strange affection for these B-tier characters.
Look at someone like Stryker. He’s literally just a cop. In a world of sorcerers and cyber-ninjas, he brought a gun to a fistfight. People hated him in Mortal Kombat 3, but now he’s a cult icon. The same goes for Rain or Ermac. These characters often start as simple color swaps or technical glitches (Ermac stands for "Error Macro"), but the fans project so much personality onto them that the developers are forced to make them "real."
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How to Actually Understand the Current Timeline
If you're trying to jump into the lore now, you have to accept one thing: nothing is permanent.
The characters on Mortal Kombat currently exist in a timeline created by Fire God Liu Kang. This means everything you knew might be different.
- Kuai Liang is now Scorpion (Wait, what?).
- Raiden is a mortal farmer instead of a god.
- Mileena and Kitana are actually loving sisters (mostly).
- Tarkatans aren't a race; they're victims of a magical disease.
This "soft reboot" approach is brilliant for SEO and for new players, but it’s a lot to swallow for those of us who grew up with the Midway era. It forces you to re-learn these personalities. It’s like a multiverse story where the stakes actually feel high because you don't know who is going to survive the next chapter.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Players
Whether you're a lore nerd or just someone who wants to stop getting destroyed in online matches, understanding these characters is key.
Focus on "Archetypes" Over Tier Lists
Don't just pick a character because a pro player said they're "S-Tier." In Mortal Kombat, characters are built around specific playstyles.
- Zoners: If you like keeping people away, characters like Reiko or Kenshi (with his spirit) are your go-to.
- Rushdown: If you want to be in someone’s face constantly, look at Johnny Cage or Liu Kang.
- Grapplers: For those who like big damage and slow movement, Jax or Goro (if available) are the classics.
Read the In-Game Bios
NetherRealm puts a massive amount of effort into the "Kharacter" bios in the menus. They often contain details that aren't in the cinematic story mode. If you want to know why a character has a specific move or a certain piece of gear, the answer is usually buried in those text files.
Watch the Frame Data
If you want to move from "casual" to "intermediate," you have to look at the numbers. Every move a character makes has a startup, active, and recovery time. Mortal Kombat is one of the best games for displaying this information clearly in the move list. Learn which of your character’s moves are "safe on block." This means if the opponent blocks your attack, they can't immediately hit you back.
The Narrative Legacy
Ultimately, the characters on Mortal Kombat are successful because they represent a specific kind of American martial arts fantasy. It’s a mix of Shaw Brothers movies, 80s action cinema, and dark fantasy. They aren't "perfect" characters. They are deeply flawed, often hypocritical, and frequently die in horrific ways.
That’s why we love them. We don't want them to be balanced and boring. We want them to be loud, colorful, and just a little bit ridiculous.
To dive deeper into the current meta or the specific history of the New Era, your next move should be to check the frame data for your favorite "Main" and see how their moves have been adjusted in the latest patches. The lore gives them soul, but the frame data gives them the win.