Five Most Popular Mortal Kombat Characters

The iconic Mortal Kombat franchise first set foot in the gaming industry in 1992, and since then, it has become one of the most popular gaming franchises. Among the many reasons for its success are its characters, who have left an indelible mark on Mortal Kombat players. 

While the franchise has unfolded different versions of the game, some characters still manage to capture our attention with their unique nuances. So, here is a list of five most popular Mortal Kombat Characters, in no particular order. 

1. Reptile 

Reptile is one of the most iconic characters in the gaming franchise and was first introduced as a hidden character. He made his playable debut in the game in Mortal Kombat II in 1993. Initially appearing as a green replica of Sub-Zero or Scorpion, Reptile’s appearance has changed a lot over the years. 

Fans enjoy playing this iconic character due to his lore and background story. He is neither power hungry, nor inherently evil. He is occupied with a delusional state of mind. However, he is always loyal to Shao Kahn and obeys all the other masters. 

Reptile borrows many of his powers from Sub-Zero, like his power slide and force ball. His saliva is composed of fluids that are corrosive in nature and can easily cut through steel. His distinguishing traits are invisibility, shapeshifting, and acid spit. In the upcoming Mortal Kombat 1, Reptile will appear as a humanoid, who can completely shapeshift. 

2. Goro

Goro is one of the most powerful Mortal Kombat characters and has multiple arms. His unique appearance and origins in Outworld make him one of the most recognizable and memorable characters in the Mortal Kombat franchise. He made his debut in 1992, appearing as one of the sub-bosses. He also made a live-action appearance in the first Mortal Kombat movie. 

His antagonistic character and alliance with the powerful Shang Tsung have definitely helped him retain his popularity. His brute strength and agility make him an extremely strong character, coupled with his humongous appearance. 

His powers are associated with fire, and he has the ability to project fireballs from his hand as well as his mouth. He also possesses the ability to manipulate fire in his hand, if needed. 

3. Liu Kang

Earlier known for his traditional combat fighting style, Liu Kang earlier served the role of a true protagonist. He is a pastiche of Bruce Lee and possesses exceptional martial arts skills. However, later, the creators decided to change his character a little and kill him off to turn him into a zombie. 

While this has not sat right with many fans, Liu Kang is still one of the most beloved characters of all time, merely due to the air of nostalgia that he carries from the old days. He is famous for his martial arts skills, acrobatic combat style and flawless agility. Like Goro, Liu Kang is also associated with the element of fire. He can inflict fire damage on his opponents as well as teleport in flames. 

4. Sub-Zero 

Sub-Zero is an extremely popular leader in the Mortal Kombat series, popular for his ice cold, freezing combat style. His ability to freeze his opponents is still one of the most popular moves in the franchise. He can also create an ice statue of himself and use it as bait during combat.

Due to his training skills with Lin Kuei, Sub-Zero also has incredible martial arts skills that make him a fierce fighter. What makes him more dangerous is the fact that he can use his freezing abilities to freeze the moisture in the air, implying that even molecules are not free from his hold. 

Not only this, but Sub-Zero’s emotional and compelling storyline about his brother’s revenge makes many teary-eyed, while others burn with passion as they embark on this journey to seek revenge for Sub-Zero’s brother in the game. 

5. Scorpion

Scorpion is a classic Mortal Kombat mascot, serving his purpose since the game's debut. His storyline reveals that his real name was Hanzo Hasashi, whose family was murdered, and he chose his life as an assassin. Due to his protagonistic nature and the revenge arc, players were in awe of his character.

Scorpion is associated with Hellfire, which is a fire variant of Netherrealm, and is immune to this element. While unmasked, he can spew it from his head to confirm the deaths of his opponents. Other abilities in his possession include necromancy and summoning. 

As the Scorpion is bound by revenge, he is immune to death. This allows him to chase his targets endlessly until he avenges his family’s slaughter. This makes the story more engaging and immersive, and that is why Scorpion is one of the most beloved characters in the game.