Mortal Kombat: The Most Powerful Kombatants, According To Lore (2024)

All is fair in love, war, and the Mortal Kombat franchise. After all, everything is fair game in a Tournament that decides the fate of all the Realms. As a result, normal martial artists contend with the likes of Cyborgs, Wraiths, Revenants, and even Gods to protect their Realms, conquer other worlds, or fulfill grudges.

In turn, almost every Mortal Kombat Tournament has a surprise to offer its spectators. While the Shaolin Monk Liu Kang almost always becomes Earthrealm's savior, other Kombatants have natural abilities that put superpowers and nuclear weapons to shame. According to the lore of the universe, here are some of the most powerful characters in the franchise.

Updated August 8, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Ed Boon teasing a “leak” of Kitana’s live-action concept from 2025’s Mortal Kombat 2 film, fans of the gory fighting game might be eager to see just what the role of the princess would be in the reboot’s version of Outworld. And while players await Kitana (and potentially Mileena)’s debut in Mortal Kombat 2, the upcoming DLC Pack for the recent Mortal Kombat 1 game will feature not just female versions of Sektor and Cyrax, but also a Chaos-upgraded Titan Noob Saibot as well as crossover characters such as Conan the Barbarian, the T-1000, and Ghostface.

However, fans curious about how certain characters fit in the context of Mortal Kombat’s strongest characters might want to take a look at the Lin Kuei’s perfect cyborg, a half-god turned high mage, and one of the prophesied heroes of Armageddon.

27 Scorpion

The Vengeful Master Of Hellfire

When the mortal known as Hanzo Hasashi and his Shirai Ryu brethren died at the hands of the Lin Kuei’s Sub-Zero, the sorcerer Quan Chi offered to transform him into a wraith named Scorpion to have his revenge. It would take different timelines to have the vengeful Hanzo realize the truth of his clan’s death, but one thing remains the same: his power of fire transforms him into an exceptionally powerful threat. Such was Scorpion’s popularity that he became the poster character for the Mortal Kombat series.

Both the original and new timelines feature Hanzo as a master ninja and assassin, often hailed as the greatest in the Shirai Ryu, and can rival both Sub-Zeroes in terms of weapons mastery and combat prowess. His trademark weapon is the roped kunai, called the kyoketsu-shoge, and the remarkable ability to teleport. Pyrokinesis is an ability he shares across both timelines, but to different degrees. As a Wraith, the original timeline’s Scorpion can control and is immune to Hellfire, using it to burn his enemies with inextinguishable fire as intense as his current emotional pain. In the new timeline, Scorpion retains control over fire but isn’t implied to be Hellfire.

Scorpion In Mortal Kombat 1

Scorpion appears in two manners in Mortal Kombat 1. When Liu Kang created his universe according to his Grand Design, he transformed Kuai Liang into Scorpion. As such, he became Bi Han’s right-hand man who helped lead the Lin Kuei as Earth’s guardians. Under this Scorpion persona, Kuai Liang retains all the abilities of his namesake, including his control over fire as well as his signature roped kunai. After Sub-Zero’s betrayal, Kuai Liang marries Harumi Shirai of Earthrealm and names their new clan after her, and among their promising new recruits is a young Hanzo Hasashi.

26 Sub-Zero

A Title Reserved For The Lin Kuei’s Greatest Cryomancer

The mantle of Sub-Zero in the Mortal Kombat franchise would be worn by two individuals: Bi-Han and his younger brother Kuai Liang. Scorpion swears vengeance against Sub-Zero after he kills his clan, which ends with him killing the first one while Kuai Liang takes his place. Since then, the younger Sub-Zero would try to preserve the Lin Kuei’s legacy as Earthrealm’s protectors while wielding the Dragon Amulet, alongside the occasional rivalry with the Shirai Ryu. In an alternate timeline, Kuai Liang would make peace with Scorpion, finally stopping the bloodshed between the two clans.

Despite starting as a palette swap of Scorpion, Sub-Zero and his control over ice would become a notable aspect of his character. Ever the calm and collected warrior, Sub-Zero is merciless with his flash-freeze strikes and balanced kit that can accommodate fights across different ranges. He can also manipulate his life force of chi, enhancing his physical strikes.

Sub-Zero In Mortal Kombat 1

Bi-Han returns to the mantle of Sub-Zero in Mortal Kombat 1, carrying with him a brutal seriousness that, on occasion, made him doubt the need to even protect all the realms. As Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei, he slowly believed Liu Kang held the clan back and sought to be free of his “corruption.” Bi-Han and the Lin Kuei defect against Liu Kang but are defeated, while members Kuai Liang and Tomas defect to form their own “successor” clan. It’s unknown whether Sub-Zero becomes Noob Saibot in the next installment through mere transformation or in his original resurrection story.

25 Noob Saibot

A Disgraced Sub-Zero Turned Into A Wraith

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Bi-Han’s descent into Noob Saibot was explained in the events of Mythologies: Sub-Zero when Raiden confirmed Quan Chi’s statement that Bi-Han contains evil in his heart and would suffer a cruel fate should he die with a corrupted soul. Upon his death at the hands of Scorpion, Bi-Han descends into the Netherrrealm and becomes Noob Saibot, a Wraith at the full control of the sorcerer he detested, Quan Chi. Throughout the games, Noob Saibot would antagonize his younger brother, stating how he was a disgrace to the legacy of the Lin Kuei.

Being the first Sub-Zero in the Mortal Kombat games, Bi-Han also has remarkable control over ice. Some state Bi-Han is a more skilled cryomancer compared to his younger brother, as evidenced by more brutal attacks. However, it’s Bi-Han’s transformation into Noob Saibot that transformed him into a force to reckon with. As a Wraith, Noob Saibot isn’t just partly immortal, but he can also control the darkness to create weapon constructs, clones and even become invisible. This allows him to overwhelm foes easily, especially when he summons his clones inside an opponent to tear them apart from within.

Noob Saibot In Mortal Kombat 1

Noob Saibot isn’t present in Mortal Kombat 1, although Bi-Han’s defeat at the hands of his brother Kuai Liang may pose the perfect opportunity to embark on this transformation. It’s yet to be seen whether Bi-Han’s descent into Noob Saibot will be due to a mere power upgrade or a resurrection from the dead.

24 Johnny Cage

Lacks Green Energy, But Still One Of Earthrealm's Champions

Despite his comedic appeal and rather annoying exterior, Johnny Cage packs a punch. While most would wonder what a washed-up action star is doing in a death tournament like Mortal Kombat, Johnny's fighting prowess doesn’t seem to be solely because of his status as a character.

The games eventually explained that the green energy coming from Johnny Cage is actually a bloodline power. It seems the Cages are descendants of ancient warriors who can tap into special powers to protect Earthrealm. And it’s not just any kind of “power” — it allowed Johnny Cage to stand up to an Elder God like Shinnok. It’s his green energy blast that managed to stop Shinnok’s resurrection plan from fully coming to fruition.

Johnny Cage In Mortal Kombat 1

Compared to his Original Timeline counterpart, Johnny Cage in Liu Kang’s new era has yet to tap into his Green Energy, which was originally explained in Mortal Kombat 11 as power inherited from his Mediterranean Warrior ancestors. Whether or not the loss of this power meant it was only about to manifest or become lost entirely is yet to be revealed. At the end of his Tower Mode, Johnny is in the process of creating the Mortal Kombat universe as per Liu Kang’s request to slowly indoctrinate Earthrealm about the existence of other realms.

23 Kung Lao

Rival To Raiden As Earthrealm's Chosen

Aside from Liu Kang, one of the most notable characters in Mortal Kombat would probably be Kung Lao. Aside from his signature rounded hat, Kung Lao is also Liu Kang’s “rival” as a Shaolin monk, as they both possess the same vigor and enthusiasm for their pursuit of martial arts. However, whereas Liu Kang is humble, Kung Lao is arrogant and outspoken - eager to prove his point rather aggressively.

Being the reincarnation of the Great Kung Lao, the present Kung Lao shares much of his ancestor’s combat prowess. Compared to the likes of Johnny Cage and Shujinko with innate supernatural talents, Kung Lao is admittedly not as supernaturally powerful. However, he had proven capable of using his martial arts against Shang Tsung and Quan Chi simultaneously, even defeating them before Shao Kahn snapped his neck. Regardless of his untimely demise in the franchise, Kung Lao being able to defeat Shang Tsung and Quan Chi at the same time was a feat even greater than the Great Kung Lao, proving the descendant succeeding his ancestor.

Kung Lao In Mortal Kombat 1

Kung Lao maintains his ambitious and prideful sense of self in Mortal Kombat 1, unsurprisingly leading to his defeat in the selection fights for Earthrealm’s Champion. However, while his appearances with Johnny Cage and Kenshi Takahashi implied some similarities in their power levels, Kung Lao dominates in his earlier exposure to knowledge about the realms and his innate ingenuity, especially in the construction of his bladed hat. After his attempts to train the prodigious Shujinko spiraled out of control, he now shares the responsibility with Raiden.

22 Triborg

The Cyber Lin Kuei’s Perfect Specimen

The Lin Kuei’s pursuit of cybernetics as a means of attaining more power became a focal point across all timelines in the Mortal Kombat series, with the Lin Kuei’s Cyber Initiative resulting in popular series cyborgs Cyrax, Sektor, and Smoke. Both timelines would see Sub-Zero be converted into Cyber Sub-Zero, and all cyborgs switch states between human and automaton across various instances in both timelines. In the alternate timeline, the Lin Kuei Grandmaster before Sub-Zero had already begun storing test results of his clansmen in data banks, which the Special Forces accessed after Sub-Zero defeated all cyborgs. However, this resulted in a cybernetic body absorbing the consciousness of the four cyborgs, transforming into Triborg.

Now pursuing a mission to kill all living things and reestablish a Cyber Lin Kuei with him at the helm, Triborg would wreak havoc across Earthrealm before Sub-Zero defeats him once and for all. By tapping into his component cyborg’s power set, Triborg can use a buzzsaw, bombs, and a net (Cyrax), flamethrowers and missiles (Sektor), smokes and teleportation (Smoke), as well as ice-themed cybernetic weapons (Cyber Sub-Zero).

In Mortal Kombat 1

While Triborg doesn’t make an appearance in Mortal Kombat 1, the recent DLC teasing the arrival of Cyrax and Sektor means the Cyber Lin Kuei shouldn’t be too far off. With Bi-Han expectedly turning traitor and taking the Lin Kuei with him, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see him fully pursue the Cyber Initiative like in the other timelines to create the game’s iconic cyborgs. If one were to theory craft, Triborg could be among the aces in the hole Bi-Han would have in his fight against Liu Kang.

21 Rain

The Traitorous Half-God

In both of his original incarnations, Rain is introduced as a refugee who turns into one of Shao Kahn’s fiercest fighters. While Rain defects against Shao Kahn in the original timeline upon learning that the Kahn killed his adoptive father, the alternate Rain pursues power in the high court after siding with Mileena in her quest to take over the throne of Outworld.

As Rain would eventually learn, he is the bastard child of Edenia’s god-protector Argus. This granted him a durable half-god body, alongside the special powers of manipulating both water and the weather. He can encase others in orbs of water, and can even call down lightning upon his enemies. Unfortunately, his limited involvement in terms of fights would not reveal the true extent of his potential. However, his nature as a half-god alone places him among some of the strongest Kombatants in the series. In his current mortal incarnation, Rain is still powerful enough to summon a massive wave that can engulf an entire capital.

In Mortal Kombat 1

Rain’s reappearance in Mortal Kombat 1 would place him as a High Mage of Edenia instead of a demigod. Unlike his first counterparts, Rain can control water through a special staff. The story of Mortal Kombat 1 would see ambition get the better of Rain and have him join Shang Tsung and General Shao’s coup against Empress Sindel. When Liu Kang thwarts their plans, Rain flees Edenia and joins Havik’s crusade against Seido, the capital of Orderrealm. It’s here that Rain summons a tsunami that drowns and destroys the whole capital. Guilty of his actions, Rain surrenders to Outworld’s forces and awaits his punishment.

20 Sindel

Former Queen Of Outworld Can Still Fight As A Soul

As Queen of Edenia, Sindel is no pushover. While she’s best known for her ultrasonic screaming, her control over sound is just one of her magical abilities. Sindel can fine-tune her control over sound to achieve different effects. For instance, she can use her scream to flay opponents or even paralyze them. Moreover, she can make her hair prehensile, giving her access to a wide range of long-ranged moves. She also has powers of levitation.

While her powerset seems limited, Sindel is powerful enough for Shao Kahn to recognize her as his queen. She can go toe-to-toe against Earthrealm’s protectors and defeat them single-handedly, even forcing Nightwolf to use his self-destruct move just to defeat her.

Sindel In Mortal Kombat 1

Whereas Sindel, in previous timelines, has become the evil resurrected Queen of Outworld, Titan Liu Kang’s design transformed Queen Sindel into a firm but fair ruler that ushered the realm’s golden era. Unfortunately, General Shao and her sorcerers’ deception would result in her death, with King Jerrod’s influence over Ermac allowing the entity to absorb her soul. In her Tower Ending in Mortal Kombat 1, she teams up with Jerrod in the hopes of dominating the other spirits residing in Ermac, subduing them to their control to have a unified front.

19 Nightwolf

Uses The Power Of Nature Itself

Nightwolf from the Matoka Tribe has dedicated himself to becoming one of Earthrealm’s protectors, using his magic in the process. Thanks to this ability, Nightwolf has access to an array of magical abilities — including energizing himself and his weapons and creating auras and shields. Moreover, Nightwolf has some control over nature, being able to summon lightning from clouds or even disintegrating enemies with a beam of light at the cost of his own life.

Outside his movelist, Nightwolf has an array of abilities that allow him to go toe-to-toe with sorcerers Quan Chi and Shang Tsung. As a Sin Eater, Nightwolf can absorb evil energies without hurting his psyche. He may even use the sins of his ancestors to bind evil entities such as Onaga — one of the beings closest to an Elder God’s power — to the Netherrealm.

Nightwolf In Mortal Kombat 1

Holding the title of Nightwolf transformed Grey Cloud of the Matoka into one of Earthrealm’s fiercest protectors, using spiritual energy to manifest Green Force that he uses to empower his attacks. He’s among Titan Liu Kang’s chosen alongside Shang Tsung and Fujin to ensure Kronika cannot interrupt Liu Kang’s new design. Unfortunately, his fate remains unknown when Fujin and Raiden stop Shang Tsung from absorbing his soul.

18 General Shao

Once A Kahn, Now A General

People across the realms know Shao Kahn for his ferocity, coupled with godlike strength. The Kahn of Outworld wields both fighting prowess and magic. Like Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn can use soul absorption to steal abilities and knowledge. As a Kombatant, Shao Kahn uses less of his magic and more of his endurance and strength. However, he can also use mysterious green energy to create projectiles, weapons, and force fields in battle.

Shao Kahn is also the stereotypical proud tyrant, which is often the cause of his downfall. However, his sheer tenacity and ambition give him more drive to act towards his goals. Shao Kahn trumps Onaga, as the former defeated Blaze to attain ultimate power. Sadly, Raiden's efforts would make Shao Kahn's futile.

Shao Kahn In Mortal Kombat 1

Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat 1 is demoted to the rank of General, revealing a begrudgingly submissive figure to both Sindel and Liu Kang. The General maintains his original self’s sense of ambition, however, as he reflects discontent in Outworld’s rather “stagnant” peace. While lacking the undeniable power of his original counterpart, Shao’s influence has earned him followers even after escaping prison. Discontent with the lack of combat readiness of his revolt’s willing soldiers, he sends Reiko on a mission to subdue Onaga in the hopes of using the beast to topple Mileena’s rule.

17 Ermac

Quan Chi's Soul Army Freed From His Control

One of the most exciting qualities of Ermac is its nature as an entity. Instead of being a singular person, Ermac is a compilation of multiple souls of warriors made physically through Shao Kahn’s magic. In turn, Ermac has always referred to himself in the plural, possessing a whole host of psychokinetic abilities, including levitation, telekinesis, and firing projectile blasts. Not only that, even Takeda’s attempts at telepathy were ineffective against Ermac, establishing Ermac as one of the most potent Kombatants in the game.

While Ermac does indeed get weaker the longer he stays in the Netherrealm, staying outside of it allows him full access to his abilities. Moreover, his nature as a collection of warrior souls means he likely has access to each of these warriors’ fighting styles, prowess, and abilities - similar to how Shang Tsung gains access to the same things whenever he takes the souls of other fighters.

Ermac In Mortal Kombat 1

While still a collection of souls, Ermac in Mortal Kombat 1 is no longer created specifically to serve Shao Kahn. Instead, Quan Chi’s dark magics with the Soul Stealer created Ermac from the Forest of Living Souls. When Mileena defeats Ermac in Kombat, Quan Chi loses control, and the spirit of King Jerrod takes over. Under Jerrod’s control, Ermac took the soul of his wife, Queen Sindel, upon her death. However, when the lack of Quan Chi’s magic risked the destruction of the entity’s souls, Ermac freed Quan Chi from captivity. When Quan Chi betrayed Ermac, the collective souls inside the entity would have to reconcile their differences or risk eternal destruction. Should Ermac find a united front, not only would it pose the memories and combat knowledge of thousands of souls, but also their abilities.

16 Shujinko

Ambitious Power Absorber

Despite his old stature, Shujinko is one of the most potent Kombatants in Mortal Kombat gameplay by virtue of both his age and interactions with most of the franchise’s most powerful characters. When Damashi (who turned out to be Onaga) tasked Shujinko with acquiring the powerful Kamadogu, Shujinko was gifted with the ability to copy the powers of anyone he fights. In Deception’s “Konquest Mode,” Shujinko is shown using the powers of Liu Kang, Sindel, and Scorpio - potentially transforming him into a one-man army, provided he can copy enough abilities.

If there’s anything that gives Shujinko an intense setback, it’s his age and potentially frail body, as he may not be able to use the powers of others as fully as imagined. However, Shujinko in the main timeline in his prime would easily have been able to fight the likes of Shang Tsung, and Quan Chi, and may even go toe to toe against Shao Kahn with enough training.

Shujinko In Mortal Kombat 1

Shujinko in Mortal Kombat 1 retains the faults of his original self, taking the form of quite the ambitious but also rather prodigious student. However, Shujinko’s story in Mortal Kombat 1 is cut short before he can even gather the Kamidogu, summon Onaga, and realize his faults while possessing the skills of numerous fighters. Instead, Kung Lao’s training of Shujinko got out of control to such an extent that Liu Kang had to intervene and strip him of his memories and stolen powers. While Shujinko is set to train once more, it’s unknown whether he stays on the path of good or becomes the same ambitious individual manipulated by darker powers.

15 Daegon

The Power-Hungry Half-God Who Wants To Rule The World

When the sorceress Delia prophesied how the influx of fighters in Mortal Kombat had resulted in Armageddon, she and her husband, Edenia’s god-protector Argus, decided to assign a quest to their sons to avert this disaster. Daegon, one of the half-god brothers, had prematurely awakened and got a headstart on the details of their quest: he and his brother are to find Blaze and defeat the being at the start of Armageddon. There’s a catch, however, as the brother to defeat Blaze will inherit its powers.

With Shinnok’s dark influence, Daegon was led to believe his parents were helping his brother win. This leads to their untimely deaths at the hands of Daegon, and the latter’s subsequent formation of the Red Dragon Clan to find Blaze. While his brother eventually defeats him and claims “the right” to fight Blaze, Daegon is no slouch in combat. As a demi-god, Daegon already has an immensely powerful physique. It seems he has some degree of pyrokinesis, an ability which he uses extremely aggressively.

In Mortal Kombat 1

Daegon makes his reappearance in Mortal Kombat 1, again as the boss of the Red Dragon Clan. Not much is known about Daegon’s intentions in the current timeline, except for the fact that he has profitable dealings with other criminal organizations. Daegon becomes a prominent character in the story of Takeda Takahashi, Kenshi’s cousin, whose mission to end his past with the Yakuza led him to a meeting between them and the Red Dragon. When Takeda learns that defeating the Yakuza would put the Red Dragon at the forefront of organized crime, the young warrior also fights Daegon.

14 Taven

The Half-God Destined To Save The World

When Taven awakens just near the beginning of Armageddon, he’s confused as to why he couldn’t find his brother and the dire state of the Realms. On his journeys, he learned that his quest was to defeat Blaze alongside his brother Daegon, an act that should either depower or kill all Kombatants causing the destructive disruption across the Realms in the first place. However, Taven was shocked to learn that not only had Daegon awakened early and created the Red Dragon Clan in pursuit of Blaze’s power, but he also had killed their parents.

The end of his journey would have him confront Daegon to fight for “the right” to engage Blaze in combat. He successfully defeats his brother but dies alongside the Warriors of Light at the onset of Armageddon. While Taven doesn’t get to finish his journey, his half-god physique already places him among some of the most powerful Kombatants in the game. On top of his pyrokinesis, Taven is also the first Mortal Kombat character to demonstrate limited influence over spacetime, as evidenced by limited teleportation and time-stopping abilities.

In Mortal Kombat 1

It’s safe to assume that Taven should be in the Mortal Kombat 1 universe if Daegon is still the head of the Red Dragon Clan. Given how Mortal Kombat 1 replaced the events of the previous timelines’ set of games, it’s very likely that Taven is still in his slumber.

13 Fujin

The Absent God Of The Wind

Originally an unnamed boss in Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, Fujin is eventually revealed to be the God of Wind and the younger brother of Raiden. Compared to the stricter Raiden, Fujin is more carefree and aims to protect the people he cares for - reflecting the fleeting and flexible nature of the wind.

Similar to Raiden who can control all aspects of lightning and thunder, Fujin is capable of manipulating all things wind. Not only can he levitate and walk in the air, but he can also transform current into deadly projectiles that can hit enemies from a safe distance. He can even condense tornadoes into miniature versions to send opponents flying away or toward him. As a god, Fujin is naturally immortal.

Fujin In Mortal Kombat 1

The God of Wind Fujin’s presence in the Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath DLC marked his return to the franchise 14 years after his last appearance in Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, where Liu Kang tasked him with the secret mission of ensuring Shang Tsung’s victory against Kronika. After his demise, Liu Kang reappears to defeat Shang Tsung and assume guardianship over the Hourglass, creating his new era. While Liu Kang promises Shang Tsung that the sacrifices of his friends will be rewarded in a new life under his stewardship, no reference is made to Fujin in Mortal Kombat 1.

12 Raiden

Earthrealm's New Mortal Champion

Formerly the God of Thunder, Raiden is one of the wisest and most powerful beings in the universe. His control over lightning allowed him to travel at the speed of light, summon lightning, and perform resurrection. Raiden isn't indestructible and cannot use his powers outside his domain. He cannot participate in Mortal Kombat, limiting his ability to interfere with Shang Tsung and Quan Chi's plans. In fact, Raiden's non-interfering nature catalyzed conflicts within the franchise. Eventually, he assumed a darker persona to stop it.

Now that he's given up his godhood to Liu Kang Raiden is but a mortal. However, he's still no pushover. His millennia's worth of knowledge and combat training could allow Raiden to contend with the likes of Shinnok when it comes to cunning and strategy.

Raiden In Mortal Kombat 1

Whereas Raiden was Liu Kang’s mentor and Earthrealm’s protector in the Original Timeline, Titan Liu Kang transformed Raiden into his mortal student in the new universe. Liu Kang explained to the younger Raiden that while the original Raiden was a man of incredible wisdom and power, his willingness to let rage consume him to protect Earthrealm transformed him into a dangerous threat. Unfortunately, Raiden in Mortal Kombat 1 only being able to channel lightning through an amulet has severely depowered the former Elder God.

11 Quan Chi

Necromancer Who Weaponizes People's Souls

Quan Chi is known for two things: being the Netherrealm's most powerful sorcerer, and Shinnok's most faithful servant. However, his allegiance with the Dark Elder God doesn't mean he's a pushover. Inside Quan Chi is a desire to rule reality, and he has the vicious, coldhearted pragmatism to supplement his magical prowess.

Quan Chi matches Delia, Shang Tsung, Shao Kahn, and Shinnok in terms of magic. As a necromancer, he can steal souls and reanimate the dead. His magical feats involve illusions, alteration, conjuration, and a limited degree of omniscience. It's thanks to him that Scorpion became a Wraith, and Shinnok returned to the realm of the living. Had Quan Chi acted alone, his cunning could prove enough to pit the Realms' most powerful villains against each other.

Quan Chi In Mortal Kombat 1

While instrumental in the efforts to defeat Titan Shang Tsung, Quan Chi’s treasonous crimes landed him in the prisons of Outworld. When a desperate Ermac frees him, Quan Chi betrays his creation in pursuit of the Hourglass and Dark Magic to defeat Liu Kang. Similar to his Original Counterpart, Quan Chi treads a path quite similar to his “rival” Shang Tsung, both in pursuit of darker powers to achieve their own versions of omnipotence.

10 Shang Tsung

Shapeshifting Sorcerer Who Always Finds His Way To Power, Godhood

One of Mortal Kombat's original champions, the Elder Gods cursed Shang Tsung with quick aging due to his ambition. To retain his youth, Shang Tsung must absorb the souls of others. As cunning as he is, he realizes that this soul absorption granted him not just the appearance, but the abilities of souls he obtains.

This power set should put Quan Chi as the more powerful sorcerer. However, Shang Tsung's mastery of soul absorption gave him centuries' worth of knowledge and abilities that almost matched that of Gods. In fact, Shang Tsung trumped Quan Chi in that he created Kronika's Crown. Shang Tsung not only knows the inner machinations of the Hourglass of Time but can withstand its strain should he decide to shape time in his image.

Shang Tsung In Mortal Kombat 1

Despite Titan Liu Kang ensuring his version of Shang Tsung won’t grow in power, the benefactor only known as Damashi conspired to install the new Shang Tsung in Queen Sindel’s court. This Damashi revealed herself as a Titan Shang Tsung, created when Kronika’s defeat created a multiverse of timelines where Kombatants have become Titans of their own. After Titan Shang Tsung’s eventual defeat, the younger Shang Tsung was imprisoned under Queen Mileena’s rule. After a prison escape, Shang Tsung found himself on an abandoned sorcerer’s island with a dormant Well of Souls. The ending of his Tower Mode states that Shang Tsung will start learning to use the Well’s power, implying that Shang Tsung may very well reacquire his powerset in the Original Timeline before his ascension to godhood.

9 Geras

The Immortal Defender Of The Hourglass

Geras was created as an artificial construct to protect Kronika, the Keeper of Time. Being a creation of the Titaness herself, Geras boasts an extraordinary physiology coupled with superhuman levels of strength, durability, and battle prowess.

However, what sets Geras apart from the rest of the Kombatants isn’t necessarily his creation but rather his nature. Kronika created Geras as a “fixed point in time,” meaning he’s able to restore his previous state regardless of what happened to him. He’s practically achieved immortality, being able to heal from any injury, even fatal ones, in seconds. It took Raiden binding Geras to an anchor and sinking him in the endless Blood Seas to contain him.

Geras In Mortal Kombat 1

While drowned for eternity in the Original Timeline, Titan Liu Kang recreates Geras in his new era with the task of solely defending both the timeline and the Hourglass. Due to the circ*mstances of his creation, Geras is implied to be impossible to corrupt, hence Liu Kang’s decision to choose him as the Hourglass’ new Keeper should the Titan eventually perish in the future. Geras’s immunity to temporal machinations makes him one of the most powerful beings in the realms, especially when combined with his absolute immortality.

8 Cetrion

The Former Elder Goddess Of Light And Life

Introduced as Shinnok’s counterpart, Cetrion serves as the Elder God of Light. Whereas Shinnok represented Darkness, Cetrion represented light and its purity, manipulating the elements and life itself. Cetrion has control over all elements, although she does seem to have a fondness for manipulating the earth.

However, her true power lies in her nature as an Elder God. Essentially a deity, Cetrion cannot be truly killed like Shinnok. Cetrion can even survive injuries like decapitation, similar to Shinnok. What holds Cetrion back is her devotion to her mother, as she can become just as much of a threat should she decide to take matters into her own hands.

Cetrion In Mortal Kombat 1

Since Kronika absorbs Cetrion’s essence to empower her in the Original Timeline, it’s presumed that she perished alongside her mother when Liu Kang defeated Kronika for control over the Hourglass. However, when Mortal Kombat 11 specified that Cetrion is immune to Kronika’s temporal tampering due to her status as an Elder God, there’s a possibility of Cetrion existing somewhere in Mortal Kombat 1, much like how Liu Kang simply neutralized and depowered her twin Shinnok in the new timeline.