Top 10 Best Mortal Kombat Characters

Delivering bone-crushing combos and iconic fatalities since '92, Mortal Kombat is the arena where we've all heard that adrenaline-pumping "Finish Him!" and watched as fatalities unfolded that were so gruesome, they had parents scrambling for the power button.

The heart and soul of Mortal Kombat are its Kombatants. A diverse roster of fighters each armed with distinct techniques, lore, and charisma that could only exist in the Mortal Kombat universe. Whether you're old-school and lean towards the original arcade sagas, or you've been captivated by the next-gen renditions, this franchise's characters are a flawless victory in their own right.
The Top Ten
1 Sub Zero Sub-Zero is a video game character from the Mortal Kombat series and one of the original characters in the first Mortal Kombat game in 1992. A mainstay of the series, Sub-Zero is the only character who has appeared in every main Mortal Kombat fighting game.

A character so powerful they were forced to nerf his freeze attack so it couldn't be spammed. He has his own game and one of the deepest backstories in the franchise. Scorpion's moves are useless when backed into a corner. Sub-Zero can at least slide his way out of almost any situation and use it as a means to dodge most projectiles, not to mention his freezes, sliding, and uppercuts can combo for some intense damage. On top of this, his original fatality is one of the most famous fatalities in the series, and most of the ones that followed were unique. More than we can say for Scorpion, who has had almost the same fatality in every game.

I am a fan of Sub-Zero for four specific reasons.

1. Just imagine him freezing you, ripping your limbs off, and pulling your heart out.

2. The second reason is that there's a cyborg version of Sub-Zero that's so cool.

3. The third reason is that there are two main Sub-Zeros. The first is the brother of the most recognized Sub-Zero. He was also the original Sub-Zero, and his name after he was resurrected is Noob Saibot. He was killed by Scorpion and was resurrected in the Netherrealm. The second and most popular Sub-Zero is the younger brother of Noob Saibot, who seeks to avenge his older brother by killing Scorpion for killing him.

2 Scorpion Scorpion is a recurring player character and occasional boss character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. His debut is in the first Mortal Kombat game.

I've been a Mortal Kombat fan ever since I was years old back in the '90s. To the people who might think that's a parenting fail... It's not their fault. I found it on my own and got to see it through other friends of mine. My parents were horrified to find out I wanted the first Mortal Kombat game! Haha, for Halloween, I was Scorpion. I've been a fan of Scorpion a long time and was him for Halloween many years in a row until I outgrew the event. I thought the film adaptation where his spike came out of his hand was much cooler than when they switched him to the chain weapon. Oh well, still my favorite character.

The only reason I love Mortal Kombat is because of Scorpion! He is the most vicious and most brutal character in Mortal Kombat history, a great fighter but what I love most is his fact that he does not care about anything or anyone. A character that will be remembered for years to come! For people who didn't vote for Scorpion, I've got three words for you: GET OVER HERE!

3 Raiden Raiden is a video game character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series by Midway Games. Making his official debut as one of the original seven playable characters in 1992's Mortal Kombat, he is one of the central characters of the franchise.

Without a doubt, Raiden is one of the most respected and celebrated characters in the Mortal Kombat series. He is as old and as wise as time itself, an immortal being with vast combat experience and immeasurable power.

He epitomizes the statement "God of Thunder" (step aside, Thor) and is the only individual who, on more than one occasion, has sacrificed his own immortality to aid his human being counterparts in the fight against the masked monster Shao Kahn. For that, Lord Raiden, you are the best. Enough said.

My mom actually named me after him, and after that, he became my most beloved character throughout the whole franchise. And what more do you want? He IS THE "GOD OF THUNDER!" He is wise and incredibly powerful in many ways. I would want to see him in SMITE. And would someone make an animation of who would win in a fight between Zeus, Raiden, Raijin, Thor, and more, so a battle of the thunder gods...

4 Liu Kang Liu Kang is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Mortal Kombat fighting game series from Midway Games, introduced as one of the original seven player characters in the 1992 first game as a Shaolin monk who enters the Mortal Kombat tournament to save Earthrealm.

Liu Kang is the complete winner of the Mortal Kombat tournament, defeating the animal ninja Reptile, the freeze ninja Sub-Zero, and with the help of Princess Kitana. In the second part of Mortal Kombat, Liu Kang is seen kicking the emperor Shao Kahn. Liu is a total winner and a solid fighter. His power can change into a green dragon!

To clarify why he should be in first place, he is the main protagonist of the MK game series, as the subtitle already indicates.

He saved the Earth by being the first champion of Mortal Kombat and saving the Earth four times.

He is the Dragon Warrior and the number 1 fighter of all realms!

For me:
Liu Kang is the protagonist, but Raiden is the most important character, and the most popular will be Scorpion.

Uh, are you kidding me? Liu Kang is so epic! Get this guy to #1 right now, or I'll become the dragon and rip your torso off! He can defeat Shao Khan with the flick of a finger!

5 Reptile Reptile is a video game character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise created for Midway Games by Ed Boon and John Tobias. He debuted in Mortal Kombat as a hidden opponent and appeared in subsequent titles as a playable character, also appearing in the merchandise and other media related to the series.

Reptile is hands down my favorite character in the entire Mortal Kombat series. He has the best fight in the movie universe and possesses some of the most compelling moves in the games: acid spit, reptilian beast form, invisibility, and all the most slippery, swift, and animal-oriented beastly movements. In terms of storyline, his race and background, as well as loyalty to the main villains, make him the best of the ninjas. Additionally, his service as a top General/Henchman aligns perfectly with his evil persona. He is truly the best character ever in Mortal Kombat.

Yeah, I agree with you. But Reptile is like a cold-blooded, green ninja badass! He also kicked Liu Kang's ass in the first movie! And then he got defeated. Anyways, REPTILE RULES!

He's awesome. A badass lizard that can climb surfaces, devour heads, has green blood and skeleton, and makes some of the best sound effects ever. His human form is also amazing.

6 Johnny Cage Johnny Cage is a fictional video game character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games. He was introduced as one of the series' original seven player characters in the first Mortal Kombat game in 1992, and has become a staple of the series.

Johnny Cage is a deadly character in the hands of an experienced player. I still laugh at the fact they kept his infamous "nut punch" from all the way back in the 90's movie when he punched Goro there!

Johnny Cage is the staple for MK. There is no way they can try to make a new funny character. They made Mokap, which is fine, but when he became a main part of MK, that's when it got bad. Anyway, Johnny is that funny character with nut punches and those quirky quotes. Go Johnny, HAYHOO!

Johnny Cage battles elder gods, evil wizards, and demonic foes, only using kung fu he learned as a movie star. With barely any powers, an overconfident but caring attitude, Johnny rightfully keeps his place in MK.

7 Kitana Kitana is a fictional character from the Mortal Kombat media franchise, where she was introduced as one of the new player characters in the fighting game Mortal Kombat II in 1993. Since then, Kitana appeared in a majority of Mortal Kombat series' video games and its other media, including the films Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, and the series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm,... read more

"Get over here!" - Scorpion

"You have embarked on a sacred mission." - Raiden, Christopher Lambert style.

But... Kitana's the best, mostly for the fans and for wearing blue. And Talisa Soto in the movie... as a kid, she changed my notion of princesses for the better. She's beautiful.

Kitana is my favorite because she's savage, assertive, lovable, and compassionate. She recognized the evil her father was doing, and she and Liu are so adorable together.

Kitana is a badass princess who is way better than her clone, Mileena. Not to mention those awesome bladed fans!

8 Ermac Ermac is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games. The character originated due to rumors over a diagnostics menu listing that displayed the text ERMACS, followed by claims of an alleged glitch in the first game.

Ermac is so radical! Mysterious, powerful, cool, awesome, amazing - these are just a few words that can describe Ermac. He is the most unique character I have ever seen. I never knew anywhere else where there's a character with a bunch of souls inside. I love his fighting style and everything about him!

I also love Noob. I wish I could vote for them both. They both have the best fatalities.

From the first Mortal Kombat game I had, as soon as I unlocked Ermac, I used him the entire time and won every time I used him. I love the new look for him in the most recent game and love his fatalities.

Ermac has the best power set in the whole Mortal Kombat franchise. He is the red ninja with telekinesis. In other words, he can kill you with his mind!

9 Baraka Baraka is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. Baraka was introduced in Mortal Kombat II in 1993 as an unpredictable warrior in service of Outworld emperor Shao Kahn.

Once you figure out how to use him properly, he can easily become one of the most OP characters in a game. Most of his fatalities are awesome as well. Also, can I talk about his design? He looks awesome! Just pure perfection.

If you learn his combos and figure out how to use him properly, Baraka can be one of the most powerful characters in the game. Very fun to play as and one of the coolest-looking characters in all of Mortal Kombat.

This guy scared me back in the '90s Mortal Kombat, and his bite throw attack was always painful to watch - in a good way.

10 Sonya Blade Sonya Blade is a video game character from the Mortal Kombat series. Debuting in the original Mortal Kombat game from 1992, she was a late addition to the game as developers decided deep into the development cycle that the game needed a female character.

She is so forthright - like she is sexy, deadly, and she certainly isn't easy to beat. Just like she beat Raiden and Kano in Mortal Kombat 9.

Sonya Blade all the way! Strong, sexy, deadly - a great combination. She's a classic character that is in every game!

Everyone else has pretty much said it, but she's smart, strong, and incredibly sexy.

The Contenders
11 Noob Saibot Noob Saibot, is a fictional character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He debuted as an unplayable hidden character in Mortal Kombat II, in which he was a black silhouette of the game's other male ninjas, and made his first selectable appearance in the console versions of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. His name consists of the surnames of Mortal Kombat creators Ed Boon and John Tobias spelled... read more

Dark and beautiful as the night, the shadow of a fallen warrior, brought back by the sorcerer Quan Chi. The original Sub-Zero, dying at the hands of Scorpion, after Quan Chi had deceived Scorpion into believing that Sub-Zero slayed his family and clan.

Noob is always one of the best fighters. He is so efficient in his fighting abilities, it's like none of his moves are a waste. He comes in and wrecks shop. He deserves the top 10 at least!

Noob Saibot is my favorite character, under Reptile and Ermac. But he is REALLY cheap in the fighting moves. My sister really ruined him though. She kept doing a back punch to my face and didn't let me move. Still, he's one of my favorites!

12 Kung Lao Kung Lao is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. A Shaolin monk, he debuted in Mortal Kombat II (1993). He is depicted as a primary hero in the series, including as one of the protagonists of the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005). The character is also a descendant of the Great Kung Lao, the first Earthrealm... read more

What? You thought he died? Think again. It looks like there is more than one Kung Lao, and so he fits into the top 10 like he did beat Goro, but sadly he got killed by Shao Kahn.

Kung Lao has been around forever and is a fierce Shaolin Warrior. In the original series, he actually beat Liu Kang.

Because when he fights, he defies speed. He is also a magician. He'll take that bunny out of his hat to feed his foes as if it were carrots.

13 Jax Jackson "Jax" Briggs is a fictional character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games.

This is my favorite Mortal Kombat character. He brings a gun to a fistfight!

Jax is nothing less than a beast. He should have at least been in the top 20.

Jax is a cheater. He put his own arms on and said, I'm boss. Well, you are a cheater, AND he is a bad fighter.

14 Shao Kahn Shao Kahn is a boss, announcer, and recurring playable character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. Introduced in Mortal Kombat II in 1993, he is the primary antagonist of the video game series and extended franchise.

All the gods in the sky couldn't beat this guy. He's like the best and most powerful character in the whole series. Also, he raised Kitana as well as a father could raise a traitorous daughter, and he loved his wife as much as he was capable of loving anyone. He's not that evil... not altogether, anyway. Also, he's the announcer, he breaks the fourth wall, and he literally CANNOT die!

I actually judge them by personality. I think his is the best. People are like, "What do you mean his personality is the best? He's pure evil!" I try to explain, but they never understand. I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't think that he's such a bad guy, especially in MK 11. I would attempt an explanation, but there is no point. No one could understand, but I still like him best.

Shao Kahn is my favorite player. Shao Kahn is the best. No one in Mortal Kombat can defeat Shao Kahn.

15 Smoke Smoke is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. He debuted in Mortal Kombat II (1993) as a hidden opponent and became a secret playable character in Mortal Kombat 3 (1995), making him the franchise's first unlockable fighter. In keeping with his namesake, he is distinguished by the smoke fumes emitting from his body and his smoke-based... read more

Smoke is definitely my favorite because of his teleporting abilities. He is able to destroy you without letting you hit him and can even go straight through projectiles!

He has always been my favorite ninja. He has the coolest ninja idea. He resembles what ninjas are supposed to be like.

Great in both cyborg and human versions, although I like the human one the most.

16 Mileena Mileena is a character from the Mortal Kombat franchise who debuted in the sequel Mortal Kombat II as a clone of Kitana by Shang Tsung using Tarkatan DNA resulting in her mouth having razor sharp teeth that of a Tarkatan like Baraka, she hated her sister Kitana and vowed to destroy her and take over her identity.

Mileena is the sexiest and the most beautiful character in Mortal Kombat! She is so much better than Kitana, even if she is her clone. She earned the title "Beauty and the Beast" not just because of her facial features, but also because of her fighting style. She is beautiful just the way she is, so all of you need to stop hating! Plus, in her own way, she's a "Diva". Don't make me get Beyoncé up in here because I will!

Mileena has an infectious and freaky charisma to her, while also being an insanely unpredictable and interesting character that captivates you with her story and decisions. She is an excellent villain with a unique character design and personality type, especially in MKX.

Okay, I get why you would hate her. But I like her because she genuinely loves her family, even if she was created with a twisted mind. Also, Shang Tsung created her, so instead of being mad at Mileena, you should really hate him. She's honestly adorable and very well written.

17 Kenshi Takahashi Kenshi is a fictional character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games.

Kenshi rose from the ashes of a pretty crappy MK game. He made me believe that MK still had a chance at being great. He was left to die when Shao Kahn tricked him into opening a tomb with lost souls. These souls then blinded him, leaving him to die, but Kenshi found the sword of his ancestors and waited several years so that he could get used to being blind and so he could have his revenge.

Kenshi is just such an amazing character in that even though he is blind, he still has more skill than most fighters on this roster. He puts Scorpion to shame with his swordsman skills and has telepathic powers to rival Ermac. Plus, he does all this blind. A badass sword full of ghosts... Definitely the best character in MK.

He is stylish... Great costume... Great powers and importantly fights for a good cause. He can easily hit the opponent from a long distance, and the sword is just awesome. He uses it to the full effect...

18 Kabal Kabal is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series, who made his debut in Mortal Kombat 3.

Now, I'm not going to argue with ANYONE on this, Kabal is a beast. Mysterious, cool, and the best Black Dragon member next to Kano! To be honest, I hated when Kabal died from Mavado, but Mavado at least looks cool. So in any way, I care but don't care, it's a win-win!

His fatality is awesome. I mean, turning your opponent small and squashing them like a bug, and then wiping your feet off? BRUTAL.

I'm glad they toned Kabal down a lot since they first introduced him to the series. Kabal has always been an incredibly powerful character.

19 Goro Goro is a fictional character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He first appears in the original Mortal Kombat as an unplayable boss character, challenging the player before the final fight with Shang Tsung.

It's tied! The two main bosses in MK 1 were tied. Well, let's explain. Goro is a Shokan, a cool one, not Kintaro or Sheeva. And Shang Tsung, a perfect final boss that beats up most people. He steals souls and turns into them!

Goro is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time! Plus, he looks awesome! When you see Goro, you immediately think of Mortal Kombat. My favorite MK character for sure!

Think of him as Hulk... With 4 arms... And is 2,000 years old. Why isn't he #1 again? Oh, and he knows martial arts. Enough said...

20 Cyrax Cyrax is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series, who made his debut in Mortal Kombat 3.

He's the best character, especially in Deadly Alliance. His special moves are great, and his fight style is easy to master. Plus, he can shoot a chainsaw out of his chest, best character ever!

An amazing character truly deserves a top 10 placement with his combos and fatalities. Great as human and robot form, and one of the most realistic.

You can't mess with the robots, especially Cyrax.

21 Nightwolf Nightwolf is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He made his debut in Mortal Kombat 3.

Awesome dude with a great moveset, particularly the heavenly light that accompanies him, and an interesting character design and story! Plus, he took down the overpowered, screeching Sindel. Enough said.

Native America done right! Well, close enough anyway. Consistently a great fighter and is a wonderful counterpart to the Liu Kang/Kung Lao followers of the Thunder God motif.

His green glowing weapons are part of the boss on ladder mode, which are really strong (if you can use them). If you are good with him, also try Kratos.

22 Jade Jade is a fictional character from the Mortal Kombat fighting game series by Midway Games. Debuting in 1993's Mortal Kombat II as an unplayable secret character who was a green palette swap of Kitana, Jade made her first playable appearance in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. She has since become a regular supporting character in the franchise, appearing on series merchandise in addition to alternate Mortal... read more

She should be in the top 10!

She must be in the top 10! Where was this score based? Duh!
Kung Lao should also be in the top 10 with Jade and Nightwolf. What else can I say? Please include her because she is sexy, strong, talented, and was the representative of MK in Girls Gone Wired.

Like Mileena, she is hot and could beat people. Her moves are okay.

Jade is a kicking woman and a master of Kung Fu.

23 Nitara

Probably one of the most beautifully and originally designed characters of the franchise. Looks matter in MK for sure. But in a game where almost everyone was a ninja or a god before MKDA, she came as a pretty vile and aggressive vampire. One of the most powerful characters in terms of damage for the entire franchise, based on her appearance. But still, fast and agile.

Really interesting in terms of potential storywise and gameplay-wise. The first character that has blood-related powers and the first winged character. They had cool stuff all along, but Nitara clearly stands apart in this particular franchise. For her coast-to-coast originality, she should one day be granted what she deserves and appear as one of the greatest, most interesting characters in the franchise. BANZAI!

24 Shang Tsung Shang Tsung is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He is one of the few original characters, debuting in the first Mortal Kombat arcade game, in which he served as the final boss.

Shang Tsung is one of the hardest characters to play as... Why? Because in order to play him effectively, you must know how to play as ALL of the Mortal Kombat characters, which makes Shang Tsung the most deadly character in the franchise when put in the hands of a skilled player.

Shang Tsung is a sorcerer with great power. He can raise his hand to release a fireball. In games MK 1, 2, 3, he can exchange bodies, Shang has the power of reincarnation. He can stop time and manipulate it. In the film MK 1, Shang has great power, and in the serial MK Conquest, Shang can transmit souls.

Shang is a speedy fighter with a black costume, and a good central Sorcerer. His magic is a sack of souls, a big fireball, and intellectual power. He is a grandmaster of magic. I live for his Shang Tsung style in the series Mortal Kombat Conquest.

25 Sektor Sektor is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game series. He made his debut in Mortal Kombat 3.

I prefer Sektor over Johnny Cage.

Then you leave me no choice - fight!

He is the Kane from Mortal Kombat. He has light sabers and a way better look than Cyrax.

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