Mortal Kombat is one of the oldest fighting game franchises, in that time it’s built up a serious number of characters. Mortal Kombat characters are some of the most iconic fighters across esports. Each game brings a new Mortal Kombat character though, usually a pretty decent number of them.
It can be hard to stay on top of just how wide the roster has gotten. There are loads of Mortal Kombat game characters which aren’t as iconic as Scorpion. If you want to know the roster inside and out no matter which cross-platform Mortal Kombat title you’re playing, then this is the full list. These are all of the Mortal Kombat characters and everything you need to know about them.
Mortal Kombat 1 Characters – Full Roster
Mortal Kombat 1 fighters stretch across the entire franchise. There are characters who are coming back who haven’t been seen in quite a while. There are also brand-new Mortal Kombat characters who have been added! The DLC additions like Homelander in Mortal Kombat 1. Now the game is pushing in more crossover fighters, our final roster has gotten quite a bit weirder than you might expect from a MK game.
- Ashrah
- Baraka
- Cyrax
- Ermac
- General Shao
- Geras
- Havik
- Homelander
- Peacemaker
- Johnny Cage
- Kung Lao
- Kenshi Takahashi
- Kitana
- Li Mei
- Liu Kang
- Mileena
- Noob Saibot
- Nitara
- Omni-Man
- Quan Chi
- Rain
- Raiden
- Reiko
- Scorpion
- Reptile
- Sektor
- Sindel
- Sub-Zero
- Smoke
- Shang-Tsung
- Takeda
- Tanya
Source: Warner Bros Games
Kameo Mortal Kombat 1 Characters
Alongside the major fighters being featured in the main roster, there are also quite a few who are only included as Kameo characters. These are a new type of fighter who can be pulled in for support. They aren’t necessarily a full fighter in the game though. These are all of the characters in this section.
- Cyrax
- Frost
- Goro
- Jax Briggs
- Kano
- Kung Lao
- Sareena
- Scorpion
- Sektor
- Sub-Zero
- Sonya Blade
- Stryker
All Mortal Kombat 11 Characters
Before Mortal Kombat 1, there was Mortal Kombat 11. These are all of the characters featured in the last iteration of the game.
Baraka
Baraka is a Mortal Kombat character who comes from a race in the Outlands. He’s a fierce warrior who has risen through his group’s ranks to become one of the most powerful fighters.
Cassie Cage
Daughter of Johnny Cage, Cassie Cage’s main abilities in Mortal Kombat come from her Special Forces training. Although, she’s also inherited superhuman abilities. She’s one of the most recognisable Mortal Kombat female characters.
Cetrion
Cetrion is a Goddess of Life and Virtue! Her kit in-game is built around elemental powers.
D’Vorah
This is one of the Mortal Kombat characters that has risen up from the Outworld. He’s even been the main antagonist in some iterations of Mortal Kombat.
Erron Black
Erron Black is another Outworld character, he’s also a mercenary who makes use of weapons in his moveset.
Frost
Frost is one of the more interestingly designed Mortal Kombat female characters. She’s a cyborg who made a comeback in this newest version of the game.
Fujin
Fujin is definitely one of the most high-powered sounding Mortal Kombat game characters, as the God of Wind and one of the Protectors of Earthrealm.
Geras
Geras is a creative that was made artificially. Created entirely to serve as an enforcer. He’s named after the Deity of old age with powers based around controlling time and sand.
Jacqui Briggs
Briggs is another one of the Mortal Kombat characters who come from the special forces. She has a move set which hits very quickly, being one of the fastest characters in the game.
Jade
Jade is notable as a Mortal Kombat character for being the first to have a unique special ability. Over the years she’s developed, but still has a move set built around an immunity to projectiles. That makes her one of the best Mortal Kombat female characters if you want to avoid spammers.
Jax
Jax is another fighter who has unique abilities. He’s a soldier who has had his power boosted with cybernetic enhancements.
Johnny Cage
Johnny Cage is an action movie star who also has lethal real-world skill as a martial artist.
Rambo
This is John Rambo, from the movie Rambo! Only as a Mortal Kombat game character.
Kabal
Kabal has a pretty intimidating design, but in universe, he’s a police officer! Although, that’s a high-powered criminal who turned into a police officer! He’s also a member of the Black Dragon Clan and became a hero in the Shao Kahn’s Invasion. He’s also a high-tier character, seeing use in the winning round of EVO.
Kano
Kano is a character who has been around since the very first Mortal Kombat. He’s a long-time enemy of the Special Forces and he’s also behind one of the most iconic moments in Mortal Kombat, the original ripping out a heart as a fatality.
Kitana
This one of the Mortal Kombat female characters is over 10,000 years old and a princess. She was particularly useful in Mortal Kombat II, but has remained key in modern versions of this one of the top fighting games.
Kollector
This is a creative hailing from a six-legged species, his design is unique in the series. He uses a lot of different weaponry in his move set.
Kung Lao
Kung Lao is one of the Earthrealm fighters among the Mortal Kombat game characters. He utilizes his heat to make impressive attacks as well as having mastery of up-close fighting.
Liu Kang
Liu Kang has appeared in just about every Mortal Kombat game. He’s one of the main characters as Earthrealm’s greatest hero, Liu Kang is one of the most iconic Mortal Kombat characters.
Mileena
Mileena is a character who has appeared in pretty much every Mortal Kombat title. She is a genetic experiment from Shang Tsung, who was adopted as the daughter of the Outworld Emperor.
Night Wolf
Night Wolf has become one of the most recognisable Native American video game characters! He makes use of mystical weapons like a bow he creates and a Tomahawk.
Noob Saibot
Noob Saibot is one of the most unique characters in the entire franchise. He originated as just a silhouette of the other ninja Mortal Kombat characters. Over time he’s grown a unique character and his own special moveset though.
Raiden
Raiden could be called the central character of Mortal Kombat, he’s appeared in every single instalment and has always had a central role. He’s the God of Thunder, a protector of the Earthrealm, and he’s often the central character in story modes in the series.
Rain
Rain is another demigod on the roster of Mortal Kombat characters, with a creative move set that gives him power over elements like water and lightning.
Robocop
Another easy one! This one of the Mortal Kombat game characters is just the robotic cop best known from fun 80s films.
Scorpion
Much like Raiden, Scorpion is one of the most iconic faces associated with Mortal Kombat characters. He’s a ninja, brought back from the dead with demonic powers. He’s often out for revenge, but lately has been a more sympathetic antagonist.
Shang Tsung
Shang Tsung is one of the oldest Mortal Kombat characters. He hails all the way from the original Arcade machine! He’s one of the main antagonists of the entire series, making a return as a playable fighter in the Mortal Kombat 11 DLC.
Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn is another antagonist from the Outworld. He has superhuman durability and can utilize magic in his attacks. One of the biggest powers though is absorbing the souls of others, this can increase his own power.
Sheeva
Sheeva is a unique character on the roster. She’s one of the Mortal Kombat female characters, but with four arms! She’s one of a race of creatures that’s half-human and half-dragon. Hence the reptilian features!
Sindel
Sindel is a mortal Kombat fighter who is the queen of Edenia. She has abilities which draw on sound, including her main attack with involves a supersonic screech.
Skarlet
Skarlet is one of the Mortal Kombat female characters who has died and been reborn through magic. She’s now one of Shao Kahn’s henchmen and a powerful blood mage.
Sonya
Sonya is a Mortal Kombat game character who is a normal human, although one with special abilities thanks to being part of the Special Forces Unit Outer World Investigation. She was the very first Mortal Kombat female character, appearing since the original arcade game.
Spawn
Spawn is a new character who got his introduction in the Mortal Kombat 11 DLC. He originates in the Image Comics franchise, another crossover with Mortal Kombat for this title.
Sub Zero
Nearly rounding out the Mortal Kombat 11 characters might be one of the most instantly recognisable, Sub-Zero. Sub Zero is another Ninja character, but he’s had a life of its own with players finding him one of the most accessible. Through depictions in story mode and other media, he’s become a lot more than a chilled ninja.
Kotal Kahn
Kotal Kahn is a powerful choice out of the Mortal Kombat characters. He’s been around for a couple of games, serving as an antagonist. He’s the former emperor of Outerworld.
Terminator T-800
The Terminator is another fairly simple character to explain here! He’s the Terminator, Cyborg sent back from the future in a series of James Cameron movies.
The Joker
The Joker as appears in DC Comics-related franchises. He’s also rumoured to be joining another fighter soon in MultiVersus roster leaks.
Older Mortal Kombat Characters – Full List
That’s the biggest names and the current roster of characters. There’s more out there though! These are the rest of the characters who could make a comeback in future titles but didn’t make the cut last time around.
| First Appearance | Fighter / Character |
|---|---|
| Mortal Kombat | Goro, Reptile, Sub-Zero |
| Mortal Kombat 2 | Kintaro, Smoke |
| Mortal Kombat 3 | Chameleon, Cryax, Ermac, Kabel, Khameleon, Motaro, Sektor, Stryker |
| Mortal Kombat Mythologies | Quan Chi, Sareena, Shinnok |
| Mortal Kombat 4 | Jarek, Kai, Meat, Reiko, Tanya |
| Mortal Kombat Special Forces | Tremor |
| Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance | Blaze, Bo’ Rai Cho, Drahmin, Hsu Hsu, Kenshi, Li Mei, Mavado, Mokap, Moloch, Nitara |
| Kombat Deception | Ashrah, Dairou, Darrius, Havik, Hotaru, Kira, Kobra, Onaga, Shujinko |
| Mortal Kombat Armageddon | Daegon, Taven |
| Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe | Dark Kahn |
| Mortal Kombat X | Ferra/Torr, Kotal Kahn, Kung Jin, Takeda, Triborg |
Those are all of the Mortal Kombat characters. There’s always more added though, so keep an eye out for the next game’s reveals to see who joins the roster next!
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